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Agency Soldiers #1

Flower's Beast

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~ Flower's Beast is book one in the Agency Soldiers series but can be read as a standalone. 

Nikolai:
The Agency gathered children like me into their society, ones that were either unwanted or so tainted with evil that they never would have survived in the real world. Others were raised to be cunning and sly, but I was trained to be a weapon. Only brutality ran through my veins. Even after the Agency crumbled under the power of the soldiers they created, I still thought that’s all I’d ever be. If I’m pointed at a target, I kill or capture, never failing. 
Until her. 
She awoke something within me. A strength strong enough to fight the darkness in me that I’m much more familiar with. But both sides want her in a way I’ve never craved before. 
I may not understand why…but everything she is, was made for me. 
Powerful people in this world want her wiped from the map, but they’ll have to get through me first. 
If anyone is going to hurt her, it’ll be me. 

Ana:
Twenty years ago, I woke up in a hospital, my body and mind damaged, only knowing my name. No one was looking for me. 
As I spent most of my childhood with no one looking out for me, my upbringing was too treacherous to truly focus on my lost memories. Even as an adult, my battered brain never let me live that much, keeping me trapped in my city, forcing me to hide from…something. I can't remember what it is though. 
Someone from deep in my lost memories wants me dead, but they made a mistake. The man they sent has much different plans for me. My predictable, hidden life is over. It’s time to run now. 
The Beast at my back is getting closer. 

Warning: Please be aware that there is mature and graphic content that is not suitable for people under 18. Excessive swearing, kidnapping, captivity, panic attacks, PTSD, gun use, stalking, dubcon, knife use, depictions of torture, murder, and physical assaults. There are pregnancy depictions in the Epilogue. 
This book contains graphic sexual scenes, including BDSM-related activities. This is not to be used as an information guide. 
Degradation/Praise kink, breeding, primal, spanking, rope play, edging, anal, slapping, choking, breath play, fear play, pain play, orgasm denial. 

378 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2023

48 people are currently reading
208 people want to read

About the author

Shelby Manuel

10 books94 followers
Reader & Writer of twisted love stories and haunted hearts.
May all villains be obsessed, and all heroines be spoiled.
HEAs...eventually.

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5 stars
51 (47%)
4 stars
32 (29%)
3 stars
21 (19%)
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4 (3%)
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Tyler Marshall.
928 reviews52 followers
April 11, 2023
Another stalker romance that I have added to my comfort read pile.

This was my first book by Shelby, I saw stalker romance and I said sign me up. This book was so well written, from the plot to the characters I had a hard time putting this read down.

The fmc was such a likeable person. I found myself relating to her many times through out this book. She was sure of herself but at the same time unsure, constantly trying to make sense of the world around her and her limitations that she had. Nicolai is my boy, who doesn’t love a morally grey man who would do anything for his woman. I loved how the moment he saw the fmc he felt a shift and was instantly in it, ready to do anything to protect her.

I can’t wait to read more by this author.
Profile Image for Rita Paolantonio.
269 reviews1 follower
August 14, 2023
4.5 stars!

Honestly? This book should probably be rated 3-4 stars but I can’t seem to make myself rate it that low. I always say that I judge enjoyment more than plot and I just love this book. I was expecting Hunting Adeline or That Sik Luv vibes and was constantly surprised at how soft and sweet this book was. Don’t get me wrong, it definitely has its moments of violence and creepiness but Nikolai is so soft when learning how to feel and love and the found family vibes are super sweet.

When looking at this book from a purely technical standpoint, the plot definitely lulls in the middle while they are in the cabin, taking even more time then they needed to to make their relationship believable, and then the plot develops extremely fast at the end, having the main antagonist dealt with very quickly. Also the resolution of the conflict, the epilogue, and the overall morals/mentality of all the characters is definitely more hopeful and happy than what would be realistic but I can’t bring myself to care about any of that.

Ana and Nikolai’s relationship gives off beauty and the beast vibes in the best way. Yes, he stalks and kidnaps her, and in real life it would definitely not work out like this, but his reason for doing so is his absolutely earnest lack of understanding human emotions and just wanting what’s best for her. Her fear in the beginning is absolutely genuine but his confusion about emotions is VERY similar to why the beauty and the beast was a good and acceptable romance. The sex was, interestingly enough, kind of vanilla (on my scale that is, definitely check tw) but still extremely hot. Yes, the sex includes primal/breeding vibes and light bondage but it’s surprising loving and keeps with what you would imagine a loose beauty and the beast retelling would be like. I was expecting a mentality of “this is messed up af but we both like it too much to care” and got, this is a genuine kinda slow burn romance with lots of healing and learning to communicate on both sides and hot sex.

Overall, the plot at times seems a little too unrealistically hopeful and simplistic when describing these crime organizations, but the romance is overwhelming realistic and the main characters character development is so top tier that it makes up for all of that. I’m a sucker for a happy found family ending too, especially when the main character has been alone for so long. If you find no faults beauty and the beasts romance then you will love this book, faults and all, like I did. I definitely recommend it.
Profile Image for AstroBear_Reads .
13 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2023
Refreshing and compelling

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

A very compelling read overall, I found Flower's Beast to be refreshing and fun to read. There were a few grammatical/typographical errors within the book, but I really don't think you should judge this book based on those few errors. If you allow yourself to, this book will suck you in and immerse you in the world this author has built.

One of the things I appreciated most about this book was the MMC. While this is a dark read (check trigger warnings) the MMC demonstrates incredible character development (and honestly so does the FMC who later steps into her own, bad@ss self) and I think that is what I love about this book the most. It's the best of both worlds - dark, moody, suspenseful, with a dark and morally grey MMC with a tragic backstory. And yet, we get to see the sweetness he carries for her, we see him soften and change, and we see him recognize his mistakes, own up to them, and work on doing better. Seriously refreshing for a dark romance!

And can we talk about those spicy scenes?! This is a slower burn for sure, but when they get there, hotd@mn. These were some of the BEST spicy scenes I've read, up there with some of my all-time favorite reads. The scenes were lengthy, detailed, and freaking HOT.

I strongly encourage others to check this one out. It is an overall enjoyable read with lots to offer.
Profile Image for Heather Creeden.
296 reviews25 followers
April 19, 2023
Dark Stalker Romance
⭐️ 5/5
🌶️ 4/5
Age range: Mature

CreedReads Review:

I’m not sure where to start. Shelby is one of those writers…if she puts it on paper, I’m going to read it! I could not get enough of Nikolai and Ana. When it comes to fiction, red flags are items to be captured and held on to…and to see how many we can find…trigger warnings are my checklist.

The internal thoughts of our FMC and MMC are hilarious, raw, and awakening…

“I was wrong. My target is an idiot.” - I mean…Going from this to “I’ve tried acting in a way she’d approve of” does that mean our MMC is trying to act like an idiot? Nah, but boy does he fall hard!

They both learn what it means “that life can try to break you, but it’s on us to learn ways to stand up.” For a man of a lot of grumbles and growls, he sure knows how to make a girl swoon.

Let’s not forget “Good Girl” vibes all day long!

Tropes & Vibes:

- Hidden Identity
- Suppressed memories
- Kidnap me!
- Touch her and die
- Enemies to Lovers
- Slow burn
- Spicy
- Guy falls harder
- Forced Proximity
- Good Girl vibes
Profile Image for Kyara Gevers.
294 reviews18 followers
March 25, 2024
Nikolai Nikolai Nikolai, what have you done to me? ....... Meaning Shelby i am looking at you. These men you keep writing are so addicting! Where can i find one of my own, please, please, pretty please!

Nikolai is a cold blooded hitman who always gets tho job done until his target Ana awakens something he didn't know he could feel. The more he watches, the more obessed he becomes. Both their pasts are dark and twisted and they give eachother the chance to be happy again, to heal, the find an unbreakble bond and HAAA, i wish i wish i wish i could find somebody who loves Ana like Nikolai does, this man will go to the ends of the earth for her. How he treats her, how he accepts her completely for who she is, was so beautiful and let's not forget spicy as H. When they give in OOOHWEEEEE YES YES YES!

I loved these characters so much, their growth is incredible. Their tension is palpable, i was figuratively on the edge of my seat the whole time i was reading it. INCREDIBLE from start to finish!
Profile Image for Selena Murillo.
26 reviews
February 1, 2024
One day, I’m sure I will rate one of this authors books lower than a 5, but today is not that day.

This was kind of mafia, kind of captive, assassins, and then once we got to the forced prox and captive, it was like I settled in. I don’t know how something can be so dark and so funny and then also comforting. Nikolai needs to take care of all of us.

In a rage, I went onto the authors website to literally demand more, BUT MORE IN THIS SERIES IS UP FOR ARCS!

The soldiers from the angels were like black widow and the winter soldier, but also a little alien vibes. Which….I loved. He was discovering humanity while she was discovering life. It was just…perfect.
I cried, laughed, literally yelled at my book…

And then the car scene happened. Iykyk
I had to take a break because I was crying so hard. This book ripped my heart out, and then fixed it only to gently replace it. I can’t stop thinking about it.

I guess I’ll start her other series while I wait for more of this one 🥵
Profile Image for leena.reader.
455 reviews29 followers
April 19, 2023
rating: 3.5 ⭐️

I was kindly sent this book as an arc by the author. Thank you. Now for me review of a Flower's Beast.

A. dark. romance, mixed with stalker elements, the mafia, kidnapping and the good things we love about dark romance.

Overall loved their relationship. I loved in particular how Ana made Nikolai grow as a person, from terminator to perfect lover.

"With her... maybe I can forgive myself."

As for the plot, it was interesting but i felt as though we lost it a lot during the middle portion of the book. This just so happened to be when the two main characters learned about one another and got to fall for each other. So putting forward the relationship but "forgetting" about the mafia plot line. It wouldn't have bothered me if we just had snippets of the plot more often.

Overall a good mafia dark romance book, with some excellent spice might I add.
2 reviews
January 11, 2025
Really enjoyed this ride

I loved this book more than I was expecting to. The MMC growth is huge, and I love the way he’s never really brutal to her. He’s so obsessed with her, but it develops into something he doesn’t know how to deal with; and he never follows the typical trope of “I don’t want to be with you bc you’re making me feel this way”. He loves it!

The FMC felt pretty realistic with her responses which is nice—a lot of the time you get a character who makes no sense or just cries all the time. She’s horrified at first, and then she gets won over by him.

It took a while for the first actual s*x scene, but my god. It was worth the wait. The tension built up to that moment, and then the actual moment itself—I wasn’t mad about it! One of the better scenes I’ve read, and I really can’t say I wouldnt love Nikolai for myself
Profile Image for Jennifer Meyer.
288 reviews12 followers
August 25, 2023
Stalker romance

Nikolai was raised in the agency as a killer until he's sent out to kill Ana. After following her around for months with them having a couple of encounters, a group of men break in and try to kill her. After Nikolai saves her, she tries fighting him after waking up and finding out he's taken her away from her friends and all that she knows. As their trust begins to evolve, so does they're lust for each other. When all hell breaks loose, Ana finds out she's stronger than she thought. This book had action, suspense, and spice! I would definitely read more by Shelby.
Profile Image for Ashley  ADirtyRead.
309 reviews24 followers
July 13, 2023
Sweetest - hotest - little stalker 🥺
Did he originally set out to end her? SURE - but this man turned it around and spent months just watching her to learn everything he could about her. He became facinated with everything she did and wanted to become better for her. He is protective and caring. Once he saved her from a terrible fate, the two of them spent time opening up to each other and genuinely falling in love. The stone cold "machine" turned cinnamon roll bear is the best.

The spice was hitting - long and detailed!
Profile Image for Katnip.
179 reviews
February 12, 2023
I love this story! Who doesn’t love an alphahole assassin with a seriously dark grey moral compass? With the dark themes, check your content warnings.

Shelby did a fantastic job of building these characters! She hits all the feels in this story. One minute I’m creeped out, the next minute I’m rooting for the bad guy (Nikolai) . Or I’m wanting to smack Ana for her lack of self preservation to praising her for her bravery during a traumatic time.

This story is…🤌🏻
Profile Image for Brittany Hayley Fraser.
144 reviews4 followers
February 18, 2023
Love this book!!
I love the slow burn romance. I love how Ana saw the beauty in the dark creepy things and how she was with Nikolai when she got to know him. And I love the evolution of Nikolai from the start of the book to the end. I hope there will be another book
Profile Image for Kelani.
211 reviews2 followers
April 3, 2023
Beast meets flower and everything changes. I loved these two. The whole enemies to lovers. Angst. Fear towards one another. Spicy. 3/5 🌶 Memories lost and regained as well as family. HEA but is it going to stay that way?
337 reviews1 follower
May 3, 2023
What a story

This was the first story I have read by this author but it definitely won't be the last. Dark yes, suspense yes, awesome characters yes and some romance for good measure. I can't wait to see what comes next.
Profile Image for Ariel.
127 reviews1 follower
October 31, 2023
3.5*
Limited stalker aspects, but strong forced proximity with a dash of primal chasing to round it out. Rough play overall. After recovering from my disappointment about the lite stalker aspect, I did enjoy this book.
Profile Image for Anna.
7 reviews
August 13, 2024
My first stalker book and I loved it. Nikolai is such a badass powerful gentle being. I wish he would find me in real life. The story was also great and I can’t wait to read more into the Agency background. ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥
Profile Image for Ecbella76 .
641 reviews1 follower
April 13, 2023
Fantastic story for dark romance. Assassin falls for victim. This was awesome. Well written and spice is phenomenal.
Profile Image for Claudia Degen.
279 reviews5 followers
August 24, 2024
What can I say?
I need a Nikolai in my life.
Emotionless trained assassin, soft only for her is my favorite trope and Nikolai delivered. 🖤
Profile Image for Choline.
167 reviews
January 22, 2025
📖: 3/5
🌶️: 5/5
💖: 3/5
🖋️: 2/5
Mc👸: 3/5

3/5⭐️

The smut was good, but the story was more focused on the love than the story. It had potential, but the pace of story wasn’t for me on that one.
Profile Image for nelly ^_^ (reading slump).
55 reviews6 followers
August 28, 2024
2.75 - 3 … it’s not BAD but idk why it just didn’t do it for me like, very rarely I found myself genuinely interested or excited while reading this… idk just kinda boring but still not a BAD book and i suggest everyone to give it a try
Profile Image for Mrs A.
1,391 reviews29 followers
May 2, 2023
Shelby is my one click author, I love how her words transport me to a new world and make feel joy, anger, anticipation, intrigue and love. Her description are vivid and help me to live the story out in my head.

The plot is laid out so well, there was never a dull moment for me. I love that I have a love hate relationship with Nikolai. At times I really like him and times I love to loathe him! Lol. That’s a proper antihero in my book. Love Ana and her curios mind and her ability to embrace the darkness and the beauty it can bring if you keep an open mind. Their interactions are steamy and hot 🥵.

If guy enjoy dark romance with stalkers, unapologetic antiheros you’ll love this book.
8 reviews1 follower
December 15, 2023
This was chef's kiss. A fun read, gave the warm and fuzzies while dropping the spice.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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