𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: August 06, 2024
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

I had the book AS WELL as the audiobook for this one and let me tell you that the experience was elevated with the narration. Our narrators were PERFECT together and literally brought this entire book to life…They gave me life here really. I will forever be looking for them in more books.

This book was a like if Butcher and Blackbird and Haunting Adeline had a spooky little baby. This book will have you hooked by the first page and take you through a fast paced ride until the very end. I loved our two great main characters : Aly and Josh. Aly is a trauma nurse and Josh is a hacker && the man who is going to bring Aly’s fantasy alive and she doesn’t even know it yet (ahem and neither does his roommate (her ex haha). The banter and chemistry in this book is uncharted, stalkers hiring stalkers to stalk themselves was a HOOT and the sp!cy of this book was certainly smokin’. I just have to say that I think even though I love our two main characters here, I absolutely adore FRED the cat.

This ending is going to have you reeling for MORE! There are a lot of TW’s that I think you should of course as usual investigate before jumping into this read.

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Primal, Secret Identity, Bratty Heroine, Slow Burn, Rom Com, Ex’s Roommate, Masked Men, Dark Romance, Stalker, Cat Parent, Possessive, Morally Grey Cinna-Roll, Kn!fe Play etc…

This was fantastic. I really enjoyed it and couldn’t stop listening. I was hooked from the first minute! The narration was wonderful. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this audiobook.

First impressions 💭
The Trigger warnings initially had me worried that it might be too much for me or that I might get the ick during certain scenes. Happy to say… I did not… at all 🙈😂

What I Loved ❤️
- CONSENT!!! Hallelujah!! Beside the very first break in, I love that Josh told Aly at every point, if you want me to stop, just say so. If you aren’t enjoying this, just say so. No Safe words, just say no at any point. She wanted it all as much as he did and if that wasn’t the case I’m not sure I would have been able to get into it like I did.
- Josh… swoon
And Jacob Morgan, even more swoon. His narrating was on point and could not have been more perfect in my opinion!
- I loved living vicariously through these characters to experience things I might never want to try IRL or be subjected to IRL. Stalking is bad (I try to convince myself)
- I really enjoyed the first half of the book and hearing from Aly’s perspective as a trauma nurse, that was really interesting and provided the opening for the second half of the story to not seem so far fetched.

What I didnt love 👎🏻
- I Didn’t love the narrator for Aly as much as the male narrator and it did take me a while to warm up to her. I think it might have been because she sounded a little older / more mature than Josh which I don’t think was the intention for there to be an age gap.
- The second half with the mob stuff I didn’t enjoy as much as the initial thrill of them meeting in the first half. But the story had to progress and go somewhere!

Favourite Quote 📝
“ I didn’t want him morally grey, I wanted someone with a soul as black as night. Someone who would burn the world down for me and not lose a single minute of sleep over it. ”

Final verdict ⭐️
There are some things that are safer to experience by reading about it than in real life, and this book is full of those things 😂
Stalking is bad, I know stalking is bad… but navessa allen writes in a way that makes it all strangely justified… and if my stalker was Josh I’d happily accept it too 😂

5⭐️ | 4🌶

What to expect:
~ Stalker romance
~ Mask and kn*fe play
~ Morally grey MMC x Feisty FMC
~ He falls first and hard
~ Top tier banter and spice
~ Cat parents
~ Un*living as a couple

Review:
Let’s just start by saying that I am absolutely stunned (and a little worried) seeing how much I enjoyed this book!

This is the first dark stalker romance that left giggling and laughing out loud! While I got approved for both the ARC and ALC on NetGalley, I opted for the audiobook and it had me hooked from start to finish. Even though dark romance isn't usually my thing, this blend of fluffy, dark, funny, and witty elements made it irresistible.

The story features two very loveable characters- Josh and Aly, who share a quirky interest in ‘masked men" thirst traps. Josh creates them, and Aly drools over them. Their chemistry and banter are off the charts, making this possibly the best romcom, stalker romance, and thriller of the year.

The narration by Elena Wolfe and Jacob Morgan is phenomenal! Their comedic timing and character portrayal are impeccable. While Jacob brings Josh’s sarcastic, funny, and dark sides to life effortlessly, Elena makes Aly endearing and super relatable. Together, they make the audiobook an absolute joy to listen to.

This story is packed with plot twists, tough topics, and dark themes, but the humor and heartwarming moments overshadow the darker elements. Despite the occasional intensity, it remains an enjoyable and hilarious ride.

If you’re a fan of ‘Butcher and Blackbird’, you’ll love ‘Lights Out’. The stalker romance trope is turned on its head in the most delightful way! The spice, banter, and unique love story make this a standout listen. Highly recommend checking out the audio version as it’s an experience you won’t want to miss!

I saw literally one TikTok about this book saying it has Butcher and Blackbird vibes and I immediately requested the ALC from Netgalley haha. And I'm so glad I did because this is definitely a top read of the year! I loved every second of it.

Josh has a secret life as a masked man on social media and Aly has been following his page for a long time. When he notices her comments on his videos and realizes he knows her in real life, he proceeds to stalk her in the most hilarious way to figure out if she's into the same things he is...spoiler: she is.

This was some of the best banter I have honestly ever read. I usually have a pretty good poker face while reading but I could not keep a smile off my face while listening to this! And I was literally sweating at some of the spicy parts haha The narrators were fantastic and a big part of that, but truly the wittiness and chemistry between them was top notch. I loved how the banter continued during literally any and every situation, too!

I loved Aly and how strong she was, especially with what she has and continues to go through as a trauma nurse. She embraced who she was and all her *preferences* and I loved that she found the perfect match in Josh.

And I mean, what's not to love about Josh!? He has his own demons to work through, but I loved being in his head as he worked through his feelings for Aly and their situation. Despite literally stalking her haha he cares for her so much and would do literally anything for her.

I have nothing bad to say about this book. I already want to reread. Everyone should read this please and I will never stop recommending for my dark romance lovers!!

Fantastic book! Voice modulator? Omg. I had this on all day and couldn’t put it down! The narrators did so good!!!

Oh my GOSH. This might be one of my favorite reads of the year. Like this audiobook was next level??? And the book itself was SO freaking funny. Like I was flipping through sweating 🥵 and then laughing till I snort. Please please do yourself a favor and read this book. I will never look at scrolling through masked men on TikTok the same 🫣🤭

Whoo-wee that was intense. Highly messed up. Highly recommend.

The Narration: Elena Wolfe and Jacob Morgan both did amazing. They did that thing where, no matter whose POV that chapter is, when a male speaks, Jacob narrates and vice versa. I love when they do that. But they also did such a great job narrating that is was like listening to a movie rather than the reading of a book.

The Story: Okay, I didn't know how I would feel about a masked MMC/stalker/dark romance like this but Navessa Allen is an amazing writer. I fell for the story despite such dark themes. The MMC is so likable despite his rough past, and the FMC is a strong badass who has seen some stuff. This story is not for the feint of heart but man is it good.

Tropes (some of these might be TW, too. There's a long list at the beginning of the book):
• Masked MMC
• Stalking/hacking/surveillance
• Morally Gray
• So many kinks

I don’t really know how to review this to be honest haha I was very entertained the entire time. It got pretty dark in spots, but the dark humour was amazing. The banter was so good too! And the narrators dueting this is *chefs kiss*

I would classify this maybe as like fun smutty dark romance? It was a fun depraved read 🤣

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this Audio ARC.

This was a great audio book! were fantastic!! The narrators did great! They made the book so much better!! I really enjoyed the plot and the characters in this book! A dark romance with a true storyline and action and romance all mixed in! I cannot wait for book 2. This was my first by this author but will not be my last!

⭐️ 5/5
🌶 4/5
🎧 5/5
💀 2/5

📚 Far out, holy hell! I love this whole book! I love the book, the story, the characters their lives, their stalker romance and fun kinks, the banter and cute silly sense of humour Josh has. Look, Aly is over everyone's BS, and Josh has some unique quirks - and it makes for the perfect combo! Navessa Allen ate and left no crumbs!

🎙 Narrators - God damn these voice actors were giving 🤌 I ran to socials and Audible to stalk them and their previous work, and now I'm an obsessed fan. LOVED ALL OF THIS DUET!!!!!!

Overall, literally anyone who says they love Haunting Adeline, will love this book... and if you enjoy audiobooks, hahaha this is the creme de la creme. Bon a petite 😘👌

**Audiobook Review**
3 🌟
-
Ummm!? Ummm!? Yeah! The first few chapters were good, but the rest was a drag! Literally a drag. I can see how people are comparing this story to Butcher and Blackbird. It definitely gives those vibes. The pacing was just slow, and nothing really happened. The rom-com banter between the two main characters was good, but not good enough to keep my attention. The kinks and spicy scenes were great and well done. This book could have been shorter.
The audiobook is a duet narration and a major plus! The narrators did a phenomenal job!

**Contains:**
• Dark Romance | Rom-Com
• Trigger Warnings (check book | author website)
• Mask Kink
• Trauma Nurse (FML)
-
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I don’t have words. This book is unhinged, hilarious, dark, freaking spicy and I am obsessed!!

This was super dark and so damn good. Ali and Josh… a trauma nurse and a masked man with a social media account. Is he a stalker? Yes… BUT you know the hot kind that will make you swoon. Then we have Ali who is beyond feisty and taunts the shit out of him. The game of cat and mouse between them is next level. Did I mention I am obsessed?!

Add to the above that the audio is DUET!! The audio was A+ narration goals and I could not put it down.

Tropes:
Dark Romcom
Morally gray MMC
He’s Stalker
He Falls First and is Obsessed…
Feisty FMC
Kinks - Knife Play and More
Hilarious Banter + Suspense

The balance of dark, funny, unhinged, spice and plot had me hooked. I loved these characters, the twists and the absolutely wild cackle filled ride they took me on.

Thank you nevessa and netgalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own and this is easily one of my favorite reads this year.

🎭 Masked content creator 
🔪 Stalker 
🎭 Touch her and 🔪
🔪 Dark humor 
🎭 Primal+ knife play
🔪 His #1 fan
🎭 Dark romcom 
🔪 He's a golden retriever for her ONLY
😺 The best cat son 

This is dark, but also hilarious. If you asked for a book rec on the same very specific genre Butcher and Blackbird was in I would give this one. It's definitely NOT B&b but the closest genre wise I've found. A boom with dark spice, kink play, humor and murder all in one. 

Aly is the #1 fan of a content creator who makes masked man content. She can't believe how much she loves to watch this kind of content. It's her escape from the rough days of being a trauma nurse. But little does she know the masked man is her #1 fan as well. 

The banter between these two kept me laughing. Josh being a total golden retriever for her was hilarious. Hijacking her car while she's at work just to help can drive her home (masked?!) after a long day at work and a snow storm AND he brought snacks 🤣. Sounds like the perfect guy to me. 

We get serial killers, mafia plot line and the best cat Fred that only has eyes for Josh as well. 

Highly recommend the audio the duet narration was wonderful and kept me sucked in! 

Thank you for this ALC!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for this Audio ARC. Let me start out by saying this was the BEST audio book I have ever listened to! Jacob Morgan and Elena Wolfe were fantastic!! They made the book even better!! I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and the characters in this book! It was a dark romance with a true storyline and action and romance all mixed in! I cannot wait for book 2. I will be reading more from this author and I would highly recommend this audio book to anyone who loves a great dark romance read!! Five stars plus!

I have to admit, I was completely unprepared for how much I would enjoy a dark romance featuring a masked man stalker. I found myself laughing and kicking my feet in delight as I delved into the story.

What really stood out to me was that this book wasn’t solely focused on the steamy scenes; it had a genuinely engaging plot. The narrative itself was compelling, especially the moments where the characters tried to outwit each other or when the masked man went to great lengths to conceal his identity. I was completely engrossed in these twists and turns.

Additionally, the audiobook narrators did an outstanding job. Their performances were perfectly matched, and they brought the story to life in a way that was both captivating and enjoyable.

Thank you NetGalley, Navessa Allen, and Dreamscape Select for the ALC!

Oh my laaaaawdddd 🥵🫠 the narrators of this book are absolutely amazing. The chemistry they possess brings the story to such new heights. I love how if Aly had a line in Josh’s chapter then the female narrator would speak and vice versa. It made the banter so much more believable.
The story itself is captivating. It has spice, comic relief, murder and a splattering of mob life. I enjoyed the progression of the characters individually and as a couple.
Run to get yourself the audiobook version but make sure to get the actual book too because you won’t want to stop listening and #life gets in the way sometimes. Enjoy!

I was barely 20% into this book when I turned on my computer and ordered tons of copies for my store. My store specializes in romance and fantasy and I have a lot of romance readers that will love this as much as I did.
Lights Out is the perfect combo between dark romance, erotica, and romantic comedy.

Omg. This is hands-down one of the best audiobooks I’ve ever listened to. The story was incredible. If you have a masktok obsession then this book is for you. Masked man/ stalker and trauma nurse collide. The narration was absolutely wonderful. The narrators acted and played off of each other so beautifully. 10 out of 10 would recommend for dark Romance lovers.

I genuinely loved this story.
Mask kink- check
Primal Play kink- check stalker kink- check
So many other things I don't want to totally throw myself under the bus for- check lol.
The Faceless Man... wholeheartedly my new favorite stalker book boyfriend. His over-protectiveness of her and the people he cares about were just to die for. Aly is one of my favorite female lead's recently because she has so much dedication to her job while simultaneously having that don't eff with me attitude that I love. She and The Faceless Man (he does have a name but I can't spoil that piece of indo) were meant for each other and their feelings and emotions felt so genuine throughout and I was able to feel for their internal struggles. I will happily read this again!
The audio was *chef’s kiss* and made the story and romance that much more immersive and spicy!