From USA Today Bestselling author Keri Lake comes an intense and gritty romantic thriller that’ll have you turning the pages well past your bedtime.It takes a killer to catch a killer.And no one understands the motives of ruthless murderer, The Sandman, quite like Rhett Voss. Having spent his childhood in the shadows of the deranged lunatic, he’s become an expert on the topic. Killing is in his … topic. Killing is in his blood, and as a hitman for hire, Voss maintains a steady diet of carnage, himself.
Except lately, it’s lost its appeal. Until he’s enticed to track down the clever Sandman who has his sights set on Nola Tensley.
The stunning single mom is a distraction Voss can’t afford, but to catch his elusive kin, he needs to watch the next victim closely. Consequently, stalking her soon becomes a dangerous obsession, turning a friendly game of cat and mouse into more than he bargained for, when someone close to Nola goes missing.
Suddenly, it’s no longer an old vendetta fueling Voss’s need to hunt down his enemy, but new stakes that are sure to mean more bloodshed. Voss knows better than anyone, though: to draw a killer out of hiding, one must have the right bait.
And both of them want Nola.
*Includes links to dark and light bonus scenes at the end of the book!
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A clever thriller that had me on the edge of my seat with unpredictable twists and just the right amount of alpha hotness. The writing is superb. Nothing about this duet is a cliché. It’s dark and gritty, perfectly paced, and a riveting read I couldn’t put down until the beautiful light that balances the darkness at the end.
Requiem & Reverie picks up the story right where Nocturnes & Nightmares left us hanging and it sure doesn’t take long for the intensity to sky-rocket!
Nola is forced into desperation when the sadistic serial killer threatens the only thing left that matters to her. She will do whatever it takes, even to the point of sacrificing herself.
Slowly the layers are peeled back and the lies and secrets are revealed. Of all the regrets in his life, the biggest is unearthed when Voss confesses how their lives intersected even before they met. Now with Nola’s trust in him shattered, Voss is determined not to give up, he will not fail her again.
The Sandman Duet was Keri Lake’s first journey into this genre and I’m so happy I decided to go along for the ride because, I can honestly say she did herself proud. I finished this one thinking, if only I could forget it so I can start all over again from the beginning. Psychological thriller fans will love this duet with the end they never saw coming!
Another great conclusion to a great duet. I Fell in love with the 2 MCs in this duet along with Nola’s son, Oliver. It has a riveting storyline that will keep you wanting more. I have to say though, that my instinct was on the nose when it came to who the sandman was and there really was no question in my mind at all throughout. However, there were a few twists thrown in at the end that I didn’t quite expect. So even if you feel that this duet is a bit predictable, I know you will still enjoy it! It will keep you on the edge of your seat.
There isn’t much that I don’t love about this author. She is always one of my favorites. With that being said that I had to read this duet in one reading right after the other. Her style of writing just draws you in and have you glued to your kindle. With strong characters that you come to love and remember after you are done reading.
Nola and Voss continue to play The cat and mouse game with The Sandman. With more on the line and timing is ticking.
The only reason the review is getting a 4.5 was even though I loved the story I hate that I figured it out so early which can be so disappointing. The twist at the end was so good.
OMG THAT ENDING!!!!! My questions didn’t start getting answered until 84%. But everyone needs to read this Thriller Duet! It so Good.
WHOA! What a read! I don’t even know what to say. This story pushed my boundaries, but I could not put it down! It grabbed a hold of me with Nocturnes & Nightmares and it kept me hooked until the very end of Requiem & Reverie. Gah! That ending! How do I move on?!
This duet is twisted and dark and so, SO addicting! There were scenes that made my stomach turn and others that creeped me the hell out. I couldn’t read it at night when I was home alone! There has never been a better villain than, The Sandman. He will get under your skin. No pun intended!
Despite the storyline, there is an unconventional love story that makes you want to believe in happy ever afters. This anti-hero will test your limits and leave you wanting more. Think a MUCH darker Christian Grey!
Keri Lake has taken her romantic suspense genre to the next level. This dark thriller is a must read. Fans of T.M. Frazier’s Dark Light of Day and Callie Hart’s Dirty Nasty Freaks will DEVOUR this duet. I know I did!
Review by Lys
This book is just a sinister as book one, Nocturnes and Nightmares. We are taken down to the depths of hell with what ‘The Sandman’ does, think and believe. With all the dirty, gritty substance and a side of romance this story held me captive. With the plot slowly unraveling and the sandman’s actions getting so much more brazen he is a man of many exploits. The gruesome factors are off the charts and tius book/duet is not for the faint hearted.
There was so much I loved about this duet! Voss and Nola have stolen my heart. Nola reminds me that no matter the consequences, you do what ever you can for those you love. She is fearless when it comes to this. And Voss! Voss reminds me that where you come from, how you were raised, does not make the person you become. We all have that one reason for doing what we do. For changing who we are. That reason is not to be taken lightly. And we all pray that we find our reason while we still have time to enjoy it. This story took turns that i definitely didn’t see coming. Dark and twisted. Deep and meaningful. Love and laughter. It’s all here in these pages. Absolutely loved it!
The ARC for this popped up on my kindle and I immediately halted whatever I was reading so that I could dive into this one because I truly had to see where Keri was taking this duet and who the Sandman was!!
Requiem & Reverie picks up exactly where Nocturnes & Nightmares ended and it does not slow down one bit.
We are still getting viewpoints from Voss, Nola and the Sandman which just keeps the whole plot all the more entertaining and engaging. Something that I want to point out that may bother some readers, but something that I think takes great talent in a writer. Both Voss and Nola’s POV are written in first person while The Sandman’s is written in third. I loved this switch up and thought it was quite unique.
On to the book itself –
Keri holds nothing back in her writing and doesn’t sugarcoat anything. This is a romantic suspense/thriller and she keeps us at the edge of our seats the whole time.
I refuse to say anything about the plot except that it is non-stop suspense, action and steam. And I love how Keri ends this duet – just when you think you’re going to get a certain ending, you don’t. And I love that.
I thoroughly enjoyed this duet and I really hope she writes more like this.
Oh My Gosh!!! I’m blown away!! Such an intense and heart pounding book!! I struggled right along with the characters, you could feel the panic right along with her! My anxiety level was through the roof!! Such an exciting read!! It was freaking phenomenal on so many levels!! So riveting!! Wow!! A must read on so many levels!!
The Sandman is still out there, on the hunt for his most coveted victim and playing games to lure Voss in for revenge. The stakes are running high for Nola because if there was one person who is the ultimate bargaining chip, the Sandman has set that trap. It’s still anyone’s guess as to who is the Sandman. I had my suspicions, but I wasn’t 100% sure. Voss is usually pretty calm and cool, and most definitely calculated. But he’s losing some of that edge now that Nola is involved and can’t deny the need to protect her. Their chemistry ran red hot and given the circumstances, added to the desperation of the bleak scenario by giving it some sizzle. As for Nola, I don’t know what I would do in her shoes, but I understood her hysteria. but still found her willpower inspiring. I really liked both Voss and Nola a lot, they are pretty strong and sharp characters who are used to being independent and dealing with bad situations. As for the connection to The Sandman, that was well crafted and Keri Lake doesn’t spare any punches with how disturbingly dark and twisted he is. The cat and mouse chase of the story was intriguing and kept me glued to the pages trying to guess what would happen next. If you’re in the mood for suspense and a thriller about a serial killer, this one fits the bill perfectly.
“Want to play a game?”
We pick up right where we left off in Nightmares –
And if I felt misdirected in Nocturnes – Requiem kept me on a tilt-a-whirl
Everything falls apart for Voss, falls in place for the Sandman and just implodes for Nola and Oli.
Requiem held me on the edge – quite literally – from beginning to the ‘OH my goodness so did not see that coming’ end.
It took all my strength not to flip ahead and peek – I am serious, I even attempted to justify it to myself “you know it will have a HEA so you aren’t spoiling anything” (don’t judge). I am glad I wrangled my inner beast and read each heart-pounding white knuckling page.
Nola’s world is turned inside out and upside down. There is always a choice and for Nola, it will be an easy one. Amidst her anger and despair, she finds a flicker of hope that she can make this right. But will her feelings cloud her judgment? Will one failure to act the part cost her everything she was fighting to save?
“Forgive me”
Voss messes up ( give the sexy assassin a break this is all new to him) There really isn’t anything more to say
Be prepared this goes in a direction that I never ever saw coming – You thought you knew – you don’t have a clue.
Lake did an Amazing job with The Sandman Duet. An intense and well-plotted thriller that has all the components that make a story five stars.
Page-turning excellence! Top notch from the beautiful covers all the way to the end. I absolutely loved the first book in this duet and didn’t know if I could love the second half as much. Boy, was I wrong and glad of it. I started reading rather late in the evening and couldn’t put it down. My husband kissed me goodbye the next morning and said “you need to sleep” with a smile on his face because he knew it wasn’t happening. I had ahold of an epic thriller with a hot romance. My favorite! The writing sucked me in with the continued chilling serial killer storyline that kept me guessing as to the devious culprit. I thought I knew who it was but the author kept throwing curveballs. Then it ramped up when Oliver got involved and momma Nola went crazy. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Voss. Panty melting with his sexual proclivities, mad skills and take no prisoners attitude. I loved the transformation of this character into more than just a unimpassioned assassin with sexual preferences that lean toward deviance. He’s such a badass hero. The reveals and twists were awesome and the finale had my heart in my throat. So exciting and spine tingling! I read the author’s notes and was surprised that this is her first true thriller. Just fabulous and I want more! I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
ARC RECEIVED!!!
WOW! I freaking loved it. Action packed & hot steamy scenes whew, I couldn’t ask for more. This is why I’m a big Keri fan! Her creative way of writing is out of the world fantastic. It was a movie in my head. Dark & twisted at its finest. It will give your brain a little exercise, it will leave you guessing alot of the characters, so unpredictable, so interesting and incredibly exciting. I enjoyed this duet very much. I swooned from the very beginning. Loved it!
Requiem and Reverie is the conclusion to Nocturnes and Nightmares. A duet of all things dark and twisted. A slow, sexy burn in romance. A mystery filled thriller that will keep you on your toes from start to finish. I’m going to keep my review short, no spoilers from me.
Keri Lake writes with exhilarating purpose. I did not let out a breath until the last page. I’ll be definitely adding The Sandman Duet to my favorites list. These two books have everything I love in my dark books, just the right amount of romance, mystery, suspense, and depravity. An array of emotions, too. This story had me looking over my shoulder, gasping with revelations, and wishing for a delicious anti-hero to corrupt me. All the highs and lows. All the everything. I can’t praise enough. It’s edge of your seat greatness. I need everyone that loves the gut-punch moments and suspicions to read this. I’m telling you, this book, this duet, hits all the marks.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
After a recent tragedy, Nola Tensley tried to get back her life to a normal routine. But tension mounted as Rhett Voss presence started to raise suspicions. With her family safety in jeopardy, she must decide who to trust or risk losing everything she held dear.
This time around the stakes were much higher for both characters. I loved seeing how they handled the pressure and what they were willing to sacrifice for the end goals. Personally, I would have preferred less romance and some things felt out of place considering the character and the book content/feel.
I’ve loved the Sandman since book 1 but I wanted something more especially that his role was predictable. I did enjoy discovering the connections with all the cringe-worthy revelations.
Requiem & Reverie is the conclusion to The Sandman duet. This series would appeal to fans of dark and sexy Romantic Thriller.
Yes, Keri Lake did it!!! If you had any doubts, let me tell you, Requiem & Reverie, the second installment of the Sandman Duet, is just as amazing as Nocturnes & Nightmares! And I’m so glad it releases just a few weeks after the first book, otherwise the wait would have killed me!
The game keeps going, darker and darker, faster and faster. Oh the thrill!!!! The intrigue kept me on the edge of my seat.
“You want to know why we do it, Sunshine? Why we kill so easily, and without conscience?”
Paragraph after paragraph, I kept biting my nails, making hypotheses, wondering how things were going to end for Nola, Voss and Oli.
The author definitely mastered the psychological state of mind of all her characters. Through chilling scenes, we learn more about Voss. I absolutely love Keri’s anti-heroes, and this one is lethal, driven and determined to solve the puzzle that is the Sandman.
“It’s the goodness in her, though, that attracts the predatory instincts in me.
Nola totally broke my heart in this opus. It was so easy to relate to that mom and her fear, despair and courage, even in the most hopeless situations! Nola and Voss’ fights, their depraved games and their raw and sweet moments gave the perfect rhythm to this twisted series.
“Holding tight to her elbows, I allow her to take her aggression out on me. Punching and kicking, pushing and scratching.”
The equilibrium between the difficult themes (such as rape, incest, torture) and Nola and Voss’ love story was simply striking.
Caught up between the betrayal, the intensity, and the anticipation, I couldn’t stop reading. Until. The. Very. Last. Words. Which wrecked me!!! Boom.
Omg! My heart is beating so hard right now and my emotions are all over the place! The second book in this duet will have you riveted from the very first paragraph. The story continues with Voss searching for The Sandman and protecting Nola and her son from him as well. When something happens that alters all their lives, Voss will do whatever he can to stop more evil from happening. There are so many twists and turns throughout this story that will make your head spin! This author keeps you guessing throughout the entire story and will continuously keep you on the edge of your seat. Not to mention the unbelievable chemistry between Voss and Nola. I absolutely love these characters so much, they have completely ingrained themselves into my soul! This duet is phenomenal and everyone needs to read it. Truly fantastic!
Without interruption in the timeline, the game of cat and mouse continues as the Sandman raises the stakes. By toying with Voss and luring Nola, the plot landscape is set with tension mounting and emotions running high. Voss is determined to protect what is his and Nola is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice.
As the author spins a web of rich layers and staggered clues, the entire plot unfolds at a quick pace. Additionally, creeping into the recesses of insanity is fascinating and I like how the darker elements remained true to the characters and the nature of the theme.
Though the reveal wasn’t a surprise for me, I was relieved to read how the story allowed for the sinister level of physical and psychological components. As for Voss and Nola, their relationship seemed rushed and one particular part misplaced. Despite this, Voss still exudes raw power that can be harnessed in such sexy ways. Of course, one younger character deserves a shout out for being such a bad ass.
Requiem & Reverie is a dark and disturbing romantic thriller that will keep a reader on the edge. I hope Keri Lake will continue to write in the theme of thrillers because this duet is an extraordinary foray into the genre.
Omg! My heart is beating so hard right now & my emotions are all over the place! The second book in this duet will have you riveted from the very first paragraph. Requiem & Reverie was a tension filled read that had me at the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next.
I’ll start by saying I kinda knew who the Sandman was from reading the first one, but there were some things that I didn’t see coming which heightened my overall reading experience.
We are getting both Voss and Nola’s POV written in first person while The Sandman’s is written in third. I loved this switch up and thought it was quite unique & keeps the whole plot all the more entertaining & engaging.
You fall in love with Voss even more, & your heart breaks for Nola. Voss continues searching for The Sandman while protecting Nola & Oli from him. When something happens that just changes all their lives. Voss will do whatever he can to stop more evil from happening.
I don’t want to say to much, just know that it is non-stop suspense, action and steam. And I love how just when you think you’re going to get a certain ending, you don’t. I totally can read more about Voss & Nola.
Keri Lake ramped up the suspense and creepy level to 100% in this duet.