Burning Heaven

by Haydn Hubbard

Addie has a stalker.
And not one of those hot ones from the romance novels. A real, murderous, and probably not-so-drool-worthy stalker. So when her best friend pushes her towards a private security company how could she say no? Especially when the owner of the company has dark hair, tattoos, and… oh no.

Natalia has an obsession.
A lethal obsession in the form of blue eyes and freckles. Her line of work is dangerous, both her day job and her double life. She hides bullet wounds under finely pressed suits as she uses her security company as a cover for the less than savory work she does for the mafia. When Addie bursts into her life with a stalker whose modus operandi matches that of a serial killer she’s searching for, it is all too easy of an excuse to fall for her deadly obsession.

Genres: Lesbian, Dark Romance, Romance, Dark, Queer, Lesbian Fiction, LGBT

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 13, 2024

About the author

Haydn Hubbard is a North Carolina native who spends most of her time daydreaming of worlds filled with love, magic, and occasionally dragons. The King’s Queen is her debut fantasy series and the first of many to come. When Haydn is not writing she can be found competing with her horses, in any local coffee shop, or anywhere where there is a dog.

Reviews

[lauraღ]

“Who am I to disobey the sun?”

2.5 stars. I went into this expecting a tropey, perhaps OTT sapphic mafia romance, and I did get that, but the delivery method wasn't my favourite. I really wanted to like this more, and there were lots of moments where I thought I would, but there were just a few too many things that didn't work or didn't make sense. The story follows Addie, a young barista new to the city, and Natalia, a security professional who offers her protection after someone starts stalking Addie. Unbeknownst to Addie, Natalia is also the head of her arm of the mafia.

There were a bunch of small frustrating things. The writing was fine, but not great. I don't think a great job was done with the world-building, especially around the mafia. It felt like one of those books that just expects you to take whatever vague idea you have about the mob, and run with that. The mystery, the motivations of the stalker, the way the stalker went about doing things, and the way the characters reacted to certain events... a lot of it didn't make sense. Addie gets down on her knees to beg Natalia to take on her case... and then proceeds to fight Natalia on almost all of her suggestions. I absolutely get Addie wanting to keep a sense of autonomy, and not abandon her roomie, but there were several times when it felt like she wasn't taking the stalker seriously at all, unless she was in immediate danger. I don't mind having archetypal characters, but I was often left feeling like neither Addie or Natalia had much of a personality, other than the tropes associated with them.

All of this is stuff I could probably see past for the most part; I was willing to meet the bok where it was and just have fun with it. But I was really disappointed with the progression and development of the romance, which is what I was really here for. They had this supposedly electric connection, had a few conversations, and then we started getting time-skips. That's one of my biggest pet peeves for the beginning of a romance. I want to see the relationship building, I want to see all of those first moments. Early in the book there was a line like 'a week has passed since we started fake dating' and I had to do a double take. And there were more instances of this, where we were simply told that time passed, and the characters were getting closer, having profound conversations, but we didn't get enough of those scenes of them spending time together actually on page. We got some, but not enough. There's a lot that could have been done to make this a more convincing romance to me, and it just didn't happen. I was also irritated at the third act conflict, which was overly dramatic imo, and then they made up a chapter or two later, which just made the drama seem sillier.

This was sexy, and there were a few lines here and there that I really liked, but otherwise, it sadly wasn't my favourite. But if you're looking for a sapphic mafia romance, this does fit the bill. It'll hopefully work better for you than it did for me.

Content warnings: stalking, violence, murder and torture

[Grace]

i love dark sapphic romance

[Maria]

Well this book started my year off with a bang! This was an absolutely amazing read! I loved the story so much! It reads so easy that you forget you’re actually reading! I loved the morally grey female character Natalia. I am new to the LGBTQ books but this was refreshing and beautiful. If you are looking for a mystery smut thriller, I HIGHLY recommend this book!!!!

[Lily Grace]

no

[Bree]

three words:

NATALIA FUCKING MANCINI

good LORD. FINALLY, SOME GOOD SAPPHIC DARK ROMANCE. this was just delightful. I thought it was a little fast paced, but it was so fucking good, even if it was just 300 pages?! like, wtf. it was fantastic.

Natalia and Addie are my new Roman empire. I can't, I love them so much. the spice!? so good. the plot?! so good. the writing style that didn't make me wanna claw my eyes out?! SO. GOOD.

fuck all men called Donovan. fuck you

[đurđa]

realistically three stats but make it four bc lesbians 👍🏼 i just wish the book actually used the word lesbian

[Claudia]

3/14/24-3/26/24
Dnf 3%
I’m sorry the writing. I’m just not vibing with it 😢

[kay.grace424]

Was this well-written? No. Did I have a good time? Abso-fucking-lutely

p.s. I knew who the stalker was pretty much from the get-go
p.s.s. was not expecting the ending drama to eat that hard.

[Faith Lawson]

3.5 stars!
The romance part was pretty great but the overall plot with the stalker I found a little lacking. That being said it was a pretty good read and I did enjoy it!!

[Jowa]

ofc. its the toxic man

[Taryn]

"Burning Heaven" by Haydn Hubbard offers a unique blend of sapphic romance, mafia intrigue, and a gripping serial killer plot that kept me hooked from start to finish. In this refreshing take on the mafia romance genre, Hubbard weaves a tale that stands out with its diverse and engaging elements.

The story follows Addie, who, plagued by a murderous stalker, reluctantly turns to a private security company owned by the enigmatic Natalia. Little does she know, Natalia is not just a business owner but also entangled in the dangerous world of the mafia. As the two navigate the complexities of their growing attraction amidst the looming threat, a serial killer plot adds an extra layer of suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

The romance between Addie and Natalia is well-crafted, with sparks flying between them. My only wish is that we could have delved deeper into their relationship through more intimate moments, as their connection is a key driving force in the story.

The side characters shine brightly, each leaving a memorable impact. The hint at potential future couples in the series leaves me eager for more installments, showcasing Hubbard's skill in creating a well-rounded ensemble.

In summary, "Burning Heaven" is a captivating read that successfully blends romance and thrills in a way that feels both familiar and refreshingly new. Despite a desire for more intimate scenes, the engaging plot, diverse characters, and unexpected twists earn this book a solid 4-star rating. Haydn Hubbard has crafted a world that stands out in a crowded genre, and I look forward to exploring more of it in future installments.

[Dezi Caraway]

Rounding up a little here because despite the things i didn’t like about the book, i still had fun reading it. I felt like i got whiplash a little bit. there were times that i felt we were missing some pivotal moments and conversations between the main characters. the plot was predictable, I guessed who the stalker was almost immediately. but the spice was good and i had fun reading.

[Yura]

2.5 stars . The main character is really annoying.

[Red]

If the whole book was like the “Rome-part” I would have given it 5 stars

[yas!]

eh it was a cutesy read. nothing seriously masterpiece-like, more of a palette cleanser

[Aubrey]

3.5⭐️

[Alexa Steli]

3,25/5
They were kinda cute ngl.

[giuligatt]

pretty forgettable

[BookishRot]

Honestly there are so many better book on Wattpad it literally felt like robot wrote it no emotion nothing better don't read this monstrosity

[Amber Charlotte]

Pros:

🖤 touch her and die trope, (arguably) forced proximity
🩷 strong women, healthy female friendships
🤍 dual pov

Cons:

☠️ pacing, prose, disjointed writing
☠️ lackluster reveals and mystery
☠️ insta-love from first sight
☠️ daddy/mommy issues, my parents didn’t love me



This was a painful read but it had redeeming moments.

While it was nice to see the tall, dark and handsome trope in a wlw story, Natalia was nearly a parody of herself at times. The possessiveness of her character was very attractive. Personally, I was a big fan of her pointing a gun at anyone who pulled the wrong tone on Addie. That being said, far too often it fell into cliché territory where she’d get inappropriately angry with even her closest friends for simply being friendly with Addie.

Like many other reviews mentioned, I figured out the stalker about a third of the way in. Upon the reveal, there were a number of “clues” that helped lead Natalia and Riven to solve the murders that never seemed to be foreshadowed in the book. The voice and theming towards the end definitely felt as if this book was attempting to be a deeper rooted mystery than it really was.

The insta love in this story was absolutely atrocious. I will not even begin to try to get into that. Within the first chapter, these characters meet and fall in love with one another and upon their second meeting, Addie is already pulling the “how could I think she’d see me as special” line.

Honestly I was way more interested in Maddy than Addie but I will not be reading the second book that follows Maddy and Riven.

[Tattiana]

I didn’t dislike this book per se but there was something too cliché or corny about the characters and dialogue. It was so obvious who the stalker was lol…I wouldn’t consider this to be dark romance at all, also there was a slight spark of chemistry in the first few chapters but it all just dwindled tbh.

HOW DO YOU GET MAD AT SOMEBODY FOR BEING IN THE MAFIA FOR 2 WEEKS THEN JUST TAKE THEM BACK WITH A LITTLE GROVELING?? Girl stand up, also I hate when authors write female characters to be strong but they never really are in most cases. Like what was the point of making Addies believe she could find her stalker just in end up in batty hole? Kinda silly me thinks.


I’m ranting at this point but I finished it because I wanted to like it. I probably wouldn’t read anything from this author in future because I’m a picky girl.

[Lilli Snell]

Yikes. The lack of editing plus the predictability, I really can’t get behind it. The characters weren’t unlikeable persay, I just couldn’t bring myself to care about them at all.
I’m usually a chronic 3 star reviewer for books I don’t really vibe with, but I’d be lying to all y’all that read the reviews before deciding to read the book. Compared to what the synopsis promised, this novel was underwhelming at best.

[Chelles]

Burning Heaven 🔥❤️

The head of a prominent security company, which is a secret cover operation to the mafia, falls for a struggling writer being threatened by a stalker. The only reason I needed to read this book.

BONUS: witty banter, crazy chemistry, lots of spice, and each of their best friends can't stand each other. Oh, and some swoon worthy romance!

[Mayara Cantao]

Waited hella long for utter disappointment. ☹️ the messed editing and nowhere to be found plot did it for me

[layla marie]

do good sapphic mafia romances exists or?

[Skylar Wood]

I don't think this is a bad book. Did it need several more rounds of editing? Yes. Yes it did. But the bones are very good. The plot is interesting, and the characters are likable. It's cute and clever in a trope-y sort of way, and I did enjoy it.

Now, onto the not so great points. I said this book needed a few more rounds of editing, and I stand by that. The grammar is readable, but not great. The book is littered with typos that take another read to understand what is actually being said. Some of the plot points just didn't make any sense, and certain reveals fell flat.

For example, we never get a moment when Addie realizes that her stalker is actually a serial killer, and the person killing the girls she sees on the news. We just skip to where she already knows, which is disappointing. I also would have liked a bit more angst with the romance, as they got together pretty early on, and the only real turmoil was when Addie finds out Natalia is Mafia, and even that is resolved in the next chapter.

There are many other minor plot holes that would have been caught with a few more read throughs by a new person, but the last thing I'll say is that there were multiple "coincidences" that just felt WAY too perfectly staged for absolutely no reason whatsoever. They served no purpose and had little to no connection to the actual plot. The main two events being the trip to Italy to see Riven's mom and when Addie steps in front of a random gunman in the park. The second one especially irked me, because genuinely, what was that??? We never find out any of the names of the people involved, and the event is brought up exactly once in passing throughout the rest of the book. It was completely random, uncorrelated, and honestly ridiculous.

I also think Natalia's role in the Mafia could have been better explored, and the fact that they completely overlooked very obvious signs of who the killer turned out being honestly pmo.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, and I would definitely read the next one if I read m/f romance.

[Sydney]

I enjoyed this book for the most part. There are a few things I took issue with, but overall I enjoyed the dark mafia romance. The side characters were enjoyable if a little flat. Addie and Natalia were a little more fleshed out, but leaned into certain aspects of their personality to the detriment of common sense. The stalker storyline felt almost like an afterthought for the majority of the book. And Natalia pinning him as a serial killer after two pretty standard abduction/murder scenarios is a little much. I had a feeling about who the stalker was going to be from about the halfway point on, and I wasn't surprised. I really disliked the constant random time skips. One minute it's been a few weeks since Natalia and Addie first met. The next we've been jumped forward by months. Finally, I really didn't like the lack of common sense on both MCs part with regard to staying in Addie's apartment. The stalker literally left pictures of him standing over a sleeping Addie...showing he can get into her apartment at will, and she refuses to leave, because independence? No. Just, no.

There is plenty of chemistry from the get go from Natalia and Addie. Their flirting was a little strange when they first met, and I don't really get how either of them felt like they were flirting at all. Despite that, and the fake dating thrown in as "cover" they didn't move the relationship to a more physical aspect for quite a while. The time skips really didn't help with seeing the relationship progress. I did like how Addie especially impacted Natalia.

There is a third act breakup. It is resolved almost immediately in the book, but we're again treated to a several week time skip to drag things out chronologically. The reason for the breakup sort of makes sense but not in the context of what's happened, even though she was fine with the idea of Natalia killing someone for her earlier in the book...her being mafia was a bridge too far. And everything is swept under the rug with a simple declaration of love.

[C]

Love is Natalia, playing twenty questions with me in her car on a stakeout. Love is bringing me into her world with pride. Love is her smile, her laugh, the feeling of her skin on mine.

-

não sei o que esperava desse livro (sei sim...) mas com certeza não achava que ia me divertir tanto... ah qual sua ideia de diversão... um stalker serial killer perseguindo a mocinha... não! livros ruins? sim!
mentira, vou pegar leve com esse aqui... eu acho.

enfim decidi fazer uma meia review fora do usual (deve ser a falta de internet afetando meu cérebro juvenil 😖) p um livro que não deve ter nem 200 páginas e provavelmente não merece o desperdício das minhas belas palavras, só pra falar que achei elas muito queridas.

a addie 🤍🌌 eh um amooor de personagem que me lembrou MUITO da rose foster (minha vidinha). ela é muito teimosa o que eu geralmente acho irritante em psgs mas nela achei muito divertido. uma personagem muito querida e amável.

já a nathalia... essa mulher ******* provavelmente foi o motivo da minha resenha ***** *** *****... novamente acho que é a falta de internet e tédio nublando minhas opiniões e me fazendo escrever resenha p livro ruim...

mesmo sendo ruim eu amei muito (até pq eu mordo e assopro) e elas são muito fofinhas. esperava um relacionamento 100% tóxico e fiquei chocada quando não me deparei com isso omg.

os psgs secundários também muito queridos e me deu até vontade de ler um romance hétero (suspiro! choque! horror!) amo vcs riven e a maddy pink princess é a "personificação do sol".

The devil would weep if he saw her this way, too stricken with grief that someone like me stole his most beautiful demon.
Mine.

p.s. eu estava certa sobre quem era o serial killer :)))

[alifetimeofbooks]

4.5⭐️
This book was fucking amazing.
I didn’t even care that the spice was like 2/5. The connections, the friendships, the dialogue. Wow.
I kind of predicted the stalker and found some scenes cringe ish LMAO 😭 but the rest was so good. The morally gray love interest who has a soft spot for her woman CHEFS KISS👏🏼
I like how their interactions turned from lust to love, how Natalia bought A HOUSE WITH A LIBRARY HELLO??!?!?

‘I'll be here forever. My heart only beats for her, and I wat no part of this life if she isn't there to walk through it with me.’

‘Italy isn't a necessarily homophobic country, but we still catch a few odd stares as we walk together. However, it's no different than living in the city back home, and I'm not concerned. If anyone has something to say, I still know plenty of places to dig an unmarked grave in this city.’ 😭

‘The large man has the assault rifle trained on me immediately, but as soon as he raises the weapon, a barrel is pressed to his temple.
"Raise a weapon to her and I will blow your head off," Natalia seethes. I've never heard her voice so low, so lethal before.’

I also really liked Marco even if he was a side character 🥹

‘The door cracks, and Marco peeks tentatively into my apartment. "Trouble in paradise?"’

‘“A little to the left, boys!”
“How about a little up your ass, Collins?” Riven hollers back.
I can only snicker as Natalia tells him all the ways she’ll kill him if he makes another threat.
Riven’s wink tells me he knows she’s bluffing just as well as I do.
Poor Marco, on the other hand, is ghastly pale, which is truly a feat, given how tan the man is.’😭😭

[cloudy]

"i'm yours just as the moon is the sun's. there's no light in my world aside from you."

this read more like a novella than a full lenght novel - it was light on the mafia and on the smut, making this a great introduction to sapphic dark romance. i especially appreciated the normal and mundane way queerness was approached in this book. the best way i can put it is as if it were a mf couple dynamic, there were no labels, no questioning, no homophobia, they were just together and they happened to both be women who loved women. no one questioned their sexuality or their relationship, they didn't question themselves identity nor sexuality wise, there were no stereotypes, it normalized and validated sapphic relationships in the simplest form. and i found it precious. did i wish there was more romance to the story? yes, despite being grateful for the representation, i wanted more - more passion, more drama, more darkness. this almost felt like a prequel before a fully fleshed out story, as if we were being introduced to the characters before their arc. the potential for development was there, the plot had good bones, albeit a bit predictable and safe (i called that plot twist in the first chapter). there should have been a more nuanced and clear evolution to the story, instead of it feeling rushed and superficial, to me it lacked depth. not that it wasn't emotional at times, but overall i just wanted more.

* i was sent an arc by the author in exchange for a honest review