We were only kids when I made the vow to protect her. First from the monsters hiding under the bed and then the ones roaming the world freely. My obsession with Dove wasn’t normal, it toed the line on psychotic but my love for her overshadowed that. I’d killed, destroyed and hurt those that had done her wrong. I’d watched her for years wanting to claim her but refusing too. I was both her … was both her guardian angel and the demon lurking in the shadows.
She was mine, even though she didn’t know it yet.
I had planned to let her live her life, while I watched from afar.
Until one night, everything changed, and I was forced to kidnap her.
She doesn’t remember me.
She begs me to let her go.
But I can’t. I won’t.
There are things she doesn’t know. Secrets I cannot tell her but one thing is clear.
I’ll die before I ever let her slip through my fingers.
This book is not suitable for all readers due to violence, sexual content, and mature themes.
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Holy dark amazingness!! I love dark romance and this book took it to the limit. I absolutely loved the obsession Zane has in this story. The characters are dark and oh so devoted. This romance is one for any dark romance lovers. Seriously, a one click for sure from these amazing authors!! The cliffhanger leaves you with more secrets revealed and needing the rest of the story now!!
Zane and Dove are two people in the world who don’t interact but have so much between them that they don’t have a clue what is about to go down!! Their story is one of darkness, obsession, emotion, and survival. More details would ruin this book. Just please go read it and fall in love with Zane and Dove!!
This is a dark and full of action story. It pulls you in and doesn’t let go. It is fantastically written and has an amazing flow to it. The characters are fantastically developed. I loved Zane and his dark personality. It is also kind and sweet at the same time. Dove while she is sweet and kind she also doesn’t have a strong backbone. I am hoping she develops one as the story progresses. But otherwise she is fantastic. There is a lot of drama, suspense and action throughout the story. This is definitely worth reading!!!!
Cruel Obsession is captivating, dangerous and sexy! Zane has always protected and loved Dove. Now the time has come, he has to keep her safe so he kidnaps her. She has no clue who he is or why he took her. Dove is so strong and brave, but she doesn’t feel that way. Zane oh Zane! He’s hot, a little psychotic and totally devote to Dove. This story is full of mystery, suspense, dangerous people and sexy with just enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes and guessing. Be prepared, once you start reading you can’t put it down. I need the next book now!! March 20th can’t come fast enough. I highly recommend this book!
so intense emotional broken beautiful heartstopping love story of Dove and Zane
grabbed my heart ready for more
What a fantastic first book in this dark romance duet!!
Zane is obsessed with Dove, ever since he vowed to protect her when they were just kids in foster care. Zane has been protecting Dove from afar for years and he truly just wants to possess and own her, but he doesn’t want to scare her. Then one night something happens that is beyond his control and he must kidnap her to protect her. Dove doesn’t remember Zane, she’s scared and she needs to get away from the possessed psycho that kidnapped her. But she doesn’t understand that there are people out there looking for her that want to hurt her and are far more dangerous than Zane. This is an intriguing story and does end on a cliffhanger. I’m looking forward to the second half of this wonderfully dark romance duet!!
5 well deserved mafioso stars!!!
I absolutely LOVED this book!!! Cruel Obsession is one of the best things I’ve read in a long time. It grabs your attention and interest from the first page. The characters and the storyline are both fascinating and well written. I cannot wait for more books in this new series!
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I love Josi and Cade’s dark side. This book definitely isn’t for everyone, but I enjoyed it. The H is dark, possessive, and psychotic…. plus obsessive (if you didn’t guess by the title).
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Zane has been secretly protecting Dove since they were kids and she has been blissfully unaware. That is until Zane must kidnap her to protect her. She doesn’t know his reasonings and doesn’t understand why she’s drawn towards him or why she feel safe with a psycho who watches her and kidnaps her but her body and subconscious tell her Zane is safe.
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I liked both characters and enjoyed their chemistry together, although I do wish there was more communication and build up of it. I know that their bodies already know each other and have a connection but I would’ve liked to see more of a mental connection too. I am excited to see more flashbacks and learn more about each of them.
The book ended on a suspenseful cliffhanger that had me yelling at Dove to “DO SOMETHING!” With a cliffhanger like that I need to know what happens next!
Thrilling and Intense!
WOW! This is one thrilling, intense and very suspenseful rollercoaster ride of a story. It’s fast paced and very entertaining from beginning to end. And that ending WHAT! Be ready for one hell of a cliffhanger.
Zane is sexy, cruel and obsessed. Dove is sweet and innocent with a tragic past. There is an undeniable pull and intense attraction between them. I absolutely loved these two together. Their chemistry is intense and mind blowing.
I can’t wait to read how this story turns out in the end. Once again these two amazing authors give us a story to obsess about.
3,5
To say that Zane is obsessed and is a little bit stalkerish when it comes to Dove would be a huge understatement. He loved her and watched her every move for years. I would say that he is a psychopath but they aren’t capable of love and the way he loves Dove is something really special. I find the way he loves her really sweet but some people might not agree with me so it’s save to say that this book isn’t for everyone.
I loved how protective of her he was,how he was constantly tendng to her every single need and the way he was treating her like she was made of glass,so gently and so different from the way he was treating other people. I know that Zane has done many questionable things, and has many psychopathic tendencies but I liked him more than Dove. There wasn’t a single thing I hated about her but I felt like there was something missing when it comes to her and I don’t know what,maybe I feel like it because we only saw glimpses of her past and present too. I could feel chemistry between Zane and Dove, and sex scenes were hot but when it comes to communication between them,there was almost nothing at all and that’s the one thing I didn’t like.There are so many questions that were left unanswered and I can’t wait to get all the answers to them, and I’m really excited to see what’s going to happen next with Zane and Dove.
4.5 stars
I have a lot of love for Beck and Hallman, and they’ve yet again presented me with another reason to love them with Cruel Obsession.
I fell for Zane immediately. The foundation for his love for Dove was solidified when they were only children, but over the years, his love has grown into an animalistic, possessive, deadly beast. It’s all consuming, teetering on the edge of taking him over completely. But oh, his love is pure though. For a man who claims to be a monster, there’s only one person that can break through to his humanity. She’s his everything, his entire world. She just doesn’t know it.
Dove is this sweet girl, but who has had a more than difficult childhood. While she eventually found a safe spot to land, she toes the line of good and bad luck on a daily basis. Some things just seem to land in her lap, while others have a way of making her feel unwanted. But if she only knew just how desired she was.
I loved watching Zane and Dove together, his unwavering devotion towards her, but also her push and pull against him. She feels something towards her captor, but struggles with what’s right and wrong about all of it.
I’m so excited to see how Dove and Zane’s story concludes and what revelations are waiting for us ahead. I can’t wait to read more about our strong girl and the beast that lives only for her.
BOOM! That is the sound of my heart exploding with crippling suspense and hobbling hope. I truly am not sure that I can stand the wait until book 2! Cruel Obsession simply destroyed me! Every part of me is in utter agony at that colossal cliffhanger!!! Ugh! This is a marvelously incredible story that will grab you by the throat and shake you awake. It will open your eyes to the most important things in life. No matter who you are, there are things that you simply can’t live without. Those things will haunt you until you finally resolve to grab them and hold them close. This story will strip you bare and crack open your heart as it delights and entertains with its vicious resolve, uncompromising pursuit, and shocking passion. There is nothing that this story lacks as it drips with fiery heart and smolders with unforgiving heat.
Dove has strained and struggled for a long time to claim a life of peace and normalcy, and she will do whatever she can to keep things as they are. Just as she is stretching out her wings for the first time, she finds herself whisked away into a world of haunted darkness and painful confusion. There is nothing she can do but push back against the plan that is unfolding before her very eyes. Unfortunately for her there is little she can control, and once she gets her bearings, she isn’t sure if that is completely terrible or not. Zane has kept an eye on his Dove for a very long time. He has ensured her safety at all costs, and he will continue to keep her close. Not even Dove herself can convince him to ease his vigilance and devotion to her. Plans are falling into place, but we all know that rules are meant to be broken. What will happen when unwavering lines are crossed and all hell breaks lose? Will anyone survive and be left standing?
Dove and Zane left me shocked, amazed, and rooting for them the entire time. I had no idea how things would play out, but I knew that these two needed to find each other. They needed their lives to converge and become something altogether new and breathtaking. Not just for one to survive, but for them both to live. They need the other in order to breath and grow, and the path they are walking will change and challenge everything they know and have come to trust. They both must take a leap of faith in order to test the strength of their growing bond, their own heart, and their fate.
I think I will forever be singing the praises of Beck and Hallman because they have earned every note of it with their very heart and soul. They push the boundaries of their world in order to show us just how boundless their creativity truly is. Theirs is pure genius at work, and I honestly do not want to miss a second of it!! This is by far my all-time favorite book that they have written together, and I am dying to read the second half of this story!!!
Not a sweet romance…
This is not a sweet romance. This is a dark and delicious story of obsession. Zane and Dove are each intriguing characters and together they are kindle melting. BEWARE this is book one in a duet and the cliff is STEEP! I cannot wait for book two!!!!
I read a free copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
“All I want is you and now I have you.”
Steamy. Hot.. and a little bit psychotic.
I fell head first into this story and I was begging Josi for more.
The story is dark. The hero is crazy. The chemistry is undeniable.
I’m so ready for more Zane and Dove.
Very well written dark romance with Mafia ties as Zane’s obsession with Dove overwhelmed the storyline.
He was a killer and probably a sociopath as he stalked Dove for years, and not in a sweet sexy way. It was outright creepy.
Kudos to the author for somehow having me empathize with Zane as he did whatever he could to protect Dove.
Dove, the innocent one in all of this dark drama actually started to grate on my nerves with her naïveté that started to seem stupid. She had zero survival instincts but managed to attempt killing the only person who could save her.
Zane crossed so many “what the what?!” lines but still managed to be a worthy hero. Not sure how the author did that, but it worked!
The cliffy at the end was HUGE. I hate cliffys, but was warned in the blurb that this was a duet, so no surprises here.
A Well done dark romance!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
**Now if you have trigger warnings of abuse -physical, emotional and mentally. There is talk of abuse but not a strong content of it.**
Cruel Obsession does contain the darkness feel and as you read you get the understanding of Zane and Dove. So Zane is not a bad person in some cases but he will protect his love. He sees himself as dark, angsty and ruthless but that could be down to how he was raised. He was in the system and has been through a lot. Then he joins the mafia and that only hones in his darkness. He has secrets and is not ready to share. One day he finds out that Dove, his love, is in danger he has to make a decision. Dove is a sweet girl who has had a rough life growing up as well. She does not seem to see what is really going on around her. She tries to live her life but thinks that she is not good enough for anyone. I think she is hiding some of her past, and she is scared to accept it and move on. I think her fear is what distracts her in her day to day life. So what happens when Zane and Dove collide? Why does Dove feel like she knows him but doesn’t? She doesn’t understand why he has done what he did to protect her. There is so much going on with these two that she doesn’t know how to feel. Will she find out why? Will secrets be revealed. I need to no more and cannot wait to see what will happen with these two.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
OMG!! These two have done it again. This was a fantastic read that will have you melting over Zane. However, just so y’all know, Zane is mine, no matter what anyone else says. These two are total opposites. Zane is dark, twisted and hot af. Dove is sweet, innocent and full of light. Zane has always looked out for Dove and will continue to do so forever. He will risk everything, including his life to protect her and keep her safe. These two have amazing chemistry when they are together. There is a connection that Dove doesn’t understand. This is dark, suspenseful and full of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat and glued to the pages until you finish. I need book 2 ASAP
This book grabbed my attention from the start.
And held it till the very end.
Such a gripping story.
I loved Zane and Dove.
Dove has had a difficult childhood.
So she’s weary of people and tries to be cautious.
Even though she’s always mostly scared and feels vulnerable.
I still thought she was a strong young lady.
She has determination and grit.
I loved how she didn’t even know Zane.
But she felt a certain connection to him.
Zane is one tough possessive man.
His obsession with Dove is so powerful and absolute.
Thrown together due to dangerous circumstances these two go on a turbulent journey.
Zane has them on lockdown and things are going to come to a head.
That ending the authors left us with has me waiting the next book ASAP!
Great writing by the authors.
They had me captivated and anxiously reading to see what happens next.
Holy Hell! What a freaking book! Cruel Obsession is intense, gripping, sexy and absolutely amazing! It grabbed hold of me from the very start and never once let me go. It was angsty, suspenseful and more than checked off all the marks for me. This dangerously dark and delicious tale will have your heart racing while keeping you on the edge of your seat.
Dove spent most of her childhood in the system. It wasn’t a good experience, but at least she had William. He held her hand and tried to protect her every step of the way. But when tragedy struck, she was removed from the home and eventually adopted out by a kind woman. One who gave her the life that she deserved. A life of simplicity and normalcy. At least it was until the night she was kidnapped by a scary, yet handsome stranger.
Really that’s all you need to know before going into this intriguing psychological thriller. Although it was easily predictable that didn’t change a thing for me. I absolutely loved it. Cruel Obsession was skillfully crafted with a perfectly executed plot and characters you couldn’t but love. I hope that many of you will join me on this crazy journey and delve into the twisted minds of J.L. Beck and C. Hallman. So please, buy this book, read this book and then I beg you to spread the word to others. 5 stars for Zane, Dove and Cruel Obsession!
I Just Want MORE!
Arms flailing jumping straight out of my seat screaming noooo. Oh helll No! This read is is full of endless nerve wracking suspense that kept me glued to my kindle until the explosive cliffhanger that sent explicit explosions erupting through my vile mouth. It’s intense, edgy, exciting, loaded with danger and violence and STEAMY chemistry. The storyline flows at an enjoyable pace with an impacting ending that explodes from the pages leaving me frenzied desperately wanting more.
I loved Zane and his obsession with Dove. He lives in a dark world and Dove seems to be his only light.
“Her sweet scent of vanilla surrounds me. The scent stirs a deep primal need within me. One that urges me to go to her and claim her completely, without mercy or care. It slams into me, gripping me by the balls and urging me forward. I don’t want her to be mine. I need her to be mine.”
The story gripped me from the beginning and didn’t let me go until I was a crying mess at the end. It’s intense but the air of mystery surrounding Zane and Dove kept me going but left me with my mouth wide open and on edge. I don’t want to wait for the conclusion and that’s the only thing I don’t like. The story is so good that it’s hard to let it go and wait to see what will happen.