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always_anxious's review against another edition
5.0
*fans self *
Van is perfect. The second half did drag on for a little bit but I still very much enjoyed it. I loved both the MCs.
Van is perfect. The second half did drag on for a little bit but I still very much enjoyed it. I loved both the MCs.
duhbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Solid stalker story. Van wasn’t as crazy as they come he was fairly logical albeit with some anger issues especially given his career
yesididbringabook's review against another edition
4.0
My first stalker book.
I didn’t love reading about a cop who used his position to cover up things he did wrong, but other than that it was really good.
I didn’t love reading about a cop who used his position to cover up things he did wrong, but other than that it was really good.
laura_theaudiowasbetter's review against another edition
4.0
*I received an advance copy in exchange for my honest review*
I love a good stalker romance and this treat has all those delicious bits with a heavy helping of praise kink thrown in! Ryan West is perfectly cast as Donovan 'Van' Drake and Daisy coming in with her first narration as Violet Carlisle. There is room for growth in her delivery, but as a first book I think she did great! This feels like a slow burn, but once the flame is stuck things go off with a bang!
Daisy does a great job at world building to prepare for the other two books in this series - which I can't wait until they come out in audio! The Men of Paradise are loyal, emotional and not afraid to get dirty!
I love a good stalker romance and this treat has all those delicious bits with a heavy helping of praise kink thrown in! Ryan West is perfectly cast as Donovan 'Van' Drake and Daisy coming in with her first narration as Violet Carlisle. There is room for growth in her delivery, but as a first book I think she did great! This feels like a slow burn, but once the flame is stuck things go off with a bang!
Daisy does a great job at world building to prepare for the other two books in this series - which I can't wait until they come out in audio! The Men of Paradise are loyal, emotional and not afraid to get dirty!
itsaemily's review against another edition
4.0
I’m sorry. What?! Ok this is my first venture into the stalker romance scene and holy moly!! I’ll admit that it took some serious suspension of belief to really let myself get drawn in but once I did! Wow! Ok first let me say that I take issue with the stalker romance thing because the guy is always super hot. If he weren’t then this would be a dateline movie instead and that’s a bit messed up psychologically. Anyway, aside from taking a deep dive into the mentality that let me enjoy this book, it was really well done! Van is such a beautiful human, inside even more so than out. He loves his woman and maybe it makes him a bit crazy but doesn’t love make us all just a little crazy. I love seeing Violet’s growth through this book and there were so many “hell yeah, girl!” moments. Give this one a chance even if it’s not your usual scene. I promise it’s worth it!
virgo_reader's review against another edition
1.0
I have no problem with dark romances, psycho heroes, or stalkers… but where I draw the line? Cops who use their power in all-too-realistic ways.
When I realized in chapter 2 of this book that Van was a cop, I almost put it down. When he began to go full-on corrupt cop police brutality, I probably should have.
Example: him pulling over a guy for licensed expiration and saying, in respond to the guy asking why he had to put his hands on the dash, “Because I told you to, and I have the gun and you don’t.”
Another example: him stalking the heroine in uniform and in his police car.
It just felt so… icky. Because of course that can and does happen. I can suspend disbelief for psychos and stalkers but something about it being a cop made it all too real.
Also, they really tried to rationalize him stalking her and her (and her friend) being okay with it. Like, no. It’s never okay to stalk. So lean INTO the psycho. I want to read about a heroine who finds out someone is stalking her and fucks him up or turns it into a game. Not one who’s like, “I know this is wrong. But because you say you love me it’s okay.”
So, yeah. Apparently cheating and shady cops are my hard no’s on romance.
CW: domestic abuse (parent/child), neglect, stalking, violence, corrupt cop
When I realized in chapter 2 of this book that Van was a cop, I almost put it down. When he began to go full-on corrupt cop police brutality, I probably should have.
Example: him pulling over a guy for licensed expiration and saying, in respond to the guy asking why he had to put his hands on the dash, “Because I told you to, and I have the gun and you don’t.”
Another example: him stalking the heroine in uniform and in his police car.
It just felt so… icky. Because of course that can and does happen. I can suspend disbelief for psychos and stalkers but something about it being a cop made it all too real.
Also, they really tried to rationalize him stalking her and her (and her friend) being okay with it. Like, no. It’s never okay to stalk. So lean INTO the psycho. I want to read about a heroine who finds out someone is stalking her and fucks him up or turns it into a game. Not one who’s like, “I know this is wrong. But because you say you love me it’s okay.”
So, yeah. Apparently cheating and shady cops are my hard no’s on romance.
CW: domestic abuse (parent/child), neglect, stalking, violence, corrupt cop
birbpal's review
3.75
⭐️⭐️⭐️ .75 Stars
I want to preface this review by saying I am not a typical lover of dark romance. When I do dabble in the genre, I prefer more "dark-ish" romance rather than actual dark. This book really is the definition of dark-ish.
MMC Van is a simple guy. Beyond being a cop and his darker tendencies of scaring the crap out of people by questionable means, Van is a devoted friend and a passionate guy. This all translates to his stalking of FMC Violet. That poor girl needed an out, and Van snatching her one day was that out.
This book had slightly dark themes but was also oddly funny. Van and his friends were all gym-bros. They made stupid jokes and teased each other. It was really cute tbh. And even though Van was a dominating kind of guy, he really did worship the ground Violet walked on. Her happiness, safety, and pleasure were the most important things to MMC. So yeah, not your typical dark read! 🤷♀️
Spice was plentiful and hot. The crude talk in the book reminded me of Jessa Kane books lol.
I feel like my only complaint is a big one, which resulted in how I rated this book. As I said, Van is a cop. My views on cops in real life are personal, but when reading books about them, I set those views aside since I'm just reading fiction. However, this book brought up actual issues I have with policing in America. Van used his authority numerous times in questionable ways. It made me feel icky, hitting too close to home.💀
I could have done without all that abuse of power, but otherwise, I enjoyed the book. It was not life-altering by any means, but I laughed a lot and swooned as well! I'll definitely be checking out the rest of the books in the series. 💕
I want to preface this review by saying I am not a typical lover of dark romance. When I do dabble in the genre, I prefer more "dark-ish" romance rather than actual dark. This book really is the definition of dark-ish.
MMC Van is a simple guy. Beyond being a cop and his darker tendencies of scaring the crap out of people by questionable means, Van is a devoted friend and a passionate guy. This all translates to his stalking of FMC Violet. That poor girl needed an out, and Van snatching her one day was that out.
This book had slightly dark themes but was also oddly funny. Van and his friends were all gym-bros. They made stupid jokes and teased each other. It was really cute tbh. And even though Van was a dominating kind of guy, he really did worship the ground Violet walked on. Her happiness, safety, and pleasure were the most important things to MMC. So yeah, not your typical dark read! 🤷♀️
Spice was plentiful and hot. The crude talk in the book reminded me of Jessa Kane books lol.
I feel like my only complaint is a big one, which resulted in how I rated this book. As I said, Van is a cop. My views on cops in real life are personal, but when reading books about them, I set those views aside since I'm just reading fiction. However, this book brought up actual issues I have with policing in America. Van used his authority numerous times in questionable ways. It made me feel icky, hitting too close to home.💀
I could have done without all that abuse of power, but otherwise, I enjoyed the book. It was not life-altering by any means, but I laughed a lot and swooned as well! I'll definitely be checking out the rest of the books in the series. 💕