**ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Deviously dirty. Check.
Highly erotic. Double check.
IntoxicatinglMy Rating: 4.5 stars!
**ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Deviously dirty. Check.
Highly erotic. Double check.
Intoxicatingly unputdownable. Triple check.
Oakmount Elite’s next damaged MMC will keep you on the edge of your seat and tightly wound. There is so much mystery right from the very beginning that it’ll instantly have you intrigued. The ominous atmosphere is set early on and it only builds further suspense from there.
I loved the thrills and spills this book elicited. Beck’s storytelling is very much for the avid dark romance reader who love unhinged characters and twisted storylines. And, I tell you Sebastian and Elyse will have you enveloped in their dicey little world in no time.
After having read The Wallflower and The Wildflower duet, and discovering that this third book in the series included another pair of MCs from “opposite sides of the tracks”, I knew it was a story not to be missed. It has a giddy-inducing employer/housemaid dynamic between Sebastian and Elyse that I could not get enough of. It not only brought about zingy interactions all throughout, but it made for a more anxious slow-burn romance, and an overall highly-entertaining reading experience.
There are a lot of layers to this story with a handful of secondary storylines developing simultaneously with the main narrative. It’s steady-paced, gradually providing more and more of Sebastian’s and Elyse’s backstories, giving insight into the reasons behind their fractured lives and the circumstances they find themselves in in the present day.
This book is the first half of a duet, and concludes on a doozy of a cliffhanger. I was practically foaming at the mouth and cursing the book gods that it ended the way it did. You can bet I’ll be counting the days, weeks, and months until the next book because with all the action and suspense, secrecy and manipulation, there is no way I will be missing out on the conclusion of Sebastian and Elyse’s story.
Fair warning, this book is dark romance, with adult themes and sensitive subject matters that some readers may find triggering or disturbing. It contains graphic violence, kidnapping, domestic and child abuse, sexual assault, harassment, and stalking— all resulting in mental, physical, and emotional trauma/PTSD. It’s not for the fainthearted, and/or for romance readers who are not familiar with Beck’s style of writing. If dark romance is not in your usual wheelhouse, I would proceed with caution and read through the author’s detailed list of TWs (which you can find at the beginning of the book) before starting it.
I’m not going to lie, there were some elements in this story that even had me clutching at my imaginary pearls. But I’m glad I rolled with the punches because I ended up really enjoying the hell out of this book to the point that there are certain parts I’ve gone back and reread way too many times now.
Sebastian lives up to his broody, alpha-hole hype from when he was first introduced in the The Wallflower. I couldn’t get enough of seeing him navigate through is chaotic emotions and fighting his ever-growing fascination of Elyse.
Elyse is a spitfire and seeing her struggle with keeping her composure around Sebastian was just one of the light-hearted highlights of this book. I think this half of the story only scratches the surface of her character, and I hope with the next book, we’ll get to see her at her full potential.
The premise will have you curious, and the story itself will have you turning the pages. You’ll find a range of personalities amongst Sebastian’s close-knit group of friends, and with complex familial dynamics present, they lend the much-needed support system for not only Sebastian but Elyse as well.
It’s easy to follow and told from first person, dual POVs. If you’ve read and enjoyed the first duet from the series, then this newest spicy addition is not to be missed. Add it to your TBR if you're a fan of bully romance reads.
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review. **
What goes around, comes around…
If you had read the first book; TMy Rating: 4 stars!
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review. **
What goes around, comes around…
If you had read the first book; The Heroes We Break, then you know leaving it at that cliffhanger was not an option. Not reading this book was NEVER an option.
What I thought was an already intricate maze of secrecy and doubt in the first book, was nothing in comparison to the labyrinth of schemes, deception, and mistrust in this second book.
The pacing slows down as the story gets more elaborate. Plot twists are dropping left, right, and centre that there’s a lot to take in. Some predictable, some not. But throughout it all, you can’t help but feel the need to see Ophelia’s and Silas’ story through to the end. These two confront some pretty dizzying developments that always resulted in a “one step forward, two steps back” progression in their relationship.
However, one thing I found unwavering was Silas’ ultimate game plan. Mete out vengeance, and get the girl. Come hell or high water he was going to see it through.
This book evoked some strong emotions out of me. I spent half of the time frustrated and half of the time at the edge of my seat waiting to see how these MCs were going to handle the situations they were thrown into. I became so invested that it’s a testament to how appealing the writing and characters are.
The first book introduced varying familial dynamics, but they get more interesting and a lot more complex in this second book. There’s an obvious contrast amongst Ophelia’s and Silas’ families, and although these relationships are fictional, there were still some realism and relatability present. Not only did these characters’ backstories set precedence, but it also set the overall tone of the story. It’s gloomy and romantic elements took a bit of a backseat to matters that needed immediate attention.
This book broaches on sensitive matters that may be triggering for some readers. It contains rape (off-page), suicide (off-page), explicit violence and sexual content, blackmail, stalking, and death. It’s intended for readers 18+ only.
For a good chunk of the story neither Ophelia nor Silas could catch a break. Certain subplots were introduced only to conclude abruptly, and I was saddened by a particular circumstance, but it was safe to say their HEA was much-deserved and worth the wait.
I mentioned this in my review for the first book, but I’m reiterating it in this one— Silas is THE main attraction. This is his journey from cruelty and helplessness to courageousness and becoming a force to be reckoned with. He’s a determined, morally grey hero who has great intuition. If all else failed, he’s the one pillar of strength you could always rely on, and it was exhibited time and time again.
The writing is effortless to follow. The world-building is just diabolical enough to keep things engaging, and the antsy atmosphere throughout really elevated my reading experience. This duet is definitely different from Knight’s other dark romances. It’s more a contemporary with darkish tendencies that broached on sensitive matters.
Give this duet a try, if you enjoy romance reads containing any of the following:
- Next-Door Neighbours - Secret Crush - Friends-to-Lovers - Forbidden Romance - Age-Gap Romance - Marriage of Convenience
Make sure to read The Heroes We Break prior to starting this one, as it’s a continuous storyline.
It’s thought-provoking from start to finish. Also, heartbreaking at times. But at the end of the day, this story represented good prevailing over evil. And man, were there tons of evil to overcome. I enjoyed reading it. If you’re an avid fan of Knight like I am, it’s not to be missed. If you love dark contemporary romances, or relatively new to the sub-genre, this is a spicy yet suspenseful read I recommend adding to your TBR.
**ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Okay Drew. Okay Bel. You’ve captured my undivided attention. Their book was one hell of a page-turning savage! It’s smut romance at its best.
I went into it not really knowing its premise other than it was an opposites-attract, dark contemporary romance set within a college backdrop. I low-key had been in the lookout for my next college romance read and after seeing the cover(s) around social media, I was oohing and ahhing with interest. Particular tropes and triggers hadn’t fully registered until I (figuratively) cracked open the (e)book.
Some of the main tropes and thought-provoking developments in this book were not something I openly look for in my romance reads, and for the most part I typically stay away from them. But in this particular case, it worked perfectly, and a lot of that had to do with how well-written, how thought-out, and how vivid it all was.
It’s not going to suit everyone’s tastes, but if the premise intrigues you in the slightest, I recommend giving it a try. I’m so glad I did because it ended up becoming one of my favourite reads this year. It’s effortless to follow and the characters immediately grab your attention.
Just take caution as it includes sensitive subject matters such as, mental and emotional abuse, blackmail, graphic domestic violence, child abuse, drugging, and touches on dealing with life-threatening illnesses. There’s also strong sexual content (including CNC) throughout. It’s intended for readers 18+ only.
I love my dark romance reads, and this one was gripping from start to finish. It’s well-paced storytelling filled with pearl-clutching developments, thrills and spills, and what felt like days on end of glorious smut! To put it simply, it’s unputdownable. I’m still reeling from the events and how this book concluded that I’ve been going back and rereading my favourite parts over and over again just to tie me over until the next book.
I was introduced to Beck through her mafia romance books, but after having read this one, I think I may need to check out her backlist of contemporary romances as well.
There’s a small cast of characters but each one has made quite an impression. I’m hoping Drew’s friends will also get books of their own because they seem just as engaging and secretive as Drew that I’m curious to know more about them. Whist there are some juicy twists and turns, I must admit there were two main plot twists that I predicted fairly early on. But make no mistakes, in no way did it take away from how addictive a read this book was. If anything, it’s made me more amped up than ever for how things could possibly evolve in the following book.
There are different dynamics present, but they are in some ways relatable, from the intense friendships, to the familial relationships. This book is an emotional rollercoaster. There’s a ton of drama and angst, but you can’t help but get invested in these characters and be fully immersed in their twisted world.
I was initially hesitant about the CNC, but I quickly discovered it was a relatively mid-level element and not at all scandalous, but it played a vital role in kicking off Drew and Bel’s relationship. Their story is complex, chaotic, and it constantly felt like one big mental whiplash. I don’t know how any of it made sense or why it worked, but the CNC alongside the bullying element was the foundation for their narrative, and it was a strong introduction. Give this one a miss if the CNC (consensual/non-consensual) theme is a hard no for you, though.
The only thing I wasn’t big on was although I found both Drew and Bel appealing characters overall, I couldn’t agree or even understand some of their actions, or should I say lack thereof. Even thinking about it now, I’m questioning their decisions. I’m hoping answers will eventually shed some light.
Fans of romance reads involving secret societies and/or high societies will love the setting. It’s very opposite-sides-of-the-tracks, broaching on social standing, the highs and lows, and the power and influence that demonstrate Drew and Bel’s contrasting lives. Their push-and-pull relationship was half frustrating, half giddy-inducing.
Rina | booksofthemuggleborn
>
Books:
billionaire-romance
(79)
Loading...
