This book is focused on Kai and his love interest, Banks. Each of the 4 MMCs in this series are coming to terms with the crimes that sent 3 of them to prison, the imprisonment and the events following their return to normal life. But Kai has another secret that he is trying to protect. Banks is the only one who can help them find the one estranged MMC and the one who knows the secret.

It becomes a cat and mouse game to see who can outsmart who and get the upper hand. All while Banks and Kai are steadily drawn together. He knows she has secrets of her own and she has made it clear her loyalty is to the other MMC.

Penelope Douglas keeps you guessing throughout the book as to what will happen next. The story is also told through flashbacks of memories of from both Kai and Banks to reveal more of the story and motivations for each character.

There is good chemistry between our characters and I love the spice. The seduction leading to the spice raises the heat level 🥵

One of my favorite side characters is Alex. I love a woman, who is not afraid to go for what she wants and make absolutely no apologies for it!

I listened to this book performed by Tatiana Sokolov and Jeremy York. Both performers were able to bring me into the story and provide different voices for the characters. This is so important when listening so you don't get confused as to who is speaking when. My only issue is Jeremy doesn't have a good voice for female characters. (I guess he's too manly 😉)

Content Warnings

bookameme's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Kai and Banks Are Crazy Hot

Quote:📖

“We’re only ever good, because there are consequences.”

Thoughts: 💡

This was my second read through and I forgot how much I loved this book. Angsty romance, dark themes, and taboo smut scenes make this series iconic. The schenagains Kai and Banks get up to are crazy hot with an intense push and pull relationship.

Berkley is re-releasing the first three books in the series and I’m incredibly excited to read them again.

Writing Mechanics: ✍️

The writing in this series is designed to be dramatic, and it works. The book is told in first person present tense dual POV, but it hops timelines to show you flashbacks and help you piece through the history to understand the story. The smut scenes are pretty wild and if you don’t like it a bit twisted, taboo, and graphic then this one probably isn’t for you.

I personally love these characters, they’re completely broken with tragic pasts and some really dark ideas, but they pull together to be one another’s life lines. I think the reason I hated Nightfall so much is because I love these characters so deeply. This book and the others in the series paint the characters as extremely morally gray but with a deep ability to forgive, after meeting out a healthy dose of revenge.

Fun Bits:

⚜️ Wild Secrets

⚜️ Painful Pasts

⚜️ Morally Grey Characters

⚜️ Wonderful Side Characters

⚜️ Standalone Romance, Series Long Plot

⚜️ Super Hot Smut In Some Taboo Places

Important Note:✨

This is book 2, this is a standalone romance, but the plot stretches over the whole series.

Full Content Warning:⚠️

Violence, Abuse, Religious Desecration, Death, Mentions of CA & SA & Child SA, Abandoment, Drugs, and Alcohol, Very Dark Themes

Stats:📊

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Characters 💙💙💙💙💙

Romantic Suspense: Hidden Identity, Forced Proximity, Second Chance, Morally Grey, Enemies to Lovers, Found Family

Dual POV

Violence, Abuse, Mentions of CA & SA⚠️

Content Warnings

lauryneball's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

booklloveer101's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

sshpurple1's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

4.0

Kai is the most balanced and obvious about his genuine feelings for Nikola Banks. Banks is a loyal, sarcastic, and lost young woman with much love to give. I do not understand her dislike of Rika. This book was not as intriguing as Corrupt, but we get more insight into the group. Even learning more about Damon and understanding why he is the way he is. I know that it states that these books are stand-alone, but I disagree. To fully understand what is happening with the group, you must read Corrupt first.

Content Warnings