Sinful Serenity (An Arranged Marriage Rivals-to-Lovers Romance)

by Mary C. KIM

In Emberwick, when two families go to war, nobody interferes.

But when the Korvens and Veylors nearly wipe each other out, the Big Six break that rule. Konflict Korven and Serenity Veylor, the only surviving heirs, are forced into marriage. A union meant to restore peace and end the bloodshed.

But Konflict has no desire to bind himself to the daughter of the man who murdered his mother in cold blood. What he wants is to bury every last Veylor in the ground.

Since he has no choice but to obey the council’s order, he decides to wait twelve months without consummating the marriage. All he has to do is stay out of her bed. Not look at her. Not touch her. Not crave her. Until the marriage dissolves.

Then he can finally have his revenge.

But twelve months is long enough for everything to change. Long enough for the one thing he never expected to consume him completely.

And when the time comes, he’ll have to decide whether to avenge his family… or surrender to what his heart truly wants.

• Arranged Marriage

• Rivals to Lovers

• Touch Her and Die

• Erotic Romance

Genres: Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Forbidden Romance, Erotica

383 pages, Paperback

Published June 16, 2026

Reviews

[The Reading Sunflower🌻📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Late ARC Review
Warning ⚠️ If erotica isn’t your thing, this book probably isn’t for you.

“You quiet every heartfelt conflict in me because you’re my Sinful Serenity.” - Konflict Korven

I won’t lie, I was nervous about how this story was going to play out. It opens in the aftermath of a devastating war between two families, leaving the only surviving heirs, Konflict Korven and Serenity Veylor, forced into an arranged marriage to restore peace.

Konflict is still consumed by grief, anger, and resentment. Not only did the war destroy his family, but his mother was killed by Serenity’s father. For the first year of their marriage, he carries that hatred with him, while Serenity, an innocent casualty in it all, simply longs to be with the man she’s admired for years. Meanwhile, Konflict is fighting the urge to do the very thing that would destroy everything.

This book ATE.

The romance? Amazing. The spice? Top tier. The action, betrayal, tension, and emotional development kept me hooked from beginning to end. Yes, there’s a lot of sex, but it never takes away from the story. If anything, it enhances the connection between the characters and pushes the plot forward.

And that plot twist? I genuinely didn’t see it coming.

Every book I’ve read from Mary C. Kim has pulled me in, and Sinful Serenity was no exception🔥

[JustB · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sinful Serenity had me completely invested from beginning to end.
Imagine being forced to marry the person who blames your family for everything they've lost and then having only one year to convince them you're not their enemy. That's the impossible situation Serenity finds herself in, and the emotional tension is relentless.
This story delivers so much more than romance. It's packed with family politics, long-standing grudges, power plays, betrayals, secrets, and a marriage neither character wants but neither can escape. Every interaction between Serenity and Konflict felt like a battle between duty and desire.
What stood out most was the chemistry. The push-and-pull between these two had me hooked. One moment they're at each other's throats, the next you're catching glimpses of something softer beneath all the resentment. The tension was absolutely delicious, and when things started heating up? Whew. This book was incredibly erotic, sensual, and addictive without losing sight of the story. The way Mary C. Kim built the anticipation had me hanging on every page.
I also loved how she introduced the world of Emberwick and the powerful families who control it. By the end, I wasn't just invested in Serenity and Konflict I wanted to know more about everyone.
And can we talk about the French? Because between the romance, the tension, and those swoon-worthy moments, I think this book may have convinced me that I need to learn French now. 😮‍💨🇫🇷
If you enjoy:
✨ Arranged Marriage
✨ Enemies-to-Lovers
✨ Family Feuds
✨ Possessive & Protective Hero
✨ High Stakes Romance
✨ Dark Romance with Strong World-Building
then Sinful Serenity deserves a spot on your TBR.
And that ending? Let's just say I'm already waiting for the next book. 📚🔥🖤

[Neek Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ ARC Review: Sinful Serenity by Mary C. Kim ✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mary C. Kim absolutely delivered with Sinful Serenity.

This captivating erotic romance pulled me in from the very first chapter and refused to let go. Set against a backdrop of family feuds, grief, revenge, and duty, this story masterfully balances emotional depth with undeniable passion.

Konflict and Serenity’s journey had me completely invested. Their arranged marriage may have been forced, but the tension between them was anything but. Every interaction crackled with emotion, longing, and conflict, making their slow-burning connection impossible to resist. Konflict’s struggle between honoring his family’s pain and confronting his growing feelings added so much complexity to his character, while Serenity’s strength, grace, and resilience made her shine on every page.

The chemistry? Intense. The tension? Delicious. The romance? Equal parts emotional and steamy. Mary C. Kim expertly delivers an erotic romance that never sacrifices character development or storytelling for spice. Instead, the passion enhances the emotional stakes and makes every moment between these two feel earned.

I also loved the atmosphere of Emberwick. The world felt rich with history, secrets, and danger, creating the perfect setting for a love story born from the ashes of rivalry and loss.

If you love arranged marriage, rivals-to-lovers, possessive hero energy, “touch her and die” vibes, and erotic romances filled with angst, tension, and heart, Sinful Serenity belongs on your TBR.

A beautifully layered story that proves love and vengeance can never comfortably occupy the same space.

Thank you to Mary C. Kim for the ARC.

[Wind · Rating 4 out of 5]

New to me author and this book did not disappoint. If you're into mafia romance, forced marriage, enemies to lovers, family drama, and SPICE, then you need to pick this one up.
In the beginning Konflict got on my nerves with his mean self, he was a true a**hole but he turned it around and I ended up enjoying him. Serenity was amazing, realizing she’s in a lose-lose situation she takes matters into her own hands and shows she’s not the one to mess with. There were some twists that I definitely didn't see some of them coming but kept me glued to the pages. Even though this is an erotica and the chemistry is HOT, the storyline never took a backseat. The mix of romance, suspense, and family drama kept me fully invested from start to finish.
I’m giving this a 4.25🌟and I’m looking forward to Viper’s book.

[Cardi Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew!!

Now that’s a genre that I like. Erotic novels. Plots and eroticas. I can’t be mad at Serenity at all at any point of the story. Konflict was wilding. Sir no!

[Chanel “Nellie” · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary C. Kim delivers a captivating erotic romance in Sinful Serenity. Blending family feuds, grief, revenge, and duty, the story balances emotional depth with intense chemistry.

Konflict and Serenity’s arranged marriage creates a compelling slow-burn romance filled with tension, longing, and conflict. Their emotional growth and undeniable connection kept me invested from start to finish.

I also loved the rich atmosphere of Emberwick, which added layers of history, danger, and intrigue to the story.

If you enjoy arranged marriage, rivals-to-lovers, possessive hero energy, and emotional yet steamy romances, Sinful Serenity is must-read.

Thank you to Mary C. Kim for the ARC.

[Ashanti Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️. I ate this up. I had a good time reading this and it came at the perfect time because it was giving slump. Loved the spice even though there was potential to shine more light on Serenity’s desires after they made up. Konflict is exactly what his name states but ima stick beside him lol. That baby held onto that grudge thinking he would fail his family if he didn’t. One thing he did was protect his wife. I loved the spiraling, the claiming and the groveling when he messed up. The plot twist! This was giving series but no cliffhanger for serenity and Konflict. I would recommend.

[Shantell Freeman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this as much as others did in the reviews. The "secret" went on too long for me and I would've much rather enjoyed them exploring their relationship as husband and wife more...even with the impending drama. It would've made more sense as to why he would die for her or vice versa.

[Bianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent intro

A pretty good read, but I was just blown away by how Serenity is just so blasé about the probability of her life ending when she admitted in the book to having the skills to save herself.

[5 Star Delta · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
I absolutely loved this book from the Author’s notes to the last page!!!

This was a best “enemies to lovers” story with the right amount of eroticism!

I am wondering if there’s going to be a book 2; but if not it’s definitely a good standalone.

[Shades N Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a BALL reading this book, and I want to give Mary C. Kim all the flowers for keeping me hooked with tension, suspense, organized crime, plot twists, and pure nasty work. That’s talent right there. I loved the multicultural aspect of this story. Black Canadians? Yes, please. Mary pulled us into Emberwick and said, “Welcome to death row,” because I didn’t want to leave Canada. And that plot twist? Baby. It knocked me completely off my feet. The enemies to lovers and forced marriage chaos was a vibe. The push and pull between Serenity and Konflict made for an addictive slow burn. They stayed so at odds that I kept wondering how they were ever going to get to their HEA. And baby, whenever Serenity decided to stand on business, you can probably guess how well that went over with Konflict’s hateful ass. This book is absolutely in the right category because it is, indeed, erotic. Kinks and toys entered the chat, and this couple was getting it IN. Their road to love wasn’t easy, and thankfully, it included some groveling. While I enjoyed the book overall, I do think the secondary storyline could have been developed a bit more. As much as I love good erotica, the crime family aspect had me wanting more details. I didn’t penalize the book for that, it delivered exactly what it promised. I was just invested in the crime family mess and wanted all the tea. LOL. Some of the sex scenes also felt a bit long and overly descriptive. Overall, Mary took me on a journey of love, vengeance, obsession, and yearning. I cannot wait for the next book because if it’s anything like this one, I already know it’s going to hit.

[Jaszmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.75/5

I really enjoyed Sinful Serenity! The plot pulled me in from the beginning. I'm always a sucker for an arranged marriage, and I thought Mary C. Kim put a unique spin on the trope with the whole sovereign town concept. It also felt refreshing to read a romance set in Canada since I don't come across that very often.

Where the book lost me a little was the writing. It felt pretty basic at times—almost repetitive—and I found myself wishing for a little more depth. One thing that stood out was the French dialogue. Early in the book, the French phrases were immediately translated into English, but toward the end that suddenly stopped, which made the reading experience feel a little inconsistent.

The chemistry between the main characters was enjoyable overall, but there were a few conversations that had me cringing just a bit. As for the ending, the twist wasn't exactly surprising, but it was still shocking in a weird way. I never saw clues leading up to it, so instead of thinking, "I should've seen that coming," it felt more like, "Well...okay." I wish there had been more subtle hints sprinkled throughout the story to build suspense and make the reveal hit even harder.

One thing I do think would elevate this story is the audiobook. I could easily see this being a really fun listen, especially with the French dialogue.

Overall, this landed somewhere between a 3.5 and 4 stars for me. The story itself was strong, but I think the writing kept it from being a five-star read. That said, I'll definitely be checking out more of Mary C. Kim's books because I think she has some really interesting ideas. And please tell me Krash is getting his own book—I need it!

[A. Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 2.75 bumped up.

Konflict and Serenity are arranged to be married, but war between their families has strained their union. Although Konflict has vowed to kill his wife on their first wedding anniversary to avenge his mother’s death, he is drawn to Serenity in ways he can’t control. Serenity has long since given up hope on her marriage, and she decides to live her final days experiencing the passion that her husband has refused her. But what she doesn’t know, is that Konflict’s claim on her began years ago, and Serenity is the one woman he can’t love, nor deny.

I really enjoyed this novel up until the last 7-8%, so my rating dropped a bit (Edited: I sat with this novel and had to return to change my rating and add additional reflections). I found the twist to be convoluted and rushed. And after reflecting, it makes me question who is deserving of justice.

The decision to make Valery the villain wasn’t unexpected, surprising, or uncommon since she’s essentially the help. We discover that Serenity’s father and brother have raped Valery for years and that everyone in the home knew except Serenity. Of course, Valery still blames Serenity for this abuse. And sadly, we discover that Konflict’s mother found out and did nothing. Instead, she continued her plan to groom Serenity for her son and prepare her for her future with him. Sit with that. A child came to an adult asking for protection, and the adult says, no. But yet the reader is made to believe she is a good person since she trains Serenity and believes in her and Konflict’s love.

I honestly hated how the revelation of Valery’s sexual assault was handled. I found it disturbing that after hearing about the years of rape she endured, Konflict and the other men still wanted to keep her alive to slowly torture her. Yes, arguably Valery’s revenge and crimes could be deemed heinous and calculated, but if she were the FMC wouldn’t they have been deemed justified? After reading a book in a similar genre with similar themes and circumstances, I can safely answer, yes. The villain should’ve and could’ve been anyone else. Using rape as a plot device to shape a villain arc and pit these two women characters against each other is concerning.

I’m disappointed in the direction the novel took, because I truly enjoyed this twist on the arranged marriage and the enemies to lovers trope. Serenity and Konflict’s characters pulled at your heartstrings— their back story of how they met and how the circumstances surrounding their feuding families impacted their relationship makes you want to root for their happy ending. Although the conclusion took this book out of the running for my top faves for the year, Serenity and Konflict still remain one of my favorite couples.

[Tangee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! While Sinful Serenity is definitely an erotic romance, it delivers a full, engaging plot, which is exactly why I enjoyed it so much. The spice was beautifully done (that pottery scene… if you know, you know 😮‍💨🔥), but it never overshadowed the story.

What really pulled me in was the world-building. This isn’t your typical romance. After a devastating war, the remaining powerful families are bound by arranged marriages to preserve their bloodlines. The catch? If the marriage isn’t consummated within 12 months, it’s dissolved.

Serenity and Konflict’s relationship is the definition of love-hate. Eleven months into their marriage, with Serenity’s life hanging in the balance, she decides she’s done waiting for her husband to love or even want her. Since she’s never experienced true pleasure from a man, she plans to change that… with anyone but him. Konflict, however, isn’t about to let that happen. Instead, he takes it upon himself to “fix” her problem, introducing her to the Fontaine de Jouissance—and from there, things take OFF.

What starts as an intense battle of wills quickly spirals into shocking twists, dangerous secrets, betrayals, and bloodshed. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, Mary C. Kim threw another curveball.

If you’re looking for an erotic romance that gives you both incredible chemistry and a plot that keeps you turning the pages, Sinful Serenity absolutely delivers. I had such a great time with this one and can’t wait to see what happens next.

[Eros Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The world would stop before I ever laid a finger on you. I will never touch you, Serenity. This marriage will stay unconsummated until the day the law dissolves it. And when that day comes, I will kill you.”

If you are looking for an enemies-to-lovers romance:

-27 y/o virgin FMC
-30 y/o “touch her & die” bilingual MMC
-arranged marriage
-familial wars
-sexual exploration
-light BDSM
-violence, murder & crimes
-strong villains
-found family
-hate laced revenge
-4/5 spice level
-fast paced chaos
-strong ending
-double epilogue
-book 1 of a future series
-under 400 pages


THIS is how you write the enemies to lovers trope!
One sided hate becomes two sided that burns into hate from the other side? Sold.

Serenity is a character that I can stand behind.
Usually with virgin centered FMCs, she’s demure and almost timid toward sex. But, Miss. Flower adoring Serenity said I think not. & I love that refreshing change with a common trope.

Konflict is such a complex character. I found myself disliking him then liking him then disliking him again.
The grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract energy between him and Serenity made this an enjoyable balance to read.

If you enjoy heavy spice that is laced with different chaotic plots then this is the book for you!

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you so much Mary C. Kim for this ARC of Sinful Serenity I really enjoyed this forbidden lovers story between serenity and konflict. i love an arranged marriage and i couldn’t put this book down. the suspense elements were so good and the plot twist reveal caught me off guard because i wasn’t expecting the betrayal to come from that person.



konflict and serenity being in love with each other since they were young but never voicing it due to their families being at war was such an interesting dynamic to see them explain.

everyone knew konflict loved serenity and that’s why they pushed them to get married. it felt like the scene from greys anatomy “the only two people that don’t know that derrick loves meredith is derrick and meredith”

valery was crazy asf and dead wrong for what she did. i felt for her because of the pain and abuse she went through growing up serenity but that didn’t give her the right to try and end serenity and konflict since they weren’t involved and didn’t know anything about it.

[Bodhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

This book was a 5 course meal of deliciousness. My goodness I was held captive from start to finish. The author did an amazing job capturing the thoughts and emotions of Serenity and Konflict. (Even though his fake shenanigans damn near pushed me over the edge). It broke my heart how he did her in the beginning and yet his fight & love for her had my heart full.

The balance between love and hate was illustrated so eloquently in this book, I couldn’t keep up. The only reason why I didn’t give it all 5 stars because I found myself a bit too anxious during the secret escort phase.
After the first 4 or 5 times of them meeting up, I was ready to move along with the rest of the story line. I was ready for the truth to come out. But darling…when the truth came out!! Ohhh my goodness….it did NOT disappoint.

Besides his fake shenanigans in the beginning, I believe every woman should be loved, protected, sexed down and admired how Serenity was by Konflict.

[Lawlah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars – Unexpected, Emotional, and Full of Twists!

I started this book with low expectations, but it completely took me on a journey. From the very first chapter, I was locked in and couldn’t stop reading.

The story follows Serenity and Konflikt, who are forced into a marriage after Konflikt destroys Serenity’s family following the death of his mother at Serenity’s father’s hands.

Konflikt keeps telling Serenity that he hates her, but that is the biggest lie because it’s clear he loves her. He doesn’t want anyone else touching her, and his feelings for her run much deeper than he wants to admit.

The groveling in this story was absolutely top tier. Konflikt had a lot to make up for, and he truly put in the work. The plot twists also caught me completely off guard—I was genuinely shocked.

This is a 4.5-star read that I highly recommend.

[Ebony Essence · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 - Thank you Mary C. Kim for the arc opportunity. First read by you and i definitely had a good time. The spice, f*#king, and bdsm was getting it done *wink wink. My favorite thing about the book was the overall plot. The structure of the Big Six families, the action, betrayal and twist are what really captured me in the book. Serenity was so sweet and too innocent to let Konflict play her like that for a long time. One thing for sure baby girl talked her ish when she over the bs. Now Konflict was hell. I would’ve been put him in a headlock. However, the way he flipped when Serenity put her foot down was good. He started begging and pulling out all the stops. Damn right sir.

Bonus fav: Anything with Serenity and Mama Kate.

[Sharika Sellman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from beginning to end & baby the cover definitely had me fooled lls . The arranged marriage was definitely unexpected and the way it played out was even more unexpected but I was here for it all !!!&& ALL THAT FAWKING THEY WERE DOING 🥵🌶️😮‍💨 Nowwww the plot twist was definitely not what I expected at all ! She played tf out of everybody smh .

Can’t wait to see how the story continues because it sounds like these ppl were just fuxking, making babies and just tossing them to the side !

[Quiantra · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review

This is my second book by Mary C. Kim, and she did not disappoint! I had the pleasure of meeting her at the Cali Takeover Book Event this year, and she was so sweet, kind, and welcoming.

Sinful Serenity had me hooked from the beginning. The tension, chemistry, and emotional depth between Konflict and Serenity kept me turning the pages. If you love arranged marriage and enemies to lovers romance, this book is a must read! I can’t wait to read more from this author.

[BeeMySmutBae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and babyyyyyyyy....MARY YA GOT MEEEEE! When I tell you I blewwww through this MF! Konflict is so toxic....sooooooo NASTTYYYYYYYY.... so BAE lmfaooooo. They were enemies but they were really obssessed with each other and that's what I need in my enemies to lovers. If you don't like spice don't even pick it up. Cuz baby they talk each other through ittttt and Konflict is an eataaaaaaaaa!!

[Shawn M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth every word!

This man KONFLICT!!!! Was mean and I was shocked and loved every second of it! I thought this was going to be a grumpy sunshine and it kinda was but oh boy was he serious about getting rid of her for more than half the book. I just knew nothing was gone change his mind! Serenity definitely was a shock to me because she wasn’t a push over and I loved that. I feel like lately all the FMC’S be so weak and fragile, my girl said I’m done taking your mess and I’ll be waiting in the living room for you!!!! Overall a really good story and I’m curious to know if there will be a book 2. There were a lot of secret family members revealed and the showing up of Viper raises a lot of questions so I definitely intrigued and wanting more.

[Reteika · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

Baby this one here was something different and I loved every part of it! Who would’ve thought that a man who hated you so much really loved even more deep down inside and the roles would be reversed with someone you thought was your best friend? If you love family secrets, rival families, plot twists, spice, and men who don’t play about their women. This one is for you.

[Jessica Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read!!

Whewww!! I ate this book up! I really enjoyed reading this book! The plot was there, the suspense, the yearning, I was on edge and I am so glad this played out beautifully!!! Def a 5 star read, I can’t wait to get this in paperback!

[Keyarica Teyonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that’s how you write a MF book! This book was good af. GREAT ACTUALLY. It was spicy, had some bang bang shoot’em up going on, and the plot twist!! MY GOD…..wasn’t expecting that. This is one of my favorite books of 2026. Highly Highly Recommend!

[Crystal (Melanatedreader) Forte' · Rating 4 out of 5]

baby what a ride

If you are looking for a an arranged marriage with a whole bunch of hunching… this is it. 🚬 That man don’t play but do play about his wife throughout the entire book 😩

[MzEllie Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read📚🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🙌🏾👑💐👍🏾😎

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

The sex scenes would’ve been amazing had the emotional connection made sense. It wasn’t for me. I won’t discourage others from giving it a try.

[Tywanda Brown-Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

This book was nothing short of AMAZING!!!! The storyline and characters were all on point. I loved both the MMC and MFC, now did they both have me rolling my eyes at them at 1am in the morning YESSSS. Did they make up for it...YESSS. Now the source was very spicy just how I like it. I recommend this book for erotic lovers.