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A review by readbykays
Red Roses & Black Dahlias by Macy T. Riosa
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I just finished this debut novel by Macy T. Riosa, and wow—I'm still reeling! From the very first page, I was completely hooked. The story begins with Sofia and Valentina, who are left orphaned after their parents’ brutal murder. Enter Detective Maddox Brooks, who takes them under his wing, and the plot twists and turns from there in the most thrilling, mysterious way!
Tropes : forbidden romance, age gap, murder mystery, and a mind-blowing plot twist. It also beautifully portrays the found family theme.
Let’s talk characters. Sofia is absolutely incredible—fearless yet so sensitive, strong yet delicate. Her role as a sister’s keeper is portrayed with such depth and meaning. The line, "I was my sister’s keeper after all, and I was all she had left," is so poignant and captures her devotion perfectly. Sofia is the best sister’s keeper ever. Her character is complex—reckless, dark, unhinged, strongly opinionated, and lonely, but above all, loyal. The way she loves and protects Valentina is nothing short of inspiring. Their bond is one of the most touching relationships I’ve ever read about.
And Maddox? WOW. He’s the hottest detective I’ve ever come across. Not only is he smoking hot, but his "girl dad" role and the sweet connection he has with Valentina are beyond adorable. The age gap of 8 years is portrayed in a good way, and his love for Sofia and Valentina never felt like it was choosing one over the other. The way he treated Valentina as a daughter—especially in the bonus scene—had me crying. I’m seriously in love with their dynamic!
Valentina herself is a total sweetheart. She’s so endearing that I’m already wishing for a novel just about her.
Now about the side characters—let’s talk Callie! I loved how sassy she was. The hot lawyer who you would never guess is a lawyer based on her pink outfits. Her character brought a fantastic blend of sass and charm to the story, making her a memorable addition.
The book's pacing is fast, and while it's not insta-love, there's mutual attraction that builds up since they’ve known each other for 5 years. The writing is above average for a debut novel—though not top-notch, it’s more than good enough given the fantastic story.
The line "I could see us slowly withering, a red rose and a black dahlia" is such a beautiful and haunting touch that perfectly encapsulates the essence and title of the novel.
And then there was the confession—I was crying! It was so emotional and beautifully written that it brought me to tears. The depth of their feelings and the raw honesty of the moment were so powerful and moving.
How the perspectives changed in the last chapter? I was completely blown away. What seemed like a normal conversation suddenly took on a whole new light, changing everything I thought I knew about the characters. The monsters—OMG, you would never guess who they are for Sofia and Valentina. It was such a revelation!
The deaths in the book are intense and dark, but they feel so fitting for the story.Conan’s death? Totally deserved, and I’m not even mad about it.
And the steamy scenes? HOT. Unexpectedly sizzling with incredible chemistry, it definitely added some serious heat to the story!
If you’re into intense romance mixed with mystery and unexpected twists, this book is a MUST-READ! 💖🔥📚
Quotes -
"Sisters are different flowers from the same garden.”
"I was my sister’s keeper after all, and I was all she had left."
"The love she felt for her sister remained unequaled. She would kill for her. She had killed for her."
Because monsters are everywhere, and they will never stop existing.” _ "Even we are the monsters of someone else's story.”
"Death doesn’t exist; people only die when we forget them."
Tropes : forbidden romance, age gap, murder mystery, and a mind-blowing plot twist. It also beautifully portrays the found family theme.
Let’s talk characters. Sofia is absolutely incredible—fearless yet so sensitive, strong yet delicate. Her role as a sister’s keeper is portrayed with such depth and meaning. The line, "I was my sister’s keeper after all, and I was all she had left," is so poignant and captures her devotion perfectly. Sofia is the best sister’s keeper ever. Her character is complex—reckless, dark, unhinged, strongly opinionated, and lonely, but above all, loyal. The way she loves and protects Valentina is nothing short of inspiring. Their bond is one of the most touching relationships I’ve ever read about.
And Maddox? WOW. He’s the hottest detective I’ve ever come across. Not only is he smoking hot, but his "girl dad" role and the sweet connection he has with Valentina are beyond adorable. The age gap of 8 years is portrayed in a good way, and his love for Sofia and Valentina never felt like it was choosing one over the other. The way he treated Valentina as a daughter—especially in the bonus scene—had me crying. I’m seriously in love with their dynamic!
Valentina herself is a total sweetheart. She’s so endearing that I’m already wishing for a novel just about her.
Now about the side characters—let’s talk Callie! I loved how sassy she was. The hot lawyer who you would never guess is a lawyer based on her pink outfits. Her character brought a fantastic blend of sass and charm to the story, making her a memorable addition.
The book's pacing is fast, and while it's not insta-love, there's mutual attraction that builds up since they’ve known each other for 5 years. The writing is above average for a debut novel—though not top-notch, it’s more than good enough given the fantastic story.
The line "I could see us slowly withering, a red rose and a black dahlia" is such a beautiful and haunting touch that perfectly encapsulates the essence and title of the novel.
And then there was the confession—I was crying! It was so emotional and beautifully written that it brought me to tears. The depth of their feelings and the raw honesty of the moment were so powerful and moving.
How the perspectives changed in the last chapter? I was completely blown away. What seemed like a normal conversation suddenly took on a whole new light, changing everything I thought I knew about the characters. The monsters—OMG, you would never guess who they are for Sofia and Valentina. It was such a revelation!
The deaths in the book are intense and dark, but they feel so fitting for the story.
And the steamy scenes? HOT. Unexpectedly sizzling with incredible chemistry, it definitely added some serious heat to the story!
If you’re into intense romance mixed with mystery and unexpected twists, this book is a MUST-READ! 💖🔥📚
Quotes -
"Sisters are different flowers from the same garden.”
"I was my sister’s keeper after all, and I was all she had left."
"The love she felt for her sister remained unequaled. She would kill for her. She had killed for her."
Because monsters are everywhere, and they will never stop existing.” _ "Even we are the monsters of someone else's story.”
"Death doesn’t exist; people only die when we forget them."