I Am Sin is a fast-paced, easy-to-devour romance that successfully blends tension, spice, and suspense. Diana and Dragon's chemistry is undeniable; their attraction is immediate and electric, and the classic bad boy/good girl trope adds a delicious edge to their interactions. Their journey was undeniably enjoyable, fueled by a palpable sexual tension that kept the narrative moving forward at a brisk pace. It's a particularly satisfying read for fans of the forced proximity trope.

However, as the story unfolded, I found myself craving more depth in their relationship. While the initial spark was certainly hot, the romance felt more like insta-lust than a genuine, deeply felt connection. I struggled to fully believe in their rapid descent into love. I felt that a single, longer book, rather than a duet, would have provided more space to explore the characters' individual complexities and allow their relationship to develop at a more natural pace, fostering a stronger connection with the reader.

Despite these critiques, the cliffhanger has me eagerly anticipating the next book. I'm definitely curious to see how their story continues. A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I listened to the audio version of this book, and the narration was really good. I enjoyed reading this book. I thought the author did an good job with the characters and story line. I was hoping for more depth, but it wasn't a bad book. I will admit the downside was that there was a cliffhanger. I have to wait until the next one comes out to see what happens. I plan on reading more from this author.

Thank you Net Galley, Victory Editing, and Helen Hardt

I have enjoyed other Helen Hardt books but this one is immediately a no for me. The premise seems like this should be a fantasy book, not a rocker romance, which I somehow missed. I do not like the narrators and the way they talking is very stilted and odd to listen to, even sped up.

Nope. Can't do it. I tried because I hate giving up on books but I could not with this one. I found a lot of things cringe right off the bat and had a hard time shaking it. And I had a visceral reaction to the male narrator and not in a good way.

I did not finish listening to this audiobook. The dialogue felts titled, the plot felt very predictable. The characters came across as pale imitations of a trope, which once deemed popular is now just applied to any format without any build up. The blurb predicted him as having a "sin" but he just seems to be traumatised by an incident and it is never explained (till I listened) why that is a sin, and the lead female charter seems very disinterred in the whole plot of it all but is going through the motions without feeling any emotions.
I would not recommend, but there seems to be a huge crowd for this author's book, so I guess take my review with a pinch of salt.

I enjoyed reading this book so much!!!
Dragon Locke fresh out of rehab from his last relapse, is the drummer for the up and coming band, Dragonlock. (named after his uniquely cool name ) He becomes roommates with Diana Steele, who is his best friend's new wife's sister, and she is part of the infamous Steele family. Dragon and Diana have a love/ hate, grumpy/sunshine relationship. The sexual tension between the two is exciting and I loved every minute of it. Dragon has a darkness inside of him because of his past and Diana is a sweet good girl who wants to see some of that darkness. Can she bring lightness into his darkness... can they help eachother ... will Dragon find what he is looking for.. so many questions and it ended on a cliffhanger ....

Thank you to netgalley for allowing me to arc read the audio for this amazing story...

Top tier audiobook. I really enjoyed it and couldn’t stop listening. It was wild and spicy. The cliffhanger at the end ensured I will be on the lookout for the next installment in the series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this audiobook.

The name Dragon Loche was barely tolerable, the MMC narrator was not a good choice, and the band using a random guy's name as their band name was too out of the realm of possibility to even suspend that reality. Also the book ending in a cliffhanger and needing multiple books for one couple automatically makes the book worse in my opinion. Just write a longer book. It doesn't deter nearly as many people as multiple books for the same couple does.

2/5 - I Am Sin is exactly what readers would expect from Hardt and other, what I can, 'hot rocker romances.' Dragon Locke is a talented drummer with immense emotional trauma. Diana is the good girl who will 'fix him.'

It was predictable but that is a good thing. The only critique I have is that the audiobook narration highlighted some inconsistencies with the general writing.

Opposites attract is definitely the message I got from this story.

It was deeply intense, full of past drama. I also felt it had a slight mysterious feel.

The chemistry between the characters was strong. You could feel the attraction build throughout.

Thanks must be extended to Brilliance audio and NetGalley for a copy of the audiobook for I Am Sin, and I’m leaving this honest review now. My thoughts on the story are first, followed by the audiobook itself and production.
Now, where to start. I’m truly undecided about this story- and maybe that is because it feels so unfinished. I went into this really wanting to like Dragon- even with a silly name- but he makes it really hard. NOT. Cause he’s as dark as he thinks he is- a bad childhood and some substance use issues (and the former wasn’t even his problem!!!) but he could be a decent guy if he had manners and didn’t sulk as much.
Diana was also hard to listen to when she was constantly like “I’m not a spoiled girl like people think i am because of my rich family” but then I had to listen for like 5 minutes to her stress about only having expensive suits instead of business casual for her new job? And how she just couldn’t wear any blouse than what she picked or it would clash with the lack of belt with her slacks? Ugh, I think she was worse than Dragon.
Together, about the only thing they have is chemistry. Now, other than characters, what about the story? It had a LOT of potential, but I just think it wasn’t clear, maybe because the author wanted it to be mysterious to hook us in? I was a bit hooked in to finding out what went on, but not enough that the cliffhanger makes me want more, rather that I feel like I stopped reading a story halfway. Even with hints about Diana’s family, the author kind of dropped background information or bombshells (like a quadruple wedding? Her family being trafficked? Where did that come from and go?)
Will I read the next book to find out what happened to Griffin? Maybe. But do I care about what happens to Diana and Dragon? Not as much.
NOW!!!! I was graced with the 🎶🎶 audiobook, and I’d like to comment on that aspect alone. I liked the narrators a lot- I think they fit the character profiles well- one semi stuck up woman trying to prove herself and one dark man who sulks. They both had a fair ability to speak in other character’s dialogue and hooked me into listening to the story more than the story itself did. They were well paced and made it clear when chapters and the like were coming to a close. With the solid nature of the audiobook, I can more confidently give this a 3-3.5/5 than the 2-2.5 id give the book if I’d have read it on my own.

Ａｕｄｉｏｂｏｏｋ & ＥｂｏｏｋＲｅｖｉｅｗ
3 ☆
Diana Steele has it all. Housing brooding Dragon Locke isn’t a priority, but when her sister asks, Diana relents. Dragon knows what it means to fight for survival. Abandoned at eight and raised in the system, he’s been hardened by life’s brutal lessons. Addiction nearly destroyed him, and after a disastrous fall during his band’s European tour, he’s clawing his way back. Fresh out of rehab, he’s determined to rebuild on his own terms.

Yes, it's my fault. I thought this was a fantasy story, and the fact that the MMC's name is Dragon and he doesn't even turn into a dragon was disappointing. Why give him that name if he doesn't turn into one? I know it's my problem, not the author's. This is a really slow burn; 45% of the book, and nothing much happened. Dragon has talked about his addiction and what happened on his European tour and why he did what he did. How his parents treated him was trash! And the fact that he doesn't know if his sister is alive or dead is what I'm highly interested in! (I would probably continue the story just to find this out.) Diana is like the supporting actor, but not in a bad way. I didn't really start liking this story until about 60% in. I normally would have DNF'd this book at 10% or 20%, but this is my first time reading this author's book and I wanted to take a chance.

The audiobook is dual narration, which gives this book major points. The male voice, Jaime, is excellent! Deep and easy to listen to. The female voice, Chloe, did a good job as well, and her narration was easily listened to. I listened at 2.0x speed until I hit 40% and increased to 2.5x to finish the story.

Thank you, Netgellay, Brilliance Publishing for the audiobook, and Victory editing for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I just finished this audiobook and while I didn’t necessarily mind the story, I think that the story itself should have been paired down and finished. Book two is over kill. The story doesn’t warrant it. You aren’t craving to know more.
Honestly, so much of this book is just preposterous and feels overwritten. I still can’t get over the fact that this guy’s name is literally dragon. And he refers to himself as sin, which is utterly laughable.
I thought the title was going to be some type of play on the character, but no, it is extremely on the nose.
The MMC tells the FMC “I am sin” a few times and in a few ways.
It’s hard to keep a straight face when you read it.

The cliffhanger we got… I don’t see why there is a book two. The book really doesn’t grab you enough to want a series. It should’ve all just been taken care of in one book and got rid of the unnecessary parts of this book.
If you gave the main character a less ridiculous name, got rid of all the silly wording and the extra scenes, this book really would’ve worked as an interconnected standalone.
Move to another character’s story after.
I understand the need to do series as a writer, but this just somehow seems like pushing it.
It definitely started OK and then got steadily worse

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ALC of I Am Sin, in exchange for an honest review.

"I Am Sin," is an emotionally-charged journey that explores complex and thought-provoking themes. The book follows Diana Steel, an aspiring architect, and Dragon Locke, a recovering addict. Despite their stark differences, an unexplainable force draws them together. As Diana starts her dream job, she agrees to let Dragon stay in her penthouse, unaware of the profound impact he will have on her life. Dragon, haunted by a painful past, is determined to stay clean and turn his life around. Although they try to resist the inevitable connection, the undeniable tension and powerful chemistry between them compel them closer. As the story unfolds, Helen Hardt beautifully balances moments of lightness with darker elements, infusing the narrative with mystery and suspense that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. Through Diana's patient and compassionate approach, she gradually helps Dragon let go of his demons. However, Dragon harbors deep secrets, one of which he hesitates to divulge, adding an extra layer of intrigue. Helen Hardt's storytelling prowess shines through in this exceptional novel, as she artfully constructs the foundation for Diana and Dragon's journey. The book concludes with a thrilling cliffhanger, leaving readers on the edge of their seats, anxiously awaiting the next installment.
The narrators truly brought the story to life. They did a fantastic job!
3.95 Stars!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy and am voluntarily reviewing it. I reviewed the audio of the book and I was enthralled. I have always enjoyed the Steele family. Reading about another generation was right up my alley. Diana Steele wanted to make her own way as an architect. Sure, she utilized her family money, but she wanted to make a name for herself.

Dragon Locke is the drummer for the band Dragonlock. Yep, his name was so unique that they named the band after him. Yes, that was his real name. His parents, apparently, loved mythical creatures. Dragon’s sister’s name was Griffen. Dragon is just coming off a stint in rehab in Denver. Jesse Pike, one of the lead singers of Dragonlock, was married to Diana’s sister. Both asked if Dragon could stay with Diana so he could be close to the rehabilitation center. Now, Dragon is dark, dark. His past has many demons that led him to drugs and drinking to get away from it all. He knew he had to make a change when his had to miss the band’s big break to go back into rehab.

Diana and Dragon were as different as different could be with one exception. They were very attracted to each other. Diana needed Dragon to open up. Dragon has never told anyone his full story. Can he trust Diana? The attraction is explosive. Something special is happening between them. There is a mystery here along with a cliffhanger. Readers will be on the edge. Anticipation for the next book will be high for readers. I know I need to know what’s up next for these two.

Thank you Netgalley and brilliance audio for the free alc. My opinions are being left voluntarily. The narration wad perfection. The story wad a bit sloppy and the characters seemed surface level. I thought the cliff hanger unnecessary. Not sure if I will continue with the series.

3.5/5☆

2 Stars! ✨ Ugh, where do I even begin with this one? First off, massive thanks to Brilliance Publishing & NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of I Am Sin by Helen Hardt! I was really hoping to love this one, but unfortunately, it was a hard NOPE from me. I really didn't like it. 😬 Let’s dive in:

Okay, who in the world names their male lead DRAGON?! Like, I just couldn’t take him seriously! It felt like a joke, honestly. And don’t even get me started on Dragon himself. Dude is a walking disaster. He’s got anger issues, trust issues, and a million other problems. Not to mention, he’s rude as heck. Like, he’s out here talking about how he’s gonna "corrupt you, Diana," but it’s all talk and zero action. Bro, you’re not a big bad wolf, you’re more like a big bad joke. 😒

If I were Diana, I would’ve kicked him to the curb faster than you can say "bye." 😤 Like, sure, he’s got trauma (who doesn’t?), but that doesn’t give him a free pass to be a jerk. He goes to jail, Diana bails him out, and what does he do? Sulk and throw a tantrum. Uh, NO. Boy, BYE. 🚪

✨ Tropes Galore! ✨
✧ Bad Boy x Good Girl 
✧ Forced Proximity
✧ Tortured MMC
✧ Cliffhanger
✧ Unresolved Sexual Tension
✧ Angsty Romance
✧ Rude Hero
✧ Roommates to Lovers
✧ Dark Past

As for the narration… sigh Chloe Ryan was fine, but Jaime Lincoln Smith? Oof. 😬 I don’t know what happened there, but it was like nails on a chalkboard. I could barely understand half of what he said, and when he did the voices for other characters from Dragon’s POV? My brain still hurts from cringing. Seriously, the voice acting almost ruined the entire experience for me. 😖

The only reason I gave it 2 stars and not 1 is that Chloe Ryan’s narration was somewhat bearable. But the story? No thanks. That cliffhanger? Nope, I’m out. 🚫

CW:
- Addiction
- Mental Health Issues
- Jail Time
- Violence

So yeah, that’s my take. 🤷‍♀️ If you’re into angsty drama and forced proximity, maybe it’ll work for you. But for me? Hard pass. 🙅‍♀️

Suspense
Good girl/bad boy
Forced proximity
Tortured MMC
Cliffhanger /duet
Spicy

Audio review
Narrated by: Chloe Ryan, Jaime Lincoln Smith
Dual POV
The narrators made it easy to follow the story

*** drug use, mental health

Dragon and Diana both are about to embark on a new journey.
Diana is about to start a new job as an architect with her dream company. Everything is looking good. As a favor to her sister, she agrees to house Dragon until he can get in a better situation. Fresh out of rehab, Dragon is not looking to be a charity case or a burden to anyone.
There is attraction and they both know it’s not a good idea to give in. However, the temptation was too great.

Dragon thinks he is undeserving of love. His past is both tragic and shrouded in mystery. Now it has reached into his future causing chaos.
Stay tuned for the follow up story.

Just when the reader thought the Steel family saga was complete, Helen Hardt starts off another series with Diana Steel and Dragon. From the very beginning of the story I was captivated. The baggage and issues they both have with drugs made this at times heart wrenching. But add in the other demons Dragon has from his past and my heart just broke. The ending will leave you wanting more!! 5 stars are not enough.
***Review for the audiobook - perfect narration and I could not turn it off.***