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Fatal Fidelity #3
Love Burns Bright
Love always comes with a price.
No one knows that better than Justine. Her freedom has cost two bodies and counting, but now that she’s back in the United States, the only thing she can think about is seeing her parents again. After an abusive marriage kept Justine away from them for ten years, she’s returning to New York City a changed woman—and with the assassin she loves in tow.
Campbell lost what little family they had years ago, and their cover as a killer relies on never attracting attention. Publicly playing Justine’s rich lover risks stripping that mask away, but Campbell is willing to give her anything, no matter how dangerous.
Everything comes to a head the night Justine and Campbell touch down in New York. Their friend Sofia is kidnapped by her Mafia relatives and held for ransom. The trade? Her life for that of a vicious mob boss. And the clock’s ticking. As Campbell plans the kill, the lies they share with Justine start to strain their relationship, and even a second’s exposure will destroy everyone they care about.
It only takes one spark to start a blaze, and this fire could bring the whole city down with them.
Tags: #ownvoices, artist, assassin, bisexual, Bondage, contemporary, dark, established couple, family issues, interracial, light D/s, mafia, nonbinary, PTSD, queer, revenge, romantic suspense
Word Count: 54,100
No one knows that better than Justine. Her freedom has cost two bodies and counting, but now that she’s back in the United States, the only thing she can think about is seeing her parents again. After an abusive marriage kept Justine away from them for ten years, she’s returning to New York City a changed woman—and with the assassin she loves in tow.
Campbell lost what little family they had years ago, and their cover as a killer relies on never attracting attention. Publicly playing Justine’s rich lover risks stripping that mask away, but Campbell is willing to give her anything, no matter how dangerous.
Everything comes to a head the night Justine and Campbell touch down in New York. Their friend Sofia is kidnapped by her Mafia relatives and held for ransom. The trade? Her life for that of a vicious mob boss. And the clock’s ticking. As Campbell plans the kill, the lies they share with Justine start to strain their relationship, and even a second’s exposure will destroy everyone they care about.
It only takes one spark to start a blaze, and this fire could bring the whole city down with them.
Tags: #ownvoices, artist, assassin, bisexual, Bondage, contemporary, dark, established couple, family issues, interracial, light D/s, mafia, nonbinary, PTSD, queer, revenge, romantic suspense
Word Count: 54,100
ebook
First published June 28, 2022
4 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Rien Gray
25 books152 followersRien is a queer, nonbinary author of LGBTQ+ romance, erotica, and horror. They love writing charged sex scenes, consent-informed kink, and hot criminal love interests who revel in the above.
When not writing, Rien spends their time at the gym, making tea, or angling for yet another platinum trophy in a video game.
Newsletter: Free Novella Here!
Website: riengray.com
BSky: @RienGray
When not writing, Rien spends their time at the gym, making tea, or angling for yet another platinum trophy in a video game.
Newsletter: Free Novella Here!
Website: riengray.com
BSky: @RienGray
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 6, 2024
Good read!
Still dark, action-packed -- are enjoying each other and very much in love.
Still dark, action-packed -- are enjoying each other and very much in love.
July 21, 2022
There’s nothing simple about introducing the person you love to your parents. When that person is a non-binary assassin? And you’ve stayed away from your parents because of your abusive husband? And your parents have secrets of their own? Things get really interesting.
One of the reasons I stopped reading thrillers for a long time was that I hated being in the head of the killer. What am I doing reading a series about an assassin then? In Rien Gray’s Fatal Fidelity books, violence is the solution more often than not. It’s never glorified, however, and Campbell is one of the most complex characters I know. In this book, both them and Justine are faced with hard choices and fundamental questions. I feel like the author avoided all traps in creating morally-grey characters, and I enjoyed reading about the conundrum their love and desire for a future together put them in, their thought process in finding the right answers, or answers that are right for them at any rate.
I first started this series because the premise of the first book, Love Kills Twice, intrigued me, an assassin hired by both husband and wife who ends up falling in love with the latter. The second one, Love Bleeds Deep, was good but I didn’t feel the same enthusiasm for it. This third book renewed my interest, giving me familiar and new at the same time. I don’t know if there will be a fourth but I hope so.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog: Jude in the Stars
One of the reasons I stopped reading thrillers for a long time was that I hated being in the head of the killer. What am I doing reading a series about an assassin then? In Rien Gray’s Fatal Fidelity books, violence is the solution more often than not. It’s never glorified, however, and Campbell is one of the most complex characters I know. In this book, both them and Justine are faced with hard choices and fundamental questions. I feel like the author avoided all traps in creating morally-grey characters, and I enjoyed reading about the conundrum their love and desire for a future together put them in, their thought process in finding the right answers, or answers that are right for them at any rate.
I first started this series because the premise of the first book, Love Kills Twice, intrigued me, an assassin hired by both husband and wife who ends up falling in love with the latter. The second one, Love Bleeds Deep, was good but I didn’t feel the same enthusiasm for it. This third book renewed my interest, giving me familiar and new at the same time. I don’t know if there will be a fourth but I hope so.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog: Jude in the Stars
May 13, 2025
“The dark can’t be so bad, Campbell. You’ll be right there with me.”
The good news is, I ended up liking this way more than I thought I would have when I was in the first half. The bad news is, I still didn't like it nearly as much as I did the first two books in the series. I guess it might partly be because it's been so long since I read the last book; like, 3 years. This is a dark-ish, romantic suspense-ish romance between an assassin and the woman who hired them to kill her husband. Some time has passed and their relationship has developped, and now, Justine is taking Campbell home to meet her parents. Complications arise with the mob, and Campbell and Justine have to decide just how involved she's going to be in their life and their job.
Before starting this, I went back to reread my reviews for the other books, and I really did like them. So I was surprised about just how apathetic I felt about the couple in the beginning. The dynamic didn't speak to me, and I felt kind of bored. I found myself nitpicking at a bunch of little things about the plotting. One example: after the mafia kidnaps Sofia and blackmails Campbell and proves that they've been following Campbell around, Campbell just... goes to Justine's parents' house? And brings Justine around with them? Why would they NOT assume that they're still being watched? Later on they comment that they made sure they're not being tailed, but... how are you SURE. I liked the way a lot of the assassin details and surveillance details were written about, but sometimes, it felt very lax and unrealistic. I just didn't get into the plot on the whole very much. I like Gray's writing as always, but this time it wasn't really enough to elevate the experience? The writing also gets purposefully vague about certain things, a decision I understand, but it starts to feel awkward, when we start to phrase certain things and choreograph certain scenes in a particular way, just to keep being vague.
IDK. I just felt mild interest mixed with a whole lot of flat nothing for this book for the majority of it. But the romance in the last third did pull me back in. They're both kinda unhinged, which is why this worked. I loved all their declarations, and the compromise they came to in the end. Maybe it's still more of a 2.75? I'm just glad I started liking it more than I previously did.
I still plan to finish the series, so I hope the last book brings back my former enthusiasm for the couple.
Content warnings:
July 6, 2022
Another compelling book in the Fatal Fidelity series from Gray. I read this in quick succession after the second instalment - Love Bleeds Deep as I find Campbell so fascinating and captivating as a character.
This book felt slightly different to the other two, in that the relationship between Justine and Campbell never feels at risk like they have both settled into their roles within their relationship. With that brings trust and honesty that sits directly between comfortable and uncomfortable for them both.
We are introduced to Justine's family and in doing so Gray weaves two narratives together to show us who Justine and Campbell really are. The risk and reward scenarios never seem to get old, and Gray does a masterful job of bringing humanity to Campbell where you might not otherwise see it in such a complicated character.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a high-stakes narrative and their characters with a morally grey viewpoint of the world.
I received an e-ARC directly from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book felt slightly different to the other two, in that the relationship between Justine and Campbell never feels at risk like they have both settled into their roles within their relationship. With that brings trust and honesty that sits directly between comfortable and uncomfortable for them both.
We are introduced to Justine's family and in doing so Gray weaves two narratives together to show us who Justine and Campbell really are. The risk and reward scenarios never seem to get old, and Gray does a masterful job of bringing humanity to Campbell where you might not otherwise see it in such a complicated character.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a high-stakes narrative and their characters with a morally grey viewpoint of the world.
I received an e-ARC directly from the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2023
yes
I liked the first two books, but the series is really starting to shine in book 3. Maybe I just like it more because it's moving away from military related storylines. But mainly I fucking love the femdom in this one - it was the hottest thing I've read. Justine's corruption arc is chef's kiss, and I can't wait to see how that goes in book 4.
I'm still a little bemused that
Content notes. From the author also
I liked the first two books, but the series is really starting to shine in book 3. Maybe I just like it more because it's moving away from military related storylines. But mainly I fucking love the femdom in this one - it was the hottest thing I've read. Justine's corruption arc is chef's kiss, and I can't wait to see how that goes in book 4.
I'm still a little bemused that
Content notes. From the author also
June 28, 2022
Minor spoilers//
This was a gorgeous read, darkly funny and a really well written corruption arc with both Campbell and Justine coming to term with what it actually means to care for each other and it's unintentional future consequences for both of them and their future and what they are willing to do for each other and with each other.
I also really appreciated the little bits of Mandarin that were obviously left as a bonus for Chinese readers, that was really cool. Also the relationship between Justine and her parents was really sweet and also heartbreaking as Justine deals with the secrets she's kept from them about her marriage.
Also a huge personal fan of the "don't wanna say it but God do I wanna have you dive into the darkness with me" character arc and this delivers perfectly.
I had an ARC from the author.
This was a gorgeous read, darkly funny and a really well written corruption arc with both Campbell and Justine coming to term with what it actually means to care for each other and it's unintentional future consequences for both of them and their future and what they are willing to do for each other and with each other.
I also really appreciated the little bits of Mandarin that were obviously left as a bonus for Chinese readers, that was really cool. Also the relationship between Justine and her parents was really sweet and also heartbreaking as Justine deals with the secrets she's kept from them about her marriage.
Also a huge personal fan of the "don't wanna say it but God do I wanna have you dive into the darkness with me" character arc and this delivers perfectly.
I had an ARC from the author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2022
I first have to apologize for taking forever to read the ARC of this book I received in June. I’m so glad I did finally have some time to read this, as it might be my favorite in the series thus far. I loved getting to know more about Campbell and Sofia’s backstories along with that of Justine and her family of course. The writing has so much heart while also having its page turning moments of thrills and suspense.
Of course, I’m not one bit surprised by how good the book was because I’ve been following Rien Gray’s writing since they started writing for Voltage (so Medusa’s route in Astoria for me). Their writing continues to improve and really inspires me as a fellow non-binary writer.
While I’m excited for there to be another book in the series, I honestly felt like this book provided what could have been a good ending to the entire series. Reading the preview blurb for the fourth book at the end made me a little sad, since it seemed like Justine and Campbell were finally going to have a chance at some semblance of peace. But then again, it makes sense that their actions would inevitably catch up with them. I guess I just want to kinda pretend they got their happy ending and that’s it haha. Regardless, I’m definitely reading the next book in the series, even if I think it’s going to give me even more intense feels than this one did. Highly recommend the series to lovers of romance in general, but especially those who like their romance with a side of intense, thrilling crime drama.
Forgot to add at first that I absolutely loved the parts where Justine dommed Campbell, both in the explicit sexual sense and in their relationship in general. It makes a lot of sense that the next novella will focus in more on Justine as a continuation of this (reciprocity for Campbell saving her, now she is saving them). It’s a beautiful depiction of a relationship of true equals (especially once Justine goes the the dark side).
Of course, I’m not one bit surprised by how good the book was because I’ve been following Rien Gray’s writing since they started writing for Voltage (so Medusa’s route in Astoria for me). Their writing continues to improve and really inspires me as a fellow non-binary writer.
While I’m excited for there to be another book in the series, I honestly felt like this book provided what could have been a good ending to the entire series. Reading the preview blurb for the fourth book at the end made me a little sad, since it seemed like Justine and Campbell were finally going to have a chance at some semblance of peace. But then again, it makes sense that their actions would inevitably catch up with them. I guess I just want to kinda pretend they got their happy ending and that’s it haha. Regardless, I’m definitely reading the next book in the series, even if I think it’s going to give me even more intense feels than this one did. Highly recommend the series to lovers of romance in general, but especially those who like their romance with a side of intense, thrilling crime drama.
Forgot to add at first that I absolutely loved the parts where Justine dommed Campbell, both in the explicit sexual sense and in their relationship in general. It makes a lot of sense that the next novella will focus in more on Justine as a continuation of this (reciprocity for Campbell saving her, now she is saving them). It’s a beautiful depiction of a relationship of true equals (especially once Justine goes the the dark side).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2022
I really enjoyed this book! It was so lovely to see how Justine's and Campbell's relationship is progressing. It was really cool that they each brought the other one deeper into each of their lives/families. I also really enjoyed the intrigue in this book, and I am looking forward to the sequel!!
August 8, 2023
Breathtaking page turner
Campbell and Justine are back! This time trouble follows them right to their door. Damn when people Campbell cares about are threatened, they got feral. Love the action, the sex and the clever murder plots!
Campbell and Justine are back! This time trouble follows them right to their door. Damn when people Campbell cares about are threatened, they got feral. Love the action, the sex and the clever murder plots!
July 22, 2022
Goddamn I love this series. Campbell and Justine are #goals on so many levels. I'm gonna go scream fangirlishly for a while
February 28, 2023
another fantastic segment in the fatal fidelity series! I just love how this series is wholly original
March 28, 2023
5 stars. Dying for book #4. The intimacy between these two has been incredible to read, and I loved hearing more about Justine’s family and culture.
April 18, 2023
Stunning
A great mix of suspense and mystery. And, of course, my love for Justine and Campbell can only grow. A great installment to the series that did not disappoint.
A great mix of suspense and mystery. And, of course, my love for Justine and Campbell can only grow. A great installment to the series that did not disappoint.
June 10, 2023
My favourite book of the series so far.
June 13, 2023
Satisfying read as the 2 books before.
October 22, 2024
So good!! Loving the evolution of their relationship and Justine’s dark agency 🖤
April 4, 2025
the way i ate this up..
September 1, 2022
arc copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
We are once again back with my favourite book couple and we are finally getting to see more into Justine’s family! It was so lovely seeing where she grew up and how she was raised. I especially loved how fierce and badass she was in this book, she truly has come out of her shell in ways I don’t think she ever would’ve fully without Campbell.
This one once again had my heart racing, fingers flying through the pages because I could not wait to find out what these two would be up to next. Justine fully getting involved in every aspect of Campbell’s life and the fact that they must let her in or risk losing her for good and choosing to do so… I loved it. Who doesn’t love love with a dash of murder?
I need the fourth book asap even though I just know that one will be the most stressful of all! I can’t wait. But seriously, if you haven’t started this series yet, what are you doing? Go! Now!
5/5⭐️
We are once again back with my favourite book couple and we are finally getting to see more into Justine’s family! It was so lovely seeing where she grew up and how she was raised. I especially loved how fierce and badass she was in this book, she truly has come out of her shell in ways I don’t think she ever would’ve fully without Campbell.
This one once again had my heart racing, fingers flying through the pages because I could not wait to find out what these two would be up to next. Justine fully getting involved in every aspect of Campbell’s life and the fact that they must let her in or risk losing her for good and choosing to do so… I loved it. Who doesn’t love love with a dash of murder?
I need the fourth book asap even though I just know that one will be the most stressful of all! I can’t wait. But seriously, if you haven’t started this series yet, what are you doing? Go! Now!
5/5⭐️
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews