
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Michelle

A sinfully intoxicating romance!!!! If you haven’t heard of L.J. Shen then I’m here to tell you, that you better get your one click fingers ready because Vicious is the book of 2017 that needs to be on your radar. Yes, L.J. Shen is a vicious woman indeed as she masterfully crafted a story that will having you begging for more. This book will consume you in such an insurmountable way that you will want your life to be consumed by the Four HotHoles of Todo Santos.

If you read the novella, Defy then you were introduced to one of the most enigmatic, sexy and dangerous anti-hero, Baron Spencer also known as Vicious. Keep in my mind it is not necessary to read Defy, since Vicious can most definitely be read as a standalone.


Baron Vicious Spener is indeed vicious. He is calculating, manipulative, smart, cunning, powerful, rich and of course oozes danger and sex. He is everything that you know you must stay away from but yet he has that appeal that tempts you to enter the dark side.

Emilia LeBlanc is beautiful, innocent, strong, and determined. She is one of those heroines that immediately pulls you into the story. She is a sexy blend of fierceness and beauty.
Emilia’s parents happens to works for the Spencer family and immediately Vicious torments Emilia. He calls her The Help in order to show that he has control, power, and money. As much as Vicious torments Emilia, there is this strong sexual tension brewing between them. It was hate, anger, lust, and passion all combined. And when Emilia started dating Vicious’s best friend, the hate/lust brewing between them ignited into a whole new level. Vicious played his cards right when he used the ultimate power move, he threatened Emilia forcing her to leave behind her family and relationship with Dean.

Fast forward to ten year later, Vicious and Emilia’s lives would collide once again. And this time, Vicious wants Emilia to be part of his master plan of revenge. Not only does he want her to be his puppet but he also wants her for himself only. You see Vicious has always had a thing for Emilia. She intrigued him in ways that no one ever could. She gotten under his skin. She tattooed herself into his black and closed off heart. And most importantly, she is the only person who knew his secret.

As Vicious forces Emilia to work for him, she finds herself falling hard for him. He consumes her. Owns her body. And just like a cherry blossom, she saw the beauty, truth, and vulnerability of Vicious. She was able to unmasked the darkness and see his different shades of color. But just as delicate a cherry blossom is, she knew that giving her heart is a risk she must be willing to take as loving Vicious, one must be willing to love the scattered pieces. So can Emilia love the broken and flawed Vicious? And can Vicious win Emilia’s heart without any strings and manipulation?


The push and pull of Vicious and Emilia was written perfection. L.J. Shen had me loving these two hard. These two were the epitome of strong, beautifully flawed characters. Shen did an amazing job showcasing their character growth in such a visceral and beautiful manner. The transformation of their hate/love relationship made their romantic journey so palpable that I wanted to savor every moment with them.

Vicious was everything that I wanted in a contemporary romance. It was edgy, bold, consuming, and brilliantly written. L.J. Shen has written a story that was like poetry. It was cunning, smart, sexy, provocative, and visceral. The characters were portrayed in such in all-consuming fashion that layers of their vulnerability and truth held you hostage. Vicious is a story that took enemies to lovers in a whole new level. It is a hallmark of a love that paints a literary canvas of where passion, hate, love, and truth collides. So are you ready to fall in love with the splashes of color, boldness, and ferocious beauty that L.J. Shen paints with her words.
