REVIEW: Dark Romance AU by Beth Christopher (Because Canon Sucks Series)

- July 01, 2026

DARK ROMANCE AU

Because Canon Sucks Series

by Beth Christopher

Release Date: July 1, 2026

Review

Hitman falling for his mark is always a good time. As is this story.

Found in a compromising and dangerous situation, the man who’s come to off him, saves him instead. Then sets out to prove he should never have been a target.

It’s kind of swoony in a dark, dirty kind of way. And I really enjoyed our tough hitman man was a bit of a marshmallow for Rowan.

It was a good addition to this multi-author series, and has intrigued me enough to read some more by this author.

Add to your TBR List

GOODREADS LINK

Synopsis

I was sent to kill him. Instead, I saved his life and signed my own death warrant.

Rowan was supposed to be my mark, but I don’t touch innocents. It’s my only rule. He may be grumpy, work outside the law, and look like he’s lost faith in humanity, but my gut says he’s not the kind of guy who usually winds up on my list. Me and my inconvenient morals, though. To keep him alive, I’ll have to find out who’s behind this. And if, while I’m helping him, he decides to thank me with his body? I’m not saying no. Except this overgrown male escort doesn’t just get under my clothes. He gets under my skin. Once I’ve decided he’s mine to protect, there’s no turning back. I’ll drop as many bodies as I have to.

Dark Romance AU is part of the multiauthor series Because Canon Sucks! It is a morally gray MM romance with a Very Large male escort who’s met his match in a mouthy, bratty hit man who he may or may not have shot on purpose. It contains bickering during smexy times, death as a love language, and a bearded dragon named Iggy the Iguana. (Yes, we know bearded dragons aren’t the same as iguanas, but Rowan didn’t at the time and the little guy answers to it now, Kevin)

Tags: M/M romance, “you f*ckin’ shot me” becomes a true love match, beware of hit men wearing lacy boxer briefs, guns, trapped under a d3ad body, minor on-page torture, dangerous situations, sex club, pet daddy (as in he has a pet that he loves like a child, not as in—you get it), male escort/assassin, unaliving, only one bed, humiliation kink, morally gray, enemies to lovers, loyal dog, forced proximity, he pays with his body, protector hero, a bit of “I know what’s best for you.”

About Beth Christopher

Beth Christopher is not part of the cool kids club. She’s part of the “went to bed early with her dog and a book” club, the “said something awkward in public again” club, and founding member of the “got distracted thinking about ramen again” club (the meetings involve sitting lost in thought while her cats judge her). She writes down the stories in her head when she remembers to, and when she’s not writing she’s likely doing unusual kitchen things like making cheese out of cashews, or watching Ted Lasso. She lives with her family and her fur babies in Belle Argo, Florida.

Where to find them: