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One night.
All I want is one night with her.
No hectic calendar, no deadlines, no work, and no kids.
A night out for the first time in months.
But my attempt at a surprise backfires.
And our fun night out turns into a terse night in.
Until she tells me something neither of us prepared for.
Four years ago, I thought I put her monsters away for good.
But it turns out, there’s new ones nearby.
What I didn’t realize was it’s not her they’re after.
It’s me.
Toxic is a 19,000 word novella featuring Sean and Raquel. It is an optional entry point to a new sub-series set within the Reflections universe—In Secret We Sin.
It is strongly recommended that you have read the Reflections Trilogy, Veritas or Lies due to numerous character references and/or event callbacks. This will be difficult to follow without having read one or all of those. You will not need to read Toxic in order to follow the new sub-series.
All I want is one night with her.
No hectic calendar, no deadlines, no work, and no kids.
A night out for the first time in months.
But my attempt at a surprise backfires.
And our fun night out turns into a terse night in.
Until she tells me something neither of us prepared for.
Four years ago, I thought I put her monsters away for good.
But it turns out, there’s new ones nearby.
What I didn’t realize was it’s not her they’re after.
It’s me.
Toxic is a 19,000 word novella featuring Sean and Raquel. It is an optional entry point to a new sub-series set within the Reflections universe—In Secret We Sin.
It is strongly recommended that you have read the Reflections Trilogy, Veritas or Lies due to numerous character references and/or event callbacks. This will be difficult to follow without having read one or all of those. You will not need to read Toxic in order to follow the new sub-series.
70 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 17, 2022
19 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
A.L. Woods
12 books518 followersA.L. Woods is an international bestselling author of dark and contemporary rollercoaster romances, caffeine aficionado, and collector of Sailor Moon paraphernalia.
She lives outside of Toronto, Ontario with her 9lb larger-than-life miniature dachshund, Maia.
She believes that burritos should be in their own food group, loves the fall, winged liner, and listening to metalcore at an offensive level.
Website: https://amandawrites.ca/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/a-l-w...
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AmandaLWrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandalwrites/
Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/22739...
She lives outside of Toronto, Ontario with her 9lb larger-than-life miniature dachshund, Maia.
She believes that burritos should be in their own food group, loves the fall, winged liner, and listening to metalcore at an offensive level.
Website: https://amandawrites.ca/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/a-l-w...
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AmandaLWrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandalwrites/
Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/22739...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 28, 2022
Bad, bad, bad Amanda!! What a cheeky little tidbit to lure me in to this new series 🤣
Loved being back with Raquel and Sean. Even though there's a part of me that wishes you'd just let them be happy. 🤣
Very intrigued (and concerned) as to where this new series will go and will absolutely be reading it.
Loved being back with Raquel and Sean. Even though there's a part of me that wishes you'd just let them be happy. 🤣
Very intrigued (and concerned) as to where this new series will go and will absolutely be reading it.
May 5, 2025
I took a page out of Sean’s “a bit of pain for a lot of pleasure” masochistic tendency and exercised self control by reading and finishing Lies before coming here. As soon as I finished the Reflection trilogy I was in dire need for more Sean and Raquel, so when I found out this novella had them as the protagonists I couldn’t contain my excitement. I just love them so much and desperately any crumb of them I can get.
The cliffhanger ending is CHEEKY AF! I planned to take a break from reading your books because its been a week and I’ve done nothing but reading omfg!?!
But knowing I have a chance of seeing them again, even as background characters had my heart soaring !
The story and thriller elements kept me on edge and it really set the pace for Adrenaline.
Now, I absolutely look forward to read Katrina’s story, but I won’t lie I would have loved to have a Sean and Raquel continuation of their story that took on a thriller/horror path bc this was really enjoyable and entertaining!! Ugh I just need more of them.😫
The cliffhanger ending is CHEEKY AF! I planned to take a break from reading your books because its been a week and I’ve done nothing but reading omfg!?!
But knowing I have a chance of seeing them again, even as background characters had my heart soaring !
The story and thriller elements kept me on edge and it really set the pace for Adrenaline.
Now, I absolutely look forward to read Katrina’s story, but I won’t lie I would have loved to have a Sean and Raquel continuation of their story that took on a thriller/horror path bc this was really enjoyable and entertaining!! Ugh I just need more of them.😫
January 28, 2025
“The hunt was on. And I was the prey.”
I love these characters, especially Sean.
I love these characters, especially Sean.
May 11, 2022
What a novella! Once again A.L Woods does not disappoint. We get a look into Raquel’s and Sean’s current life and what they’re up to, and wow, I didn’t expect the story to go the way it did🤯. It kept me sat on the edge of my seat, wanting to know more. Holy crap, this novella has got me so excited for Adrenaline. Can it be July already?!😆
March 22, 2022
Had the pleasure of proofreading this book. We are hit with another thrilling ride from A.L. Woods. This was an edge of your seat, what the hell is going to happen next kind of ride/read. And it’s a novella for what’s to come… I can’t wait! Add this your TBR and get ready!
May 24, 2022
I loved reading this novella. It kept me on the edge of my seat and my heart beating a little faster on what is going to happen next. Can’t wait. I was given advance copy for a voluntary review.
August 21, 2024
Definitely got me hooked, what DA HELL is happening?! Who is this person?! So many questions. I can’t wait to start the next one
June 13, 2022
4.75/5 ⭐️
WHAT.
WHAT.
Y’ALL. I wasn’t not expecting any of that!!! I was so excited that we were getting some more of Raquel (she’s awesome), and Sean, that I 1. Did not realize that this was just a novella 2. Did not realize that this was the intro into a new series 3. OMG. NEW SERIES. It’s related to Adrenaline (which I have been on my toes about since Amanda announced it).
Thank you for giving us some more Raquel and Sean. I’m still slightly mad because THIS IS TOTALLY A CLIFFHANGER OF SORTS??? like, Amanda, you can’t do this to us!!! I need the next book like RIGHT NOW. I’m literally counting down the days (literally have a countdown on my phone) for Adrenaline now.
You really know how to trap us into a whole series (I would have read it regardless because I love all of your books — I promise), but OMG.
I’m so glad we got to see more of Raquel and Sean. I especially love Raquel because she’s one of a kind (tbh all of your characters are so special), but she’s just…relatable, and I love that.
Thank you for the smut. It was so good (again, as usual). I highly recommend you read this if you’re planning on getting into Adrenaline and the rest of the new series because DANG, this was a fantastic start!!
Special thanks to Amanda to sending me Toxic. You’re the greatest (and of course — review and opinions are all my own). The only reason I gave this a 4.75 instead of a 5 was because it’s a novella, and I TRULY wish all novellas were books (give me a whole book of smut, and I’ll be fine with it!! I JUST LOVE THE LONG BOOKS)
WHAT.
WHAT.
Y’ALL. I wasn’t not expecting any of that!!! I was so excited that we were getting some more of Raquel (she’s awesome), and Sean, that I 1. Did not realize that this was just a novella 2. Did not realize that this was the intro into a new series 3. OMG. NEW SERIES. It’s related to Adrenaline (which I have been on my toes about since Amanda announced it).
Thank you for giving us some more Raquel and Sean. I’m still slightly mad because THIS IS TOTALLY A CLIFFHANGER OF SORTS??? like, Amanda, you can’t do this to us!!! I need the next book like RIGHT NOW. I’m literally counting down the days (literally have a countdown on my phone) for Adrenaline now.
You really know how to trap us into a whole series (I would have read it regardless because I love all of your books — I promise), but OMG.
I’m so glad we got to see more of Raquel and Sean. I especially love Raquel because she’s one of a kind (tbh all of your characters are so special), but she’s just…relatable, and I love that.
Thank you for the smut. It was so good (again, as usual). I highly recommend you read this if you’re planning on getting into Adrenaline and the rest of the new series because DANG, this was a fantastic start!!
Special thanks to Amanda to sending me Toxic. You’re the greatest (and of course — review and opinions are all my own). The only reason I gave this a 4.75 instead of a 5 was because it’s a novella, and I TRULY wish all novellas were books (give me a whole book of smut, and I’ll be fine with it!! I JUST LOVE THE LONG BOOKS)
December 23, 2024
“The hunt was on. And I was the prey.”
A quick novella featuring Raquel and Sean with a mix of creepy Halloween vibes, a crazy man who screams you are a murderer to an entire supermarket, and likely ends up in your shed at the end of the night. There is also an element of parents getting a night away from their children...so you know.
“The only thing I could think of the day we exchanged vows was that she was mine. The angry brown-eyed woman, who’d told me to go fuck myself after an interview gone wrong, told me, “I do.”
I wasn't expecting this but I loved it. I love thrillers/mysteries and I believe this is setting up a new series so I am here for it.
“All I’d ever wanted since the day I met her was her—all of her, good or bad, flaws and all.”
A quick novella featuring Raquel and Sean with a mix of creepy Halloween vibes, a crazy man who screams you are a murderer to an entire supermarket, and likely ends up in your shed at the end of the night. There is also an element of parents getting a night away from their children...so you know.
“The only thing I could think of the day we exchanged vows was that she was mine. The angry brown-eyed woman, who’d told me to go fuck myself after an interview gone wrong, told me, “I do.”
I wasn't expecting this but I loved it. I love thrillers/mysteries and I believe this is setting up a new series so I am here for it.
“All I’d ever wanted since the day I met her was her—all of her, good or bad, flaws and all.”
May 25, 2022
Now that…that is cruel! I want the rest like now! Although I’ve read books from this author, I haven’t had the pleasure to read Sean and Raquel’s story. And seeing them in other books and reading Toxic made me want to hurry up and get to it. Their journey seems like an intense one and looks like it’s about to get even more intense. I like that it’s moving a bit away from the romance story and goes into a suspense story. Once again, really enjoyed this work by Al. Wood.
May 6, 2022
Holy moly this is awesome 😱 it's a quick little 4 chapter look into the current lives of Sean and Racquel, and its so so good, i didnt want it to end. I was so hooked from page 1 and did not see that happening. Dont skip past this one, 5 🌟
August 22, 2022
Holy Sh*t!
I’m speechless!
“The hunt was on. And I was the prey.”
Absolutely LOVED this!
I’m speechless!
“The hunt was on. And I was the prey.”
Absolutely LOVED this!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews