Secrets and Lies · 2021
CalSpice level, tropes & is it dark romance?
by B.J. Alpha
Spice 4/5 (Explicit) · Darkness 4/5 (Pitch) · 3 trigger warnings flagged
Cal is book 1 of Secrets and Lies by B.J. Alpha. It came out in 2021. It sits in the mafia, cartel and possessive heroes corner of the shelf. Spice is explicit (4 of 5) and the darkness is pitch dark (4 of 5). We could not find the author's own warning list yet, so check it before you start. This note is ours. It is not a publisher blurb.
First published: 8 October 2021 (first publication, per Goodreads). Book 1 of Secrets and Lies.
Cal tropes
On this shelf, Cal is filed under Mafia dark romance, Cartel romance and Possessive heroes. Each tag opens more books with that trope.
Cal spice level
Is Cal dark romance?
Yes, firmly. Cal scores 4 of 5 on our darkness scale (Pitch).
Spice and darkness are separate scores. More pitch books. How we rate.
Cal trigger warnings
Warnings not yet verified. We could not find the author's own content warning list for this book, so the flags here are only what the publisher's description makes clear. Check the author's note before you start.
Graphic (0) — open before you read
Open this before you read. These are the flags most likely to be a hard stop.
None flagged in this band.
Secrets and Lies reading order
Cal is book 1 of 1 in B.J. Alpha's Secrets and Lies series. Start here.
- Book 1 Cal (this book) · 2021
Order checked against the Goodreads Secrets and Lies series page on 13 October 2026.
Who it's for
Shelf note written for this site. We do not copy reviews or publisher blurbs. Outbound links are search pages, not quoted ratings. Kindle Unlimited and endings are only flagged when we were willing to mark them. How we rate.
Missing a book? Suggest it.
Books like Cal
Matched on shared tropes, then the closest spice and darkness scores. Other books in the same series are listed above, not here.
- Blurred Red Lines
Blurred Red Lines
Cora Kenborn
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance, Cartel romance
- Monster in His Eyes
Monster in His Eyes
J.M. Darhower
Spice ●●●●○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance, Possessive heroes
- The Mafia and His Obsession: Part 1
The Mafia and His Obsession: Part 1
Lylah James
Spice ●●●●○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance, Possessive heroes
- Heartless Beloved
Heartless Beloved
Lola King
Spice ●●●●○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance, Possessive heroes
- Keeping Lily
Keeping Lily
Izzy Sweet
Spice ●●●●○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance, Possessive heroes
- Sinners Consumed
Sinners Consumed
Somme Sketcher
Spice ●●●●○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance, Possessive heroes
- Skeletons of Society
Skeletons of Society
Marie Maravilla
Spice ●●●●○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance, Cartel romance
- The Dominator
The Dominator
D.D. Prince
Spice ●●●●○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance, Possessive heroes
Books like Cal, with a reason for each
Questions readers actually ask
What is the spice level of Cal?
Cal spice level is 4 of 5 (Explicit). On-page sex, clearly written. Darkness is a separate score: 4 of 5 (Pitch).
What are the Cal trigger warnings?
Graphic: none flagged. Moderate: Violence, Obsession. Minor: Organised crime. Warnings not yet verified against the author's own list. Check it before you start.
Is Cal dark romance?
Yes, firmly. Cal scores 4 of 5 on our darkness scale (Pitch). Bleak on purpose. Comfort is not the job.
What tropes are in Cal?
On this shelf Cal is filed under Mafia dark romance, Cartel romance and Possessive heroes.
Who is Cal for?
For a reader who wants made men and a family business you do not walk away from. Spice is explicit. Darkness is pitch. Warnings are not yet verified, so check the author's note first.
What are some books like Cal?
Matched on shared tropes and similar spice and darkness: Blurred Red Lines by Cora Kenborn; Monster in His Eyes by J.M. Darhower; The Mafia and His Obsession: Part 1 by Lylah James; Heartless Beloved by Lola King; Keeping Lily by Izzy Sweet; Sinners Consumed by Somme Sketcher. More read-alikes, each with a reason, are on zademasked.com/like/cal.
Is Cal a standalone?
No. Cal is book 1 of 1 in the Secrets and Lies series by B.J. Alpha.
What order should I read the Secrets and Lies series in?
1. Cal.
How many books are in the Secrets and Lies series?
The Secrets and Lies series by B.J. Alpha has 1 main book.
What is the Cal age rating?
We'd say 18+. Spice sits at 4/5 (explicit) and darkness at 4/5 (pitch). That's our recommendation, not an official rating, so read the trigger warnings as well.
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