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Beneath Your Lies by Nicole J. Owens - Dark Romance

★★★★★

“A razor-sharp blend of feminine rage, forbidden desire, and twisty suspense. Impossible to put down.”

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Beneath Your Lies by Nicole J. Owens

Veronica Sullivan’s seemingly idyllic life gets turned on its head when she confronts her husband about his infidelity. Desperate to maintain his image as the State’s District Attorney and salvage their marriage, he proposes a shocking solution-Veronica can indulge in her own affair, but only under his supervision.

As she embarks on this unconventional journey, Veronica meets Ronan, an enigmatic hitman haunted by his past who has a shared interest. They have an unmistakable, unquenchable connection, yet Veronica guards her own secrets closely, especially as a series of unsettling disappearances and murders grip the city. No matter how hard Veronica tries to deny it, there’s something about Ronan that keeps making her go back for more…

Veronica and Ronan’s passionate affair unfolds into a riveting tale of suspense and dark truths, proving some secrets can never stay buried, no matter how hard you try.

Content Warnings

Infidelity, domestic abuse, mention of miscarriage, drug/alcohol abuse, loss of parents, murder, and explicit sex scenes

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Available February 10, 2026

Taken by Surprise by Nicole J. Owens

A Spicy Valentine’s Day Novella

Every Valentine’s Day, Rose celebrates her beloved holiday ritual: Anti-Valentine’s Night. She holes up in her apartment with greasy takeout, cheap red wine, and the goriest horror movies she can find. Love is a distraction she doesn’t need–especially after last year’s breakup disaster.

But this year, she’s not spending the night alone like she planned. Rose is halfway through her second bottle of wine when two strangers break into her apartment, clearly not here for a meet cute. They need the space for surveillance, and her apartment has the perfect vantage point.

What starts as an unwanted invasion slowly turns into something far more dangerous–lingering looks, shared adrenaline, and a pull between all three of them that makes Rose question whether control is something she actually wants this Valentine’s Day.

Content Warnings

Explicit sexual content, alcohol use & abuse, emotional heartbreak & relational trauma, breaking and entering / criminal activity

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Signed Editions
Taken by Surprise by Nicole J. Owens - Dark Romance
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Signed Copies and Limited Editions

Step inside and shop all things Nicole J. Owens. This shop is where my stories bleed beyond the page. Expect special editions, signed books, character art bookmarks, exclusive imagery, and merchandise inspired by the darker corners of my worlds. Quantities may be limited — some things aren’t meant to last forever.

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Nicole J. Owens, Dark Romance Books at the Shop
HOLY COW the twists. the turns. the revenge. the reveals. the SPICE. I ATE THIS UP. devoured from the moment i started, it pulled me in. honestly, read the trigger warnings. this is a dark/mystersy/suspense book. and if that sounds like your genre - add this to your tbr now and thank me later.
Meg
This book was amazing. This spicy romantic suspense 🔥 had me turning the pages faster than ever. First off I loved the writing, it really pulled you in on the first chapter. The suspense starting from the beginning hooked me. Also love the short chapters, just something I enjoy. The twists and turns in this book were a complete mind blow and caught me off guard.
Karlee
my mind?! BLOWN. i am actually SPEECHLESS. but i also have SO MUCH to say and it’s not often a book leaves me like this🤯 i.. i? erm WHAT!!! plot twist, after plot twist, AFTER PLOT TWIST! and i think i maybe figured one out along the way? but i’m not even sure anymore because THIS WAS INSANE. i couldn’t place this book down, HOOKED is an understatement. i wanna say dark romance/mystery/suspense?! INCREDIBLE. I ATE THIS UP!!! like, YOU NEED TO ADD THIS TO YOUR TBRS IMMEDIATELY. this hitttttt!!! reading slump? who is she??? I READ THIS IN A DAY!😮‍💨
Deej
Oh wow, wow, WOW — this book🔥. From the very first chapter, it had me hooked and I genuinely couldn’t put it down. A suspenseful romance that kept me constantly on edge, full of twists, secrets, and revelations that had me sitting of my seat.
Rachel
Wow, I loved this! 🙌🏻✨This book checked all the boxes for me. It is very rare for me to love a thriller as much as I enjoyed this one. It is an easy 5-star read. I was hooked as soon as I read the Prologue and couldn't put the book down until the very last page.
Tiffany
I really really enjoyed this book! It drew me in from the beginning. There was so much suspense and plot twists throughout that kept me so engaged and wanting to read more. I absolutely loved Veronica’s character, she was so strong and loved her and Ronan. Loved the different pov of each character, allowed me to learn more about each character. Absolutely loved and the plot twists at the end, oh my!!!
Abbie
This is so good. There’s enough hidden background and history to keep you turning pages hoping for answers. The spice and romance between the mmc and fmc is palpable and the last quarter of the book had me biting my nails, kicking my legs and squealing antsy to see how it would all turn out.
Selene
I had no idea when I started this debut novel by Nicole J. Owens that I would LOVE this book. Not only have I found a new favorite MMC and power couple, but she definitely left me wanting more!
Connie
This book was absolutely amazing, I was hooked from the very beginning! The chapters were short and are written in multi POV. Which is my favorite style of writing. The book does have some pretty spicy scenes and a jaw dropping ending. READ READ READ this book!
Tasha
This book had me hook line and sinker. Between the plot twists and the steamy scenes between Ronan and Veronica I could not put this book down. It is by far my highest rated book I have read this year, and I cannot wait for it to come out so I can grab a physical copy!
Bre
A fantastic dark romance that I could not put down. It gives female rage, forbidden love, suspenseful romance and revenge & healing.
Jess
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. 😮‍💨
Destiny
Oh. My. God. I was NOT ready for this book, and it absolutely ate me alive.
Anonymous Review
At no point - zero, nada - was I able to predict what was coming. And you know what? I LOVED every second of it. Nicole crafted a story that’s so detailed, so addictive, so ruthless...and still managed to leave me sitting there like… what the hell just happened??
Allie
I absolutely loved this book! Veronica and Ronan’s story had me hooked from page one — the perfect blend of slow-burn romance, raw emotion, and just enough suspense to keep me turning the pages late into the night. The chemistry between them felt real and earned, built through stolen moments, vulnerable conversations, and unshakable trust that developed over time.
Anonymous Review
What stood out most to me was how the story showed that trust takes time, people carry hidden battles, and love — while messy — can also be deeply healing. It’s a reminder that the past doesn’t have to define the future, and that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is open your heart again.
Ja’Laya
Beneath Your Lies was everything I love in a romantic suspense—fast-paced, intriguing, and deliciously spicy. Nicole J. Owens did such a great job balancing the suspense and tension with sizzling chemistry, making it impossible to put down. The twists kept me guessing, while the romance pulled me in even deeper. I was completely hooked from the very first chapter and loved how the danger and desire played off each other perfectly. Even more impressive—this is Owens’s debut novel, and it feels polished, addictive, and so well-executed. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!
Melissa
I really enjoyed this book, and it turned out to be such a pleasant surprise. I didn’t expect such a powerful twist, which made the story even more gripping and impossible to put down.
Teodora
OHHHH MY DANG, did I eat this book up! I finished the entire thing in a little over a day, which I don’t normally do, since I have two feral boys at home and work a full time job. This book is THAT GOOD! It has literally everything a romance/thriller reader like me loves. Suspense? CHECK. A smoking hot morally grey man? CHECK. TWISTS ON TWISTS ON TWISTS?! CHECKKKKK.
MaKenzie
Wow just wow. Most don’t like how quick the characters fall in love like it does in this one but I love it. Two souls who are alike in so many ways just magnetize to each other. The suspense for how the plan comes together was spectacular.
Desiree
WHAT AN ENDING!!!! This book was a gorgeous dark romance/thriller that really had me curious what’s going to happen. The plot, the romance, and the FMC were perfection.
Amanda
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Upcoming Bookish Events

Join me for exciting opportunities to connect! I’ll be appearing at local book signings, author panels, and reader meet-and-greets. Expect live Q&A sessions, behind-the-scenes chats about my dark romance novels, and exclusive sneak peeks at upcoming releases. These events are all about celebrating stories and connecting with readers who love romance with an edge. Stay tuned for dates and details!

January 8, 2026

Where I’ll Be in January & February – Come Hang Out!

The new year is already coming in hot, and I’m kicking things off with a handful of events
Nicole J. OwensBy Nicole J. Owens
Nicole J. Owens, Dark Romance Author

About the Author

Nicole J. Owens is a dark romance author who weaves passion and danger into every page. Her stories explore the shadows of love—where desire collides with secrets and every choice comes with a price. If you crave heart-pounding suspense, morally complex characters, and twists that keep you guessing until the last word, you’re in the right place. Welcome to a world where romance isn’t always safe… but it’s always worth the risk.

About Nicole
Taken by Surprise by Nicole J. Owens - Dark Romance
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