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Vow in Vain: Tancredi Trials
“You’ll be my shooting star.”
These words have echoed in my mind ever since I let her walk away, enduring the heartache of losing the woman I thought was my forever.
I had no choice but to immerse myself in work and distance myself from The Family as much as possible without facing exile.
The trade-off? I’m one of the top homicide detectives on the East Coast. Or I was...until a case strikes too close to home, leading me to Stevie, a cocktail waitress with a sharp tongue and a past that haunts her as much as mine.
From the outset, it’s clear she has a problem with me. However, we share a common to bring down her ex, who is my primary suspect in the murder.
Gradually, our tension escalates into something perilous, and I can feel my emotional barriers crumbling.
Mistakes, missteps, betrayals, and lies seem to engulf my once straightforward life, with all signs pointing to the one woman who refuses to leave my thoughts.
These words have echoed in my mind ever since I let her walk away, enduring the heartache of losing the woman I thought was my forever.
I had no choice but to immerse myself in work and distance myself from The Family as much as possible without facing exile.
The trade-off? I’m one of the top homicide detectives on the East Coast. Or I was...until a case strikes too close to home, leading me to Stevie, a cocktail waitress with a sharp tongue and a past that haunts her as much as mine.
From the outset, it’s clear she has a problem with me. However, we share a common to bring down her ex, who is my primary suspect in the murder.
Gradually, our tension escalates into something perilous, and I can feel my emotional barriers crumbling.
Mistakes, missteps, betrayals, and lies seem to engulf my once straightforward life, with all signs pointing to the one woman who refuses to leave my thoughts.
- GenresDark Romance
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
September 22, 2026
4.5 AHHHH THAT ENDING!! 😳 I have an idea of what is going on and if I’m right?! I already couldn’t stand that person, and this is going to make it SO much worse if it shakes out to be them. 👀
Also… I LOVE Rocky. 😂 I don’t care. That man has me fully invested.
This series just keeps pulling me in, and after that ending, I NEED the next book immediately.
Also… I LOVE Rocky. 😂 I don’t care. That man has me fully invested.
This series just keeps pulling me in, and after that ending, I NEED the next book immediately.
October 12, 2026
“You’ll be my shooting star.” Okay, starting a story with a man still carrying the heartbreak of losing the woman he thought would be his forever already tells me we're dealing with some emotional baggage!
Vow in Vain by Andrea Huston gives us a homicide detective who has buried himself in his career rather than deal with everything he's lost. He's managed to become one of the top detectives on the East Coast, but then one case hits way too close to home and brings Stevie into his life. And Stevie definitely isn't impressed by him!
She's a cocktail waitress with a sharp tongue, a difficult past of her own, and an ex who happens to be the primary suspect in his murder investigation. They might not exactly get along, but they do have one very important thing in common, they both want her ex taken down.
I really enjoyed the tension between these two. Neither one is walking into this situation looking for a relationship, and both are carrying things from their pasts that they haven't completely escaped. As they're pulled closer together, those emotional walls start coming down, and suddenly their connection becomes another complication neither of them planned for.
But this isn't just about the romance. There are mistakes, lies, betrayals, and plenty of reasons to question who can actually be trusted. When everything starts pointing toward the one woman he can't stop thinking about, feelings and the investigation become dangerously tangled together.
I love a romance where the characters have to decide whether they're willing to trust someone after they've already been hurt, especially when there's a murder investigation making that trust even harder!
Vow in Vain by Andrea Huston gives us a homicide detective who has buried himself in his career rather than deal with everything he's lost. He's managed to become one of the top detectives on the East Coast, but then one case hits way too close to home and brings Stevie into his life. And Stevie definitely isn't impressed by him!
She's a cocktail waitress with a sharp tongue, a difficult past of her own, and an ex who happens to be the primary suspect in his murder investigation. They might not exactly get along, but they do have one very important thing in common, they both want her ex taken down.
I really enjoyed the tension between these two. Neither one is walking into this situation looking for a relationship, and both are carrying things from their pasts that they haven't completely escaped. As they're pulled closer together, those emotional walls start coming down, and suddenly their connection becomes another complication neither of them planned for.
But this isn't just about the romance. There are mistakes, lies, betrayals, and plenty of reasons to question who can actually be trusted. When everything starts pointing toward the one woman he can't stop thinking about, feelings and the investigation become dangerously tangled together.
I love a romance where the characters have to decide whether they're willing to trust someone after they've already been hurt, especially when there's a murder investigation making that trust even harder!
September 22, 2026
I went into Vow in Vein a little apprehensive because Rocky was one of my favorites from the original duet. Seeing how much he’s changed was honestly a little heartbreaking. I mourned the version of Rocky I loved but I also found myself completely invested in who he’s become.
This book gives us a deeper look at The Family, its politics and just how complicated that world really is. The romance is a slow burn with plenty of heat, tension and delicious enemies-to-lovers energy. Rocky and Stevie have chemistry that keeps building, and the tension is off the charts. I loved watching their relationship evolve as everything around them gets messier.
What hooked me was the feeling that there’s so much happening beneath the surface. The deeper the story goes, the more complicated the lines between loyalty, corruption, and power become.
This book was an addictive continuation of the Forbidden Forma world with plenty of tension, heat and chaos. And that ending? Umm....things are BAD and I need to know where this goes next. 🔥
This book gives us a deeper look at The Family, its politics and just how complicated that world really is. The romance is a slow burn with plenty of heat, tension and delicious enemies-to-lovers energy. Rocky and Stevie have chemistry that keeps building, and the tension is off the charts. I loved watching their relationship evolve as everything around them gets messier.
What hooked me was the feeling that there’s so much happening beneath the surface. The deeper the story goes, the more complicated the lines between loyalty, corruption, and power become.
This book was an addictive continuation of the Forbidden Forma world with plenty of tension, heat and chaos. And that ending? Umm....things are BAD and I need to know where this goes next. 🔥
October 18, 2026
Ten years ago, he had his heart broken when his betrothed chose his cousin, and since then, Rocky has been living a solitary existence as a homicide detective, filled with meaningless encounters, only trying to distract himself from the one woman he can’t stop thinking about. When he comes across a murder victim he hooked up with in the past, wearing a Forma bracelet, he knows that there’s more to the story. Hoping to get closer to the woman who found the body, he starts showing up at the club where she works, where he quickly learns that she has an ex who refuses to take no for an answer, but as his need for answers turns into a desire to protect and possess her, he knows that neither of them will get out of this unscathed.
Stevie had big dreams growing up, but they all came crashing down under her ex’s fists. Now she’s working as a cocktail waitress, and dancing occasionally, trying to pay for her mom’s medical bills. From the moment she meets Rocky, she’s convinced he’s just like every other guy, but he keeps showing up and trying to prove to her he’s not. As she finds herself falling, she gets pulled into his world, where The Family makes it clear she will never be good enough.
I was given the opportunity to read this book by @the_space_network and absolutely loved Rocky and Stevie’s story. I was definitely conflicted about him in the DiFranco Duet, but it was clear early on that his time with Rorie left him broken, forced into a loveless marriage that turned into more of a curse than a gift. As we worked through this book, we gradually saw him becoming more of the carefree Rocky we met in the last one, shedding the weight he’d been carrying for a decade. Stevie is so used to being disappointed that she initially couldn’t see how good Rocky is for her, and the way he’s willing to risk everything for her shows just how much he loves her. The cliffhanger ending completely blindsided me, but I have my suspicions on who’s responsible.
Stevie had big dreams growing up, but they all came crashing down under her ex’s fists. Now she’s working as a cocktail waitress, and dancing occasionally, trying to pay for her mom’s medical bills. From the moment she meets Rocky, she’s convinced he’s just like every other guy, but he keeps showing up and trying to prove to her he’s not. As she finds herself falling, she gets pulled into his world, where The Family makes it clear she will never be good enough.
I was given the opportunity to read this book by @the_space_network and absolutely loved Rocky and Stevie’s story. I was definitely conflicted about him in the DiFranco Duet, but it was clear early on that his time with Rorie left him broken, forced into a loveless marriage that turned into more of a curse than a gift. As we worked through this book, we gradually saw him becoming more of the carefree Rocky we met in the last one, shedding the weight he’d been carrying for a decade. Stevie is so used to being disappointed that she initially couldn’t see how good Rocky is for her, and the way he’s willing to risk everything for her shows just how much he loves her. The cliffhanger ending completely blindsided me, but I have my suspicions on who’s responsible.
September 22, 2026
⭐ 4.5/5
I’ve loved Rocky since book two, so I was more than ready for him to finally get his story.
One thing I was especially happy about was seeing Rocky finally move on from Aurora. I did not want his story to be about him still pining for her ten years later, and thankfully it wasn’t. Stevie is definitely not a consolation prize. The chemistry between Rocky and Stevie is there almost immediately, even though neither one wants to admit it.
Stevie is such a tough cookie on the outside, but once you learn about her past, you understand why she has built those walls around herself. She had so much promise when she was younger, but life has dealt her one blow after another. I really felt for her, especially knowing everything she has survived and everything she is still carrying.
Of course, Stevie finding a body and then getting involved with the homicide detective investigating the murder is probably not the smartest combination. 😂 But I loved these two together.
There was also plenty of Family drama, and Aurora definitely got on my nerves with the way she treated Stevie. Girl, it has been TEN YEARS. You are married with children. Let Rocky be happy!
The murder mystery was one of my favorite parts. It kept me guessing and forming theories throughout the book, and I definitely have a suspect. I’m not saying who because I don’t want to spoil anything, but I NEED to know if I’m right.
And the spice? SPICY. Åndrea definitely delivered.
Then there is THAT ENDING.
Are you freaking kidding me?!
What a way to leave me hanging. I devoured this entire book in ONE DAY, just like I did the others, and now I need answers.
ARC provided by The Space Network and Åndrea Hutson.
I’ve loved Rocky since book two, so I was more than ready for him to finally get his story.
One thing I was especially happy about was seeing Rocky finally move on from Aurora. I did not want his story to be about him still pining for her ten years later, and thankfully it wasn’t. Stevie is definitely not a consolation prize. The chemistry between Rocky and Stevie is there almost immediately, even though neither one wants to admit it.
Stevie is such a tough cookie on the outside, but once you learn about her past, you understand why she has built those walls around herself. She had so much promise when she was younger, but life has dealt her one blow after another. I really felt for her, especially knowing everything she has survived and everything she is still carrying.
Of course, Stevie finding a body and then getting involved with the homicide detective investigating the murder is probably not the smartest combination. 😂 But I loved these two together.
There was also plenty of Family drama, and Aurora definitely got on my nerves with the way she treated Stevie. Girl, it has been TEN YEARS. You are married with children. Let Rocky be happy!
The murder mystery was one of my favorite parts. It kept me guessing and forming theories throughout the book, and I definitely have a suspect. I’m not saying who because I don’t want to spoil anything, but I NEED to know if I’m right.
And the spice? SPICY. Åndrea definitely delivered.
Then there is THAT ENDING.
Are you freaking kidding me?!
What a way to leave me hanging. I devoured this entire book in ONE DAY, just like I did the others, and now I need answers.
ARC provided by The Space Network and Åndrea Hutson.
September 23, 2026
Vow in Vain is the third book in the Forbidden Forma series, and it is FIRE! I could not put this book down. It's a mafia-lite romance full of non-stop action, twists, and heartache. You get all the intensity of mafia suspense with less open-door brutality, which makes it perfect for anyone who wants to dip their toe into darker romance. The chemistry between these characters is addictive, and by the end I was bawling, chest cracked open and heart on the floor!
Stevie is a cocktail waitress doing whatever she can to care for her mother, who has dementia. For the first time in her life, she's free from her abusive ex and making it on her own. Then her mother goes missing, and while searching the woods near her home, Stevie stumbles onto the body of one of her coworkers.
Enter Detective Rocky Tancredi. He's everything every woman wants, and the heat between him and Stevie is palpable. There's just one problem: Stevie becomes the main suspect. As Rocky works to clear her name, her ex takes notice. Rocky swears to protect Stevie at all costs, but at every turn, something terrible happens. Someone behind the scenes is pulling the strings. But who, and why?
If you love a possessive, protective MMC who will do anything for the one he cares about, plus mystery, suspense, and banter-fueled spice, you'll want to read not just this book but all three. Don't sit on this series!
Thank you to the S.P.A.C.E. Network and Andrea Huston for having me on the ARC team. This is my honest review!
Stevie is a cocktail waitress doing whatever she can to care for her mother, who has dementia. For the first time in her life, she's free from her abusive ex and making it on her own. Then her mother goes missing, and while searching the woods near her home, Stevie stumbles onto the body of one of her coworkers.
Enter Detective Rocky Tancredi. He's everything every woman wants, and the heat between him and Stevie is palpable. There's just one problem: Stevie becomes the main suspect. As Rocky works to clear her name, her ex takes notice. Rocky swears to protect Stevie at all costs, but at every turn, something terrible happens. Someone behind the scenes is pulling the strings. But who, and why?
If you love a possessive, protective MMC who will do anything for the one he cares about, plus mystery, suspense, and banter-fueled spice, you'll want to read not just this book but all three. Don't sit on this series!
Thank you to the S.P.A.C.E. Network and Andrea Huston for having me on the ARC team. This is my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is book 3 in for Forbidden Forma series but book 1 in the Trancredi Trials series.
This book starts off with a bang and doesn’t let up. As Rocky as the detective in a murder case, he realizes that he knows the victim and it’s hone how tied to “The Family” and he must get to the bottom of it quickly. He is slowly finding himself attracted to the girl who stumbled upon the body, but he is trying hard to get his wife to agree so a divorce so he can move on with his life.
Andrea never ceases to amaze me with her writing and her storylines! They are all so good and I find myself completely immersed in her books. This new Forbidden Forma series has me hooked! I am anxious for the next book in the series! I wasn’t sure how I felt about Rocky from reading Devoted Demise, but now that he’s grown on me and we get his story, I love him. Stevie is a spitfire from the beginning, but with a heart of gold, and is determined to keep her mom safe and taken care of, if only her sister wld straighten out and get herself clean, Stevie wldnt have had so much in her plate.
This book starts off with a bang and doesn’t let up. As Rocky as the detective in a murder case, he realizes that he knows the victim and it’s hone how tied to “The Family” and he must get to the bottom of it quickly. He is slowly finding himself attracted to the girl who stumbled upon the body, but he is trying hard to get his wife to agree so a divorce so he can move on with his life.
Andrea never ceases to amaze me with her writing and her storylines! They are all so good and I find myself completely immersed in her books. This new Forbidden Forma series has me hooked! I am anxious for the next book in the series! I wasn’t sure how I felt about Rocky from reading Devoted Demise, but now that he’s grown on me and we get his story, I love him. Stevie is a spitfire from the beginning, but with a heart of gold, and is determined to keep her mom safe and taken care of, if only her sister wld straighten out and get herself clean, Stevie wldnt have had so much in her plate.
September 23, 2026
Ahhhh Andrea Huston has done it again. Vow in Vain is an addictive, thrilling read that keeps you on the edge of your seat and leaves you wanting more more more.
I love that we get a continuation of Rocky's story in the first book of this duet. It gives us a different look at The Family and unlike Aurora and Jake's story this one is a lot more of a slow burn which I like. Don't get me wrong, this one will still.please your spicy loving taste buds but it is a slower, tension building story with plenty of secrets and many questions still to be answered.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait for the conclusion of Rocky and Stevie's story and just love this world that Andrea Huston has created.
Thank you to thespacenetwork and Andrea Huston for the opportunity to read this awesome 3rd installment.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
I love that we get a continuation of Rocky's story in the first book of this duet. It gives us a different look at The Family and unlike Aurora and Jake's story this one is a lot more of a slow burn which I like. Don't get me wrong, this one will still.please your spicy loving taste buds but it is a slower, tension building story with plenty of secrets and many questions still to be answered.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait for the conclusion of Rocky and Stevie's story and just love this world that Andrea Huston has created.
Thank you to thespacenetwork and Andrea Huston for the opportunity to read this awesome 3rd installment.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
September 22, 2026
4/5⭐️
ARC provides by the SPACE Network.
A murder mystery, crime thriller, all tied together by a deliciously spicy dark romance?! Yes, please. This is the chemistry I’ve been waiting for from this series. Rocky and Stevie fit together perfectly and the tension is off the charts. Now look, am I fairly confident in who is going to be the big “reveal” in the next book? Yes. Do I care? No, because I just need more Rocky/Stevie in my life.
(Side note, what book does Theodore die because he is the freaking WORST)
My only feedback would be to get this through one more round of editing. There are some grammatical issues and continuity errors with names, sibling counts, etc. that could easily be resolved and take this to a 5⭐️ read.
ARC provides by the SPACE Network.
A murder mystery, crime thriller, all tied together by a deliciously spicy dark romance?! Yes, please. This is the chemistry I’ve been waiting for from this series. Rocky and Stevie fit together perfectly and the tension is off the charts. Now look, am I fairly confident in who is going to be the big “reveal” in the next book? Yes. Do I care? No, because I just need more Rocky/Stevie in my life.
(Side note, what book does Theodore die because he is the freaking WORST)
My only feedback would be to get this through one more round of editing. There are some grammatical issues and continuity errors with names, sibling counts, etc. that could easily be resolved and take this to a 5⭐️ read.
September 23, 2026
Vow in Vain is now my favorite in the Forbidden Forma series! I loved the first two but this one just blew those out of the water! I don't know how I'm going to be able to be patient waiting on the conclusion in book 4!! I fell in love with Rocky in the last book and watching him grow throughout this story in both good and bad ways has been both torture and heartwarming. I love Stevie and how she has learned to persevere through so much. These two were made to heal the broken parts of one another. Watching their story unfold has made me not want to put this book down!
This book offers so much on every page. You've got great spice, Forbidden love, secret society, murder mystery, broken hearts being healed, past trauma..... do I really need to go on?? It's got it all and then some! Cannot wait for the next one!!!!
This book offers so much on every page. You've got great spice, Forbidden love, secret society, murder mystery, broken hearts being healed, past trauma..... do I really need to go on?? It's got it all and then some! Cannot wait for the next one!!!!
September 22, 2026
By the 3rd book in the series I should be more prepared for what Andrea likes to put us through. But I in fact was not. I am so thankful to learn Rocky’s story 10 years after the DiFranco Duet. The tension and banter between him and Stevie were everything I needed, the secret society vibes were on point, the spice was spicy, but that ending made me scream. Come on, Andrea! Why do you do this to us?! Need book 4 ASAP!!
Thankful for Andrea and The Space Network for the opportunity to read and review this novel!
Thankful for Andrea and The Space Network for the opportunity to read and review this novel!
September 23, 2026
"Vow in Vain" absolutely addictive, I genuinely couldn't put it down. Page 396 is a moment you won't forget. Andrea Huston is an auto-buy author for me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I absolutely love the way this book is written and getting to see more of Rocky, my new favorite book boyfriend. Andrea has a way with captivating you within the story and so hard to put down her books once you start them. I cannot believe she has left me hanging like this AGAIN!!! If you're looking for your next dark mafia/secret society romance, I definitely recommend this one, just make sure you start with reading Broken or Buried!
September 22, 2026
When you get pulled in from the start and it doesn't let go til the end and you screaming for the nextbook. I am so happy that we get Rocky story. I love that we get twist and turns. Andrea know how to get you on a emotional roller-coaster and doesn't let go. I love Stevie character. I love that we are getting darker and darker themes and tropes. I will always be a Andrea fan. I have seen her grow and when I tell you she is getting better with every story and I am HOOKED!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Vow in Vain is definitely captivating and a true page turner! The characters are great! I love the MFC Stevie - she is so damaged yet a bad ass. I also love the "I will kill you if you touch her" vibe the MMC throws off. The Mafia family setting is a great part of the plot. I'm glad I read the first duet - it truly set the tone for this new duet. I look forward to book 4 of the series coming out!
October 18, 2026
I love Rocky and Stevie’s story! There is a murder to solve, jealous exes, swanky parties, strippers, something for everyone to enjoy! Only bad thing is that it ends in a cliff hanger and I need to know what happens next! Cannot wait to read the next book!!
September 22, 2026
Wow this series just keeps getting better and better. More tension, more trauma and more drama. I love it! Stevie and Rocky ummm what!!! I love them! This book delves into more of the Family. Their politics, who they are and all of the corruption underneath. And what that cliffhanger… I need more!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rocky Tancredi is everything I love in a walking red flag: his red flags point outward.
He's dangerous, possessive, protective, filthy, competent, morally questionable, and maybe just a tiny bit homicidal—but with Stevie, he's attentive, vulnerable, patient, and devastatingly tender. The man doesn't just want her. He sees her. And apparently that's my kryptonite.
I went into Vow in Vain already loving Rocky. I was Team Rocky from Devoted Demise, so Andrea had an incredibly high bar to clear with his book.
She cleared it. Then launched me directly over it and off a cliff.
Rocky and Stevie were everything I wanted them to be and somehow more. Their chemistry is HOT, the banter hits, the suspense never lets you get comfortable, and underneath all of it are two beautifully messy people who keep believing they're not good enough for each other.
Stevie looks at her past, her trauma, and all the pieces of herself she thinks are too messy and wonders how she could ever be enough for Rocky. Meanwhile, Rocky looks at the darkness tied to The Family and wonders how he could ever be good enough for her. Watching these two slowly figure out that maybe love isn't about becoming worthy first—maybe it's about letting someone see all of you and choosing to stay—absolutely wrecked me.
And Rocky? GOOD LORD.
One minute this man is ready to burn the entire world down for Stevie, and the next he's vulnerable enough to completely rip your heart out. He's protective without making her helpless, dominant without diminishing her, and dangerous without ever making her feel like she's the one in danger.
That combination? F*cking catnip.
This book put me through every possible emotion. I laughed. I swooned. I was furious. I was suspicious of everyone. I contemplated making a crime wall. I needed several deep breaths and, at one point, apparently a post-orgasm cigarette. I may have also suggested that a certain character jump off a cliff for funsies.
I was doing great.
And then I hit the ending.
ANDREA HUSTON, YOU ABSOLUTE MENACE.
I spent this entire book blissfully believing Rocky had gotten his own story after the DiFranco duet.
Apparently I should have asked more questions. 😂
Now I'm emotionally compromised, wildly attached to Rocky Tancredi, and desperately waiting to find out what happens next.
5 stars. No notes.
Okay, that's a lie. There were a LOT of notes. Mostly timestamped emotional breakdowns.
Never trust Andrea. Read Andrea. Love Andrea. Harass Andrea lovingly in the DMs. But trust? Absolutely not. 🖤🔥
He's dangerous, possessive, protective, filthy, competent, morally questionable, and maybe just a tiny bit homicidal—but with Stevie, he's attentive, vulnerable, patient, and devastatingly tender. The man doesn't just want her. He sees her. And apparently that's my kryptonite.
I went into Vow in Vain already loving Rocky. I was Team Rocky from Devoted Demise, so Andrea had an incredibly high bar to clear with his book.
She cleared it. Then launched me directly over it and off a cliff.
Rocky and Stevie were everything I wanted them to be and somehow more. Their chemistry is HOT, the banter hits, the suspense never lets you get comfortable, and underneath all of it are two beautifully messy people who keep believing they're not good enough for each other.
Stevie looks at her past, her trauma, and all the pieces of herself she thinks are too messy and wonders how she could ever be enough for Rocky. Meanwhile, Rocky looks at the darkness tied to The Family and wonders how he could ever be good enough for her. Watching these two slowly figure out that maybe love isn't about becoming worthy first—maybe it's about letting someone see all of you and choosing to stay—absolutely wrecked me.
And Rocky? GOOD LORD.
One minute this man is ready to burn the entire world down for Stevie, and the next he's vulnerable enough to completely rip your heart out. He's protective without making her helpless, dominant without diminishing her, and dangerous without ever making her feel like she's the one in danger.
That combination? F*cking catnip.
This book put me through every possible emotion. I laughed. I swooned. I was furious. I was suspicious of everyone. I contemplated making a crime wall. I needed several deep breaths and, at one point, apparently a post-orgasm cigarette. I may have also suggested that a certain character jump off a cliff for funsies.
I was doing great.
And then I hit the ending.
ANDREA HUSTON, YOU ABSOLUTE MENACE.
I spent this entire book blissfully believing Rocky had gotten his own story after the DiFranco duet.
Apparently I should have asked more questions. 😂
Now I'm emotionally compromised, wildly attached to Rocky Tancredi, and desperately waiting to find out what happens next.
5 stars. No notes.
Okay, that's a lie. There were a LOT of notes. Mostly timestamped emotional breakdowns.
Never trust Andrea. Read Andrea. Love Andrea. Harass Andrea lovingly in the DMs. But trust? Absolutely not. 🖤🔥
September 22, 2026
Ok i almost didn't make it but i honestly don't know what to say other than I just binged it in 1 day and a half.... i have no words other than this needs to be your new series to binge.
Review of advance copy received from Author
My emotions have been on a journey! Andrea I’m holding you solely responsible 😂
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
After reading the DiFranco Duet you’d think I’d be somewhat prepared for what Vow in Vain had in store….I was unprepared.
The story follows on perfectly from our little introduction to Rocky in Devoted Demise but skips forward 10 years. Rocky (the MMC) who is now a leading detective within the Newhaven PD is introduced to Stevie (the FMC). I mean there’s nothing like a dead body to bring people together. Queue the instant attraction and the tension starts here 🔥
I have to say I fell hard for Mr DiFranco but Rocky is my new book boyfriend! That man gets into your heart and is super easy to relate to. I love the way he balances the two worlds in which he exists…the daily and the one with ‘The Family’, rather him than me, those people are terrifying.
The plot, the characters, THE SPICE…..oh ok, I’m off to do re-read!
BUT I am not ok with the ending….. of not knowing if Rocky and Stevie are safe….who is behind it all….ARRRGGGHHH the questions…Andrea why did you do that to us????? WHEN do we find out….asking for my reading welfare and that of all the other readers 😂
Add Vow in Vain immediately to your TBR, you’ll thank me 🖤
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
After reading the DiFranco Duet you’d think I’d be somewhat prepared for what Vow in Vain had in store….I was unprepared.
The story follows on perfectly from our little introduction to Rocky in Devoted Demise but skips forward 10 years. Rocky (the MMC) who is now a leading detective within the Newhaven PD is introduced to Stevie (the FMC). I mean there’s nothing like a dead body to bring people together. Queue the instant attraction and the tension starts here 🔥
I have to say I fell hard for Mr DiFranco but Rocky is my new book boyfriend! That man gets into your heart and is super easy to relate to. I love the way he balances the two worlds in which he exists…the daily and the one with ‘The Family’, rather him than me, those people are terrifying.
The plot, the characters, THE SPICE…..oh ok, I’m off to do re-read!
BUT I am not ok with the ending….. of not knowing if Rocky and Stevie are safe….who is behind it all….ARRRGGGHHH the questions…Andrea why did you do that to us????? WHEN do we find out….asking for my reading welfare and that of all the other readers 😂
Add Vow in Vain immediately to your TBR, you’ll thank me 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.25 ⭐'s with 2.5🌶️'s
This may be book three in the Forbidden Forma series, but it's also book one of the Tancredi Trials duology. While it begins a new storyline, I would definitely recommend reading the first two books beforehand. Not only will you have a much better understanding of The Family and its world, but you'll also have the background needed to understand exactly why our MMC, Rocky, is the man we meet here.
Rocky is one of the best homicide detectives on the East Coast. He's also a member of The Family, with his own seat at the table — and a man who has absolutely no time for love.
After having his heart ripped out by the woman he believed was "the one", he settled into an arranged marriage that he now desperately wants out of. He's emotionally guarded, complicated and carrying more baggage than he would probably ever admit to.
Then there's Stevie.
Stevie works as a cocktail waitress at a local strip club and already has more than enough on her plate. She's trying to move on from a long-term abusive relationship while caring for her mother, who has Alzheimer's, dealing with her irresponsible older sister, and desperately trying to earn enough money to cover her mother's medication and their mounting expenses.
The LAST thing she needs is more trouble.
Unfortunately, trouble arrives in the form of a body in the woods... followed shortly afterwards by one man-mountain of a homicide detective.
Andrea Huston has done it again.
This is the third book of hers I've read this week, and at this point my sleep schedule has simply accepted defeat. Once again, I found myself sitting up until gone 2am chanting "one more chapter" despite knowing full well that I was lying to myself.
I'm completely hooked on the characters Huston brings to life. They're deeply flawed, emotionally messy and often incredibly dark, but there's always this sense that somewhere beneath all of those defences is a tiny flicker of light just waiting for the right person to find it.
I particularly enjoyed the slower burn between Stevie and Rocky. Their relationship is allowed time to develop, and that yearning and restraint added another layer to their growing feelings and chemistry. Throw in the murder mystery running alongside the romance, The Family and all of its complications, morally grey characters and plenty of spice, and there was so much here to keep me invested.
There was one element I wasn't quite as keen on, and that was the change in attitude of one major character from the previous books. Considering everything that had happened before, their change in outlook frustrated me somewhat. Apparently perspectives can shift remarkably quickly once you're the person who has it all...
And then we need to discuss that ending.
Actually, no.
I don't want to discuss that ending.
It was DIABOLICAL.
Was it effective? Yes.
Did it leave me desperate for the next book? Also yes.
Am I happy about having flown through the first three books only to discover that I now have to WAIT to find out what happens next with Stevie and Rocky?
Absolutely not.
If you enjoy murder mysteries woven into your dark romance, slow burn, yearning, secret societies, morally grey men and spice, then this series absolutely deserves a place on your TBR.
Please check the trigger warnings before reading, as the book contains potentially distressing content, including SA.
Thank you so much to Andrea Huston for giving me the opportunity to read an early copy. All opinions are entirely my own.
This may be book three in the Forbidden Forma series, but it's also book one of the Tancredi Trials duology. While it begins a new storyline, I would definitely recommend reading the first two books beforehand. Not only will you have a much better understanding of The Family and its world, but you'll also have the background needed to understand exactly why our MMC, Rocky, is the man we meet here.
Rocky is one of the best homicide detectives on the East Coast. He's also a member of The Family, with his own seat at the table — and a man who has absolutely no time for love.
After having his heart ripped out by the woman he believed was "the one", he settled into an arranged marriage that he now desperately wants out of. He's emotionally guarded, complicated and carrying more baggage than he would probably ever admit to.
Then there's Stevie.
Stevie works as a cocktail waitress at a local strip club and already has more than enough on her plate. She's trying to move on from a long-term abusive relationship while caring for her mother, who has Alzheimer's, dealing with her irresponsible older sister, and desperately trying to earn enough money to cover her mother's medication and their mounting expenses.
The LAST thing she needs is more trouble.
Unfortunately, trouble arrives in the form of a body in the woods... followed shortly afterwards by one man-mountain of a homicide detective.
Andrea Huston has done it again.
This is the third book of hers I've read this week, and at this point my sleep schedule has simply accepted defeat. Once again, I found myself sitting up until gone 2am chanting "one more chapter" despite knowing full well that I was lying to myself.
I'm completely hooked on the characters Huston brings to life. They're deeply flawed, emotionally messy and often incredibly dark, but there's always this sense that somewhere beneath all of those defences is a tiny flicker of light just waiting for the right person to find it.
I particularly enjoyed the slower burn between Stevie and Rocky. Their relationship is allowed time to develop, and that yearning and restraint added another layer to their growing feelings and chemistry. Throw in the murder mystery running alongside the romance, The Family and all of its complications, morally grey characters and plenty of spice, and there was so much here to keep me invested.
There was one element I wasn't quite as keen on, and that was the change in attitude of one major character from the previous books. Considering everything that had happened before, their change in outlook frustrated me somewhat. Apparently perspectives can shift remarkably quickly once you're the person who has it all...
And then we need to discuss that ending.
Actually, no.
I don't want to discuss that ending.
It was DIABOLICAL.
Was it effective? Yes.
Did it leave me desperate for the next book? Also yes.
Am I happy about having flown through the first three books only to discover that I now have to WAIT to find out what happens next with Stevie and Rocky?
Absolutely not.
If you enjoy murder mysteries woven into your dark romance, slow burn, yearning, secret societies, morally grey men and spice, then this series absolutely deserves a place on your TBR.
Please check the trigger warnings before reading, as the book contains potentially distressing content, including SA.
Thank you so much to Andrea Huston for giving me the opportunity to read an early copy. All opinions are entirely my own.
September 23, 2026
10 years after the DiFranco duet, book one of the Tancredi Trials focuses on Rocky.
Our story starts with FMC Stevie, a cocktail waitress and spicey ballerina, finding a body in the woods. Yes, the action starts that quick. Rocky, now a detective with the local PD, arrives on scene and is instantly obsessed. The rest of the book is full of spice, twists, trauma, and of course Family drama.
First thing...Andrea you make it hard to love you, but I still do. That cliff-hanger scarred me and now I have trust issues.
Vow in Vain is so chaotic, and I love it. Stevie AKA *Kitten* and Rocky burn hot and their chemistry is off the charts. Andrea did a great job balancing the spice and plot in this book. While this is a slow burn, the tension and yearning makes it more like edging for the reader. The banter between these two give me life, it is so snippy and neither of them back down.
The plot was twisty and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! I could not put this book down. Every time I thought I knew something, Andrea pulled the rug out and I was left a complete mess. I love that we were brought deeper into The Family and were able to see more about the politics involved.
Overall, this book gives spice, forbidden love, secret society, murder, healing, trauma, and so much more. If you havn't experinced Huston's writing, you are in for a wild ride!
Our story starts with FMC Stevie, a cocktail waitress and spicey ballerina, finding a body in the woods. Yes, the action starts that quick. Rocky, now a detective with the local PD, arrives on scene and is instantly obsessed. The rest of the book is full of spice, twists, trauma, and of course Family drama.
First thing...Andrea you make it hard to love you, but I still do. That cliff-hanger scarred me and now I have trust issues.
Vow in Vain is so chaotic, and I love it. Stevie AKA *Kitten* and Rocky burn hot and their chemistry is off the charts. Andrea did a great job balancing the spice and plot in this book. While this is a slow burn, the tension and yearning makes it more like edging for the reader. The banter between these two give me life, it is so snippy and neither of them back down.
The plot was twisty and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! I could not put this book down. Every time I thought I knew something, Andrea pulled the rug out and I was left a complete mess. I love that we were brought deeper into The Family and were able to see more about the politics involved.
Overall, this book gives spice, forbidden love, secret society, murder, healing, trauma, and so much more. If you havn't experinced Huston's writing, you are in for a wild ride!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rocky and Stevie. How do you mend a broken heart?
The continuation of the Forbidden Forma secret society series. I really wanted to read this one because my heart broke for Rocky in the first book. Of course I wanted Jake and Aurora to have their HEA but it was gut wrenching for it to happen at Rocky's expense.
In his story we see what happened from Rocky's point of view and his descent into despair and how it changed his personality. This Rocky is a darker, harder, more violent Rocky. Gone is the easygoing charming rogue.
With Stevie we start to see his charm again and a possessiveness with undertones of his darker personality. I enjoyed reading his thoughts about what was happening.
I liked Stevie as the tough exterior soft inner and still slightly naive female lead. What happens to her is every woman's nightmare and I really wanted justice for her.
This is two very broken souls finding each other and hesitant to trust beyond a physical attraction and I enjoyed reading along.
The book ends in a cliffhanger and I wasn't prepared (even though I knew to expect it). Even though this isn't the darkest of dark romance, there are quite dark elements in the book themes so make sure to check triggers.
I read an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The continuation of the Forbidden Forma secret society series. I really wanted to read this one because my heart broke for Rocky in the first book. Of course I wanted Jake and Aurora to have their HEA but it was gut wrenching for it to happen at Rocky's expense.
In his story we see what happened from Rocky's point of view and his descent into despair and how it changed his personality. This Rocky is a darker, harder, more violent Rocky. Gone is the easygoing charming rogue.
With Stevie we start to see his charm again and a possessiveness with undertones of his darker personality. I enjoyed reading his thoughts about what was happening.
I liked Stevie as the tough exterior soft inner and still slightly naive female lead. What happens to her is every woman's nightmare and I really wanted justice for her.
This is two very broken souls finding each other and hesitant to trust beyond a physical attraction and I enjoyed reading along.
The book ends in a cliffhanger and I wasn't prepared (even though I knew to expect it). Even though this isn't the darkest of dark romance, there are quite dark elements in the book themes so make sure to check triggers.
I read an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4+ Stars ⭐⭐⭐🌟 VOW IN VAIN is an intense story filled with dark themes, compelling drama, an unsolved murder, a rollercoaster of emotions, and hot, steamy passion that will often have you on the edge of your seat and keep you thoroughly engaged from start to finish. If you’ve read the DiFranco Duet, you know Rocky’s backstory. This tale begins 10 years later. Rocky has hardened his heart and become a top detective with the New Haven PD. Stevie enters his world when she discovers a dead body. With an almost instant attraction, the story steadily builds from there. Add in the complications of psycho exes, the Family’s strictures, two different worlds, and an unknown killer on the loose, and theirs is a relationship you can’t help but feel deeply involved in, while wondering how in the world it will ever succeed. The end of this part of their story leaves you on tenterhooks, concerned for the safety of Stevie and Rocky, anxious and eager to discover who’s behind the deaths, and who may really be pulling the strings.
Review of advance copy received from Author
*Advanced Reader Copy received from the Author before release date*
I loved Rocky ever since he got introduced in the DiFranco duet and he did not disappoint in this book.
His character and personality stayed true to his nature from start to finish, as well the relationship development between him and Stevie was written so well.
Where in other books the MMC and FMC are too "sappy" to my liking, Rocky and Stevie are matching perfectly in so many ways.
The storyline is easy to follow and explains a few things which were mentioned in Devoted Demise.
From start it's obvious that Rocky keeps himself out of the world of The Family, without being an outsider and he balances both worlds.
Even the moments where he does work for or with The Family the scenes are written so good and adds to the tension of the storyline.
Let's not forget to mention to talk about the smut. It's included, well written and not too much. It fits perfectly in the development of the relationship between Rocky and Stevie.
And then the cliffhanger at the end..
I loved Rocky ever since he got introduced in the DiFranco duet and he did not disappoint in this book.
His character and personality stayed true to his nature from start to finish, as well the relationship development between him and Stevie was written so well.
Where in other books the MMC and FMC are too "sappy" to my liking, Rocky and Stevie are matching perfectly in so many ways.
The storyline is easy to follow and explains a few things which were mentioned in Devoted Demise.
From start it's obvious that Rocky keeps himself out of the world of The Family, without being an outsider and he balances both worlds.
Even the moments where he does work for or with The Family the scenes are written so good and adds to the tension of the storyline.
Let's not forget to mention to talk about the smut. It's included, well written and not too much. It fits perfectly in the development of the relationship between Rocky and Stevie.
And then the cliffhanger at the end..
Review of advance copy received from Author
I need the next book now lol. What an ending! Will there be a happy ending for Stevie and Rocky? It looks like their relationship or what’s left of it is the hands of The Family. Will Stevie ever be excepted?
Stevie-cocktail waitress/dancer, dad left, sister lost custody of her son and mom has dementia. She also has a crazy ex who seems to want to destroy her life no matter what.
Rocky-one of the top homicide detectives, trying to still get over Aurora-who’s married to his cousin, and has a crazy wife who he’s trying to divorce-she also is a trouble maker.
Stevie lands on a dead body in the woods. Rocky is there to question her and than the people at her work since the girl worked with her. She also has a Forma bracelet-why? What connection does Rocky have with her? Wait til you find out.
So much going on, but it seems Rocky and Stevie have one heck of a relationship brewing. There are so many people though that seem to not want them together. Is a relationship worth the chemistry they obviously share? Wait til you see the twists and turns this book has! Mind blowing!
Stevie-cocktail waitress/dancer, dad left, sister lost custody of her son and mom has dementia. She also has a crazy ex who seems to want to destroy her life no matter what.
Rocky-one of the top homicide detectives, trying to still get over Aurora-who’s married to his cousin, and has a crazy wife who he’s trying to divorce-she also is a trouble maker.
Stevie lands on a dead body in the woods. Rocky is there to question her and than the people at her work since the girl worked with her. She also has a Forma bracelet-why? What connection does Rocky have with her? Wait til you find out.
So much going on, but it seems Rocky and Stevie have one heck of a relationship brewing. There are so many people though that seem to not want them together. Is a relationship worth the chemistry they obviously share? Wait til you see the twists and turns this book has! Mind blowing!
August 27, 2026
As suspected Andrea does it again. This book will grab your attention from chapter one. Stevie is a cocktail waitress at a club and only dances when it is absolutely necessary. One day before work, her mother, who has dementia, wandered out into the neighborhood on her sister's watch. While looking for her mother, Stevie makes a shocking find in the woods. This brings Rocky into her life. I will not give too many details, as I feel I have already given too many, but that man can make me melt. As always, the end of the book leaves me needing the next book ASAP, and no, I don't think I can wait. If you have not tried the Forbidden Forma series, I greatly advise you to!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow! Andrea's books continue to keep me on the edge. Her books are so intense and I have loved each of these Forma series books. Rocky and Stevie's story was action packed and glued to the book. The suspense is so good and I am still guessing who it could be but I think I have a pretty good idea ( may be). I have so many questions of Andrea who has left me hanging and wanting more just like The Family boys do but I'll wait for the conclusion of their love story and hopefully they will be answered.
October 17, 2026
This is a really good romantic suspense. This is Rocky and Stevie’s story. The plot really kept my attention and I felt invested in what would happen to these characters. I loved how intrigued Rocky became with Stevie and he couldn’t get her off his mind. Stevie discovered the d3ad body and Rocky is the homicide detective investigating. These two are very drawn to each other, even though Rocky has a complicated situation he’s trying to get out of. There’s lots of twists and turns in the storyline that really kept things interesting. Can’t wait for the next book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This freaking book!!! The twists and turns! Rocky is a detective and Stevie is a dancer in a club (trying to keep it safe) they meet by complete accident and Rocky is immediately obsessed! This man! He could call me Kitten any day! Omg! But the ending! Ugh!!! Andrea I'm gonna need that next one very soon!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I've been waiting for Rocky's story. I really liked how this flowed into the events of book 2's epilogue. I loved the match up of Rocky & Stevie. My heart broke for her and that ending?! I can't wait for the next one.
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