Not the cold eyes of a man who kills for the thrill of it and sleeps like a baby afterward
Until Starling
My son’s girlfriend and my new obsession
She falls into my lap like a wounded bird with broken wings
Branding me with her touch, making me an addict after just one taste
She thinks I’ll give her up once she gives in
But she’s never met a man like me before
And Forbidden Fruit was always my favorite.
He calls me Birdie...
But they know me as Starling.
A strange girl with a pretty name
I’m the orphan everyone pities
A perpetual victim
Until Hudson
He's a monster of his own making
One who crosses all my lines and pushes every limit
He doesn’t want to free me; he wants to cage me
And if I resist, he’ll destroy the only boy I’ve ever loved.
After all, monsters don’t win hearts
They steal them.
Author note: There are no heroes in this story, no sweet declarations of love or hard-earned redemption arcs. But then, some girls don’t need a hero to save them; they need a villain willing to burn right along with them.
I went into this audiobook thinking I had everything figured out… and I have never been happier to be wrong.
Commit completely flipped my expectations. Pete always seemed like the quiet, polished background character in the earlier books, but here we finally see who he really is — obsessive, morally gray, and absolutely unhinged in a way that makes this story impossible to pause. The moment Starling enters his world, everything spirals into a dark, intense, and addictive ride filled with power plays, dangerous devotion, and emotional chaos.
This is not a sweet love story. There are no shining heroes or perfect redemption arcs. Instead, it dives deep into obsession, control, trauma, and the messy side of love. It’s gritty, uncomfortable at times, and completely consuming. If you love dark romance with high stakes, twisted tension, and characters who blur every moral line, this story delivers in every possible way.
The twists kept coming, the suspense never slowed, and just when I thought I had pieced everything together, the story proved me wrong again. The layered side plots and interconnected relationships added so much depth, making the world feel complex and immersive. Definitely check the trigger warnings before diving in.
The audiobook experience took everything to another level. The full-cast, multi-POV, duet-style narration made it feel cinematic and incredibly immersive.
Production by Bluenose Audio was flawless, with seamless sound design and pacing that elevated every scene.
The narrators delivered powerful, emotionally charged performances that truly brought the characters to life. Each voice felt distinct and perfectly matched to their role, adding intensity, vulnerability, and depth that made the listening experience unforgettable. This cast didn’t feel like background support — it felt like an all-star performance from start to finish.
Overall, this audiobook was dark, gripping, emotionally intense, and impossible to stop once it started. If you’re an audiobook lover who enjoys morally gray characters, obsessive anti-heroes, and stories that keep you on edge until the very last chapter, this one is absolutely worth the listen.
Commit is the third audiobook in Candice Wright’s dark romance series, Death in Bloom. This is an age gap, forced proximity, forbidden romance with mafia/hitman vibes. Definitely check the triggers before listening. The MMC, Hudson, is certainly morally black but also somewhat of an enigma. He married and had two sons at a very young age. After he and his wife divorced, he completely cut ties with his young sons to keep them protected from his life as a paid assassin yet took care of them very well financially. When his ex-wife dies, he not only brings his youngest son, Abbot, to live with him in order to finish high school but also takes in his sons’ step-sister, Starling. She is about to turn eighteen, and is also sort of dating his son. Hudson is instantly obsessed with Starling, and once she turns eighteen, all bets are off. He is determined to have her, no matter who or what stands in his way. He is objectively not a good man but is completely devoted to Starling, whether she wants him to be or not. Meanwhile, Hudson is also trying to track down a serial killer who’s leaving bodies practically at his door. So, he’s got a lot going on. This is a slightly taboo and completely unhinged type of romance. But it will definitely keep you hooked from start to finish, and the intensity never lets up. I loved every minute of it!
The full-cast, duet-style narration for this audiobook is absolutely second to none. The main characters are voiced by Raven Wildewood and James Cassidy, while the secondary characters are voiced by Corvin King, Bryant Walker, and Andi Eloise. Every single one of these incredibly talented voice actors go above and beyond in bringing this deliciously dark story to life. They made this story and these characters feel real to me, and I completely hung on their every word.
Commit is dark, twisted, and incredibly addictive from start to finish. Candice doesn’t hold back on the darker side of romance, and this story fully embraces it. Hudson is the epitome of morally black—cold, obsessive, and unapologetically dangerous. The forbidden relationship between him and Starling creates a tense atmosphere that is extra ❤️🔥
The writing is excellent, and it’s packed with the dark elements I’ve come to adore from Candice. There’s manipulation, obsession, forbidden romance, and so much more! (dub/con woven throughout, so definitely check the trigger warnings before diving in!) And just when you think you know where the story is going, the plot twist completely surprises you.
The multicast audiobook was absolutely perfect. Raven Wildwood, Andie Eloise, Bryant Walker, Corvin King, and James Cassidy all deliver incredible performances that bring the story to life. And James Cassidy’s deep, gravelly voice as Hudson? Chills❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥 It adds such a dark, menacing edge to the character and makes the listening experience even better.
If you’re a fan of dark romance with morally complex characters, twisted dynamics, and stories that don’t try to save their villains, this one delivers!
Thank you to @bluenoseaudio and @authorcandicewright for sending me an ALC to review!
In Commit, Candice Wright delivers a dark, high-stakes age-gap romance that masterfully blends mafia-inspired tension with a deliciously taboo premise. As the third installment in the Death in Bloom series, this story centers on "Daddy" Hudson and Starling, navigating a relationship that is as unhinged as it is addictive. The "he stole his son’s girlfriend" trope is executed with an extra layer of flair here, creating a "swoon-worthy" dynamic where even the supporting characters, like Atlas, are actively hyping up the pursuit.
The multicast performance truly elevates the experience, featuring a powerhouse lineup including Raven Wildewood, Andi Eloise, Corvin King, Bryant Walker, and James Cassidy. James Cassidy perfectly captures Hudson’s commanding presence, while Raven Wildewood is a standout as Starling. She expertly balances Starling’s inherent vulnerability with a sharp, hard edge that makes her feel authentic and multi-dimensional. Having a full cast brings a cinematic quality to the suspenseful plot, making the "who-done-it" mystery even more gripping.
While I absolutely loved this book when reading it - once again this full cast blew it out of the park with the production of this audio!
Commit is everything I love in a forbidden (son’s girlfriend) age-gap romance ❤️🔥! With everything I love about Candice Wright’s wicked twists and turns - spicy HAF scenes- and dark humor. Then add - James Cassidy as Pete/Hudson & Raven Wildewood as Birdie/Starling this book only gets better. These characters are wild and unhinged- and I love them. Raven does a wonderful job of making Sterling's personality of vulnerability- yet her harder edge comes through.
Yes! Yes! YES! We get daddy Hudson’s story in Commit! Get your headphones charged because we get a full cast with Raven Wildewood (Birdie/Starling), Andi Eloise (Ivy), Bryant Walker (Kenzo), Corvin King (Atlas) and James Cassidy (Pete/Hudson). Commit is a dark and delicious age gap romance with mafia vibes and suspense. I would even say a bit taboo since Starling is Hudson’s son’s girlfriend. The book was so hot and I loved how Atlas was hyping Hudson up to take what he wants! Swoon!!!! I loved the suspense aspect of Commit, and I never would have guessed who was behind it all! Most definitely a 5 star book!