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Kiss. Kill. Repeat. #1
Killer Crush
Cade Carpenter doesn’t believe in fate—he believes in timing, precision, and clean exits. Killing people is easy. Keeping feelings out of it is even easier. When a dating app ping interrupts his latest job, he doesn’t think twice before answering. One bad date is the perfect cover for a hit.
Tris is a walking diagnosis wrapped in a pretty face and borrowed confidence. He talks too much, laughs too loud, and blurts out every intrusive thought that crosses his mind. He’s used to being “too much” for people—too awkward, too intense, too everything. So, when a gorgeous stranger actually says yes to his ridiculous question about the world’s worst date, Tris can’t help but hope, for once, that he won’t be the punchline.
But what’s supposed to be an ironic night out turns into something out of a true crime documentary when Tris stumbles upon Cade mid-kill. Now, there’s a body, a locked ship in open water, and two men with dangerously bad timing.
It was supposed to be easy. Get in, get out. But now, they’re trapped on a Titanic replica with a dead body and no place to run. Can Cade convince Tris that just because he’s a killer doesn’t mean he’s not the one?
Killer Crush is the first in a series of interconnected dark romance shorts, each featuring a new couple brought together—and blown apart—by the infamous Heartstopper app.
Tris is a walking diagnosis wrapped in a pretty face and borrowed confidence. He talks too much, laughs too loud, and blurts out every intrusive thought that crosses his mind. He’s used to being “too much” for people—too awkward, too intense, too everything. So, when a gorgeous stranger actually says yes to his ridiculous question about the world’s worst date, Tris can’t help but hope, for once, that he won’t be the punchline.
But what’s supposed to be an ironic night out turns into something out of a true crime documentary when Tris stumbles upon Cade mid-kill. Now, there’s a body, a locked ship in open water, and two men with dangerously bad timing.
It was supposed to be easy. Get in, get out. But now, they’re trapped on a Titanic replica with a dead body and no place to run. Can Cade convince Tris that just because he’s a killer doesn’t mean he’s not the one?
Killer Crush is the first in a series of interconnected dark romance shorts, each featuring a new couple brought together—and blown apart—by the infamous Heartstopper app.
85 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 2, 2025
269 people are currently reading
324 people want to read
About the author
Onley James
42 books3,782 followersOnley James lives in North Carolina with her daughter, her daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and a menagerie of animals, both good and evil. James splits her time between writing m/m romance and mainlining dangerous levels of caffeine and attempting to maintain her ever-slipping sanity.
When not at her desk you can find her whining about how much writing she has to do while avoiding said writing by binge-watching unhealthy amounts of television and doom scrolling on social media. She loves true crime documentaries, anti-heroes, and writing kinky, snarky books about morally gray men who fall in love with other men.
Stay up to date: www.onleyjames.com/newsletter
Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Onley...
Want more: linktr.ee/OnleyJames
When not at her desk you can find her whining about how much writing she has to do while avoiding said writing by binge-watching unhealthy amounts of television and doom scrolling on social media. She loves true crime documentaries, anti-heroes, and writing kinky, snarky books about morally gray men who fall in love with other men.
Stay up to date: www.onleyjames.com/newsletter
Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Onley...
Want more: linktr.ee/OnleyJames
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
January 4, 2026
Onley James needs to find a new shtick. Psychopaths are getting old. Maybe she is one? Dunno, but this silly, rushed story was a throwaway. Texting & murder. The end.
Extra star because the epilogue was adorbs.
Also, the Heartstopper App blurb at the end? Chef's kiss. Too bad I no longer trust James to do right by the premise.
Extra star because the epilogue was adorbs.
Also, the Heartstopper App blurb at the end? Chef's kiss. Too bad I no longer trust James to do right by the premise.
December 12, 2025
I remember reading this story in an anthology (can't remember which one) and it was just as fun this time around, although I do still wish it was full length because Cade and Tris are so funny!
December 9, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
December 22, 2025
This story was absolutely delightful. I had fun reading it, the banter and meet cute were spot on. The inventive series set up , perfect. Cade and Tris were fire together.
A great dark introduction for the books to come. Being a novella added the necessity to make things happen at a fast pace and that made it all the better.
I loved it. 🔥
A great dark introduction for the books to come. Being a novella added the necessity to make things happen at a fast pace and that made it all the better.
I loved it. 🔥
December 15, 2025
This was so fun & I loved it!! Loved tris & Cade’s flirtiness-I def want a full length book of them 😅
dnf
December 21, 2025DNF @ 56%
The beginning was cute with the texting. It’s just not grabbing my interest.
The beginning was cute with the texting. It’s just not grabbing my interest.
December 30, 2025
This was okay. I enjoyed the banter in the beginning quite a bit and thought the first half was really well written. The second half felt a lot more rushed, but overall, this was a nice intro to what is likely to be a new series. 2.5 stars, rounded up
December 3, 2025
I love it when Onley James gets a new idea, because that means my world is about to get a whole lot brighter. You know when people say so-and-so author could write a grocery list and they’d read it? I’d absolutely pay for the privilege of reading Onley’s grocery list. If that sounds weird I’m owning it.
Killer Crush is the first in a series of interconnected short stories surrounding an app called Heartstopper: part dead pool, part criminal hiring board, and part Tinder for those who walk on the wrong side of the law. This first installment could almost be called a prequel to the series as it goes from here on out, as the events of the story happen before Heartstopper becomes the Heartstopper we’ll be seeing for the rest of the series.
The couple in this story, Cade and Tris, bring the chemistry, spice, energy, and sweetness I’m used to seeing and absolutely loving from Onley’s books. The way these killer men get heart eyes for a guy like Tris, like he’s a puzzle they’d gladly spend the rest of their lives unsuccessfully solving but giving it their best? It makes my heart all gooey in ways I can’t explain. 4⭐️
Killer Crush is the first in a series of interconnected short stories surrounding an app called Heartstopper: part dead pool, part criminal hiring board, and part Tinder for those who walk on the wrong side of the law. This first installment could almost be called a prequel to the series as it goes from here on out, as the events of the story happen before Heartstopper becomes the Heartstopper we’ll be seeing for the rest of the series.
The couple in this story, Cade and Tris, bring the chemistry, spice, energy, and sweetness I’m used to seeing and absolutely loving from Onley’s books. The way these killer men get heart eyes for a guy like Tris, like he’s a puzzle they’d gladly spend the rest of their lives unsuccessfully solving but giving it their best? It makes my heart all gooey in ways I can’t explain. 4⭐️
December 25, 2025
Оце прям топ новелла🙂↕️❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥 Дуже весело, живенько, смішно, герой один з РДУГ, інший психопат🥰
December 9, 2025
Well, well, well...Onley James certainly knows how to write her sexy psychopaths, doesn't she? For a novella, KILLER CRUSH gave me everything I was looking for. Tris and Cade's banter and chemistry was so charming, and their first date was one for the history books, literally, a Titanic exhibition on an actual boat that ends in murder - are you kidding me? This is quick and easy dark romance that's sweet and sexy without it being waterboarded with too much spice. As mentioned, it's the banter and complimentary personalities of these two that really sell the romance. Between his oral fixations, no filter lifestyle and ADHD, Tris was such an endearing character to read. And Cade was the kind of dangerous bad boy that's secretly soft so it was so cute to see him bring those walls down and actually fall for a guy.
Tris' mental health narrative was quite good and I could absolutely relate to the intrusive thoughts bit. It was beyond adorable to see Cade and Tris accept each other's crazy and feel seen instead of managed by one another. If all m/m romance novellas were like this, we'd be so lucky. There was a bunch of insta-love and cheese with the timeline of everything, but the characters and James' writing sold it for me.
Some quotes:
“I like animals. It’s humans who suck. You’re like an animal in human form. So, you’re perfect.”
“He’d come here to kill a man, and somehow, left wanting pancakes, promises, and the boy who made him believe he could have both.”
Tris' mental health narrative was quite good and I could absolutely relate to the intrusive thoughts bit. It was beyond adorable to see Cade and Tris accept each other's crazy and feel seen instead of managed by one another. If all m/m romance novellas were like this, we'd be so lucky. There was a bunch of insta-love and cheese with the timeline of everything, but the characters and James' writing sold it for me.
Some quotes:
“I like animals. It’s humans who suck. You’re like an animal in human form. So, you’re perfect.”
“He’d come here to kill a man, and somehow, left wanting pancakes, promises, and the boy who made him believe he could have both.”
December 4, 2025
I've fallen off keeping up with Onley James's new releases, but this was a fun, fast read that reminded me why I've always been a fan. It's pretty much the same general plot and character dynamics of most of her stories, but that isn't a bad thing. It's enjoyable and the mains are likeable. I'm interested to see where the rest of this series goes.
December 7, 2025
Szybkie i urocze, ale tak jak uwielbiam książki Onley James, to jednak myślę, że w nowej serii mogłaby spróbować czegoś innego niż psychopata, który zakochuje się w drugiej osobie od razu, bo jest inna.
December 6, 2025
A Tinder for murderers story was not on my bingo card for 2025 but you know what? hell yeah. you do you 🤌
December 22, 2025
Onley, please say this is the beginning of a new series because I AM SO IN!!!
Imagine the Wages of Sin series and Necessary Evils had a baby…this is such a good story!!
Cade is a contract unaliver who takes out the worst of the worst. When he gets a bonkers message on a dating app, he’s totally intrigued. He also needs an alibi for his next hit, so…win win?
What he doesn’t bargain for is Tris: a beautiful Tasmanian devil of a man with no filter and an…oral fixation. From the second Tris whirls into Cade’s orbit, he knows this one will be different. He’s never wanted anything permanent, but luckily, these two just get each other. And they might just have the most memorable first date ever!
Imagine the Wages of Sin series and Necessary Evils had a baby…this is such a good story!!
Cade is a contract unaliver who takes out the worst of the worst. When he gets a bonkers message on a dating app, he’s totally intrigued. He also needs an alibi for his next hit, so…win win?
What he doesn’t bargain for is Tris: a beautiful Tasmanian devil of a man with no filter and an…oral fixation. From the second Tris whirls into Cade’s orbit, he knows this one will be different. He’s never wanted anything permanent, but luckily, these two just get each other. And they might just have the most memorable first date ever!
January 6, 2026
Such a fun read!
Psychopath hitman x Flirty guy with ADHD & no filter
Insta lust/love
Chemistry for days
Hilarious banter
Spicy time
Hea
Bits that made me giggle ~
Did you seriously tell me to sit and stay in the dining room so you could go murder someone on our date? You did, didn’t you? And I did. I stayed there.” Cade looked around, pulling a face. “Did you, though?”
“Listen. I know you’re big mad, upsetty spaghetti right now. But since you seem really into clarity…full disclosure: yes, I did ask you on this date as my alibi. But I really liked you. Maybe more than any other person I’ve ever met.”
“Would you be sad if I died?” he countered. Tris snorted. “I’m co-dependent. I’ll probably be sad when you take too long in the shower.”
This was my first Onley James book and it’s twisted my arm to read more!!
Psychopath hitman x Flirty guy with ADHD & no filter
Insta lust/love
Chemistry for days
Hilarious banter
Spicy time
Hea
Bits that made me giggle ~
Did you seriously tell me to sit and stay in the dining room so you could go murder someone on our date? You did, didn’t you? And I did. I stayed there.” Cade looked around, pulling a face. “Did you, though?”
“Listen. I know you’re big mad, upsetty spaghetti right now. But since you seem really into clarity…full disclosure: yes, I did ask you on this date as my alibi. But I really liked you. Maybe more than any other person I’ve ever met.”
“Would you be sad if I died?” he countered. Tris snorted. “I’m co-dependent. I’ll probably be sad when you take too long in the shower.”
This was my first Onley James book and it’s twisted my arm to read more!!
December 21, 2025
This was a short book but it had me laughing from start to finish. Every single thing about Tris was perfection. Yeah the plot is crazy but still hilarious. If I have anything negative to say it would be I would have loved for it to be longer. Since it’s such a short book, their relationship is Insta.everything. A longer book could have fleshed it out more.
Some quotes from the book that had me 😂😂
“Tris’s brain clearly took random detours and never bothered to signal.”
“Yeah, yeah. Okay, fine. But just so you know, my smile doesn’t light up a room, my laugh isn’t infectious, I was never the life of the party, and I’ve met many, many strangers. No white woman will ever make a podcast about my murder. I’m not worthy of any press should you be looking for fame and fortune.”
“You’re taking me to a floating museum about a shipwreck that killed fifteen hundred people?” Tris said. “As a first date.” Cade nodded without shame. “Yep.”
“You know, this just fucking figures.”
“What?” Cade asked, feeling like he’d lost the plot.
“I meet this guy who seems cute and nice and doesn’t seem to care about my verbal diarrhea or that I can’t stop moving, and, of course—of course—he’s a fucking serial killer.”
“I feel like we’re past dating now. Let’s just get married.”
Tris snorted. “I’m co-dependent. I’ll probably be sad when you take too long in the shower.”
Some quotes from the book that had me 😂😂
“Tris’s brain clearly took random detours and never bothered to signal.”
“Yeah, yeah. Okay, fine. But just so you know, my smile doesn’t light up a room, my laugh isn’t infectious, I was never the life of the party, and I’ve met many, many strangers. No white woman will ever make a podcast about my murder. I’m not worthy of any press should you be looking for fame and fortune.”
“You’re taking me to a floating museum about a shipwreck that killed fifteen hundred people?” Tris said. “As a first date.” Cade nodded without shame. “Yep.”
“You know, this just fucking figures.”
“What?” Cade asked, feeling like he’d lost the plot.
“I meet this guy who seems cute and nice and doesn’t seem to care about my verbal diarrhea or that I can’t stop moving, and, of course—of course—he’s a fucking serial killer.”
“I feel like we’re past dating now. Let’s just get married.”
Tris snorted. “I’m co-dependent. I’ll probably be sad when you take too long in the shower.”
December 24, 2025
Onley James introducing a new world of vigilantes & the love interests they imprint on - this will be my entire personality as the series progresses, I’m calling it now.
This was a novella to get the series started. The MMCs match on a dating app, and proceed to go on the “best worst first date” except instead of the one night of fun they thought they would have.. they get insane chemistry, feelings, and vigilante shenanigans.
If you love the Mulvaney’s, you will love this. Chefs kiss, Onley!!!!
This was a novella to get the series started. The MMCs match on a dating app, and proceed to go on the “best worst first date” except instead of the one night of fun they thought they would have.. they get insane chemistry, feelings, and vigilante shenanigans.
If you love the Mulvaney’s, you will love this. Chefs kiss, Onley!!!!
December 28, 2025
This was a great short read!! Tris was hilarious and slightly morbid and Cade was unhinged and so down for everything Tris from the first app text he received. I had such a great time reading Tris’ ramblings and watching Cade fall for him a little more with each random vocalized thought. The app text exchange was fun, the attempts to bring Tris comfort were cute and I loved seeing them come together!
December 7, 2025
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ahh, this was so good that it didn’t even feel like it was under 100 pages. The chemistry between Cade and Tris is done so damn well. It had me giggling more times than I can count. I think it's a prequel for a new series, and that is a series I definitely have my eyes on now!
I love the whole idea of an app like Heartstopper. Hitman plus Tinder is a concept that is absolutely unhinged in the best way. This was my first book by Onley James and it definitely will not be my last. Time to move Elite Protection Services up my TBR.
Ahh, this was so good that it didn’t even feel like it was under 100 pages. The chemistry between Cade and Tris is done so damn well. It had me giggling more times than I can count. I think it's a prequel for a new series, and that is a series I definitely have my eyes on now!
I love the whole idea of an app like Heartstopper. Hitman plus Tinder is a concept that is absolutely unhinged in the best way. This was my first book by Onley James and it definitely will not be my last. Time to move Elite Protection Services up my TBR.
December 12, 2025
December 2025
Kindle edition
Unfortunately I read the Mulvany anthology first so for me Cade was just another psychopath added to the mix. Probably should've read this one first. Pretty short. Cade and Tris were pretty much all in and the best bit was their opening texts. Other than that felt like an opening act for the Heartstopper app.
Kindle edition
Unfortunately I read the Mulvany anthology first so for me Cade was just another psychopath added to the mix. Probably should've read this one first. Pretty short. Cade and Tris were pretty much all in and the best bit was their opening texts. Other than that felt like an opening act for the Heartstopper app.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2025
Killer Crush by Onley James
🖤 Strangers to Lovers
🖤 Morally Grey MC
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 ADHD Rep
🖤 Novella
🔥 Food Play (whipped cream)
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Humour: 🤭🤭🤭
Intimacy: 🫂🫂🫂.5
Angst: 🥺🥺
Third person dual pov 👀
Content Warnings
On page: stalking, violence, blood, death, murder, intrusive thoughts (death, suicide)
Mentioned: gambling, human trafficking
🖤 Strangers to Lovers
🖤 Morally Grey MC
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 ADHD Rep
🖤 Novella
🔥 Food Play (whipped cream)
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Humour: 🤭🤭🤭
Intimacy: 🫂🫂🫂.5
Angst: 🥺🥺
Third person dual pov 👀
Content Warnings
On page: stalking, violence, blood, death, murder, intrusive thoughts (death, suicide)
Mentioned: gambling, human trafficking
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2026
A witty and unhinged insta love pairing, between a psychopath hitman, and a flirty no filter guy, both on a date to remember.
Loved their chemistry, banter and flirting, and all the drama and shenanigans.
This is a fun introduction to the series and the underground world of murder and mayhem.
Loved their chemistry, banter and flirting, and all the drama and shenanigans.
This is a fun introduction to the series and the underground world of murder and mayhem.
December 10, 2025
This needs to be a full length novel! Tris was great! I absolutely adore a funny ADHD character.
December 13, 2025
This is what a novella is what supposed to look like! 5 ⭐️ the banter, the crazy worked for me! I could have read 500 pages of these two ☺️
December 17, 2025
Great start
A quick read but left nothing out. Cade and Tris were awesome and Tris with his lack of mouth to brain filter had me laughing.
A quick read but left nothing out. Cade and Tris were awesome and Tris with his lack of mouth to brain filter had me laughing.
December 27, 2025
I love a book with good dialogue! And killing lol. Onley has done it again, can’t wait to get this series ramped up!
January 2, 2026
This novella is the definition of “hey so it actually only has to make sense to me for me to do it and I don’t feel like explaining it to anyone else” and I love that
January 8, 2026
Great read
Fast paced and filled with action, a really fun murder story, with only a little murder and a lot of chaos. Can't wait to read more!!
Fast paced and filled with action, a really fun murder story, with only a little murder and a lot of chaos. Can't wait to read more!!
December 9, 2025
"You made a Tinder for murderers?"
I can always count on Onley James to give me a charming psychopath to love.
I can always count on Onley James to give me a charming psychopath to love.
December 6, 2025
This was such a cute little novella. Idk if cute is the right word because there’s murder and psychopaths involved but the two MCs were cute. Their banter when they first started chatting was so great. There’s not much info on them. We don’t know much about who they are or where they came from but it was a nice palate cleanser. I like that this is the beginning of a new series. I hope this was just the introduction and the other books will be longer!
No cheating, op drama or break up. Insta something. Murder. HEA (not sure if I love yous were exchanged off page but they get married two weeks after meeting)
No cheating, op drama or break up. Insta something. Murder. HEA (not sure if I love yous were exchanged off page but they get married two weeks after meeting)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews