hideaway-penelope-douglas

BANKS

Buried in the shadows of the city, there’s a hotel called The Pope. Ailing, empty, and dark, it sits abandoned and surrounded by a forgotten mystery.

But you think it’s true, don’t you, Kai Mori? The story about the hidden twelfth floor. The mystery of the dark guest who never checked in and never checks out. You think I can help you find that secret hideaway and get to him, don’t you?

You and your friends can try to scare me. You can try to push me. Because even though I struggle to hide everything I feel when you look at me—and have ever since I was a girl—I think maybe what you seek is so much closer than you’ll ever realize.

I will never betray him.

So sit tight.

On Devil’s Night, the hunt will be coming to you.

KAI

You have no idea what I seek, Little One. You don’t know what I had to become to survive three years in prison for a crime I would gladly commit again.

No one can know what I’ve turned into.

I want that hotel, I want to find him, and I want this over.

I want my life back.

But the more I’m around you, the more I realize this new me is exactly who I was meant to be.

So come on, kid. Don’t chicken out. My house is on the hill. So many ways in, and good luck finding your way out.

I’ve seen your hideaway. Time to see mine.


Release Date: Jan 9, 2023
Series: Devil’s Night
Book: 2
Heat Level: Scorching
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley 
Price: $18.00 Trade Paperback


Banks and Kai have a bit of history dating back six years. Though they were no longer entangled, Banks kept an eye on Kai and all his other entanglements. Once everything came out, Kai is determined to bring Banks in the fold. Does she have what it takes to be in his lifestyle?

Whoa! There is a lot going on in this book. There are a lot of twists. I went on the deep ride and loved every moment of it. Just like the first book in the series, the story is wild, crazy and very dark at times. This series is not for the traditional romance lover. The characters are uniquely broken and are designed to fit with their partner.

I absolutely loved Banks. She is up there as my top badass heroine of all times. I like a female lead that is strong, smart and strategic enough to play the games with the other characters. She doesn’t let the guys run her. She definitely didn’t let Rika get in her way. OMG, I was loving the fighting.

Kai is a good male lead. He is very protective and caring of Banks. They have history so that makes sense. However, I felt like he took a back seat to his own story. Just like in the first book, he is a third in some weird way. I think Damon’s presence became front of center.

This is the real reason I couldn’t give it 5 stars. The author used this book to set up Damon’s story. Yes, I’m intrigued to run down that rabbit hole of Damon’s twisted and broken mind, I wanted to focus on Kai and Banks. There is entirely too much time spent on a secondary character which kills the joy from what I liked about Kai and Banks.

Just like that, I still can’t wait to read more. This series is not for the faint of heart. There’s a lot of suspense and intrigue. I recommend this for my readers who love a good dark romance.

~ Samantha