S. Rena (1)

This was an interesting read. I loved the game of cat and mouse Christian played. He was the perfect obsessed stalker. I can't believe how dumb Sean was. There is some amount of stupidity expected; otherwise, she would never have fallen for the bad guy, but this woman was so dumb. There were so many red flags that presented themselves, and she just flat out brushed them aside. Her naivete was so over the top that it made everything seem so convoluted. I had a hard time suspending my show more disbelief, but like a junkie I will go back for more. I have to know how it truly ends because this ending was a slap in the face. show less

A Twisted and Darkly Compelling Tale of Obsession
As a fan of stalker romances, this book delivered a gripping, intense story that I couldn’t put down. From the very first three chapters, I knew I was in for a wild ride tailored perfectly to my tastes. Christian, the dark, obsessive antihero, stole the show with his deeply flawed yet fascinating character. Possessive, manipulative, and mentally terrifying, he embodies the ultimate predator, and his psychological warfare is equal parts show more horrifying and mesmerizing.

Christian’s complexity is what makes this book shine. His multifaceted personality, switching from the shadowy stalker to the charming manipulator to the menacing terror, keeps the tension high throughout. Watching his disturbing obsession with Siân unfold felt like peeling back layers of darkness. His warped sense of control, narcissism, and willingness to cross any boundary make him a character you can’t look away from, even as your skin crawls.

Siân, on the other hand, was harder to connect with. She’s naïve to a fault, ignoring glaring red flags and making questionable decisions that had me rolling my eyes repeatedly. At times, her choices felt less like character flaws and more like contrivances to keep the story moving. While I understand her role as the foil to Christian’s darkness, her naivety stretched believability, especially in her interactions with the two men vying for her attention. Still, her innocence heightens Christian’s dangerous allure, creating an intriguing dynamic that kept me invested.

The book’s mafia subplot was minimal and served more as a backstory than a significant part of the narrative. While this wasn’t a dealbreaker, it left me wishing for more depth in that area. Additionally, the story felt unnecessarily stretched out, clearly setting up for the duet. This drawn-out pacing diluted the impact of an otherwise compelling premise, making parts of the book feel repetitive and verbose.

Surprisingly, despite the intense sexual tension, the spice factor was underwhelming. Aside from one incident, the book withheld intimacy until the very end. While Christian’s dark and dirty talk during these moments was captivating, a few more steamy scenes could have balanced the story’s intensity and heightened the romance. There’s also a non-consensual scene that may not appeal to everyone, so readers should tread carefully.

Despite these drawbacks, Christian’s character is a standout. His dichotomy of personalities, his sweet, wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing facade versus his true, dominating nature, kept me glued to the pages. He’s not a good man, but his morally grey actions and unwavering obsession with Siân make him an enthralling antihero. In contrast, Siân’s lack of growth and frustrating naivety left much to be desired, though I’m curious to see how her character develops in the sequel.

Overall, this dark romance delivered on its promises of obsession and psychological intrigue. A tighter story, a more realistic heroine, and a touch more spice could have elevated it further. Still, Christian’s sinister charisma makes this a must-read for fans of twisted, possessive romances. show less

This audiobook, narrated by Anastasia Watley and Curt Bonnem, plunges listeners into the intense world of a dark stalker mafia romance. As the story unfolds through their voices, I felt the fire crackle between Christian Russo and Sian Guiliani. Christian's enigmatic and possessive nature comes alive with Bonnem's narration, while Watley captures Sian's innocence and vulnerability. The characters' complex chemistry is palpable, even as Sian's occasional naivety irked me. The audiobook show more skillfully balances suspense and sensuality, making the darker themes and psychological warfare enthralling. Although the plot occasionally feels prolonged, but the narrators kept me engaged. This production's strength lies in its portrayal of Christian's multifaceted character. Watley and Bonnem's performances leave me eager to continue the journey in the sequel. Be warned that this audiobook contains explicit content and triggers. show less

On Thin Ice by Sade Rena
Ice Kings series #1. Diverse dark romance. Sports. 1st person, alternating POVs. Why choose troupe.
When Samantha Collins gets a full ride scholarship in her sophomore year to Sovereign King’s University, she promises her younger brother she will be gone only a short time and when she returns, she will petition for guardianship to get them away from their father. Trying to fit in, Sam attends a party the hockey players are hosting. Street smarts has her knowing not show more to drink but when one of the players tries to force her, then attacks, she fights back and ends up breaking his knee. Now the team has it in for her.
Sam focuses on her schoolwork and job of keeping the locker room and equipment for the hockey team in pristine condition. As time progresses, three of the players keep their attention closely on Sam. Somewhat out of anger, but also interest and attraction. She reciprocates and lust has them all looking for private moments.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook version narrated by Blaire Le Blanc, Winston James, E.M. Wylde, and Edward Black. The performances of all were impressive with clear emotions of anger, and lust practically jumping off the page with steam and passion. Chapter headings included whose POV we were in, plus voices were distinct and clearly different so easily followed from each POV jump.

Dark and traumatic subject matter at times followed with strong strength of character by Sam. With three male college hockey players there was also a lot of steamy passion and sex talk.
Lusty and passionate. Why choose?

I received this from NetGalley and Hachette Audio. show less