Compulsion (Poison in My Veins 1) by Cynthia Eden-review
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 10, 2026
They wake up trapped together in a serial killer’s lair…hardly the meet-cute of her dreams. But then again, her dreams are usually nightmares so…
Lily Gallo knows killers. She should, after all, because serial killers are her specialty. She’s the daughter of a notorious serial killer, and she’s made it her life’s work to study the brutal predators. And, recently, she’s been researching the offspring of serials. She’s looking for others who are just like she is. Her research has brought her into the life of reclusive billionaire Atlas Bennett. He’d refused her repeated requests for a meeting. She’d suspected he might be following in his father’s brutal footsteps. But now…
They have to rely on each other for survival.
Atlas can’t believe it when he wakes up handcuffed to the beautiful and infuriating Lily. The woman thinks he’s as savage as his twisted father, but she has no clue what dark secrets he really holds. For the moment, though, escape is their priority. But once they get out of that hell, Lily will be his. He’d warned her to stay away. Now, it’s too late. Her fate is sealed.
A killer is after them both. To survive, they have to trust each other. They also have to stay very, very close to one another…
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REVIEW:COMPULSION is the first instalment in Cynthia Eden’s contemporary, adult POISON IN MY VEINS erotic, romantic suspense series. This is billionaire Atlas Bennett, and psychiatrist Dr. Lily Gallo’s story line.
NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.
Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Lily and Atlas, using present day and memories from the past, COMPULSION follows in the wake of the attack on, and abduction of our story line couple. Lily Gallo and Atlas Bennett are the adult children of serial killers. Lily is doing research on the children of killers, and she is hoping to interview our story line her but Lily and Atlas find themselves shackled together by an unknown perpetrator, and upon their rescue ends with the death of someone they know. As the police and federal agents begins to circle the wagons, looking at both Lily and Atlas as possible participants, someone else is taking aim at our story line couple.
The world building is detailed and complex as memories reveals the trauma and drama surrounding the early years of Lily and Atlas. Lily is hoping to dig deeper into the mind of the children of killers, but as she digs deeper, she discover the apple does not often fall far from the tree. As the law enforcement target our story line couple, Atlas becomes guardian and protector of the woman with whom he will fall in love.
The relationship between Lily and Atlas begins acrimoniously when our couple are attacked and abducted by an unknown source. Waking up together in places unknown, Lily will have to defend the man who struggles to trust in the wake of too many betrayals from the past. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, dynamic and often questionable secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to Lily’s mother Magnolia Calhoun; her best friend and fellow researcher Sloane Armstrong; FBI Special Agent Gage Emerick, and Detective Benedict Swain. The requisite evil has many faces.
COMPULSION is a suspenseful and intriguing story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, madness and murder, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is dark, dramatic and gritty; the romance is seductive; the characters are desperate, determined, and charismatic.
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
