Devil Inside - Clay McLeod Chapman

Devil Inside by Clay McLeod Chapman

Author: Clay McLeod Chapman
Publisher: MIRA / Harlequin Trade Publishing
Format: ARC
Genre: Horror | Horrormance | Paranormal | Dark Romance
Publication Date: August 11, 2026
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

---

Synopsis

After a terrible accident nearly costs bike courier and adrenaline junkie Jordan his life, he wakes from a coma feeling distinctly different. Everything tastes like ash, he feels increasingly disconnected from the world around him, and sometimes the people he sees don't look entirely human anymore.

Then he meets Lilith.

Their connection is immediate, intense, and strange, but after one passionate night together, she disappears. When another woman eventually approaches Jordan claiming to be Lilith, despite having a completely different face, his already fragile sense of reality begins to unravel.

As Jordan becomes increasingly drawn to her, he has to decide just how much darkness he's willing to embrace for a connection unlike anything he's experienced before.

---

My Thoughts

First things first... can we please talk about THAT COVER?

Because I'm not even going to pretend otherwise: I requested this book because of the cover. Purple and green are some of my favorite colors, and the second I saw it, I basically went, “Yep. I need that.”

So, five stars for the cover alone.

Unfortunately, the story itself didn't work quite as well for me, which was particularly disappointing because the premise sounded DELICIOUS.

Jordan is an adrenaline junkie who works as a bike courier and prides himself on making deliveries ridiculously fast. After accepting a particularly tight delivery and betting his friends that he can make it in time, things go horribly wrong when he collides with a car and nearly dies.

He survives, but after spending several days in a coma, something is clearly off. Jordan becomes withdrawn, feels almost dead inside, and begins seeing disturbing things in the people around him. Then he meets Lilith, and his already strange new reality becomes considerably more chaotic.

Their connection is immediate, intense, and very physical, but Lilith isn't exactly an ordinary woman. After their first encounter, she disappears, only for someone with an entirely different face to later claim that she is Lilith.

On paper?

SIGN. ME. UP!!!! Me and my other six personalities too!

In execution, however, I had a surprisingly difficult time connecting with the story.

Whenever Jordan and Lilith were together, I usually became interested again. Their encounters brought back some of the intensity, darkness, and weirdness that had initially attracted me to the premise. But whenever they separated and returned to their individual stories, I felt that intensity disappear.

After a while, it began to feel like the story was moving in circles. It would pull me back in, lose me, pull me back in again... and repeat. That stop-and-start feeling made the pacing difficult for me, especially because I kept waiting for the intensity of Jordan and Lilith's scenes together to carry over into the rest of the book.

Unfortunately, this also became a surprisingly difficult read for me to finish. I'm usually pretty quick when a story completely hooks me, but I kept putting this one down and ultimately took several days to get through it.

I really wanted to love it because the concept is wonderfully weird, dark, and intriguing. There were absolutely moments I enjoyed, particularly some of Jordan and Lilith's stranger interactions, but I never developed the connection with the characters or story that I needed.

I can easily see the particular brand of chaos here working much better for readers who click with the writing style. For me, though, this was one of those unfortunate cases where I loved the premise considerably more than the execution.

---

Final Thoughts

Devil Inside had such an intriguing concept, combining near-death experiences, horror, possession, romance and plenty of weirdness into something that sounded completely up my alley.

While Jordan and Lilith's scenes together occasionally gave me the intensity I was looking for, the rest of the story struggled to hold my attention consistently. I wanted to be completely consumed by their strange, dark relationship, but ultimately I felt too disconnected from the story for that to happen.

Still...

Story: ⭐⭐⭐

Cover: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Look, nobody said I couldn't have a separate rating system. :D

---

ARC Disclaimer

I received an advance reader copy of Devil Inside in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this copy did not influence my opinion of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own. 

Songbird in the Gallows - Alta Hensley

Songbird in the Gallows

Author: Alta Hensley
Genre: Dark Romance, Gothic Romance, Retelling
Format: eARC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.5 stars)
Release Date: June 30, 2026

---

Synopsis

Five years after witnessing her father's murder, Saylor Mitchell has spent every day haunted by the past.

When the same people responsible come back to finish the job, she's unexpectedly rescued by Blue, her father's closest friend and a man with a dangerous history of his own.

Blue isn't just a former assassin.

He's what the book affectionately calls "murder-sober", a man trying very hard to leave his violent past behind.

Taking refuge in Blue's secluded gothic mansion overlooking the cliffs of Grimlock, Saylor soon realizes revenge may finally be within reach. The only problem?

She's never killed anyone before.

Fortunately, Blue has plenty of experience.

---

My Thoughts

I have to admit, the phrase "murder-sober retired serial killer" made me laugh before I even started the book.

Come on, Blue...

That's one way to describe yourself.

Inspired by the Bluebeard folktale, Songbird in the Gallows blends dark romance, revenge, murder, gothic atmosphere, and a healthy dose of chaos into a story that never takes too long to get moving.

Saylor's motivation is simple from the very beginning.

She wants revenge.

Five years after losing her father, she's finally given the opportunity to confront the people responsible for destroying her family.

Before any of that can happen, however, she crosses paths with Blue.

Or rather...

Blue saves her.

Unfortunately for both of them, there's one tiny complication.

Neither of them initially realizes exactly who the other is.

Let's just say things become... considerably more awkward once Blue discovers he's been flirting with (and getting a little closer than expected to) his late friend's daughter.

Thankfully, the book doesn't spend too much time lingering on that awkwardness before fully embracing the "dad's best friend" dynamic.

Once Saylor arrives at Blue's cliffside mansion in Grimlock, the story really finds its footing.

The gothic atmosphere worked especially well for me. The isolated mansion, the stormy coastline, and the town itself all create a setting that feels appropriately mysterious and slightly unsettling without becoming overwhelmingly dark.

One aspect I genuinely appreciated was Saylor's character development.

She may be determined to get revenge, but she's never actually killed anyone before.

Instead of instantly transforming into an unstoppable assassin after a few lessons, she struggles.

She makes mistakes.

She questions herself.

And she slowly discovers what she's capable of.

That felt far more believable than watching a heroine suddenly master every deadly skill overnight, and it made her journey much more satisfying.

Blue was also an interesting character.

He's morally gray in exactly the way you'd expect, constantly wrestling with the violent instincts he's worked so hard to leave behind. It's also clear that Saylor's father played a significant role in helping Blue become a better man, which adds another emotional layer to his internal conflict throughout the novel.

The romance itself is undeniably steamy, and if you're picking this up for the spice, it certainly delivers.

By the time the story reaches its final act, though...

Everything descends into absolute chaos.

Secrets are revealed.

Plans unravel.

Bodies start dropping.

It's messy, dramatic and occasionally a little over-the-top.

For the most part, I found it entertaining, although there were a few moments where the chaos became just a bit too much for me.

---

Final Thoughts

Songbird in the Gallows is an entertaining blend of gothic romance, revenge, dark humor, and murder wrapped in a loose Bluebeard-inspired story.

While it wasn't a perfect fit for me, I appreciated its atmosphere, enjoyed Saylor's realistic character growth, and found Blue's struggle to leave his violent past behind surprisingly compelling.

If you're looking for a dark romance featuring morally gray characters, gothic settings, plenty of spice, and a heroine who actually has to learn her way through revenge rather than instantly becoming an expert, this is worth adding to your TBR.

⭐️ 3.5 stars

---

ARC Disclaimer

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

Messages from the Mafia Boss: A Spicy Age Gap Mafia Romance - Evie Rose

 

Messages from the Mafia Boss: A Spicy Age Gap Mafia Romance

Author: Evie Rose
Narrators: Shane East & Evelyn Rose
Genre: Mafia Romance, Contemporary Romance, Novella
Format: ALC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Release Date: June 23, 2026

---

Synopsis

What starts as an innocent joke quickly spirals into complete chaos.

After teasing her brother about secretly working for the mafia, our heroine changes her profile name to "Bunny the Killer" on an anonymous messaging app. The next thing she knows, she's accidentally added to a mafia group chat... and the kingpin himself is sending her private messages.

Convinced she's hiding something, the mysterious mafia boss becomes determined to uncover Bunny's true identity.

Ignoring him? Not an option.

Especially when the gifts start arriving...

---

My Thoughts

If you know me, then you already know that Shane East is basically my kryptonite when it comes to audiobook narrators.

I'm fairly convinced he could narrate a newspaper, an IKEA catalog, or the back of a cereal box and I'd still happily listen.

So yes...

I was already sold before I even hit play.

Thankfully, the story turned out to be just as entertaining as I hoped.

At around three hours long, Messages from the Mafia Boss is a quick, spicy novella that doesn't pretend to be anything other than pure fun.

The premise alone had me laughing.

Our heroine accidentally finds herself in a mafia group chat after jokingly pretending to be a hitman online. Instead of immediately admitting the mistake, she doubles down, and before long the mafia boss is convinced "Bunny the Killer" is someone worth tracking down.

Naturally...

Things escalate from there.

This audiobook delivers exactly what it promises.

Funny banter.

A twenty-something heroine paired with a possessive mafia boss in his forties.

Plenty of flirting.

Dirty talk.

Kidnapping.

Some delightfully over-the-top mafia drama.

And yes... a little breeding kink thrown into the mix.

It's ridiculous in the best possible way.

What I appreciated most was that the story never tried to become darker or more serious than it needed to be. It fully embraces its chaotic premise and leans into the humor just as much as the romance.

If you're expecting a gritty, realistic mafia thriller, this probably isn't the book for you.

But if you're looking for a lighthearted, spicy novella with plenty of chemistry and a hero who's completely obsessed with the heroine, this absolutely delivers.

The narration was also fantastic.

Shane East brings exactly the kind of commanding, charismatic voice you'd expect from a mafia kingpin, while Evelyn Rose perfectly captures the heroine's humor and personality. Together, they made an already fun story even more entertaining.

---

Final Thoughts

Messages from the Mafia Boss is one of those audiobooks that's simply meant to be enjoyed.

It's funny, flirty, spicy and wonderfully over the top from beginning to end.

Sometimes you don't need an emotionally devastating romance or an intricate mafia plot.

Sometimes you just want to listen to a possessive kingpin flirt with a woman who accidentally convinced the mafia she's a professional hitman.

That was more than enough for me.

⭐️ 5 stars

---

ALC Disclaimer

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

West of Wicked - Nikki St. Crowe

 

Title: West of Wicked
Author: Nikki St. Crowe
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Romantasy, Retelling
Format: Audiobook (ARC/ALC)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4★)
Release Date: April 14, 2026

Synopsis
A dark reimagining of The Wizard of Oz, where Dorothy is pulled into a cursed land filled with danger, magic and morally gray characters; and where the villain might just get the girl.

---

My Thoughts

So… ahem I have to admit something.

One of the main reasons I requested this audiobook was because… cough cough Shane East was one of the narrators. And honestly? He could read the dictionary and I’d still be like 👀.

That said, trying to put my bias aside for a second…

If we’re talking about the story itself, I did feel like things were a bit rushed. And I don’t mean fast-paced in a good way, but more like we didn’t get enough depth. There’s a lot happening, a lot of action, but not enough time to really connect with the characters or fully explore the world.

I was especially hoping for more backstory and buildup. The concept is so good; a dark Oz retelling with morally gray characters, but it felt like it needed just a bit more development to really hit.

The chemistry between Dorothy and Rook worked so well, but I was definitely expecting more spice, especially considering how the story starts. It had the potential to lean deeper into that darker, more intense dynamic.

Now… the audiobook?

That’s where this really shines.

The full cast did an amazing job bringing the story to life, and it made the whole experience so much more engaging. The performances added emotion, tension and atmosphere that I think the story alone didn’t fully deliver.

Also… that scene with Dorothy, Rook and the knife? Yep, I am all in for book 2.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I’d say the story itself sits closer to a 3★ for me, but the audiobook experience definitely elevated it.

If you enjoy dark retellings and immersive audiobooks with a full cast, this is still a fun one to try—and I’m definitely curious to see where the next installment goes.

ARC/ALC Disclaimer
I received an advance copy of this audiobook via NetGalley, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Kill the Puckers - Sam Evans

 

Title: Kill the Puckers

Author: Sam Evans
Genre: Dark Romance, Thriller
Format: eARC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5★)
Release Date: March 31, 2026

Content Warnings
SA (off-page, referenced), violence, murder, revenge themes, trauma, morally gray behavior

Synopsis
Alyssa Reed takes justice into her own hands when the system fails her best friend, targeting the hockey players responsible. But getting close to them means getting close to their coach, Mark... and things quickly become more complicated than planned.

---

My Thoughts

You know how sometimes you just need junk food for the brain? Something fast, dramatic, and satisfying? Yeah… this book was exactly that for me.

At its core, this is a revenge-driven story following Alyssa as she sets out to punish the men who hurt her best friend. And honestly? I was all in from the start.

It’s hard not to think about real-life situations where justice isn’t served, which adds an extra layer to Alyssa’s actions and makes her determination feel even more compelling. I really loved how loyal she was and how committed she stayed to her mission throughout the story.

The plot itself is fast-paced and incredibly bingeable. It doesn’t overcomplicate things, and that actually works in its favor; you just get pulled along for the ride. I also loved the music playlist included by the author, it added such a fun extra layer to the reading experience and fit the vibe of the book really well.

Then we have Mark, the yummy coach… and yep, the romance became very spicy. Their dynamic brought a nice tension to the story, even if the book leans more toward revenge drama than full-on dark romance.

If you’re expecting a strong hockey presence, though, this isn’t really that kind of book. Hockey mostly stays in the background, serving more as a setting than a central focus.

Now, was every situation completely believable? Not really. But did I care? Absolutely not. This is one of those reads where the entertainment value outweighs the need for realism.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this was fast, messy and ridiculously addictive. If you’re in the mood for a revenge story with a bit of romance, morally gray choices and a plot that keeps you turning pages, this one definitely delivers.

ARC Disclaimer
I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.