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meowrie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the second book in this series and Steele is a bully, yes, but not like Grayson. He was psychotic. Steele did some horrible things to Aspen but she tried to have a backbone.
The prologue was hot. And the sex was on fire. The two of them together were panty drenching ridiculousness. Lots of somno, lots of oral (missing from the first one), voyeurism, primal play, all sorts of great stuff. Loved it. And there was a plot too. Bully plot with a stalker subplot. Like the first book.
Aspen had a history of trauma so watch your triggers here.
There are some things that happen that got a little darker too, near the last part of the book. I'm sensing a theme with this series. Not that this is a bad thing. It's doable. I'm digging the series so far. First time reading this author and I like it so far.
The audio was bomb. I love Teddy Hamilton and Desiree Ketchum and they both did a fantastic job with this one.
The prologue was hot. And the sex was on fire. The two of them together were panty drenching ridiculousness. Lots of somno, lots of oral (missing from the first one), voyeurism, primal play, all sorts of great stuff. Loved it. And there was a plot too. Bully plot with a stalker subplot. Like the first book.
Aspen had a history of trauma so watch your triggers here.
There are some things that happen that got a little darker too, near the last part of the book. I'm sensing a theme with this series. Not that this is a bad thing. It's doable. I'm digging the series so far. First time reading this author and I like it so far.
The audio was bomb. I love Teddy Hamilton and Desiree Ketchum and they both did a fantastic job with this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Dementia, and Alcohol
nikkimreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Pedophilia, and Blood
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Stalking
missdevo's review against another edition
3.5
I loved the 1st book in this series, so I guess I had high expectations. This one just felt a little... messy to me. The spice was spicing, so no complaints there, but the character building missed a step. The motivation for Steele felt forced, and the subplot about Aspen's past felt too fragile, like the author was afraid to really get into what happened, and that made her trauma feel forced too. I had a hard time drumming up any emotion from the plot, and on face value that makes no sense. If you outlined it, it was definitely dramatic-but the character development stole a lot of that from me. I still liked the book and plan to continue reading the series. I'd recommend it for people who like high spice (check triggers first!) and don't mind the plot being a little thinner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Pedophilia
aurslde's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
this was definitely a shift when compared to the previous book in the series. i had little to no expectations of devious obsession going into it. and yet, i still found myself disappointed with reading this.
plot? mess. romance? mess. but don't worry guys there is PLENTY of sex scenes to go around. there was so many that i ended up skimming every single one around the 50% mark. considering this was primarily smut, i found myself dragging through this. the introduction sequence seemed promising but then you're supposed to be lead to believe that these characters hated each other for a little over half of the book??? i just didn't find myself believing that plot point in their relationship. their relationship does take a shift at the halfway mark; however, it is so sudden and messily executed that i still didn't find myself enjoying them as a couple. but i will appreciate the shift for the fact that it did help me get through the book faster. the plot is very little to non-existent. i liked the idea of it, but it just didn't have the proper attention to it enough for me to care.
devious obsession felt like brutal obsession but without any good or substance to it.
plot? mess. romance? mess. but don't worry guys there is PLENTY of sex scenes to go around. there was so many that i ended up skimming every single one around the 50% mark. considering this was primarily smut, i found myself dragging through this. the introduction sequence seemed promising but then you're supposed to be lead to believe that these characters hated each other for a little over half of the book??? i just didn't find myself believing that plot point in their relationship. their relationship does take a shift at the halfway mark; however, it is so sudden and messily executed that i still didn't find myself enjoying them as a couple. but i will appreciate the shift for the fact that it did help me get through the book faster. the plot is very little to non-existent. i liked the idea of it, but it just didn't have the proper attention to it enough for me to care.
devious obsession felt like brutal obsession but without any good or substance to it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Stalking
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Pedophilia
ladylaurenexplorer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
4.5!
Wasn’t the plot that I expected, but definitely enjoyed it. Steele is now on the same tier as Dare, Carter, and Ryatt.
This for me showed a different side of the humiliation kink. Especially since we as the reader gets both MC’s POVs.
I loved how they first met. It give them a little bit more edge when they, mainly Steele, began falling in lust/love.
I wasn’t expecting the father plot nor how Stephen really became redeemable in my eyes in that room with her.
But what really surprised me was the Miles’s POV. I am glad we had that little bit of insight, because I was definitely starting to not like Willow. I kept saying come on girl…read the room please.
Then having Jacob and his situation forewarning us for his book…which I am so so ready for. He’s actions are on the level with MC of Sophie’s Surrender. They both are totally unhinged and obsessed. I can’t wait to see how he pulls everything off once he finds his girl again.
I would recommend this and am very glad I got the SE of this book.
Wasn’t the plot that I expected, but definitely enjoyed it. Steele is now on the same tier as Dare, Carter, and Ryatt.
This for me showed a different side of the humiliation kink. Especially since we as the reader gets both MC’s POVs.
I loved how they first met. It give them a little bit more edge when they, mainly Steele, began falling in lust/love.
I wasn’t expecting the father plot nor how Stephen really became redeemable in my eyes in that room with her.
But what really surprised me was the Miles’s POV. I am glad we had that little bit of insight, because I was definitely starting to not like Willow. I kept saying come on girl…read the room please.
Then having Jacob and his situation forewarning us for his book…which I am so so ready for. He’s actions are on the level with MC of Sophie’s Surrender. They both are totally unhinged and obsessed. I can’t wait to see how he pulls everything off once he finds his girl again.
I would recommend this and am very glad I got the SE of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Drug use, Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Stalking
Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Death of parent
tguccione's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Death of parent
Minor: Gun violence and Forced institutionalization