5/5
Beautiful Dark Temptation
I enjoyed reading this book, it was well written and I can't wait to read more from this author. I recommend this book.
Arcadia U, 1
Tomás
I’ve lost everything.
Forced into a prison masking as a school, I find myself in the crosshairs of more than one killer. My savior? The arrogant prick who wants to control me. Kieran is a nightmare wrapped in a seductive package and when he sets his sights on me I don’t know whether to fight him or kiss him.
Kieran
I am the eldest bastard of one of the four founders of Arcadia University, and I will do anything to see my family fall.
The secrets I’ve kept hidden behind my heart now threaten to bury me alive with the arrival of Tomás. He consumes my space, my thoughts, my nightmares. I hate him for how he makes me feel. This toxic attraction between us forces me to question what matters most—vengeance, power, love. But Tomas doesn’t fit into my world of lies and violence and I’m not ready to lose it all for a beautiful dark temptation.
Be Warned: m/m sex
Excerpt:
He was so close. All I had to do was lean in, bite his plump bottom lip. See where that got me. And before I could think it’d get me dead, dead, dead, I did it. I leaned in angry and confused and just tired, and I bit his bottom lip. I heard him gasp, felt the suck of air against my mouth, and made sure to lick before I pulled away. That had been the most erotic thing I’d ever done, and I wasn’t a virgin.
The shattered look on Kieran’s face after that was worth it. Better than the bathroom hand job.
Yeah. I could push buttons too.
“You want me to be yours,” I said. “Then earn it.” Yeah, that may have taken things too far. I was pretty sure in his mind, I had to earn it. Not the other way around.
But I didn’t care.
I was tired of being used and treated like shit. When he didn’t move or say anything back, I shoved him hard. But the guy was solid steel. Didn’t budge. He clamped his fingers around my forearm and kept my palm on his chest. Even through the layers of clothes, I felt the strong pounding beat of his heart.
So beautiful.
And then he kissed me. It was a feral, angry kiss as if he were proving to me the type of monster that consumed him. For a moment, my brain spazzed out. What was I doing kissing the enemy?
- Series:
- /series-arcadia-u/
Product Reviews
5/5
Well well well
I expected this one to be just like all the others and I set the bar low. But this was different, interesting and kept things progressing nicely. An amazing read
5/5
A dark bully romance.
I love this book. The book reads like a movie. So well written in a way that makes you feel as though you're in the shadows watching everything unfold. This is a bully dinner with all the fixings. An amazing story you won't want to miss. I seriously wish I could have kept clicking and adding more stars. I voluntarily accepted a copy of this book and this is a honest review.
5/5
Could not put this down
There is so much I want to say about this book but I cant without spoiling it for you. What I can say was I could not put this down. I was drawn in following Tomas and Kieran. You could feel their chemistry with each other from the start but with everything else going on it did not start out with love. This was dark, full of violence and at at times graphic but there was also Tomas' take no-nonsense attitude that eased the tension in the story telling. Kieran was a man on a mission and he had his life planned out but he did not plan on Tomas The secondary characters were well developed and I cannot wait to hear their stories. Written from both Tomas and Kieran's POV had you understand what was going on and gave you the chance to know their backstory. I thought I knew where this story was going, how wrong was I. Whilst this ended where I thought it may I cannot wait to find out more. Looking at what else this author was written I was surprised that this is their first novel, I am looking forward to see what they come up with next
5/5
Beautiful dark temptation
I will admit to crying several times well reading this book. Kieran and Tomás were both young men stuck trying to survive a life that they didn't choose. Somehow through all the darkness they found each other. I wish there would have been some closure with Maddox. And I would have loved to seen Karen and Tomás together in the open
4/5
Bully Romance
The beginning of the book was hard to get into at first. But the story started coming together. It has some of my favorite tropes: bully romance, mafia, enemies to lovers. I do wish that we could have seen Tomás and Kieran years down the road. But the healing throughout this book and accepting oneself was beautiful. Tomás’ family was a little confusing to understand at first though. All in all it was a good book!
5/5
Super awesome bully romance!
If you like a bit of a darker romance--especially a bully romance this is the book for you--I love this trope and the author delivered it wonderfully. Great series beginning!
4/5
exciting
i have enjoyed reading this exciting book and i am looking forward to reading more books from this author
5/5
Thrilling
Beautiful Dark Temptation is a thrilling and evocative start to the Arcadia U series by Roxas Winters, blending dark romance with high-stakes drama that grips you from the first page. The story follows Tomás, who finds himself in a perilous situation at Arcadia University, a place that resembles a prison more than an institution of learning. He’s lost everything, and the last thing he expects is to become entangled with the arrogant and enigmatic Kieran. Kieran, the eldest son of one of the university’s founders, embodies the very definition of a “bad boy,” and his brooding demeanor coupled with his toxic charm creates an irresistible yet dangerous allure for Tomás. Winters masterfully crafts a narrative filled with tension and conflicting emotions. The chemistry between Tomás and Kieran is electric, oscillating between hatred and desire, which keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. Their interactions are laced with a mixture of passion and animosity that feels genuine and compelling, and you can’t help but root for them despite the chaos surrounding their lives. The world-building is equally engaging, with Arcadia U serving as a character in its own right. The secrets lurking within its walls and the threats that loom over Tomás heighten the sense of urgency throughout the story. As the plot unfolds, the stakes get higher, making it difficult to put the book down. The exploration of themes like vengeance, power, and the complexity of love adds depth to the narrative, prompting readers to ponder what sacrifices they would make for those they care about. Winters’ writing style is immersive, painting vivid scenes that evoke a strong sense of place and emotion. The pacing is well-executed, with twists and turns that keep you guessing, while the internal struggles of both Tomás and Kieran are portrayed with nuance and authenticity. In conclusion, Beautiful Dark Temptation is an enthralling blend of romance, suspense, and dark intrigue that sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting series. With its rich character development and gripping plot, this book is a must-read for fans of dark romance and those who enjoy stories where love and danger collide. Roxas Winters has crafted a tale that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next installment!
5/5
Great start to series
This is a great start to a series. Such an interesting world with great characters. I was hooked from the first page. Can't wait for more.
4/5
Beautiful Dark Temptation!
This is the first in this new dark series called "Arcadia U". It is intriguing, intense, captivating and interesting. The story is a mafia read with some different twists. The characters Tomás and Kieran are complex and the attraction drives some interesting developments. I enjoyed the story and how it develops.
4/5
Enemies to lovers
I enjoyed this enemies to lovers romance. The author did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. I highly recommend reading this book. I can't wait to read more in this series.
4/5
Intriguing & Suspensful
Beautiful Dark Temptations was a pretty good read. It had kind of a slow start but thinks picked up after a while. Roxas has created an intriguing and suspenseful storyline that has all the bits you need for a good enemies to lovers / bully romance. Between the secrets, revenge plans and danger that lurks between the pages and the romance that lurks with them over all Beautiful Dark Temptation is definitely worth the read.
5/5
Beautiful Dark Temptation
This was fantastic!! Plenty of plot twists to keep my attention throughout. Detailed storyline. Suspenseful well written book with multi layered characters. Highly addictive read. Definitely recommend.
4/5
Intense, dark, twisted and fierce
Intense, dark, twisted and fierce, this book will leave your heart feeling bruised and raw while keeping your attention hooked. Kieran and Tomás give your heart an angst rich workout that you won't soon forget.
5/5
Twists and turns
Beautiful Dark Temptation is a male/male, enemies to lovers, collage romance. After finding himself in a sticky situation Tomas is forced to attend Arcadia University. A dangerous school for the children of mobsters, drug cartels and any other "bad guy" you can think of. Just when Tomas feels ok with the school, he gets on the wrong side of the schools Elite.
5/5
Could Not put it down
Could Not put it down This is the first book in the series, Arcadia U and I am super excited about this series. It’s basically a school bullying book, but this one had me so intrigued because we didn’t know all the facts till the end. One word answers and rumours. It’s safe to say that Tomas did not want to go to this school full of kids from criminals, mafia And cartel families but it seems he doesn’t have a choice. And then, to find himself hated by the group of boys that live in the same house. Tomas was confused as he couldn’t take his eyes off the leader, Kieran. He could admit to myself that he was a good looking lad. He wasn’t gay so these feelings confused him. Kieran is out for vengeance, but he must hide this from his family. He must hide that he is gay from his family, or he will not be here tomorrow. he has plans and he’s not happy when there’s somebody in the living in his house and to make matters worse he was attracted to Tomas. This book had me totally hooked. You could feel the air between these two guys, but I absolutely adore that Tomas would not back down, but when Kieron and Thomas are together, it feels right so what will happen now these two have a passion for each other it was hot and dangerous and dark and I didn’t see the twists and turns that came. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I’m super excited to read more from this series
5/5
Great debut and start to new series
This was a new to me author and from what I can see it’s their debut novel from their debut series and what a great start it was, I really enjoyed this story it has dark themes but the story is interesting and kept my attention from beginning to end Tomás and Kieran were explosive together and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next with their story. I checked authors website and book two continues with their story and then I’m looking forward to getting the other Ark boys stories as well as I think Fox’s, River, Wren and Henry’s stories will be just as intense and interesting. Would recommend this story and hope I don’t have to wait to long to get book two.
4/5
Page turner
I loved this book. The story was very well written and the characters were engaging. I could not put it down. Highly recommend.
4/5
Dark
We have suspense, danger and more. This is Kieran and Thomas's story. This is a dark story of the mafia. Kieran has it all, he is the top guy. Thomas is the other end and has nothing. What happens when they meet? Can Kieran get over himself anbd let Thomas in? Will the hurt stop Thomas from caring for Kieran.
5/5
I could not put this down.
I could not get enough of this book, it was a stunning MM romance that captured my attention from the very first page and I was captivated until the very end. I really did not want this book to end and these characters will stay with me for a very long time
4/5
Beautiful Dark Temptation ARC Review:
This book was dark and complex with its cast of characters and who killed who. Overall, I enjoyed this book even if it was rather depressing. I'm interested to see where the series goes with how this one ended alone, and who is it going to focus on. A continuation? Regardless this was a solid 4 for plot and build up alone. I think it was well done, but overall kind of a bummer emotionally. Still a good first book, just left me feeling down. Sad, sad guys. 4/5?
5/5
Tomas and Kieran.
This was a good read. But I was really hoping that Tomas and Kieran would have a different happy eve after kind of reading. They might have in their own way but not the one I was hoping for.
4/5
Very good
I enjoyed this book very much. I love the world that Roxas Winters made and can not wait for part two.
5/5
Brilliant series starter
A first from this author for me and seriously impressed! A brilliantly thought out and executed plot that has plenty of suspense, revenge and dangerous moments! The enemies to lovers trope was covered so well as we follow Kieran and Tomas who had such a great dynamic between them. I dont want to give away any spoilers but I highly recommend you read it. Can't wait for the next book!
5/5
Loved this book!
This book was absolutely amazing! I loved every page of it with every inch of my being i couldn't put this book down to save my life and I can't wait to read more books from this author and tell all my friends about it! Definitely recommend @
4/5
Bully mafia Romance
Slow burn low spice. Nicely written, I liked Tomas, you got a sense of the problems he had thinking clearly and he was always willing to put others 1st. Kieran was a troubled intense man and definitely in the closet. Although there was a hea of sorts it made me wonder if there is more to come.
