Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥+
Humor: A touch
Perspective: first person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: they are on page together almost immediately, about 1% (Chapter 1)
Cliffhanger: This ends with a happy for now
Epilogue: No
Format: voluntarily read an e-book version through Kindle Unlimited
Why I chose this book: It popped up as a suggested read on goodreads after I finished A Very Stalker Christmas (Layla Fae) and I was tempted!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine

Oh hey, Chloe. Guess what? I’ve been stalking you for years. Yeah, no big deal. I’m not a psychopath. Promise. But anyway, wanna date now?

Should I read in order?
I think this is a standalone?

Basic plot:
Chloe is tempted by two men – Jack the sweet fire fighter, and Winter Watcher that seems to know all her darkest desires. Both men hold a secret though...

Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- New York setting (Manhattan)
- holiday romance
- heroine is a social media influencer
- hero is a fire fighter
- mask play
- tattooed hero
- dubious consent elements – the hero is a stalker and uses in home cameras
- kink includes exhibitionism, spanking, anonymous sex, praise, light edging
- higher steam – 7ish full scenes

Ages:
- I didn’t see them mentioned

First line:
Fa la la fucking la.

My thoughts:
I grabbed this one because I’m in my stalker era. And I loved so much about it!

This one though, it does have a bit more of a ‘real’ feel to it? There was quite a bit of introspection from the hero, feelings of wrong doing, and it made the whole stalker thing a bit more cringey to me than a usual….you know, ravishment fantasy read. But it also gave it some more depth and I felt like made their story more real and believable.

I enjoyed the build up of this one. I loved that it took a bit for them to really get involved with each other and we got to know both mains. I adored the spicy scenes, and the tension building. I loved the dual personality sides of both mains – the sweet fire fighter of the hero and the naughty Winter Watcher. The professional Chloe and the dark side of exhibition loving DarkAsChlo…

I enjoyed Hensley’s writing and want to try more!

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating: 5 stars
Favorite book: This one

Quotes

“Well, I suppose I could pencil you in. But fair warning: my commentary during true crimes docs can get pretty dark.”
“Wanna know a secret? I happen to like dark,” he says, his eyes connecting with mine.
Jesus. I swallow hard, trying to ignore the sudden spark of electricity between us. “Dark, huh? Be careful what you wish for, Jack.”
He holds my gaze, his expression turning serious. “I’m not afraid of the dark. Or of you.”
---
There’s a pause before his response comes through.

You want a man who doesn’t ask. He just does. You want a man who takes control, who knows what you need before you even realize it yourself. I see a woman who craves intensity. Who wants to be pushed to her limits, to experience everything life has to offer. But I also see someone who’s afraid. Afraid of losing control, of being truly vulnerable.

His words hit me like a physical blow. I feel naked, stripped bare by his perceptions.
 

Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- scenes of stalking and non-consensual acts with privacy from the hero
- sexual harassment and attempted rape and work blackmail of heroine by a work associate
- alcohol/bar atmosphere
- parental death

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:

Safe sex: 

  Condoms used 

How’s the consent? 

  Well – it’s questionable because the hero is a stalker, sets up cameras in the heroine’s home and manipulates situations where he is at an advantage. So if consent and honesty is important to you, I would forgo this novel. But the sex itself is consensual (the heroine agrees to have sex anonymously, so she doesn’t realize who’s she’s fucking at first 

Pregnancy/children in story? (Please note this is the best to my memory/note taking. If you see something I missed please feel free to message!) 

  No children or pregnancy within the story, but brief mention of possibly wanting children in the future 

32% - 🔥 heroine self pleasure
As I touch myself, I imagine it’s Jack’s fingers, rough and demanding. In my mind, he takes control, pushing me to my knees, fisting his hand in my hair.

41% - 🔥 sexting and heroine self pleasure that turns into mutual masturbation

Make yourself come, pretty girl. Come for me.
50% - the start of a sexting scene that’s interrupted by the fire alarm for the hero
54% - 🔥 oral for her, bj (complete) at a sex club in a room with viewers (exhibitionism)
”I’m going to make you swallow every last inch of me,” I say, my voice low and full of promise. “And they’re all going to watch you do it like the good girl you are.”

67% - 🔥 heroine blindfolded, oral for her, missionary
I hear the door open, then close. Footsteps, slow and measured, make their way through my house. My heart pounds so loudly I’m sure he can hear it. The footsteps pause, then continue, growing closer. He’s in the bedroom now. I can sense his presence, feel his eyes on me.
“Good girl,” he says, his voice low and husky. It almost sounds as if he needs to clear his throat or cough. It’s not natural. His voice is familiar, but different than when I heard it at the club. I can’t quite put my finger on -
The bed dips as he sits beside me, his warmth radiating against my skin.

71% - 🔥 exhibitionism sex in front of her viewers, spanking
Jack’s hand slides down my back, his touch both gentle and commanding. “Bend over,” he orders, his voice low and authoritative.

80% - 🔥 anal
A growl escapes me as I turn her around and capture her lips in a fierce kiss. She responds eagerly, her fingers tangling in my hair. I lift her, and she wraps her legs around my waist as I carry her to the bedroom.

98% - 🔥 sex against the pillar at the sex club (exhibitionism) then they go home, followed by heroine self pleasure while Jack watches through the window

Without another word, Jack spins me around so my back is to his chest. His hand snakes under my dress, pushing my thong aside. I gasp as he slides two fingers inside me, finding me already wet and ready.
“So eager,” he growls, nipping at my earlobe. “Such a naughty girl.”