Hey, gorgeous! It’s been a hot minute since I sat down and gave you an update on where things stand so I figured the end of the month is a good time for a check-in. I’m going to be honest. So much of my grand plan for the Avery Lennox pen name has fallen on its face, but that’s the whole thing, right? Make plans and the universe laughs. Well, the universe is laughing its ass off at me right now. A full-on bucket of chuckles. And while it may not be what I had intended, the way things are shaping up just might work out for the better. When I launched the Avery Lennox pen name, the idea was to publish standalone novels each clocking in somewhere around 50,000-60,000 words (with the goal of keeping the stories on the shorter side for a rapid release schedule). Quick, dark reads with a scorching hot love story to break up all the murder and mayhem.
I started the first book, Ruiner, which was crystal clear in my head from the first page. Christian and Rowan Moretti’s first face to face meeting was the first scene that popped up. They were perfect for each other. Not in an opposites attract way, more in a game recognizes game way. Equals. So, of course, the worst possible way I could break them was the very next scene to pop into my head. The words were flowing in the way I see my fellow writers brag about on socials (my neurospicy ADhD brain rarely allows this). Cooking right along, I had zero doubts that Ruiner would be the first book I released in my new world. I was so sure it would be first that I revealed the cover, tagline, and blurb. *queue the universe’s rolling maniacal laughter*
I was closing in on 20,000 words in Ruiner when scenes from a novel called Reaper started popping into my head. Harlow Kane is a terrifying force and my first clear image of her was a drop dead gorgeous tattooed woman in a white maxi dress covered from head to toe in fresh blood spatters. A gory mess of her own making, not something that was done to her. She’s so cool, kicked back in the MC president’s chair, smoking a joint without a care in the world while she waits for the big bad men who couldn’t get the job done to join her around the table. The story line that surrounds the romance came to me super-fast but the romance itself was a little slower to become clear. I knew her love interest was going to be Reaper and I had scenes of them together (not naughty ones, you dirty bird) but they’re both unhinged and I wasn’t sure how I was going to go about getting them together. While taking a break from the Reaper doc to let the idea breathe for a minute, scenes for a novel called Make Me Bad started popping up.
Enter Bentley Scott and Halo Kendrick, and the second these two took the stage, they took over. Hijacked my brain. Their entire story poured out of me over the last few months. A book that was supposed to be roughly 50,000 words in length is currently sitting at 126,488 words and I still have one more scene to finish before I can officially call the first draft finished but I am sooooooooo close. The story I ended up with is wildly different from the story I thought it was going to be when I originally outlined it. The book was supposed to be dark. Like, pitch black. The story is still dark and it still has a revenge scheme, but it’s also got lots of humor and light moments. You also meet soooo many characters that I now have future standalone plans for. Halo’s ride-or-die best friends, a spicy Latina named Jessa Castillo (this one has a surprise background and family tie that you learn about in the book) and Paxton Mills, a bartender with impeccable taste in men, a loyalty streak a mile long, and a great sense of humor. Trent, Mason, and Adrian, an unbreakable trio who are going to become the love interests in a why choose relationship. Another trio that will become a why choose story line is Chase, Mack, and Eric. Both group’s FMCs are going to turn up in Atropos as side characters in the big mystery plot. You even briefly cross paths with the Morettis and Harlow and her men in this book. I’m really excited about what I’m building here.
Although the books are all very much still standalones, characters cross over between novels and now it’s one big interconnected world. Since I don’t know what the future of this pen name holds beyond the books I already have floating around in my head, I’ve decided to name the world I’m creating so that it’s easier for readers like you to find the novels that have linked storylines. However, it will be made very clear everywhere that each novel is a standalone that can be read in whatever order you find them. All of the interconnected standalone covers will be updated to feature the line A Dark Syndicates Novel.
Speaking of names, I had to figure out a new title for this book because Make Me Bad no longer works for the story. Same with the promotional tagline that’s on the Make Me Bad placeholder cover. It just doesn’t fit the story anymore. I had already been through this once with Atropos, the novel formerly known as Reaper, because with all the noodling I’ve been doing over that book while writing this one, I realized that Reaper will no longer be the only MMC (why choose, baby).
Made Woman, the novel formerly known as Make Me Bad, will officially be my debut dark romance novel and I feel really good about it. Of course, my editor hasn’t seen it yet so I still have a ways to go before I can crack the champagne. Many to-do list items stand between me and the finish line but this stage is the part I love. There is a book now. It’s not just an idea anymore. The story exists as a tangible thing and she’s thick. I can’t quite start the release day countdown click yet but I’m hoping I can pull it off as a Halloween birthday present to myself. I’ll share the covers and preorder links with you the day I make the release date official. If all goes as planned, the preorder links will include the ebook, standard paperback, discreet paperback, and hardcover. *all crossables are crossed*
Ruiner and Atropos have not gone untouched, either. I’ve still been working on both here and there while writing Made Woman. By the time I got to the end of Made Woman, all of the details that tie the books together in the shared world fell into place perfectly like snug little puzzle pieces. Knowing how it would all fit helped me flush out more of the Ruiner plot and I’ve got Atropos all figured out now as well. I will definitely be shifting to Atropos next. It’s ready to go and I hope everyone enjoys Harlow and her three men as much as I enjoy having them knocking around in my brain.
Stay tuned! When I check back in on September 3rd, I will have the Made Woman blurb and (crossables crossed) a release date announcement!
Are you an ARC reader or bookfluencer? Scroll down fore the Made Woman promo event and eARC sign ups!
Before I leave you, scroll down to scoop up some romance reads, all free, discounted, or featured in the Kindle Unlimited program.
Should this email get cut off due to length,
you can visit the my blog to get all of these reads!
Wishing you many dark fantasies & dirty dreams!
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To her ex, she was a pawn.
She’ll prove she was the queen all along.
MADE WOMAN, a standalone dark organized crime romance novel in the Dark Syndicates series by Avery Lennox.
Full Blurb, Release Date, & Preorder Link Coming Soon!
Romance Tropes & Plot Bunnies
This novel includes (but is not limited to) the following:
Metal Baddie FMC Full of Sunshine and Snark
Growly Morally Gray Crime Boss MMC
Ex’s Rival-to-Lovers
Fake Relationship
Shaky Alliance
Revenge Scheme
Ride-or-Die Trigger Happy Bestie
LGBTQIA+ Rep
LOL Moments
All the Banter
Touch Her and Die
Touch Him and Die
Organized Crime (Mafia/Cartel/Gangs/MC)
Spice Level
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Explicit Scenes – Very Hot
About the Dark Syndicates Series
The Dark Syndicates series is a world
of interconnected standalone dark romance novels.
The subgenre of each novel within the series varies,
including organized crime (mafia, cartel, bratva, street gang),
MC/biker, rock star, why choose, rom com, etc..
~✦~
TRIGGER WARNINGS: This novel contains dark adult themes that may not be suitable for sensitive readers. Potential triggers in this story include but are not limited to physical assault, sexual assault (off the page; not by the MMC), cheating (not by the MMC), kidnapping, various forms of organized crime and open discussion of their trades, alcohol consumption, substance use, gambling, presence and use of firearms, a sex club, various displays of dominance, a public display of submission (not by the FMC/MMC), and more. Please be advised and read responsibly.
ARC READERS AND BOOKFLUENCERS!
Promo + eARC Copy Sign Ups
Here are some reading recs for you!
These reads range from dark romance to spicy contemporary.
Almost all are NSFW so be sure to check your trigger warnings if that matters to you.
I was already carrying his child when Bratva King kidnapped me.
He did it to destroy my father. To break a rival dynasty that’s been soaked in blood for generations. Aleksei is Bratva royalty. I’m a mafia princess. We were born enemies in a war neither of us chose. To him, I was leverage. A pawn. A means to an end. But the man holding me captive isn’t my greatest danger.
Something is hunting us both — a shadow organization buried so deep it has roots in his empire and mine. The same conspiracy that murdered his brother. The same one that made my mother vanish without a trace. Now we’re trapped together, unraveling secrets our families died to protect.
He watches me like an obsession. Kills for me like instinct. Touches me like he’s claiming something he’ll never surrender. I came here as his prisoner. I’m leaving as something far more dangerous. Because I know the truth now. And so does he.
Our families didn’t start this war. But we’re going to end it…
A Kindle Unlimited Dark Mafia Romance Novel | More Information
“It was never a choice for me; loving this savage man or keeping my loyalty to my family.”
Aiden, Savannah’s most notorious bad boy, is also a known mafia prince. This deviant and delicious heir to the Antoni Mafia Family lives for the rush of danger and to make his family proud. With a new target posing a threat against his kingdom, Aiden will stop at nothing to take out everyone who dares mess with the Antoni name.
A hungry night of lust changed Willow’s life forever. After meeting a man she was warned to stay away from, Willow quickly found herself at the wrong place at the wrong time — the story of her life. He stalks her like prey, knowing he just needs one night for her to fall for him.
Now, she is being kidnapped by a powerful and ruthless mob boss and the lines between love and loyalty are becoming blurry.
A Kindle Unlimited Dark Mafia Romance Novel | More Information
Power. Desire. Consequence. (Now with 100% more chaos.)
A future queen with a conscience problem. A dangerously handsome guard sworn to hate her. A kingdom held together by prophecy, politics, and terrible life choices.
The Cord Between Two Queens: The Parody is a sharp-tongued, enemies-to-lovers fantasy romp that skewers epic romantasy tropes while still delivering forbidden attraction, deadly politics, and emotionally irresponsible royalty.
Princess Eradena is supposed to become a flawless ruler. Instead, she keeps questioning executions, falling for the wrong man, and accidentally threatening the foundations of the realm. Malachi is sworn to protect the crown — not fall for the woman who may destroy it.
Assassins, secret prophecies, magical bloodlines, and unresolved sexual tension collide in this fast-paced, satirical retelling of a deadly serious world.
Epic fantasy stakes. Romantic chaos. Zero chill.
A FREE Romantasy Novel | More Information
He forced her into his world. Now she’s threatening to tear it apart.
Dante Conti always gets what he wants. With $20 million missing from his family’s empire and betrayal threatening to tear his legacy apart, he’ll stop at nothing to uncover the truth. His solution? Forcing Emilia Ricci, the sharp-tongued woman who’s been a thorn in his side—and a temptation he can’t ignore—into marriage.
Emilia may be trapped in Dante’s world, but she refuses to be a pawn. She fights his control at every turn, her defiance as fiery as the attraction she can’t seem to shake. No matter how much she tries to resist him, there’s no denying the way his touch sets her blood on fire—or the way his gaze makes her forget she’s supposed to hate him.
But secrets run deep in Dante’s world, and Emilia quickly realizes that not everything is as it seems. Lies and betrayals are circling them both, and the closer they get to the truth, the more dangerous their connection becomes. With enemies closing in, they’ll have to decide if the fire between them is strong enough to survive—or if it will destroy them both.
A Kindle Unlimited Dark Mafia Romance | More Information
Four best friends. Four billion-dollar empires.
Four second chances at love they never saw coming💜
Welcome to San Francisco’s elite circle, where the city’s most powerful, sexy men are about to discover that success means nothing without someone to share it with.
They met at Berkeley—Dante Marino, Marcus Kane, Adrian Blackstone, and Brian MacLeod—four driven young men hungry to prove themselves. By their mid-twenties, they’d each built billion-dollar empires in real estate, AI technology, venture capital, and luxury hospitality. The press dubbed them the “Bad Boy Billionaires,” and the name stuck. Brilliant, ruthless in business, and devastatingly charismatic, they conquered Silicon Valley and the Bay Area with single-minded ambition.
But success came at a price. Each man carries regrets, choices made in the pursuit of wealth that left emotional wreckage in their wake. Dante destroys everything he touches despite building an empire from concrete and sweat. Marcus betrayed someone he loved to save his failing startup. Adrian’s controversial investments haunt him with ethical questions he can’t answer. Brian’s fear of commitment echoes his parents’ bitter divorce.
Now, fate is giving them a second chance, but only if they’re brave enough to take it.
When circumstances force each billionaire back into the orbit of the one woman he never forgot, sparks fly and old wounds resurface. From fake dating arrangements to secret babies, from forced proximity to forbidden attraction, these alpha males are about to learn that the hardest deal to close is the one that requires opening your heart.
Connected by their shared history and a charming San Francisco nursery store called Baby Bump, these four couples will discover that real wealth isn’t measured in dollars, it’s measured in love, forgiveness, and the courage to build something that lasts.
A Kindle Unlimited Boxed Set | More Information
This is where it begins. Not with love—but with recognition.
When Damien Blackwood first sees Harper Ellis, it is a chance sighting. A single moment in a quiet archive that should have meant nothing. Instead, it wakes something violent and inevitable inside him.
She is controlled, contained, starving for intensity she doesn’t yet understand. He sees it instantly—and once he does, he cannot unsee her. What begins as a glance becomes fixation. Fixation becomes obsession. Obsession becomes stalking.
Once Damien decides to hunt, there is no escape.
A FREE Prequel | More Information
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