Split by the Mercs: A Dark Sci-Fi Romance by Lizzy Bequin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

She Came. They Conquered. Repeatedly.

I've dipped into a few Lizzy Bequin books before, and let me tell you—this woman delivers every single time. If you're here for the spice, the filth, the kind of smut that makes you blush in public and rethink your e-reader privacy settings, Lizzy’s got you. And Split by the Mercs? Oh honey, she understood the assignment.

This book yeets us across the galaxy into a universe where aliens are a casual Tuesday and hired mercs are the local pest control—but with abs and aggression. These men are built to kill, and bred to… well, breed. And you better believe they’ve got stamina for days.

Click to reveal spoiler

We start off in a quaint little village where things are going terribly, and poor Rona (our FMC) ends up as a down payment for three mercenaries. Yes, you read that right. Three giant, deadly, devastatingly hot men: Aeron (brooding Captain Daddy), Murdock (gruff and primal), and Zeth (the sweet one who’ll still rearrange your insides).

They’ve been hired to clean up the village’s mess, but Rona? She’s got her own mess to deal with—and by “mess” I mean three alphas with a taste for obedience, a dynamic that flirts with the idea of free use, and more positions than your average gym class. There are consequences if she disobeys… and reader, they are delicious.

Aeron had me simping from the start—mysterious, dominant, emotionally constipated in the hottest way. Zeth was the unexpected cinnamon roll in a murder sandwich. Honestly, the whole trio brought their own flavor to the buffet.

At 261 pages, the plot zipped along—sometimes a bit too fast. A few story beats felt a tad rushed or conveniently accepted, but let’s be real: I wasn’t here for the politics of alien mercenary contracts. I was here for the other kind of action, and whew, did I feast.

Bottom line: if you’re craving a fast-paced, filthy space romp with breeding kink, alien anatomy, and a side of possessive men who treat their woman like a shared treasure—Split by the Mercs is calling your name. Answer it. With lube.

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Blood Oath by Morgan B. Lee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Blood, Secrets, and One Golden Retriever Dragon

This was my first Morgan B. Lee book and let me tell you—Blood Oath delivers on its promises: action, sexual tension, and a badass heroine. Check, check, and check.

Now, let’s get something straight—this isn’t a story with a whole lot of progress. Think of it less as a novel and more as an extended character introduction with plot seasoning. If you're here for answers... well, buckle up for the long ride.

We won’t be getting any real answers in this one. This is foreplay—story-wise and otherwise.

Click to reveal spoiler

Let’s talk Maven. First of all, props for the name. Feels like she could teach a tech startup and slay demons in the same breath. She’s painted as our resident badass, but that blade rarely gets drawn unless absolutely necessary. Emotionally? She’s Fort Knox. I spent a good chunk of the book willing her to emote—just a little, girl! But, deep down, we all know there's trauma brewing under that frosty exterior. And I wanted in. Now the men—oh, the men. As broken as Maven and just as guarded, but Baelfire? That sunshine dragon shifter stole the whole damn show. Golden Retriever energy in a six-foot-something package with wings. We love to see it. Plot-wise, we’re circling around Maven’s mysterious mission—one that only gets revealed at the tail end. She’s forbidden from bonding with her quintet, and naturally, the tension only thrives in those conditions. It’s a familiar setup for RH readers, but hey, it works. The writing is smooth, and Maven’s internal monologue is the best part—she may be emotionally locked up on the outside, but her brain has jokes, doubts, and plenty to say. And when I say slow burn, I mean it smolders until it combusts. Three out of the four men join Maven in a deliciously chaotic foursome. Silas gets the first pleasurable round, but Bael? He earns gold-star status with her first orgasm. Mouth. Watering. I need more.

If you're craving a fast-paced RH story with bite, heat, and a whole lot of mysterious brooding, give this a go. It's not about the destination—yet—but the tension-filled ride. Already cracking open book two. Meet me there?

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That Sik Luv by Jescie Hall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Depravity Delivered — Depth Not Included

Content Warning: Very graphic sex scenes and heavy degradation. If that’s not your thing, I do not recommend this book.

Now, if you're still here after that warning, let me tell you why I pushed through this book.

What’s better than erotica? A dark romance erotica. I’ll admit — my first impression wasn’t great, but there was a plot buried underneath all the filth, and I wanted to uncover it.

(view spoiler)[This is a seriously messed-up story, and with that comes some very messed-up themes. I didn’t enjoy how the book portrayed religion as an all-consuming evil. However, by the end, it became clearer that it was targeting a specific congregation, not the faith as a whole.

Let’s talk characters — starting with Briony. She was, by far, my biggest disappointment. The concept of a heroine trying to find her voice is compelling, but the execution fell flat. She comes across as bland, driven solely by lust and an almost complete lack of awareness. A damsel in distress who doesn’t realize she’s in distress. I couldn’t relate to her, sympathize with her, or even feel for her — mostly because, chapter after chapter, she just grated on me. She teetered endlessly between wanting to submit and resisting it. That said, she did come into her own in the sex scenes — and I mean that as a compliment. Exploring your sexuality isn’t always straightforward, and her response to Aero’s degrading words and actions felt raw, honest, and, yes, hot.

Aero, now. He’s sick and he knows it. Emotionally stunted, socially maladjusted, and yet magnetic in his twisted way. His schemes are complex, private, and often left for both Briony and the reader to unravel. He’s broken, sexy, scared, and absolutely convinced of his own power — a “god,” in his words. But stalking a girl (because let’s be honest — 18 is barely an adult) her whole life will do that to you... and your dick.

We do get answers in the end — barely. Aero “cleanses” Briony, and in return, she... fingers him? Yeah. Even knowing his traumatic history, she does it as part of some self-styled cleansing ritual. Was it hot? Yes. Was it problematic? Also yes. The scene left me conflicted — Briony’s actions were framed as redemptive, but they ignored his trauma. She gave up her virginity; he had to give up everything, including his boundaries. The imbalance was jarring. (hide spoiler)]

What ultimately sets me off about this book is the blandness of the characters. But what kept me going was the sex and the mystery. It's erotica — and it delivered what it promised: filthy, degrading, explicit scenes. And I ate it up. I have no shame in admitting I stuck around just to read the next depraved chapter.

I stayed for the filth. I stayed to make sense of a plot that only really clicked in the final moments — complete with a dramatic "I'm your father" reveal.

So here’s my final verdict:
Read this for the erotica, not the characters.
Don’t expect depth. Don’t expect emotional payoff.
Expect depravity and filth, and you'll be begging for more.
This is exactly what the book is: a dirty, twisted story of two broken people clinging to each other in all the wrong ways — and it works if that’s what you’re here for. "It’s sick love. And it’s entirely ours to own."

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