Ravenous: A Dark Romance

by Thea Lawrence

It’s always the small ones that bleed the most.

Ripley Winter’s demons have haunted her for years, begging her to embrace the darkness that’s always dwelled within her. After spending far too long beneath her abusive boyfriend’s thumb, she’s finally indulged in the unthinkable.


Now she’s hoping to start over with a new identity, but when a brutal storm pushes her all the way to Blackthorne Ranch she finds herself face to face with a man, one who can start her on the road to a new life.


That is, if he doesn’t kill her first.


Cruel, cold, and calculating, Preacher Blackthorne’s mission has always been to rid the world of evil. His clientele are willing to pay a hefty price for a taste of the sinners he ensnares, but even monsters get lonely.


When Ripley’s battered body lands on his doorstep, he soon becomes obsessed with the idea of molding her into the perfect hunter.


But will he be able to teach her everything she needs before the ghosts of the past return to haunt them both?

Genres: Dark Romance, Forced Proximity, Dark, Westerns, Serial Killer, Romance, Suspense

Unknown Binding

Published October 31, 2025

About the author

Thea Lawrence is a neurodivergent PhD dropout turned romance author. After spending almost a decade in academia studying criminology (with a focus on carceral studies and prison theatre), she decided to shift gears for her mental health.

A lifelong storyteller, Thea has been an actor, burlesque dancer, screenwriter, and even dabbled in painting. Now, she focuses on romance stories with heart, grit, a dash of the forbidden, and a hell of a lot of spice.

Her hobbies include: Reading, binge watching Criminal Minds, reading comic books, coloring, and taking long walks around neighborhood.

She currently lives in Ontario with her partner.

INSTAGRAM: @thealawrenceauthor

TIKTOK: @thealawrenceauthor

WEBSITE: thealawrenceauthor.com

Reviews

[Ash M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

All my dark romance girlies, listen up.

If Promises and Pomegranates, Butcher and Blackbird, and Haunting Adeline had a twisted, blood-soaked cousin, Ravenous by Thea Lawrence would be it. This story is dark, deranged, and completely unhinged, and I devoured every single word.

Check your triggers before diving in. This book explores heavy themes and intense, explicit scenes that aren’t for the faint-hearted. Think Dexter meets The Ed Gein Story with a forbidden romance twist.

Ripley Winters, our FMC, has endured years of abuse under a controlling boyfriend until one day she finally snaps. Blood is spilled, and she runs, desperate for a fresh start. She ends up stranded at a secluded ranch in the middle of nowhere when a storm hits, where she meets Preacher Blackthorne. Cold, cruel, and calculating, he has his own definition of justice and caters to a clientele with a very unorthodox diet. Let’s just say he only hunts the wicked, and he’s found a profitable outlet for his darker urges.

When Ripley crosses his path, it’s chaos and obsession from the start. She’s a fighter, he’s fascinated by her fire, and somehow these two broken souls are exactly what the other needs. They aren’t trying to fix the past; they’re learning to live with the ruins left behind. By chapter two, you know they have to end up together. Rooting for the Bonnie and Clyde–style serial killer duo you never knew you needed? That’s this book.

There’s vengeance, trauma, carnage, and chemistry so electric it’s dangerous. The retribution they find together is haunting, powerful, and disturbingly beautiful. I was always on the edge of my seat.

Ravenous is gritty, taboo, and unapologetically dark. It’s perfect for spooky season and for anyone who loves their romance with a side of moral corruption and mayhem. The writing is addictive, the twists are wild, and the ending left me desperate to know what happens next with Raph and Wren.

So yes, read your trigger warnings, grab a nightlight, and prepare for a ride that’s as wicked as it is unforgettable.

[Kali Dempsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐ 5 🌶️

This is the darkest book I've read in a while; my content warning and keenk notes are basically a mile long... But dear gods did I love every moment. If it wasn't for kids and work and general life expectations, I would have finished this one in one sitting. I had such a hard time putting it down.

Ripley was such a bad a m f and I freaking loved her. Her crazy was only matched by Preacher; holy canoly that man was unhinged, but I adored him for it. These two together were about as morally charcoal as it gets and I loved it so much. Seriously though, check your triggers because this one has some major horror elements and isn't for everyone.

I am so excited to see that there's a book two coming because I need Wren and Raphael's story like I need freaking air. I can't wait, but in the meantime I'll be taking a deep dive into Thea's backlist.

Thank you so much to Thea for the advanced copy!!

[Courtney✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now if you are reading this please read your trigger warnings because this is DARK (capitals to show I’m serious👀)

That being send PREACHER you are the darkest cowboy we know and lordy does he get us all hot under the collar. The way he fell hard in a week had me in a chokehold.

The banter between them both just had me having the best time reading this book. Sometimes I was like oh okayyy because I was shocked at the darkness but I ate this book uppp (no pun intended iykyk)

This was my first proper dark book that wasn’t a dark romcom and I adoredddd it!

Thank you so much Thea and Luna Literary

[Calee · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, reading about a book based in your province is wild. Second reading a book where the hunting grounds are clubs in the city you party in is even wilder.
I went into the book totally blind and I didn’t realize it was based in Saskatchewan. Rarely find Canadian town/city based books, so it was a surprise. This book has definitely made it to the list of ‘wildest first few chapters I’ve ever read’.
There’s so much darkness and sick stuff in this one that it holds onto your attention and doesn’t let go. The last few chapters flew by so fast that I didn’t even realize I was at the end. I was that invested.
I feel as tho I need to ask this author for her search history after reading this one🤭
2 crazy people, what could go wrong…..
I’m very interested to see what happens in the next book.

[Amanda Hopwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this arc blind skipping the warnings and triggers as I typically do ( lol)
This is for sure a dark romance . You have the fmc Rippley who murdered her abuser right off the bat, who finds herself stuck on the property of a serial killer Preacher.
Somehow they realize they are made for each other .

Warning there is cannibalism and I wasn’t expecting that !!!!

[Lizzy •lizzy.slittlelibrary• · Rating 5 out of 5]

BETA READ

PUT THIS ONE ON YOUR RADAR

One of the best dark romances I’ve read just as good at the beta. Thea really did the damn thing with this one

[whatmarissareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I have to admit, I've never heard of an altruistic serial killer before."

4⭐ 3.5🌶️

I never would have believed I would be literally laughing out loud at a dark romance book that features serial killers who procure "exotic meats" for cclients and yearned for more chapters, more story, more from these characters, EVERYTHING

Ripley and Preacher have had QUITE the traumatic pasts and I MEAN TRAUMATIC
This is a DARRRRKKKKK romance book
and they each are handling it in their own ways..

Ripley finds herself on Preacher's doorstep after a series of quite literally unfortunate events and they quickly find out that they have something in common.... the thrill of the hunt AND NOT OF ANIMALS

What I really loved about this book? Like yes they are psychopaths... but I also loved how they would do LITERALLY ANYTHING for eachother. Preacher just accepts Ripley for who she is and vice versa and they each bring eachother down to the very foundation of themselves and help themselves rebuild it together. There were so many moments I appreciated of Preacher in loving Ripley for who she was and encouraging her to not hide herself anymore. I LOVED that part!!!

I am so glad I picked up this book!!! I can't wait to read more from this series and more from this author! I had a great time - just know it is QUITE gory LOL I had to skim a few lines during the hunting scenes and the skinning 👀

You'll enjoy this if you are into:
+ psychopaths with soft sides
+ abusive ex boyfriends who get what's coming to them
+ LOL moments
+ "I want to hunt her like a fucking animal and rip her to pieces, to rebuild her into someoen who will never let anyone hurt her again. Except for me."
+ "normal's overrated"
+ suspenseful mafia chases
+ blood play

[Kelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review 🫶

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I feel like I was little bamboozled by the blurb of this book when I signed up for it. Was I later warned with a long list of trigger warnings? Absolutely! I was even given the opportunity to back out of reading the book but as a newbie ARC reader and someone who is looking to expand their reading genres I went with the challenge. Boy, it was a wild ride! I definitely thought multiple times that I would definitely not be able to give this a decent rating. I was shook to my core, so confused, wondering if I could even finish it! Let’s just say that the book definitely gave me a range of emotions. Ending with me actually enjoying it? Which I didn’t think would happen. Let’s just call it what it was, a revenge story for the broken people. Some of us like a milder way of coming into our own after being destroyed but Ripley and Preacher like it gruesome and paid back tenfold. Would I recommend this to the average reader? lol most definitely not. I will be looking for the girlies who like the darkest of dark. I’m still honestly shocked at what I read but also how heart warming it was at the same time!

[Grace Irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review: rated 4.75 on fable. I devoured Ravenous by Thea Lawrence. At first I was kindve scared? I think, I read the warnings and nothing personally triggering but I was like thinking I was in for a ride and I was but in the best way possible. About 50% through I thought many things, I could NOT put this book down, wtf am I reading, and I’m sweating. Preacher and Ripley both come from messed up backgrounds, they are both morally grey in the best way possible. They guide each other to healing in a non traditional way if I must say. Our FMC Ripley is black cat, she’s strong and resilient. Preacher is our MMC he’s a serial unaliver that takes Ripley under his wing. There’s crime, suspense, and trauma. It’s a beautifully curated read, if you’re looking for a read to specifically take on during the fall/Halloween time this is the perfect read! This has all of the gore you could ever want. I read this in one sitting so set some time aside I promise you will not be able to set this book down. The chemistry , and the spice between our MC’s was magically delicious. Along with this story was two very memorable side characters, that I truly hope the 2nd book is about! As always check your TW’s, but seriously what a fun read.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, where to even begin. This book was dark, deranged and totally unhinged and I devoured every word. I cannot stress enough…check your triggers!! Ravenous makes Dexter look like child’s play and there are more than a few moments that might make a reader squeamish. Ripley and Preacher both have deep trauma and inner demons so fierce that their ways of coping are straight up morally black…wrong them and they will seek vengeance and take no prisoners (well maybe a few). Not to mention a particular clientele with a strong taste for blood.

But as dark as it is, the retribution Ripley and Preacher fought for and found in one another had me on the edge of my seat and clinging to every word. I was so hooked by the end I didn’t even realize I’d hit the last chapter! Definitely eager to see what book two brings because I need to know more about Raph & Wren STAT!

Thank you to Luna Literary & Thea Lawrence for the ARC opportunity 🖤

[Paige (wingsandsmut) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay if you want some dark and unhinged serial killers who find salvation in each other, then this book is for you! Check your TW if you need to, because it is dark from the start. I’m a sucker for a pierced mmc and primal play, so once we started getting the spice, I was here for it! I also really loved the banter in this as well! And definitely didn’t expect at least one of the twists!

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕:
🖤 serial unalivers
🖤 forced proximity
🖤 primal play
🖤 pierced mmc
🖤 feminine rage
🖤 touch him/her and die

Thank you to Thea Lawrence & Luna Literary for letting me read/review an ARC of this!

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review

Okay okay okay, I had to sit on this one for a sec
Because at first I liked it, then about half way I was kinda feeling like maybe it was being really drawn out.

Once I finished it and had a minute to breathe with it I was actually really impressed.

Like these are two unhinged MC’s and they are just out there to take the bad people of the world out, and maybe do some freaky ass stuff while there at it.


It was funny at times and actually super enjoyable

The spice was there oh my lord
And the murder- yes also there

[Ciara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Review 4.75/5

These two had me in a chokehold from the beginning to the end.
When you think it couldn’t get anymore crazy, then BOOM something else happens that tops that.

I’m a person who supports women's rights and more importantly women’s wrongs and after everything Ripley has done after all she’s been through will have my full support. Preacher, for a man who does what he does, he is a man obsessed with both his woman, helping her find and bring out what she’s kept locked away. Man is also a huge dog dad (we know he baby talks them on a regular). Ripley and Preacher are also very HOT. They bring out each others desires and are not afraid to vocalize what each other wants, no matter how deprived they are.

I can’t wait for the next book because the hint of Raph and Wren had me wanting more from them!

Thank you, Thea and Luna for the ARC

[Jennifer Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when you put two serial unalivers in the same book?

Delicious and deeply depraved words that grab you by the throat and hold on until you can hardly breathe. This book takes typical unalivers and makes it about growth and healing and finding yourself while learning what love is. This book will take you on a journey and it will be such a good one.

This book was good and flowed well page to page. The characters had enough depth and tragedy to make you root for them despite their hobbies. Definitely worth reading!

[Angel Basri · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Euuuh….. wow


I did enjoy this story, there is plot twist, unhinged and very dark FMC, and I probably should be concerned. but the way Thea wrote this story is making me coming back for more !!!
Please check your TW ! This is a WILD ride and so in tune with spooky season🫣🤯🫢
I had so much fun reading, I fought out sleep to finish it

Ripley our FMC, lived in a very abusive relationship, so one day she snaps and ..there was blood spilled.. and she run away.

she landed at a ranch in the middle of nowhere when a storms hits so she takes refuge, that where Preacher finds her.

Let's just say they both are a perfect match, She needs an outlet and he is fascinated by her, she is such a fighter .

Preacher caters to a very specific type of clients, that follow a non orthodox diet...

And eliminating bad people, now is the perfect motive to provide those client with what their * ideal* cuts

Thank you Lunaliterary Management and Thea for a copy of this ARC

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! When it says it's a dark cowboy romance, they were not lying. Ripley was an amazing fmc, she showed how strong she was and didn't take any sh!t from anyone. Preacher was crazy in the best way. He was strong and possessive but cared deeply for Ripley. Their chemistry and banter was top tier, they had a magnetism towards each other. They truly understood the other.

[Allyse Reinauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay hear me out… she is on the run for putting some skeletons in her closet and he’s a professional skeleton maker. A storm drops her and her trophy on his lap. He takes trophy and preserves it for her in the most romantic gift…These two found each other like their darkness was drawing them together like magnets.
He thinks he can mould her into a perfect partner for him, but they reshape each other.

I had so much fun reading this book and I’m not sure what it says about me because it is dark and twisted.

[Laced In Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Luna Literary for the ARC 🫶
I enjoyed this one but please check TW.

Ravenous is a dark romance novel with intense themes and graphic content not for the faint hearted

The story follows a woman who has endured a deeply abusive, controlling relationship. She finally does something irreversible to free herself. To escape, she adopts a new identity and relocates to Blackthorne Ranch, hoping for a fresh start.

However, her past is far from done with her. As she tries to rebuild her life, she encounters a dangerous man connected to the region’s darker secrets. Their relationship is fraught with power imbalances, secrets, and violence. Throughout, she must navigate trauma, survival, and the possibility of redemption in a world that might not let her leave her past behind.

[Brenda Yager · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ripley and Preacher collide their chemistry is palpable. They had both suffered years of trauma and thus the trauma bonding is real.

I was lucky to receive this as an ARC.

The opening scenes get you hooked and you don’t realize that you’re enjoying this super dark book until it’s too late and then you question your own sanity and then you realize you don’t care. Can’t wait for book 2.

[Anne in VA]

Didn't get past sample. Look, I like dark and gritty, but I can't handle main characters that eat human flesh. Call me old-fashioned, but it really kills the romance vibes for me.

[Alyssa Scheltema · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book we get to meet Ripley and Preacher and watch them conquer the world of scumbags and monsters.

You get to see the perspective of two *very* self aware people who both want one thing - to watch life drain out of every horrible person they can.

This one is full of trigger warnings so please read at your own risk. There is suspense, spice and a whole slew of blood and chaos.

I enjoyed this one a lot and I’m really excited to see where else this world can go!

[han ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is one of THE books of 2025, trust me. i had such a fun time with this book, and i keep finding myself thinking back to it. it’s just one of those that sticks with you because of how good it is.

let me start with preacher, the mmc, because lorddd do i need him bad. he is one of the sexiest characters i’ve ever read, even his name is sexy, like come onnnn. anyway, everything from his attitude to the way he talks is just delicious. i won’t spoil what he does for a living, you’ll have to find out for yourself, but will say that it is very meticulous and interesting (to say the least).

ripley is such a fun character to read. the first chapter was such a whirlwind that i cannot stop thinking about. she’s such a badass yet she’s cautious at the same time, and her and preacher’s banter is incredible. i love the two of them together.

the spice was spiiiiciiiing, let me tell you. i need everyone who is into dark romance to read this immediately, but definitely check the tws!

thank you to thea for the opportunity to arc read this work of art!

[Kellie April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so lucky to get an ARC read of this amazing book! I finished it so quickly and I immediately will start harassing her for the next one. Checking the trigger warnings for this book is a MUST. But the love story at the base of all the gore and brutality is one that will stay with me 💗

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pitch black cowboy romance? Give it to me! 🔥

This is one of my favorite reads of 2025.

Ripley escapes from her abusive relationship (after 🔪 him) and her car breaks down during a storm. She finds a storm cellar to hide, but it turns out to be on Preacher’s land… A cannibal serial killer.

I ate this book up! I love the confidence that Preacher brings out of Ripley and helps her battle her past.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

🤠 Morally Black Cowboys
🔪 Serial unalivers in love
😏 Forced proximity
🪢 Captor/Captive
🐈‍⬛ A Black cat FMC
🐇 He calls her “little rabbit”
🍁 Set on the Canadian prairies
🥩 Cann!balism
🏃🏻‍♀️ Woman on the run
😈 Pr!mal play

This book is DARK, so please check your triggers before diving in! 🥩

Thank you Thea and Luna Literary Management for the opportunity to ARC read! I am now on Thea’s street team and a Patreon supporter!

[Cati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much Thea Lawrence and Luna Literary for sending me an ARC copy for review! First off please check the TWs before you read because this is a very dark book and a lot of terrible things have happened to the MCs and I guess they do a lot of terrible things too. This books had a death grip on my attention in a way I did not expect and I had a hard time putting it down. Ripley and Preacher were so interesting and I loved them! They are two broken people who find each other and heal but not in the way you may think to be normal again but instead they love who they become. Ripley is on the run after getting herself out of an abusive relationship and a storm brings her to Preacher’s ranch where he is a butcher for rich people with an unusual diet. He shows her how to survive and take care of herself and he also takes care of her and it is so sweet.

This was so well written and I seriously can’t wait for more! Highly recommend!

[Beth (bethsbookshelfx) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating : ☆☆☆☆☆

—————

𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯. 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦���𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳.

—————

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 & 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 :

- 𝘿𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚
- 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙆*𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙄𝙣 𝙇���𝙫𝙚
- 𝘿𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙊𝙑
- 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝘾𝙤𝙬𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙨
- 𝙍𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙭 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝘾𝙖𝙩
- 𝘾𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙
- 𝙉𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 : 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙍𝙖𝙗𝙗𝙞𝙩
- 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮
- 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙠
- 𝙏𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙃𝙚𝙧 & 𝘿𝙞𝙚
- 𝙋𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙈𝙈𝘾
- 𝙁𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙍𝙖𝙜𝙚

✔️ Available On KU

—————

I’ll start this off with THEA CAN WRITE.

I read this in the beta stage and it was amazing then and it’s even better in the ARC version. Thea has a way to draw everyone into a story and keeps us engaged throughout.

Ripley is who I wanna be when I grow up. She takes NO SHIT especially not from a man. She’s strong and super smart and one of favourite FMC’s.

Preacher, my little cannibal animal. Why shouldn’t he eat the men he kills. It’s his right. He loves Ripley for all she is and never tried to change her just helps her be her true self.

I love Raphael and Wren and cannot wait for book two.

[Melissa Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

** Received as as ARC, Thank you**

All my dark romance girlies listen up... and I'm not talking about the funny dark rom com's.. i am talking if you like Promise's and Pomegranates meets Haunting Adeline meets... heck I'm not sure I've read anything quite like this..

These characters are damaged, tortured, haunted with no light at the end of the tunnel. But the thing is, that's fine with them they are making the best out of the darkness..

Read your triggers as this covers some heavy topics and very specific spicey scenes.

There are points in your life where you root for the lesser of two evils and this is it.. Preacher and Ripley need each other and are perfect for each other. They aren't trying to fix the past but to come to terms with the ruins left behind.

By the second chapter you know that these two have to end up together! Rooting for the serial killer duo you never knew you needed!

I am interested to see where Thea Lawrence takes us in this new world.. but I gotta know more about Raph and Wren!! OMG!

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

I didn't think I would love this story as much as I did! This is one of those taboo reads that you want everyone to read. This is the darkest, triggered filled story I have read yet, BUT I LOVED IT! This book is not for the faint of heart & squeamish folks cause reading the first couple of chapters had me looking at my wall for comfort.

This story starts off with an intense scene filled with revenge and justice for Ripley our FMC. She is if controlled chaos was a person. She can definitely turn on a dime, but has a big heart for those she cares about. She kind of reminds me of Harley Quinn if she was set in a Western and had cannibalistic tendencies.

We then meet Preacher our MMC whose whole life involves the removal of bad people through interesting methods. With the help of his brother, Raphael who does the financial transactions on the black market for clients of these said bad people. They have a really good system so the local authorities don't come knocking.

The circumstances in which Ripley meets Preacher are dire. Preacher sees potential in teaching Ripley his ways and hopefully "keeping" her. The chemistry and attraction between two is explosive. Preacher seems what darkness lurks in Ripley's heart and Ripley just wants to feel safe with a man she can trust after years of abuse from her ex-boyfriend. Preachers takes her through some questionable training and Ripley successfully succeeds in proving Preacher she can be an asset to him in his "business"

As these two go Bonnie-Clyding away, on one particular night, someone shows up at the door asking if they've seen a lost person who happens to be Ripley. This singular event brings on a plan of luring, ambushing, rescuing, and revenge. There is so much that happens towards the end of the book that it had me at the edge of my seat! We get a bit of a plot twist in the form of a family member from Ripley and turns into a plot twist involving Preacher's brother Raphael.

I am so happy that I pushed through those first couple of chapters. This story is revenge for broken people who find peace and happiness with each other along with healing some of their past traumas. Thea Lawrence put the DARK in dark romance, but also emphasis on the romance cause the love Ripley and Preacher have for each other is INTENSE!

[Jordan Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall: 5/5 ⭐️
Spice: 4/5 🌶️
FILTH: 5/5

Okay got this as an ARC. Not going to lie, I DNF after chapter 2 the day I got it. HOWEVER, I went back and finished it and BOY am I glad I did!

So chapter 1- Ripley kills Gabriel, beheads him, cuts his tongue out…but what got me was when she cut his lip off and tried to eat it but choked on it 🤮

Chapter 2- Preacher has a man in the barn. He’s skinning and butchering him. What did me in there was the full detail into how he sliced the Achilles tendon. It made my own Achilles tendon ache, and I wanted to barf. THEN we find out he’s butchering humans for EXOTIC MEAT? Excuse the fuck out of me?

That did it. Didn’t think I could finish. To be fair I was in a reading slump, so I took a break and came back to finish it a couple weeks later. Then I was hooked and finished the rest in a day.

Idk what I expected from this book, but it was WAY more twisted and wicked than I expected. Especially once Ripley and Preacher got together.

I didn’t expect Ripley to be the little psycho that she is. After chapter 1, I almost imagined her to be timid so her turning out to be so murderous and dark surprised me in the best way.

Preacher—the tattoos, the silver canine tooth, the cowboy hat, being good to animals…I mean COME ON 🤤😍

The way Ripley acted after her first kill annoyed me. She acted like she knew everything and Preacher should listen to her and throw away the whole working system he has.

I’m all for a strong, independent FMC, but not a fucking stupid one. Both times Ripley was left to hunt on her own (thankfully with preacher nearby) she got distracted by something and got herself in a situation she wouldn’t have gotten out of without Preacher. Despite being so confident that she could do it on her own *eye roll*

Wren and Ripley being sisters?! Plot twist I didn’t see coming.

Overall, I actually really enjoyed this book. It was TWISTED in all the best ways, minus the two gross parts in the very beginning.

Hopefully we get a book 2, and see more into Wren and Raph!

[H. Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Format: eBook ARC
Rating: 4 of 5
Spice: 4 of 5
Angst: 1 of 5

Read if:
- Dark and taboo are your flavor; if it is, then you are going to enjoy every minute of this one.
- You like revenge stories full of damaged people.
- You wished that the movie Fresh had a bit more of a western flair.

Skip if:
- You are sensitive to triggers. This one is FULL of them and launches RIGHT into it (some starting as early as page one – seriously).
- You don’t like your dark romance MMCs to be a little switchy…
- You can’t handle a plot that veers into “what a coincidence!” territory.

All you dark romance fans, this is definitely one for you. Gory, graphic, blood-soaked – it's all right there for your enjoyment. I devoured this one, and that isn’t even my favorite genre!

It was refreshing to see a dark romance story where the FMC is just as deranged as the MMC. Ripley is not some delicate flower or a damaged bird that lashes out once and falls into the sights of a predator like you see in so many other of these types of stories. She is fierce, wild, and certifiable. The MMC has his hands full with her and revels in that challenge without wanting her to be anything other than exactly what she is.

The spice, while unquestionably taboo, is top tier. I was SO VERY pleasantly surprised when Preacher ended up being a little bit switchy as a way to give the power back to Ripley. I did not see it coming in a book like this and just absolutely gobbled it up. Give me more of this in dark romance novels. Apparently my kink is watching the most dangerous of men bark like a dog for the women they love.

If I had to find a complaint, I would say that it gets a little close to entering “jump the shark” territory in the third act but by that point I was so invested I was willing to take the ride.

Normally, I am a one-and-done for these stories, but I would be down for a sequel!