Coveted

Elite Heirs #1

by Mara Redford

The most ruthless heir on campus becomes my protector, whether I like it or not.

Lucan Hale torments me from my very first day at Darkbloom University.

He’s ice-cold and a rumored killer.

I can’t stand him, but I also can’t seem to escape him.

All I want is to fit in at my elite new college, because this scholarship is my one chance to leave behind my old world and a haunting dark secret.

But when I witness a murder during the college’s welcome ritual, I’m forced to accept Lucan’s over-the-top brand of help to survive.

And while he protects my life, I must shield myself against his possessiveness that knows no limits.

Because he’s made it clear that once he claims me…

I’ll always be his.

Coveted is a standalone dark romance featuring a morally gray billionaire who falls first and harder. Contains stalking.

Tropes:

Dark academia
Bully billionaire x poor girl
Obsessive MMC
Inexperienced FMC
Autumn + Halloween vibes

Genres: Dark Romance, Stalker, Dark, College Romance

368 pages, Paperback

Published August 31, 2026

About the author

Mara writes dark romance featuring obsessive chemistry, atmospheric settings, and occasionally questionable decision-making. When she's not writing, she can usually be found in a quiet corner with a good book, out on a long walk, or in the company of animals.

Reviews

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

COVETED is a great read. I enjoyed Lucan and Sadie’s love story. Sadie wants a fresh start in her life and is accepted to attend Darkbloom college, but she comes with a stalker already haunting her. This is where she meets Lucan, and let’s just say nothing happens by coincidence. Lucan is intense, dark, sexy-sexy, and completely gone for Sadie. When Sadie overhears something, she shouldn't, she becomes a target and Lucan will protect her at all costs.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had me in a choke hold 😍
The twist got me .
Absolutely adored the MMC

[Nickole · Rating 4 out of 5]

We meet bookstore clerk Sadie who got into Darkbloom Academy. It's a new start for her after her mother passed. Plus maybe her stalker will finally leave her alone. We then meet brooding Lucan, who has an eye on Sadie. All her new friends tell her to stay away from him as he's bad news plus his family is super wealthy and he would get out of anything. During Founders Day, Sadie and her friends run in a forest while 4th years set chase to all the 1st years. Sadie gets caught by Lucan and demands her token. He leaves her alone in the forest when she hears a commotion and then finds a dead body. Lucan has been keeping an eye on Sadie longer than she knows. He lost his cousin Hannah last year and now Psrker this year. He knows they were both killed and needs to find evidence. The more time Sadie spends with Lucan the more she falls but when she learns about him tracking her all thr time it gets to be a little much. Lucan needs to protect Sadie at all costs but she cant handle all that smothering. Things are not what they seem and the bad guy is onto them. Will Sadie make it out alive of will she be the third victim?

Rcvd an arc from Booksirens

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

COVETED is a great read. I truly enjoyed Lucan and Sadie’s love story. Lucan is intense, dark, sexy-sexy, and completely gone for Sadie. And all those red flags she is worried about? Pshh . . . Those are all green. to. ME! Their journey to HEA is complex and sucked me in from the start.
*** Recommended ***

MMC:
✨Lucan
FMC:
✨Sadie
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Series:
✨Elite Heirs
Tropes:
👉dark college romance
👉he falls first & hard
👉bully billionaire mmc
👉obsessive mmc
👉ott possessive mmc
Triggers:🛑see content warning page/author’s website for full list🛑
💥18+
💥 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, mf, open🚪sex
💥profanity
💥violence
💥death
💥abuse
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Wendy Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[Charlotte Francis-Ball · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

4.75, rounded up to 5 stars! This book gave me so many different feelings: shock, anticipation and trepidation, warmth, comfort and discomfort (but in the way a well written novel should make you feel discomfort!) It also had me somewhat hot under the collar on a number of occasions, the writing in these areas was very detailed and tense… if you know you know!

I loved the MMC who is definitely a grower not a shower, and I also loved the FMC, but would’ve loved to have known more about her descriptively in terms of general appearance. This is not a criticism however, because I felt like we knew her as a person which is truly how you connect with the characters, right?

Overall I loved it. Devoured it! Can’t wait to see what Mara does next! Thank you for allowing me to ARC read this, it was an honour!

[LAR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now THIS is my kind of dark romance.

I was lucky enough to get this book as an ARC, and I am not disappointed at all!

I'm usually not a fan of dark romance, so this was definitely alright with me because it wasn't as dark as I thought it would be. I loved how the romance developed and the fact that it wasn't simply a lustful relationship.

This was a fun read and I loved the writing. I liked how their relationship evolved and the fact that the author made us doubt many characters. The amount of foreshadowing was perfect in my opinion because it was just enough to raise a flag, but not enough so that we knew already who the culprit was.

I would have loved to hear more about Sadie's past and to learn about her relationship with her friends, because I liked the characters and I believe they would have made it a bit more interesting. The romantic relationship evolved quite fast and I feel like it would have been better to give us more "scenes" outside of the romantic ones to make the story more complete.

Over all, I really liked this book and I definitely want to read more books by that author!

[Katie Gaudet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I forget how much I love stalker romances and then books like this come along and remind me. 😍 The man got her favorite discontinued lipstick remade for her, god damn. I loved these two characters together: Sadie is an independent spitfire (who’s tough af) and Lucan is a broody billionaire who is obsessed with her/keeping her safe.

This book is a dark academia bully romance (but not toooo bullyish which works well) with great spicy scenes, murder, and he falls first. Definitely check it out!

Thanks so much for the chance to read this arc!

[Linda Joseph]

I got 30% into the book and I just was not invested enough. I did not understand his obsession and found the MMC a bit weird tbh. This book just wasn’t for me unfortunately but I can see how it would be appealing to others. Maybe to a younger crowd.

[Vivien R · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are some of my favorite kind of dark romances. The dark academia bully trope is just so good. Lucas is really morally gray and possessive, just like I like my main male characters. This is an awesome story.

[kristiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books where I say I really want to give more than 5 stars. I loved it. On my opinion a think is a masterpiece.

This book is Dark Academia, Murder mystery, Stalker Romance, Billionaire Bully you name it and this book has it 🥰

Yes I will give spoilers ( really sorry 🤭)

This book tells a story between Lucan the Billionaire and Sadie the girl who loves writing and reading.

Sadie takes a scholarship in her dream school through an application that took her by suprise and Lucan is her stalker. They both have their own secrets one darker than the other. The murder that happen the first day of the school connect Lucan and Sadie more with each other. I was speechless by the twist in the book didn't see coming and I didn't expect it either.

What happen after the murder keeps you in the edge for this book you really want to know what is happening in every page.


( I don't need to drug you to make you mine 😍 )

( I see my future in your eyes 😍 )

[Gloria Barbaras · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the academia setting so much! 😍✨

[Anna Sarsfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Academia mystery meets dark romance

Let me start off by saying I LOVE academia books. Especially the dark kind.
From the very first page, the world and characters are set up nicely and I was instantly intrigued.
MC; Sadie Marlowe.
We know the stalker from the get-go in the first six chapters, though it still leaves questions. More questions stir up when people start dying (getting unalived) and we already have the initial tension with our potential love interest- we get his POV so I think it’s a done deal.
First suspect- Chuck the advisor, he was asking too many questions if you ask me.
First impression of the book, Rina Kent vibes in the way that her books feature powerful families with morally grey love interests and dark elements but with academia being a more focused part a long with a murder mystery plot that keeps us on toes.
Dark, sexy with an hint of private exhibitionism- Sadie likes to be dominated, make way for the spice in this book.
Bully romance is definitely the trope, with an obsessed stalker love interest and an inexperienced poor MC.
After a kidnapping attempt from a mystery killer Lucan turns into a hero stalker rather than a creepy stalker, and goes ultra security dude trying to protect her.
“He’s like a hurricane. A vast, unstoppable, damaging force of nature. Except a hurricane has the good manners to give you fair warning before steamrolling into your life. I’m left staring balefully at my rigged windows, wondering what on earth I’ve gotten myself into.”
The book itself is very descriptive, it’s easy to follow, and the pace is steady. Conclusion; the writing is great. It allows me to picture all that’s happening; the school, the dorm-room the huge grounds of Lucan’s estate, etc.
I also enjoyed the author’s one liners; “Too bad he’s got all the makings of a supervillain” and “The price I pay for safety is an intense billionaire watching my every move” and “I watch her like an addict” and “There’s a sweetly slumbering menace in my bed.”
Autumn vibes, I think I should have rather read this on Halloween night, would have been great.
Chuck Fairchild was still my number one suspect twenty chapters in, he keeps asking questions which is fairly questionable.
And I don’t normally root for the stalker but how can I not when she thinks this after getting chased by the killer; “Safe, is all I can think, almost dizzy with relief. I’m safe.”
I felt like there was tension, a threatening aura of chemistry, every time they’re on the page and alone together.
Lucan, what a unique name btw, is the typical morally grey love interest stalker, the someone who would not only kill for their obsession but would protect them against all odds because they feel a connection, a similarity of like calls to like, or at the very least that they fit like puzzle pieces.
It’s a multi- POV dark romance with the right amount of spice and despite the stalking he’s really sweet on her
Also, he’s Lucan richie rich Hale.
The only thing I disliked about the book was her desperation to belong, almost that she’d do anything. Then again, it’s clear that’s a kink of hers that Lucan uses. I usually like my MC girls to be standoffish and stubborn and badass, I don’t like them easily manipulated or submissive to the love interest but this book had elements to it that I just had to keep reading. Anyways, their relationship improved throughout the book so by the end of it no matter his controlling creepy tendencies I wanted them to be together because who wouldn’t want to be absolutely worshipped by a man like Lucan.
In the end I was wrong about suspecting Chuck, I’ve never been very astute in guessing who-done-it. But the motive? It caught me completely off guard, though it shouldn’t have because there’s always one of ‘those’ in an academic setting.
All in all, great standalone.
Mentionable quote; “The last thing I hear is Lucan repeating my name, over and over again, like a prayer.”
Favourite quote; “I see my future in your eyes.”
Thank you to the author who gave me this ARC to read, I really enjoyed it and I’ll be keeping a lookout for the next.

[Abby G.C · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I really tried with this book. I just couldn’t fully get into it.

First of all… what’s up with the stalker? 😂 We hear about him in the first chapter, and then the story starts giving major vibes that Lucan is the stalker. But then he just takes Sadie’s stuff at the entrance of the school without asking, so she follows him… only to somehow end up having a full-blown conversation with a professor??? Like, how big is this school? 😂 And how is she actually able to keep tabs on Lucan this entire time? Maybe it’s just me, but a lot of this didn’t feel particularly realistic. Also, why are you giving who the stalker is right away?!?!?!

Then we hear rumors that Lucan is somehow involved in a murder, and suddenly Sadie has this whole “You’re a creep and a murderer!” attitude toward him. Which felt a little unfair to me considering she had literally just met these people and immediately decided she hated him. Granted, he did take her stuff, so I understand being pissed, but the constant “You’re a creep! I hate you!” attitude started to feel excessive.

And speaking of Lucan… his immediate obsession with Sadie felt very off to me. Like okay…we get it he’s the stalker but come on?! Maybe if I had read more I might have got it but again…it just didn’t grab my attention enough to continue finding out why.

I actually wish there had been more of a transition into the stalker storyline. Instead of essentially giving it away within the first 50 pages, I think it would have been much more interesting if the author had slowly woven those clues throughout the story. Lucan taking her stuff at the school entrance like he already knows her, followed by the hint about her pendant, felt like a very obvious giveaway. If those details had been sprinkled throughout the middle of the story, I think the reveal could have been SO much more fun.

Sadie was actually pretty interesting at first, and I liked her in the beginning. But eventually, her personality seemed to become “I hate Lucan and I’m going to do everything in my power to remind him that he’s a creep.”

And she became… insufferable.

I love an enemies-to-lovers trope, but if I had to read Sadie call Lucan a creep one more time, I was going to pull my hair out. 😂

That being said, the actual plot is good. I was genuinely curious about the murder mystery and wanted to know what was going to happen. Honestly, I think I would have enjoyed this much more if the mystery had been the main focus and the romance had taken more of a backseat.

There is A LOT of potential here, especially for a debut novel. But seriously… get an editor. 😂

A lot of the issues I had came down to transitions. At one point we know Sadie is wearing leggings and the next we are talking about her having a skirt? There were quite a few scenes that felt awkward or like something was missing between one moment and the next. There were also a lot of repeated words/phrases, while other words felt like they had been pulled straight out of a dictionary and didn’t quite match the tone the story had already established.

The descriptions were also inconsistent. Some things were described in extreme detail while other moments were barely touched on, which made the pacing and world-building feel uneven.

This will probably be one of those books where I read a few chapters, get the ick over a scene, put the book down, and forget about it… only to come back later and read a little more. Then I’ll remember exactly why I dropped it, put it down again, and repeat the cycle until I eventually finish the book. 😂

Hence why this review was so late. LOL.

Maybe if I were 15–17, I would have LOVED this whole thing because my brain wouldn’t be trying to make sense of every single detail and questioning the entire book the whole time. 😂😂

Overall, not a bad debut, and I genuinely think there’s potential here. I just think the execution needs some tightening, particularly with the transitions, character development, and balancing the romance with the mystery.

[_chapters_and_chocolate_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good dark academia romance, and this book delivered from the very beginning. It had everything I look for in the genre: atmosphere, mystery, danger, morally questionable choices, and a romance that completely consumes you.

The writing makes it so easy to envision everything that’s happening without ever becoming overly descriptive or slowing down the pace. The characters are equally well written—they’re flawed, complicated, and far from perfect, yet somehow those imperfections only make you fall in love with them even more.

The chemistry and connection between the two main characters is palpable from the start, and the MMC will, without a doubt, ruin every other man for you. His love and devotion know absolutely no limits. Is he unhinged? Yes. Obsessive? Definitely. But the dual POV adds so much depth to his character because we get to see inside his head and understand the emotions and motivations behind some of his crazier decisions. It doesn’t necessarily make his behaviour sane, but it certainly makes it easier to understand—and, somehow, love him for it.

One of my favourite parts of the story was the character growth. They both have their own struggles to overcome, and I loved watching them support one another while also challenging and pushing each other to become stronger, better versions of themselves. Their relationship isn’t just about the chemistry or obsession; there’s a genuine emotional connection underneath it all that makes their romance even more satisfying.

The mystery element adds another layer to the story, filling the plot with danger, secrets, suspicion, and tension. There’s always a sense that something else is lurking beneath the surface, which kept me turning the pages because I needed to know how everything would unravel.

And then there was THAT plot twist. I genuinely did not see it coming. I thought I had an idea of where the story was heading, only to be completely blindsided. I was shocked, and I absolutely love when a book manages to catch me that off guard.

Overall, this was such an addictive dark academia romance. Between the atmospheric setting, the mystery and suspense, the character development, and an obsessive MMC whose devotion knows no bounds, I was hooked from beginning to end. If you love morally grey characters, intense chemistry, mystery, danger, and a romance with a deliciously unhinged edge, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Kimberley White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darkbloom University is supposed to be Sadie’s chance at a new beginning. A scholarship student from working-class Briarvale, she’s suddenly thrown into a world of wealth, privilege and secrets—and on her very first day, she becomes a witness to a murder.

Because apparently starting university wasn’t going to be dramatic enough.

Then there’s Lucan.
Oh, Lucan. 🖤
A billionaire, morally grey MMC with an obsession with Sadie that is absolutely unhinged—and somehow, completely captivating. He’s been watching her, studying her, and waiting for the perfect opportunity to get under her skin. The stalking element adds an unsettling layer to the story, especially when Sadie begins receiving disturbing reminders that someone knows far more about her than they should.
And yet… the chemistry between Lucan and Sadie? Insane.

Their interactions had me completely hooked. The teasing, the tension, the push and pull—I could genuinely read an entire book of these two simply getting under each other’s skin. Every conversation felt like there was something simmering beneath the surface, and Lucan seemed determined to bring out the darker side Sadie was trying to keep hidden.

There’s also a brilliant thread of mystery and intrigue running throughout the story. Between the murder, the stalker, the strange clues and the unanswered questions, I was constantly trying to work out what was really happening and who could be trusted.
And Lucan’s particular brand of romance? Let’s just say his idea of a sweet gesture is… questionable. 😂

The man is a hopeless romantic with absolutely bonkers methods. The morally grey behaviour, possessiveness and obsession make him the kind of MMC you know you probably shouldn’t be rooting for—but you find yourself completely invested anyway.

What really worked for me was how the book balances the darker elements with the undeniable chemistry between the characters. There’s this constant feeling that something is about to happen, whether it’s another clue being revealed, another secret coming to light, or Lucan pushing Sadie just a little further.

Coveted had me hooked, intrigued and thoroughly obsessed with Lucan.
If you love your dark romance with a possessive billionaire MMC, a scholarship student FMC, university secrets, murder mystery, stalking/obsession and a whole lot of morally grey behaviour, this one definitely delivers.


Lucan was the problem.
Lucan was also the reason I couldn’t put the book down. 🖤

[Chelsea Hackert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story introduces Sadie, a dedicated bookstore clerk who gains acceptance into the prestigious Darkbloom Academy. For Sadie, this admission represents an opportunity for a fresh start following the tragic death of her mother, as well as a potential sanctuary where she hopes her relentless stalker will finally leave her alone. Shortly after her arrival, she crosses paths with Lucan, a brooding and enigmatic student who takes a keen interest in her. Sadie's new group of friends quickly warn her to keep her distance from Lucan, cautioning that he is bad news and explaining that his family's immense wealth and influence allow him to escape accountability for any misdeeds.
The tension escalates during the academy's annual Founders Day event, an intense tradition where fourth-year students pursue the first-years through the surrounding forest. As Sadie and her peers attempt to navigate the woods, she is captured by Lucan, who demands her designated token. After taking the token, Lucan departs, leaving Sadie isolated in the dark forest. Moments later, she overhears a disturbing commotion nearby and stumbles upon a horrifying discovery: a dead body.
It is revealed that Lucan's interest in Sadie is far deeper and longer-standing than she realized. Driven by personal tragedy—having lost his cousin Hannah the previous year and now another peer, Parker, this year—Lucan is convinced that both deaths were murders rather than accidents. He has been covertly tracking Sadie to gather evidence and unravel the dangerous plot brewing at Darkbloom Academy.
As Sadie spends more time alongside Lucan, she finds herself falling for him despite the warnings. However, her feelings are tested when she discovers the full extent of his constant surveillance and tracking, which feels overwhelming and smothering. While Lucan remains determined to protect Sadie at all costs, the threats around them multiply. With the true culprit actively pursuing them and circumstances growing increasingly perilous, Sadie must navigate a web of deception where nothing is as it appears, leaving it uncertain whether she will survive or become the killer's third victim.

Received an advanced reading copy (ARC) from Booksirens.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖤Secret Society
🖤Stalking
🖤Rich boy x Poor girl
🖤He falls first
🖤Possessive MMC
🖤Inexperienced FMC

Release date - September 17th 📆

Now anyone that knows me knows I’m a sucker for a secret society story, and let’s just say Mara has pulled through and not let me down with one of my favourite tropes🤩

The story was so gripping from the very beginning, it was the grip that we all know of “just one more chapter” because between all the suspense and plot twists you just had to know what happens next!

FMC Sadie is having a fresh start in her life, and is accepted to attend Darkbloom college. This is where she meets MMC Lucan, and let’s just say nothing happens by coincidence👀 Lucan knows her long before she starts at Darkbloom, and has been doing his research shall we say. He is obsessed, he finds out every little detail he can about her, and he will burn the world down to ensure that she is his. There is a murderer on the loose and Sadie witnessed one and now that makes her a loose end, the murderer is after her and Lucan will protect her at all costs🖤

The MMC/FMC were such likeable characters, and you instantly are drawn in with their personalities. Hot tension builds between them as Sadie tries to fight how drawn she is to Lucan, whilst Lucan never gives up and his obsession only gets more heightened. I loveeed the cat and mouse dynamic between them🖤

Lucan will ruin every man for you😂 his love has no limits and if he cares or loves you, he will show you exactly how much. I’ll give you one little example.. Lucan cares that much for Sadie that he found on her social media a lipstick that was discontinued and it was her favourite, and was gutted it was no longer available. He went to the company and had them to remake it especially for her, bare minimum if you ask me🤣 he is ultimate book boyfriend material🖤

Honestly I really enjoyed this, and I hope there’s more to come with this universe as there are other characters in the book that I think have more of a story to tell too! I would highly recommend this book to you all🖤

[Cheyenne Golden · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️
3.5 🌶️

“I see my future in her eyes.” - pg. 138

Thank you to the author Mara Redford for allowing me to read an arc of her debut novel Coveted. This was a page turner for sure and I could not put it down, and when I had to I was thinking about it. Coveted is a novel that gave me all the emotional and cozy feels, from shock to anticipation to a cozy dark autumn mystery that had me wanting to solve the case just as much as the characters. I love everything about this book the vibe, the mystery, the writing, the plot. I was not expecting the plot twist at all and even when I had my suspicions Mara knew how to make you doubt otherwise. But the mystery aspect in this book will have you guessing and second guessing over and over again which also made the book more enjoyable for sure. Coveted was like all my favorite dark college romances and gothic romances all into one book. The characters had me in a choke hold and dare I say Lucan Hale might be my new favorite morally grey MMC. He was charming, dark, sexy, and teasing, and such a gentlemen and don’t forget the obsession he had with the FMC Sadie. He made princess treatment look like the bare minimum for Sadie and I’m afraid once again my standards have been raised. Lucan was so well written and his red flags immediately went out the window. Now let’s move onto Sadie. She was a such a beautifully written character, she had so much going on in her past and present life but never once did she give up. She had so much strength and Lucan helped her heal by loving her and protecting her even if sometimes he was a little unhinged about it. I loved both of their character developments, one learned how to love and the other learned how to allow herself to be loved and always remember that she deserved nice things too. Overall, I think the plot of this book was amazing and all the tropes were done well and I would recommend this book ten times over.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yay for a debut novel!! I definitely think this was a good to the series and I see a lot of potential from here.

The plot? That's what kept me reading. The mystery aspect was easily my favorite part, and I loved the academia setting at Darkbloom. Give me an elite university, questionable people, secrets, and a murder and apparently I will keep turning pages. While I did find parts of the mystery predictable, I still wanted to see how everything played out.

My biggest struggle was the characters. At times, the dialogue felt really young. It almost felt like I was reading a book about high schoolers, and then we’d jump straight into very adult topics and spice. That contrast kept throwing me off. I also wanted more depth from Sadie and Lucan. I knew facts about them, but I never really felt like I knew them. Everything felt a little surface level and curated, almost like they existed inside their own little bubble.

I would have loved more background, more time with their friendships, and more of the moments that explained why they were the way they were. I think that would have made Lucan’s obsession with Sadie feel more believable too, because it went from zero to “this woman is now my entire personality” pretty quickly. 😂 Let's also say that Sadie has the survival instincts of a goldfish...but that's part of what made her and Lucan work so well.

I’m also really curious about where this series could go from here. There were some little breadcrumbs involving the side characters that made me think there’s a lot more to explore, and honestly, I think future books could be even stronger if we get a little more depth and time outside of the main couple’s bubble.

Overall, this was a quick, entertaining read with a fun setting, an obsessed morally gray hero, spice, and a murder mystery running through it. It just needed a little more character development for me to become fully invested.

[Pranav Bhatnagar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coveted had me hooked from the moment Sadie arrived at Darkbloom University with a stalker already haunting her past and absolutely no idea what kind of world she was stepping into. I loved the dark atmosphere of the university and the feeling that there was always something dangerous hiding behind the beautiful old buildings, wealthy families and strange traditions. Sadie was easy to root for because she is not fearless, but she keeps pushing forward even when she has every reason to run. Her chemistry with Lucan was intense from their very first meeting and I especially enjoyed watching her slowly discover the softer side behind his frightening reputation. Their relationship is complicated, possessive and definitely not a normal romance, but that is exactly what kept me turning the pages. The mystery surrounding Hannah and Parker gave the story another layer of tension and I genuinely kept changing my suspicions as more pieces came together. The stalker mystery, the locket, the secrets surrounding Lucans family and the strange behavior at Darkbloom all kept me guessing. I also loved how the story gradually changed the way I looked at Lucan as Sadie began to see the person beneath the rumors. Some of the darker moments were genuinely disturbing and the final confrontation had me reading faster because I desperately wanted Sadie to make it out alive. What surprised me most was how emotional the ending became after everything they had been through. Seeing Sadie finally believe that she could have a future she actually wanted was beautiful and the epilogue left me smiling. This is a dark and addictive romance filled with danger, obsession, secrets, murder, intense chemistry and a heroine who slowly finds her own strength. I finished it completely invested in Sadie and Lucan and very curious about what the Elite Heirs world has waiting next...

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️ARC REVIEW✨️

Talk about dark stalker college romance done right! First, the story itself was SO well done. It's spooky dark academia blended with billionaire/stalker/bully and it made for an enthralling read! I could not put the book down and every new page had some kind of twist or reveal. It's a dark romance murder mystery that takes place on/around Halloween which makes it a perfect Fall read if you're looking for something on the more macabre side of things. Definitely my jam!

The plot was well thought out and executed, it was fast paced with a lot of mystery, secrets, tension, a little murder, and as much hilarious dialogue as there are serious heartfelt scenes. The spice was HOT but not over the top or extreme with just a bit of mild dubious consent in the beginning, and I loveddd it *wink*

The MMC Lucan is obsessed and so am I. I loved the way his character develops from broody dangerous stalker to lovesick puppy. Lucan is the definition of obsessive and possessive and I LIVED for his expressions of affection/obsession even if they were sometimes a bit….extreme. Doesn't matter though because morally gray is exactly where I like my fictional men.

The FMC Sadie dealt with a lot of internal struggles involving shame and guilt and you can't help but put yourself in her shoes with all she's gone through and feels like she does/doesn't deserve. The complexity of each character and the way threads were woven under the surface throughout the book is a testament to Mara Redford's talented writing and I can't wait to see what she writes next!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this fair and honest review voluntarily.

Read Coveted by Mara Redford out September 17th!! (Will post some of my favorite spoiler-free quotes after release day!)

5⭐️ 3🌶

- Jenn, @goodgirlsguidetosmut

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Why refuse when I can say yes and maybe have an adventure? Do something worth writing about?"

"I should run, because Lucan doesn’t understand moderation. He’s going to eat me whole."

I read this book in a day and loved it. It was engaging, had a great mystery, and it was fun. I loved Sadie; she's stubborn, determined, feisty with a dark side, and she loves to write and read (like most of us!). I started the book hating to love Lucan, but that quickly changed; the devotion, the attentiveness, the intensity - incredible. Admittedly, a walking talking red flag, but sometimes that's just what we're looking for. We had characters who weren't stupid and made silly mistakes, who figured things out, who worked hard and eventually things paid off for them and it felt earned.

I also loved the setting, and Lucans family dynamics were really sweet when it would have been easy to make them very complicated. This could have easily been a story where Lucan was cross with the way his future was set out and fought against it. Instead, it's nice to see that he's quite content with his future plans.

And the spice - I have no words. Which is good. Because Lucan had plenty to say for everyone.

To give this a higher rating, I might have liked the secondary characters to be a little more complex and detailed. I'd have liked more time 'dating'. I'd have liked to know more about what Sadie was always writing about as she talks about writing a lot but we don't get much sense of what she does. I'd have liked to see Lucan more with his friends, and I think seeing that side of him would have made the change in Sadie's perception of him a smoother transition.

Would definitely recommend - a great book for a cozy afternoon on a rainy day in a comfy armchair if you want to lose yourself for a few hours.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Sadie was accepted on scholarship to Darkbloom University, she saw it as a chance to start a new chapter in her life, leaving it’s previous darkness behind. The moment she arrives on campus, she is immediately accosted by the Prince of Darkbloom, leaving her unsettled, and later that night, when she witnesses his cousin being killed during the college’s welcome ritual, she finds herself with a new shadow, claiming to want to keep her safe. But his protection quickly borders on obsession, and Sadie struggles to come to terms with his attention, and how much she desires it, and him.

Lucan has been watching Sadie for much longer than she realizes, and was content to keep his distance, until she became a target and he felt the need to keep her closer. While he knows she’s trying to resist him, pushing back at every turn, he will do anything to keep her alive, and make her his. But when she realizes the true depth of his devotion, will she accept him for all he is, or push him away forever?

I received an early copy of this book from @Booksirens and really enjoyed it. The Darkbloom campus has a gothic feel that adds an eerie vibe to the entire story, setting the scene for this dark romance. Lucan is the definition of the obsessed MMC, with more black flags than red, but his devotion to Sadie is clear right from the beginning. While she initially hesitates to let him in, not trusting him to stick around when he sees who she really is, we soon learn that her darkness matches his own. The suspenseful element added to the story, with enough false leads to leave readers guessing until the very end, and I am looking forward to seeing where the author takes this series next.

[addictedtodarkromance · Rating 5 out of 5]

 Sadie promised her mother before she passed that she would get away from Briarvale to find new experiences. And she's ready to find something beyond what happened in her past and build a good life. So with her scholarship to Bloomsvale University, she's finally doing what she said she would, even if it's going to be a new elite world she'll need to navigate.

When I started reading I thought that Lucan would be a bully and treat Sadie with cruelty but it wasn't as bad as I thought. And even though there were some enemies to lovers parts he was actually protective and kind of sweet in a way. I really loved them together.

On her first day Lucan crosses her path and says he wants to help her. I really enjoyed the back and forth banter, how it creates a sizzle in the air between them - I couldn't help but smile. I could already tell that is was going to be an intense relationship. He's dominant, obsessed and goes after what he wants while she's just trying to make her life better, trying to stay resilient, confident, and determined.

At the welcome ritual Sadie witnesses a murder and ends up in a bad situation where her own life could be on the line. There's a complex web of secrets that are slowly being revealed and Lucsn is going to make sure she's safe.

 
Overall: 4.25 out of 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Spice/Heat Intensity: 3 out of 5 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Main Characters: Lucan & Sadie
Darkness: 5 out of 5 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Type of book: MF, Dual 1st Person POV
Reading Order: Standalone Novel
Title: Elite Heirs Series - Coveted: Book 1
Ending Type: HEA
 
 
*OTT: Possessive, obsessive, dominant, and protective MMC
*Dark Academia - University
*Bully billionaire x poor girl
*Enemies to Lovers
*Haunting Secret
*Ice-Cold MMC
*Death of Family Member
*Coercion
*Domestic Abuse
*Violence
*Stalking
*Inexperienced FMC
*Autumn + Halloween vibes
*No cheating or sharing
 
 
⚠️ This book has descriptive parts that may be offensive or triggering to some. Please check all the authors' TW/CW before reading! 18+
 
*I received an early copy of this book and am voluntarily writing this review.

[Alison turton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Billionaire x Poor girl, Stalker, Dark College romance with an exhilarating plot and great character development.

Lucan and Sadie must work together in order to find a murderer before time runs out for Sadie.
When Sadie an elite college the last thing she is expecting to find is a stalker, a murder mystery, and to be fighting to survive but that’s exactly what awaits her at Darkbloom University.
When she meets the arrogant, cold and somewhat unnerving Lucan there is just something about him that just irritates and arouses her in equal parts. Despite her frustration with the man something is pulling her in his direction. When her life is threatened by the very people who murdered Lucans cousins Lucan continues to provide protection for the somewhat prickly Sadie. With an unknown stalker following her every move and leaving her admittedly thoughtful gifts Sadie is forced to confront the possibility that her stalker and the man who protects her may be one and the same, and that the obsession may have begun far before she ever realised. The more time that they spend together the more their feelings for one another and Lucans obsession grow. Will Sadie and Lucans love survive his obsession? Will they find the killer in time to save Sadie, and will Lucan get the vengeance and justice that his cousins deserve?

This is a fantastic story of love, obsession and things that go bump in the night. The plot is filled with suspense, the characters are well developed and play off each other in a way that builds tension in an almost physical way and the spice is well…spicy. It’s the perfect book for those of us who lean more towards the darker side of romance, and who like our MMCs to love their FMCs to the point of obsession.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy shit, did this book just jump right in. 😂 And honestly? I was HERE for it.

📚 Lucan’s obsessive, mysterious, slightly terrifying energy had me hooked immediately. That perfect “should I be running away from this man?” feeling while also being completely fascinated by him? YES PLEASE.

📚 I loved watching Sadie slowly discover just how deep his obsession actually went. Getting to peel back all the layers of both characters—and seeing the difference between who they are in public versus who they are privately—was one of my favorite parts.

📚 The murder mystery kept me turning pages because I genuinely wanted to know what was going on. There were enough secrets, danger, and questions to keep me guessing while the romance was unfolding.

📚 And the tension?! Add in Halloween, dark academia, stalking, obsession, and spice and you basically have all the ingredients for a book that was made for me. 😂

📚 The chemistry between Lucan and Sadie was intoxicating, especially as the balance of power and their understanding of each other continued to shift. Lucan is absolutely unhinged about her, and I cannot get over it.

📚 My only real complaint? I wanted MORE of the academic setting. I loved Darkbloom and the dark academia atmosphere, so I would have happily taken more classes, campus life, and academic shenanigans. But honestly, that is such a small complaint in the grand scheme of things.

Overall, this was such a fun, dark, addictive read. The obsessive MMC, slow discovery, murder mystery, tension, spice, and spooky atmosphere all worked together to keep me locked in.

If you like your romance dark, mysterious, obsessive, and just a little bit unhinged… add this one to your TBR. 🎃🖤

I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sayyed Zarin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so first of all a very huge thank you to the author and everyone involved in the making of the book

It's been my absolute pleasure to be a part of readers who get to read this

I know I sound cringe but hear me out

I read this author the very first time

yours Truly,

@Mara Redford

And it's been an absolute treat

I loved lucan and sadie

Their chemistry

Their banter

Their chaos

And the tension

Istg I felt I could bite it with my own teeth

There is definitely morally grey theme

For those concerned

Not on the darker side but yeah

It is there

To those who love college romance

Absolutely, unhinged and possessive/obsessive mmc will love it

I know I loved it

And y'all might just gobble it up in one sitting

If you'll are impatient like me

(Consider yourselves warned)

And if we're talking about the story and the plot

Ohh as the story builds and

The plot thickens

Cause there are murders

There's mystery

And the stalking

(Or as we dark romance girls call it

VERY THOROUGH OBSERVATION)

And the one thing that I absolutely loved is that there are no bitchy friends it always grates in my nerves I mean even that works sometimes but mostly it doesn't so I loved that this book does not have cheating or back stabbing or betrayal by friends

And you will love this book cause there's just something there for you to understand me you need to read it and I'm sorry but I just can't explain the pull this book and the fmc and mmc has on me

In the end thank you so much once again for writing this book

I'm grateful to be the ARC Reader

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Danielle Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is absolutely not an attack against the author in any way shape or form - it has been developed based solely on my experience ARC reading this novel.

That being said, it is my opinion that Coveted has the potential to be an EXCEPTIONAL novel if it’s fleshed out a little more. Overall, the plot itself is a 5/5 for me - I loved the murder mystery aspect, the unexpected villain twist (trust me - I had not even an INKLING of an idea of who it was going to be!!), and the unexpected shared experience that inevitably brings Sadie and Lucan together despite their very different upbringings.

However, the plot alone was not enough for me to give this a higher rating than I did. I found it incredibly difficult to connect with not just the main characters but ALL of the characters. The writing, at times, did not flow. Other times, it felt rushed - like there were many missed opportunities to add depth to both the plot itself and the characters. While the descriptors used throughout were generally good, they too lacked depth. Everything came across as very surface level, even with appropriate descriptors.

The surface level feel of the writing, lack of depth, and difficulty with connecting to the characters were the primary reasons for my rating. I in no way think the book is terrible, nor would I say it isn’t worth reading - it genuinely IS a good story, simply lacking in some areas.

For being a debut novel, I think this author has a lot of room to grow and a LOT of potential - and I look forward to following along with her progress!

[Abbey Janke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

⭐️ 4.5/5
🌶️ 3.5/5

I really enjoyed this book! It grabbed my attention from the very beginning, which I absolutely loved. I didn’t have to read several chapters before finally getting hooked—the story pulled me in right away. Mara Redford definitely knows how to capture a reader’s attention from the start!

I really connected with Sadie’s character, and I also enjoyed Lucan’s character and seeing his growth throughout the book. I especially loved how different the two main characters were—not only in their backgrounds and personalities, but also in their academic interests. It made their dynamic really interesting to read.

The author also did a great job keeping me guessing about the murderer. I was genuinely shocked when everything came together! 👀

One thing I wish had been handled a little differently was Sadie’s secret. I think I would have preferred to find out a little earlier in the book. I kept thinking the worst, so when I finally got to that part, my reaction was basically, “Oh… that’s it?” 😂 But that could definitely just be a me thing!

I also felt like we got a lot of descriptions and appearance indicators for Lucan, which made it easier for me to picture him. I had a little more difficulty visualizing Sadie, and I would have loved a few more details about her appearance.

Overall, this book was right on point for readers who love:

🖤 Dark Romance
🖤 Murder & Mystery
🖤 An Obsessive MMC
🖤 Academia

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC! 🖤