Sweet & Sinister: Sometimes Love Hurts

by Sylvia Grant

I didn't believe in happy endings anymore. But I still wrote them.

Then I meet Kelsey Tuer at the Sweet and Sinister Convention.

She writes about murder.

Her booth has a taxidermy ferret and knife-shaped bookmarks.
Mine has salt taffy from Newfoundland.

Kelsey challenges me, surprises me, and scares me a little.

My date ideas are romantic.

Hers are high-octane and leave me questioning my sanity.

My friends think she'll be the death of me. But I think she might just be the reason I believe in happy endings again. If I can survive that long.


An opposites-attract romantic comedy with a dark sense of humor, told by the guy.

Genres: Romance

213 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 4, 2026

About the author

Award-winning rom-com author Sylvia Grant believes every character deserves a good transformation—especially when the circumstances are gloriously unpredictable!

Her feel-good stories are infused with the conviction that everyone deserves to be heard and seen (a belief she carried over from her HR days), delivering laughter and, of course, a happily-ever-after.

She's been mildly obsessed with Jane Austen and Hugh Grant since she was a tween. Though she loves her two large breed rescue dogs dearly, Sylvia admits she'd prefer cats—after all, you have to work harder for their love.

What readers have to say:

"A great story that’s very original and fresh." (—Angee, Verified Reader)

"fast, fun & super cute." (—Ashley, Verified Reader)

"From the very first page, you will see how different they are... you will love how he makes her realize that life needs to be enjoyed." (—Roger, Verified Reader)

Reviews

[Emily Pennington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Martin and Kelsey . . .

Kelsey Tuer and Martin Hale ("Marty") are definitely opposite personalities from each other. Marty writes love stories; Kelsey is more on the horror side of things, i.e. very dark mysteries not for the timid. They meet at the Sweet and Sinister Convention. Her unique personality draws him in. Dating for him means romantic surroundings; her ideas are "different". But he can't resist the draw to her and hopes for the best... like survival maybe? Their rock-climbing date on a fake mountainside 40 feet high leads to falling onto the mat below. Kelsey suggests he takes the blue hold (advanced) rather than the yellow one (beginning) since it is a "better line". She points to a motorized device that gives a slower descent, then she walks away. He let go, trusting the auto-belay to bring him down properly, but it doesn't work correctly; something goes wrong and he drops 20 feet in under a second before the mechanism grabs and lowers him the last 8 feet -- which is still too fast. Then Kelsey comes over to ask questions, like whether his knee hurts, was it scary to fall, how did it feel to fall that way? It's no comfort when he finds out from his buddy Ross that some of their dates actually are mentioned in her book plots! Could Kelsey be experimenting with Martin to enhance her death scenes for the next book?? Maybe he should have insisted on going on that picnic date instead?

I didn't really warm up to the characters in this story. I outright disliked creepy Kelsey; and Marty was too much of a pushover. I didn't see what he saw in her that made her so inviting to him. And the apparent eagerness for the gory details of his accident was uncomfortable. Even when Kelsey admits her philosophy is always to turn everything she does into a strength, that might be a vague attempt to explain her actions to him, but it didn't change my mind.

[Tressa Mower · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Sweet and Sinister. The premise alone sold me: a bestselling rom-com author and a thriller writer forced together while a mystery unfolds around them. It was a fun combination, and I thought the book did a great job balancing romance, humor, and suspense.

The chemistry between the main characters was easily my favorite part of the story. Their personalities complemented each other well, and their banter felt genuine instead of forced. I appreciated that the romance developed over time through shared experiences and growing trust rather than relying solely on physical attraction.

The writing was smooth and engaging, making this a quick and enjoyable read. I never struggled to stay invested, and I found myself wanting to know both how the romance would develop and how the mystery would unfold.

That said, it wasn’t quite a five-star read for me. While I enjoyed the mystery, I found some of the twists a little predictable and guessed a few reveals before they happened. I also would have liked a bit more development from the supporting characters, as several felt like they were there primarily to move the story forward rather than stand on their own.

There were also a few places in the middle where the pacing slowed slightly. Some conversations revisited emotional conflicts that had already been established, and I think tightening those scenes would have kept the momentum even stronger. I also wanted just a little more emotional vulnerability between the two leads before the ending, as I think it would have made their relationship feel even more impactful.

Overall, this was a fun, entertaining romantic suspense with a unique premise, lovable main characters, and plenty of witty banter. If you enjoy romances with a mystery woven throughout, this one is definitely worth checking out. I’d happily read another book by this author.

[Nora's Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet & Sinister is a breezy, high-concept romcom built on a fun premise: a sweet-romance author meets a bestselling dark-thriller author at a genre-mashup book conference, and sparks fly.

Martin Hale is an easy narrator to like, a Newfoundland transplant who writes cozy romcoms and leans on his two loyal, hilarious best friends Ross and Ray for commentary on his love life. He falls hard for Kelsey Tuer, whose research into murder methods for her novels makes for some great comedic tension whenever things go sideways on their increasingly wild dates. The push-pull of "is this relationship too good to be true" gives the book its narrative engine, and it's handled with a light touch that never loses its romcom footing.

What really carries the book is the voice and the supporting cast. Marty's Newfoundland dialect and self-deprecating humor are consistently funny, Ross and Ray feel like real, lived-in friendships rather than sitcom sidekicks, and the group outings are genuinely fun set pieces. Kelsey gets some nice depth beyond the "spooky girlfriend" joke as the book goes on.

On the less-polished side: a few running bits get repeated past the point of freshness, and some side characters feel more like plot devices than people. The spice is frequent and fairly explicit, so know that going in if you prefer things milder.

Overall, a charming, funny, easy read with a clever premise, a likable hero, a compelling heroine, and a satisfying ending.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and Sinister was a fun, quirky romance with a great opposites-attract feel. It felt a little strange getting the story from his point of view as he went from someone who didn’t believe in happy endings to someone willing to take a chance on Kelsey and all her wonderfully unusual quirks.

Kelsey is definitely not what he expected, and I loved the contrast between her dark, murder-loving personality and his sweeter, romantic side. Their interactions were funny, unexpected, and showed how much they challenged each other in the best ways. Watching him realise she was worth the risk was one of my favourite parts, even when I felt a little rampage-y towards him.

I did struggle a little with the frequent abbreviations, as they sometimes pulled me out of the story, but overall I enjoyed the characters, the humour, and the unique romance.
It was an interesting reminder that happy endings can still happen when you least expect them.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me

Not sure I am the audience for this, alhtough as a true crime girlie, I should be. Maybe it was the romance side, as I am still working on reading romance as it is usually not my prefered genre.

Different to have a male main character as the narrator, which I enjoyed at times. I liked that he was the less dark character in this series. I am sure people look at my husband and me and wonder why too. :P I can get behind that sort of opposites attract love story. :)



I didn't believe in happy endings anymore. But I still wrote them.

Then I met Kelsey Tuer at the Sweet and Sinister Convention.
She writes about murder.
Her booth has a taxidermy ferret and knife-shaped bookmarks.
Mine has salt taffy from Newfoundland.

We try it out anyway.

She challenges me, surprises me, and is nothing like anyone I've ever dated.
My date ideas are romantic.
Hers leave me questioning my sanity.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book had a cute premise, and was anxious to read it. But, while the first chapter hooked me, I soon found myself growing a little bored.

Martin and Kelsey start going out, and Marty starts having accidents, which his two best friends try to convince him aren’t really accidents at all. Nope, they are the work of Kelsey, the fiendish author who writes about murder. Really? The guys might not be completely serious, but Marty can’t completely dismiss the idea, either.

The story moves along and Kelsey’s two girlfriends soon make the relationship more of a group endeavor. They hang out, Marty gets injured a few more times. To be honest, I read the book three days ago and already I’m having trouble recalling some of it. It just wasn’t all that engaging.

This one missed the mark for me. It just didn’t focus enough on the main characters. Kudos to the author for writing only in the perspective of the MMC, though. You don’t often read that in romance. Otherwise, this was just ho-hum for me.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A romance author and a murder author walk into a convention… and somehow it works.

This book had me laughing in my head the entire time. I kept asking myself, is she actually trying to kill him or what? Sylvia Grant leans hard into the contrast between the two leads, and it’s delightful. He writes soft, sweet romance and hands out saltwater taffy. She writes murder, decorates her booth with a taxidermy ferret, and hands out knife-shaped bookmarks. Usually it’s the heroine writing romance and the hero writing something darker, so flipping that dynamic made their interactions even funnier.

Their chemistry is chaotic in the best way—his date ideas are romantic, hers make him question his life choices. Watching him try to keep up with her brand of “affection” was half the fun.

It’s a quick, easy read; I finished it in just a few hours and genuinely enjoyed the ride. If this turns into a series, I’d absolutely read the next one.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a romance unlike any I’ve read. It’s a modern day story with gothic vibes that involves a romcom author, Martin, and a dark thriller author, Kelsey. They have a meet-cute at the Sweet & Sinister Book Conference—they are seated next to each other on a panel when a burly guy lunges for Kelsey. Martin takes him down like a boss.
Then they discover their booths are right across the hall from one another and they spend the day bantering and flirting. Numbers are exchanged. Dates ensue. Everything seems to be going well, but Martin keeps getting hurt. Martin’s pal tells him that he’s looked at Kelsey’s books and that all the injuries are in her books.
The seed of doubt is planted. Is Kelsey trying to kill Martin to write her next book?
There’s so much twisty turny fun in this book. If you’re a fun of Daphne du Maurier, you will love this book! It has steamy moments, but is closed door.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet & Sinister by Sylvia Grant is an engaging read that explores the complicated side of love, relationships, and the choices people make when emotions are involved. I enjoyed the way the story balanced romance with darker, more unexpected moments, keeping me curious about what would happen next. The characters have their flaws, struggles, and secrets, which made their experiences feel relatable and added emotional depth to the story. I especially appreciated the way the book showed that love isn't always simple or perfect. Sometimes it can bring happiness and comfort, while other times it can lead to heartbreak and difficult decisions. Grant did a good job creating an emotional story with plenty of relationship drama and tension. Overall, Sweet & Sinister was an enjoyable romance with a darker edge that explored trust, loyalty, and the complicated nature of relationships.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unusual book that was both captivating and difficult to continue reading for me. What kept me reading???
*Fascinating female main character. Totally appears to be unhinged and is an adrenaline junky.
*Unexpected tension on the dates, and total surprise (over and over) that he doesn't pull away.
*Unexpected date situations!
* Supportive friends that don't plan an intervention!!!

Well written-edgy at times-with friendships present throughout the book, giving it stability to balance the unexpected.
This is a book that you keep thinking that you know what will happen, but you couldn't be farther from the truth!
I'm glad I read it and appreciate Booksprout for allowing me to read and review SWEET AND SINISTER.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written story with a fantastic premise and great characters about a rom-com writer and a thriller writer forced into close proximity. The storyline follows Marty, who didn't believe in happy endings until meeting Kelsey Tuer at the Sweet and Sinister Convention. While Marty's booth features salt taffy from Newfoundland, Kelsey writes about murder, displaying a taxidermy ferret and knife-shaped bookmarks. Despite their differences, they try a relationship. Kelsey is completely unique, challenging and surprising Marty. While Marty's date ideas are romantic, Kelsey's leave Marty questioning their sanity. Ultimately, Marty is willing to do anything to spend more time with her, even if it means putting themself in danger to figure out if she is worth the risk. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary Gallitano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martin Hale write sweet rom coms. He meets Kelsey Tuer, who writes dak thrillers, at a book conference. He's instantly attracted to her. They alternate date ideas with his leaning toward the romantic picnic and hers leaning towards rock climbing.
His friend Ross warns Martin that some of their dates mimic her book plots. A coach in the gym tells Martin to be careful of her.
But Martin is entranced and can't let her go!
You go through the book wondering if this will be a HEA or an actual dark thriller!
The book is told through Martin's POV so you never do really know what's going through Kelsey's mind as she plans some daring dates.
I loved Martin, and how he pursued Kelsey. And honestly at the end, I loved Kelsey too.
This was a fun and interesting read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The blurb is what pulled me into reading this book. It sounded super interesting and cute. I have also read other works of this author and I liked it so I thought this one sounded cute I will give it a read.
It started out kinda slow for me maybe I was not in the best head space for reading at the time but it start picking up near the middle of it
I found premise cute. I also understand that feeling when you get so obsessed with something you go all in to doing that thing. The Sweet & Sinister Convention also sounded really cool! If that is a real con then I would kinda want to go to it. I found that the ML what to take it slow at the start of there relationship, I found it sweet.
I think the only thing that bothered me was the slow start.

I give this a high 3 out of 5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[JUDITH HAUPIN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet & sinister - the title says it all.

The title pretty much describes the personalities of the two main characters in this book. Both are authors. Martin writes sweet rom-coms while Kesey’s books writes thrillers, edgy & dark.

They meet at a book conference, and begin to date. People in Martin’s circle start to point out to him that there may be more to his relationship than he’s willing to admit. Action in Kelsey’s books bear a striking resemblance to some of their actual dates.

I went through most of the book really liking Martin and being not quite sure about Kelsey.like her nooks, the dates she suggested always have an edge to them.
The book is told thru Martin’s eyes.

It kept me guessing, and in the end, I really enjoyed it.

[Barbara Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allow a day for this darkly sweet, fast-paced, action-packed, adult, contemporary, romantic comedy thriller that begins in July at the Sweet & Sinister Literary Convention in Toronto, Canada, involving adventure, best friends, Christmas, families, ghosts, Halloween, humor, mystery, readers, writers, unsafe Martin, a staring contest, the Rusty Hook, an island, sea smoke, Centreville rides, a climb, BJs, a story, Jigg's Dinner, professional curiosity, nosebleeds, too much of a gentleman, a target, the story thickening, attack robots, murder podcasts, Undercover Boss, debt, a cottage, flames, a promise, a hike, Wayne's World, Dying to Know Tour, a raven, silence, and Sky Walk.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brittany Gipson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me on the edge of my seat believing Kelsey was absolutely crazy! I couldn't put this book down and every free chance I had to read, I picked my kindle up. It was definitely a page turner and I was telling my husband about the plot as I was reading and he was just invested in the book as I was and wanted to know what happened. There were parts that had me laughing and other parts where my mouth was hanging open in surprise/ shock.
I would highly recommend this book and I'm so happy I read it. I would definitely re- read it again.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Starri Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went back and forth with this book. Sometimes I was confused, sometimes I got bored, but every time something would happen that made me stay and finish it.
Kelsey, an author of dark and sinister books and a daring personality. But maybe people just are quick to judge her based on what she writes.
Marty, author of sweet romance and very composed and nice, even safe.
When Kelsey and Marty meet it’s absolutely meet cute. Marty is drawn to Kelsey despite them being total opposites. Kelsey likes how safe Marty makes her feel. But can these two complete total opposites have a happy ending? Can they be exactly what each other needs?
Altogether, ended up being a good book.

[Gracie Choi · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a writer myself, I find this premise particularly funny because writers can be a very interesting bunch, and putting two people with completely different creative personalities together was a perfect idea. One believes in romantic happy endings, while the other apparently thinks taxidermy and murder-themed accessories are perfectly normal conversation starters. I love that! There's something really entertaining about two people trying to understand each other's worlds, especially when their ideas of a romantic date couldn't be more different. And honestly, the taxidermy ferret alone raises so many questions!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kristen · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

I love that this story is told entirely from the POV of Marty, who is an absolute delight. Not seeing Kelsey's thoughts really had me questioning her expressions and interest the whole time. Their polar opposite personalities, sweetheart romantic vs thrill seeker, blended well together on their dates. I wouldn't say I felt the love between them, but I did see and understand their connection and interest in each other.

Having Marty so accident prone was relatable on so many levels! The friend groups were fun, and I was definitely team Ross for a little bit with his suspicions. Overall this was a pretty cute rom-com.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amanda✨️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet & Sinister was a fun and quirky romance with a unique setup. I enjoyed the mix of humor, romance, and the darker elements woven throughout the story.

Martin and Kelsey have such different personalities, and their dynamic made for some entertaining moments as they tried to figure each other out. I liked the unusual details, the playful banter, and the way the story embraced the idea of love being a little unpredictable.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read with a fun concept and a memorable couple.

I received an advanced copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[De Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super fun and unique read that I got through way too quickly. I easily could have read 4 times as many pages about Martin and Kelsey. These two are the ideal embodiment of opposites attract. They shouldn’t work so well given how different their personalities are but oh man do they work. Their banter and flirtation are epic level and so deliciously heated. But they also have some of the sweetest moments together that are genuinely endearing. This book is full of twists and turns and humor and quirkiness. It will keep you invested and leaving you wanting more.

[Indie · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it !! just loved it !! love Martin and Kelsey... this is their love story or ? a fun fast paced action rom/com drama... they meet at a book conference... he's a romance writer and she's a dark murder suspense writer... they flirt and more .. they start dating and are having the best time together ever... except he keeps getting hurt, just like the characters in her books... is she trying to kill him ? this was so good !!!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nathalie DeSousa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

This book is just a great refreshing read! The characters are just so opposite, she is a thriller writer who loves murder mysteries, has a macabre look on life, while he writes romances, the cute kind. So when they have to work together, and solve a mystery at the same time, be ready to laugh, swoon and enhjoy their chemistry, The banter alone is worth the read, the antics willl have you smiling, and their love is just perfection!

A great read!!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I think it’s romantic.”

Sweet & Sinister was such a fun, chaotic read. Marty writes romance for a living, but somehow ends up dating Kelsey while his friends become increasingly convinced she might actually be trying to kill him. The accidents, the suspicion, and the fact that Marty keeps finding reasons to ignore EVERY red flag made this so entertaining.

I loved the humor, the friendships, the Newfoundland touches, and the whole romance-meets-mystery vibe. It was ridiculous in the best way, with just enough “wait… IS she?” to keep me guessing.

Definitely a fun 4-star read!

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am enjoying this story. It's funny, a bit wicked, with a wild setup and interesting protagonists and their friends.
I support the heroine wanting to meet and get to know someone nice and sweet like the hero; it's hard to resist.
There is weird behavior and dangerous, painful circumstances, but because of her friends, I didn't want to believe in the heroine's evil, sinister strike.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Daniela Ruas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A funny and sweet story about two apparent clear opposites that are actually perfect for each other. I absolutely loved the rhythm of the story and the fact that it is narrated by the male POV.
Warning: It is open door with sex scenes, but nothing crazily graphic about it. Still only 18+ in my opinion (possibly 16+ with guardian discretion).

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is narrated from Martin's perspective. What a refreshing difference is to have the male be the narrator. Martin writes sweet rom-coms and Kelsey writes dark romance. They meet at a Sweet and Sinister conference. Martin is smitten with Kelsey but Martin's friends start getting in his head. They were convinced that Kelsey was trying to kill Martin.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Love My Boxer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wild ride…

Kelsey and Marty are authors who meet at a convention. Kelsey writes dark mysteries, while Marty writes sweet romance stories. Once they started dating, you never knew what would happen next. This was a romance that kept you wondering with witty banter, great friends, and definitely opposite attraction.

Once to start, you won’t be able to put the book down. It will grab you from the first page.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully well written and captivating romance. Grant delivers a well-balanced rom-com with mystery and suspense. Our main characters are Kelsey Tuer and Martin Hale ("Marty"). Both authors of very different genes come together to while a mystery surrounds them. I loved the premise and the delivery. A great read and I can't wait for more from Grant!

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara Raue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marty writes romance novels with happy endings. Kelsey Tuer writes murder stories with someone dead. The two opposites go on dates. His dates are romantic; her dates are scary and dangerous with some of them written about in her latest book. A bit sinister and scary while reading.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.