Ice melting hockey romance!
Sweet Venom
Vipers
New Adult, Hockey Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance
Bloom Books
December 2, 2025
Kindle, Audiobook, Paperback
464
Can I outrun his merciless obsession?
I accidentally witnessed a brutal murder.
I froze, pretended I saw nothing, hoping I could leave it behind.
But my plan backfired, and my life spiraled downward.
Now, I’m the target of cold-blooded revenge.
Jude Callahan isn’t just a hockey god—he’s a devil no one dares to cross.
My existence disrupts his stardom, prestige, and possible serial killer career choice.
And he’s set out to make me pay for that moment of silence.
No matter how much I run or hide, he finds me, watching from the shadows.
Like a predator.
I thought he’d stop at the stalking.
Or even better, he’d kill me and finally end my misery.
But Jude has other plans.
He says I can’t die. I have to pay for my sins.
And just like that, he drags me into his depraved world, kicking and screaming.
Rina Kent’s books allow me to explore a world that I would never allow for myself.
I don’t believe I’ve read any books by Rina Kent that didn’t have a m*rderer as a main-character. It provides quite the challenge. I go into each of these stories knowing full well I wouldn’t willingly choose a murderous and possessive person for a partner. Yet, I enjoy reading through the journeys of her characters and seeing their redemption. Even if they’re only redeeming quality is loving one person passionately.
In Sweet Venom, Violet is doing her best to remain invisible in a world that has only been cruel to her since birth. The timeline is shifted back a little bit, and starts with Dahlia still living with Violet. If you’ve read Beautiful Venom, you know where Dahlia’s storyline is headed. In an effort to protect Dahlia, her only family, Violet hides a lot from her. She pretends she doesn’t feel self-hatred, isn’t borderline s*icidal, and isn’t being stalked by someone dangerous.
Perhaps the only reason I don’t hate Jude immediately is because I trust Rina Kent as an author.
Jude is menacing, taunting, and invades Violet’s privacy long before she even knows he’s around. He claims that he owns her life. That it’s life to end. Sounds totally terrible, and yet I’m reading and wondering “when will he kiss her?”. I don’t ever see how Rina will turn me soft for a horrible, red-flagged man, but she has her magical ways in nearly every book.
The tension has been built so high for the next book, Tempting Venom. I can’t handle it! It comes out in June, and is about two people I’ve been side eyeing since book one. Their supposed hatred and violence toward each other has just been white hot flames in the background of both books. I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
Kristin lives in the PNW with her husband, and three kids. She loves to read YA fiction, fantasy, and romance. She enjoys a few side-hustles, including creating bookreels/booktoks for authors. The only shows she watches are re-runs, and if she’s not reading a book, she’s listening to one.
