The Villain We Tempt

Dark Descendants #2

by Jagger Cole

One elite mafia college, four shadowy secret societies, and the ruthless dark-hearted heirs of legends.
Your acceptance letter to the most dangerous campus in the world is on the way...

My parents think I'm the perfect daughter.
To Knightsblood University, I’m the sweet little mafia princess.
But to a million strangers on BookTok, I’m the masked “Velvet Villainess”: the mysterious woman who convinces innocent readers that fictional psychopaths make perfectly reasonable boyfriend material.
If I’m being real, the strangers might know me best.
My double life is going great…until a masked stranger ripped straight from the pages of one of my own spicy books catches me filming.
The Ghost Prince is the internet’s favorite unhinged book boyfriend, cosplaying every morally gray, dangerously obsessive red flag I've ever swooned over behind a mask of his own.
And now he knows my dirtiest secret.
He says he won't expose me. But instead, he decides to keep me.
I should be terrified.
Unfortunately, I'm into that.
There's just one tiny complication.
Ghost isn’t just an anonymous masked fantasy.
He’s Lochlan Kildare. Campus royalty. Shameless flirt. My insufferably cocky and outrageously gorgeous teaching assistant.
The man I'd happily watch fall down a flight of stairs.
Which is a problem, because I might be falling for him.
Too bad I'm also falling for the masked stranger with his fingers around my neck.
I just don’t know they’re the same man.
Some villains hide behind masks.
Mine wears two.

The Villain We Tempt is a fully standalone dark college romance. No previous books in the Jagger Cole Universe need to be read before diving into this book or series. Readers are highly advised to read the TW inside.

Genres: Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, College Romance

647 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 28, 2026

About the author

A reader first and foremost, Jagger Cole cut his romance writing teeth penning various fan-fiction stories years ago. After deciding to hang up his writing boots, Jagger worked in advertising pretending to be Don Draper. It worked enough to convince a woman way out of his league to marry him, though, which is a total win.

Now, Dad to two little princesses and King to a Queen, Jagger is thrilled to be back at the keyboard.

When not writing or reading romance books, he can be found woodworking, enjoying good whiskey, and grilling outside—rain or shine.

You can find all of his books at www.jaggercolewrites.com


Grab a FREE book for joining my fans-only newsletter! -> https://dl.bookfunnel.com/8rld1ik3sd

Reviews

[Anja · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️|3🌶️

Did I binge this book in one sitting today as soon as it hit my kindle? Yes. Yes I did 🤣

I had such a good time reading this ! I absolutely loved the fact that both Lochlan and Galina were masked creators. It made their dynamic so much fun to read. Lochlan is completely obsessed with her and I loved that he never tried to hide it. Galina however has built so many walls behind her alter ego, so watching Lochlan show her that she is seen and loved behind the mask was literally everything 🥹

Oh and we alsooooo got daddy Castle glimpses! I was living for them. He’s my OG Jagger MMC and I didn’t realize how much I’d missed him.

As usual, the spice was excellent and the banter was hilarious🤣I seriously can’t wait for book 3 and the rest of the series! Thank you so much Jagger Cole & VPR for this ARC🩷

[Melissa]

This cover 💚

My moneys on Lochlan & Galina

[Alex Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Valentine PR and Jagger Cole for providing me with an ARC of The Villain We Tempt (Dark Descendants, #2) in exchange for an honest and spoiler-free review.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Jagger Cole has done it again in the second installment of this delicious, wonderful second-generation series! He set the bar quite high with Achilles and Yelena, and did not disappoint!

This story follows Lochlan Kildare (son of Castle Kildare and Callie Kildare/Drakos) and Galina Nikitin (daughter of Roman Nikitin and Val Bancroft). Set in the exciting college of Knightblood, a school for the children of mafia families, Galina is a psych student, and Lochlan is the TA for one of her classes. (TA or professor..haha). Galina has the typical inexperienced good-girl persona, and Lochlan is the school's star wide receiver and second in his class, only to Achilles. I loved the banter they had at first, and Lochlan, my sweet boy, was coming out VERY strong on his infatuation.

Both of the main characters in this book possess a secret online identity-- The Velvet Villainess and The Ghost Prince. They have both quickly become sensations for their risque TikTok content on the Knightsblood campus. Galina is also a spicy romance reader!!! #represent. They get entrapped in a push-and-pull type of relationship. After a spicy night in the library, Galina gets caught by the Ghost Prince when filming content, yet she has no idea who his real identity is. I actually applaud the author for having this unique storyline and STAYING with it. There was no insta reveal, and I never felt like the plot plateaued.

The Ghost Face is quite literally OBSESSED with Galina and is willing to cross any boundary--stalking, tracking, you name it-- just to keep an eye on his girl. I loved feeling the tension between the two of them build up, and slowly see the characters' carefully placed masks and personas reveal their true selves. Boy, is he so HOT...yet a sweetie pie to Galina at the same time. Yes, they do share some DARK and steamy nights together, but he always takes the greatest care of Galina, and to be honest, who doesn't love a sweet, morally GREY mmc??

Of course, it would not be a real, glowing review of a Jagger Cole book without acknowledging the rest of the characters featured throughout! I love how the author adds tidbits of the future couples, leaving me salivating for more. (No wonder Jagger Cole is always an INSTA READ for me.) I cannot wait for my queen Bella's book because she is such a badass. And let's not forget the cutest dynamic between Galina and her girls, all daughters of the couples from The Darkest Dance series. Also, honorable mention to the Roman and Val scene at the restaurant...I was giggling so bad.

Tropes:
- masked identities
- virgin/good girl fmc
- stalking and morally BLACK mmc
- secret relationship

Can't wait for more from Jagger Cole, and thank you again to the author and Valentine PR for this arc!

[Nicola Reynoldson (nics_timetoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all I would like to thank the author for gifting me this ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5

Did I love book two in this series? Absolutely. Did I expect the spice to be this good knowing it was written by a man? Yes… and no. What surprised me even more was the emotional depth of the MMC. Jagger Cole doesn’t just write a morally grey hero—he gives him genuine vulnerability and growth, and it’s incredibly refreshing.

The Villain We Tempt follows Galina, the perfect mafia princess on the outside but secretly the masked “Velvet Villainess” on BookTok, where she passionately convinces millions that fictional psychopaths make perfectly reasonable book boyfriends. Her double life is going perfectly… until another masked creator, the Ghost Prince, discovers her identity. Except Ghost isn’t just an anonymous online fantasy—he’s Lochlan Kildare, her cocky, gorgeous teaching assistant and campus golden boy.

What unfolds is a relationship built on secrets, hidden identities, mutual attraction, and emotional healing as both Galina and Lochlan confront their fears, insecurities, and the personas they’ve created online.

I loved how Jagger Cole incorporated BookTok into the story without making it feel gimmicky. It almost becomes a character in its own right, exploring validation, anonymity, and the way social media shapes identity.

One of my favourite lines from Galina perfectly captures the reading journey so many romance readers can relate to:

“The cliché would be to say that my first forays into romance books were vanilla, and I ended up in rocky road.”

Honestly… same.

Another standout moment comes from Lochlan as he reflects on chasing online validation:

“For once, I found something that fills that emptiness inside me in a way I’ve never had before. Not with all the followers in the world. Not with all the fucking likes, and comments and random girls and meaningless, empty bullshit.”

I really appreciated how the author wove modern issues like social media addiction, online personas, and the search for genuine connection into what could have simply been another dark college romance. Beneath all the chemistry and spice is a story about acceptance, vulnerability, and finding someone who sees every version of you.

The chemistry between Galina and Lochlan is electric, the banter is fun, the spice definitely delivers, but it’s the emotional payoff that makes this book stand out.

This is a standalone set within an interconnected world, so you can jump in without reading the previous books. If you’re looking for a dark college romance with masked identities, mafia vibes, plenty of tension, and surprisingly heartfelt character development, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Constance Haske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jagger Cole pays swoon-worthy tribute to dark romance content creators in book two of his second gen dark college/Mafia series. The Velvet Villainess (Galina) and The Ghost Prince (Lachlan) are two masked viral booktok content creators. They also happen to be students at the prestigious Knightsblood University (Harvard for criminal families). His secret persona is the epitome of every walking red flag book boyfriend she's ever obsessed over, and she's simply his obsession.

They meet-cute as she accidentally reveals her secret identity to his alter ego when they both happen to choose the same off-limits locale to shoot content. He's immediately enthralled and she decides to take this opportunity to explore her sexuality outside of societal expectations - which, up until now, she's only been able to do through books and her videos.

There's so much to love about this book (and the series in general). As someone who reads dark romance, I appreciated Galina's exploration regarding what red flags she was willing to accept in her fantasy life and role play, but had to draw the line at when they bled over into real life. Conversely, Lachlan's online, ego-feeding persona feels purposely one dimensional. Pretty sure that this is a metaphorical representation of how society views Lachlan in his real life - the pretty boy jock, riding the coattails of his infamous family. In reality, this surface-level conclusion is proven false time and again through his actions, devotion, and inner monologue. Yet his reputation earns him a lack of sympathy when the true villain of the story is revealed.

As a long time Jagger Cole reader, seeing previous book couples as parents is so gratifying, especially Roman and Val. Their HEA was hard-won, at times devastating, and seeing them as over-the-top protective dads was absolutely on brand and delightful. I love how Galina is continuing the Billy Joel obsession! I hope that as the series progresses, we continue to get these cameos.

I am completely buckled up and locked in for this new generation series and I can't wait to see where it goes!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Galina has a secret. For the past several months, she has donned a mask to adopt the persona of the Velvet Villainess, a BookTok superstar with a huge following. She doesn’t want those in her life to know her secret identity, but one night while filming, she is discovered by none other than the Ghost Prince, another masked BookTok star, who makes her reveal her deepest desires. While he knows her true identity, she doesn’t know his, and the thrill of that secrecy makes their rendez-vous even more delicious. As she tries to uncover the man behind the mask, she finds herself wanting something real with him, but is afraid that becoming real will ruin what they have.

Lochlan has never been a one-woman man, but from the moment he discovered Galina’s secret, she is the only woman he has been able to see. The only reason he became the Ghost Price was to bask in adoration, but as his encounters with his “little villain” become more real, the rest begins to feel hollow. While he is prepared to bring their relationship to the light, he knows Galina is worried about how his past will reflect on her, and as she catches on to the depth of his obsession, he’s afraid he might lose her before they can even have a chance.

I received an early copy of this book from @Valentine_Pr_ and it was everything I had hoped and more! I loved the anonymity of Galina and Lochlan’s relationship, in that it allowed Galina to overcome her insecurities and bring her fantasies to life in a safer way. Although Lochlan took his obsession with her to the next level, it was clear early on how smitten he was with her (even if it took his head awhile to catch up on what his heart and body were already telling him), and every decision he made from that point was about putting her first. While he knew who she was all along, watching her fall for both sides of him made the story even better. I loved Galina’s relationship with her fathers, and having the Daddy Castle moments with Lochlan were also icing on this very dark and delicious cake.

[thehopelesslybookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tropes:

- Masked Hero
- Booktoker FMC
- Dark Academia
- Enemies to Lovers
- He „watches“ her
- Touch her and 💀


Galina and Lochlan belong to different groups at Knightsblood University, a university where the heirs of mafia families study.

They also have secret online identities as the masked BookToker and the masked Book Boyfriend. When Lochlan discovers Galina’s identity, a thrilling game of secrets begins.

The romance is hot, the banter is hilarious, and the emotions run deep. This author always delivers an engaging story with a strong plot and unexpected twists.

Lochlan falls first—and falls hard. His relentless pursuit of Galina made his obsession with her impossible to ignore.

Watching Galina slowly learn to trust both Lochlan and herself was heartwarming.

It was so endearing to get a peek into Val and Roman’s life. It instantly reminded me how much I loved their story. If you haven’t read it yet, be sure to check out Dance of Defiance.

One thing I really enjoy about this series is that, alongside the main story, there are other storylines unfolding in the background, which kept me hooked from beginning to end.

It was also fun meeting and getting little glimpses of the other potential couples. I’m already excited to read their stories!

Check TW!

Fav Quotes:

“For once, I have something that fills that emptiness inside me in a way I've never had before.“

„There is no one else up here”…he taps his temple…“or in here”…his hand drops to his heart…“but you.”

Thank you Valentine PR and Jagger Cole for ARC

This is the second book in the interconnected Darkest Descendants series, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone.

[Destiney Ellerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you VPR and Jagger for this ebook ARC, all opinions are my own.

I am really loving this series. Its a dark college romance where most of the students are children of mafia families. This story follows the FMC Galina, and MMC Lochlan who are both popular masked booktokers who manage to cross paths one ight at a party and Galina's identity is exposed to Lochlan. This is where their story together starts and it is MESSY. Although I did really enjoy the story overall, I was surprised that I didn't like the FMC as much as I originally thought I was going to based off the story line. There was something that I just couldn't connect with and I'm not 100% why. I think there were choices that Galina makes that didn't feel super genuine to her character with the info we were given, I feel like there was a layer to her that got left out and it created a bit of a disconnect for me.

Lochlan was a perfect stalker obsessed MMC. I loved that he literally tattled on himself numerous times, I actually lol'd. 😂

Also major plot development at 94% 🫨🫣 The way I GASPED. Absolutely loved it. Another I love about this series is how they are all standalones but you get glimpses of the other characters storylines because they're happening at the same time too. Its a fun way to connect them all ad getting to see scenes from different point of view.

[Caylee T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book!

Galina & Lochlan were so dang hot together. Especially when you add in the masks & “hidden identities”. That just adds to the hotness factor.

Galina & Lochlan both have secrets that they don’t want anyone finding out about.

But when Lochlan learns that her secret matches his, he immediately becomes obsessed with her. And man is it a walking red flag but….is it really that bad?

The two of them have their heated moments before she finally starts putting together who her masked prince is & to say she is shocked would be an understatement.

There is plenty of back & forth with owning up to their secrets & plenty of him messing up multiple times & her feeling violated.

But they manage to work things out & are in the start of their new beginning. Unfortunately someone comes in to try & ruin that for them but it was a quick moment that had me edge but so happy it worked out for them.

This was definitely a very intense & hot book especially when Booktok & Masktok got thrown in there. It man was it all so worth it.

I absolutely loved these two & I can’t wait to see who’s next because I have a couple feelings about who may be paired up next.

Absolutely amazing job!

[Ariel LaFollette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Jagger Cole and to Valentine PR for the opportunity to read an ARC copy of this book. 🖤🖤🖤

THIS FUCKING BOOK!!!!!! The capacity for which this book is no joke CHANGING THE FUCKING GAME I cannot scream about it enough. This book was literal proof that the dark romance community is where it’s fucking AT. Being a dark romance reader and getting to read this book was truly a special treat. Lochlan and Galina absolutely snuck up on me and I loved their dynamic so so so much. Everything about this book was what I needed and more. This was a PERFECT addition to The Devil We Crave and also a perfect addition in way of what’s to come for this series. If you’re already a Jagger Cole fan this book will absolutely keep you fed and if you’re new to Jagger Cole then this book will 100% hook you no questions asked.

Lochlan was not my traditional type of book boyfriend but his dynamic with Galina is absolutely SWOON worthy. And GALINA is such a fucking badass (no surprises there given who her parents are). The cameos were GOD TIER. Everything about this book was perfect.

6 stars. 10/10. No fucking notes. Just praise from the absolute bottom of my heart to this book. 🙌🏻🖤

[Zuley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 STARS

did I inhale The Villain We Tempt in less than two days? YEP.
Jagger made this book specifically for the BookTok and MaskTok girlies and he came to feed us. I had a blast reading this book, with every Jagger book the spice is MOUTH WATERING and will leave you panting.

What I did not expect was the emotion and love behind Lochlan and Galina's story. Between fighting their jealousy and fears to fully accepting each other. I loved how much of a consent king Lochlan was and how much he wanted to make Galina his good girl. Another freaking banger, I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in the series as Jagger did an amazing job at feeding us crumbs and planting the seeds for the rest of the couples.

Thank you of much to Valentine PR and Jagger Cole for the privilege of being an ARC reader for this. I had a freaking ball with their story and again you made this for the BookTok girlies and we appreciate it.

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do i wipe my memories so i can read this book again for the first time?!

INCREDIBLE. PERFECT. MY NEW OBSESSION.

Seriously i want this book permanently engraved in my brain.

it give me all the feels- i laughed, i cried, i giggled and screamed.

Lochlan and Galina - MY HEART OMG my new favorite couple.

Lochlan THE MAN THAT YOU ARE - did i find my new favorite stalker?! This is the kind of obsession i want in my books and LOCHLAN DELIVERED AND I ATE IT THE FUCK UP.

Galina is freaking incredible. She’s so smart and strong and she’s the kind of FMC that i love so much. and the way her character and her love for dark romance was written…i don’t think i have ever related to a character more than her.

The chemistry between these two was chef’s kiss.

The Spice - YES I DEVOURED IT, Swear no one writes is as perfectly as Jagger Cole does.

The little breadcrumbs we got for the next couple - I’M DOWN BAD FOR THESE

[lettheinkleaveitsmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

First of all, the way Lochlan is so obsessed with Galina is so sweet — yes, I said obsessed and sweet in the same sentence, and when you read the book you’ll get it. The boy falls for her and falls hard. And we love that.

Second, the characters are masked creators, and both have internal battles about their online persona and their real lives, and how to deal with them as the relationship evolves. Their struggles are so well narrated. And there are some AMAZING quotes about love and trust that I’ll definitely post once the book goes live. They really stood out to me.

Of course the spice is top notch chef’s kiss perfect, specially if you like masked MMCs 🫠

And I loved seeing cameos of the parents, particularly Val & Roman (they’re one of my favorite couples ever).

I can’t wait to see who next couple of the next book is! Thank you to Valentine PR and Jagger Cole for the eARC.

[Jeraca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I barely put this book down, I was so engrossed by it! I love how addicting Jagger Cole's books are and how they always get me out of a book slump!

Galina and Lochlan are *chef's kiss* together. You wouldn't think so on surface level but with their alter egos, they both deep down enjoy the same things. I was amazed at how long an identity was kept from the other one. I definitely couldn't be in their shoes cause I would want to know immediately!

The smark and sass between these two were great along with the intense chemistry! I'm not sure how either are keeping their online identity a secret from their friends, but it seems to work for both of them.

I was also a bit surprised that this book happened at the same time as book 1 in this series, so kudos to Jagger for, I'm sure, the meticulous notes that had to be kept to keep the same time line!

So glad this book had beef created and we got this delicious unhinged book from this author! Can't wait for the next couple!

[Reading is escaping reality · Rating 5 out of 5]

From start to finish I was completely GONE for this!! They will keep you completely obsessed with them and the way they gather each others attention! I mean, the first house and the room that was off limits absolutely hot! This was so good!!!! I can’t wait for more to come with this series!!!


“How she wants to have me come on her face and then walk across campus without cleaning it off. I mean… marry me?”

“There is no one else,” he snarls, tapping his temple as his eyes glint into mine. “Not here. And not here,” he growls, tapping his heart. “There never was. Then I met you, and now I know there will never be anyone but⁠—”


“I didn’t realize it was act like a cunt for no reason week.”

“I love you' is not super glue. It’s not a tool.”


I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review

[Kali Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I love Lochlan even more than Achilles. It's interesting bc despite the stalking/k!nk in the book, it actually does read like the emotional level of college students trying to figure themselves out and their first relationship out. Lochlan is a man obsessed...and Galina loves that and hates that and can't quite figure it out. They both have dark booktok personas which feels like a fun way for the book to almost point back at itself and the way dark romance/booktok culture has blown up. Galina gets a bit insecure at times but Lochlan is steady all the way through it and surprisingly insightful and caring. The book follows the similar timeline of the first one - so they happen at the same times which is always fun to read scenes again from another couple's angle. Im excited for the rest of the series

[Katja | BookedByKatja · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐4

I ATE THIS BOOK UP!! 🖤

The whole anonymous BookTok creator thing had me in a CHOKEHOLD the entire time. I mean… I'm OBSESSED!!! And the fact that they were both masked creators? ABSOLUTELY UNHINGED🤌

Lochlan... THIS. MAN. Total MENACE 🖤His banter with Galina was hilarious and their chemistry?? I WAS EATING THAT UP. The spice? As usual Jagger ABSOFREAKINGLUTELY DELIVERED🔥

🖤 Mafia Romance
🖤 Kinks
🖤 College
🖤 Romantic Suspense
🖤 Stalking

Jagger DID IT AGAIN and I cannot wait for the next one🖤

💌 I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

[Lila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a spicy read. I love Lochlan and Galina and their conversations are hilarious! I saved so many quotes from the book! I like how low-stakes the story was, which makes sense since they’re still in college. Bella is my favorite side character. I love the found family between the characters. The scenes with the parents were so good! The conversations were humorous if you know what I mean.

[Larissa Heller · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Sarah | sarah.onemorechapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mafia connoisseur never lets me down👌🏼
Full RTC!
•mafia romance
•second gen
•stalking
•hidden identity