Abbi Cook

Hey there, dark romance lovers! I'm Abbi Cook, and I write the kind of stories that would make your grandmother clutch her pearls and your book club reach for the smelling salts. (Don't worry - I take that as a compliment!)

Let me tell you a secret: I never meant to write mafia romance. Really! I started out thinking I'd write sweet contemporary romance, but then these deliciously dangerous men started taking over my imagination. You know the type - ruthless billionaires, dangerous hitmen, and mafia princes who definitely shouldn't be anyone's book boyfriends... but somehow end up stealing our hearts anyway.

My journey into the darker side of romance started when I realized all my "nice" heroes kept turning into antiheroes. What can I say? The heart wants what it wants! And my heart apparently wanted to write about morally gray men who'll burn down the world for the women they love. (My therapist probably has opinions about this, but we don't need to go there...)

If you've found your way to my books, you probably know me best for my Villains Club series, starring the infamous Rule brothers. These five billionaire bad boys have caused more kindle-clutching moments than I can count! It all started with Maddox Rule in "Rule" - the book that proved nice girls really do love bad boys. Then came "Burn" with Julian Rule (my secret favorite, but don't tell the others), followed by the absolutely explosive "Bang" featuring Helix Rule, who's definitely the most unhinged of the bunch.

I love writing family sagas where the darkness runs deep and the loyalty runs deeper. That's why I couldn't resist spinning off into the second generation with books like "Savage Heart" and "Ruthless Touch." Because let's be honest - bad boys raise even badder sons!

Before the Rule family took over my life, I wrote the Captive Hearts series, starting with "Beneath The Surface." These standalone stories follow different couples in the same dark world, where love blooms in the most dangerous places. (And yes, sometimes those places involve literal captivity - I warned you these weren't your mama's romance novels!)

What can you expect from my books? Well, here's my recipe: - One dangerously attractive antihero (usually armed) - One fierce heroine who's nobody's victim - A healthy dose of forbidden attraction - Family drama that puts the Sopranos to shame - Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Don't read these at work!) - A guaranteed HEA (because I'm dark, not cruel)

When I'm not writing about dangerous men and the women who tame them (sort of), I'm probably binge-watching true crime documentaries for "research" or convincing my family that my browser history is totally normal for someone in my profession. My husband has learned to stop asking questions when I'm googling things like "how long does it take to break into a secure compound?" at 3 AM.

I believe romance should be an escape, even (especially!) when it walks on the darker side. My books aren't for everyone, and that's okay! But if you like your love stories with a side of danger, your heroes morally ambiguous, and your happily-ever-afters hard-won, you're in the right place.

Fair warning: my characters tend to do whatever they want, regardless of my careful plotting. I've learned to just go with it. (Looking at you, Helix Rule, you beautiful disaster.) They're usually right in the end, even if they take us on one hell of a ride getting there.

Want to join my dark little corner of the romance world? I'd love to connect with you! You can find me on social media, where I regularly share snippets, teasers, and probably too many pictures of my coffee addiction. And yes, I read all my messages - though the Rule brothers have strongly suggested I get a screening service. (I told them to mind their own business.)

Remember: life's too short for boring books. Let's get dangerous together! 💋

XOXO, Abbi