I’ve always known things I shouldn’t know, and seen things I shouldn’t see—things no one else sees. One terrifying vision—and my reaction to it—lands me in Brocker’s Center for the Criminally Insane. I’m convinced I can survive my time here unscathed. After all, I’m not crazy. But after spending time with three guys—a schizophrenic with two personalities, a pathological liar who isn’t to be … to be trusted, and a nymphomaniac with a penchant for knives—I’m beginning to doubt my sanity.
Can I separate the real from the mad, or will this place make me spiral further down into the dark recesses of my mind?
Am I crazy?
I’ll let you decide…
This is a twisted Reverse Harem romance novel that’ll leave you questioning if what you’re reading is true, or just a Kiss Of Madness
**WARNING: This book contains themes and situations some readers may find sensitive including mental illness, assault, and attempted sexual assault.
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Loved this very unique romance
I don’t know what I was expecting when I picked up A Kiss of Madness, but it blew every idea I had out of the water! Though it is certainly dark, and not suited for everyone, I really enjoyed this dark RH read!
I’ve never read such a well written twist on a book dubbed with an insanity theme. These co-authors made the experience feel like you were realistically there. They didnt overexaggerate the illness but they didnt shy away from some of the ugliest sides of it either. Harriet has to be my favorite person. Even though shes a minor character. Lydia lives with and deals with things that I would have no idea how to articulate so well, even for fiction. And for the love of God. The men pull off their “afflictions” so well without being overly dramatized. That’s what I appreciate. That it’s not an exaggerated mockery of illness like some fictional stories make it out to be. The twists, plot and romance are on point. These two authors work incredibly well together. Theres no dialect differentiation whatsoever so you never truly notice the difference between who wrote which part. I would love to see more work done between these two authors. Much more work.
Such a wonderful and delicious mindf**k! This dynamic duo just created an exceptional love story from the darkest corners of their minds. And we must all thank them now for such an amazing read! If you love a dark and thrilling story, read on!
A wonderfully disturbing read! It had me questioning everything I assumed was happening. I couldn’t put it down, I definitely recommend reading this book, as long as you don’t mind some darkly disturbing scenes. I sincerely hope that the authors decide to write another one or two books, making this a trilogy. ….
I was not sure what to expect going into this read, but that wasn’t it. This turned out to be so much more than I imagined. What an incredibly beautiful, scary, nerve racking, at times confusing, story that kept me on the edge of my seat! I almost want to read a sequel just to see how things pan out after everything. At times while reading this I wasn’t sure I wasn’t the one losing my mind. The characters, especially Lydia, were amazingly well written. This whole story was amazingly well written, the detail, the other patients in the ward, the routine, the monotony of confinement. It was all incredibly realistic and surprisingly accurate. I love stories like these, the whole mind screw is rewarding when you get to the end and see it all unravel. I am highly impressed by this read and can not recommend this enough.
This book had a certain Hitchcock feel to it as a reader. And I mean that in the best way because he was truly visionary with his “did that just really happen??!!” shocking moments. You know, it’s like you’re not quite sure if what you’re reading is happening or what the writer wants you to think – but it’s really not what you’re thinking. Hahaha. Get it?
To quote the Princess Bride movie, “I do not think it means what you think it means.”
I will say, this is my first time reading these two authors together and their writing is flawless. Sometimes when reading a duo I can sense the break in prose and it takes me out of the book. This *isn’t the case.
This book is brilliant. Full of mystery, secrets and some pretty scenes. Just go read it and prepare for awesomeness.
A Kiss Of Madness Kindle Edition
by Stacy Jones (Author), K.B. Everly (Author)
I borrowed this book via the Kindle Unlimited program. I am choosing to leave a fair and honest review.
One part Wes Craven and two parts Hitchcock, A Kiss Of Madness is a psychological horror story wrapped in a Reverse Harem Romance jacket.
Told entirely from the unreliable viewpoint of Lydia, the story unfolds. After a moment of weakness and an act of violence, Lydia is given a plea deal that places her in a hospital for the criminally insane.
There, she has to fight for every ounce of sanity she can keep. She has visions of the future and sometimes, the present. Faced with a mystery that she needs to solve to save her sanity… and her life, she relies on three patients, three men. A pathological liar, the two personalities of a man with MPD and a nymphomaniac who likes knives.
The story is well laid out, with breadcrumbs that are fairly well hidden. The men don’t really get much opportunity to evolve. They appear for some smexy time and a few scenes. The story is mostly about Lydia and the mystery she needs to solve.
The authors’ world-building of the hospital is disturbing, claustrophobic and haunting. The side-characters are not filled in, they are more sketches of people. But that fits with the story-telling of the unreliable Lydia.
The ending, an attempt at a big twist, isn’t great because it is the oldest one in the book, literally.
Unfortunately, we leave the story when we could happily have another book. This is a stand-alone that is heavy on the triggers.
3 ½ stars out of 5 rounded up to 4 out of 5
https://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Madness-Stacy-Jones-ebook/dp/B07L5YTSBG
*WARNING* contains adult situations
Lydia is different. Lydia has visions (I think) about future events, but her very rich, pompous parents think she’s crazy. Lydia has particularly real and disturbing vision in public and caused some damaged, so her pompous parents made a deal to put Lydia in the home for the Criminality Insane for 2 months, voluntarily, and her transgression would be forgotten.
This book is not what I was expecting. It’s quite different from anything I’ve read. There many twists in this book, so if you think you’ve got something all figured out, you probably don’t. I read it from cover to cover and still not sure if Lydia is gifted or a bit crazy! I think it takes a talented author to make the reader second guess themselves. If your looking for a great story that’s out of the “normal” range, this will fit.
Paranormalish. Rh. 3 guys. Asylum. Clairvoyant\Empath Heroine. After an hysterical breakdown in a cafe, Lydia’s forced to choose between jail time and 2 months of therapy in a mental institution. Easy choice right? So so good guys.
Awesome Characters
Having you second guessing
Sexy Guys and Steamy Scenes
And an ending you’ll never guess.
Definitely top 10 reads of the year. Recommended read.
Finding herself locked in a mental institution, Lydia Bloom thinks she will be able to get through the 2 month stay relatively smoothly…voluntary commital..that or jail time and there is no way her uptight parents will have their surname dragged through the mud.
Things change pretty quickly for Lydia and she soon finds herself reacting to the horrors that linger within the institution… as some one who is emphatic and has visions… she soon finds out that her smooth stay is not going to go as smooth….even with the aid of 3 patients who she just can’t stay away from.
Ok so I’ve read books by Stacy Jones before, her Chosen series is reverse harem at it’s finest… K.B.Everly,however is a new to me author.
I was intrigued by the blurb and dived in. To say this was a great story is an understatement. It’s dark and gritty and funny and hawt. I loved the concept of the love interest within the institution. It was a refreshing change and executed so well. I did see where it was going but that was ok… I just sat back and enjoyed the ride.
Not normally known for my enjoyment of romantic suspense or romantic thrillers…this book was gobbled up in one go. I loved the atmosphere and tone within the book. It was well executed and believeable. I loved lydia’s Character and her way of naming people was both very humanising and endearing…it also brought the much welcome laughs to balance the dark and suspense.
Altogether a pretty great read. If these two authors collaborate again in the future, I’m so down for reading.
This is a very complex, twisted read. It is definitely the a unique RH novel- thus the 5stars. I felt I was hanging on every word from start to finish.. and oh what a twist.
Our clairvoyant MC and embarrassment of a rich daughter, Lydia Bloom, after an hysterical breakdown in a cafe, is forced to choose between jail time and 2 months of therapy in a mental institution. Who wants jail time? What’s an easy 2 months that can get her snobbish parents away from her?
This story is so believable. The authors didn’t overexaggerate mental illness but they didn’t shy away from some of the ugly truths either. The monotony and routine of being institutionalized, the emabarrasment of having to do things supervised, the other patients afflictions- Rob the Chess Licker, Darla the Klepto, Harriet the Remote Hoarder- everything was so well written and detailed that you felt you were there.
Now enters Mysterious Man Bun, Pretty Giant, Sexy Schizo. Love the names by the way. They help her manage through her darkest times. They were so uniquely well developed for not playing uber major roles. They did not detract from the MC but helped define her character.
This book will have you start questioning if this is really happening or all a hallucination? The danger and creep factor increase so steadily that you don’t even realize it until wham… climax. You start to question and doubt your own sanity. What did I just read, what just happened? The authors need to give me closure to this madness, because I cannot take not getting to see more of the guys with Lydia. We are all mad here!