House of Rayne by Harley LaRoux was one of the books I was most excited to read in 2025. I adore Harley LaRoux’s writing. Their duet, Losers, is one of my favorite romance duets of all time. When House of Rayne appeared on my porch as if by magic after I won a Goodreads giveaway, I dove straight into this gothic sapphic romance.
Blackridge Island, isolated on the coast of the Pacific Northwest, is the perfect place for Salem Lockard to escape after her fiancé left her right before their wedding. She sets out for Balfour B&B, a historic manor run by the mysterious Rayne Balfour.
Right from the start, the island is a little strange. No visitor stays on the island past November 1st, two weeks after Salem’s arrival. Salem is booked on the last ferry out before the island closes for winter, and Rayne is worried that’s cutting it a little close.
The residents have deep roots on the island, and there’s a religious fervor among many of the townsfolk. What at first seems merely quirky quickly turns ominous when someone is found brutally murdered, and Salem learns it’s not the first gruesome crime to happen on Blackgridge.
Despite the danger, Salem finds herself entranced by the sexy and secretive Rayne, and Rayne can’t seem to stay away, even if she knows that Salem will be doomed if she doesn’t leave the island.
With a monster terrorizing the island — with everyone there its prey — Rayne is only certain of one thing: that she needs to fight to protect Salem, even if it means revealing vile secrets and ripping open old wounds. It’s all worth it to save her.
I knew from the character art that I had seen long before the book was in my hands that I would love these characters, but they surpassed even those high expectations. Rayne and Salem are perfect opposites. They complement each other beautifully.
House of Rayne is much more plot-driven than the Losers duet, more like their also fabulous Souls trilogy. Yet it does not sacrifice character development at all. Little details give these characters meaningful depth, like their shared love of Stevie Nicks, Rayne’s preferred whiskey, and Salem’s love of Halloween.
Rayne especially has a rich lore and backstory that fuels the events of the book. Beyond that, it’s clear to readers how this history has shaped every piece of her. She’s such a special character and really resonated with me.
I’ve been seeing the phrase “there’s no hate quite like Christian love” and its variations flying around a lot lately, and this book really captures that idea in some of its characters and themes. Persecution through religion is a huge piece of this book, and it really explores the enormous danger of religious fanaticism through an eldritch monster.
If only holiness were as hereditary as greed.
Readers can really picture the manor, the forest, and the island in such a visceral way with stunning, lush descriptions. If it weren’t for all the creepiness, this place would be idyllic.
House of Rayne has a wickedly enticing plot. It’s a combination of a classic sort of gothic romance and supernatural horror that makes it perfect for a fall read.
High-stakes, tense moments of action are peppered with perfect frequency throughout this story, as are the spicy scenes that break up the fear and horror with pleasure and joy.
Rayne and Salem have an instant attraction, and the spice begins in the very first chapter. Salem and Rayne are both exploring fulfilling their needs without shame — Rayne from her religious upbringing and Salem from her ex-fiancé’s judgment, which makes the sex scenes in this book feel particularly meaningful.
While this book is so different in tone and subject matter from LaRoux’s other works, they still manage to capture such a sexy yet layered description of kink and BDSM that is their hallmark.
Not only is House of Rayne a gorgeous and entertaining read, but in a time when real-life LGBTQ+ rights in the United States are under attack from Christian Nationalist extremists, its themes regarding the perversion of religion feel incredibly powerful and important.
House of Rayne is sexy, scary, and so sweet all in one magnificent read. The book will be released on September 30th, just in time for Halloween, and I highly recommend picking up a copy wherever you buy your books.
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