CAUGHT UP
Series: Into Darkness #2
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: Navessa Allen
Release Date: June 10, 2025
I wanted this woman, and I was a man who always got what he wanted.
Nico ‘Junior’ Trocci knows Lauren Marchetti is off limits. She is sweetness and laughter, whereas Junior exists in a world of violence and depravity. Men like him don’t get to have women like her. It’s why he pushed her away back in high school and has kept his distance ever since.
But when Junior looks Lauren up online, he discovers the shy, bookish girl he remembers is gone. In her place is a strikingly beautiful woman whose social media is filled with scantily clad pictures of herself and a connection to a nearby play club. Junior’s innocent curiosity quickly turns into a dark obsession. But watching Lauren from a distance isn’t enough; he needs to make her his.
He’s ruthless; a walking red flag. Good thing red is my favorite color.
Lauren is intrigued by the mystery man who keeps showing up at her club, who tempts her white-hot desires. But as their flirty online messages stir up a deeper form of connection, Lauren worries she’s developing real feelings for this brooding stranger. As their combined desire ratchets up to a breaking point, who will seduce who? And will they survive the fall?
Caught Up is a fast-paced dark romance with a morally grey male lead. Some themes and scenes may be disturbing to readers. Please check the content warning at the beginning of the book.
The power of Christ compels you,” I muttered, desperate to expel her from my body.
Junior’s lips twitched. “You trying to exorcise me, Lo?”
“I heard that’s what you’re supposed to do when the ghost of an ex shows up.”
He glanced down again, to where I was still arching into him. “Doesn’t look like it’s working.”
Did I like it? Sure. I just didn’t love it.
Lights Out was a top favorite of mine and I tried to manage my expectations for this book. I didn’t want to compare it to the first one and allow it to stand on its own. Which it did. I liked the story. I liked the characters. But it was also missing that special sauce that book one seemed to bring. I can’t quite put my finger on what it was exactly, but it just didn’t pull me in like the first book.
I enjoyed Lauren. I always love a sex positive FMC and I loved her sass and the way she made Junior work to get back into her good graces. I liked Junior too, but it wasn’t the intense obsession I had with Josh. Maybe I’m just a bit over the TikTok reference? We had masktok in book one and bikertok in this one. It’s cute, sure, but also couldn’t help feeling like the story just relied on that schtick too much. It worked for book one, but I suppose this one just felt like it needed more.
The humor was there and so was the steam, but again it just didn’t grab me as much as I’d hoped.
I do love a good second chance romance so the dynamic between Lauren and Junior was fun. I almost wish we got to see them a bit more in the past rather than seeing that unfold off the pages.
If you’re looking for a fun and steamy read, this one will fit the bill. And while I didn’t love it, I did still enjoy it and can’t wait for the next one.
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