The Poison of Bitterness by Serenity Snow
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Alstroemeria

Remi can feel the presence of a ghost lurking, lying in wait to destroy the life she’s building with Sarina. She knows her own fears are part of the danger that could prevent her from being happy.

Then, the ghost makes his first move, and Remi is certain it’s only the first wave and prepares to deal with the trouble before it turns into a nightmare. But what Remi doesn’t know is there’s shadow with a twisted plan of its own. So, as Remi lays her plan, the shadow makes moves that plunge Remi into the middle of a murder investigation that tears the scab off old wounds and reveals dark secrets bound to destroy two families.

As she navigates the murky waters, Sarina is kidnapped, and Remi is prepared to do whatever it takes to get Sarina back and close the doors of the past for good.

The Poison of Bitterness is fifth in the Cozy Bend mystery series, but as a novel it can surely stand on its own. Main characters Remi and Sarina have already been through their fair share of struggles within the town’s limits, but little do they know that trying to plan a wedding with their two best friends will be the least of their problems!

While the heat between Remi and Sarina is scorching, will they be able to take it when their enemies begin to rain fire over them? Each moment of the novel feels like standing on the edge of the unknown, wondering if they will make it out unscathed. Remi and Sarina as characters are written with very strong opposing characteristics, but somehow it is those differences that pull them together in their relationship. Sarina’s extreme patience and independence is the perfect match for Remi’s hot temper and suspicious mind. While things often come to a head between them, Sarina is always able to communicate with Remi and help her away from her dark past and her trust issues.

They also have zero issues communicating in the bedroom. The few steamy scenes we were gifted throughout the book show the established trust between the two that might be questioned elsewhere within the novel. As two powerful women, the ‘strong heroine lead’ role is not just fulfilled by one of them, but rather they split the lead with their own unique characteristics. This power dynamic is also fully alive and visible in their relationship as well. The partnership is completely 50-50, even if control is oftentimes given to Remi in the bedroom.

The story was very fast-paced, and at moments I think the action could have been fleshed out a bit more and extended, just to really seal in that suspense. But all in all, this story had just the right amount of tension. Serenity Snow was able to pack a lifetime in 30 chapters, leaving no stone unturned, and no women unsatisfied.

I have only read this book of the series, but I would like to go back and read the four previous. I would love to see this rubber band of tension stretched from page one! I recommend this to anyone who likes a lot of twists and turns, and powerful women.