Once You're Mine: A Dark Stalker Romance (Possessing Her)

This book went above and beyond expectations! So good you will not be disappointed

Dark romance with great spice. The plot is fantastic, granted the ending is a cliff hanger which upset me, but I've been there before and already bought the second book before I started reading this one. One thing I will say, the first and second book, definitely could have been one bigger book. However, focusing on the development of their relationship in this book as the main plot and not the mystery aspects is an understandable reason why they are separated.

I want to give this two stars but for whatever reason it isn’t letting me. This book started off alright, but turned into a very obvious wanna be knock off version of 50 shades of gray, but extremely cringe compared to 50 shades. I’m all about a possessive, dark romance for sure. But this was just so obviously trying too hard to be like something popular before it. The interactions between the characters was completely ridiculous, in my opinion and honestly pretty hard to even read. By the end of it I’ve basically skimmed through just because I paid for it, I want to finish it but I definitely can’t see myself buying the second one. Will likely only read if I come across a friend who has it or something. Calista is annoying, her name is wack for one, for two she is just an annoying character. She’s too easily bowing down with an occasional attempt at being defiant, and once again…. Knock of of 50 shades. Anyways the interactions were super awkward and yeah just not my favorite book at all.

At the core of this narrative is the stalker, a character that embodies obsession, intrigue, and the darker sides of desire. Unlike the archetypes often seen in thrillers, this stalker isn’t just a villain but rather a complex individual shaped by a troubled past. Their motivations are rooted deeply in personal trauma and longing, which adds layers to what could have been a one-dimensional character. In stark contrast, the story brilliantly introduces a best friend whose antics provide levity to the intense drama unfolding around them. This character serves as a comedic relief, often delivering laugh-out-loud moments that lighten the tension. Their humorous observations about the absurdity of life and relationships remind readers not to take everything too seriously. As the story unfolds, it becomes evident that there are deeper mysteries entwined within the storyline. What more could one desire in a captivating novel? This combination of a dramatic stalker, a hilariously perverted best friend, and a backdrop of twisting mysteries creates a compelling journey of friendship, obsession, and self-discovery. This kept on my toes, caught between laughter and suspense, while the narrative raises deeper questions about love, loyalty, and the human condition.

Now the dedication was what drew me into this book!!! I love a good professional follower. Especially when he has no emotions for anyone but her. Hauden Bennett is a prosecutor by day and a Justice collector by night. To me it was repetitive to the end bur the cliffhanger ending was perfect and made me pick up book 2 immediately. On page text messages I love those idk why but I found them cute and esthetically appealing in page. Fast paced read since it's not thick even tho the timeliness of the book is very short

As soon as I read the blurb for this book, I knew it was going to be a good one. And I was right! ONCE YOU’RE MINE features Calista, the down-on-her-luck daughter of a disgraced Senator who has recently been murdered. In an attempt to find his murderer, she reluctantly accepts the assistance from the Prosecutor of her father’s criminal case, Hayden; believing that he has the finances and resources to wield better results. What Calista doesn’t know is that although Hayden makes his living on the right side of the law professionally, he lives by a different set of vigilante rules in his personal life. Before long, Calista finds herself falling in love with Hayden and slowly discovering that there is more to Hayden that meets the eye. WARNING: Don’t start this book before bedtime! It definitely has “just one more chapter” potential! This was a very suspenseful read that will keep you turning the pages because the story develops at a fast pace and each chapter is brilliantly ended with a “chapter-cliffhanger” that will urge you to read further. You will feel for Calista and her suffering and in spite of Hayden’s methods for handling obstacles hellbent keeping him from Calista and her safety, you will find yourself cheering for this good/bad guy. Although there were some deliciously sensual scenes between these two, this book was more suspenseful than spicy. so, if that’s what you’re seeking in this stalker romance, you should keep this in mind. It also ends in a cliffhanger. This book was excellent and I highly recommend it. I cannot wait to read Book Two to see what happens next! Happy reading!

First, let me say - I am the slowest reader, but I finished this book in a couple of days. I ordered it on impulse, without knowing anything about it, looking at recommendations for “spicy thrillers.” Once You’re Mine DID NOT DISAPPOINT! The spice is more explicit in nature, but that’s right up my alley! (I don’t want any of that “ suggestive spice.) It is written in first person - DUAL POV, which I also loved! The author wrote this book in such a way that it was easy to ready, storyline easy to follow, and it’ll leave you dying for just one more page (or hopping on Amazon to order the second book within seconds of finishing the first!) If you’re looking for an extra spicy thriller - this is it! (Trigger Warning: this book could be triggering for some readers depending on where they are in their healing journey.)

Had a lot of potential but with enough small issues what I could only give it 3.5 stars. First of all, the book was amazing until 50% then it kind of started to go off the rails. Calistas character felt inconsistent. At times she was a timid, shy, socially awkward and inexperienced young girl. Other times she was a witty and snarky adult woman with a good up bringing and a Senator for a father. It was like she had two different personalities and they didn’t mesh. Then this girl - who’s so timid she can’t even talk to a somewhat pushy coffee store customer - gets a job as a half-naked bartender in a B-rate Hooters-esque bar? No, just no. The stalking never got intense or angsty or… thrilling. Her reaction was “meh… I think I have a stalker”. Okayyyy. At no point was she scared for her life or did I feel a sense of uneasiness about the events happening. The writer could have made it so much more interesting. The interactions between Hayden and Calista started out great, but quickly delved into insta love territory, and the worst part was her self-depreciating inner turmoil about not being good enough. Towards the end the inner monologues got tedious. I just would rather action and dialogue drive the plot more than thoughts. The whole “I own you now” situation - while I typically love it, there is nothing better than a growly, dominant MMC - it just felt off. I was rolling my eyes over some of the interactions. On top of it all, for a stalker romance it was only mildly spicy. Granted I just got done reading a bunch of Penelope Douglas - aka the Queen of morally grey MMCs - so that has undoubtedly colored my opinion. I could only give it 2🌶️. The book had a lot of potential but it kind of fell flat. I’m debating if I want to read the second book just to see how the cliffhanger resolved.