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Surviving Lily
Not yet published
Expected 31 Mar 26Avery Jordan wants nothing more than peace in her life and to leave the demons of the past behind. But when her friend returns to New Orleans after nearly becoming the victim of a serial killer, she finds that peace is the last thing she’ll have for a very long time. The new bodyguard now accompanying them everywhere is her exact opposite, and each time their paths cross, former Special Agent Ellis Brooks proves he knows exactly how to get under her skin.
Ellis Brooks is a man with retribution in his heart. After an encounter with a killer known only as the Black Dahlia left his partner dead, he thought he could walk away from the Bureau for good. Yet, when he’s offered a chance to atone for his past failures, he can’t refuse. Taking the job of bodyguard for the Black Dahlia’s missed target, he quickly finds the only problem with his plan is the vivacious blonde constantly in his way.
And when Avery’s stories don’t add up, Ellis’s distrustful nature gets the better of him. The deeper he digs, the more he discovers her link to an unspeakable darkness that threatens them both.
Ellis Brooks is a man with retribution in his heart. After an encounter with a killer known only as the Black Dahlia left his partner dead, he thought he could walk away from the Bureau for good. Yet, when he’s offered a chance to atone for his past failures, he can’t refuse. Taking the job of bodyguard for the Black Dahlia’s missed target, he quickly finds the only problem with his plan is the vivacious blonde constantly in his way.
And when Avery’s stories don’t add up, Ellis’s distrustful nature gets the better of him. The deeper he digs, the more he discovers her link to an unspeakable darkness that threatens them both.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 31, 2026
17 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An ARC from Netgalley
Ooo now this was a bit different!
Its a spicy psychological thriller that keeps you guessing! Who is it!?
The twist at the end was clever and I didn't see it coming until just before it was clear in the story!
I loved Ellis! What a spicy sweet heart ❤️
Ooo now this was a bit different!
Its a spicy psychological thriller that keeps you guessing! Who is it!?
The twist at the end was clever and I didn't see it coming until just before it was clear in the story!
I loved Ellis! What a spicy sweet heart ❤️
March 13, 2026
What a book this was! It really has everything that I liked! If you like Criminal Minds, complicated characters with all their flaws and spice, I highly recommend this book!
I was hooked from the very first page. We follow the story of Avery who just wants to live a quiet life and then she crossed the path of Ellis, an ex-FBI agent who has the mission of protecting her best friend Jax who survived the Black Dalhia attack on his family and himself.
Avery’s sunshine personality and Ellis’ grumpy side go so well together. Their banter was everything and I really liked how their relationship evolved throughout the book.
I have so much to say about this book but I really don’t want to spoil it for you.
And of course there is spice in this book but it added so much to the plot and it was so well written.
The last chapters were really something for me. I didn’t see these twists coming at all. When the truth was revealed, all the pieces of the puzzle finally fell into place and everything made sense. And omg I was so shocked by the end!
I was hooked from the very first page. We follow the story of Avery who just wants to live a quiet life and then she crossed the path of Ellis, an ex-FBI agent who has the mission of protecting her best friend Jax who survived the Black Dalhia attack on his family and himself.
Avery’s sunshine personality and Ellis’ grumpy side go so well together. Their banter was everything and I really liked how their relationship evolved throughout the book.
I have so much to say about this book but I really don’t want to spoil it for you.
And of course there is spice in this book but it added so much to the plot and it was so well written.
The last chapters were really something for me. I didn’t see these twists coming at all. When the truth was revealed, all the pieces of the puzzle finally fell into place and everything made sense. And omg I was so shocked by the end!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh my! What a twisted psychological thriller. This book has it all, including a little twist that is sure to throw readers for a loop.
Avery and Jax are best friends. Have been since college. Thick as thieves these two are and no one can come between them. When Jax survives a attack by the Black Dahlia Killer he returns home to New Orleans with a babysitter, bodyguard to protect him.
Brooks is an ex FBI agent in charge of babysitting a man child. Add in Jax's female best friend it is like double trouble. He has never met a women who is not afraid to put him in his place. And she does time and time again. But he doesn't trust her. She is definitely hiding something. And he will find out what it is.
As a killer or killers close in, Brooks may get more than he bargains for. As the secrets unravel and the spider lays it's trap, Brooks begins a race to protect those he holds close. He will have to make some tough decisions that could cost him everything.
Overall this book is a twisted thriller filled with chills. It has a lot of witty banter that is sure to entertain as well. It contains some violent and graphic scenes of torture, so proceed with caution. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves dark romance. It has all those elements of surprise. The characters are well mapped out and interesting. And the twist will be one that is shocking and surprising all in one. I kinda guessed the killer about midway through with some of the easter eggs laid out. But my first guess was wrong.
I really loved this book and definitely want to read more...
Avery and Jax are best friends. Have been since college. Thick as thieves these two are and no one can come between them. When Jax survives a attack by the Black Dahlia Killer he returns home to New Orleans with a babysitter, bodyguard to protect him.
Brooks is an ex FBI agent in charge of babysitting a man child. Add in Jax's female best friend it is like double trouble. He has never met a women who is not afraid to put him in his place. And she does time and time again. But he doesn't trust her. She is definitely hiding something. And he will find out what it is.
As a killer or killers close in, Brooks may get more than he bargains for. As the secrets unravel and the spider lays it's trap, Brooks begins a race to protect those he holds close. He will have to make some tough decisions that could cost him everything.
Overall this book is a twisted thriller filled with chills. It has a lot of witty banter that is sure to entertain as well. It contains some violent and graphic scenes of torture, so proceed with caution. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves dark romance. It has all those elements of surprise. The characters are well mapped out and interesting. And the twist will be one that is shocking and surprising all in one. I kinda guessed the killer about midway through with some of the easter eggs laid out. But my first guess was wrong.
I really loved this book and definitely want to read more...
March 20, 2026
ARC reader:
This is my first time reading a book from Morgana Black but it for sure won’t be the last 🙌🏻
I will say MAJOR check for trigger warnings especially for talk of mental health disorders… I can’t say more so I don’t spoil anything.
This serial killer mystery with a perfect side of romance kept me on the edge of my seat. When I thought I knew what was going on I was like “ha yeah I know who it is and how it all happened” *POV me sitting back in my chair with my hands behind my head like I’m some big hotshot detective* and BOY was a pleasantly surprised when there was a twist I never saw coming. Was I still right… yes 🔍😏 but also wrong and I love that hahah 😂
I cannot wait for the next book I’m already intrigued!!
This is my first time reading a book from Morgana Black but it for sure won’t be the last 🙌🏻
I will say MAJOR check for trigger warnings especially for talk of mental health disorders… I can’t say more so I don’t spoil anything.
This serial killer mystery with a perfect side of romance kept me on the edge of my seat. When I thought I knew what was going on I was like “ha yeah I know who it is and how it all happened” *POV me sitting back in my chair with my hands behind my head like I’m some big hotshot detective* and BOY was a pleasantly surprised when there was a twist I never saw coming. Was I still right… yes 🔍😏 but also wrong and I love that hahah 😂
I cannot wait for the next book I’m already intrigued!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and M. Black for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Wow… this one was insane 🤯
If you think you might get bored while reading a suspense novel, think again. Surviving Lily is gripping from the start and keeps you questioning everything as the story unfolds.
Just when you think you’ve figured it out… you’ll change your mind. And then change it again. And maybe again after that. 🤭 The twists keep coming, and the tension builds perfectly throughout the story.
But here’s the fun part — the clues are there. You just have to pay attention.
This book blends suspense, romance, and humor in a way that keeps the pages turning. I genuinely enjoyed the ride and trying to piece everything together along the way.
If you enjoy thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Wow… this one was insane 🤯
If you think you might get bored while reading a suspense novel, think again. Surviving Lily is gripping from the start and keeps you questioning everything as the story unfolds.
Just when you think you’ve figured it out… you’ll change your mind. And then change it again. And maybe again after that. 🤭 The twists keep coming, and the tension builds perfectly throughout the story.
But here’s the fun part — the clues are there. You just have to pay attention.
This book blends suspense, romance, and humor in a way that keeps the pages turning. I genuinely enjoyed the ride and trying to piece everything together along the way.
If you enjoy thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, this one is definitely worth picking up.
March 12, 2026
I received this as an ARC and this is my opinion of it. OMG I loved it, never thought that I would like a suspense/romance book but this was outstanding. The ending was fantastic I am not going to give any spoilers but you need to read it for yourself. The twist at the end was clever and I didn't see it coming until just before it was clear in the story. Just when I th ought I had it figured out it changed. The chemistry between Avery and Ellis was spot on. I loved the banter, suspense and the romance.
March 22, 2026
Well that was a wild ride that hit the ground running from the very first page. With so many characters, I had a ton of theories and loved trying to guess who the serial killer was. It kept my attention the entire time, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
March 12, 2026
Oh man, this was a wild ride I was not expecting. Very well written and kept me on the edge of my seat for a long while. Suspect everyone, but I bet you’ll never guess that twist at the end! I look forward to more to come in this series with Jackson’s story.
March 8, 2026
Sex, Suspense, Sass and Banter. What more could you want? I loved the chemistry between Avery and Ellis and I was kept guessing as to what the outcome would be for these two overall.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you to NetGalley and M. Black for gifting me a copy of her first contemporary suspenseful romance, Surviving Lily. It’s always hard to write reviews for mystery/thrillers because I want to be very careful not to spoil anything for other readers… but let’s give it a go.
We start with our FMC, Avery Jordan, who lives in New Orleans, which I thought was a fantastic setting for this story. I could really tell the author did her research on the city. I’ve been there several times, and I had such a clear picture in my mind as the scenes played out.
Avery is trying to live somewhat off the grid, but unfortunately, her best friend Jax is famous enough that attention is inevitable.
Things escalate even more when Jax and his family nearly become victims of a serial killer. He’s forced to have a team of FBI agents following him everywhere, led by former Special Agent Ellis Brooks. Enter our grumpy MMC in all his sexy glory. The night of Jax’s attack, Ellis’s partner was murdered by the killer, connecting the two men in a dark way and ultimately leading Ellis to leave the agency with Jax being his last assignment.
Immediately, Avery and Ellis butt heads. As his suspicions of her grow, she becomes increasingly paranoid about events from her own past coming to light.
I gave this one 5 stars. It was the perfect late-night read, the kind you don’t want to put down. I literally finished it in two days.
The author markets this as having Criminal Minds vibes, and I can absolutely see why...even down to the side character, Miles, who felt like our version of Penelope. I thought M. Black did an amazing job keeping the twists hidden until just the right moment.
I’ve read a lot of mystery/thrillers and a lot of romance, but this felt like my first true combination of the two. And I say that because this book is a ROMANCE first, with the mystery/thriller driving the plot. The relationship between Ellis and Avery was so well written, and I was rooting for them the entire time. And the spicy scenes were exactly what I’ve come to expect from M. Black. (If you haven’t yet, check out her romantasy series The Sorrow of Shadows under the name Morgana Black.)
All in all, I will definitely be recommending this one to my friends, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you to NetGalley and M. Black for gifting me a copy of her first contemporary suspenseful romance, Surviving Lily. It’s always hard to write reviews for mystery/thrillers because I want to be very careful not to spoil anything for other readers… but let’s give it a go.
We start with our FMC, Avery Jordan, who lives in New Orleans, which I thought was a fantastic setting for this story. I could really tell the author did her research on the city. I’ve been there several times, and I had such a clear picture in my mind as the scenes played out.
Avery is trying to live somewhat off the grid, but unfortunately, her best friend Jax is famous enough that attention is inevitable.
Things escalate even more when Jax and his family nearly become victims of a serial killer. He’s forced to have a team of FBI agents following him everywhere, led by former Special Agent Ellis Brooks. Enter our grumpy MMC in all his sexy glory. The night of Jax’s attack, Ellis’s partner was murdered by the killer, connecting the two men in a dark way and ultimately leading Ellis to leave the agency with Jax being his last assignment.
Immediately, Avery and Ellis butt heads. As his suspicions of her grow, she becomes increasingly paranoid about events from her own past coming to light.
I gave this one 5 stars. It was the perfect late-night read, the kind you don’t want to put down. I literally finished it in two days.
The author markets this as having Criminal Minds vibes, and I can absolutely see why...even down to the side character, Miles, who felt like our version of Penelope. I thought M. Black did an amazing job keeping the twists hidden until just the right moment.
I’ve read a lot of mystery/thrillers and a lot of romance, but this felt like my first true combination of the two. And I say that because this book is a ROMANCE first, with the mystery/thriller driving the plot. The relationship between Ellis and Avery was so well written, and I was rooting for them the entire time. And the spicy scenes were exactly what I’ve come to expect from M. Black. (If you haven’t yet, check out her romantasy series The Sorrow of Shadows under the name Morgana Black.)
All in all, I will definitely be recommending this one to my friends, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Story: 📖📖📖📖📖
Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶
Spice Frequency: 💥💥💥
Came for the romance, stayed for the mystery!
Surviving Lily is a romantic suspense written in multiple POV, 3rd person. Themes and tropes include FBI, m*rder / serial k*ller, enemies to lovers, bodyguard, mystery, grief, and a shitty ex-boyfriend.
I think romantic suspense might be my new favorite sub-genre! I loved how fast-paced this book was and I read the entire thing in one evening, I didn't even stop to eat dinner and didn't realize I was hungry until the book was over.
Reading this really did like watching an episode of Criminal Minds! The suspense and mystery element was the main theme of the book, and the author did a great job of leaving some breadcrumbs to help you come up with theories, while not giving it away too early either. I had a few theories throughout the book about who the serial k*ller might be, and ended up being right - but I was second-guessing myself with every new clue that was left for me and I never felt like I knew how the story was going to end. Even now that the book is over, there are a few characters that I feel like there might be more to...
The romance element was what attracted me to this book originally. I loved the enemies to lovers "light" (because they were never really enemies) and the banter that Avery and Ellis have throughout the book. The road they took to becoming a couple felt natural and realistic.
This wasn't a super spicy book, and with the amount of plot, more spice wasn't needed. If there had been more I probably would have found myself skimming over them to get back to the plot! There were 4 or 5 spicy scenes in total, which were each unique and well-written. The chemistry again felt natural, and there wasn't an overabundance of cheesy words or descriptions which made these scenes fit in well with the tone of the rest of the book.
Although grief and loss are a big part of the story, I didn't feel like those parts of the book affected me as much as they have in other stories. I prefer this
I definitely loved this story and the characters and I hope we will get to see more of them in the future! 😉
Story: 📖📖📖📖📖
Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶
Spice Frequency: 💥💥💥
Came for the romance, stayed for the mystery!
Surviving Lily is a romantic suspense written in multiple POV, 3rd person. Themes and tropes include FBI, m*rder / serial k*ller, enemies to lovers, bodyguard, mystery, grief, and a shitty ex-boyfriend.
I think romantic suspense might be my new favorite sub-genre! I loved how fast-paced this book was and I read the entire thing in one evening, I didn't even stop to eat dinner and didn't realize I was hungry until the book was over.
Reading this really did like watching an episode of Criminal Minds! The suspense and mystery element was the main theme of the book, and the author did a great job of leaving some breadcrumbs to help you come up with theories, while not giving it away too early either. I had a few theories throughout the book about who the serial k*ller might be, and ended up being right - but I was second-guessing myself with every new clue that was left for me and I never felt like I knew how the story was going to end. Even now that the book is over, there are a few characters that I feel like there might be more to...
The romance element was what attracted me to this book originally. I loved the enemies to lovers "light" (because they were never really enemies) and the banter that Avery and Ellis have throughout the book. The road they took to becoming a couple felt natural and realistic.
This wasn't a super spicy book, and with the amount of plot, more spice wasn't needed. If there had been more I probably would have found myself skimming over them to get back to the plot! There were 4 or 5 spicy scenes in total, which were each unique and well-written. The chemistry again felt natural, and there wasn't an overabundance of cheesy words or descriptions which made these scenes fit in well with the tone of the rest of the book.
Although grief and loss are a big part of the story, I didn't feel like those parts of the book affected me as much as they have in other stories. I prefer this
I definitely loved this story and the characters and I hope we will get to see more of them in the future! 😉
Review of advance copy received from Author
4/5
Thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy! Surviving Lily is an intriguing mystery with likable characters and a shocking twist.
It follows Avery, who is hovering over her best friend after he was nearly murdered by a serial killer. However, things become complicated when feelings arise between her and her friend's new bodyguard.
I thought Surviving Lily would be predictable, but I was definitely wrong. It took me a while to get into it at the beginning and felt like I didn't really connect with the characters until around 100 pages in. After that, however, I really enjoyed the characters and their dynamics.
Avery is very lively, but not in an annoying way. She's a little bit bubbly, but without the ditzy-ness that sometimes accompanies female characters. She has a difficult past and a lot of trauma, but it doesn't overshadow her character. She still very much owns her own life.
Ellis is also scarred and overcoming some recent trauma, but it just motivates him to care more about those around him. At first, his immediate attraction to Avery seems shallow and I thought he wasn't capable of anything more than that, but I was wrong about that, as well. He ends up being very likable and protective of those he cares about, which includes Avery earlier than I expected.
Jackson is a very fun, lovable best friend and you genuinely care about what happens to him. He often acts as the comedic relief and another reason why a relationship between Avery and Ellis would be complicated.
There are some aspects of the book that I saw coming, but others that really surprised me. I guessed about HALF of the end, but the other major twist completely floored me and really impressed me. It's well-written, though, and explained well, so it doesn't feel like it came out of nowhere. There are also some very subtle hints leading up to it that I found to be very well-executed.
Overall, the story is intriguing, the characters are likable, and the twists are very twisty! I enjoyed this book very much after a slightly slow start.
Thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy! Surviving Lily is an intriguing mystery with likable characters and a shocking twist.
It follows Avery, who is hovering over her best friend after he was nearly murdered by a serial killer. However, things become complicated when feelings arise between her and her friend's new bodyguard.
I thought Surviving Lily would be predictable, but I was definitely wrong. It took me a while to get into it at the beginning and felt like I didn't really connect with the characters until around 100 pages in. After that, however, I really enjoyed the characters and their dynamics.
Avery is very lively, but not in an annoying way. She's a little bit bubbly, but without the ditzy-ness that sometimes accompanies female characters. She has a difficult past and a lot of trauma, but it doesn't overshadow her character. She still very much owns her own life.
Ellis is also scarred and overcoming some recent trauma, but it just motivates him to care more about those around him. At first, his immediate attraction to Avery seems shallow and I thought he wasn't capable of anything more than that, but I was wrong about that, as well. He ends up being very likable and protective of those he cares about, which includes Avery earlier than I expected.
Jackson is a very fun, lovable best friend and you genuinely care about what happens to him. He often acts as the comedic relief and another reason why a relationship between Avery and Ellis would be complicated.
There are some aspects of the book that I saw coming, but others that really surprised me. I guessed about HALF of the end, but the other major twist completely floored me and really impressed me. It's well-written, though, and explained well, so it doesn't feel like it came out of nowhere. There are also some very subtle hints leading up to it that I found to be very well-executed.
Overall, the story is intriguing, the characters are likable, and the twists are very twisty! I enjoyed this book very much after a slightly slow start.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Surviving Lily
By Morgana Black
🌟Overall Rating: 5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5🌟
🔥Spice level: 3.75🔥🔥🔥/5🔥
🖤Romantic suspense with psychological thriller vibes
🥰enemies to lovers
☀️resilient, mysterious, sunshine FMC
🌙protective, reserved, grumpy MMC
🩵slight age gap (8 years: FMC is 25, MMC is 33)
🔪Criminal minds vibes
😂fun side characters
💜mental health representation
🐶adorable furry friend
This was my first book by Morgana Black, but it definitely won’t be my last! I LOVED this book! SO! MUCH! The plot and themes were exactly what I look for in most of what I choose to read. The writing style was perfect- easy to read, well put together, and interesting. Every passage sucked me deeper into the story, grasping my attention and having me question what would happen next! The setting in New Orleans only intensified the mysterious vibes, and I LOVED it!😍 I really felt as though I could physically see myself there because of how detailed the descriptions were, without being overly saturated with words to the point of being boring.
Avery and Ellis together had my heart from the start!🥹 Their banter was hilarious-his grouchy grumbles with her quick wit made the dialogue so entertaining! These two are HOT together, both genuinely interesting characters that I couldn’t get enough of! And of course, I cannot talk about the two of them without talking about Jackson- one of the funniest side characters who had no problem speaking his mind (or causing trouble!). He had me laughing out loud at his antics and comments every time he popped up on a page!
I strongly recommend going into this book as blind as possible for the best reader experience. The less you know going into it, the more surprising and interesting the story will be! It’s early in the year, but I already anticipate this being one of my top reads!
Thank you to NetGalley and Morgana Black for allowing me to receive an advanced copy of this book♥️
By Morgana Black
🌟Overall Rating: 5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5🌟
🔥Spice level: 3.75🔥🔥🔥/5🔥
🖤Romantic suspense with psychological thriller vibes
🥰enemies to lovers
☀️resilient, mysterious, sunshine FMC
🌙protective, reserved, grumpy MMC
🩵slight age gap (8 years: FMC is 25, MMC is 33)
🔪Criminal minds vibes
😂fun side characters
💜mental health representation
🐶adorable furry friend
This was my first book by Morgana Black, but it definitely won’t be my last! I LOVED this book! SO! MUCH! The plot and themes were exactly what I look for in most of what I choose to read. The writing style was perfect- easy to read, well put together, and interesting. Every passage sucked me deeper into the story, grasping my attention and having me question what would happen next! The setting in New Orleans only intensified the mysterious vibes, and I LOVED it!😍 I really felt as though I could physically see myself there because of how detailed the descriptions were, without being overly saturated with words to the point of being boring.
Avery and Ellis together had my heart from the start!🥹 Their banter was hilarious-his grouchy grumbles with her quick wit made the dialogue so entertaining! These two are HOT together, both genuinely interesting characters that I couldn’t get enough of! And of course, I cannot talk about the two of them without talking about Jackson- one of the funniest side characters who had no problem speaking his mind (or causing trouble!). He had me laughing out loud at his antics and comments every time he popped up on a page!
I strongly recommend going into this book as blind as possible for the best reader experience. The less you know going into it, the more surprising and interesting the story will be! It’s early in the year, but I already anticipate this being one of my top reads!
Thank you to NetGalley and Morgana Black for allowing me to receive an advanced copy of this book♥️
Review of advance copy received from Author
There’s something about a strong, mysterious opening that just hooks you instantly and this book absolutely had that. The atmosphere was tense, the premise felt layered and it gave that wait… what is actually going on here? energy that makes you want to keep flipping pages. I was in. Fully invested. Ready for chaos, revelations, all of it.
But the issue is… it takes so long to actually get there.
The pacing is where this really struggled for me. The story keeps teasing answers without properly delivering them and instead of building tension, it starts to feel like it’s dragging things out. There’s only so many times you can hint at something before it stops being intriguing and just becomes frustrating. I kept waiting for that moment where everything clicks into place but getting there felt way more stretched than it needed to be.
Character wise, I had mixed feelings. Avery is interesting in theory, there’s depth there definitely and you can tell there’s something beneath the surface but the constant slow unraveling of her thoughts and motivations made it hard to stay fully connected. It felt like I was being kept at a distance instead of being pulled in. Brooks added to the mystery but at times he felt more like pieces of the puzzle than an actual person which made some of their dynamics fall a bit flat. There’s tension but not always the emotional payoff to match it.
That said, I can’t deny the concept itself is strong. The tone, the initial setup, the sense of unease; it all works. This could’ve been a really gripping, standout read if the pacing had been tighter and the reveals a bit more satisfying. It’s one of those books where you see the potential the entire time which almost makes it more frustrating when it doesn’t fully land.
(Thank you to the author for the eARC in exchange for a review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)
But the issue is… it takes so long to actually get there.
The pacing is where this really struggled for me. The story keeps teasing answers without properly delivering them and instead of building tension, it starts to feel like it’s dragging things out. There’s only so many times you can hint at something before it stops being intriguing and just becomes frustrating. I kept waiting for that moment where everything clicks into place but getting there felt way more stretched than it needed to be.
Character wise, I had mixed feelings. Avery is interesting in theory, there’s depth there definitely and you can tell there’s something beneath the surface but the constant slow unraveling of her thoughts and motivations made it hard to stay fully connected. It felt like I was being kept at a distance instead of being pulled in. Brooks added to the mystery but at times he felt more like pieces of the puzzle than an actual person which made some of their dynamics fall a bit flat. There’s tension but not always the emotional payoff to match it.
That said, I can’t deny the concept itself is strong. The tone, the initial setup, the sense of unease; it all works. This could’ve been a really gripping, standout read if the pacing had been tighter and the reveals a bit more satisfying. It’s one of those books where you see the potential the entire time which almost makes it more frustrating when it doesn’t fully land.
(Thank you to the author for the eARC in exchange for a review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)
Review of advance copy received from Author
Surviving Lily by M. Black feels like Criminal Minds wrapped in a romance—and it absolutely delivers. You get a psychopathic serial killer, a broody (former) FBI agent determined to protect an innocent, and a heroine whose dark past ties everything together in ways you don’t see coming.
Ellis Brooks is exactly the kind of MMC I love—guarded, distrustful, and still reeling from the loss of his partner to the infamous Black Dahlia killer. When he’s tasked with protecting Jackson “Jax” Montgomery in New Orleans, he expects danger… just not Avery. Jax’s best friend is mysterious in all the right (and wrong) ways—no traceable past beyond eight years, lingering trauma, and panic attacks she tries to hide. From the start, you know there’s more to her story.
The suspense in this book is so well done. It has that perfect cat-and-mouse tension that keeps you constantly questioning who to trust. The slow tightening of the killer’s presence creates this underlying anxiety that builds beautifully—and that twist near the end? I genuinely didn’t see it coming.
I also loved the balance between romance and action. Neither overshadows the other, and the relationship between Ellis and Avery develops naturally. Their grumpy-sunshine dynamic works so well, and the banter is sharp, quick, and completely in character.
Overall, this was a gripping, twisty romantic suspense that kept me hooked from start to finish.
Ellis Brooks is exactly the kind of MMC I love—guarded, distrustful, and still reeling from the loss of his partner to the infamous Black Dahlia killer. When he’s tasked with protecting Jackson “Jax” Montgomery in New Orleans, he expects danger… just not Avery. Jax’s best friend is mysterious in all the right (and wrong) ways—no traceable past beyond eight years, lingering trauma, and panic attacks she tries to hide. From the start, you know there’s more to her story.
The suspense in this book is so well done. It has that perfect cat-and-mouse tension that keeps you constantly questioning who to trust. The slow tightening of the killer’s presence creates this underlying anxiety that builds beautifully—and that twist near the end? I genuinely didn’t see it coming.
I also loved the balance between romance and action. Neither overshadows the other, and the relationship between Ellis and Avery develops naturally. Their grumpy-sunshine dynamic works so well, and the banter is sharp, quick, and completely in character.
Overall, this was a gripping, twisty romantic suspense that kept me hooked from start to finish.
Review of advance copy
First! Thank you for the opportunity to ARC read this!!
I’m not usually a big psychological or thriller reader—it’s not the genre I normally gravitate toward—but I’m really glad I picked this one up because it ended up being a great read. It definitely opened my eyes to a genre I don’t explore very often, and while I’m still primarily a romance reader, this book showed me how engaging and addictive a well-written thriller can be.
The story pulled me in more than I expected. The tension, the pacing, and the way the mystery slowly unfolds kept me curious about what was going to happen next. Even though psychological thrillers aren’t typically my go-to, this one had enough intrigue and character depth to keep me invested the whole way through.
I especially enjoyed Avery and Ellis. Their dynamic was one of my favorite parts of the book. The way they constantly butt heads, challenge each other, and push one another made their interactions really fun to read. Their journey from clashing personalities to working their way toward the end of the story together was engaging and added a lot of personality to the plot.
And that twist? I definitely didn’t see it coming. It completely shifted the way I looked at the story and made the ending even more satisfying. Moments like that are what make thrillers so exciting, and this one delivered.
Overall, even though psychological thrillers aren’t usually my thing, this was a really enjoyable read that kept me hooked. If you enjoy strong character dynamics, a tense storyline, and a twist that makes you rethink everything, this is definitely a must-read.
I’m not usually a big psychological or thriller reader—it’s not the genre I normally gravitate toward—but I’m really glad I picked this one up because it ended up being a great read. It definitely opened my eyes to a genre I don’t explore very often, and while I’m still primarily a romance reader, this book showed me how engaging and addictive a well-written thriller can be.
The story pulled me in more than I expected. The tension, the pacing, and the way the mystery slowly unfolds kept me curious about what was going to happen next. Even though psychological thrillers aren’t typically my go-to, this one had enough intrigue and character depth to keep me invested the whole way through.
I especially enjoyed Avery and Ellis. Their dynamic was one of my favorite parts of the book. The way they constantly butt heads, challenge each other, and push one another made their interactions really fun to read. Their journey from clashing personalities to working their way toward the end of the story together was engaging and added a lot of personality to the plot.
And that twist? I definitely didn’t see it coming. It completely shifted the way I looked at the story and made the ending even more satisfying. Moments like that are what make thrillers so exciting, and this one delivered.
Overall, even though psychological thrillers aren’t usually my thing, this was a really enjoyable read that kept me hooked. If you enjoy strong character dynamics, a tense storyline, and a twist that makes you rethink everything, this is definitely a must-read.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Surviving Lily opens with a strong, mysterious hook that instantly pulls you in. The atmosphere is tense, layered, and full of the “wait, what is actually happening?” energy that makes you want to keep turning pages. I was fully invested from the start, ready for chaos, revelations, and all the twists the story promised.
The book blends dark romance with a thriller subplot. Avery, the female lead, carries heavy trauma, and watching her fall for Ellis, a devoted and caring presence, was satisfying. Their romance builds slowly with palpable tension and chemistry, and the spice hits hard.
The thriller element adds suspense, but I predicted the perpetrator early on thanks to foreshadowing. However, the story delivers a twist I did not see coming, which casts previous events in a new light. While interesting, Avery’s response to this twist felt unrealistic, and it slightly clouded my experience.
Pacing is the book’s main challenge. The story teases revelations repeatedly without delivering them efficiently, which made some sections feel stretched rather than suspenseful. Avery’s internal reflections are layered but at times slow, creating a distance from her that made it hard to stay fully engaged. Brooks contributes to the mystery, but occasionally feels more like a plot device than a fully realised character, which undercuts some of the tension.
Despite these issues, the concept is strong. The tone, initial setup, and sense of unease work well. With tighter pacing and more satisfying reveals, this could have been a standout thriller romance. As it stands, it’s an enjoyable read, but it didn’t fully capture me enough to continue with a sequel.
The book blends dark romance with a thriller subplot. Avery, the female lead, carries heavy trauma, and watching her fall for Ellis, a devoted and caring presence, was satisfying. Their romance builds slowly with palpable tension and chemistry, and the spice hits hard.
The thriller element adds suspense, but I predicted the perpetrator early on thanks to foreshadowing. However, the story delivers a twist I did not see coming, which casts previous events in a new light. While interesting, Avery’s response to this twist felt unrealistic, and it slightly clouded my experience.
Pacing is the book’s main challenge. The story teases revelations repeatedly without delivering them efficiently, which made some sections feel stretched rather than suspenseful. Avery’s internal reflections are layered but at times slow, creating a distance from her that made it hard to stay fully engaged. Brooks contributes to the mystery, but occasionally feels more like a plot device than a fully realised character, which undercuts some of the tension.
Despite these issues, the concept is strong. The tone, initial setup, and sense of unease work well. With tighter pacing and more satisfying reveals, this could have been a standout thriller romance. As it stands, it’s an enjoyable read, but it didn’t fully capture me enough to continue with a sequel.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review
A Dark, Twisty Romance with a Shocking Secret
Avery, our FMC, is a woman with a tragic past that she wants to outrun. When her best friend, Jackson, becomes the target of the Black Dahlia killer the FBI assigns Ellis to protect him. Ellis is an ex agent with a sharp tongue and an instinct for danger. Ellis is cold and suspicious of everything. So also of Avery's devotion to Jackson. He suspects that she is hiding something. While the story develops Ellis finds himself drawn to Avery. However when her past collides with the present, the truth comes out and makes him choose between the woman who stole his heart and his duty.
Ellis a a classic hero. He is a damaged protector. Hardened by betrayal, guilt and loss. He is loyal and had a lot of dry humor. However when the story evolves so does he. He goes from distrust to devotion. The way this is done is compelling.
Avery herself is quick witted and is hiding a trauma. The trauma is so deep it reshapes the story. I very much enjoyed the banter with Ellis. The way she loves Jackson is adorable.
The slow burn between these two is masterfully drawn out. They circle each other in a dance of suspicion and attraction. Their first kiss is hot, but it is the quiet moments that are key here.
I would have loved some more development for the Black Dahlia killer. I feel we did not get enough of him.
This book was one that kept me on the edge of my seat. The way the plot twist is written into the story is everything. It blew my mind.
A Dark, Twisty Romance with a Shocking Secret
Avery, our FMC, is a woman with a tragic past that she wants to outrun. When her best friend, Jackson, becomes the target of the Black Dahlia killer the FBI assigns Ellis to protect him. Ellis is an ex agent with a sharp tongue and an instinct for danger. Ellis is cold and suspicious of everything. So also of Avery's devotion to Jackson. He suspects that she is hiding something. While the story develops Ellis finds himself drawn to Avery. However when her past collides with the present, the truth comes out and makes him choose between the woman who stole his heart and his duty.
Ellis a a classic hero. He is a damaged protector. Hardened by betrayal, guilt and loss. He is loyal and had a lot of dry humor. However when the story evolves so does he. He goes from distrust to devotion. The way this is done is compelling.
Avery herself is quick witted and is hiding a trauma. The trauma is so deep it reshapes the story. I very much enjoyed the banter with Ellis. The way she loves Jackson is adorable.
The slow burn between these two is masterfully drawn out. They circle each other in a dance of suspicion and attraction. Their first kiss is hot, but it is the quiet moments that are key here.
I would have loved some more development for the Black Dahlia killer. I feel we did not get enough of him.
This book was one that kept me on the edge of my seat. The way the plot twist is written into the story is everything. It blew my mind.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was amazing she went for for I believe she said it was a Criminal mind vibe. I have been one of those people who I Love that this one basically had me guessing from the very beginning. I mean some of it I I was able to guess from the start but some of it I really did not see coming. I liked that even throughout my love for crime shows and crime dramas I couldn't 100% see where this was going. Some of it was easy for me to guess but some of it was extremely hard and I love that. It was like a romantic crime drama book. I don't get to read a lot of them. I don't get to see a lot of them and to see this actually coming into fruition and her saying well. Yeah, it's got Criminal mind vibes mixed with pretty stranger vibes and to actually see it come to light. I was a bit worried that it really wasn't going to have enough of that crime vibe, but I really wanted to give it a shot and she does amazing with how she integrated it into the book because I was extremely worried that it wouldn't integrate very well. It is very well written. Not much that I would change. There was one area that I would change because now I have questions about the main characters in this book and I feel like this is going to be one where you jump from this couple to another couple to another couple and you don't circle back to this couple but I'm really hoping that this couple gets at least one more book because I feel like their story just wasn't complete.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I. Cannot. Even. 😭🤯
Surviving Lily had me hooked from page one. If you think suspense might be slow or predictable… think again. Every time I thought I had it figured out, BAM 💥, I was wrong. And then wrong again. And then… you get it. The twists keep coming, the tension keeps building, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages.
Avery Jordan is living her life mostly off the radar in New Orleans, but of course, drama finds her anyway. Enter Ellis Brooks, grumpy, protective, and my ultimate FBI crush. Their chemistry? 🔥 Grumpy vs. cautious, opposites that fight, snark, and slowly melt into each other. I lived for every interaction.
The mystery/thriller side of this book is just as amazing as the romance. Criminal Minds vibes? Absolutely. You get clues, red herrings, and that perfect balance of suspense that makes you want to keep reading at 2 a.m. (not that I did that or anything 😅).
Spicy scenes ✅, emotional stakes ✅, romance that’s slow-burn but also impossible to resist ✅. And the side characters? Loved them all. Miles is basically the perfect sidekick, bringing levity and smarts when things get intense.
This is the kind of thriller-romance mashup I didn’t know I needed but now can’t live without. I’m officially obsessed and already ready for the next book.
Tropes:
🕵️♂️ FBI / grumpy hero
🌆 New Orleans setting
🖤 Suspenseful romance
💥 Criminal Minds vibes
🔥 Slow-burn chemistry
💌 Spicy romance
👀 Twists & red herrings
Surviving Lily had me hooked from page one. If you think suspense might be slow or predictable… think again. Every time I thought I had it figured out, BAM 💥, I was wrong. And then wrong again. And then… you get it. The twists keep coming, the tension keeps building, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages.
Avery Jordan is living her life mostly off the radar in New Orleans, but of course, drama finds her anyway. Enter Ellis Brooks, grumpy, protective, and my ultimate FBI crush. Their chemistry? 🔥 Grumpy vs. cautious, opposites that fight, snark, and slowly melt into each other. I lived for every interaction.
The mystery/thriller side of this book is just as amazing as the romance. Criminal Minds vibes? Absolutely. You get clues, red herrings, and that perfect balance of suspense that makes you want to keep reading at 2 a.m. (not that I did that or anything 😅).
Spicy scenes ✅, emotional stakes ✅, romance that’s slow-burn but also impossible to resist ✅. And the side characters? Loved them all. Miles is basically the perfect sidekick, bringing levity and smarts when things get intense.
This is the kind of thriller-romance mashup I didn’t know I needed but now can’t live without. I’m officially obsessed and already ready for the next book.
Tropes:
🕵️♂️ FBI / grumpy hero
🌆 New Orleans setting
🖤 Suspenseful romance
💥 Criminal Minds vibes
🔥 Slow-burn chemistry
💌 Spicy romance
👀 Twists & red herrings
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ummm, give me a moment to just wrap my head around what I just finished reading. 🤯
I'm simply shocked with every twist and turn this story took. Just when I thought I knew what was going on, NOPE something a little more gets revealed. Making me go into deep thinking again with what it could mean. Who could be behind the events occur...
And again, another twist.
I loved it.
Avery has a tragic past, but she's living the best life she could ask for...or tries to.
With her best friend, Jackson, close by.
Until an attack on Jackson and his family occur and that's when things just go crazy for Avery and her friends.
In comes security, including Ellis and that adds some tension into the mix. 😏
I absolutely loved the close friendship between Avery and Jackson. He was just the protective, there whenever you need them friend we all need.
Ellis...he's the bodyguard we all dream of having. 🫠
Things get heated between him and Avery and whoooo, someone turn the AC down...it's hot in here.
The slow burn is well worth it, trust me. 🥵
Seriously though, the truth revealed at the end had me just shocked.
It was so good.
Don't even get me started on the epilogue! Omg the epilogue has me going like this...👀👀👀👀👀👀👀
Highly recommend if you're wanting suspense, spice, more suspense, twists, banter, fun moments...
You kinda get it all in this book. ☺️
🫶🏻Thank you Morgana Black for the arc.
I just loved this, and I'm looking forward to whats next. 👀
I'm simply shocked with every twist and turn this story took. Just when I thought I knew what was going on, NOPE something a little more gets revealed. Making me go into deep thinking again with what it could mean. Who could be behind the events occur...
And again, another twist.
I loved it.
Avery has a tragic past, but she's living the best life she could ask for...or tries to.
With her best friend, Jackson, close by.
Until an attack on Jackson and his family occur and that's when things just go crazy for Avery and her friends.
In comes security, including Ellis and that adds some tension into the mix. 😏
I absolutely loved the close friendship between Avery and Jackson. He was just the protective, there whenever you need them friend we all need.
Ellis...he's the bodyguard we all dream of having. 🫠
Things get heated between him and Avery and whoooo, someone turn the AC down...it's hot in here.
The slow burn is well worth it, trust me. 🥵
Seriously though, the truth revealed at the end had me just shocked.
It was so good.
Don't even get me started on the epilogue! Omg the epilogue has me going like this...👀👀👀👀👀👀👀
Highly recommend if you're wanting suspense, spice, more suspense, twists, banter, fun moments...
You kinda get it all in this book. ☺️
🫶🏻Thank you Morgana Black for the arc.
I just loved this, and I'm looking forward to whats next. 👀
March 15, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Surviving Lily is a well written dark romance with a thriller subplot.
Avery, the FMC has lots of trauma and her lived experience was heinous so seeing her fall for a guy who became devoted to her was rewarding. However, I didn’t connect with Avery all that much and I’m not sure why.
The romance was very nicely done with lots of palpable tension and chemistry. I loved the build up and development of the relationship between Avery and Ellis. And the spice was spicing🔥
I did like the triller element to this story, but I worked out the perpetrator pretty early on. There is foreshadowing for who it is so it didn’t come as a surprise to me but the story still had lots of suspense.
I did not however see the twist this story had which was interesting and spun a new light on things that had happened throughout the book but it did leave me with a few questions. And I feel like the way Avery handled it didn’t seem very realistic, I would have expected a lot more shock and even denial after being told something like that, so that has clouded my judgement a bit.
Whilst this book was overall an enjoyable read, it did not capture me enough to continue with any sequel books. There was nothing inherently wrong with it at all, I think it just wasn’t really for me unfortunately.
Thank you to the Author Morgana Black for gifting me this arc. All opinions are my own.
Surviving Lily is a well written dark romance with a thriller subplot.
Avery, the FMC has lots of trauma and her lived experience was heinous so seeing her fall for a guy who became devoted to her was rewarding. However, I didn’t connect with Avery all that much and I’m not sure why.
The romance was very nicely done with lots of palpable tension and chemistry. I loved the build up and development of the relationship between Avery and Ellis. And the spice was spicing🔥
I did like the triller element to this story, but I worked out the perpetrator pretty early on. There is foreshadowing for who it is so it didn’t come as a surprise to me but the story still had lots of suspense.
I did not however see the twist this story had which was interesting and spun a new light on things that had happened throughout the book but it did leave me with a few questions. And I feel like the way Avery handled it didn’t seem very realistic, I would have expected a lot more shock and even denial after being told something like that, so that has clouded my judgement a bit.
Whilst this book was overall an enjoyable read, it did not capture me enough to continue with any sequel books. There was nothing inherently wrong with it at all, I think it just wasn’t really for me unfortunately.
Thank you to the Author Morgana Black for gifting me this arc. All opinions are my own.
March 9, 2026
Surviving Lily by Morgana Black is a romantic suspense following Avery, Ellis, and Jax. There’s a lot of trauma bonding between characters. Lots of comedic moments folded into the story line. A touch of banter and a whole lot of comments to ensure both readers and characters get butterflies. 🦋
I looked forward to this one in between reading sessions. I love love loved the chemistry between Avery and Ellis. Ellis was by far my favorite character though. A true softy claiming to be a grump. 😂
I am only giving 4 stars because there were a lot of scenes that I had to sort through so to speak because of the amount of head-hopping I encountered. Even though each chapter features a character POV other characters thoughts and feelings were present when they maybe shouldn’t have been making it hard for me to remember whose head I was supposed to be in.
The ending was to messy in my opinion with so many things going on. To the point that not everything was fully explained. I was able to predict half of what happened. The rest made me think “What did I just read???”. I purely enjoyed this book based on Ellis as a character alone.
***I received an ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review.***
I looked forward to this one in between reading sessions. I love love loved the chemistry between Avery and Ellis. Ellis was by far my favorite character though. A true softy claiming to be a grump. 😂
I am only giving 4 stars because there were a lot of scenes that I had to sort through so to speak because of the amount of head-hopping I encountered. Even though each chapter features a character POV other characters thoughts and feelings were present when they maybe shouldn’t have been making it hard for me to remember whose head I was supposed to be in.
The ending was to messy in my opinion with so many things going on. To the point that not everything was fully explained. I was able to predict half of what happened. The rest made me think “What did I just read???”. I purely enjoyed this book based on Ellis as a character alone.
***I received an ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review.***
Review of advance copy received from Author
Surviving Lily by Morgana Black
Morgana Black’s Surviving Lily is a captivating mystery thriller crime dark/contemporary romance. I’m grateful to Morgana and her team for the opportunity to read and review it.
I’ll do my best to avoid spoilers in my review.
The book’s multiple point of view writing style is masterful, keeping me guessing and on edge throughout. The suspense builds to a thrilling climax, especially at the end. I found myself constantly guessing along with the characters, feeling as though I was right there with them.
The story follows Avery, a woman living in New Orleans who’s trying to escape the spotlight of her best friend Jax’s fame. However, things take a dramatic turn when Jax and his family are nearly targeted by a serial killer. Enter Ellis, an ex-FBI detective tasked with protecting Jax at all costs, even if it means putting him at odds with Avery.
Initially, Avery and Ellis clash, but they reluctantly team up for the sake of Jax. (To discover more about their journey and the unfolding events, you’ll need to read the book.)
Overall, Surviving Lily is a fantastic start to a new series that I eagerly anticipate continuing to read. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
5 stars
Morgana Black’s Surviving Lily is a captivating mystery thriller crime dark/contemporary romance. I’m grateful to Morgana and her team for the opportunity to read and review it.
I’ll do my best to avoid spoilers in my review.
The book’s multiple point of view writing style is masterful, keeping me guessing and on edge throughout. The suspense builds to a thrilling climax, especially at the end. I found myself constantly guessing along with the characters, feeling as though I was right there with them.
The story follows Avery, a woman living in New Orleans who’s trying to escape the spotlight of her best friend Jax’s fame. However, things take a dramatic turn when Jax and his family are nearly targeted by a serial killer. Enter Ellis, an ex-FBI detective tasked with protecting Jax at all costs, even if it means putting him at odds with Avery.
Initially, Avery and Ellis clash, but they reluctantly team up for the sake of Jax. (To discover more about their journey and the unfolding events, you’ll need to read the book.)
Overall, Surviving Lily is a fantastic start to a new series that I eagerly anticipate continuing to read. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Author
Just finished Surviving Lily by M. Black and I am officially obsessed. 📚🔥
I went into this book so sure I had everything figured out… and it turns out I was only about half right. That plot twist? My mouth was literally hanging open in shock. You know the kind of twist that makes you stop reading for a second just to stare into the void and rethink everything you just read? Yeah. That.
Without spoiling anything, it gave me the exact same feeling as one of my all-time favorite movies. Same stunned, slightly unhinged “wait… WHAT just happened?” energy. Once you read it, tell me if you can guess which movie I’m talking about because the vibes were uncannily similar.
Things I absolutely loved:
• The dirty talk 🫠
• The slow burn that actually burns
• Just a sprinkle of enemies-to-lovers tension to keep things deliciously sharp
And if that epilogue is any indication, it looks like we’re getting Jackson’s book next, which thrills me to no end. I will be seated immediately. 🍿
I’m still riding such a high from the ending that I honestly cannot think of a single thing I didn’t like at the moment. My brain is still recovering from that twist.
Highly recommend if you love tension, heat, and a story that keeps you guessing until the very end.
I went into this book so sure I had everything figured out… and it turns out I was only about half right. That plot twist? My mouth was literally hanging open in shock. You know the kind of twist that makes you stop reading for a second just to stare into the void and rethink everything you just read? Yeah. That.
Without spoiling anything, it gave me the exact same feeling as one of my all-time favorite movies. Same stunned, slightly unhinged “wait… WHAT just happened?” energy. Once you read it, tell me if you can guess which movie I’m talking about because the vibes were uncannily similar.
Things I absolutely loved:
• The dirty talk 🫠
• The slow burn that actually burns
• Just a sprinkle of enemies-to-lovers tension to keep things deliciously sharp
And if that epilogue is any indication, it looks like we’re getting Jackson’s book next, which thrills me to no end. I will be seated immediately. 🍿
I’m still riding such a high from the ending that I honestly cannot think of a single thing I didn’t like at the moment. My brain is still recovering from that twist.
Highly recommend if you love tension, heat, and a story that keeps you guessing until the very end.
February 25, 2026
This is one of those stories that sticks with you well after the final page. There is a twist you’ll never see coming that will leave your jaw on the floor and have you rewinding your memory for the signs missed.
Ellis Brooks left the FBI after a tragedy, but they call him in to provide security detail for the latest attempted victim of the same serial killer Ellis evaded.
Avery, the best friend of the attempted victim, is a ray of sunshine who finds joy in getting under a certain former FBI agent’s skin.
Serial killer mystery
Danger around every corner
Grumpy + Sunshine
Slow burn to fully baked (that romance is 🔥)
Protective MMC
Strong FMC
Mental health Rep
When this is the dedication…
-For all the women who just want to hear Derek Morgan call you baby girl. This one’s for you.
Look, I read this BEFORE there was a dedication. I got so many Derek Morgan vibes from this MMC that I was drooling. Do with that what you will…
I had the privilege of beta reading Surviving Lily and was blown away, so of course, I also applied for an ARC through NetGalley and preordered a signed copy from the author’s website.
Ellis Brooks left the FBI after a tragedy, but they call him in to provide security detail for the latest attempted victim of the same serial killer Ellis evaded.
Avery, the best friend of the attempted victim, is a ray of sunshine who finds joy in getting under a certain former FBI agent’s skin.
Serial killer mystery
Danger around every corner
Grumpy + Sunshine
Slow burn to fully baked (that romance is 🔥)
Protective MMC
Strong FMC
Mental health Rep
When this is the dedication…
-For all the women who just want to hear Derek Morgan call you baby girl. This one’s for you.
Look, I read this BEFORE there was a dedication. I got so many Derek Morgan vibes from this MMC that I was drooling. Do with that what you will…
I had the privilege of beta reading Surviving Lily and was blown away, so of course, I also applied for an ARC through NetGalley and preordered a signed copy from the author’s website.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.25 ⭐ 'Surviving Lily' ARC REVIEW
🖤 Bodyguard
🖤 Serial Killer
🖤 Grumpy / Sunshine
🖤 Mystery & Secrets
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Trust No One
I absolutely devoured this read from the start. The banter between these characters was amazing. The suspense and story line was great! There's a wild twist at the end that you didnt see coming, which I'm still unsure how I feel about. Our FMC Avery is a ray of sunshine that has a traumatic and dark past that she wants to move forward and forget. Being the best friend of an attempted murder, by a serial killer, Avery finds herself in the spotlight by former FBI agent Ellis, who is hired to be the bodyguard of Avery's best friend. His gut instinct tells him, that things with Avery do not add up. He tries to devle deeper to find out who she really is. The chemistry between these two is fantastic. As intense information comes to light and attempts on their lives grow, maybe things are more connected than they thought.
Great character development and growth.
Dark themes of trauma and healing. Please check trigger warnings. I thoroughly enjoyed this read! Highly Recommended 🩵
🖤 Bodyguard
🖤 Serial Killer
🖤 Grumpy / Sunshine
🖤 Mystery & Secrets
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Trust No One
I absolutely devoured this read from the start. The banter between these characters was amazing. The suspense and story line was great! There's a wild twist at the end that you didnt see coming, which I'm still unsure how I feel about. Our FMC Avery is a ray of sunshine that has a traumatic and dark past that she wants to move forward and forget. Being the best friend of an attempted murder, by a serial killer, Avery finds herself in the spotlight by former FBI agent Ellis, who is hired to be the bodyguard of Avery's best friend. His gut instinct tells him, that things with Avery do not add up. He tries to devle deeper to find out who she really is. The chemistry between these two is fantastic. As intense information comes to light and attempts on their lives grow, maybe things are more connected than they thought.
Great character development and growth.
Dark themes of trauma and healing. Please check trigger warnings. I thoroughly enjoyed this read! Highly Recommended 🩵
Review of advance copy received from Author
Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Plot: 📖📖📖📖📖
Suspense: ✔️✔️✔️✔️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🌸Serial K*ller Mystery
🌸Grump v Sunshine
🌸Mid-Size FMC
🌸Mental Health Representation
🌸Criminal Minds x Perfect Strangers
🥊ding-ding 🥊
Entering: the big, bad ex-FBI man - let’s call him “Agent A-Hole” - who finally meets his match in a woman who is as devastating as she is complex. He thinks he’s in control… until he realizes he’s just strapped in for the ride.
And then there’s Avery.
A walking contradiction; tattoos wrapped around a body full of sin, sunshine, and secrets. She’s always running… but from what? Her past? Herself? Or the feelings she refuses to name?
Surviving Lily pulls you into a full-blown emotional rollercoaster (the kind that twists your gut in the best way). Every turn hits harder than the last, and just when you think you’ve figured it out… you haven’t.
This is a love story, but not the kind you’re expecting.
It’s messy. It’s raw. It’s consuming.
From heat to heartbreak, from death to rebirth, and finally to acceptance. This story doesn’t just explore love… it demands you understand what it means to love someone in every version of who they are.
And trust me, you won’t walk away unchanged.
Plot: 📖📖📖📖📖
Suspense: ✔️✔️✔️✔️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🌸Serial K*ller Mystery
🌸Grump v Sunshine
🌸Mid-Size FMC
🌸Mental Health Representation
🌸Criminal Minds x Perfect Strangers
🥊ding-ding 🥊
Entering: the big, bad ex-FBI man - let’s call him “Agent A-Hole” - who finally meets his match in a woman who is as devastating as she is complex. He thinks he’s in control… until he realizes he’s just strapped in for the ride.
And then there’s Avery.
A walking contradiction; tattoos wrapped around a body full of sin, sunshine, and secrets. She’s always running… but from what? Her past? Herself? Or the feelings she refuses to name?
Surviving Lily pulls you into a full-blown emotional rollercoaster (the kind that twists your gut in the best way). Every turn hits harder than the last, and just when you think you’ve figured it out… you haven’t.
This is a love story, but not the kind you’re expecting.
It’s messy. It’s raw. It’s consuming.
From heat to heartbreak, from death to rebirth, and finally to acceptance. This story doesn’t just explore love… it demands you understand what it means to love someone in every version of who they are.
And trust me, you won’t walk away unchanged.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow! Calling all Criminal Minds fans! Read this! I did not want this to end. There was so much. The twists. The turns. The chemistry. The danger. I'm just cooked. Totally done. I absolutely loved Ellis. He was very standoffish in the beginning. But the man had very good reasons. Not only is he literally protecting Jackson's life, but with his past relationship drama too the man has a right to be leery. That being said, I absolutely loved and couldn't get enough of his growing attraction to Avery. She was catnip to him. And Avery? Holy freaking cow. She was a strong heroine. She has been through so much. All of her layers were very thought out. The whole story and world building was so well written. I loved the added depth that Jackson and Talia added. I did figure out one of the big twists and I had an inkling for the other. The twist/news Avery gets at the very end? Oh my heart. And now Morgana has me absolutely hooked.
I received a complimentary copy and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
I received a complimentary copy and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Surviving Lily completely hooked me from the first page. Avery just wants some peace after everything she’s been through, but then Ellis Brooks storms into her life like this grumpy, vengeance driven bodyguard and everything changes. Their grumpy sunshine dynamic is so good, and the banter had me laughing more than once even though the story dives into some really dark places.
The suspense kept me on edge the whole time. It gave me strong Criminal Minds vibes mixed with a twisted romance and serial killer tension, with that slow burn protection romance that builds perfectly. The chemistry is intense, the spice hits when it needs to, and I appreciated how thoughtfully the mental health side of the story was handled. The side characters also add a lot without stealing the spotlight.
And that plot twist at the end… i was like WTF how did I miss that. It’s one of those twists where you immediately want to flip back through the pages because the clues were there the whole time, just hidden so well.
The suspense kept me on edge the whole time. It gave me strong Criminal Minds vibes mixed with a twisted romance and serial killer tension, with that slow burn protection romance that builds perfectly. The chemistry is intense, the spice hits when it needs to, and I appreciated how thoughtfully the mental health side of the story was handled. The side characters also add a lot without stealing the spotlight.
And that plot twist at the end… i was like WTF how did I miss that. It’s one of those twists where you immediately want to flip back through the pages because the clues were there the whole time, just hidden so well.
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