Book picks similar to
Playing With Knives by A.J. Merlin
reverse-harem
rh
dark
standalone
Between
Katie May - 2019
The liars and the psychopaths.Everybody at the school is hiding behind a mask, including the professors. They say monsters roam the halls of this academy at night, and I think...I think they might be right.
Their Captive
J.L. Beck - 2019
Hard, completely ruthless, and savage as hell, they’re one of the scariest, most dangerous group of criminals in New York. I know this because I’ve seen them all over the news. Everyone is afraid of them, questioning their next move, wondering who their next target will be. They never leave a witness, and no one has ever seen their faces… Until me… I’m not sure why they chose my house out of a million other ones but one look tells me they never expected me to be there and now that I’ve seen their faces, witnessed their crimes there won’t be any escaping them… Taken. Owned. Possessed. They offer me pleasure in place of pain if I vow to be there’s, but escaping from their clutches has always been the plan. Now that I’ve seen the men beneath the masks will I able to escape them? Or have I already fallen for my captors? **This is a dark reverse harem novella, with some bad boy criminals. There is NO cheating, NO cliffhanger, and it has a nice sticky sweet HEA. Get ready, and hang onto your seat babes. This one hot as hell. No M/M action, these brothers are all about the leading lady."
Angel
K.M. Raya - 2020
They call themselves The Brotherhood. Carter, Holden, Captain and Ellis rule the school like gods while their fathers rule the city. But Angel Valentino has never been one to take orders blindly. After her father, one of the most feared and infamous mobsters on the East Coast sends her to Seaside California, Angel finds herself entangled in a web of love, lies, death and darkness.Being in the Brotherhood comes with a heavy price and an unshakable legacy that spans generations. They don't like this baffling new girl who threatens to turn their world inside out. She might just be the most beautiful, most darkly alluring girl any of them have ever laid eyes on, with a heart of steel and intellect well beyond her years, but Angel has secrets too... and in their world, secrets get you killed.Disclaimer: This is a why choose, RH title in which one woman has multiple love interests and does not have to choose. 18+ due to graphic sexual and violent situations and strong language. Be advised that this book contains situations that can be possibly triggering for some readers. This is a strongly worded novel filled with bullying, Mafia violence, questionable morals and a love that's so dark and twisted, you might want to read it while you're home alone.
Red Handed
Kate King - 2021
Name your price.”At twenty-three, you would think I could say no to being traded to the enemy, but that’s not how life works when you grow up in an organized crime family. I consider myself lucky to have grown up at all.Ten years ago, my brother was murdered in the gang war that split the city of St. Adrian down the middle. My family took the South Side, and the North Side went to them. The Gentlemen.Now the leader of the Gentlemen is asking for my help and my father has been nice enough to agree to his terms. In exchange for my sister’s protection, I need to cross the divide and live with the family that killed my brother.Too bad I’ve never been great at playing nice.Nico, Beck and Rush are the enemy. The leaders of the Gentlemen. They’re conceited, lying, murderous assholes and they’re the reason I’ve been trained all my life to cheat, steal, and shoot my way to the top.I’m ready to take them down from the inside. I just hope they don’t get to me first. After all, a truce between two enemies is a promise waiting to be broken.Red Handed is an enemies to lovers contemporary mafia romance where the female main character will end up with multiple love interests by the end of the series. All the characters are in their mid-twenties. There are dark themes and graphic violence, but no bullying or violence toward the main character. This is book one of three.
Handfuls of Shattered Pieces
Kerry Taylor - 2020
With no memory of how, she has now escaped and finds herself running for her life, fleeing eight years of darkness, pain and silence, suddenly terrified by every sound and movement around her. Rescued by police, she finds the life she left behind long gone. Instead, surrounded by a world she now has very little knowledge or experience of, she is lost, scared and alone, drowning in a sea of harrowing flashbacks and soul destroying nightmares. Just when her terrifying memories threaten to pull her under for good, a light appears, in the shape of Dr Xander King. He has been where she is, scared and alone and he wants to do all he can to help her, including bringing her into the amazing family that, years earlier, had rescued him. In a home she does not know or want, Olivia finds a family she didn't realise she needed, and four men who will forever change her life. They do all they can to show her the way out of the terrifying darkness and into the light, and to help her discover who she is now that she is free. Kade, Kyle, Cole and Matt all have dark pasts of their own, which they still fight every day to survive, but they are determined to show Olivia that together, they can all find a way to repair their shattered pieces and find some happiness. But with the kidnapper's whereabouts unknown, and a serial killer lose on the streets of Chicago, keeping Olivia safe is their first priority. This proves harder than they ever thought, when it becomes obvious Olivia is the key to stopping a series of brutal murders. Now they must do all they can to protect the woman they are all falling fast for, from the evils of this world.This is a reverse harem story with one woman and four loving, protective men. It is the first book in the Pieces of Us series.
Hard Limits
Suki Williams - 2021
Now, I’ve got a life for myself, and I even like it most of the time, but a favor owed to my boss/ex-lover is about to mess all of that up.Her husband’s become a problem, and when the team of men she’s hired can’t seal the deal, I’m brought in for some assistance. What a fucking mess. Especially since the team consists of my favorite client, his brother, my roommate, and my roommate’s boyfriend.When the shitstorm of my present starts to collide a bit too much with my past, I’ve got to hope my skills are sharp enough to keep me in one piece.There’s an unexpected danger that’s found me once again, but lucky for me, I’ve always thrived in the darkness.Trigger warning: non con, dub con, BDSM scenes, a torture scene, and other adult material that people could find triggering.
Shadowed Heart
Candace Wondrak - 2021
Payback. Chaos. If you’re looking for a story about unicorns and rainbows, this ain’t it. Now, if you’re in the mood for something a little psychotic and a whole lot crazy, then you’re in the right place. I’m Lola Harding. My parents used to call me their angel, but they’re dead now. For the last few years, I’ve made a name for myself—the Night Slayer. I stalk the clubs and make sure anyone with greedy hands and stupid ideas is permanently taken off the streets. One night I happen to kill the son of a crime lord, and then everything changes. They’re going to kill me, I know, but until they do, I’m to be their pet, wear their leash, and do whatever they say. The Lucianos are a family full of psychos and hatred… and I just might fit in better than I ever did anywhere else. And as a bonus? The other sons are the handsome and dangerous type, and even though they despise me for what I did to their brother, even though there might not be any light left for me at the end of this tunnel… I plan to enjoy the ride. Buckle up, b*tches, because it’s about to get wild. **Shadowed Heart is the first in a planned trilogy. It is an RH/Why Choose series, meaning there are multiple love interests, steamy scenes, and some things you might find triggering: violence, mentions of abuse, etc.**
Share Me
Ker Dukey - 2019
Keep me safe. But none of us are safe against the allure we have when we're together. Control and professionalism used to be something they prided themselves on. But now that we're secluded and alone, lines blur and control quickly loses to need. Someone is trying to snuff out my life, but they may not get the chance if I’m devoured whole by my saviors first. This is a fiery-hot mfmmm romance sure to make you self-combust! A perfect combination of sweet and sexy with a smidgen of suspense! You'll get a happy ending that'll make you swoon! This is not a dark romance.
Black Sheep
Meghan March - 2019
Every family has a black sheep. In the infamous Casso crime family, that black sheep is me—Cannon Freeman. Except I’m not a free man. I’ve never been free. Not since the day I was born. I owe my loyalty to my father, Dominic Casso, even if he won’t publicly acknowledge me as his blood. I’ve never had a reason to go against his wishes… until I met her. Drew Carson turned my world upside when she walked into my club looking for a job. Now, my honor and my life are on the line. Going against my father’s wishes might buy me a bullet straight from his gun, but black sheep or not, it’s time to make my stand. She's worth the fallout.
Blood to Dust
L.J. Shen - 2016
Me.His name is Nate and I should hate him, but I don't.I'm not supposed to know his real name, even worse, I'm not supposed to care. He is nothing to me but means to an end. The plan is simple: break free, collect the pieces of my broken soul, kill the bastards and run away.His name is Nathaniel Thomas Vela, and I've never seen his face, though I hear that it's beautiful.Behind the rugged and handsome exterior, there's a quiet murderer, a killer who thinks guns are for pussies and ends people with his bare hands.His name doesn't matter, neither does his face, but what does matter is my heart. And right now, sadly, it's his.
Blood to Dust is a standalone, full-length novel. It contains graphic violence and adult situations some may find offensive.
Six Degrees of Lust
Taylor V. Donovan - 2011
This means there are several point of views and the story will continue. Thanks.New York City FBI team leader Samuel Shaughnessy lives for his immediate family and his job. After a marriage gone wrong he has stuck to a firm rule when it comes to relationships: he doesn't have them. Sexually active and emotionally unavailable keeps him satisfied, especially now that he is in hot pursuit of a serial killer targeting gay men.Former firefighter Machlan O'Bannon now manages a successful sports bar in Houston and after years of waiting he's ready to stand up and be the man he always wanted to be: out, proud and drama-free. His politically-aligned family wants to keep him locked in the closet, but Mac just wants to meet the man of his dreams.One man is as high strung as the other is laid back. A chance meeting brings the two men together, and one night of passion ignites a fire neither can fight. Their lives are not only miles apart, but as different as day and night. They don't want to get involved...but will they be able to stay apart?
Passion & Venom
S. Williams - 2016
Respect. Wealth.He is a savage beast of a man - dominant in every way.Soon after, he makes you an offer that you can't refuse.All you have do is submit to him, and in return you won't be punished.He will reward you handsomely.But if you disobey, you must be prepared to face the consequences.What do you do when the most wanted man in the world . . . wants you?**Please Note: This story contains dark elements that may not be suitable for everyone. If you are sensitive to darker matters or if they make you feel uncomfortable in anyway, please consider that before reading Passion & Venom. I will be the first person to tell you that this story is NOT for everyone. To all the others that are eager to read it . . . The Jefe awaits.**
Blackwood
Celia Aaron - 2017
It’s what I do. I’ll literally use a shovel to answer a question. Some answers, though, have been buried too deep for too long. But I’ll find those, too. And I know where to dig—the Blackwood Estate on the edge of the Mississippi Delta. Garrett Blackwood is the only thing standing between me and the truth. A broken man—one with desires that dance in the darkest part of my soul—he’s either my savior or my enemy. I’ll dig until I find all his secrets. Then I’ll run so he never finds mine. The only problem? He likes it when I run.Author’s Note: This is a standalone mystery/suspense romance with violence and explicit/intense sex. If you need a trigger warning, then this isn't the book for you.If you purchased the book during the first week, Counsellor is included at the end as a bonus. Blackwood is a 67k-word FULL-LENGTH novel that ends at 54%.
Rip
Rachel Van Dyken - 2015
But I broke her, and now we both have to pay the price.I'm her nightmare. I'm her savior. And now that I have her signature on an ironclad contract, I own her body and soul. She doesn't remember me. She will. It's inevitable. Because as much as I know I need to stay away, for fear of unlocking the memories I helped her father bury--I can't. She was the apple in the Garden, dangled in front of me, her core so tempting and sweet. A voice whispered. Just. One. Bite. I bit. I tasted. I fell. Welcome to the world of the Russian mafia, where death, is your only future.
The Secrets We Keep
Mila Sin - 2021
Adopted daughter. Sarcastic soul.There are a lot of things to call me, but most just call me Rogue.A name feared by the truly unforgivable who betray The Gambit, our leader King, and our extensive criminal network. After all, I may run the hitmen for the crew, but I personally only take on those who deserve it. I do have some morals left.When I’m tracked down by a security team that wants me on their side, it’s an easy choice to unite and attempt to take down their corrupt bosses, and mine, too. So long as they’re willing to help me in return.Let’s just hope we don’t become the pawns in a game none of us were prepared to play.The Secrets We Keep is a full-length (86,000 word) novel and is book one of a planned trilogy in the Maven of Mayhem series. It ends on a cliffhanger so please be forewarned. This is a contemporary reverse harem romance/suspense series, meaning our leading lady has three or more love interests and does not have to choose between them to find her happily ever after. MM builds throughout the series. This book contains violence and past trauma in flashbacks as well as some steamy scenes.