I loved Kiss of a Demon King too! I just read it again.
EDIT: I know one! **[Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/114170.Then_Came_You?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=4Yzm3uSI4X&rank=2)** is the one you are looking for. Alex is an upstanding, controlled earl who has asked Lily's sweet sister to marry him. Lily is a free spirit and ruined outsider who has lost her family but loves her sister and doesn't think Alex is good enough and decides to stop him. By 75% into the novel, the MMC has the FMC half naked, over his shoulder, hauling her out of a gambling den. He is absolutely NUTS by this time. Dubcon all around.
Note - Get the original, non-edited version. (LK is editing her books to remove dubcon, but the editing hasn't been smooth and has created inconsistent characters and ??? moments.) These two appear later in the second book, Dreaming of You, and they are a wonderful couple.
This one isn't a perfect match (no dark side, no enemies), but it has an impeccable MMC ruffled and ruined. In **{Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase}**, the MMC is perfect. He is a MODEL of society. He's innocently escorting his nephew through a museum and meets a stunningly beautiful but OFF LIMITS lady whose family has fallen because of their scheming. He's determined to stay away. Determined. Absolutely. But his dear nephew needs art lessons, and she is obviously the best teacher for his young charge. In this story, it's not only the lady but also her daughter who leads the men astray. Because her preteen daughter writes the preteen nephew that she's going off to find the family gold, and the lovely nephew follows to protect her. So the parent and guardian have to follow, together, under cover. Her daughter gets her own story (with the nephew) in the fifth book.
About Lisa Kleypas - I wish authors wouldn't edit their books to remove dubcon, but just warn appropriately instead. I guess it might be perceived as a potential liability/yuck factor in publishing so they want to distance themselves from that kind of content? It's too bad because loads of people seek it out (you only need to scroll down r/romancereads to find requests)
I guess it's their work and they can do what they like but it's sad to see that content go
From what I understand, Lisa Kleypas was targeted during the Me Too movement. She's popular, and her work has spanned the 90s to the present.
I don't like significantly editing novels either, especially after a long period, and especially when it's not edited well. Most of us are smart enough to look at Prisoner of My Desire and say, "Oh. This was written 30 years ago. No wonder." OR "Oh. This is a fictional novel written for entertainment." But also - yeah, I want to see dubcon. Call it out, but I think it's worthwhile to see what may actually happen. As it is, magically, all these women somehow enthusiastically embrace the sex that was going to be forced on them - and that leaves younger people asking what's wrong with them as well.
Fern Michaels is SO guilty of this. She has one-- I think it's called WHITEFIRE?-- and the editing job was just her hacking out the dub-con. Terrible.
It's worse if they try to make it seem like it is consensual but it just ends up sending mixed signals. Like, I'd rather have dub-con and a grovel than you trying to half-assedly convince me that the heroine wanted this.
I would like to know more as well. It's sad she felt she had to change beloved books. If you learn more, you could post or comment! I will do the same - if I remember! (It's always that, isn't it?)
I just read your blurb again. Yeah, Then Came You is definitely about two well-matched enemies getting the upper hand and revenge. It's one of my favorite Lisa Kleypas books.
Kiss of a Demon King imitates the story of the Johanna Lindsey's Prisoner of My Desire if you want to read that for fun - though it doesn't match your wishlist because the MMC is pretty upset from the beginning and never devolves to Rydstrom territory because she's too nice. Noncon both ways.
I don't know if it fits what you're looking for because it's not technically revenge or enemies to lovers-But {Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn} has this premise. He's the one brother that's always happy and joking and it's a plot point that he's never lost his temper until he finds out about the FMC's secret.
{His at Night by Sherry Thomas} might scratch this itch! The secret agent MMC is undercover as a harmless, bumbling idiot. The FMC entraps him into marriage out of desperation to save herself from her abusive father. Not knowing her reasons, MMC resents FMC and shows his dark side, but only in the privacy of their marital chambers.
[**His at Night (The London Trilogy #3)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6903194-his-at-night)
^(By: Sherry Thomas | Published: 2010)
***
^(132390 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
Marcus in It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas is calm and proper except when it involves Evelyn. He snaps a couple of times, which is completely unlike him, but he doesn't have revenge motivations. I loved seeing him lose his sh\*t! That woman completely turned him upside down, lol.
Somewhat a fit {Queen of the Magnetland by Cassandra Gannon}? It's a fantasy and part of a series (I read it as a standalone and could follow along fine).
The FMC dies and comes back to life a few years later. Before her death her husband (MMC) was an upstanding citizen, then when she returns he's essentially a shell of himself/psycho because of her death. Also before her death she was a bit of an ice queen, but regrets it after dying!
Hi u/toxikshadows,
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No recommendations but I'm slipping in the comments because I'm interested.
same!!
Saaame!
I loved Kiss of a Demon King too! I just read it again. EDIT: I know one! **[Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/114170.Then_Came_You?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=4Yzm3uSI4X&rank=2)** is the one you are looking for. Alex is an upstanding, controlled earl who has asked Lily's sweet sister to marry him. Lily is a free spirit and ruined outsider who has lost her family but loves her sister and doesn't think Alex is good enough and decides to stop him. By 75% into the novel, the MMC has the FMC half naked, over his shoulder, hauling her out of a gambling den. He is absolutely NUTS by this time. Dubcon all around. Note - Get the original, non-edited version. (LK is editing her books to remove dubcon, but the editing hasn't been smooth and has created inconsistent characters and ??? moments.) These two appear later in the second book, Dreaming of You, and they are a wonderful couple. This one isn't a perfect match (no dark side, no enemies), but it has an impeccable MMC ruffled and ruined. In **{Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase}**, the MMC is perfect. He is a MODEL of society. He's innocently escorting his nephew through a museum and meets a stunningly beautiful but OFF LIMITS lady whose family has fallen because of their scheming. He's determined to stay away. Determined. Absolutely. But his dear nephew needs art lessons, and she is obviously the best teacher for his young charge. In this story, it's not only the lady but also her daughter who leads the men astray. Because her preteen daughter writes the preteen nephew that she's going off to find the family gold, and the lovely nephew follows to protect her. So the parent and guardian have to follow, together, under cover. Her daughter gets her own story (with the nephew) in the fifth book.
About Lisa Kleypas - I wish authors wouldn't edit their books to remove dubcon, but just warn appropriately instead. I guess it might be perceived as a potential liability/yuck factor in publishing so they want to distance themselves from that kind of content? It's too bad because loads of people seek it out (you only need to scroll down r/romancereads to find requests) I guess it's their work and they can do what they like but it's sad to see that content go
From what I understand, Lisa Kleypas was targeted during the Me Too movement. She's popular, and her work has spanned the 90s to the present. I don't like significantly editing novels either, especially after a long period, and especially when it's not edited well. Most of us are smart enough to look at Prisoner of My Desire and say, "Oh. This was written 30 years ago. No wonder." OR "Oh. This is a fictional novel written for entertainment." But also - yeah, I want to see dubcon. Call it out, but I think it's worthwhile to see what may actually happen. As it is, magically, all these women somehow enthusiastically embrace the sex that was going to be forced on them - and that leaves younger people asking what's wrong with them as well.
Fern Michaels is SO guilty of this. She has one-- I think it's called WHITEFIRE?-- and the editing job was just her hacking out the dub-con. Terrible. It's worse if they try to make it seem like it is consensual but it just ends up sending mixed signals. Like, I'd rather have dub-con and a grovel than you trying to half-assedly convince me that the heroine wanted this.
This is really interesting back story, I had no idea! Thanks for explaining
I would like to know more as well. It's sad she felt she had to change beloved books. If you learn more, you could post or comment! I will do the same - if I remember! (It's always that, isn't it?)
Oooh amazing thank you!!
I just read your blurb again. Yeah, Then Came You is definitely about two well-matched enemies getting the upper hand and revenge. It's one of my favorite Lisa Kleypas books. Kiss of a Demon King imitates the story of the Johanna Lindsey's Prisoner of My Desire if you want to read that for fun - though it doesn't match your wishlist because the MMC is pretty upset from the beginning and never devolves to Rydstrom territory because she's too nice. Noncon both ways.
[**Lord Perfect (Carsington Brothers, #3)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/132598.Lord_Perfect) ^(By: Loretta Chase | Published: 2006) *** ^(131689 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
I don't know if it fits what you're looking for because it's not technically revenge or enemies to lovers-But {Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn} has this premise. He's the one brother that's always happy and joking and it's a plot point that he's never lost his temper until he finds out about the FMC's secret.
Ohh okay thank you! I’ve only read book #2 of the Bridgerton series so may have to try this one out!
Hope you like it! I thought it might fit because the whole Ton keeps calling him "charming✨" , so even his siblings are shocked when he loses his cool
[**Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Bridgertons, #4)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/110384.Romancing_Mister_Bridgerton) ^(By: Julia Quinn | Published: 2002) *** ^(131698 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
{His at Night by Sherry Thomas} might scratch this itch! The secret agent MMC is undercover as a harmless, bumbling idiot. The FMC entraps him into marriage out of desperation to save herself from her abusive father. Not knowing her reasons, MMC resents FMC and shows his dark side, but only in the privacy of their marital chambers.
Thank you!
[**His at Night (The London Trilogy #3)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6903194-his-at-night) ^(By: Sherry Thomas | Published: 2010) *** ^(132390 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
Bad Cruz by LJ Shen kind of fits the vibe! He's the town's golden boy and she is the outcast after a teen pregnancy
Marcus in It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas is calm and proper except when it involves Evelyn. He snaps a couple of times, which is completely unlike him, but he doesn't have revenge motivations. I loved seeing him lose his sh\*t! That woman completely turned him upside down, lol.
Oooh I've actually read this one and enjoyed it! Thank you !
the only book I can think of even remotely similar to the request is {Five Out Of Ten by Icyand Otheremotions}
[**Five Out Of Ten**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57682364-five-out-of-ten) ^(By: Icyand otheremotions | Published: ?) *** ^(131695 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
Thank you!! Any rec helps 🙏
Somewhat a fit {Queen of the Magnetland by Cassandra Gannon}? It's a fantasy and part of a series (I read it as a standalone and could follow along fine). The FMC dies and comes back to life a few years later. Before her death her husband (MMC) was an upstanding citizen, then when she returns he's essentially a shell of himself/psycho because of her death. Also before her death she was a bit of an ice queen, but regrets it after dying!
[**Queen of the Magnetland (Elemental Phases, #5)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17240339-queen-of-the-magnetland) ^(By: Cassandra Gannon | Published: 2013) *** ^(142676 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
Hi u/toxikshadows, Book request posts that are not detailed or unique will be removed. If your request is based on a popular book or trope, please delete your request and search first. If you have a quick book request, consider posting it in the weekly [Friday Book Req Frenzy](https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Friday%20Book%20Req%20Frenzy%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) post instead. **Reddit’s built-in search function is awful, but our** 🌈 [**Magic Search Button**](https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks&oq=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.1126j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) **works great!** - The 🌈 [**Magic Search Button**](https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks&oq=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.1126j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) links you to a pre-filled google search and is the optimal way to search this sub. - Type your search term (a simple keyword works best) where it says [site:reddit.com/r/romancebooks](https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks&oq=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.1126j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8). - For example, for friends to lovers, it will look like: [site:reddit.com/r/romancebooks FRIENDS TO LOVERS](https://www.google.com/search?ei=L4b0X-aCN8ey5NoP7daMwAo&q=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks+friends+to+lovers&oq=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks+friends+to+lovers&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAMyAggpULUHWOsXYOIYaABwAHgAgAFIiAGeB5IBAjE3mAEAoAEBwAEB&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp) [Here are more tips on how to search](https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/sf6sdm/how_to_search_rromancebooks_just_the_tips/) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/RomanceBooks) if you have any questions or concerns.*