Kiss of Deceit by Kay Riley

 

When snow falls, Winterlake is cut off from the world once the mountain road becomes impassable. With no high-speed internet or cell phone service, life is slow and peaceful. At least it used to be. Danger lurks in the shadows of Winterlake. It started with someone chasing me in the woods. Now a masked killer is terrorizing this town. The mysterious murderer isn't the only problem in this secluded place. The longer I'm here, the more I realize this mountain town isn't what it seems. The locals guard their secrets, looking at us interns with distrust. Except Kole. The bar owner who is determined to learn all about me. What's worse is I think I'm falling for him. Which is something I can't let happen. I'm hiding my own skeletons. Dark secrets I will do anything to protect - secrets the masked killer already seems to know. Winterlake was supposed to be my fresh start. Now I'm not sure I'll make it out alive. Kiss of Deceit by Kay Riley was published on November 15th, 2025. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Kay Riley and The Smuthood. I absolutely fell in love with this book and was so into this book that I read it in one day. I fell in love with the two main characters that you met right away in the book Dani and Kole. Within a few minutes you know there were secrets that both of the characters are hiding even from the readers. Though, not the secrets that I thought was going to come out of it. I loved how their relationship from the get go started and then just kept growing from a quickie to something more towards the end. There is not a lot of smut scenes through the book but the cliff hangers and the secrets keep you hooked through the whole book. I loved the plot as it had a perfect flow throughout the story. I loved how the author made sure even the reader had no clue what all the secrets are throughout the book. We slowly found out with the characters. Though some secrets I figured out but the big ones I had no clue about. I highly recommend checking out this book. I know for me I will be checking out more books by Kay Riley. 

Tropes 

Enemies to Lovers 

Slow Burn 

Thriller 

Small Town

Forced Proximity 

Where's Molly by H.D. Carlton

 

Cover Page by H.D. Carlton 

In my dreams, I never escaped the Oregon woods. Life after death isn't easy to accept, especially when I still feel like a ghost. Now, I live deep in the mountains of Montana - the paradigm of beauty. But they are also the home of horrors. Horrors that I only unleash at night. When my pigs are allowed to feast. Where's Molly by H.D. Carlton was published February 2024. This book is a spin-off from Haunting Adeline and Hunting Adeline. 

When I heard H.D. Carlton was writing another book in the same time and realm of Haunting Adeline I knew I was going to stop all books I was reading when it came out. I absolutely loved her other books and knew that this book was going to knock me off my feet. But, like her other books make sure that you read the trigger warnings because she doesn't go easy on her characters. Now, we hear about Molly in the other book (hence why you need to read those books first) and you hear what horrors Molly went through in the previous book. But you don't know the why or how she was placed in the same house. In this book you hear the backstory and I loved how H.D. Carlton was using the history through out the whole story. She wrote it in a way where it only added to what was happening to Molly and Cage. Though, I wish I knew more of Cage history but you do get glimpse of his history as well. I felt like the two characters were well rounded. You see some light humor in the way they treated each other but also see how their history shaped them in who they are. I didn't feel a lot of connection between the two characters as much as I am used to in romance books. But I didn't feel like it was lacking when I read it. I think because both characters had a lot of traumatic past I felt like they would be holding back. The plot in this story is great. It's not as intense as Haunting Adeline and Hunting Adeline but it did have seems where you are questioning yourself. The smut scenes in this book are amazing and intense but don't take away from the story just adds to it. Also I absolutely loved Cage's mom and I would only hope I would be half as a good mom as she is to her son. I can't wait to read more books by H.D. Carlton and I hope she writes books for a long time coming. 

Quotes That I Liked 

"That's also new. You gonna use that on me, little ghost? I don't mind joining you in the afterlife."

"Come on, little ghost. Let's go stuff that pretty little mouth." 

"You know, your pets would tear you apart in seconds with all that nervous energy."
"Then it's so fortunate for me that I know how to defend myself."
"You must be frightening."
"I am."
"Then show me, my little ghost." 

"Jesus Christ....Sit on my fucking face, Molly." 

"That's a good girl." 

Tropes 

Dark Romance

Horror/Thriller

Second Chance

He Falls First 

Butcher and Blackbird (The Ruinous Love Trilogy #1) by Brynne Weaver

 

Every serial killer needs a friend. Every game must have a winner. When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between rival murderers Sloane and Rowan, the two find something elusive - the friendship of a like-minded, pitch-black soul. From small town West Virginia to upscale California, from downtown Boston to rural Texas, the two hunters collide in an annual game of blood and suffering, one that pits them against the most dangerous monsters in the country. But as their friendship develops into something more, the restless ghosts left in their wake are only a few steps behind, ready to claim more than just their newfound love. Can Rowan and Sloane dig themselves out of a game of graves? Or have they finally met their match? Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver was published in August 2023. This book one of The Ruinous Love Trilogy. 

This book has been on TBR for awhile and I am so glad that I finally had a chance to read it. This book had my mind going and going trying to fit all that is happening together. But I absolutely loved the two main characters in Sloane and Rowan. I loved their personalities and how different they were to each other. Sloane is bitter about life because of what she experienced in the past (though we don't get to find out everything she went through). Also I wished I knew more of Rowen's past but I love how we get snippets and it's enough to learn about the two characters here and there. Anyways, Rowan is this nasty serial killer but yet the way he treats Sloane in this book he is all gooey in the middle. He absolutely treats her like a princess. Both of these characters are pretty rounded character. They are not all bad people and their not all good people. I love the dialogue between the two characters. Their witty comebacks make made chuckle so much out loud. But also you can see how they keep hinting that their friendship is evolving into something more. The plot in this book is so perfect. There was small slow parts as it builds up to the next action scene. The author gives just enough of the scenes when Rowen and Sloane are doing their activities that it doesn't totally gross out the reader. I absolutely loved this book and I can't wait to read more from this author. I highly recommend this book, but please check the trigger warnings for it. 

Quotes That I Loved 

"I'm bummed."

"Bummed why, because he didn't kill me first? Harsh, Blackbird, I'm wounded." 

"I didn't gouge them out, Butcher. I plucked them. Delicately. Like a lady." 

"Keep her fucking name out of your mouth..." 

"Just download the app like a normal person and read it on your phone, weirdo."

"Rock-paper-scissors for it."

"No way."

"Come on, Blackbird. I need some dragonman DP." 

"That woman you were watching...?....She is mine." 

"Boobs plus murder don't equal a relationship, Lark. That math ain't mathin'." 

"I can't lose you."

"Then you'd better kiss me." 

"Something caught your eye, pretty boy?" 

The Ruinous Love Trilogy 

1. Butcher and Blackbird 

2. Leather and Lark

3. Scythe and Sparrow 

Tropes 

Dark Romance 

Enemies to Lovers

Friends to Lovers 

Thriller 

Slow Burn 

He Falls First 

Whispers in the Dark by Delilah Croww

 

Is he real, or was it all in her mind? Alice's parents had always told her when she was nine that the abandoned estate they moved into was just a fixer-upper, but Alice knew better. From the moment she stepped inside, she could feel the dark energy that permeated the walls. It wasn't long before she heard whispers in the darkness, a haunting male voice that seemed to be calling to her, or noises coming from the walls of the estate. During her senior year of high school, she begins to party recklessly, trying to explore her sexuality and searching for a way to escape the haunting messages that follow her everywhere. But at night, he gives her that she craves. The more reckless she becomes, the encounters become real. She wants to discover the truth and begins to unravel the estate's secrets to discover the reality haunting her for so long. Whispers in the Dark by Delilah Croww was published December 2023. 

I received this book for my honest review. This book was totally not what I was expecting at all. This book put me through the ringer and kept flipping the script in my mind. I felt for Alice in the way that her mom treated her and the way her stepfather was treating her. He gave me a huge ick from the get go of the book. There is so much going on in this book. Anyways, I feel for Alice throughout the book as people were saying she was freak. She didn't know whether she was imagining things or if they were really happening to her. Hades in the book was confusing as heck. I couldn't decide how he fell in love with Alice in the book. In the end of the book it was explained but I was still confused how it all happened. There was not much back history of the two of them in the book. Though, I thought he was so interesting having two sides of him. But...I needed more in the book. The plot had a lot of good points there was point I thought something was going to happen but it didn't. But it did not take away from the scene. The smut in this book is so dark and very graphic that it was the lead in the book. I actually think in some places that the smut took over from the story. I needed more in their relationship and the ending really threw off the totally book. Was it all a dream or did it really happen. Or was it a premotion that going to happen. So confused.... but it's a good read. I recommend checking it out. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"You asked what I wanted. I want...you, Alice."

"Do you like it, Alice?...Did you like me fucking you with my tongue? You came all over my face, and I sucked you dry." 

"Your fear is addicting, Alice. I feed off it, but when you come, when I'm inside you, that...is my favorite thing." 

"You're dying for me to fuck you....Soon. If you behave and take what I give you." 

"What do you like to drink?"

"That depends."

"On what?"

"How it tastes when I drink it the first time." 

"Who are you? Why did you kill him?"

"He was going to rape you, and he touched...touched you. If you were so horny and dying to fuck, you could have waited for me in your bed with your legs wide open."

"You're crazy."

"Last I heard, so are you."

"Fuck you." 

"You want to feel or do you want to see, Alice. My mask or yours? Either way, you will be chained to your bed like last time. The choice is yours, but tonight, I will not leave until your cunt drips with my come." 

"I'm not on the pill, and you can't force me."

"I don't think you will kick me out when I'm pounding you into the mattress, Alice." 

"You're so wet for me, Alice. You want me to turn you into a filthy whore." 

"Mm...your innocence tastes so good, Alice."  

 

 Tropes

Dark Romance

Horror / Thriller