Hearts Strengthened by Cyanide Audiobook By Deanne Dietz cover art

Hearts Strengthened by Cyanide

The Afton Adders, Book 3

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Hearts Strengthened by Cyanide

By: Deanne Dietz
Narrated by: Allie Rose, James Joseph, Sean Masters
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Kenneth Afton hates everyone.

Though, he hates ‘krauts’ more than anything and unfortunately, Kenneth is forced to marry within the German mob, Immer Treu. This deal is to strengthen their alliance before the business is snuffed out by the Nazi soldiers moving in. He must come to terms with his newfound transaction and aid his new wife as she rises within the ranks of her gang. In time he questions his hatred for krauts and comes to find that he adores how his wife provokes every reaction from him.

He learns that there is no stronger bond than when enemies become lovers and decides to lay his prejudice from the Great War aside, to accept his new life.

But his life will be ripped from him.

A Nazi concentration camp has formed near the town, Alice tries to expose their heinous crimes. As she tries to save innocent children from the Nazi soldiers, she is made prisoner for her actions.

Evoking Kenneth’s rage.

Will he save her in time?

Or will she die by cyanide?

Tropes:
- Hearts Strengthened by Cyanide.
- Enemies to Lovers
- Shibari
- Touch Her and Die
- Peaky Blinders and Draco inspired MMC
- Morally Grey
- Mafia/ Gangster Romance
- PTSD Healing
- Gangsters effing up Nazis
- Unhinged FMC to the point you don't know if you should crush on her or him.
- Domming
- Forced Marriage/ Forced Proximity
- The witty banter = gut splitting laughter
- Meet Rhino, your new bestie

Trigger Warnings:
- PTSD
- Nazis
- Violence
- Explicit Sexual Interactions
- Sexual Assault
- Torture by Bison
- Mention of sexual assault by a priest

©2025 Deanne Dietz (P)2025 Blue Nose Audio and Deanne Dietz 20th Century Action & Adventure Historical Fiction Marriage Mafia War
Historical Backdrop • Fast-paced Plot • Outstanding Performances • Complex Characters • Emotional Depth • Feisty Heroine

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Listener received this title free

The chemistry and push and pull between Kenneth and Alice was fantastic! I love their angst & their little games they played trying to one up each other in the spice aspect of their arranged marriage.
Once they finally decided to play nice and worth together things went smoother. Their work against the Näzi’s was getting better. They let down their walls and fell hard for each other.
Kenneth and the rest of the Afton Adders went full tilt crazy on them and shìt got real.
This was intense; full of emotions, chaos, frustration, fear, action, love, chemistry & family.
I look forward to the next book, things will get interesting.

Amazing Chemistry

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Listener received this title free

Book 3 in The Afton Adders Series. Hearts Strengthened by Cyanide. Performed in duet by Allie Rose and James Joseph

Kenneth and Alice

Marriage of convenience
Enemies to Lovers

Loved this audiobook, I enjoyed the storyline. James Joseph does an amazing job with the different accents he had to do.

Bobby and Baba stole the show at times. I loved them in this book. Bought some laughs in this dark book

I look forward to hearing more from Allie and James. I also can't wait for more from the Afton Adders





Kenneth and Alice

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Listener received this title free

Each of the Afton Adders books has been great, but I think that this has been my favorite thus far. A longtime fascination with WWII had me eating this book up and easily finishing it in one day.

Using WWII as a backdrop made for a compelling storyline, and sets the listener up for some very intensely emotional scenes. The addition of the Afton Adders and a rival gang family, the Immer Treu, being brought together by an arranged marriage, made this a fast-paced and deliciously spicy listen!

I wasn't sure how to feel about Alice's character at first, but she quickly won me over with her wit and black cat energy. Kenneth has your typical stoic, no-nonsense Afton personality, but the way that he goes soft like a marshmallow for Alice is so swoon-worthy. Their deep connection is forged through perilous circumstances and the need to form an alliance to defeat a common enemy.

As always, Allie and James do an incredible job narrating. Allie has great range as a voice actress, and the characters that she portrays allow that to shine (Baba in particular, her voice is perfect!). James does very well with intense, broody characters, of which the Aftons are. He managed to make me both love and want to smack Kenneth at several points during the story.

My favorite in the series!

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Hearts Strengthened by Cyanide tells Kenneth and Alice’s story, and it is an emotionally tough read in the most powerful way. This book is both beautiful and heartbreaking, unafraid to sit in the pain and weight of its subject matter. Chapter 26 was absolutely gut-wrenching and will stay with me for a long time.

The trigger warnings should be taken seriously, as the story touches on the horrors of concentration camps and does so with a raw, sobering honesty. The duet narration by Allie Rose and James Joseph was excellent, just as it has been throughout the series, and added an extra layer of emotion that made every moment hit harder. This installment was devastating, meaningful, and unforgettable. Now… the wait for the next book begins.

Kenneth and Alice

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Listener received this title free

This is the third audiobook in D.E. Dietz’s phenomenal Afton Adders series, and this is my favorite audiobook so far in the series. I have been looking forward to Kenneth’s story, and this definitely did not disappoint. For someone who has never really been into historical romance, I sure am completely obsessed with this WW2-era series! This third book packs a heck of an emotional gut punch with horrific elements of N@zi occupation and concentration camps seamlessly woven into this enemies-to-lovers romance. Kenneth is forced to marry Alice for business reasons, initially referring to her only as “the kraut” due to certain biases left over from his time served in the Great War. Alice is strong-willed and beyond feisty, so she refuses to give him an inch. Basically, she’s Kenneth’s perfect match, and their fantastic banter proves it. Despite an instant attraction on both sides, they clash on nearly every issue. But as time goes by, they realize they’re not so different after all and begin to appreciate what the other offers. And that initial denied attraction explodes into a white-hot chemistry that neither of them can ignore. This story has so many wonderful elements. Baba is back in a big way, and anytime that feisty old woman is involved, you just know it’s going to be the best kind of chaos. And new characters like the adorably-sweet and protective Gunther and Rhino—the bestest puppy ever—bring even more to the story. I seriously loved every second of this!

As usual for this series, Allie Rose and James Joseph deliver absolutely outstanding performances with the duet-style narration. Allie Rose embodies the feisty Alice so perfectly, easily voicing the character’s strength, her sharp tongue and wit, and her hidden vulnerabilities in such an impactful way. And James Joseph… I swear that man can do no wrong in my eyes. His portrayal of Kenneth is so spot on for the character, from his deadpan humor to his Mafia roots to his innate fears and PTSD to the hidden depths of a loving heart too few are allowed to see. These two very talented voice actors are the perfect duo to bring this incredible story to life.

Absolutely Outstanding Story and Narration!

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