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REVIEW: Psycho Romeo by Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott
Ward Security: Psycho Romeo – Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott
The Ward Security Series is a spin-off of the Unbreakable Bonds Series.
Geoffrey Ralse is known for being the life of the party. He loves the club scene, hanging with his friends, and flirting with whomever catches his eye. He certainly isn’t going to stop living his life just because some would-be stalker starts sending him threats.
But it all changes when Geoffrey is drugged and wakes up half naked in his own home with a new message from his stalker.
He needs help and there’s only one person he trusts…
Protective Agent Sven Larsen has been fighting Geoffrey’s flirtatious advances for months, even though he’s impossibly drawn to the man. There’s no way he can be around him twenty-four/seven and not finally crack. But one look at Geoffrey’s haunted eyes, and he knows there’s no way he’s letting Geoffrey walk out of Ward Security without him.
Even if it means breaking his own rules, he will keep Geoffrey safe.
Trigger warning: There is a very short section with sexual assault that some could find upsetting
Ward Security is the spin-off series of Unbreakable Bonds. This features Ward Security employees from the bodyguards like Sven to the tech specialists like Quinn. Ward Security is like a family to many of them.
Rowe and Noah had a lot of page time here. My heart gave happy lil jigs every time the UB characters show up on page or there were updates on how they’re doing.
I’m super amused at how the book kept emphasizing that Geoffrey, at 5’5, is smol while here I am, an inch shorter than him and considered ‘tall’ by everyone I know. We’re all hobbits to Sven, who stands at 6’7(?).
“Looks like I am doomed to stand in the land of giants.”
It’s not only the size difference that made up their crazy good opposite-attracts chemistry. Geoffrey is vivacious and talkative while Sven is taciturn and still. The bodyguard tried to put up a distant, stoic front but Geoffrey was adorably relentless. The great Nordic giant stood no chance. And I knew, that moment in Unbreakable Bonds when Geoffrey flipped him over his back with his badass Aikido move, they were IT!
Psycho Romeo has some noticeably wonky parts. The mystery took longer to solve than it was supposed to and the showdown with the villain was a bit meh though I’m happy Geoffrey was no damsel in distress. I hardly felt any suspense but as a whole, these weaknesses could be overlooked because the book delivered where it really mattered.
The thing with JD & RE so far is that they write great romance but the other aspects of the stories are not as strongly executed. These things might or might not be a big deal depending on how good the book is in general. Be that as it may, they have created many memorable characters and it’s quite easy to get hook on their books.
From the look of things, Ward Security is shaping up to be as addicting as the original series. I’m already starting on Quinn and Shane’s story.
P.S.
To fully enjoy Ward Security, it’s best to also read Unbreakable Bonds. The books should be read in order.
Unbreakable Bonds books here
Jocelynn Drake books hereRating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: We Fit Together
Artist: Jess Penner
Album: Love, Love, Love -
REVIEW: Devil Next Door by Alex Jane
Criminal Delights: Obsession: Devil Next Door – Alex Jane
All Remy Harker wants is a fresh start.
Well, maybe that’s what he tells himself as he rolls up to his nice new house, in the nice little neighborhood, in a town where nobody knows his name.
He’s surrounded by friendly neighbors and a white picket fence. The ugly pink carpet might drive him to insanity, and he can’t stop wondering where the old lady who lived there before him died—but it’s nice.
And if he puts his mind to it, he can be anything—or anyone—he wants to be. He can be nice too.
At least, he thinks he can until he lays eyes on his next-door neighbor.Luke Boucher is nice.
And quiet.
And perfect.It doesn’t take long for Remy to insinuate himself into Luke’s life. A camera here, a break-in there.
– It’s not really stalking if you love someone, is it? –But when Remy’s plan to make a good impression goes to hell, he ends up over his head in more ways than one. Then things aren’t quite so nice anymore.
– It’s not really murder if you love someone, is it? –Loving your neighbor isn’t so easy when you’re the devil next door.
*****
This book is part of CRIMINAL DELIGHTS. Each novel can be read as a standalone and contains a dark M/M romance.
Warning: These books are for adult readers who enjoy stories where lines between right and wrong get blurry. High heat, twisted and tantalizing, these are not for the fainthearted.
This has the makings of a truly dark romance. Twisted, bloody and psychopathic.
But it lacked a certain oomph.
The oomph being Remy and Luke making it to my favorites list.
Remy and Luke, being what they are, could have easily made it but they didn’t quite have the intensity of fan favorites, Lecter and Graham. They were good though, I give them that.
The book started normal enough, mundane even as Remy goes about his business setting up his house, installing surveillance equipment, taking notes, and following Luke around. Remy was meticulous and careful but was completely caught off guard when Luke broke his pattern. The mystery of why Remy thought Luke was ‘the one’ had me on the edge of my seat. At the same time, since the story was all about pushing boundaries, I already have an inkling of what Luke really was (because what else would he be short of a homo Humbert Humbert) but, still, it didn’t detract from the pleasure of the big reveal.
From then on, the story plunged even deeper into macabre territories. It wisely veered away from the gratuitous, providing only enough blood and gore to get that taboo aspect going but not too much to be considered full-on horror. But maybe, YMMV. Remy’s talent for research and surveillance worked in perfect tandem with Luke’s proclivities and their partnership and romance are major goals if it weren’t for the fact they get off at things that disturb most of us. Despite the gruesomeness of the events, you cannot help but root for these two men who were simply made for each other.
All in all, Devil Next Door is a total yandere. Creepily kind, unnaturally patient and unfailingly polite until they flip the switch and suddenly you’re staring into the eyes of a ‘ferocious angel draped in bloody violence‘. It is completely unhinged and I loved it.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Neighbor Boy
Artist: Andrea Marie
Album: Here Begin
