My song for Xander: obsessed by Olivia Rodriguez (Not so much for the vibe but well look at the lyrics!)
’She was insanity, and I was tired of f3.75
My song for Xander: obsessed by Olivia Rodriguez (Not so much for the vibe but well look at the lyrics!)
’She was insanity, and I was tired of fighting this madness. I could give her the life she deserved now, one fit for a queen, and embrace this sickness.’
A taboo ice hockey dark romance? With a morally grey MMC with obsessive possessive tendencies? Co-written by Nenia?
Of course, I had to read this!
”I’ll give you everything he denied you, Jordan. (…) All you have to do is reach out and take it.”
Xander is a Helen of Troy retelling in a loose sense (although an escape across the sea does occur). It is dark, problematic and captivating. It is also the first time an MMC with obsession became a little too obsessive… even for me.
’I spent years being called an old soul, the bigger person, the mediator. It didn’t bring me happiness.
Xander, the mercurial ice hockey star with mood swings that are easy to discern for us dark romance readers, yet a mystery to his stepmother. He is everything a dark romance needs, a good guy at heart but won’t hesitate to take care of those he loves. His character is complex and troubled, increasingly so over the course of the book – Xander’s development wasn’t simple and for that I a grateful. It made sense, it stressed me out, I loved it.
’After her ordeal tonight, the last thing she needed was for me to stare at her like she was the prey and I was the hunter salivating for a good chase. But Jordan fucked up by giving me those doe eyes. Didn’t she know? If she gave me an inch, I’d take the whole yard.’
Jordan on the other hand is the perfect Helen. Too trusting, a bit naïve, slightly flat for the first half of the book in a way that aligned with her story. Sure, I would have wished for her to snap out of it early on but in a marriage, in a situation like hers, I never expected her to.
’I fucked her as if it was a sacred ritual. The need for her was drowning me in shallow water.’
The writing was good, the smut was steaming hot! And I loved the amount of actual ice hockey content. Unfortunately, and I was a bit surprised by that, having particularly enjoyed Nenia’s writing before – there was quite a bit of repetition of phrases and information throughout the book. Not so much that it threw me off, but enough for me to notice. It didn’t, however, interfere with the fact that, in my opinion, Xander is a fun, quick, problematic-in-the-best-way read for all those that love a good taboo dark romance.
--- I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review...more
Wow. First of all: A vampire romance by Nenia? Hell yes! Now, this is not your typical romance for sure.
The thing I love most about Nenia's books has gWow. First of all: A vampire romance by Nenia? Hell yes! Now, this is not your typical romance for sure.
The thing I love most about Nenia's books has got to be the way she paints unconventional beauty in roughness and shadows. Her MMC, while instantly attractive, is contradictory and dark enough to leave me with a restless sensation. The atmosphere and aesthetic are as rugged and rough, stunningly beautiful in their imperfection, as the characters and plot.
I enjoyed this so much. Nenia's books just... feel different is all I can say. I love an author that is bold enough to not explain and resolve every detail and trusts the reader to fill out the blanks with their own fantasy. It makes for an immersive reading experience that, to me, is unmatched.
This book might not be for people that require to be coddled and wish for fluffy, traditional closure. For all those that find beauty in crude darkness though, the story of Bethany and James might offer solace in sadness. ...more
My song for Willing Prey: You’re Mine (The Chase) by Meiko
’I want her nails on my skin, scratching me the same way. I want to hear her cries echo oMy song for Willing Prey: You’re Mine (The Chase) by Meiko
’I want her nails on my skin, scratching me the same way. I want to hear her cries echo off the trees, feel her fighting and thrashing underneath me. Anticipation makes my muscles sing. I’ll get everything I want. I just have to catch her.’
This review includes quotes that could be considered spoilers
--- Willing Prey is a beautifully written novel that talks about the primal sort of love as much as what it means to find and be found by the person that truly sees you and what you have to offer. It is heavy in smut, full focus on the primal and chasing kink, but also incredibly sweet so much else to be found underneath the surface.
’Turns out, never rocking the boat doesn’t mean you’re a great sailor. Only means it takes longer to lean who will toss you overboard at the first sign of rough waters.’
Claire has been cheated on. And she’s thick. And, because society is cruel and the voices incredibly loud, she speaks to a fear I share. To insecurities I too struggle with. She knows what she wants, she is strong and handles it, pushes through. But the voices are never gone, always lurking in the background to spur snarky remarks.
My first thought about meeting him was so that’s how Khal Drogo would look shaved and in a suit
That Shane chooses her healed my heart in ways I wasn’t aware I needed. Because Shane is intense and captivating. And he sees her. In all that she is and all she deserves. I love him. And I love that even amidst their dynamics, Claire empowers herself just as much.
”Don’t fight it. Show me how much you like being hunted. How much you like being my prey.”
The book focuses entirely on the dynamic of these two main characters, learning from each other and unraveling together with just the right amount of drama and anticipation. There’s angst but it’s manageable with the dual POV, which provides beautiful insights to both sides without taking away on the suspense.
’She’s trying to sound nonchalant, but there’s an ache underneath that makes me want to kiss her, touch her, coax out those hungry little whimpers instead of her sounding so sad.’
The writing style is immaculate, the time frame and pace exactly right, in my opinion. Although I feel like I could have read a lot more about those two, their story has been told and I love it.
Willing Prey is a fast read and one I can only recommend to all smut lovers with a weakness for the primal and intense. And especially to the fellow babes who still can’t quite shut out the voices telling them they don’t deserve to be loved because of their looks.
’Thick thighs I need to put my face between. Wide hips I’m going to dig my fingers into while I take her from behind.’
Bonus points for an encounter in the woods with both, the man and> the bear that’s results in a shredded sports bra.
”I’m not sure what it says about me if you’re surprised I don’t want you roaming around the woods at night with a bear....more
High Lady of Delulu
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