Devil's Candy

by Tammy Andresen

Genres: Enemies To Lovers, Dark, Smut, Romance, Novella, Amazon, Dark Romance

143 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 18, 2026

Reviews

[Angela]

We get Sver’s story – the real baddie of a previous series. I was so happy when I saw that this was his story. Don’t we really love a badass who has a heart of gold. Sver and Candy’s story is such a joy to read. I cannot believe I am saying this but I actually teared up while reading. This NY series is going to be so good. Morally grey, yes, but also so many feelings.

[Karen Denise Foster]

I was very pleasantly surprised by Devil’s Candy by Tammy Andresen. And when I say surprised, I mean shocked—because I am not normally a short book/novella girl. Give me a full-length book, people! 400 - 500 - 600 pages and I'm in heaven. I need time to become emotionally attached, obsess over the characters, and get sufficiently invested in their questionable life choices.

Usually, short books leave me thinking, “Wait…that’s it?” But Devil’s Candy somehow managed to give me enough character development, enough plot, enough angst, and definitely enough steam to leave me feeling completely satisfied. Well played, Ms. Andresen. Well played.

Candy has what can only be described as 'spectacularly terrible taste in men'. And this time, her questionable judgment could actually get her killed.

After witnessing a brutal murder connected to her shady ex, Candy ends up at her boss’s wedding, where she meets a dangerously magnetic stranger. One night of drunken, forbidden fun later, she discovers that her mystery man is Sver—a lethal Russian Mafia hitman and sworn enemy of her boss.

Because apparently, “I met a hot guy at a wedding” wasn’t complicated enough. Candy loses her job with said boss, her sense of security, and pretty much any hope she had of finding love. She’s convinced that maybe she’s simply not meant to have it—and, worse, that she doesn’t deserve it.

Enter Sver.

Sver is a Russian Mafia hitman, a deadly protector, and a man who has done some truly terrible things in the name of protecting his daughters. On paper, this is absolutely not the guy we’re supposed to fall for.

And yet…

Here I am.

Because underneath all that ruthlessness, violence, and general “probably shouldn't be allowed near sharp objects” energy is a man who desperately wants to be loved—and maybe even more desperately wants to become the kind of man who deserves it.

Their first encounter is pure forbidden heat. Candy is drunk and vulnerable, and Sver is initially planning to use her for information. Naturally, things go exactly as planned.

Except they really, really don't.

One night turns into an obsession neither of them can shake, and when fate throws them back together, the chemistry goes from spark to full-blown wildfire. Add in Mafia warfare, danger, secrets, and enough trouble to make you wonder why these two don't just move to a quiet little town and open a bakery.

Candy is sweet, vulnerable, and desperately wants someone to see her, cherish her, and protect her. Sver should terrify her—and honestly, he probably should terrify all of us—but instead, he becomes her protector, her lover, and the man who gives her hope for a future she never thought she could have.

And Candy brings out something in Sver that I absolutely loved. She makes this hard, ruthless man want to be better. Want to be worthy of her. Want to love without constantly expecting the worst.

For a book this short, Devil’s Candy packs a surprisingly satisfying punch. I got characters I cared about, a plot that actually went somewhere, plenty of danger and steam, and a romance that didn’t feel rushed despite the novella length.

Honestly? I went into this expecting a quick little read and came out thinking, “Well, crap. Now I need the rest of the series.”

Devil’s Candy is a fantastic introduction to the men of Ms. Andresen’s Devils of New York series, which also connects to her Kings of Las Vegas series.

This is my first book by Tammy Andresen, and I am very happy to report that I have apparently discovered yet another author who is going to be responsible for my ever-growing TBR pile.

3.75 stars

[Lynne Garlick]

Oooh a new to me author’

Ooooh a new to me author! And I was hooked from the first page! Candy and Sver connect straight away but not all is as it seems.
However Sver can’t get Candy off his mind and when she needs him, he is there. The twists and turns though had me turning the virtual pages very fast!
I have now pre-ordered the Devils of New York and it looks like I have some catching up to do!!
Great read!!

[Kayleigh Joy]

His candy cane

She does it again! Loved this short novella style book. Hits all the points that make this series one of my all time favourites.

We see some of the old characters as well as preparation for the new ones!

She just wants a family and to be loved. But after the last guy cheated she just wants a drink and drown in her thoughts.
But a one night stand leaves her in the middle of a war. And cut of from through who were as near to family as she knew...

He is hated by all. But one time with his candy cane he comes back for more...

Book quote:
Whatever he does out there in the world, when he’s with me, he feels like a shield. Can I tell him that I’d give him every piece of myself if he’d just let me stay in his shadow sometimes?

[Star-Book Reviewer]

Devil’s Candy more aptly named Sver’s Candy Cane is a dark, steamy, mafia-styled spin-off from Tammy Andresen’s Devils of New York series or maybe best listed as a short novella between books one and two in the series. It could definitely be read as a standalone but I think reading book one Devil’s Promise is best. It is the story of Candy a former esthetician at a strip club/brothel owned by the Sinclair brothers, better known as the Devils of New York. She has lost her job and their protection because she unknowingly hooked-up with a newly identified enemy of theirs, Sver. He is more a threat, or maybe not, of the Sinclair’s new partners the Smiths. Candy has people wanting to kill her but is Sver her enemy or her protector?

This book in my opinion was not as dark as Devil’s Promise, still plenty of threats and retaliations, but I enjoyed it because it gave me more insight into a situation that was hinted to in the Kings of Las Vegas series involving Sver and the wives of Ryker and Winston Smith and allowed Candy, a character I liked in Devil’s Promise, to be developed more thoroughly. The romance is a bit of an age gap that doesn’t play a very big role in the relationship between Candy and Sver but with more emphasis on his ability to gain information in the beginning and her need to forget her unlucky ability to choose sorry, self-serving men. Sver will show not only her but the Sinclairs and the Smiths that he might be older but he’s got skills.

I received an Advance Review Copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Janet]

Candy is attending her boss’ wedding when she has a one night stand with Sver. Only to learn, on the way back to New York that he’s the most lethal killer the Russian Mafia has ever produced. That’s right. she slept with my boss’s enemy. Candy losses her job but Angel finds her another job. Then she’s followed home & confronted by three guys who work for her ex boyfriend Marco.
I’m so glad Sver has his HEA, we met him in the previous series. I loved Candy who hadn’t had the best taste in men. I grew to love Sver as he falls for Candy. I quick read & I wish it had been longer as I was enjoying it so much. The chemistry between the couple was electric, I loved their journey which wasn’t easy but it did bring several characters closer. An absolute delight.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Karen_Lee_Reads]

Devil’s Candy
(Devils of New York)
by Tammy Andresen

When one finds his Candy, only moans, hot kisses and begging will be heard and man oh man did this girl deserve the man who makes her feel like she is the most wonderful woman in the world!

This is the introductory story to this authors new series the Devil’s of New York.

Getting spend more time with Sver (from the Kings of Damnation series) made me very happy.

A Bratva hitman who had not choice but to work for the head of the Vegas Bratva was the one person know one wanted to see, but where his daughters were threatened wanted to make sure they were both married to men who would protect them. Now he has found someone who is sweet, fun to be with and
has feelings for him. I think if you asked Candy about Sver she tell you he is the boss in the sheets and one of the best kissers!

Getting to know him was a pleasure as well as seeing how much he cared for her. A man who had sworn it would always be one nighters to not being able to leave her in the morning. Older, grayer and those tattoos were calling to her.

But when her former protector Angel Sinclair cut her loose, he wasn’t going to let that stand. He was going to do something about it!

I have to say, I loved these two, both with issues, Candy always seems to have the worst time picking good men, until Sver came around.

This book was a great read, loved both of these characters and I hope to see more of them in her new Devil’s of New York series.

[Shelly]

Devil’s Candy may be a shorter book, but it is no less intense. I like that Sver got his story, as he has been quite the mystery throughout the series. Great book!

I received a free copy of this book from the author. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Victoria]

4 Stars Novella

[Kat]

PSA: I am not great at articulating my thoughts. This is just my opinion. Love what you love!

I was super excited when I got an email from Andresen's newsletter about a new novella available. I got this for free from a link in that email and eagerly downloaded and read it. I had been anticipating the whole Davil's series since finishing the others early in the year. Learning more about Sver made me curious, but this novella just didn't hold up. It was VERY surface level, the characters were surface level, there were a number of notable editing/spelling errors and just too much spice to plot ratio for my personal tastes. I wanted to like this and hope the main series does better.

Previous Reviews:
Kings of Las Vegas Series - 4.1 Stars (Average)
Lords of Las Vegas Series - 3.6 Stars (Average)

~*~*~*~Character Reviews~*~*~*~

The FMC:
Candy - 2 Stars
I really wanted to know Candy more and what made her tick but the author really chose to make her more of a plot device than a fully fleshed out person. Sure, she had some background worked out and she had a career (esthetician) which gave her some purpose but that was about it. The majority of what we learn from her is trauma dumped during a spicy scene and not really elaborated on. We didn't even het a last name for her, which is a personal pet peeve. What is more, Candy suffers from a massive case of insta-love. This is a common issue I have with Andresen across almost all her works I have read.

The MMC:
Sver - 3 Stars
I wanted to learn more about Sver as a character because he had been a supporting person in previous books. As Sasha/Katarina's father, we learn he was a hit man for the Bratva Boss Ivan. He was an interesting guy. This story just felt all over the place. I really have no issue with age-gap romances unless the older person has children who are the same age as the FMC. That kind of pushes things into a weird place for me. There was a huge amount of insta-lust/love for Sver, only really interacting with Candy for about 6 hours before they seemed to be really in love and ready to be married. It's a bit much. Yes, there is a time skip but it isn't like the two are in contact during any of it. I just wanted to see more. The small bit of growth I did like was between him and Killian about his involvement in Rebecca's death.

The Antagonist(s):
We find out from Candy that she used to date both Vinnie Morelli, Jr. and a drug dealer names Marco. When she sees Marco kill someone, he sends his goons after her. Candy finds herself working in a whorehouse run by Angel Sinclair. Hoping to kill Candy for what she saw. Vinnie sets up a bigger hit, as well as turning his sights on Chloe Smith - Killian's pregnant wife. We really didn't see much of Vinnie other than the brief climax. A lot of this was tell and now show again. It seemed a bit lackluster.

The Supporting Cast:
I am not going to go too much into the supporting cast since they have already had or will have their own books. It was nice to see Killian again, though I find he doesn't really have a consistent character through the books. He was really interesting when just a side character in the books about the Kincaids, but in his own book and those following he felt off. This one felt off as well, especially when it was his fuck up that caused Chloe to get hurt. I am curious to read about the Sinclairs though, assuming Angel, Rock, Axel, Knox and Gunner will get their own books.

~*~*~*~The Little Details~*~*~*~

The Plot:
Candy attends the wedding of her boss Angel Sinclair. She meets a mysterious guest names Sver. Sent to learn information on the Sinclairs, Sver takes Candy to bed. Keeping loyal to her employers, Sver is surprised when he realizes Candy is a lot more than she seems and can't get her out of his head - even months later when he stops an attempted murdered - sticking around to solve the crime.

It sounds good when I write it out but the execution was just not it. I had gotten more accustomed to mafia romance books since my reading journey started and a lot of Andresen's writing is very surface level. I wish there was more lead up and grounding, more depth, more descriptions and details. It would make the world a lot more rich. She has great ideas, interesting characters but just never seems to put in the time to flesh them out in a truly entertaining way.

The Spice:
Of course, Candy also has relationship issues and 'never' orgasms with men but within' 2 minutes of rubbing up against Sver's crotch she is having mind blowing orgasms. *Le sigh* I really feel like you can have relationships and spice without resorting to this kind of stuff. There is a lot of spice in this considering it is a novella (146 pages). There are four spice scenes within and it just seems unnecessary. They aren't even that well articulated, we're just told vague things are happening but that it was "amazing." It is more of a tell, don't show. Apparently Sver just sticking it in and moving back and forth is enough to get Candy going. I give this a 4/5 peppers just because of the consistency of the spice in a shorter story.

Emotional Damage:
There was no emotional damage in this book. Despite some of Candy's dark history, I never felt a real connection to her because of those her past was revealed. I wanted to like her and connect with her but I really didn't feel it.

Reading Experience, Book Length & Pacing:
This is a novella so it was a very simple read. I got through it in just a few hours. Being a shorter story under 150 pages (including the sneak peak into the next book), it went by quickly, even if the plot was pretty slow and spice heavy.

~*~*~*~Questions to Consider~*~*~*~

Would I Buy the Book?
No. I own this book because it was offered for free but I never would have spent money on it.

Would I Re-Read the Book?
Maybe. If I was ever doing a series re-read I would consider it because it is a simple/easy read.

Will I Continue the Series?
Yes. As much as I didn't like this novella, I have liked Andresen's series over all.

"I want a guy who understands the darkness too. Even knows how to fight it. But every man I’ve tried just turns his dark on me."

[Fanosse23]

Explosive, Heart-Pounding, and Absolutely Addictive!
Candy has the worst taste in men—and this time, it could get her killed. After witnessing a brutal murder thanks to her ex’s shady dealings, she winds up in the arms of a dangerously magnetic stranger at her boss’s wedding. But her one-night escape turns into a life-or-death game when she learns the man she can’t stop thinking about is none other than Sver—a lethal Russian Mafia hitman and sworn enemy of her boss.

Sver is the antihero we met in an earlier book, the deadly guardian who’s done unspeakable things to protect his daughters. On paper, he’s the last man anyone should root for—but somehow, Andresen makes us fall for him. He’s dark, driven, and duplicitous, yet under the layers of ruthlessness beats the heart of a man who just might be desperate for love.

Their first encounter is a blaze of forbidden heat—Candy drunk and vulnerable, Sver intending only to use her for intel. But one night becomes an obsession neither of them can shake. When fate throws them together again, sparks ignite into a wildfire of passion and danger, sweeping them straight into the crosshairs of a bloody underworld war.

Candy is sweet, vulnerable, and aching for someone to truly see her, cherish her, and protect her. Sver, the man who should terrify her, becomes exactly that person—her protector, her lover, her chance at a life she never thought she could have. And in return, Candy awakens the part of Sver that wants to be better, to be worthy, to love without fear.

The chemistry is scorching. The danger is relentless. And the emotional payoff will leave you breathless. Andresen captures the magic of flawed, dangerous men and fragile, hopeful women with an intensity that keeps you flipping the pages until 3 a.m.

All I can say is: the streets of New York will never be the same, and I cannot wait to see what this electrifying series delivers next!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Darkromancearabia Jin]

After Devil’s Promise, I had to read Devil’s Candy, and I absolutely loved it! 🍬🔥

Candy really does have the worst luck with men 😂. She goes to her boss’s wedding, has a few drinks, and ends up having a one-night stand with an older, tattooed, dangerously sexy man.

Then she discovers he’s Sver: the most lethal Russian Mafia hitman… and her boss’s enemy. 😳😂
He’s feared, ruthless, and has made plenty of enemies: including his own daughters, who want nothing to do with him. He knows he’s lost them, and part of his motivation for getting close to Candy is finding a way back into their lives, because beneath the killer, there’s a father who clearly regrets what he’s lost and done...

And somehow, things only get crazier from there.

Candy is sweet, vulnerable, and in danger, and desperate to find the family and love she’s always wanted, while Sver is basically the last man you’d expect to give her any of that. 😂 And somehow, they work.

Their chemistry is 🔥, and this dangerous man becomes more than the killer everyone fears. Candy brings out a completely different side of him, while Sver gives her something she desperately needs: someone who makes her feel protected... He never stops doing that.

This novella connects to the wider world and brings us closer to the Devils of New York. The mafia conflict, secrets, danger, action, and steam made this such a fun read. It packs a lot into it, and I honestly wish I could have spent even more time with these two. ❤️

Sver and Candy were one hell of a surprise!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Barbara]

Lethal Assassin Meets His Match

What a thrilling, quick read! Devil’s Candy is a fantastic introduction to the men who make up Ms. Andresen’s upcoming Devils of New York series. It also ties back to her prior Kings of Las Vegas series, giving us Sver’s story. If you read the previous series, you already know Sver is a lethal assassin—a hard man feared by most.

Then he meets Candy, a woman with terrible luck in life and an even worse track record with men. Something inside Sver shifts. After one glorious night together, he decides Candy is his to protect.

That decision brings a whole new level of danger for both of them: threats from Candy’s past that are closer than she thinks, dangers tied to Sver’s connections with the mafia Devils of New York and the King of Vegas, and most dangerous of all, matters of the heart that could prove deadly for them both.

I highly recommend Devil’s Candy! I can’t wait to read Devil’s Promise (Book 1), which promises to be another outstanding, action-packed mafia series from Ms. Andresen.

2 Thumbs Up and 5 Stars!

[Barbara]

The story follows Candy, a former club esthetician who loses her job after a one-night stand with Sver, a lethal Russian assassin. When men sent by her ex-boyfriend Marco confront her, she must decide if Sver is her enemy or protector.
Though slightly less dark than book one, it is a quick, delightful read with great action, suspense, and strong character development. The romance features a fantastic age-gap dynamic and strong chemistry as Sver helps Candy heal, while also expanding on a situation hinted at in the Kings of Las Vegas series. "Devil’s Candy" is a dark, steamy mafia novella set between books one and two of the Devils of New York series. While it functions well as a standalone, reading Devil’s Promise first provides helpful context. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rosemary]

I don’t know what to say anymore about Tammy Andresen book, except they are excellent, and I can’t wait for the next one to come out. This is part of her newest series Devils of New York, it is a stand-alone book, but other characters from previous books and series appear and I love reading about them, it’s like catching up with friends. The main male character Sver has been in a few of the King of Las Vegas books and now it is his time. In other books, Sver was bad, but I always felt there was a good side to him, he loved his daughters. In this book, he was wonderful from the start. Candy was the perfect person for him, his protective instinct came out. Thanks for giving us his book and his happy ever after.
I received an ARC of this book, and I am leaving my honest opinion.

[Pamela Blatter]

Candy is a sweetheart that has had a difficult start in life.
And she picks the absolute worst men to tangle with romantically.
True to form, she hooks up with a bad ass while drunk at a wedding.
Sver is a killer and the worst as he is only initially using her for intel.
But the story gets better and complicated bringing in the Devils of New York.
A very hot steamy romance with tons of action.
Love how characters from other series are intertwined but a story that can still be read as a standalone.
Intense and could not put it down until I finished.
I received an ARC but the honest opinion is my own.

[Marci Crawford]

I was excited to start this new series and it didn’t disappoint. A quick read to get us introduced to this new world. If you read the previous series you’ll probably recognize the names of some of these guys already.

Sver & Candy are great for each other. She’s almost more trouble than she’s worth..or at least that’s what she thinks. Andresen brings Sver into her life to show her what she’s worth. He’s older, deeply morally gray and you don’t want to get on his bad side. Can’t wait to dig into Angel & Promises story next.

Thank you to the author for this advanced copy.

[LadyHibiscus]

Ah, it was ok… I really wanted to love it because I think the author is ace, but I just felt that it dragged. I wanted more from Sver and I found Candy kind of annoying as a lead. He’s kind of robotic and it’s hard to read a love story where the MFC has zero self esteem and seemingly not much self awareness.

The most interesting part of this story for me was the realisation that Killian and Sver share a lot of traits, so when we see Killian’s viscous side appear, it’s a sharp reminder that he isn’t all cute and fluffy just because he’s fallen in love.

[Heather]

hitman and esthetician

This book was interconnected to other books, the author has written. If you’ve read those other books, then you understand the plot. But because of that, there’s also not much plot going on in the story. The author tells you that they’re in love with each other, but the writing and the story doesn’t really support it till the end. It’s just an okay book. The author is a hit and miss for me. This one just wasn’t it.

[Duchess]

delicious as always with Tammy Anderson

devil’s candy was such a fun, dark little read. i loved the possessive energy, the chemistry, and that deliciously messy feeling between the characters. it had enough darkness to keep me hooked without losing the romance underneath it all. definitely a book that scratched that dark romance itch for me. 🍬🖤

[Rebekah Carulli Hanson]

Awesome!

Tammy has once again written a book that will grab you by the throat and hold on until the end. I loved that we got caught up with the guys from Las Vegas and their wives.
I felt sorry for Candy that she had never experienced love in her life before Sver. It is heartwarming that the hard core assassin falls for the sweet girl who really needs to be loved.

[Kristi Lange]

loved this! it doesn’t make sense to me that it was released before Devil’s Promise though… def read this second if you plan to read Devil’s Promise or there will be spoilers. this picks up at the end of that book!

-bratva hitman
-FMC on the run/in hiding
-age gap
-stalking
-MMC has kids
-protective MMC

[Cindy]

mafia lifestyle…imagine constant war..

Being raised in the lifestyle, ignorance and lies, is not supportive.
Working to be the Boss is a constant grind, killing as needed.
And now, a niche just for each other doesn’t seem possible.
Great story, tension, caring, vendettas. 😳 🥺🥰🥵😍

[Claire]

Good short read

Enjoyable book with a bit of smut, a bit of violence and some happy ever afters
I've not read any of the other books but it didn't detract from reading this as a standalone

[Cindy]

Great Read!

I really loved this book, it was just the right length. It had great characters and a good storyline.. I'm new to this author and the book sounded very interesting from the blurb. I recommend this book. Can't wait to dive into more!💖💖💖

[Sammye]

This book is part of the Devil’s of New York series. It’s a dark, enemies to lovers, short story that is totally enjoyable. I enjoyed Sver and Candy’s amazing story. It’s a perfect introduction to the series. I can’t wait to read it.

[Sarah Armstrong]

Read in an afternoon and loved it but was sent the novella through the author’s mailing list before first book in series, so I felt like I missed something but would have been 5 stars if I had read it after Devils Promise!

[Mandy]

Wow

Loved this book. Fantastic. Cute quick read. The characters were interesting. Really liked this book. Candy was a joy. Hated she always thought so bad towards herself. Loved the ML he was very sturdy and responsible. I also like Angel and his brothers they were interesting.

[Sonya]

SVER'S HAPPY ENDING

This book is out of order. It's a quick good read however. That's why 2 stars, because it's out of sequence. ANGEL IS IN THIS BOOK, BUT HIS BOOK DIDN'T COME OUT UNTIL LATE SEPTEMBER. THIS WAS OUT IN AUGUST. STILL GOOD THOUGH. NOW I WILL READ ANGEL'S BOOK.🙄😬

[Andrea Oczvirkova]

When cold bloded killer mets his Candy
I love, that also Sver found his happily ever after. Candy was great and whole book was nice surprise :))