Dandelion Wishes and Departures

Ivy Kingston, a dreamy, creative young woman, says goodbye to her best friend Celeste, who is leaving for a global adventure. Ivy is left to face her own sense of emptiness and the weight of her father's illness—he's a renowned neurosurgeon, now incapacitated by a stroke. Ivy's world is one of privilege, but also of loss and uncertainty, as she clings to fleeting moments and dandelion wishes, seeking meaning in the storm of her life.

Inheritance Ultimatum Unveiled

Ivy's mother reveals a shocking clause in her trust: Ivy must be married by her twenty-third birthday to inherit her fortune. The news is both archaic and infuriating, especially as her mother parades eligible bachelors before her. Ivy, fiercely independent and still reeling from her father's absence, refuses to be bartered. The ultimatum sets her on a collision course with fate, as she seeks a way to reclaim agency over her future.

Collision with the Devil

At her favorite art gallery, Ivy literally runs into two enigmatic men—Wells and Ty. Wells, darkly magnetic and dangerous, is instantly captivated by Ivy's fire and vulnerability. Their banter is electric, and Ivy, in a moment of exasperation, jokes about needing a husband. Wells surprises her by taking her up on the offer, setting in motion a chain of events that will upend both their lives.

A Dangerous Proposition

Ivy and Wells meet for dinner to discuss a marriage of convenience. Both have secrets: Ivy needs to marry for her inheritance, and Wells claims a marriage will help his business. Their chemistry is undeniable, but Wells is evasive about his true work. Ivy, drawn to his dominance and mystery, agrees to the arrangement, setting boundaries with a prenup and a five-year term. The deal is struck, but the danger is only beginning.

The Marriage Bargain

Ivy moves into Wells's sprawling, gothic home, joining his three "roommates"—Ty, Liam, and Gage. The men are close-knit, secretive, and clearly dangerous. Ivy is both protected and caged, as Wells insists on constant security. Their relationship is a dance of power and submission, with Ivy's independence clashing against Wells's possessiveness. As they navigate their sham marriage, real feelings begin to surface, blurring the lines between business and desire.

Enter the Erasers

Ivy learns that Wells and his crew are "erasers"—experts at making people disappear or finding those who have been erased. Their work is morally gray, often violent, and always secretive. Ivy is drawn deeper into their world, learning to shoot, fight, and hack. The men's pasts are revealed: all orphans, all shaped by trauma, now a found family bound by loyalty and survival. Ivy's own safety becomes paramount, as threats against her multiply.

Secrets, Shadows, and Seduction

As Ivy and Wells grow closer, their marriage becomes real in every sense. Ivy's innocence and hidden darkness are awakened by Wells's dominance and devotion. The other men become her family, each with their own scars and affections for her. But secrets abound—Wells's true motives, Ivy's hidden lineage, and the shadowy cabal known as KORT, which rules from the shadows. Ivy's life is a web of lies, love, and looming peril.

Family, Fire, and Fury

Ivy's world is shattered when she is targeted by assassins, betrayed by those closest to her, and forced to question everything she knows. A loyalty test orchestrated by KORT pits her against her own mind, as she is gaslighted into believing her marriage and new life were a coma-induced dream. Alone and desperate, Ivy must rely on her wits, her training, and the fragments of love that remain to survive.

The Storm Awakens

Ivy escapes her captors, uncovers the truth behind the conspiracy, and sets out for revenge. She manipulates the pulse points of her enemies, burns down her old home, and lures Wells and his crew into a chase across continents. Her transformation is complete: from pawn to player, from victim to storm. The men who once erased others now find themselves outplayed by the woman they created.

The Loyalty Test

Ivy's trial is revealed: KORT orchestrated her erasure, forcing her to question her sanity and loyalty. Wells and his crew are also tested, forced to erase themselves and watch Ivy's suffering from afar. The ordeal is brutal, but Ivy's resilience and cunning see her through. She uncovers the true enemies—family members who sought her death—and manipulates the game to her advantage.

Erased and Gaslighted

Believing herself abandoned, Ivy is left to grieve, rage, and plot. She uncovers her true parentage, her father's legacy, and the full extent of the betrayal. Armed with new identities, weapons, and a burning need for justice, she orchestrates a campaign of revenge, manipulating her enemies and allies alike. Her actions force Wells and the crew to confront their own choices and fight to win her back.

The Art of Revenge

Ivy's revenge is both symbolic and literal: she burns down her old life, leaves clues in her art, and forces Wells to chase her to the ends of the earth. Their reunion is explosive, both in violence and passion. Together, they confront the true villains, rescue Ivy's parents, and reclaim their place in the world. The storm has become the phoenix, rising from the ashes of betrayal.

The Phoenix Rises

Ivy and Wells are inducted into KORT, now ruling as equals in the shadowy cabal. Ivy sentences her would-be murderers to death, but chooses compassion over cruelty, delegating the executions to her birth father. The ceremony is both a crowning and a reckoning, as Ivy claims her power, her family, and her future. The men who once shaped her now stand beside her, loyal and unbreakable.

The Final Trial

In the aftermath, Ivy and Wells build a new home, surrounded by their found family. Grief lingers, but love endures. Ivy's pregnancy is a symbol of hope and renewal, as the family prepares to welcome a new generation. The scars of the past remain, but the future is bright, forged in fire and tempered by loyalty.

Crowning the Queen

Ivy embraces her role as queen of KORT, ruling with strength, compassion, and cunning. Wells stands at her side, her equal and her anchor. Together, they redefine what it means to lead, to love, and to survive in a world of shadows. Their family—Ty, Liam, Gage, and the extended network—becomes a force for good, even as they navigate the darkness.

Home, Hope, and Healing

The family gathers for celebrations, healing old wounds and forging new bonds. Ivy's friendships with Celeste and Rena deepen, and the men find their own paths to happiness. The home they build is a sanctuary, a testament to the power of chosen family and the resilience of the human spirit. Ivy's journey from lost girl to burning queen is complete.

Beauty in the Broken

Ivy reflects on her journey, the pain and beauty of her brokenness, and the love that saved her. She and Wells, scarred but unbowed, face the future together, ready to weather any storm. Their story is one of survival, transformation, and the enduring power of love to heal even the deepest wounds.

Characters

Ivy Kingston (Ivanna O'Reilly)

Ivy is a complex, creative soul—an artist, a dreamer, and a woman shaped by both privilege and pain. Raised by loving adoptive parents, she is haunted by loss and a sense of not quite belonging. Her mind drifts, but her instincts are razor-sharp, honed by a father who prepared her for a world of secrets. Ivy's journey is one of transformation: from pawn to queen, from victim to avenger, from lost girl to burning force. Her relationships—with Wells, the crew, and her found family—are the crucible in which she is forged. Ivy's greatest strength is her ability to find beauty in the broken, to wield both compassion and fury, and to love fiercely even when betrayed.

Gavin Wells (Chad Folsom/Cabrini)

Wells is the ultimate antihero: dominant, dangerous, and deeply loyal. A former Navy SEAL, orphaned by tragedy, he leads a crew of erasers—men who erase lives and identities for a living. Wells is both Ivy's captor and savior, her tormentor and her home. His love for Ivy is obsessive, possessive, and redemptive, driving him to both protect and control her. Haunted by his own losses and secrets, Wells's journey is one of learning to trust, to let go, and to fight for love even when it means burning down the world.

Ty (Tytan Reynolds)

Ty is the heart of the crew, a man marked by childhood trauma and the loss of his family. He channels his pain into protecting others, especially abuse victims, and becomes Ivy's confidant and best friend. Ty's warmth and humor mask a deep well of sorrow, but his loyalty is unwavering. He is the bridge between Ivy and the rest of the crew, always seeking to heal, to mediate, and to love without reservation.

Liam Graves (Jason Petrovsky)

Liam is the crew's tech genius, a man who hides his wounds behind bravado and mischief. Orphaned young, he has always been the outsider, desperate for family and acceptance. His feelings for Ivy are complicated—part love, part longing for connection—but ultimately, he steps aside for her happiness. Liam's journey is one of self-acceptance, learning that he is chosen and loved, even if not in the way he once hoped.

Gage Porter (Joshua Ricci)

Gage is the muscle of the group, a man who has seen the worst of humanity and expects betrayal at every turn. His gruff exterior hides a deep capacity for loyalty and affection, especially for Ivy, whose baking and kindness win him over. Gage's arc is one of learning to trust, to open up, and to find hope in a world he thought was only pain.

Celeste Carver

Celeste is Ivy's childhood friend, her opposite in many ways—outgoing, wild, and fiercely protective. She is Ivy's link to her old life, the one who grounds her and challenges her to fight for herself. Celeste's loyalty is unwavering, and her presence is a reminder that even in a world of shadows, there is light and laughter.

Daniel O'Reilly

Daniel is the head of the O'Reilly family, a powerful figure in KORT, and Ivy's biological father. His life has been defined by loss—of his daughter, of trust, of family—but his love for Ivy is genuine. He is both a mentor and a cautionary tale, showing the costs of power and the pain of betrayal.

Natasha Kingston

Natasha is Ivy's adoptive mother, a woman who has endured loss, secrets, and impossible choices. Her love for Ivy is fierce, even when it means deception. Natasha's journey is one of forgiveness—of herself, of Ivy, and of the men who shaped their lives.

Rena Noire

Rena is the younger sister of the Noire brothers, a kindred spirit to Ivy. Her struggles for freedom and love mirror Ivy's own, and their friendship is a source of healing and joy. Rena represents the next generation—one that might break the cycle of violence and secrecy.

The KORT Council (Balzano, Cabrini, Logan, Austen, O'Reilly)

The council is a cabal of power brokers, each with their own domain and agenda. They are both Ivy's judges and her peers, testing her worthiness and ultimately crowning her queen. Their presence is a constant reminder of the costs of power and the dangers of ambition.

Plot Devices

Marriage of Convenience

The central device is the marriage bargain: Ivy must marry to inherit, and Wells needs a wife for his own shadowy reasons. What begins as a business arrangement quickly becomes a crucible for trust, power, and vulnerability. The marriage is both a shield and a cage, forcing both characters to confront their deepest fears and desires.

Dual POV and Psychological Depth

The story alternates between Ivy and Wells, giving readers insight into both their minds. This duality heightens the tension, as secrets are revealed to the reader before the characters, and psychological wounds are laid bare. The narrative is rich in internal monologue, exploring trauma, desire, and the search for belonging.

The Loyalty Test and Gaslighting

KORT's trial for Ivy is a masterstroke of psychological warfare: she is erased, gaslighted, and forced to question her own sanity. The men are also tested, forced to erase themselves and watch her suffer. This device explores themes of identity, trust, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Found Family and Chosen Bonds

All the main characters are orphans or have lost family, creating a vacuum that is filled by chosen bonds. The crew becomes Ivy's family, and she becomes theirs. This device is central to the story's emotional core, showing that love and loyalty can be forged in the fires of pain.

Symbolism: Storms, Fire, and Art

Storms and fire are recurring symbols—of Ivy's power, of destruction and rebirth, of the burning away of the old to make way for the new. Art is Ivy's way of processing trauma and leaving clues, a thread that ties her past, present, and future together.

Revenge and the Chase

Ivy's revenge is both literal and symbolic: she burns down her old life, manipulates her enemies, and forces Wells to chase her. The chase is a test of love, loyalty, and power, culminating in a reunion that is both cathartic and redemptive.

The Cabal and the Crown

The shadowy cabal of KORT is both antagonist and prize, a world of power that Ivy must conquer. The trials, executions, and eventual crowning are devices that test and reveal character, forcing Ivy and Wells to define what kind of rulers—and lovers—they will be.

Analysis

Burning Ivy is a dark, contemporary romance that fuses the tropes of marriage of convenience, found family, and psychological thriller into a sweeping saga of love, power, and survival. At its heart, the novel is about transformation: how trauma can break and remake us, how love can be both a weapon and a balm, and how agency is reclaimed through fire and fury. Ivy's journey—from lost girl to burning queen—is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of chosen bonds. The story interrogates the costs of power, the dangers of secrecy, and the necessity of both compassion and ruthlessness in a world ruled by shadows. Ultimately, Burning Ivy is a celebration of beauty in the broken, of hope rising from ashes, and of the storm that lives within us all.

Last updated: May 24, 2025