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Autumn Ritual: A Dark Romance Novella
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
September 15, 2026
Eisprung Buch aber halt bisschen kinky und herbstlich. 5 Sterne. Das Ende ist aber bisschen trash lol. 👀
September 5, 2026
This is a quick novella that I would say is perfect for breaks in between heavier and longer books. After leaving her cheating ex, Sara returns the Cove where she grew up with the intentions of writing a dark fantasy romance. But she's not sure how to write such a possessive villain. This is where Cam comes in, he was the boy next door when they were younger, but he has now grown up into a deadly mafia enforcer who also happens to want her to be his. This book is a good, quick read if you love obsessed and masked MMCs who will do anything for the FMC and even inspire her writing.
September 2, 2026
“There was never going to be regret between us, just a romance that finally crossed in the stars.”
౨ৎ ˖ ࣪⊹ •🍓•⊹₊ ⋆୨ৎ
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC copy to review! /ᐠ. ｡.ᐟ\ᵐᵉᵒʷˎˊ˗
As a writer myself, this was such a self indulgent book and I fucking loved it!
Sara is such a strong FMC. Truly. She’s survived so much and never lets it hold her back. Not even when other people try to use it as an excuse. I love that she sequestered herself away just to work on her book. And our masked MMC followed right behind her. The things they get up to in that lake cabin...WHOA.
Cam, despite being the Enforcer of their town’s mafia, loves Sara in the sweetest way. He prioritizes her happiness and comfort. Wants nothing more than to protect and love her. He even supports her writing career and I don’t think it can get much better than that!
There are forces out of their control trying to pull them apart, but they refuse to let that happen. They fight for each other and stand by each other. Sara doesn’t shy away from Cam’s job, and Cam helps her with her book in some very interesting ways. Good ways. Cam worries that she wouldn’t be able to love all of him, but she’s loved him longer than he ever realizes.
This book has everything. Masked stalker MMC. Mafia. Writer FMC. Fall/Halloween vibes. Amazing spice. If you’re looking for a quick but spicy read, this one is for you!
౨ৎ ˖ ࣪⊹ •🍓•⊹₊ ⋆୨ৎ
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC copy to review! /ᐠ. ｡.ᐟ\ᵐᵉᵒʷˎˊ˗
As a writer myself, this was such a self indulgent book and I fucking loved it!
Sara is such a strong FMC. Truly. She’s survived so much and never lets it hold her back. Not even when other people try to use it as an excuse. I love that she sequestered herself away just to work on her book. And our masked MMC followed right behind her. The things they get up to in that lake cabin...WHOA.
Cam, despite being the Enforcer of their town’s mafia, loves Sara in the sweetest way. He prioritizes her happiness and comfort. Wants nothing more than to protect and love her. He even supports her writing career and I don’t think it can get much better than that!
There are forces out of their control trying to pull them apart, but they refuse to let that happen. They fight for each other and stand by each other. Sara doesn’t shy away from Cam’s job, and Cam helps her with her book in some very interesting ways. Good ways. Cam worries that she wouldn’t be able to love all of him, but she’s loved him longer than he ever realizes.
This book has everything. Masked stalker MMC. Mafia. Writer FMC. Fall/Halloween vibes. Amazing spice. If you’re looking for a quick but spicy read, this one is for you!
September 9, 2026
This is a very light mafia novella since there isn’t any actual mafia business going on.
Cam & Sara our the MCs, the enforcer and his neighbour since ever who is an author.
Cam is apparently in love with her but never acted on it until now, under special circumstances. They engage in a fun game of cat & mouse that perhaps lasted longer than it should have.
Everything felt too superficial and I can’t say I was thrilled with the writing style in this one. It had potential but didn’t reach its peak. The stalking part was decent though.
-Dual 1st person POV
-Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Overall: 3/5 ⭐️ for me.
I received an Adv. Readers version of this book and I have given this honest and voluntary review.
Cam & Sara our the MCs, the enforcer and his neighbour since ever who is an author.
Cam is apparently in love with her but never acted on it until now, under special circumstances. They engage in a fun game of cat & mouse that perhaps lasted longer than it should have.
Everything felt too superficial and I can’t say I was thrilled with the writing style in this one. It had potential but didn’t reach its peak. The stalking part was decent though.
-Dual 1st person POV
-Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Overall: 3/5 ⭐️ for me.
I received an Adv. Readers version of this book and I have given this honest and voluntary review.
September 3, 2026
To quote the words of @author.alexa.michaels
"Dear Villainous Darlings,"
This right here is the perfect book to get you into this years Autumn season and Halloween 🎃 🖤
It is also the perfect book for someone that wants to dip their toes into the dark romance genre!
It is a short dark romance that follows Sara (a squirrely writer) and Cam (the towns mafia enforcer).
Sara is super witty and has a wonderful sense of dark humor. (She, same as I, love the color black and autumn season so yes!) I really loved Sara, I feel Alexa did a wonderful job with how she was written as a character.
Then there is Cam, and oh man. Our wounded MMC. He will do anything for Sara, but he doesn't think he is good enough for her 😢.
"I was a man who'd been forged into a monster by a life of crime. I could be her shadow daddy. I just needed to shatter the window." -Cam
This book made me giggle, smile, and fall in love with these two.
Highly recommend this one and I am going to go down the rabbit hole and look for more @author.alexa.michaels books!
"Dear Villainous Darlings,"
This right here is the perfect book to get you into this years Autumn season and Halloween 🎃 🖤
It is also the perfect book for someone that wants to dip their toes into the dark romance genre!
It is a short dark romance that follows Sara (a squirrely writer) and Cam (the towns mafia enforcer).
Sara is super witty and has a wonderful sense of dark humor. (She, same as I, love the color black and autumn season so yes!) I really loved Sara, I feel Alexa did a wonderful job with how she was written as a character.
Then there is Cam, and oh man. Our wounded MMC. He will do anything for Sara, but he doesn't think he is good enough for her 😢.
"I was a man who'd been forged into a monster by a life of crime. I could be her shadow daddy. I just needed to shatter the window." -Cam
This book made me giggle, smile, and fall in love with these two.
Highly recommend this one and I am going to go down the rabbit hole and look for more @author.alexa.michaels books!
September 2, 2026
This book was dark, twisted, and seriously addictive. The atmosphere pulled me in, the chemistry was 🔥, and the characters kept me guessing. It had that perfect mix of obsession, tension, and questionable decisions that makes a dark romance so hard to put down.
Definitely a “just one more chapter” kind of read. 🍂🖤
Definitely a “just one more chapter” kind of read. 🍂🖤
September 1, 2026
This was a fun an unserious read. Perfect for breaks in between heavier and longer books. The writing was good and easy to follow and the characters were likeable. This is the kind of obsessed and supportive mmc I want to see lol. Helping our fmc write the best book ever.
3.5
Thank you to the author for the ARC all opinions are my own.
3.5
Thank you to the author for the ARC all opinions are my own.
September 14, 2026
I don't even know what's going on and don't have any attachment to the chars and have zero desire to continue. I dnf at 35%
September 2, 2026
**ARC REVIEW**
★★★★★ overall rating
♥︎ Maya's Reads ♥︎
First and foremost, thank you, Alexa Michaels, for entrusting me with another ARC !! I was lucky enough to have received my first ever ARC from the Boston Underworld novella, and since then, I have been grateful enough to have gotten every single ARC within that series, and they have been amazing. So, I'm so happy to be diving into a new series.
As I said in my last novella review, I’m not such a huge fan of novellas and have not read any since the last one, but once I started reading i actually really enjoyed it. The fast-paced romance these two had was so good, even though it felt rushed at times, it was actually every full filled in the storytelling. So, if you want some lore for the upcoming series, I have seen that reading the novella is since to read to get a hang of the family dynamics and business.
**SPOLIERS AHEAD**
For me, Sara and Camilio we're the better couple compared to the last couple because their story was so much more developed than the last. I think the one good thing about this book was that once I read it, it didn't feel like I was reading a novella. It really felt as if I was reading a normal book where the plot obviously seen. They just got together really quickly, but the plot between their love was sufficient. I think when it came to them having the backstory that they were childhood neighbors in a way, and they and her family being involved within the mafia world, and then entertaining having chemistry from the beginning was crucial because we got to see the point where it all changed. The flip and the change was when she got sick and where she had felt that she needed to leave to the city and find herself outside of this small town. And of course, that came with its own challenges because then she got involved with her ex, who was now stalking her. But that plot point in itself is what forced her to come back to her small town and essentially stop running away from her desire and drive to be there. I think another thing for me that was super great. When reading the book, I felt like I was reading two stories because we got the story of Sara and Camilio, but then we got the fantasy story that she was writing as an author so I think that was absolutely such a smart idea and concept to deal with. I think another good side was seeing Sarah's relationship and confrontation with Lucian and seeing her defend their love, but also call out him and his ego persona and the position he has and I think it's super interesting cause we got to see a little glimpse of him as a character and I just can't wait to see how he develops and we get to read his story eventually. And of course we wasn't surprised when finding out that she was pregnant. I think that was just with icing on top was like they were in love with each other for so long throughout the entire lives that once they got back together, it really took no time for them to really rekindle their love so it was really just a matter of time.
★★★★★ overall rating
♥︎ Maya's Reads ♥︎
First and foremost, thank you, Alexa Michaels, for entrusting me with another ARC !! I was lucky enough to have received my first ever ARC from the Boston Underworld novella, and since then, I have been grateful enough to have gotten every single ARC within that series, and they have been amazing. So, I'm so happy to be diving into a new series.
As I said in my last novella review, I’m not such a huge fan of novellas and have not read any since the last one, but once I started reading i actually really enjoyed it. The fast-paced romance these two had was so good, even though it felt rushed at times, it was actually every full filled in the storytelling. So, if you want some lore for the upcoming series, I have seen that reading the novella is since to read to get a hang of the family dynamics and business.
**SPOLIERS AHEAD**
For me, Sara and Camilio we're the better couple compared to the last couple because their story was so much more developed than the last. I think the one good thing about this book was that once I read it, it didn't feel like I was reading a novella. It really felt as if I was reading a normal book where the plot obviously seen. They just got together really quickly, but the plot between their love was sufficient. I think when it came to them having the backstory that they were childhood neighbors in a way, and they and her family being involved within the mafia world, and then entertaining having chemistry from the beginning was crucial because we got to see the point where it all changed. The flip and the change was when she got sick and where she had felt that she needed to leave to the city and find herself outside of this small town. And of course, that came with its own challenges because then she got involved with her ex, who was now stalking her. But that plot point in itself is what forced her to come back to her small town and essentially stop running away from her desire and drive to be there. I think another thing for me that was super great. When reading the book, I felt like I was reading two stories because we got the story of Sara and Camilio, but then we got the fantasy story that she was writing as an author so I think that was absolutely such a smart idea and concept to deal with. I think another good side was seeing Sarah's relationship and confrontation with Lucian and seeing her defend their love, but also call out him and his ego persona and the position he has and I think it's super interesting cause we got to see a little glimpse of him as a character and I just can't wait to see how he develops and we get to read his story eventually. And of course we wasn't surprised when finding out that she was pregnant. I think that was just with icing on top was like they were in love with each other for so long throughout the entire lives that once they got back together, it really took no time for them to really rekindle their love so it was really just a matter of time.
September 7, 2026
Sara is a writer who is changing genres, moving from rom-coms into dark romantasy. The problem is, writing darker stories requires a little more firsthand knowledge than she currently has. When she moves back home, she ends up right back in the orbit of Cam, the Don’s enforcer and the man who has secretly been in love with her for years.
“How many times had I gone to the city to visit her? I always stayed in the shadows. We took walks together where I was the only one who knew we shared them.”
And that pretty much tells you everything you need to know about Cam.
Cam knows exactly who he is and what kind of darkness comes with his life. He just doesn’t know how to convince Sara to accept all of those parts of him. So naturally, he decides the best way to court her is while wearing a mask.
Completely reasonable behavior.
This is a short novella that embraces exactly the right amount of obsession, stalking, possessiveness, and masked-man energy without trying to turn it into something it isn’t. Sara and Cam were fun together, and I loved that his obsession with her had been going on long before she realized it.
It was a quick, spicy read with enough story to make me very curious about the rest of this neighborhood. I definitely want to know who else is lurking behind the curtains around here.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
“How many times had I gone to the city to visit her? I always stayed in the shadows. We took walks together where I was the only one who knew we shared them.”
And that pretty much tells you everything you need to know about Cam.
Cam knows exactly who he is and what kind of darkness comes with his life. He just doesn’t know how to convince Sara to accept all of those parts of him. So naturally, he decides the best way to court her is while wearing a mask.
Completely reasonable behavior.
This is a short novella that embraces exactly the right amount of obsession, stalking, possessiveness, and masked-man energy without trying to turn it into something it isn’t. Sara and Cam were fun together, and I loved that his obsession with her had been going on long before she realized it.
It was a quick, spicy read with enough story to make me very curious about the rest of this neighborhood. I definitely want to know who else is lurking behind the curtains around here.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Autumn Ritual was the perfect quick, mafia-themed read to get me ready for fall! 🍁
After escaping a cheating ex, Sara returns home to a small Italian town in New Jersey, determined to focus on herself and her writing. But going home also means returning to Cam Ravello—her former best friend and next-door neighbor who has grown into one seriously attractive, assertive mafia enforcer. What Sara doesn’t know? Cam has loved her for years and has never stopped protecting her from the shadows.
When the town’s autumn ball gives Cam the perfect opportunity to spend a masked night with Sara, he plans every detail. But when Sara figures out exactly who is behind the mask, she doesn’t expose him—she decides to see just how far Cam is willing to go. And when she later escapes to her parents’ lake house for some peace and quiet? Well… a possessive mafia man who has waited years for his girl isn’t exactly known for respecting distance.
I loved the combination of mafia, dark romance, longtime pining, secret protection, possessiveness, and a strong heroine who knows exactly what she wants. Cam and Sara packed so much chemistry into this quick read, and the cozy fall atmosphere made it even better.
🍂 If you’re building your fall TBR, add this one! Perfect for readers who like their autumn romance with a little darkness, danger, and a very possessive man.
⭐ Highly recommend!
After escaping a cheating ex, Sara returns home to a small Italian town in New Jersey, determined to focus on herself and her writing. But going home also means returning to Cam Ravello—her former best friend and next-door neighbor who has grown into one seriously attractive, assertive mafia enforcer. What Sara doesn’t know? Cam has loved her for years and has never stopped protecting her from the shadows.
When the town’s autumn ball gives Cam the perfect opportunity to spend a masked night with Sara, he plans every detail. But when Sara figures out exactly who is behind the mask, she doesn’t expose him—she decides to see just how far Cam is willing to go. And when she later escapes to her parents’ lake house for some peace and quiet? Well… a possessive mafia man who has waited years for his girl isn’t exactly known for respecting distance.
I loved the combination of mafia, dark romance, longtime pining, secret protection, possessiveness, and a strong heroine who knows exactly what she wants. Cam and Sara packed so much chemistry into this quick read, and the cozy fall atmosphere made it even better.
🍂 If you’re building your fall TBR, add this one! Perfect for readers who like their autumn romance with a little darkness, danger, and a very possessive man.
⭐ Highly recommend!
September 2, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have been in SUCH a book slump lately, and apparently what I needed to finally drag me out of it was a cozy little dark romance just as the Pacific Northwest decided to start feeling like fall. 🍂☕️🖤📚
Autumn Ritual was such a fun, quick read and honestly hit at exactly the right time. Give me crisp fall vibes, cozy reading weather, a little darkness, and some morally questionable behavior and apparently I’m happy. 😂🍁🖤
But one of my FAVORITE things about this one was the whole book-within-a-book aspect. Sara is writing a dark fantasy romance of her own — complete with magic and, naturally, a shadow daddy 🌑🔥 — and we actually get to see pieces of the story she’s creating play out within the story WE are reading.
It gave the whole thing this really fun behind-the-scenes feeling, like we were getting to watch a romance author create her book while simultaneously being inside another one. Very meta-ish without actually breaking the fourth wall, and I absolutely loved it. 😂📖✨
It was cozy. 🍂
It was dark. 🖤
It was a little unhinged. 😈
It was spicy. 🌶️
It has an HEA. 💕
And most importantly…it made me want to READ again!! 🙌📚
Sometimes you don’t need a giant epic fantasy with 700 pages of emotional damage. Sometimes you just need a quick, cozy dark romance with fall vibes and a shadow daddy. 😂🌑🍁
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!
Thank you to Alexa Michaels for the ARC! 🖤🍂📚
I have been in SUCH a book slump lately, and apparently what I needed to finally drag me out of it was a cozy little dark romance just as the Pacific Northwest decided to start feeling like fall. 🍂☕️🖤📚
Autumn Ritual was such a fun, quick read and honestly hit at exactly the right time. Give me crisp fall vibes, cozy reading weather, a little darkness, and some morally questionable behavior and apparently I’m happy. 😂🍁🖤
But one of my FAVORITE things about this one was the whole book-within-a-book aspect. Sara is writing a dark fantasy romance of her own — complete with magic and, naturally, a shadow daddy 🌑🔥 — and we actually get to see pieces of the story she’s creating play out within the story WE are reading.
It gave the whole thing this really fun behind-the-scenes feeling, like we were getting to watch a romance author create her book while simultaneously being inside another one. Very meta-ish without actually breaking the fourth wall, and I absolutely loved it. 😂📖✨
It was cozy. 🍂
It was dark. 🖤
It was a little unhinged. 😈
It was spicy. 🌶️
It has an HEA. 💕
And most importantly…it made me want to READ again!! 🙌📚
Sometimes you don’t need a giant epic fantasy with 700 pages of emotional damage. Sometimes you just need a quick, cozy dark romance with fall vibes and a shadow daddy. 😂🌑🍁
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!
Thank you to Alexa Michaels for the ARC! 🖤🍂📚
Review of advance copy received from Author
REVIEW OF ADVANCE READER COPY FROM AUTHOR
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
Autumn Ritual was such a fun, dark little read. 🍂 I really enjoyed the autumn atmosphere, the mafia setting, and the whole dynamic between Sara and Cam.
Sara and Cam already had history, which made their relationship feel different from the usual “strangers meet” romance. Cam is the Don’s enforcer, quiet, dangerous & completely obsessed with Sara, and honestly a little unhinged when it comes to her. 😂 And Sara? She knows exactly who he is behind the mask and is definitely not as innocent as he thinks she is.
I loved how their relationship slowly moved from old friends with unfinished feelings into something much darker and more intense. The masked dates, his sneaking around the lake house, Sara's dark-romance writer brain, and their chemistry made this a really entertaining read.
The whole book also had this cozy-but-dark autumn vibe that I really enjoyed, with pumpkins, Halloween decorations, and a mafia underworld hiding underneath the small-town setting.
It was spicy, possessive, a little crazy, and definitely had some moments that made me laugh. Overall, I had a great time with Sara and Cam's story.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
Autumn Ritual was such a fun, dark little read. 🍂 I really enjoyed the autumn atmosphere, the mafia setting, and the whole dynamic between Sara and Cam.
Sara and Cam already had history, which made their relationship feel different from the usual “strangers meet” romance. Cam is the Don’s enforcer, quiet, dangerous & completely obsessed with Sara, and honestly a little unhinged when it comes to her. 😂 And Sara? She knows exactly who he is behind the mask and is definitely not as innocent as he thinks she is.
I loved how their relationship slowly moved from old friends with unfinished feelings into something much darker and more intense. The masked dates, his sneaking around the lake house, Sara's dark-romance writer brain, and their chemistry made this a really entertaining read.
The whole book also had this cozy-but-dark autumn vibe that I really enjoyed, with pumpkins, Halloween decorations, and a mafia underworld hiding underneath the small-town setting.
It was spicy, possessive, a little crazy, and definitely had some moments that made me laugh. Overall, I had a great time with Sara and Cam's story.
August 26, 2026
Well here’s to the start of my autumn reads because Alexa absolutely delivered on this on. Think cosy autumn vibes with mafia elements and a masked MMC.
Sara is an inspiring author who has just returned home after she found out about her cheating ex and is now back in the mafia world. She was diagnosed and battled cancer at a young age and because of this her father made a deal with the previous Don so she could live her life without any commitment of an arranged marriage to the family, and this still stands even after she returns only she definitely doesn’t steer clear of the lifestyle. That reason being our MMC Camillo who has yearned for her for years and now that she’s back he will do everything within his power to make her his. Did I also mention he wears a mask and helps Sara write scenes for her upcoming book? Yes he in fact does and that makes me even more obsessed with these two.
This book is a good, quick read if you love obsessed and masked MMCs who will do anything for the FMC and even inspire her writing.
I cannot wait for more in this series. Thank you to the author who provided this e-arc for my honest thoughts.
Sara is an inspiring author who has just returned home after she found out about her cheating ex and is now back in the mafia world. She was diagnosed and battled cancer at a young age and because of this her father made a deal with the previous Don so she could live her life without any commitment of an arranged marriage to the family, and this still stands even after she returns only she definitely doesn’t steer clear of the lifestyle. That reason being our MMC Camillo who has yearned for her for years and now that she’s back he will do everything within his power to make her his. Did I also mention he wears a mask and helps Sara write scenes for her upcoming book? Yes he in fact does and that makes me even more obsessed with these two.
This book is a good, quick read if you love obsessed and masked MMCs who will do anything for the FMC and even inspire her writing.
I cannot wait for more in this series. Thank you to the author who provided this e-arc for my honest thoughts.
September 4, 2026
Autumn Ritual is a fast, gripping dark romance that pulls you in from the very first chapter. It’s atmospheric, moody, and unapologetically intense — exactly what I look for in a novella that leans into the darker side of desire and obsession.
The author does a great job balancing tension with character depth. Even in a shorter format, the emotional stakes feel real. The characters are flawed, magnetic, and impossible to look away from, and their chemistry has that perfect mix of danger and heat. The pacing is tight, with no wasted scenes, and the story builds toward a satisfying, dramatic payoff.
I especially enjoyed how the author handled the darker elements. They’re bold, but never gratuitous. Everything serves the story, the characters, and the emotional arc. It’s the kind of dark romance that knows exactly what it wants to be — and delivers.
If you enjoy intense, atmospheric novellas with high tension and strong character dynamics, Autumn Ritual is absolutely worth reading. It’s quick, addictive, and leaves you wanting more.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The author does a great job balancing tension with character depth. Even in a shorter format, the emotional stakes feel real. The characters are flawed, magnetic, and impossible to look away from, and their chemistry has that perfect mix of danger and heat. The pacing is tight, with no wasted scenes, and the story builds toward a satisfying, dramatic payoff.
I especially enjoyed how the author handled the darker elements. They’re bold, but never gratuitous. Everything serves the story, the characters, and the emotional arc. It’s the kind of dark romance that knows exactly what it wants to be — and delivers.
If you enjoy intense, atmospheric novellas with high tension and strong character dynamics, Autumn Ritual is absolutely worth reading. It’s quick, addictive, and leaves you wanting more.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 10, 2026
This book has all the vibes. Spooky season, mafia bad guys, literal boy next door. This is definitely a darker romance. The story follows Sara and Cam. Sara’s dad is the mobs numbers guy, Cam is the enforcer. They grew up living next to each other, Sara moved away to start her career as an aspiring author, but finds herself in need of quick escape from the big city. She moves back and stays at her parents’ lake house alone to work on writing her next book series. Cam has always loved Sara. He assumes she could never love a man with as much blood on his soul as he has; but he can’t stay away. I really enjoyed Alexa’s writing style, and the story overall. My only complaint, if it really even is one, is that the story was too short, it felt rushed. I wish she would have taken longer with the character development, lean into the events at the cabin between Cam and Sara. Involve some of the Cam’s mob stories, delve into Sara’s writing a little more. I feel the end arrived long before I really ‘knew’ either character and I would have really enjoyed knowing them each better, and learning to be a couple.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐🌙
I really loved this one! 🍂😈
Sara left San Pietro Cove, her family, and her friends behind to start a new life in New York. Now she's back to her roots, looking for inspiration for her next book, only to discover that she might have broken more than one heart when she left.
And, oh boy… she definitely finds the inspiration she was looking for. Maybe even more than she expected. 😏
Cam was… 🔥🔥🔥 He might be the devil, but even the devil had a guardian angel. And Sara was the one who saw through all his layers and smiled at the man beneath them. She's his path to salvation, and I really loved that.
This was a really nice, fun, and very hot story. The chemistry between Sara and Cam was sizzling, and despite all the obstacles, they found their way back to each other...
My only complaint? I really wish it had been longer! I wanted more details, more of their story, and more time with these two.
Another enjoyable, cozy-but-dark autumn romance, and I'm definitely curious to see what comes next! 🍂🖤
I really loved this one! 🍂😈
Sara left San Pietro Cove, her family, and her friends behind to start a new life in New York. Now she's back to her roots, looking for inspiration for her next book, only to discover that she might have broken more than one heart when she left.
And, oh boy… she definitely finds the inspiration she was looking for. Maybe even more than she expected. 😏
Cam was… 🔥🔥🔥 He might be the devil, but even the devil had a guardian angel. And Sara was the one who saw through all his layers and smiled at the man beneath them. She's his path to salvation, and I really loved that.
This was a really nice, fun, and very hot story. The chemistry between Sara and Cam was sizzling, and despite all the obstacles, they found their way back to each other...
My only complaint? I really wish it had been longer! I wanted more details, more of their story, and more time with these two.
Another enjoyable, cozy-but-dark autumn romance, and I'm definitely curious to see what comes next! 🍂🖤
September 4, 2026
This was a totally unrealistic, kind of ridiculous read. The FMC, Sara, lives in a town ruled by the mob. She’s home from a brief life in the city, and the boy she left behind has decided she’s his. Cam, the MMC, is the family enforcer, who does the dirtiest of jobs, and he’s known Sara since they were kids. When she left home he thought he’d lost his chance, but now things are different.
Cam starts stalking Sara, and when she leaves to stay at the family lake house, he follows. Lots of sexy shenanigans take place, all with Cam “hiding” behind a ball cap, lowered voice and shadows. The notion that Sara wouldn’t be able to figure out who he was is absurd. Oh well. There is opposition to them as a couple, an ex who won’t take no for an answer, and eventually a HEA.
Like I wrote, this story is really unrealistic, but it’s still a fun little romp and the author has a good writing style. If you suspend all disbelief and just go with it, it’s an entertaining way to spend an hour or so this Halloween season.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Cam starts stalking Sara, and when she leaves to stay at the family lake house, he follows. Lots of sexy shenanigans take place, all with Cam “hiding” behind a ball cap, lowered voice and shadows. The notion that Sara wouldn’t be able to figure out who he was is absurd. Oh well. There is opposition to them as a couple, an ex who won’t take no for an answer, and eventually a HEA.
Like I wrote, this story is really unrealistic, but it’s still a fun little romp and the author has a good writing style. If you suspend all disbelief and just go with it, it’s an entertaining way to spend an hour or so this Halloween season.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 7, 2026
It’s always been her!
5⭐️
If you are looking for something with masked men, stalkers, Made Men and an author who is just trying to write a novel, this is the book for you! I was blown away by how much story ( and spice) this author managed to pack into a book that was less than 150 pages. Sara, FMC, finds her self back home after leaving her cheating ex had continued to harass her after the breakup. She just wanted to switch genres of her books and write in peace. Cam, MMC, was completely blown away when he discovered the woman he’s been in love with for years had returned home. While she was away he’d convinced himself she was better off without him but now that she was back all bets are off. The chemistry between these two is amazing! There was a bit of the miscommunication trope but it more of a mild inconvenience than anything else. I also loved how both MCs were willing to go toe to toe with the Don when it came to their chosen partner!
Thank you so much to Alexa for the copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own 💜💜
5⭐️
If you are looking for something with masked men, stalkers, Made Men and an author who is just trying to write a novel, this is the book for you! I was blown away by how much story ( and spice) this author managed to pack into a book that was less than 150 pages. Sara, FMC, finds her self back home after leaving her cheating ex had continued to harass her after the breakup. She just wanted to switch genres of her books and write in peace. Cam, MMC, was completely blown away when he discovered the woman he’s been in love with for years had returned home. While she was away he’d convinced himself she was better off without him but now that she was back all bets are off. The chemistry between these two is amazing! There was a bit of the miscommunication trope but it more of a mild inconvenience than anything else. I also loved how both MCs were willing to go toe to toe with the Don when it came to their chosen partner!
Thank you so much to Alexa for the copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own 💜💜
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September 10, 20264/5 ⭐️
This novella is an absolute must-read for the spooky season! The fall and Halloween vibes are immaculate, making it the perfect atmospheric escape.
Autumn Ritual by Alexa Michaels delivers a delicious cat-and-mouse game between Sara, a fiercely strong writer FMC who retreats to a lake cabin, and Cam, the town's mafia enforcer and her masked stalker who has been secretly obsessed with her forever. Even though it's on the lighter side of actual mafia business, the dynamic between them is so fucking hot. Cam is the ultimate protective MMC he completely prioritizes her happiness, stands by her against outside forces, and supports her writing career in the most delightfully twisted, spicy ways.
I highly recommend this to all my dark romance girls who are obsessed with masked stalker tropes, forced proximity in a secluded cabin, and amazing spice. If you want a quick, self-indulgent read with an MMC who is equal parts sweet and unhinged, you will love what these two get up to.
Thank you for granting access to the ARC!
This novella is an absolute must-read for the spooky season! The fall and Halloween vibes are immaculate, making it the perfect atmospheric escape.
Autumn Ritual by Alexa Michaels delivers a delicious cat-and-mouse game between Sara, a fiercely strong writer FMC who retreats to a lake cabin, and Cam, the town's mafia enforcer and her masked stalker who has been secretly obsessed with her forever. Even though it's on the lighter side of actual mafia business, the dynamic between them is so fucking hot. Cam is the ultimate protective MMC he completely prioritizes her happiness, stands by her against outside forces, and supports her writing career in the most delightfully twisted, spicy ways.
I highly recommend this to all my dark romance girls who are obsessed with masked stalker tropes, forced proximity in a secluded cabin, and amazing spice. If you want a quick, self-indulgent read with an MMC who is equal parts sweet and unhinged, you will love what these two get up to.
Thank you for granting access to the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was such quick and easy, but fun read. I finished it in one sitting. 4 stars for me!
It's a dark romance novella with a mafia theme that takes place in a small town.
Sara has been living in New York for the past years and now moves back to her hometown. She's an indie author and Cam is the mafia's enforcer. Sara and Cam have been old friends and secretly pining after each other. Now back in the same place things are heating up.
Cam is obsessed and very possessive over Sara and she enjoys it. Sara came back to the Cove to write and get some inspiration for her new book, but the lines between fiction and reality are getting blurred.
The story overall was very fast-paced, but very enjoyable. It had lots of spice and masked man/secret identity elements.
I also very much loved how it all takes place in a small town and has a Halloween and autumn setting.
This book will definitely get you in the mood for the upcoming autumn days.
Thank you Alexa Michaels for the e.ARC!
It's a dark romance novella with a mafia theme that takes place in a small town.
Sara has been living in New York for the past years and now moves back to her hometown. She's an indie author and Cam is the mafia's enforcer. Sara and Cam have been old friends and secretly pining after each other. Now back in the same place things are heating up.
Cam is obsessed and very possessive over Sara and she enjoys it. Sara came back to the Cove to write and get some inspiration for her new book, but the lines between fiction and reality are getting blurred.
The story overall was very fast-paced, but very enjoyable. It had lots of spice and masked man/secret identity elements.
I also very much loved how it all takes place in a small town and has a Halloween and autumn setting.
This book will definitely get you in the mood for the upcoming autumn days.
Thank you Alexa Michaels for the e.ARC!
September 1, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Okayyyy this book 😭🍂
I really enjoyed Autumn Ritual! It was dark, spicy, creepy, and honestly just a really fun read. Camillo is absolutely insane 😂 but in the way where you KNOW you should be running away and instead you’re like… okay but hear me out 👀
I really liked the chemistry between Sara and Camillo, and I loved the whole author-writing-a-villain-and-then-ending-up-with-one thing. It was such a fun concept and made the story feel different from some of the other dark romances I’ve read.
The fall/autumn vibes were also perfect for this time of year. There was definitely some creepy/stalker energy, obsession, spice, and enough WTF moments to keep me turning the pages.
It’s a pretty quick read, so I flew through it. If you like dark romance with an obsessive, unhinged MMC and a good amount of spice, definitely add this one to your TBR!
5/5 for me 🖤🍂🌶️
Okayyyy this book 😭🍂
I really enjoyed Autumn Ritual! It was dark, spicy, creepy, and honestly just a really fun read. Camillo is absolutely insane 😂 but in the way where you KNOW you should be running away and instead you’re like… okay but hear me out 👀
I really liked the chemistry between Sara and Camillo, and I loved the whole author-writing-a-villain-and-then-ending-up-with-one thing. It was such a fun concept and made the story feel different from some of the other dark romances I’ve read.
The fall/autumn vibes were also perfect for this time of year. There was definitely some creepy/stalker energy, obsession, spice, and enough WTF moments to keep me turning the pages.
It’s a pretty quick read, so I flew through it. If you like dark romance with an obsessive, unhinged MMC and a good amount of spice, definitely add this one to your TBR!
5/5 for me 🖤🍂🌶️
September 1, 2026
Title: Autumn Ritual (ARC)
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Author: Alexa Michaels
He helps her with the spicy scenes in her book. He watches her from a distance, he reads her book without her knowing and then helps her/ recreates her spicy parts. Childhood friends find old love never dies. She’s escaping her past self. And the ex that won’t let her go. But the girl who once’s was handed something horrible turned her life into something worth living. And you see her fight for what she wants and hands the dom a good butt kicking for it. She doesn’t back down. She wants him and he wants her and they fight for each other. And of course the wonder surprise that happens from all there recreating is something he never saw coming but instantly breaks down and wants her even more!! I seriously think we need more from them.
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Author: Alexa Michaels
He helps her with the spicy scenes in her book. He watches her from a distance, he reads her book without her knowing and then helps her/ recreates her spicy parts. Childhood friends find old love never dies. She’s escaping her past self. And the ex that won’t let her go. But the girl who once’s was handed something horrible turned her life into something worth living. And you see her fight for what she wants and hands the dom a good butt kicking for it. She doesn’t back down. She wants him and he wants her and they fight for each other. And of course the wonder surprise that happens from all there recreating is something he never saw coming but instantly breaks down and wants her even more!! I seriously think we need more from them.
September 1, 2026
If you are looking for a quick romp of a read that is on the darker side, this is the perfect book for you! Featuring a romance author who is wanting to try a new, darker genre and a made man enf0rcer, this book takes 0bsessi0n to the next level!
Sara returned to her home town after leaving her che@t1ng boyfriend. She wants to focus on writing her next romance novel. However, her home town is run by made men, and the enf0rcer, Cam, has his eyes on Sara. He has been 0bse$$ed with her for years and finally has his chance. He arranges to be her date at a masked ball.....
To his surprise, the next day Sara is gone, off to her parent's lake house for uninterrupted writing. So, naturally, he follows her. He has been watching her for years, after all...
I loved Cam so much. He is unh1nged, but so protective. What more could you ask from a st@1ker?
Sara returned to her home town after leaving her che@t1ng boyfriend. She wants to focus on writing her next romance novel. However, her home town is run by made men, and the enf0rcer, Cam, has his eyes on Sara. He has been 0bse$$ed with her for years and finally has his chance. He arranges to be her date at a masked ball.....
To his surprise, the next day Sara is gone, off to her parent's lake house for uninterrupted writing. So, naturally, he follows her. He has been watching her for years, after all...
I loved Cam so much. He is unh1nged, but so protective. What more could you ask from a st@1ker?
September 14, 2026
Autumn Ritual by Alexa Michaels follows our FMC Sara, who is an author that typically writes soft romance. However, when we meet her, she has decided to take a little trip to the dark side. And what better way to write about dark romance than to live it? Cam is our MMC and he is OBSESSED with Sara, but he doesn’t want to know about it yet. So he begins reading Sara’s writing and bringing her imagination to life.
This story is a spicy, fun novella that is the perfect little palette cleanser to get you ready for some dark romance reads for spooky season. Cam is a masked stalker that checks all of the boxes for making Sara’s most unhinged fantasies come to life. While this story is a mafia romance, the mafia subplot if very light so it makes for a dark romance that is a bit lighter. Overall, this is a good choice if you want a quick bridge into spooky season!
This story is a spicy, fun novella that is the perfect little palette cleanser to get you ready for some dark romance reads for spooky season. Cam is a masked stalker that checks all of the boxes for making Sara’s most unhinged fantasies come to life. While this story is a mafia romance, the mafia subplot if very light so it makes for a dark romance that is a bit lighter. Overall, this is a good choice if you want a quick bridge into spooky season!
September 1, 2026
Spooky spicy good time
I absolutely loved Cam and Sara’s story! I loved that it was a quick and easy read. I loved that it had all the autumn and spooky vibes perfect for this time of year. I loved that these two had a history of being childhood friends. Because of that I didn’t feel like their romance was forced or quick. It all seemed to happen very naturally. It was like these two had always wanted each other, they had just never allowed themselves to believe it could happen. The yearning and obsession that Cam has for Sara was absolutely delicious! I also loved the strength that Sara showed in standing up for her relationship and feelings for Cam. This was such a perfect read for this time of year! If you’re a dark romance fan, you’re going to love this one!
I absolutely loved Cam and Sara’s story! I loved that it was a quick and easy read. I loved that it had all the autumn and spooky vibes perfect for this time of year. I loved that these two had a history of being childhood friends. Because of that I didn’t feel like their romance was forced or quick. It all seemed to happen very naturally. It was like these two had always wanted each other, they had just never allowed themselves to believe it could happen. The yearning and obsession that Cam has for Sara was absolutely delicious! I also loved the strength that Sara showed in standing up for her relationship and feelings for Cam. This was such a perfect read for this time of year! If you’re a dark romance fan, you’re going to love this one!
September 6, 2026
Autumn Ritual by Alexa Michaels was a quick, spicy, and wonderfully dark read! I really enjoyed the chemistry between the characters, especially the possessive and morally gray hero. The suspense and obsession kept me hooked, while the romance added just enough sweetness to balance the darker elements. I liked the unique setup with an indie author heroine and the way her fictional world starts to feel a little too real. The story moves at a good pace and packs plenty of tension into a novella-length read without feeling dragged out. Overall, Autumn Ritual was an entertaining story that kept me turning the pages!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 5, 2026
This a pretty lighthearted "dark romance" honestly the label of dark can be summarized by mafia and the novel our fmc is writing happens to be a dark romance. The plot and characters are definitely in the lighter side of the dark classification. I think I found myself giggling at the romance aspect far more than eyes wide open at the dark.
That all said I really loved this book. It would have been a five star if it had actually been darker. I feel like the label cost the book a star just because it isn't exactly what I expect from dark romance and if you are specifically looking for dark, this book isnt going to tick that box.
That all said I really loved this book. It would have been a five star if it had actually been darker. I feel like the label cost the book a star just because it isn't exactly what I expect from dark romance and if you are specifically looking for dark, this book isnt going to tick that box.
September 9, 2026
Wonderful read!
I had such a fun time reading this book, it gave me all the fall & Halloween feels and it also had such a wonderful dark atmosphere to it that really brought it all together for me.
I liked the characters a lot, I really enjoyed the professional following theme in this book also, I thought it was done so well.
It was the perfect read to get into the cozy, fall/autumn and Halloween season and I am absolutely here for it.
I highly suggest checking out this read for sure. There are darker themes in this book so I’d also suggest checking the TW too. 🍂🎃🧡🍁👻.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I had such a fun time reading this book, it gave me all the fall & Halloween feels and it also had such a wonderful dark atmosphere to it that really brought it all together for me.
I liked the characters a lot, I really enjoyed the professional following theme in this book also, I thought it was done so well.
It was the perfect read to get into the cozy, fall/autumn and Halloween season and I am absolutely here for it.
I highly suggest checking out this read for sure. There are darker themes in this book so I’d also suggest checking the TW too. 🍂🎃🧡🍁👻.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 9, 2026
Autumn Ritual is a Dark Romance novella where the FMC leaves her home (and an unhinged ex) and comes back to a small town that’s rife with Mafia corruption (her father is the numbers guy for the local mob). The MMC is the enforcer for the local Mafia who holds a torch for the FMC. He made a deal with her father to be set up together and when things go awry, he becomes her stalker.
I DNF’d it because the pacing was off and dragging. The story showed some promise but to me the couple didn’t have much chemistry. There wasn’t much there to keep my interest.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I DNF’d it because the pacing was off and dragging. The story showed some promise but to me the couple didn’t have much chemistry. There wasn’t much there to keep my interest.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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