Named a Publishers Weekly Top 10 Fall Romance for 2016!“Dark and delicious.”—Kerrelyn Sparks, New York Times bestselling author IF HE LOSES, SHE DIESHer voice haunts his thoughts; her whispers fill his daysBut when he discovers the woman of his dreams is realHe’ll race the clock to save her before she’s lost to him forever Scarred by lightning, burdened with a power that gives him no peace, … she’s lost to him forever
Scarred by lightning, burdened with a power that gives him no peace, criminal investigator Xander Stone struggles to maintain his sanity against the voice that haunts him day and night—the voice of a woman begging him to save her.
Isleen Walker has long since given up hope of escape from the nightmare of captivity and torture that is draining her life, her mind, and her soul. Except…there is the man in her feverish dreams, a strangely beautiful man who beckons her to freedom. And when he comes, if he comes, it will take all their combined fury and faith to overcome a madman bent on fulfilling a deadly prophecy.
Fatal Dreams series:
Race the Darkness (Book 1)
Hunt the Dawn (Book 2)
more
A page turner that kept me up way past my bedtime. Everything about this story resonated with me. I was looking for something different, something that would keep my attention and this book did it! As soon as I was done, I ordered book 2..I promise, you will too! Enjoy the read and a note of warning…start this book early in the day if you want to sleep (because otherwise you’ll be too caught up in the story!)
This was exactly the paranormal romance I’ve been needing in my life! Abbie Roads has a great, effortless way with her words. I found the writing so engaging that I couldn’t put it down. If you’re after something dark, suspenseful and steamy – give this a go!
Couldn’t put this one down. Great plot and deeply scarred characters combined with tension that had you on the edge of your seat…
Embrace the whispers of connection as you Race The Darkness…
You will be shaken! You will RACE THE DARKNESS, as you delve into a mythical legend of old and an insidious evilness that lurks to demolish the connections of heart and soul.
Sometimes you don’t understand the churning feeling in your gut or the whispers of a voice that calls out to you across the span of time and space. A gift that brings you just as much pain as good. When you do realize, that the gift you possess is so much more than you know – it’s a race not only against time, but it’s RACE THE DARKNESS.
Take charge, “say it like it is” Xander makes no apologies or excuses. Yet, it’s that same attitude, innate power and strength, that he would do anything, even sacrifice himself for those he cares for, especially after the impact that finding Isleen brings. For them both, it is more than either expected. It’s a hard-foughtt journey of the heart, spiralling downwards into the depths of a hellish nightmare for our characters. Ever twisting turns and stumbling blocks under the constant threat of evilness that continues to prevail.
Abbie Roads has gifted you an impeccably crafted, debut novel – RACE THE DARKNESS, Book 1 in her FATAL DREAMS series. Beautifully woven words, an extraordinary tale, steeped in myth and legend, that captivates you from the start until the end. You’ll delve deep into the murkiness of religious zealots, evilness and paranormal mysticism and plots. You will feel a gamut of emotions… Shattered, shaken, heartbroken, angry, utterly helpless at the abuse of life and love. Without the other half of your heart and soul, you are fractured, never whole.
When they learn to believe, Xander and Isleen, will be immensely valuable to each other, more than they can ever imagine, as they face extraordinary, gripping horrors by those who wish to destroy their bond.
This book is intriguing, a dark romantic suspense, soaking you in a minefield of emotional pain that leaves you wondering if there is hope left that evil can be conquered.
If you are a fan of dark paranormal, romantic suspense you will read and then want to binge read the rest of this series…ok so that’s what happened for me. I could not get enough of Abbie Roads and the way she embraces the connections in her story. It may be a tough read for some but so worth every moment of your time as you sink into the pages and get swept away into this storm of intrigue and drama, that is Xander and Isleen…
Wow! Interesting story with full of surprises! Race the Darkness will leave you wanting more! The story and the characters of this book are amazing!!!! From the start up to the last, I was hooked on the story. The characters, Xander and Isleen are easy to relate with and love. Xander, a man who has a physical defect – scarring – because of an incident that happened to him. But adding to his scarring, he now possessed a power to hear the thoughts of people around him. Despite having this ability, he struggles to find peace and sanity – because he keeps on hearing a woman calling for him, for his help. Isleen, a woman who is held captive by people who are hell bent on killing her. What I love about this book is that I was intrigued not only on the characters but also on the story of this book – what will happen next. This book is full of suspense and unexpected events that will make you addicted to this book. Loved it! I can’t wait for what’s next on this series. Ms. Abbie nailed it!
This was an excellent read! I could not put it down. I loved the characters Abbie has created. Xander and his need to find Isleen. To save her before it’s too late. I love how well written each character is written, I felt like I could really feel for each of them. The story kept me devouring this story! Loved it!
I don’t know why I waited so long to read this book, but I’m glad I finally did. This book blew me away is nothing like the books I have read before. I love the mix paranormal and romantic suspense all rolled into one. Xander and Isleen are two halves of a whole and I just love them both so much. This might have been my first book by Abbie Roads but it definitely won’t be my last.
This book takes paranormal to a new level. It is a paranormal mystery thriller with a touch of Dark Fairy/Folk tale. I loved this book! I thought Abbie Roads was just brilliant with the story. I will sing it’s praises from the rooftops. Very rarely has a debut author surprised me with the awesomeness of her first book. (Both other debut books were earlier this year). The Romantic Suspense aspect is wonderfully creepy and suspenseful from the repeated attempts on Isleen’s life right to the crazy religious zealot doing it. The Paranormal and the Dark Fairy Tale fit in together. Xander and Isleen are tied together, bound by some mystical ancient story. Even before they meet Isleen and Xander know that there’s something someone out there, like they are missing a piece of themselves. Xander a bit of an ass and that pretty obvious from the very beginning. I love how the book started it was a great introduction to Xander and how and why he’s so damn special. Isleen and her grandmother were kidnapped and for the last several years held in a trailer in the middle of nowhere starved and tortured pushed to the verge of death and brought back. Until one night when Isleen is sure she’s going to die, Xander finds her.
Xander was struck by lighting and the result was Lichtenberg figure, which means he’s horribly scarred on half of his body. He also became able to hear what others do not, what others are thinking. He has become the BCI’s troubleshooter at integrations. To Xander it almost seems like there’s someone else living in his head whom he refers to as The Bastard in His Brain. Tonight the bastard is restless and there is another voice in his head, a female calling out for help, on the verge of death. Xander follows his gut it’s something the Bastard is telling him to do where to go and it leads him to a trailer in the middle of nowhere. Inside the trailer Isleen lies emaciated and half dead. Once Xander finds Isleen he’s never going to let her go again and nothing bad will ever happen to her again, but something things are even out of his control.
When Isleen is better she starts having dreams strange vivid dreams. After three of these strange dreams Xander realizes what they are, prophetic dreams of what can or is happening. Once Alex, Xander’s father, realizes what’s happening he fills them in on a Legend of Fearless and Bear. There is so much to this book it really is one you have to read yourself to get the whole impact of the story. But what a story it is. Overall, read this book.
I’m not sure where to begin….I enjoyed this book, and how the plot played out. Very intriguing that from a lightning strike, Xander developed a unique ability. Xander ignored the power given to him, until one night, he listened and found Isleen, another with an unique ability. Hidden is one out to destroy them, fearing their abilities.
Fantastic read! A great spin on the supernatural.
The first in the Fatal Dream Series. You won’t be able to put down. Criminal Investigator Xander Stone keeps hearing a women’s voice in his head asking for his help. He needs to find her or else she will die. He has a gift or maybe a curse. But he hears things no one else can. When he rescues Isleen Walker things change, and not just for him.
See what happens..buy this book.
My Thoughts – 5 out of 5 Unicorns – I loved it!!!
***Received a copy of the book for an honest review
The cover is awesome and creepy all at the same time, but maybe it is because I’ve read the book!
This is the first book in the Fatal Dreams series, and it is definitely for adults only due to the very dark content and much more. I could not put this book down except for necessities like eating and such. At times this book is like driving by an accident scene where you are compelled to look, but know it isn’t right. I think my heart broke several times during this book. You never knew what would happen next or what craziness would be revealed.
Abbie weaved a gripping tale that had me on an emotional rollercoaster. I was screaming No at times, crying, and all over the place. This is definitely a dark romantic suspense thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat wondering just what will happen next.
Xander and Isleen are connected, but damaged. Isleen has strength that I wish I had. They are both amazing for what they have endured. I wish I could say more, but I don’t want to spoil anyone journey into this dark world.
I highly recommend this book to those who believe in special people with psychic abilities and who love dark romantic suspense thrillers because this will definitely take you on a journey with surprises both good and bad.
Loved it! This is an awesome book. As soon as I finished the 1st book, I had to see if she had written any more….I bought those, too. The story grabs you and doesn’t let you go.
I struggled with Race the Darkness. I liked Xander but I found myself getting annoyed with him as well. You got hit by lightning, got scars and now you hear things in your head that are driving you bonkers. Got it. I kinda sorta got the family connection between Isleen and Xander but it seemed for me to be a weird thing to even have in the story. Isleen is…I get you’ve been dreaming of him, but you get rescued from death and now you’re ready to bump uglies a few days later. I get insta-love, but this seemed a bit farfetched to accept.
There’s a lot of suspense to this thriller and yet, I always felt I wasn’t getting it. The secondary characters were not that great. The bad guy was a truly wacko religious fanatic that has quite the ick factor. I wasn’t a fan of Xander’s dad, uncle or Kent. Could someone please explain Row to me. Cook and housekeeper I get but at times I felt she was the one really in charge.
I finished the story and while I had some questions answered, I felt like the ending was lacking something. It just didn’t do it for me. This is my first book by author Abbie Roads and while I have no intentions of continuing with this series, I would be will to try some of her other titles.
Stars: 2.5
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not compensated for the book other than the entertainment it provided. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Xander is cursed with the ability to hear thoughts. It’s a burden he hates until he realizes one voice he hears is real and not something his mind has made up. This is such a great start to the series, we learn of the legend that surrounds the town. The story is tragic, it’s beautiful, and it’s suspenseful. I could not put it down, it was like reading a dark fairytale and you just had to know what happens next.
Race the Darkness by Abbi Roads is intense. Not just a good page turner. Every page is loaded with intensity. Even the light moments are fraught with tension. Is it possible to be too intense? This book rides the line.
It’s a romance, but extremely dark. It’s paranormal, but in an extremely humanized way. It’s murder, brutality, and horror. But there is hope and love mixed in with it. Enough to allow me to keep reading, despite my abhorrence of horror.
Abbi Roads is a masterful author. She paints the scenery and people so clearly that the reader feels there next to the main characters. Which makes the dark parts all the more horrific. The reader becomes emotionally invested in the characters. Which makes the dark parts all the more horrific. Yes I repeated myself. She uses light to bring out the darkness. Special abilities to underscore humanity. Horror to elevate love.
Despite giving me nightmares, I know that I’ll read the rest of Abbi Roads’ books, mostly likely more than once. I give this 5 stars.
This was my first read from this author and came via a recommendation. I devoured this series while on a fifteen-hour flight. Ms Roads has a twisted imagination and pairs folklore, paranormal and suspense with frightening, edge-of-the-seat results. A great read for those willing to suspend belief.
Abbie Roads packs a delightfully heart-wrenching punch with her debut novel, and I’m already anticipating the second installment in her Fatal Dream Series, Hunt the Dawn. When Xander Stone, the sought-after criminal investigator saves an unknown woman from unimaginable horrors, he never expected the experience to be eye-opening, let alone life-changing. He never knew the voice he’d always heard was a Siren’s Song that would lead him into becoming her savior. Xander suspected that he would be bereft of love for the rest of his days, tortured by his ability to hear the thoughts of others, baring a constant burden within. Instead, he finds his world turned into all sorts of crazy as he realizes that not only is he inexplicably tied to the victim, but that she may be the key to making his weakness necessary strength.
Isleen Walker, a woman who has been violated by any means necessary while held captive never thought she would be saved, let alone by the man who stars in her dreams of escapism. Fortunately for her, Xander is tangible, corporeal, and more than just a mere hope of illusion. However, evil lurks in unexpected places, waiting to envelope her new found happiness, and seal her fate; death. It will take her unexpected will, her unwavering faith, her tempestuous attitude, her infinite capacity for love, and her unique power to stop the darkness. Furthermore, it will take her and Xander as well as their connection, to serve justice and stop the evil that seeks to claim them both. Will they be able to hold tight to one another and put faith in why they’ve been brought together? You’ll have to read to find out!
If you read it, it will be so worth it! This novel is dark, gritty, disturbing, creepy, sexy, sweet, humorous, and utterly wonderful! There were quite a few twists and turns, which always provides moments of angst while our brains attempt to catch up with the directional change. I had, “What the ****,” moments. I had moments where I smiled. I had moments where I swooned. I had moments where I gasped in shock. I even had moments where I cringed, completely wigged out of my head. Let me tell you, this story has a little bit of everything for everyone. The chemistry was believable because the backstory was beautifully woven in, and I loved every minute of it. I enjoyed all of the secondary characters, especially Kent and Row. Hell, I even loved to hate the snotty, superficial Camille.
I feel as though I’ve been given an opportunity to not only praise a very new author, but the chance to start a journey from the beginning with what I am sure will be an amazing series. This book is not only unlike any other I’ve read, but well-written and enjoyable. I believe that anyone who gives it a chance will find a new favorite author. Abbie is definitely one to watch for! Happy reading!
I figured there would be some crazy going on with this book based on the description, and was honestly looking forward to it, but even I had a few moments of WTH going on because boy howdy is there some crazy going on here. But that crazy had me turning the pages to find out what was going on and to see how everything would be resolved.
Xander is a loner and a self proclaimed asshole, but when you are able to hear people’s thoughts and unable to control it, it’s understandable. I honestly liked Xander. He may not have been the most likeable of people at times, but there was an honesty about him that I liked. Isleen I liked as well. She’s been living in purgatory for a long time, but despite all the suffering she’s been through there is a light and strength to her that can’t be denied.
Their relationship is an interesting one and though things progress quickly it makes sense because of the connection that they have. Outside of the big, bad that kept Isleen in purgatory all those years wanting her, there are a few bumps in their road that pop up. One I’d already figured would be an issue, the other…well that one didn’t really work for me because it just felt sudden. But regardless Isleen and Xander together just worked.
It’s times like these where doing a spoiler free review is extremely difficult, but while the crazy going on had me wondering what the hell I’d gotten myself into (yes, there are some pretty heavy triggers in this one), it was pretty fascinating to watch as everything unfolded and to see how the secondary storylines were woven into the main one. And I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what Ms. Roads has in store for us in the next book, Hunt the Dawn.
~ ARC received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~
When I first starting receiving emails about this book I was drawn in by the cover. I couldn’t find any other books by Abbie Roads (love the name) to find a rating or get a feel on her. When the book was released, and judging by the cover and blurb, I made an impulse buy. I’m so glad I did!
Race the Darkness pulled me in from the very start. Sometimes I would feel like my eyeballs couldn’t move fast enough to read this. And boy did this book give my eyeballs a work out!
Race the Darkness was an intense thriller and an intense love affair. It left me with a feeling “This was something I definitely needed to read”.
This is my first Abbie Roads book. I really liked her writing. She has a shock factor in her books that keeps wanting more. Her characters just seem to jump off the pages at you. Not only are they interesting but it always makes me wonder what is going to happen next!
Mystery, suspense, thriller and some romance? How can anyone go wrong reading this? Xander Stone was hit by lighting as a child. It gave him the ability the hear your every thought. He hears someone calling to him. Talking to him, asking for help. He just wants to drowned it out. But it never goes away. For Eight years. He finally goes to find out if its real or just his mind not being able to shut it out.
Thats when he finds Isleen and her grandmother are for real. Isleen has been calling on him. Talking to him for those 8 yrs. They have been kidnapped, beaten, stabbed. He saves them only to find whoever did this is still after them.. He promises Isleen that he will keep her save. That they will get through this together. Find out who it is, and still they seem to never get out of this.
If you are a fan of dark paranormal, romantic suspense you will read and then want to binge read the rest of this series
This is a fantastic debut from Abbie Roads and has me aching for the next book. I can’t imagine this being her debut how amazing future books from her are going to be.