This book hooked me from page one—dark, edgy, and packed with the perfect amount of tension.

Veronica is married to an older man and discovers he’s been cheating. When she confronts him, he cruelly tells her she can have her own affair and sends her to a nice hotel to pull herself together. At the hotel, she becomes entangled with Ronan, a man who is equal parts lethal and magnetic. Their chemistry crackles from their very first encounter, blurring the line between obsession and passion. The deeper the story goes, the more dangerous, addictive, and mysterious it becomes for both of them. There’s also more to Veronica and a third point of view from a secret character that keeps you intrigued.

The pacing keeps you guessing, with layered POVs and secrets slowly unfolding. Just when you think you’ve figured out the direction, another twist hits—I loved it.

Steam Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (hot!)
Suspense Factor: ⭐⭐⭐

💄ARC REVIEW💄

New Release!

“This is the moment I live for. The moment my prey realizes it has nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. The predator is closing in.“

Romantic suspense is quickly becoming a favourite genre of mine. Spicy spice with a dose of murder. All the hidden secrets kept me turning pages late into the night and our MMC was tastyyy. Would recommend if you’re wanting to try a genre mash up!

Thank you @netgalley @moonlitgravespublishing

#gifted #netgalley #beneathyourlies #romanticsuspense #romanticthriller #romanticsuspensereaders

A captivating read that expertly mixes intense emotions, forbidden desires, and mind-bending suspense. This thriller is an absolute page-turner, perfect for any fall reading list and highly recommended for thriller enthusiasts.

Beneath Your Lies by Nicole J. Owens is a dark and twisted romance that blurs the lines between passion, obsession, and danger. Veronica Sullivan’s seemingly perfect life unravels when she confronts her husband, the State’s District Attorney, about his infidelity. Instead of walking away, he proposes a shocking bargain: she can have her own affair—so long as he controls it. Enter Ronan, a brooding hitman with a haunted past who becomes Veronica’s forbidden escape. Their chemistry is undeniable, but as disappearances and murders grip the city, Veronica realizes that Ronan has secrets of his own. The deeper she falls, the harder it is to ignore the dark truths lurking beneath the surface.

I’ll be honest—I picked this up from the thriller/mystery section on NetGalley, so clearly I wasn’t the intended audience. Still, I don’t mind a smutty, over-the-top romance every now and then, and this definitely fit that bill. It’s somewhere between a 2.5 and 3 stars for me, but I leaned generous since it will likely appeal more to dark romance readers.

There are strengths here: the story is fast-paced, packed with morally gray characters, and the plot is so outrageous at times that it oddly works. But for me, the writing style fell short. I couldn’t buy into the romance between Veronica and Ronan—their relationship felt more about control and manipulation than genuine emotion. Ronan, while tall, dark, and handsome, crossed the line into stalker territory, and I worry about presenting toxic, co-dependent dynamics as love. The constant twists also lost impact, coming so quickly that there was little time to build tension or deepen character backstories—especially Veronica’s, which felt underdeveloped even with flashbacks.

Ultimately, I couldn’t root for any of the characters, though the story itself was undeniably entrancing. If you’re into dark romance where toxic attraction drives the plot and chaos reigns, this could be a solid pick. Personally, I’d have preferred more authentic connection, fewer toxic male archetypes, and a slower buildup in the first half.

Thank you to Nicole J. Owens, Moonlit Graves Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

How do I rate this one? I really enjoyed the overall story. The part that made me roll my eyes was the insta-love.

like... how is this man confessing all of his secrets so quickly?

I enjoyed the characters. It's definitely a "this is so ridiculous, but I'm here for it" kind-of thing.

It's spicy, but not overdone.

We shall see what happens next with this found family bunch.

I devoured this book in one day! I loved everything about it, the female rage and revenge is top tier! I loved the twists and turns even though I kinda predicted them, it was interesting to see it all wrapped up at the end. Now what will Olivia have up her sleeve? Thanks for the ARC!

From the moment I read the dedication, I knew this was going to be WICKED! I’m sitting here writing this review absolutely flabbergasted. What a damn book this was!

The storyline was dark, fast paced, suspenseful, thrilling, mind blowing and passionate. I love me some morally grey characters (especially when it’s both the FMC and MMC), forbidden romance, and touch her and die tropes. The plot twists in this book are JAW DROPPING and will make you look like you’re sucking on a lemon.
I LOVED the FMC Veronica, she’s the wife of a district attorney who catches him cheating. That woman is patient, brave, bratty and fears no one apparently! When I think of her character, I hear the devil on my shoulder screaming “don’t underestimate a woman.”
The MMC Ronan is a hired hitman. He’s vicious, skilled at his job, and sexy as hell.
Every single secondary character held such a powerful grip within this book, you’d never truly think of them as “secondary”.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

Veronica Sullivan’s seemingly perfect life shatters when she confronts her husband’s betrayal, only to be pushed into an unthinkable bargain. Enter Ronan, a brooding hitman with a past as dark as hers, and suddenly I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Their chemistry was electric, obsessive, dangerous, yet impossible to look away from. The story took unexpected twists, blending suspense, passion, and raw emotion into a perfect storm. Veronica felt like survival personified, while Ronan was both terrifying and tender. By the end, I was gutted, healed, and desperate for more. An addictive, dark, sexy debut.

''what would you do if your husband cheats on you and ask you to cheat back to make things even?''

I am not really a big fan of Dark romance but after reading this book I understand the hype.
The book is fast paced with interesting storyline and many morally gray characters. I couldn't even pick a favorite because all of them were terrible (is that a dark romance thing).

The writing style didn't do it for me though. I just couldn't feel the romance between Veronica and Ronan, the development wasn't convincing enough for me. And the SMUT was also a bit weird.

Overall, it felt like a good thriller than romance, but I would recommend it to anybody who wants to read a thrilling dark romance story.

Thank you Netgalley and moonlit Graves Publishing for this ARC

What happens when you get a serial killer, dodgy DA, a revenge killer, a hitman, a mob boss and dirty cops all in one room trying to kill each other? Find it in this absolutely amazing page turning story that will grip you from the first page and leave you wanting more. It’s suspenseful, addictive and incredibly smutty. What more could you want from a story?

A gripping and intense read that masterfully combines suspense, passion, and emotional complexity. The characters are vividly drawn, their secrets and desires intertwining in a way that keeps the pages turning. The tension builds steadily, with twists that surprise but always feel earned. Perfect for readers who love a dark, thrilling story infused with raw emotion and unexpected connections.

2.5 stars ⭐️

Overview
Beneath Your Lies is a dark romance thriller that combines suspense, betrayal, and desire with a layered, twist-filled narrative. At its core, the story follows Veronica, a young woman entangled in a web of secrets, lies, and dangerous relationships. The book incorporates several tropes commonly found in the dark romance genre: secrets and deception, morally grey characters, and a relationship tinged with obsession, while also weaving in thriller elements such as multiple timelines and interlocking mysteries.

My Thoughts
This book had a promising premise, but I found the execution lacking. The narrative jumped too often between different characters and time periods, which sometimes made it difficult to follow. Instead of building suspense, the constant shifts disrupted the flow and left me feeling disoriented.
The character descriptions also fell short. Aside from Veronica’s age (25, which I had to keep reminding myself of) and some detailed physical descriptions of particular body parts in the spicier scenes, there wasn’t enough depth to help me really visualise or connect with her or with the other characters. Because of this, I felt distanced from the story and struggled to become fully invested.
Another issue was pacing. The book tried to fit in too many twists and reveals, piling them one after another. While I usually enjoy a good shocking moment, here the effect was dulled because the story didn’t give enough time to build tension or explore the characters’ backstories. As a result, the twists didn’t have the jaw-dropping impact they could have.

Overall, Beneath Your Lies is a dark romance thriller with potential, but its scattered execution and lack of character depth left me wanting more cohesion and emotional pull.

This was a web of corruption, lies, and revenge. I'm a sucker for a morally grey mmc, and Ronan did not disappoint. Can we say possessive and all the touch her and perish vibes your dark heart could want. Veronica was an interesting fmc, a woman scorned from the beginning! She seemed strong, but also weak, vulnerable, and naive at times. She was a planner from the beginning and was definitely underestimated.

I enjoyed the chemistry and how everything played out. Was I shocked by the ending, not really. Did I have a good time and enjoy the journey, absolutely! I've learned romantic suspense is my jam this year.

I'm hoping there will be a sequel after that ending. *fingers crossed* Would love more of Ronan and Veronica!

Richard and Veronica Sullivan are a married couple. Veronica finds out Richard is cheating on her. He gives her a free pass under his supervision to have an affair to even the score so to speak. He doesn't want a divorce or ant scandle to interfere with his political career. Ronan is a hired hit man and his target is Richard. He gets involved with Veronica, not knowing that she is Richard's wife until the involvement is a bit deep for him. There are quite a few bodies turning up in the city and Cops are questioning close to home. There are many secrets and lies in this thriller that will become exposed. Unexpected characters revieled and all come together to reviel all that's going on and why.

3 stars

Dark romance meets murder mystery - very fun!

I did guess the ending BUT I enjoyed the journey regardless & overall I didn’t think the book was predictable. This took me on a journey and I loved every minute.

"We're always taught to fear the loudest person in the room. But the truth is, you should be more afraid of the quiet ones. The ones calculating their revenge deep in the back of their minds, all while pasting a convincing smile across their lips."
Okay so I think this was my first spicy dark romance and I didn't hate it at all. The romance wasn't my fav aspect of the story but I fully think it'll be yours. The shocks and twists do NOT stop coming- maybe you'll be more in tuned to what's going on than I was, but I was genuinely gobsmacked at the reveals and it also just feels like they didn't let up either. Thanks so much to the author and Moonlit Graves Publishing for the eARC.
The quote I used is not officially published and may be removed.

First off, thank you to Moonlit Graves Publishing/Netgalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. That being said it bears repeating, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Holy. Cow. This book had me hooked from beginning to end. I could not put it down once I started it, and that rarely happens to me, especially as of late. The multiple POVs kept me intrigued and I appreciated how I was able to get to know each character. Ronan was by far my favorite character as I more than adore the protective "touch her and die" types in stories. The best part, however, for me was when I thought I was clever enough to have it all figured out, there was always something else I was missing, and not in an annoying, "what the heck is going on?!" way, but in the absolute best possible way! I appreciated the trigger warning list and applauded Nicole Owens for being a mental health advocate. That being said, I could not believe this was a debut novel!?!?! Incredible! That all said, the only reason I did not give it five stars is because I felt the last part was a bit more rushed than the rest of the book.

Favorite quote: "I know he's not sorry. He's only sorry he was caught."

𝐀 𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.

When I first read the blurb I was instantly drawn to the story! A cheating husband, an obsessed hitman, feminine rage and an underplot of ongoing murders? Count me in!
At the beginning we get to know the female and her cheating husband as well as the MMC, Ronan, but as the story progressed and our two protagonists met each other I felt a bit uninterested. Firstly, there was the same scene again and again up until the 50% mark, them meeting at the Hotel Lobby chatting, then them meeting some other people and then again the same until they had their first intimate interaction.
I want to pinpoint here that I wasn't fun of the MMC, despite the fact that I liked his character introduction at the beginning. First meeting with the FMC and the thing goes straight sexual and he was growling like 2 separate times he first saw her... It gave me the ick a bit tbh and was a major turn off for me. To sum this up there was no building just straight up sexual energy.

There are multiple POVs in this one but at the beginning you only see one more (aside the protagonists) and I guessed early one who was behind this name, also who was behind the murders! Nevertheless there were some others that didn't see coming and I liked it!
Another issue for me was the writing as I felt it was more telling than sawing..

It was a different and nice idea for a Dark Romance and I liked the different characters who all played a role to the whole story instead of having only the two main characters!
If you are fun of multiple plot twists, fast burn lust with murders subplot, then this book might be for you!

The audacity of the husband to suggest such option for her is beyond normal. He was not even sorry but it all went backfire for him. Well good for Veronica as she can find new love who can match her freakiness in and out. Both of them were matchmade in heaven I guess. And like always, I love to give applause to the wingman, Sylvie. She really use her brain and live up to her assistant role for Ronan most of the time.

Veronica finds out her district attorney husband Richard has been cheating on her. His solution is for Veronica to have an affair of her own under his terms.
Instead she meets Ronan, a mysterious hitman, and they instantly feel a connection to each other.

Dark romance • Suspense
Thriller • Multiple POV
Feminine rage • SPICY 🌶️
Obsessed at first sight

I stepped outside my comfort zone with this one, and I’m so glad I did!
The prologue pulled me right in.
Richard is very unlikeable of course, so I was instantly rooting for Ronan despite the insane red flags 🚩 But that’s okay because he’s possessive, dangerous, and so handsome. I loved Ronan 🖤

With short chapters and less than 350 pages, this was a quick read I really enjoyed.
This book is dark, extra spicy, and not too complicated while still having mysteries to unravel. Check this out if you’re a dark romance lover 🖤

📖 Thank you NetGalley for my eARC