Book Boyfriends and Booze

In Dancing with the Devil, Francesca works for the enigmatic and powerful Dr. Dante Kincaid, a psychiatrist with dark secrets. When a business trip forces them to share a suite, her curiosity leads her to uncover the dangerous side he tries to keep hidden. Dante, battling his own demons, becomes consumed by his obsession with Francesca, despite knowing it could destroy them both. The novel delves into dark, troubling themes, including forbidden desire, control, and obsession, while maintaining a dark romance filled with tension and intense emotions.

Is he your next book boyfriend?

This is a fast-paced novella that packs a lot into its 200 pages. It’s like a spicy snack—quick, satisfying, but leaves you wishing it had just a little more flavor in some spots. We’ve got Dr. Dante Kincaid, a brooding boss who sleepwalks… and does other things while sleepwalking. Oops. The story follows Francesca, a virtual assistant to Dr. Dante Kincaid, whose gruff demeanor hides a possessive obsession with her. While the story’s plot revolves around a work trip that forces the two into close proximity, the real intrigue lies in the dark romantic tension that brews between them. Francesca, who initially despises Dante, finds herself drawn to him as his hidden desires surface.

The novel’s success lies in its ability to balance dark romance themes—dubious consent, stalker tendencies, and possessiveness—with a surprisingly light touch. Richardson cleverly uses Dante’s sleepwalking as a device to build both tension and intimacy between the pair. Although the sleepwalking sex scenes introduce questionable consent, they’re written creatively enough to keep you intrigued rather than cringing. However, the rushed progression from sexual tension to a full-blown fairytale ending feels unbalanced.

The real charm here is in the sexual tension, which is built up nicely for a short novella. Francesca and Dante’s back-and-forth has a cat-and-mouse vibe that keeps you hooked, even if their sudden leap from coworkers to fairy-tale bliss feels like someone hit the fast forward button. 

Character development with these two suffered a bit due to the novella’s length. Dante’s obsessive behavior feels underdeveloped as the plot races through the ten days in San Francisco on their work trip, only to jump into a picture-perfect conclusion with minivan included. While some readers might enjoy the quick pacing and spice, the lack of time spent on exploring the complexities of Dante’s past and Francesca’s emotions leaves the ending feeling somewhat forced. The move from work colleagues to lovers, then to an ideal family setup, could have been more believable had the story spent more time fleshing out their relationship dynamics.

Our only gripe is that Dante goes from mysterious, brooding psychiatrist to “I sold my rare car collection and gave up my mansion for you” a little too fast. We get it—who doesn’t love  a grand romantic gesture, looking at you Noah from The Notebook—but come on, man, where’s your backbone! At some point, even the possessive bad boys need a little balance. Still, if you want a quick dive into dark romance without the commitment, this one’s a solid, steamy choice. He may not be a forever dark romance Book Boyfriend, but Dante will be a rebound if you’re looking for something quick and easy.

In the end, Dancing with the Devil offers an engaging, steamy read for those who enjoy dark romance with a sprinkle of possessiveness and light danger. If you’re looking for a quick dip into dark romance, but aren’t ready to go into the deep end with The Ritual or Haunting Adeline, this novella might just satisfy that craving.

If you want more edgy commentary, join us on our podcast, Book Boyfriends & Booze and as always, here are your spicy chapters: 6, 10, 15, 16, 18, epilogue….  We would never leave you without 😉