Only the Wicked: A Spicy Hidden Identity Romantic Suspense

Isabel Jolie

Sep 2025 · The Sinful State Series Book 1 · Noctivity, Inc.

About this ebook

I invited her into my world—never knowing I was already in hers.

To some, my creation is a weapon. To others, it's a safeguard. 

The system sees all, finds every connection, leaves no secret buried. 

Yet she found my blind spot. 

I gave her everything—my bed, my secrets, my trust—the heart I'd buried under years of ambition and isolation. 

Only to discover she didn't find me by accident. Former CIA. Investigating a deadly leak. Hired by shadows to hunt rumors that could destroy everything I've built. 

Every kiss was a lie. Every vulnerable moment, a calculated move.

She played me like a fucking mark, and I let her. 

But the fire between us? That was real. And now that same fire might burn us both. 

I've always been willing to pay any price to protect my creation. 

Now I'll pay any price to keep her. Even if it means becoming the monster they already think I am.

Only the Wicked is the first book in the sizzling Sinful State series, where elite operatives and ruthless billionaires discover that the deadliest game is the one played with the heart—and the only rule is that only the wicked win.

For fans of Anna Hackett, Cynthia Eden, and Julie Garwood. Keywords include romantic suspense, spy romance, billionaire romance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, tech billionaire, CIA heroine, undercover romance, trust and betrayal, black ops romance, action romance, steamy romantic thriller, dark billionaire, romantic espionage, morally gray hero, danger and desire, Ex-CIA heroine / morally gray hero, Billionaire tech founder hiding a dark secret, Spy-meets-spy intrigue with a romantic core, Forced proximity / one-bed scenes, Enemies to lovers, Found family, Redemption & trust themes, High-stakes international suspense (Russia, D.C., covert ops), romantic suspense books, billionaire romance kobo plus, alpha male romance, enemies to lovers books, undercover romance, Ana Huang similar books, twisted series read alike, dark romance standalone, antihero romance books, spy romance novels

Ratings and reviews

This was a fantastic way to kick off a series and was very nearly a top read (the only reason it wasn't was due to personal taste rather than quality). I adored the characters, including the side ones and cameos from previous series, and the plot will keep you guessing until the final few chapters. With everything that went down and that was also uncovered it'll be interesting to see what follows. Speaking of, I couldn't write my review instantly like normal, so I'm keeping my review short.

This was my first experience with this author's work. I was entertained by the story. I liked Sydney who was independent, courageous, and driven to find answers regarding her last assignment. I liked Rhodes who buried himself in his work until he met Sydney. When the two were forced by circumstances to work together, in spite of their mistrust, the suspense kept me on the edge-of-my seat. I enjoyed all the twists and turns. There were some steamy scenes depicted. I liked the dual narration.

I loved this. The pacing was fantastic, the characters complex and well developed, the story gripping - I was completely invested from the very first page. I loved both Rhodes and Sydney and was nervously on the edge of my seat hoping for a happy and beautiful ending for the pair. Isabel really delivered a fantastic story with plenty of steam, stress and suspense, and has introduced a host of fascinating and likeable characters who I hope we learn more of as this fab new series progresses

About the author

Heart-warming love stories. Edge-of-your-seat romance. Unforgettable heroes. Sizzling happily-ever-afters.

These are the stories Isabel Jolie loves to read and write. Her books have tough, strong characters, compelling suspense, and relevant, thought-provoking storylines. Her characters face tough choices, but at the end of the day, they always choose love.

Isabel lives on a lake outside Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and two daughters. In prior lives, she worked in marketing and advertising, in industries ranging from financial services to entertainment and technology. In this life, if she's not writing, she can often be found reading with a glass of wine nearby.