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Blood On My Hands

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Blood On My Hands - A Dark Romance Horror Standalone

Scarlett
I’ve spent my whole life being afraid.
I’ve always been careful… paranoid, like my mother.
That all changed when I met him.
Now there’s so much blood on my hands.
This thing inside of me, it wants to take over.
I can’t let it… but I won’t lose him.
I’ve spent my whole life waiting for Carson.

Carson
I’ve spent my whole life being afraid.
I’ve always been positive… in denial, like my aunt.
That all changed when I met her.
Now there's so much blood on my hands.
This thing inside of me, it wants to take over.
I can’t let it… but I won’t lose her.
I’ve spent my whole life waiting for Scarlett.

A dark romance horror that involves paranormal aspects, not for the faint of heart.
They will do anything to make it stop… won’t they?

(There will be a spin-off in the future.)

157 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 19, 2023

1 person is currently reading
37 people want to read

About the author

Riley Alves

6 books39 followers

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5 stars
27 (58%)
4 stars
13 (28%)
3 stars
5 (10%)
2 stars
1 (2%)
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0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
Profile Image for Krystyna.
25 reviews
October 27, 2023
I got this as an arc.

I loved this book so much! Was a very short read! Two people who are soul mates who are supposed to be together can’t because of a curse they got from their parents. They go to kill people but can’t remember how it happened. Wish there was more to the book. For me it ended on such a cliffhanger.
Profile Image for Torri Valderrama.
208 reviews11 followers
October 26, 2023
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It is a pretty short and quick read. The concept is so interesting and I am absolutely looking forward to the spin-off of this story, with that said, I am also left feeling like there was some things lacking. A lot of the events in this book happen very quickly with little build up or answers. We might get those answers in the spin-off but that was mentioned at the end, but it just feels like we need more in this book. More build up on who Carson and Scarlett are before they meet. More on how they are as a couple outside of the date we briefly see. The ending left a really good place to pick up and I am curious where it goes next. Hopefully all of our questions get answered.
Profile Image for Crystal.
292 reviews40 followers
October 20, 2023
Another great story… this was quite the story… cursed bloodlines, soulmates and murder!
Profile Image for Kimberly .
106 reviews27 followers
October 21, 2023
Oh. My. God!
This story concept was so original! 2 soulmates destined to be together but are being forced apart by a family curse.
But they will never let ANYTHING get in between them. Even if it means killing everyone else.
The thing I love most about Riley is she keeps her chapters short, and packed with good plot, no time wasted on fluff like describing the color of the wallpaper or a lamp in the left corner of the room with one lightbulb missing.
Her stories keep you hanging on every word from beginning to end. And let me just say, if this was just a prequel novella… I can’t fucking WAIT to see what she has in mind for the full length novel coming up 🖤🖤🖤
Profile Image for Shannon Courtney-Moore.
139 reviews6 followers
October 23, 2023
This book was so good! I couldn't put it down! Honestly love anything Riley writes!!! You have to read this book!
Profile Image for Jesica.
45 reviews1 follower
January 4, 2024
Another great story from Riley Alves. It makes you want a love like Scarlett and Carson where you want to be together no matter the consequences. I want more!
Profile Image for Christina Rybka.
1,129 reviews17 followers
October 21, 2023
Love Scarlett and Carson

Scarlett takes care of her mentally ill mother, and after calling the ambulance Lori one of the EMT is really good with her mom. There’s a new man named Carson and the two of them are instantly attracted to each other. They start dating and falling, but very weird things start happening. Can they be together? Great characters and storyline Highly recommended Amazing book. I love Scarlett and Carson and there dynamic. Great supporting characters. There is a lot of mystery and I can’t wait for the next installment to get some answers.
Profile Image for Kaila Bohannon.
5 reviews1 follower
October 25, 2023
I received an ARC of this book.



I would like to preface by stating that I loved the concept of this title. Riley surprised us all and managed to breathe new life into the cliche ‘Fated Mates’ trope. The twist of the generational curse is unique and gave the book a new dimension that left you wanting more. While I don’t believe this title is truly dark, it has topics that could affect some readers. Always check for trigger warnings.



*** SPOILERS AHEAD ***



It truly did leave you wanting more. There are a lot of really interesting aspects, which I kept expecting Riley to capitalize on. I wanted more of Carson, more of Scarlet, and definitely more of them together. The relationship felt rushed, which could be attributed to the fact that the two are supposed to be soulmates. However, there was little character development. We understand the basics of each of these characters and their struggles, but both felt like they lacked dimension. It would have been nice to get to know each of them individually and then see their interactions with each other.



The two meet, go on a date or two, meet his aunt, and start killing people. This begins with each of them waking covered in blood and not remembering how it happened; it evolves into flashes of memory and then changes again, so they wake while committing murder together. There is a whole avenue left unexplored, detailing the consequences of these actions. Where are the bodies? Do they cover up the murders? Where are they finding their victims? Are they ever fully aware of their actions? Another thing that is kind of glossed over is the couple's families. Carson’s parents committed suicide, but we don’t get much beyond that. We also know that Scarlett’s father was eventually caught and convicted of 26 murders after suffering the same curse while being with Scarlett’s mother. A mother suffers from an unnamed mental illness and is cared for by Scarlett throughout the story. How did Scarlett feel when she realized that her mother wasn’t as crazy as she originally thought? Her mother had been trying to warn her of the curse her whole life and was dismissed. The curse.. There is no elaboration on the generational curse; it’s simply called that. This was a specific opportunity that provided multiple different avenues to expand on the story and provide substance to the characters.



This title reads like a plot outline for a great standalone novel. It has so much potential and a lot left to explore. I’m rating it a generous 3 stars because I like where this COULD go and love the choice the author made to break free of stereotypical tropes. It’s an easy read, and I hope to see an expansion on Carson and Scarlett’s story down the road.
Profile Image for Sayde.
240 reviews157 followers
October 26, 2023
✨ARC review
Thank you to the author Riley Alves for this advanced copy of 𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑶𝒏 𝑴𝒚 𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔 in exchange for an honest review!

Everything begins to happen so quickly, questions add up as the mystery unfolds-what’s going on & what’s going to happen next..
Scarlett & Carson fall fast into an all consuming love, undeniably soulmates-it’s truly beautiful..until darkness creeps in & as it does their sanity is questioned though love never waivers. Forces they cannot control fight to pull them apart but they can’t survive without one another, what quality of life would that be without your one true love. So they choose quality of their lives over the quantity of lives around them..
Riley Alves writes horror romance like nobody else- the love her MCs feel is palpable to the readers even as the pages are filled with death & destruction

A curse. A couple. And murders.
Profile Image for XxLaVampiresaAlexisxX.
1,158 reviews73 followers
October 26, 2023
Blood On My Hands is a horror romance, with paranormal elements. This IS a standalone, that is absolutely PERFECT for this time of year. This does contain some trigger warnings, so please be advised.

This may be a quick, short, novella, but I AM HOOKED!!!! This was such a unique story and concept! I mean, I can't even imagine how painful it has been both Carson and Scarlett. I mean, being star-crossed lovers and soul mates and unable to be together BECAUSE of a supernatural family curse. Instead of trying to avoid the curse, they are willing to unalive anyone who gets in their way. Pretty bad@ss if you ask me. I haven't read anything like that, so it was a fun transition. I do wish it was a little longer though. Seriously though, I hope there will be more! Riley Alves reminded me of how much i've loved (and missed this trope) and definitely recommend!
Profile Image for Kaylin Bruce.
59 reviews1 follower
October 20, 2023
Once again, Riley knocked it out of the park.

I was hooked in this story from the very beginning and couldn’t put it down. I HAD to know what happened. This was a really good story!

From the moment Scarlett and Carson connected I was excited to read about their love story. Things took a VERY unexpected turn. After lots of terrifying things came to light, Scarlett found out she had a cursed bloodline, leading her to the one man she thought she hated, her father. Her father who is in prison for murder. She’s hoping to get the answers she’s been looking for.
There are forces beyond their control that are trying to keep them apart. But their love is stronger.
Such a good, quick read! I highly recommend!

Please, as always, check trigger warnings before reading!
Profile Image for Haylie.
23 reviews1 follower
October 23, 2023
Gave it 4 stars mainly because I'm not used to short books like this one. BUT!!! I did enjoy it! From the moment I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Read it in an hour or so. And it is perfect for spooky season!!

Carson and Scarlett are so cute, but having to be on the run forever due to this strange curse that showed up on both of them. I wonder if when her mom first saw Carson, when she kept screaming at him to get away from her daughter, if her mother could see what their future would've been like? If she could see the truth of his past while she was having a bad episode or maybe had known his parents?

Cannot wait for the next book already! And definitely picking up some of her other books. :)
2 reviews
October 24, 2023
I received this short story as an ARC read.

I loved the concept; it was unique and kept me wanting to read to see the conclusion. The story is very short, I wish it was longer. To me it felt more like an idea outline and not a complete story. I'd have loved to see it as a short novel with more descriptive scenes, especially the blood scenes. The scenes also seemed to jump from one to the next very quickly without a smooth transition. The story is supposed to be a standalone story, but it felt like it had a bit of a cliff hanger. It just didn't have that strong finished feeling.

That said, I actually enjoyed the story and I am glad I read it.
Profile Image for Kayleigh Louise.
25 reviews5 followers
October 19, 2023
Blood on my Hands by Riley Alves

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Scarlet has a lot to deal with. She is on her own looking after her mentally ill mother while her father is in prison for committing the worst of crimes. One night she meets a guy. Everything changes but it’s not all she hoped for and some secrets are revealed.

I really enjoyed this. I’m not one for reading really intense horrors as they terrify me but this has just enough horror without being too much and has left me wanting to read more. Really good story.
Profile Image for Rachael.
110 reviews
October 23, 2023
Thank you for the chance to read the arc in exchange for my honest review!
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This was a quick, compelling, easy read. The concept had me hooked from the start and I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen!
I do however think this would have been executed much better as a full length novel (300 pages maybe?) just so we could have more time with the characters and get a feel for their personalities, as well as more details as to what was happening 🥰
I still really did enjoy this though, finished in one sitting!
Profile Image for Becca Howell.
12 reviews7 followers
October 24, 2023
I really hope Scarlett and Carson get a full book for the next part!!!

This novella will pull at your heart as much as any killer who cant be with the love of their lifes can 🤣

Carson and Scarlett meet one day while Carson is working. They run into each other once again at a coffee shop and the rest is history, that is until one day they both wake up and each is covered in blood.... the fact that in order to be together they have to forget each other is heart breaking! I need to know what happens next!

Riley you never let us readers down with your amazing writing!
Profile Image for Jean Marie.
49 reviews1 follower
October 22, 2023
Short and fast paced read. Great for spooky season as it has some witchery santería type ish going on. Carson and Scarlett will be together… if it’s the last thing they do and I’m here for it. I would love and extended version of this book. One thing that made my brain misfire was the fact that in the writing there was a lot of past tense being used in the present time but all in all a great book! Looking forward to read more!
Profile Image for Madam  Literati .
19 reviews3 followers
October 23, 2023
I love this story. The pace of the book was refreshing since nothing drug out and there wasn't a lot of extra filler. I read a lot. Every day. It's hard to find plots that aren't like everything else. It is a unique story which definitely kept my attention. The character development, Spice and Ark's were written smoothly and still provided enough intensity to have me cling to the pages.
I'll be looking forward to more from Alves. This was tragically beautiful and Dark and sweet all at once. ❤️
Profile Image for Kristen Sheldon.
5 reviews5 followers
October 25, 2023
I love Riley as a person, but even more as an author. Her stories don’t drag, they get straight to the point but leave no details unscathed. She’s done it again with BOMH! Scarlett and Carson are just the sweetest couple. Carson is one of the book boyfriends that will make you swoon. Not only does this portray their love but the twists, turns, and cliffhangers are everything. She has me stunned with this ending & dying for more. Cannot wait for the second book.
Profile Image for Alyie Troyna.
2 reviews
October 27, 2023
Before reading this, please take the time to heed Riley’s trigger warnings! They are important!
I have to say that Riley is one of my favorite authors of dark romance. And she’s done it yet again with this one. I wasn’t able to put it down. And the twists… don’t get me started! It was a fast read and left me wanting more. The characters came alive in my mind and I can’t wait for the spin off :)
Again, please avoid this if you have even the slightest inkling that the story will trigger you.
Profile Image for Debbie Grafton.
4 reviews2 followers
October 27, 2023
Riley always keeps you on your toes with her books, which are absolutely awesome! Scarlett and Carson have a chance meeting when Scarlett has to call the ambulance for her mother, from there they fall hard and fast. They can’t get enough of each other, but they realize they some in common, blood on their hands from something they have no control over! I couldn’t put this book down until I read the whole thing! There are trigger warnings in this book so be cautious of that.
Profile Image for Katharine Washy.
19 reviews1 follower
October 21, 2023
Let’s just say I got annoyed with my kid for the three times in the two hours it took me to read this that she made me have to put it down to help her with her bath and doing her hair.

Complete page turner, the curve balls that are thrown are chefs kiss. Cannot wait for the spin off to come out.

If you are a fan off those dark filled books this will be for you. If you are not ok with sex and blood mixing than you may not wish to read this. Just a forewarning and a trigger warning.
Profile Image for Danielle Daliege.
17 reviews6 followers
October 20, 2023
Ahhh!! Riley did it yet again. Another story I couldn’t and didn’t want to put down. I can’t wait to see what else happens in this world she’s created. I have such a love for Scarlett and Carson already. Such a fast read and definitely worth checking out! It is dark, but I didn’t feel it was overly so.
Profile Image for natasha fuller.
378 reviews13 followers
October 20, 2023
This is one of those stories that grabs a hold of you and refuses to let you go! This is a dark Romance about Carson and Scarlett.. they find their other half in each other to find out it comes with some unexpected consequences...
I was blown away by this book! It was so good and I loved every second of it!
16 reviews
October 21, 2023
Just wow! Riley is at it again and I can't wait until she writes the second book in the series. I was not expecting Carson's and Scarlett's story to go this way. It started off so pure and then a twist out of nowhere and then twist at the end and then cliff hanger. It is a dark romance so check your trigger warnings.
Profile Image for Shauna Butler.
13 reviews1 follower
October 22, 2023
Riley has done it again people! I love what she has created with this story and how interesting it was to see what Scarlett and Carson had to deal with, regarding Scarlett’s family curse. It’s a short dark romance that has me already loving the characters in such short time!


Check Trigger Warnings!
79 reviews2 followers
October 24, 2023
This book flowed so well making it easy to read. Riley gave us more characters that we could fall in love with. This story hooked me in and I was not ready for it to be over. I can’t wait to see how this story finishes. Will they get their HEA? I sure hope so but I have to know more about this curse and can they break it.
Profile Image for Destiny Rosas.
17 reviews10 followers
October 20, 2023
Miss Riley Alves just knows how to keep us hooked! I could not put the book down and it was such a quick read. It was so good that I am so upset there is not another book yet! I can’t wait to see if we get more on Scarlett and Carson.
Profile Image for Jacqi Thobe.
19 reviews
October 22, 2023
Oh my oh my! This book was amazing scarlet n Carson man those two have such chemistry!! Was a bonnie n Clyde type book for me n I loved every second of it. Be sure to check trigger warnings ⚠️. Ri avery is an amazing author I love the way her mind works!
Profile Image for Haley Jones.
26 reviews1 follower
October 25, 2023
First let me say Riley did it again! This story is short, a very easy read, and holds your attention from start to finish. I have read all of Riley’s work so far and they just keep getting better! Can’t wait for the next one
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews

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