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Echoes Duet #1
Memory Lane
Lane Hart
Many children claim to have memories of past lives but forget them as they grow older. Not me. I still have flashes of memories and nightmares that haunt me. I want to remember more, to remember exactly who I was.
When Harrison Copeland offers me an internship at his lab, I'm closer than I've ever been. Unfortunately, I find myself distracted by the man who radiates power and intimidation. And whose compelling hands I can’t stop staring at.
I want to remember, but I'm not prepared for the cost.
Harrison Copeland
Lane Hart is exactly what I’ve been waiting for—a brilliant young man who can help me finish my father’s research that’s been gathering dust for years. A reincarnated soul, evidence that what I seek is out there.
I shouldn’t let myself get attached to this beautiful, shy angel who calls to the devil in me, but my first taste isn’t nearly enough. However, when he remembers who he was, his past life comes back to haunt us both.
Now the soul that was luring me in is the one I hate the most.
This adult dark MM romance duet contains trigger warnings, a toxic relationship, high angst, and a HEA. Please note the first book ends on a cliffhanger. Specific content warnings can be found on the author’s website.
Many children claim to have memories of past lives but forget them as they grow older. Not me. I still have flashes of memories and nightmares that haunt me. I want to remember more, to remember exactly who I was.
When Harrison Copeland offers me an internship at his lab, I'm closer than I've ever been. Unfortunately, I find myself distracted by the man who radiates power and intimidation. And whose compelling hands I can’t stop staring at.
I want to remember, but I'm not prepared for the cost.
Harrison Copeland
Lane Hart is exactly what I’ve been waiting for—a brilliant young man who can help me finish my father’s research that’s been gathering dust for years. A reincarnated soul, evidence that what I seek is out there.
I shouldn’t let myself get attached to this beautiful, shy angel who calls to the devil in me, but my first taste isn’t nearly enough. However, when he remembers who he was, his past life comes back to haunt us both.
Now the soul that was luring me in is the one I hate the most.
This adult dark MM romance duet contains trigger warnings, a toxic relationship, high angst, and a HEA. Please note the first book ends on a cliffhanger. Specific content warnings can be found on the author’s website.
357 pages, ebook
Published August 22, 2023
101 people are currently reading
797 people want to read
About the author
River Hale
9 books377 followersRiver Hale is a pseudonym, created because her mother once told her that she'll read everything she ever writes. She's a writer with a tea addiction and a love for everything dark, twisted, haunted, and beautiful. She's written and published more appropriate books that her mother is allowed to read under her real name, but she'll always have a special place in her heart for dark romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
August 23, 2023
✰ 3.75 stars ✰
“I like to say that philosophy has its place in science.”
My head snaps back up as though jolted by an electric current. Dr. Copeland is staring straight at me with stormy gray eyes through thick lashes. I would’ve expected the dark clouds that swirl around in those irises to make me feel a similar tempest inside me. Instead, it’s calming.
Or maybe it’s just the calm before the storm.”
How far back a trip down Memory Lane will you take to revisit the echoes of your past? What lines will you blur, just to hear the remnants of a song long forgotten? What deal with fate will you make so that a twisted and determined devil can have one chance with a beautiful angel? Rylee Hale's latest duet captures how no matter how hard we try - the past always comes back to haunt us - just not ever in the way we could have imagined. 🥺 🥺
This was good - it was not great, but it was good. It was different - it's not something, I'm usually interested in reading, but I wanted to give Rylee Hale another chance after my lackluster intro with her writing. The concept of reincarnation is a fascinating one - the electric chemistry between 37-year old Doctor Harrison Coleman and his new object of obsession, attraction and possession - his newest intern, 24-year-old Lane Hart - even more so. What ulterior motives are rooted in his intense craving for keeping him close - no matter what the cost - is what makes the first part of her latest debut such a captivating one. 🥹🥹
“However, it’s just another problem to solve, and I love solving problems. I’ll gain my control back.
If I love anything more than solving problems, it’s control.”
Harrison is a man of his word - a man on the mission. He wants answers - he wants the truth - he wants to do the impossible - trace the living to the dead - figure out the mysteries behind his father's experiments. Along the way, Lane comes into his life. Lane - 'the first man to make me want things like kissing and cuddling, and that’s fucking dangerous.' Lane, who he fights for so long the urge to lunge at him - even when all else points to how much he needs him. 😟 I can't say much without spoiling too much, but that, despite how depraved his train of thought is for keeping Lane all to himself - for his studies or for pleasure - there still lurked the heart of a good man - shockingly twisted, right? And that gave me hope that this morally grey character - dubious his intentions may be - he may be exactly what Lane needs. ❤️🩹 ❤️🩹
“When the door to the office closes behind us, I can’t help but feel like it’s closing on a past life and a new one’s about to start.”
Lane,'beautiful and brilliant, and looks like a goddamn angel' is haunted by his own dreams - dreams of a past life he can't seem to shake off. And when he gets ensnared in Harrison's clutches - something else awakens inside of him - the want of a man and irresistible to his touch. Not just any man, but this man - the man who makes him feel things - reduces him to putty in his presence - a man who smiles at him, 'it’s not exactly a smile. It’s some kind of ravenous grin, predatory in nature,' that makes him think, 'kill me now. This man’s going to eat me alive'. 🫠 🫠 And as the story unfolds, I liked that, no matter how much he longed for his touch - no matter the temptation of dangerous flirting - he never lost sight of who he was - he is still Lane. Even if Harrison blinds himself to that notion, to torture him so - it is that defiant thought that really made Harrison bend to his whims more. 🔥🔥
“But it’s there, that desire to completely surrender to him. Give him all of me. Until there’s nothing left.”
And the steam - uff, it was deliciously intense - cruel intentions and twisted pleasures all captured into one flaming burst of passion and desire - shockingly desirable and still, exactly what the two of them thrived for - what made them seek each other out - for ever how long they fought it - they simply craved it - the filthy ways Harrison melted Lane to his whims - clawed his way into owning him - keeping him for himself - proving to him that he would be the only one to touch him like that - crave him like that. ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥 The kinks of pleasure and shame - the binding of lust that is border-line violent and abusive, and yet calms Lane's heart like nothing else - every arousing touch was palpable. And it only works - because it is them - it is something that actually is more comforting and arousing to them - than what could be disturbing and toxic to the sane others. 😅
“You’ve been staring at my hands an awful lot, Lane.” His voice is even lower, more gravelly than usual. His gaze roams over my face, a little lower, then his eyes snap up to meet my own.
“Do you want them on you?”
to
“An angel like you should stay far away from a devil like me.”
“I thought you weren’t religious,” he says breathlessly.
“Maybe we should make our own religion.”
and then
“You really are an animal.”
Chuckling, I move until I’m standing right in front of him again, our chests inches apart.
“What can I say?” I brush my thumb across his bottom lip. “You make me positively feral.”
Again, be warned - this is definitely a dark romance! Some of Harrison's treatment towards Lane made me squeamish - made me uncomfortable - no matter how alluringly sizzling their scenes were.. Still, I cannot ignore the fact that I knew that it would be like this; the author has given plenty of trigger warnings beforehand. So, despite my own discomfort, I can't ignore that what the writing intended to be - it was and a whole lot more. 😨 No matter how questionable or objectionable, it truly delivered on those points in a truly teasing and delicious manner that had you wrapped around it's finger, much like the hold Harrison had on Lane and how he was completely and willingly at his tender mercy. 🤌🏼🤌🏼
“I don’t want to fight right now,” I say against his lips. --- “I need you too badly to pretend I don’t.”
“You’re going to make me lose control, Lane.”
“Lose it.” I haven’t really touched him, haven’t felt brave enough or comfortable enough to. Now I may never stop. “I’ll give you all of mine.”
If I could have one nitpick that could have been improved would be the mystery of suspense; most probably, many may have not caught onto the cliffhanger or the twists, but I could clearly see the signs right from the very beginning. 😮💨 It would have been more rewarding to have more elements of surprises to make it that more intriguing, but I won't take it too much to heart.
For how the author shifted between the past and the present - the soul of the now and the soul long forgotten - it was a smooth transition that heightened - maybe, not the scenes, but elevated the emotions that Lane and Harrison would feel from it. 😳😳 And how their relationship gravitated towards a more gentle and tamer understanding of each other towards the end, leaves me highly anticipating how the scene will pick up when Harrison returns to the life he thought he had lost long ago. 👌🏻 👌🏻
“I like to say that philosophy has its place in science.”
My head snaps back up as though jolted by an electric current. Dr. Copeland is staring straight at me with stormy gray eyes through thick lashes. I would’ve expected the dark clouds that swirl around in those irises to make me feel a similar tempest inside me. Instead, it’s calming.
Or maybe it’s just the calm before the storm.”
How far back a trip down Memory Lane will you take to revisit the echoes of your past? What lines will you blur, just to hear the remnants of a song long forgotten? What deal with fate will you make so that a twisted and determined devil can have one chance with a beautiful angel? Rylee Hale's latest duet captures how no matter how hard we try - the past always comes back to haunt us - just not ever in the way we could have imagined. 🥺 🥺
This was good - it was not great, but it was good. It was different - it's not something, I'm usually interested in reading, but I wanted to give Rylee Hale another chance after my lackluster intro with her writing. The concept of reincarnation is a fascinating one - the electric chemistry between 37-year old Doctor Harrison Coleman and his new object of obsession, attraction and possession - his newest intern, 24-year-old Lane Hart - even more so. What ulterior motives are rooted in his intense craving for keeping him close - no matter what the cost - is what makes the first part of her latest debut such a captivating one. 🥹🥹
“However, it’s just another problem to solve, and I love solving problems. I’ll gain my control back.
If I love anything more than solving problems, it’s control.”
Harrison is a man of his word - a man on the mission. He wants answers - he wants the truth - he wants to do the impossible - trace the living to the dead - figure out the mysteries behind his father's experiments. Along the way, Lane comes into his life. Lane - 'the first man to make me want things like kissing and cuddling, and that’s fucking dangerous.' Lane, who he fights for so long the urge to lunge at him - even when all else points to how much he needs him. 😟 I can't say much without spoiling too much, but that, despite how depraved his train of thought is for keeping Lane all to himself - for his studies or for pleasure - there still lurked the heart of a good man - shockingly twisted, right? And that gave me hope that this morally grey character - dubious his intentions may be - he may be exactly what Lane needs. ❤️🩹 ❤️🩹
“When the door to the office closes behind us, I can’t help but feel like it’s closing on a past life and a new one’s about to start.”
Lane,'beautiful and brilliant, and looks like a goddamn angel' is haunted by his own dreams - dreams of a past life he can't seem to shake off. And when he gets ensnared in Harrison's clutches - something else awakens inside of him - the want of a man and irresistible to his touch. Not just any man, but this man - the man who makes him feel things - reduces him to putty in his presence - a man who smiles at him, 'it’s not exactly a smile. It’s some kind of ravenous grin, predatory in nature,' that makes him think, 'kill me now. This man’s going to eat me alive'. 🫠 🫠 And as the story unfolds, I liked that, no matter how much he longed for his touch - no matter the temptation of dangerous flirting - he never lost sight of who he was - he is still Lane. Even if Harrison blinds himself to that notion, to torture him so - it is that defiant thought that really made Harrison bend to his whims more. 🔥🔥
“But it’s there, that desire to completely surrender to him. Give him all of me. Until there’s nothing left.”
And the steam - uff, it was deliciously intense - cruel intentions and twisted pleasures all captured into one flaming burst of passion and desire - shockingly desirable and still, exactly what the two of them thrived for - what made them seek each other out - for ever how long they fought it - they simply craved it - the filthy ways Harrison melted Lane to his whims - clawed his way into owning him - keeping him for himself - proving to him that he would be the only one to touch him like that - crave him like that. ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥 The kinks of pleasure and shame - the binding of lust that is border-line violent and abusive, and yet calms Lane's heart like nothing else - every arousing touch was palpable. And it only works - because it is them - it is something that actually is more comforting and arousing to them - than what could be disturbing and toxic to the sane others. 😅
“You’ve been staring at my hands an awful lot, Lane.” His voice is even lower, more gravelly than usual. His gaze roams over my face, a little lower, then his eyes snap up to meet my own.
“Do you want them on you?”
to
“An angel like you should stay far away from a devil like me.”
“I thought you weren’t religious,” he says breathlessly.
“Maybe we should make our own religion.”
and then
“You really are an animal.”
Chuckling, I move until I’m standing right in front of him again, our chests inches apart.
“What can I say?” I brush my thumb across his bottom lip. “You make me positively feral.”
Again, be warned - this is definitely a dark romance! Some of Harrison's treatment towards Lane made me squeamish - made me uncomfortable - no matter how alluringly sizzling their scenes were.. Still, I cannot ignore the fact that I knew that it would be like this; the author has given plenty of trigger warnings beforehand. So, despite my own discomfort, I can't ignore that what the writing intended to be - it was and a whole lot more. 😨 No matter how questionable or objectionable, it truly delivered on those points in a truly teasing and delicious manner that had you wrapped around it's finger, much like the hold Harrison had on Lane and how he was completely and willingly at his tender mercy. 🤌🏼🤌🏼
“I don’t want to fight right now,” I say against his lips. --- “I need you too badly to pretend I don’t.”
“You’re going to make me lose control, Lane.”
“Lose it.” I haven’t really touched him, haven’t felt brave enough or comfortable enough to. Now I may never stop. “I’ll give you all of mine.”
If I could have one nitpick that could have been improved would be the mystery of suspense; most probably, many may have not caught onto the cliffhanger or the twists, but I could clearly see the signs right from the very beginning. 😮💨 It would have been more rewarding to have more elements of surprises to make it that more intriguing, but I won't take it too much to heart.
For how the author shifted between the past and the present - the soul of the now and the soul long forgotten - it was a smooth transition that heightened - maybe, not the scenes, but elevated the emotions that Lane and Harrison would feel from it. 😳😳 And how their relationship gravitated towards a more gentle and tamer understanding of each other towards the end, leaves me highly anticipating how the scene will pick up when Harrison returns to the life he thought he had lost long ago. 👌🏻 👌🏻
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January 2, 2025
a reincarnation romance with a plot twist at the end I didn’t see coming 🫣
November 26, 2023
I might be obsessed...
This story is crazy unique! I've never read anything like this before, and now I wish I had more. I felt so bad for Lane, but even when Harrison was being a tool, I kind of felt bad for him too. Harrison isn't a good person, but I love how Lane just accepts him the way he is.
Dark and twisted. That's what this book is, and I neeeed mooore.
This story is crazy unique! I've never read anything like this before, and now I wish I had more. I felt so bad for Lane, but even when Harrison was being a tool, I kind of felt bad for him too. Harrison isn't a good person, but I love how Lane just accepts him the way he is.
Dark and twisted. That's what this book is, and I neeeed mooore.
October 7, 2023
I'm not sure if I like this book, I had some idea of having fun reading it, at the same time I don't really remember much about it, so I will mark this at 3 stars just for the sake of catalog this
August 18, 2023
You’re so fucking beautiful. Like a goddamn angel. One I’d really love to corrupt.
🌟 Star Rating - 5/5
🔥 Spice Rating - 3/5
What To Expect:
🖤 MM Romance
❤️ Angst
🖤 Morally Gray MC
❤️ Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Possessive MC
❤️ Cliffhanger
I don’t need to go looking for heaven. I found it right fucking here.
𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘
Where has this book been my entire life?? Wow, I cannot think of another book even remotely similar to this and I loved every second! Complex and dark, I was second guessing my morality after I decided I wanted a Harrison of my own and questioning if past lives do really exist. Lane is a sweet lovable character I couldn't help adoring from the very start, how he is with his mother and roommate. When Harrison is made aware of Lane, he is instantly drawn in and both are attracted to one another, despite Lane being straight. As this slowly grows into more, something happens and everything is thrown out the window and life is never the same again. The constant twists and turns this book has had me going down a deep rabbit hole of curiosity and emotions and when the final twist is revealed, I was left desperate for the next book and wishing I could reread it all over again for the first time!
🌟 Star Rating - 5/5
🔥 Spice Rating - 3/5
What To Expect:
🖤 MM Romance
❤️ Angst
🖤 Morally Gray MC
❤️ Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Possessive MC
❤️ Cliffhanger
I don’t need to go looking for heaven. I found it right fucking here.
𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘
Where has this book been my entire life?? Wow, I cannot think of another book even remotely similar to this and I loved every second! Complex and dark, I was second guessing my morality after I decided I wanted a Harrison of my own and questioning if past lives do really exist. Lane is a sweet lovable character I couldn't help adoring from the very start, how he is with his mother and roommate. When Harrison is made aware of Lane, he is instantly drawn in and both are attracted to one another, despite Lane being straight. As this slowly grows into more, something happens and everything is thrown out the window and life is never the same again. The constant twists and turns this book has had me going down a deep rabbit hole of curiosity and emotions and when the final twist is revealed, I was left desperate for the next book and wishing I could reread it all over again for the first time!
September 1, 2023
4.5⭐️
What a mindfuck this was! but... I absolutely loved it ! This author is a must-read for me with every book I read from her! Evidently, the theme doesn't matter because she nails it every time!
I had never read a book about past lives and reincarnation, and what a beautiful surprise this was.
Harrison (37 years old) and Lane (24 years old) have been super magnetic since their first encounter. Although they both have very specific goals for what they want from this experience, Harrison wants to finish his father's research about reincarnated souls, and Lane, who suffers from nightmares and flashbacks of images that are not from his life, wants to take advantage of the opportunity to work with him and, in addition to writing his thesis, find out if, in fact, he has more than one soul inside him.
I loved the plot, which was full of surprises, secrets, revenge, and a hate to love you vibe. I also liked the theme; it raises a lot of philosophical questions that they discuss in a very intimate way. But be careful... These thoughts twist our minds with all the twists and turns they take and the possibilities of reincarnation.
Harrison is super intense, and we can feel the impact of this intensity every time we read Lane's POV. He has very specific tastes, and from the start, he shows his attraction to Lane. Note that Lane is straight... (I absolutely love this trope more and more.) I love seeing passion and love develop towards someone you would never think of as being of the opposite sex. I love it; it's super powerful and intense.
We have a plot twist after the first experience that takes us to a turn of events and a very heartbreaking fight between desire and revenge.
Harrison is not a good person; he doesn't hide it, and their relationship is very toxic and possessive, but rest assured, Lane is here for this and discovers that practically every bone in her body submits to Harrison's power in everything.
The intimate scenes are (I may be abusing the use of this word, but...) intense! My god... With the need for a safe word and everything.
It ends with a cliffhanger from hell, and I'm counting the days until October 3rd to read "Echoes of the Past" book 2 of the duet.
I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest opinion.
What a mindfuck this was! but... I absolutely loved it ! This author is a must-read for me with every book I read from her! Evidently, the theme doesn't matter because she nails it every time!
I had never read a book about past lives and reincarnation, and what a beautiful surprise this was.
Harrison (37 years old) and Lane (24 years old) have been super magnetic since their first encounter. Although they both have very specific goals for what they want from this experience, Harrison wants to finish his father's research about reincarnated souls, and Lane, who suffers from nightmares and flashbacks of images that are not from his life, wants to take advantage of the opportunity to work with him and, in addition to writing his thesis, find out if, in fact, he has more than one soul inside him.
I loved the plot, which was full of surprises, secrets, revenge, and a hate to love you vibe. I also liked the theme; it raises a lot of philosophical questions that they discuss in a very intimate way. But be careful... These thoughts twist our minds with all the twists and turns they take and the possibilities of reincarnation.
Harrison is super intense, and we can feel the impact of this intensity every time we read Lane's POV. He has very specific tastes, and from the start, he shows his attraction to Lane. Note that Lane is straight... (I absolutely love this trope more and more.) I love seeing passion and love develop towards someone you would never think of as being of the opposite sex. I love it; it's super powerful and intense.
We have a plot twist after the first experience that takes us to a turn of events and a very heartbreaking fight between desire and revenge.
Harrison is not a good person; he doesn't hide it, and their relationship is very toxic and possessive, but rest assured, Lane is here for this and discovers that practically every bone in her body submits to Harrison's power in everything.
The intimate scenes are (I may be abusing the use of this word, but...) intense! My god... With the need for a safe word and everything.
It ends with a cliffhanger from hell, and I'm counting the days until October 3rd to read "Echoes of the Past" book 2 of the duet.
I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest opinion.
August 20, 2023
“You’ve been staring at my hands an awful lot, Lane.” His voice is even lower, more gravelly than usual. His gaze roams over my face, a little lower, then his eyes snap up to meet my own. “Do you want them on you?”
Oh my goodness, I totally loved Memory Lane by Rylee Hale which is book 1 in her Echoes duet - and don't panic, book 2 Echoes of the Past is coming out just over a month after this one!
This is Lane and Harrison's story and it's a gorgeous mix of (sort of) sci fi, science, past lives, murder/mystery, with a dark MM romance wrapped up amongst it.
Without giving too much away, you'll inhale this if you love:
🖤dark, angsty mm romance
🖤second chances
🖤D/S vibes
🖤age gap
🖤toxic relationships
🖤opposites attract
Honestly, you need to run out and read this on 22 August!
All the stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Oh my goodness, I totally loved Memory Lane by Rylee Hale which is book 1 in her Echoes duet - and don't panic, book 2 Echoes of the Past is coming out just over a month after this one!
This is Lane and Harrison's story and it's a gorgeous mix of (sort of) sci fi, science, past lives, murder/mystery, with a dark MM romance wrapped up amongst it.
Without giving too much away, you'll inhale this if you love:
🖤dark, angsty mm romance
🖤second chances
🖤D/S vibes
🖤age gap
🖤toxic relationships
🖤opposites attract
Honestly, you need to run out and read this on 22 August!
All the stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 6, 2023
Nobody touch me.
It’s been days since I finished this and I still think about this book. I can’t WAIT for the next… I can’t stress how unique the story is. And damn it gets twisted, but I swear the more twisted their relationship gets, the better. And hotter. And just when you thought it couldn’t get MORE twisted.
It’s been days since I finished this and I still think about this book. I can’t WAIT for the next… I can’t stress how unique the story is. And damn it gets twisted, but I swear the more twisted their relationship gets, the better. And hotter. And just when you thought it couldn’t get MORE twisted.
December 6, 2023
I found my favorite book ever! This duet was SO FREAKING GOOD. I'm not really a fan of science fiction but the blurb was really interesting and hooked me in and I'm so glad it did because WHAT. This was a trip. It's DARK dark and absolutely won't be for everyone. I can't say much without giving spoiling but just read it! Harrison is deliciously dark and Lane is the most precious cinnamon roll. I wish there was more of these two!
August 24, 2023
THIS BOOK SLAPPED HARDER THAN WILL SMITH!
I was not prepared for the amount of twists and turns in this book.
Both Harrison and Lane have a undeniable passion to complete a scientific project that could change everything! (the science in this book is not technical and easier than reading your grandmother's cookie recipe)
But what they both weren't prepared for was the twist that makes them crumble and turn both their worlds dark.
WHEN I TELL YOU THIS BOOK HAD MY HEART BEATING OUT MY CHEST, SCREAMING LIKE A BANSHEE AND KICKING MY FEET IN THE AIR LIKE IM SWIMMING FOR MY GAH DAM LIFE.. WHOLEY, SHE WAS A ROLLERCOASTER!
You have Harrison, a broady, morally gray MMC who has a dark background..
and Lane, a cinnamon roll mmc who lands a job at Harrisons Lab!
EASY 5 STARS ✨️
THE SPICE BEETCH! 🌶🌶🌶
This dark MM romance will definately rope you in. I would reccomend checking trigger and content warnings.
Thank you so much Rylee Hale for the opportunity to read this ARC!
I was not prepared for the amount of twists and turns in this book.
Both Harrison and Lane have a undeniable passion to complete a scientific project that could change everything! (the science in this book is not technical and easier than reading your grandmother's cookie recipe)
But what they both weren't prepared for was the twist that makes them crumble and turn both their worlds dark.
WHEN I TELL YOU THIS BOOK HAD MY HEART BEATING OUT MY CHEST, SCREAMING LIKE A BANSHEE AND KICKING MY FEET IN THE AIR LIKE IM SWIMMING FOR MY GAH DAM LIFE.. WHOLEY, SHE WAS A ROLLERCOASTER!
You have Harrison, a broady, morally gray MMC who has a dark background..
and Lane, a cinnamon roll mmc who lands a job at Harrisons Lab!
EASY 5 STARS ✨️
THE SPICE BEETCH! 🌶🌶🌶
This dark MM romance will definately rope you in. I would reccomend checking trigger and content warnings.
Thank you so much Rylee Hale for the opportunity to read this ARC!
November 26, 2023
DNF 57% - Edit: Skimmed through to the end.
DNF 57% - Edit: Doch noch bis zum Ende „überflogen“.
(DEUTSCH WEITER UNTEN)
I honestly don’t even know where to start ...
I was actually really looking forward to this book. With the cover, bdsm, lgbtiaq+ and a dark theme, the book had me immediately, but I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into. As far as content warnings go, I’m not easily shocked and I could have read what happened here and read it well as fiction if it hadn’t been for ... that glorifying shit.
The writing style itself is really quite pleasant, although I’m not a big fan of the first-person perspective, but I’ve noticed that this is quite common in books like this. Okay, I can somehow come to terms with it - most of the time. I could have done it here.
The first thing that annoyed me was this sentence:
She’s only forty-five years old and still beautiful.
I’m just extremely allergic to this crap. Women are always reduced to their looks (this is about Lane’s mum, who also seems to be a really great person otherwise. But who absolutely has to be degraded to age + looks) and it always has to be said about female characters that they are STILL beautiful, even though they are already „old“. Because normally women over 40 are just ugly as hell, but THIS person is still beautiful. With men, of course, it doesn’t matter at all, but with female characters it always has to be emphasised. Of course.
Sexist shit.
But well, I could have overlooked it somehow. I would have deducted a star and got upset, as above. But well, it would have been okay - even if I’m really angry now.
But now we come to the reason why I discontinued the book.
I couldn’t care less about the age difference (13 years). Both are of legal age and are somehow settled in life - Lane is a student and Harrison runs a laboratory. The abuse of power is another issue, but well, it’s often dealt with in fiction. I was quite annoyed by this „Dude who writes his thesis at our lab“ and „Boss who never lets him out of his sight“, but I thought: „Hopefully it can only get better.“
Yeah, wrong.
Lane is actually heterosexual (or he always thought he was) but quickly realises that he’s more likely to be bi. That’s okay too - really. Harrison is just hot and has these sexy hands with these prominent veins and god, he’s also assaultive. Every virgin’s „dream“. Ugh.
Harrison says of himself that he’s a bad person and always says he’s the devil and Lane is the angel and he’d love to corrupt him, but fuuuuuck, he’s his boss. He can’t, but fuuuuuck, look at his ass. We’re throwing our principles overboard. Cool cool.
Up to this point, I’ve got along fine, even though I already knew that it would be an ... amused rage-read. The two characters and especially Harrison with his „Devil“ and „Angel“ jabber and the fact that he now just permanently calls Lane „baby“ got me on my ovaries.
But then we get to the point where Harrison finds out what memories are hidden in Lane and who he was in his previous life.
Well, Harrison escalates and sedates Lane first. He then „kidnaps“ Lane and imprisons him in his lab and when Lane wakes up, he cheerfully slices Lane’s stomach open with a knife. Cool, cool. Lane cries and is devastated and Harrison still thinks Lane is hot and is all conflicted and blah.
From then on, everything just gets so absurd. Lane, who now no longer knows exactly who he is and babbles on about how Harrison should probably kill him and somehow gets an erection and blows Harrison. (Incidentally, Lane won Olympic gold with the first blowjob of his life, that’s how good the guy was) And then Harrison abuses Lane in the shower and Lane is all „oh God, why does that feel so good?“ And he’s actually scared of Harrison but thinks he’s hot and „omg, do I have Stockholm Syndrom?“
I really didn’t sign up for this shit.
I have nothing against toxic relationships in fiction, as long as they are portrayed believably. I’m also not against kidnapping and abuse, as long as the characters behave realistically and there’s a sense of respect and stuff. You know?
I really can’t stand this glorifying „I’m so scared, I’m about to die and omg, f*ck me harder“ anymore ....
When I read a BDSM book, I want goddamn kink with consent, I don’t care how freaky. This isn’t bdsm, this is just abuse with totally unworldly characters. Just because someone says „good boy“ and wants to be in control doesn’t make it kink.
I’m really sick of it.
(DEUTSCH)
Ich weiß ehrlich gesagt gar nicht, wo ich anfangen soll ...
Eigentlich hab ich mich echt auf das Buch gefreut. Bei dem Cover, bdsm, lgbtiaq+ und einer düsteren Thematik hatte mich das Buch sofort, aber ich hab echt nicht gewusst, worauf ich mich da einlasse. Was Inhaltswarnungen angeht, bin ich echt nicht leicht zu schocken und auch das, was hier passiert, hätte ich lesen und als Fiktion auch gut lesen können, wenn dort nicht sofort wieder ... diese verherrlichende Sch**ße gewesen wäre.
Der Schreibstil an sich ist echt ganz angenehm, zwar bin ich kein großer Fan von der Perspektive in der ersten Person, aber ich hab schon gemerkt, dass dies bei solchen Büchern ganz gern gemacht wird. Okay kann ich mich irgendwie mti arrangieren – meistens. Hier hätte ich das gekonnt.
Das Erste, was mich genervt hat, war dieser Satz:
She’s only forty-five years old and still beautiful.
Ich reagiere einfach extrem allergisch auf diesen Bockmist. Immer werden Frauen auf ihr Äußeres reduziert (hier geht es um Lane’s Mutter, die auch sonst ne ganz tolle Person zu sein scheint. Die aber unbedingt auf Alter + Aussehen degradiert werden muss) werden und das bei weiblich gelesenen Personen IMMER gesagt werden muss, dass sie ja NOCH IMMER schön sind, obwohl sie halt schon „alt“ sind. Weil normalerweise sind Frauen über 40 halt grottenhässlich, aber DIESE Person ist noch immer schön. Bei Männern ist das natürlich voll egal, bei weiblich gelesenen Personen muss das aber immer betont werden. Natürlich.
Sexistische Scheiße.
Aber gut, ich hätte da irgendwie drüber hinwegsehen können. Hätte nen Stern abgezogen und mich, wie oben, aufgeregt. Aber gut, wäre okay gewesen – auch wenn ich jetzt echt wütend bin.
Kommen wir nun aber zu dem, warum ich das Buch abgebrochen habe.
Der Altersunterschied (13Jahre) ist mir voll egal. Beide sind volljährig und stehen irgendwie im Leben – Lane studiert und Harrison leitet ein Forschungslabor. Der Machtmissbrauch ist schon wieder ein anderes Thema, aber gut, wird in Fiktion ja auch oft aufgegriffen. Mich hat diese „Dude der bei uns seine Thesis“ schreibt und „Boss, der ihn nie aus den Augen lässt“ schon ziemlich genervt, aber ich dachte: „Kann ja hoffentlich nur besser werden.“
Ja falsch.
Lane ist eigentlich heterosexuell, (oder er dachte das immer) freundet sich aber schnell damit an, dass er wohl doch eher bi ist. Auch das ist okay – really. Harrison ist halt hot und hat diese geilen Hände mit diesen hervorstehenden Venen und gott, dann ist der auch noch übergriffig. Ein „Traum“ einer jeden Jungfrau. Ugh.
Harrison sagt von sich selbst, dass er voll der schlechte Mensch ist und sagt immer, er sei der Teufel und Lane sei der Engel und er würde ihn so gern verderben, aber fuuuuuck, er ist ja sein Boss. Das geht nicht, aber fuuuuuck, guck auf den Knackarsch. Wir schmeißen unsere Prinzipien über Bord. Cool.
Bis hier hin bin ich voll noch klar gekommen, auch wenn ich schon wusste, dass das er so ein ... amüsierter rage-read wird. Die beiden Charaktere und vor allem Harrison mit „Devil“ und „Angel“ und ich baller dir jetzt einfach permanent „Baby“ an den Kopf, sind mir einfach auf die Eierstöcke gegangen.
Dann aber kommen wir zu dem Punkt, wo Harrison erfährt, welche Erinnerungen sich in Lane verbergen und wer er in seinem vorherigen Leben war.
Gut, Harrison eskaliert und betäubt Lane erstmal. „Entführt“ Lane dann und sperrt ihn in seinem Forschungslabor ein und wenn Lane aufwacht, schneidet er ihm erstmal munter mit einem Messer den Bauch auf. Cool, cool. Lane heult und ist am Ende und Harrison findet Lane halt dennoch noch hot und hat voll den Zwiespalt und Blah.
Ab da an wird alles einfach so voll absurd. Lane, der nun nicht mehr genau weiß wer er ist und davon faselt, dass Harrison ihn vllt töten sollte und irgendwie auch ne Erektion bekommt und Harrison einen bläst. (Lane hat mit dem ersten Blowjob in seinem Leben übrigens Olympiagold gewonnen, so gut war der Kerl) Und dann missbraucht Harrison Lane in der Dusche und Lane nur „oh Gott, warum fühlt sich das so geil an?“ Und eigentlich hat er ja Angst vor Harrison und findet ihn aber hot und „omg, hab ich Stockholm?“
Für diesen Mist hab ich mich echt nicht angemeldet.
Ich habe nix gegen toxische Beziehungen in Fiktion, solang das auch glaubhaft gemacht ist. Ich hab auch nichts gegen Entführungen und Missbrauch, solang die Charaktere sich glaubhaft verhalten und da auch ein Hauch Respekt dabei ist und so. You know?
Ich kann dieses verherrlichende „ich hab so Angst, ich sterbe gleich und omg, nimm mich härter“ echt nicht mehr ertragen ....
Wenn ich ein BDSM Buch lese, dann will ich goddamn kink mit consent, mir egal wie abgedreht. Das hier ist nicht bdsm, das ist einfach Missbrauch mit total weltfremden Charakteren. Nur weil jemand „Good Boy“ sagt und die Kontrolle behalten will, ist das noch lang kein Kink.
Hab echt die Nase voll.
DNF 57% - Edit: Doch noch bis zum Ende „überflogen“.
(DEUTSCH WEITER UNTEN)
I honestly don’t even know where to start ...
I was actually really looking forward to this book. With the cover, bdsm, lgbtiaq+ and a dark theme, the book had me immediately, but I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into. As far as content warnings go, I’m not easily shocked and I could have read what happened here and read it well as fiction if it hadn’t been for ... that glorifying shit.
The writing style itself is really quite pleasant, although I’m not a big fan of the first-person perspective, but I’ve noticed that this is quite common in books like this. Okay, I can somehow come to terms with it - most of the time. I could have done it here.
The first thing that annoyed me was this sentence:
She’s only forty-five years old and still beautiful.
I’m just extremely allergic to this crap. Women are always reduced to their looks (this is about Lane’s mum, who also seems to be a really great person otherwise. But who absolutely has to be degraded to age + looks) and it always has to be said about female characters that they are STILL beautiful, even though they are already „old“. Because normally women over 40 are just ugly as hell, but THIS person is still beautiful. With men, of course, it doesn’t matter at all, but with female characters it always has to be emphasised. Of course.
Sexist shit.
But well, I could have overlooked it somehow. I would have deducted a star and got upset, as above. But well, it would have been okay - even if I’m really angry now.
But now we come to the reason why I discontinued the book.
I couldn’t care less about the age difference (13 years). Both are of legal age and are somehow settled in life - Lane is a student and Harrison runs a laboratory. The abuse of power is another issue, but well, it’s often dealt with in fiction. I was quite annoyed by this „Dude who writes his thesis at our lab“ and „Boss who never lets him out of his sight“, but I thought: „Hopefully it can only get better.“
Yeah, wrong.
Lane is actually heterosexual (or he always thought he was) but quickly realises that he’s more likely to be bi. That’s okay too - really. Harrison is just hot and has these sexy hands with these prominent veins and god, he’s also assaultive. Every virgin’s „dream“. Ugh.
Harrison says of himself that he’s a bad person and always says he’s the devil and Lane is the angel and he’d love to corrupt him, but fuuuuuck, he’s his boss. He can’t, but fuuuuuck, look at his ass. We’re throwing our principles overboard. Cool cool.
Up to this point, I’ve got along fine, even though I already knew that it would be an ... amused rage-read. The two characters and especially Harrison with his „Devil“ and „Angel“ jabber and the fact that he now just permanently calls Lane „baby“ got me on my ovaries.
But then we get to the point where Harrison finds out what memories are hidden in Lane and who he was in his previous life.
Well, Harrison escalates and sedates Lane first. He then „kidnaps“ Lane and imprisons him in his lab and when Lane wakes up, he cheerfully slices Lane’s stomach open with a knife. Cool, cool. Lane cries and is devastated and Harrison still thinks Lane is hot and is all conflicted and blah.
From then on, everything just gets so absurd. Lane, who now no longer knows exactly who he is and babbles on about how Harrison should probably kill him and somehow gets an erection and blows Harrison. (Incidentally, Lane won Olympic gold with the first blowjob of his life, that’s how good the guy was) And then Harrison abuses Lane in the shower and Lane is all „oh God, why does that feel so good?“ And he’s actually scared of Harrison but thinks he’s hot and „omg, do I have Stockholm Syndrom?“
I really didn’t sign up for this shit.
I have nothing against toxic relationships in fiction, as long as they are portrayed believably. I’m also not against kidnapping and abuse, as long as the characters behave realistically and there’s a sense of respect and stuff. You know?
I really can’t stand this glorifying „I’m so scared, I’m about to die and omg, f*ck me harder“ anymore ....
When I read a BDSM book, I want goddamn kink with consent, I don’t care how freaky. This isn’t bdsm, this is just abuse with totally unworldly characters. Just because someone says „good boy“ and wants to be in control doesn’t make it kink.
I’m really sick of it.
(DEUTSCH)
Ich weiß ehrlich gesagt gar nicht, wo ich anfangen soll ...
Eigentlich hab ich mich echt auf das Buch gefreut. Bei dem Cover, bdsm, lgbtiaq+ und einer düsteren Thematik hatte mich das Buch sofort, aber ich hab echt nicht gewusst, worauf ich mich da einlasse. Was Inhaltswarnungen angeht, bin ich echt nicht leicht zu schocken und auch das, was hier passiert, hätte ich lesen und als Fiktion auch gut lesen können, wenn dort nicht sofort wieder ... diese verherrlichende Sch**ße gewesen wäre.
Der Schreibstil an sich ist echt ganz angenehm, zwar bin ich kein großer Fan von der Perspektive in der ersten Person, aber ich hab schon gemerkt, dass dies bei solchen Büchern ganz gern gemacht wird. Okay kann ich mich irgendwie mti arrangieren – meistens. Hier hätte ich das gekonnt.
Das Erste, was mich genervt hat, war dieser Satz:
She’s only forty-five years old and still beautiful.
Ich reagiere einfach extrem allergisch auf diesen Bockmist. Immer werden Frauen auf ihr Äußeres reduziert (hier geht es um Lane’s Mutter, die auch sonst ne ganz tolle Person zu sein scheint. Die aber unbedingt auf Alter + Aussehen degradiert werden muss) werden und das bei weiblich gelesenen Personen IMMER gesagt werden muss, dass sie ja NOCH IMMER schön sind, obwohl sie halt schon „alt“ sind. Weil normalerweise sind Frauen über 40 halt grottenhässlich, aber DIESE Person ist noch immer schön. Bei Männern ist das natürlich voll egal, bei weiblich gelesenen Personen muss das aber immer betont werden. Natürlich.
Sexistische Scheiße.
Aber gut, ich hätte da irgendwie drüber hinwegsehen können. Hätte nen Stern abgezogen und mich, wie oben, aufgeregt. Aber gut, wäre okay gewesen – auch wenn ich jetzt echt wütend bin.
Kommen wir nun aber zu dem, warum ich das Buch abgebrochen habe.
Der Altersunterschied (13Jahre) ist mir voll egal. Beide sind volljährig und stehen irgendwie im Leben – Lane studiert und Harrison leitet ein Forschungslabor. Der Machtmissbrauch ist schon wieder ein anderes Thema, aber gut, wird in Fiktion ja auch oft aufgegriffen. Mich hat diese „Dude der bei uns seine Thesis“ schreibt und „Boss, der ihn nie aus den Augen lässt“ schon ziemlich genervt, aber ich dachte: „Kann ja hoffentlich nur besser werden.“
Ja falsch.
Lane ist eigentlich heterosexuell, (oder er dachte das immer) freundet sich aber schnell damit an, dass er wohl doch eher bi ist. Auch das ist okay – really. Harrison ist halt hot und hat diese geilen Hände mit diesen hervorstehenden Venen und gott, dann ist der auch noch übergriffig. Ein „Traum“ einer jeden Jungfrau. Ugh.
Harrison sagt von sich selbst, dass er voll der schlechte Mensch ist und sagt immer, er sei der Teufel und Lane sei der Engel und er würde ihn so gern verderben, aber fuuuuuck, er ist ja sein Boss. Das geht nicht, aber fuuuuuck, guck auf den Knackarsch. Wir schmeißen unsere Prinzipien über Bord. Cool.
Bis hier hin bin ich voll noch klar gekommen, auch wenn ich schon wusste, dass das er so ein ... amüsierter rage-read wird. Die beiden Charaktere und vor allem Harrison mit „Devil“ und „Angel“ und ich baller dir jetzt einfach permanent „Baby“ an den Kopf, sind mir einfach auf die Eierstöcke gegangen.
Dann aber kommen wir zu dem Punkt, wo Harrison erfährt, welche Erinnerungen sich in Lane verbergen und wer er in seinem vorherigen Leben war.
Gut, Harrison eskaliert und betäubt Lane erstmal. „Entführt“ Lane dann und sperrt ihn in seinem Forschungslabor ein und wenn Lane aufwacht, schneidet er ihm erstmal munter mit einem Messer den Bauch auf. Cool, cool. Lane heult und ist am Ende und Harrison findet Lane halt dennoch noch hot und hat voll den Zwiespalt und Blah.
Ab da an wird alles einfach so voll absurd. Lane, der nun nicht mehr genau weiß wer er ist und davon faselt, dass Harrison ihn vllt töten sollte und irgendwie auch ne Erektion bekommt und Harrison einen bläst. (Lane hat mit dem ersten Blowjob in seinem Leben übrigens Olympiagold gewonnen, so gut war der Kerl) Und dann missbraucht Harrison Lane in der Dusche und Lane nur „oh Gott, warum fühlt sich das so geil an?“ Und eigentlich hat er ja Angst vor Harrison und findet ihn aber hot und „omg, hab ich Stockholm?“
Für diesen Mist hab ich mich echt nicht angemeldet.
Ich habe nix gegen toxische Beziehungen in Fiktion, solang das auch glaubhaft gemacht ist. Ich hab auch nichts gegen Entführungen und Missbrauch, solang die Charaktere sich glaubhaft verhalten und da auch ein Hauch Respekt dabei ist und so. You know?
Ich kann dieses verherrlichende „ich hab so Angst, ich sterbe gleich und omg, nimm mich härter“ echt nicht mehr ertragen ....
Wenn ich ein BDSM Buch lese, dann will ich goddamn kink mit consent, mir egal wie abgedreht. Das hier ist nicht bdsm, das ist einfach Missbrauch mit total weltfremden Charakteren. Nur weil jemand „Good Boy“ sagt und die Kontrolle behalten will, ist das noch lang kein Kink.
Hab echt die Nase voll.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2023
3.5 stars
Read
October 8, 2023DNF at 40% plot is interesting but no chemistry between characters and too much filler material—day to day errands etc.— that left me bored and skimming.
September 16, 2023
3,25/5
C'est la couverture qui m'a attirée vers ce titre à la base. Puis j'ai survolé le résumé et j'ai compris qu'il était plus ou moins question de réincarnation. Étant donné que ce roman est estampillé comme étant une dark romance, même si je me méfie quand même, je savais plus ou moins dans quoi je mettais les pieds.
Le début est assez déroutant, car on est témoin d'un drame, puis nous retrouvons un certain personnage bien des années après cet événement. Nous faisons connaissance de Lane Hart, un jeune homme qui va obtenir un stage dans un laboratoire dirigé par Harrison Copeland, un individu qui déroute un peu le jeune homme, autant qu'il l'attire...
J'ai aimé comment l'auteur avait mené son intrigue et tout le côté réincarnation. On découvre des moments passés dans la vie de Harrison, mais également du père et meilleur ami de ce dernier qui co-géraient l'entreprise... et ce, sous différents points de vue au fil de la lecture, ce qui était intéressant.
Ce que j'ai moins aimé, c'est la relation entre Harrison et Lane. Une relation toxique en fait, on nous prévient que c'est soit-disant dark, mais quand même, et surtout, l'auteur ne développe pas la psychologie des personnages... Je n'adhérais pas aux réactions de Lane vis à vis de son boss, qui lui passe absolument tout, mais tout... Certaines choses ne sont pas développée aussi, notamment les agissements (graves) de Harrison dans son entreprise, et surtout, le fait que ça passe comme une lettre à la poste !
Le petit twist final était prévisible, même si mes soupçons portaient sur une toute autre personne... C'était évident, et pas surprenant que ce personnage allait refaire surface. Même si je n'ai pas vraiment adhéré aux personnages et à leur « romance », je lirai la suite par curiosité en fait surtout pour connaître le dénouement final.
C'est la couverture qui m'a attirée vers ce titre à la base. Puis j'ai survolé le résumé et j'ai compris qu'il était plus ou moins question de réincarnation. Étant donné que ce roman est estampillé comme étant une dark romance, même si je me méfie quand même, je savais plus ou moins dans quoi je mettais les pieds.
Le début est assez déroutant, car on est témoin d'un drame, puis nous retrouvons un certain personnage bien des années après cet événement. Nous faisons connaissance de Lane Hart, un jeune homme qui va obtenir un stage dans un laboratoire dirigé par Harrison Copeland, un individu qui déroute un peu le jeune homme, autant qu'il l'attire...
J'ai aimé comment l'auteur avait mené son intrigue et tout le côté réincarnation. On découvre des moments passés dans la vie de Harrison, mais également du père et meilleur ami de ce dernier qui co-géraient l'entreprise... et ce, sous différents points de vue au fil de la lecture, ce qui était intéressant.
Ce que j'ai moins aimé, c'est la relation entre Harrison et Lane. Une relation toxique en fait, on nous prévient que c'est soit-disant dark, mais quand même, et surtout, l'auteur ne développe pas la psychologie des personnages... Je n'adhérais pas aux réactions de Lane vis à vis de son boss, qui lui passe absolument tout, mais tout... Certaines choses ne sont pas développée aussi, notamment les agissements (graves) de Harrison dans son entreprise, et surtout, le fait que ça passe comme une lettre à la poste !
Le petit twist final était prévisible, même si mes soupçons portaient sur une toute autre personne... C'était évident, et pas surprenant que ce personnage allait refaire surface. Même si je n'ai pas vraiment adhéré aux personnages et à leur « romance », je lirai la suite par curiosité en fait surtout pour connaître le dénouement final.
August 30, 2023
Oh wow, that was really good! 🤯
"You're so fucking beautiful. Like a goddamn angel. One I'd really love to corrupt."
So different from my usual readings too…
When I saw that the author of Far From Neverland was releasing another novel (book 1 of the Echoes Duet), it was impossible for me not to read it.
"An angel like you should stay far away from a devil like me."
"I thought you weren't religious." he says breathlessly.
"Maybe we should make our own religion."
This is going to be a really short review because I'm too scared to reveal anything I shouldn't have… 😬
"You worship the devil so beautifully, baby."
Even just describing the story and the characters I find it a bit complicated... This book seems to have stolen all my vocabulary… 🙈
But it's there, that desire to completely surrender to him. Give him all of me. Until there's nothing left.
If you're looking for a unique story that's unlike anything else and will keep you captivated all the way through, then look no further. 🖤🖤🖤
I don't deserve this, but at the same time, I do. Think this is confusing? Imagine how I feel. I wish I had a filing cabinet in my brain so I could fucking organize all the chaos in my head.
But please keep in mind that this book ends on a cliffhanger and you'll be really looking forward to reading the next one!
"You're so fucking beautiful. Like a goddamn angel. One I'd really love to corrupt."
So different from my usual readings too…
When I saw that the author of Far From Neverland was releasing another novel (book 1 of the Echoes Duet), it was impossible for me not to read it.
"An angel like you should stay far away from a devil like me."
"I thought you weren't religious." he says breathlessly.
"Maybe we should make our own religion."
This is going to be a really short review because I'm too scared to reveal anything I shouldn't have… 😬
"You worship the devil so beautifully, baby."
Even just describing the story and the characters I find it a bit complicated... This book seems to have stolen all my vocabulary… 🙈
But it's there, that desire to completely surrender to him. Give him all of me. Until there's nothing left.
If you're looking for a unique story that's unlike anything else and will keep you captivated all the way through, then look no further. 🖤🖤🖤
I don't deserve this, but at the same time, I do. Think this is confusing? Imagine how I feel. I wish I had a filing cabinet in my brain so I could fucking organize all the chaos in my head.
But please keep in mind that this book ends on a cliffhanger and you'll be really looking forward to reading the next one!
Read
October 8, 2023I’m out at 21% - which I hate doing but I’m bored. Lots of pages of, well, not much. The premise is incredible but how much do I have to read to get to the intrigue?
August 18, 2023
I have never read a book like this before. I’m fascinated by past lives and reincarnation so I jumped on this book when I found out it was about that. It’s also MM so that was a huge plus.
Memory Lane sucked me in by chapter one. This book goes from past to present, past to present quite a few times. It’s wonderfully done, necessary for the story and won’t confuse any reader. Almost half way through I started freaking out. Pieces of the puzzle were revealed and I loved every second of it. It only pulled me into the story more. Then that ending! Oh the ending. Let me tell you. It was INTENSE. My jaw hit the floor and I cannot wait for book two. Loved this book. I can’t wait to see what happens next after that crazy cliffy.
Memory Lane sucked me in by chapter one. This book goes from past to present, past to present quite a few times. It’s wonderfully done, necessary for the story and won’t confuse any reader. Almost half way through I started freaking out. Pieces of the puzzle were revealed and I loved every second of it. It only pulled me into the story more. Then that ending! Oh the ending. Let me tell you. It was INTENSE. My jaw hit the floor and I cannot wait for book two. Loved this book. I can’t wait to see what happens next after that crazy cliffy.
August 14, 2023
Okay guys, this has got to be one of the most unique books I’ve ever read! It’s fricken intense and dark at times, but it also has a beautiful thread of love woven into it. It’s possessive, it’s crazy science and it’s a cliffhanger that will now have me needing book two as soon as fricken possible! Lord, I don’t even know how to sum it up without a spoiler… Harrison owns a company and has been ravaged by pain, loss and unanswered questions. Enter Lane who just may hold all the answers he needs, but man do those answers come with consequences. The way they fall, break and circle each other during the utter torment of these answers is truly intense and chaotic but it’s worth the breathe you’ll hold, trust me! The way the plot twists and turns is brilliantly done, BRILLIANT. The spice is filthy and the possessiveness is what we are always in search of… all in all this book is so utterly unique you won’t regret picking it up.
March 18, 2025
Harrison + Lane
-dark mm romance
-lovers to enemies to lovers
-past lives/reincarnation
-kidnapping
-age gap
-possessive mc
ill tell ya what…out of so many things that i saw coming…THAT WAS NOT IT RIVER!!! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO THESE BOYS???😭😭😭 theyve been thru enough man!!! but wow oh wow am i obsessed!! the cliffhanger was probably easy for others to see but not me!! haha 😂 but this was such a unique story honestly, i was hooked from the start!!!
-dark mm romance
-lovers to enemies to lovers
-past lives/reincarnation
-kidnapping
-age gap
-possessive mc
ill tell ya what…out of so many things that i saw coming…THAT WAS NOT IT RIVER!!! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO THESE BOYS???😭😭😭 theyve been thru enough man!!! but wow oh wow am i obsessed!! the cliffhanger was probably easy for others to see but not me!! haha 😂 but this was such a unique story honestly, i was hooked from the start!!!
August 9, 2023
***Spoiler free ARC review***
"In this life, I don't give a shit as much as I should. I'm too damn intrigued by the idea of remembering past lives, of my soul traveling from body to body after death, reincarnated again and again, a phoenix reborn from the ashes."
OBSESSED!!! I didn't know what I was expecting going into this book but it was not this. The concept of this book was better than any expectation that I set for it. It is probably going to be my favorite read of the year. I have so many highlights from this book and want to share them but like I said... Spoiler free review.
This is not a book for everyone. It is a MM dark romance with very heavy triggers. Harrison is not a good man. I feel like there is always a fine line between dark romance and horror/thriller and this book teeters that line perfectly. To me it read a lot like a sci-fi thriller with spice. I would highly recommend to you dark romance readers. Even if MM isn't your thing, I would say give it a shot because the story is amazing. I could not put it down.
The only complaint I have is the fact that I do not have the second book in my hands right now. Memory Lane releases August 22nd and does end on a major cliffhanger.
"I'm going to wreck you, Lane Hart. Until you're laid bare and split open. Until I can see every little piece that makes your soul tick."
"In this life, I don't give a shit as much as I should. I'm too damn intrigued by the idea of remembering past lives, of my soul traveling from body to body after death, reincarnated again and again, a phoenix reborn from the ashes."
OBSESSED!!! I didn't know what I was expecting going into this book but it was not this. The concept of this book was better than any expectation that I set for it. It is probably going to be my favorite read of the year. I have so many highlights from this book and want to share them but like I said... Spoiler free review.
This is not a book for everyone. It is a MM dark romance with very heavy triggers. Harrison is not a good man. I feel like there is always a fine line between dark romance and horror/thriller and this book teeters that line perfectly. To me it read a lot like a sci-fi thriller with spice. I would highly recommend to you dark romance readers. Even if MM isn't your thing, I would say give it a shot because the story is amazing. I could not put it down.
The only complaint I have is the fact that I do not have the second book in my hands right now. Memory Lane releases August 22nd and does end on a major cliffhanger.
"I'm going to wreck you, Lane Hart. Until you're laid bare and split open. Until I can see every little piece that makes your soul tick."
August 13, 2023
ARC REVIEW
This book was absolutely FANTASTIC! The idea of past lives, the science, the mystery thrown in, this was such a well written story!
Lane has always had nightmares and memories that weren’t his own. His thesis for his PhD centers around the idea of past lives and this is partially how Harrison finds him and brings him on board at his company. Things are fine until they discover whose memories Lane possesses.
It doesn’t start off this way, but bear in mind this is a DARK romance. Harrison frequently calls himself the devil and lives up to this title. There is a HFN but they both have to work to get there.
Oh my gosh that cliff hanger has me dying for the next installment to this duet! Is it October yet?!
This book was absolutely FANTASTIC! The idea of past lives, the science, the mystery thrown in, this was such a well written story!
Lane has always had nightmares and memories that weren’t his own. His thesis for his PhD centers around the idea of past lives and this is partially how Harrison finds him and brings him on board at his company. Things are fine until they discover whose memories Lane possesses.
It doesn’t start off this way, but bear in mind this is a DARK romance. Harrison frequently calls himself the devil and lives up to this title. There is a HFN but they both have to work to get there.
Oh my gosh that cliff hanger has me dying for the next installment to this duet! Is it October yet?!
October 29, 2025
2.5 / 5 stars, rounded up
The premise of this book was actually really interesting, and for the first 20% or so I was drawn in. I love neuroscience and really liked how this book tied it in with philosophy. Was it all surface level? Yes. Did I have to suspend my disbelief? Yeah, absolutely. But I still ate that shit up.
Anyways, Harrison (which is sooo not a sexy name btw) was so goddamn horny it threw me out of the book. I mean this is a dark romance book, it’s not meant to be some mind-blowing philosophical think-piece, so it’s on me for expecting something different. However, Harrison was just trying way too hard, and the way he was trying to be all sexy was so cringey lmfao.
“An angel like you should stay away from a devil like me 😈”
“Careful, your demons might tempt the devil”
“He calls himself the devil, and fuck if he doesn’t look like sin”
STOP IT’S SO BAD LMFAOOO
I also did not like Lane and Harrison together. Lane forgave him wayyy too fast. And I mean, the book’s not really at fault for this, but the whole humiliation thing was not for me. The very detailed scene where Harrison made Lane take a piss in the water bottle had me like: 🥴
This book gets one star for creativity, one star for the end (which did actually make me want to pick up the second book), and half a star for activating my science brain.
The premise of this book was actually really interesting, and for the first 20% or so I was drawn in. I love neuroscience and really liked how this book tied it in with philosophy. Was it all surface level? Yes. Did I have to suspend my disbelief? Yeah, absolutely. But I still ate that shit up.
Anyways, Harrison (which is sooo not a sexy name btw) was so goddamn horny it threw me out of the book. I mean this is a dark romance book, it’s not meant to be some mind-blowing philosophical think-piece, so it’s on me for expecting something different. However, Harrison was just trying way too hard, and the way he was trying to be all sexy was so cringey lmfao.
“An angel like you should stay away from a devil like me 😈”
“Careful, your demons might tempt the devil”
“He calls himself the devil, and fuck if he doesn’t look like sin”
STOP IT’S SO BAD LMFAOOO
I also did not like Lane and Harrison together. Lane forgave him wayyy too fast. And I mean, the book’s not really at fault for this, but the whole humiliation thing was not for me. The very detailed scene where Harrison made Lane take a piss in the water bottle had me like: 🥴
This book gets one star for creativity, one star for the end (which did actually make me want to pick up the second book), and half a star for activating my science brain.
August 21, 2023
~ARC Review~
First of all OMG.
This was so good. This is my second read by Rylee and adored that and knew would adore this too because it is reincarnation and that fascinates me especially in romance books.
This ends on a Cliffhanger with a capital C, I am not a cliffhanger gal but I HAD TO READ THIS ASAP. And I'm so glad I did!!!!!
This was incredible. This might just be a vibes review because there is so much in this book, and honestly you just have to read it.
Memory Lane follows Harrison and Lane. Harrison is kinda crazy and possessive in the absolute best way. He's gone through A L O T. He's done a lot. He is beyond morally grey. I love him (obviously).
Lane is 13 years his junior and has been plagued by nightmares of a past life. He is sweet and gentle..... but he's also as intrigued and twisted as Harrison.
They find eachother through research that Harrison is continuing after his father's death. Lane is the key to what he needs to go further. Simple as that 😏
Check the TWs & CWs, this is definitely a dark romance with a lot of angst, possession, some violence, dom/sub vibes, age gap & 100% toxic relationship.
I cannot wait for book 2!!!!
~ARC received directly from Rylee and this is my honest review~
First of all OMG.
This was so good. This is my second read by Rylee and adored that and knew would adore this too because it is reincarnation and that fascinates me especially in romance books.
This ends on a Cliffhanger with a capital C, I am not a cliffhanger gal but I HAD TO READ THIS ASAP. And I'm so glad I did!!!!!
This was incredible. This might just be a vibes review because there is so much in this book, and honestly you just have to read it.
Memory Lane follows Harrison and Lane. Harrison is kinda crazy and possessive in the absolute best way. He's gone through A L O T. He's done a lot. He is beyond morally grey. I love him (obviously).
Lane is 13 years his junior and has been plagued by nightmares of a past life. He is sweet and gentle..... but he's also as intrigued and twisted as Harrison.
They find eachother through research that Harrison is continuing after his father's death. Lane is the key to what he needs to go further. Simple as that 😏
Check the TWs & CWs, this is definitely a dark romance with a lot of angst, possession, some violence, dom/sub vibes, age gap & 100% toxic relationship.
I cannot wait for book 2!!!!
~ARC received directly from Rylee and this is my honest review~
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2025
"I’ve always been ambitious. And maybe a little reckless. That was my first mistake."
the CLIFFHANGER this ended on!!! i knew it was coming, but still, the way i GASPED!!!!!!
this was very engaging and interesting, but still reminded how dark romance isn't really for me, lol. this book was pretty neat but i was still grimacing and wincing at certain parts that i guess are just part of the territory when it comes to the genre. since i'be read this author before and knew her writing was fun, i decided to give it a go facing as just some good fast food, so it ended up better than the expected, but the whole... ya know, one treats the other absolutely awfully and the other forgives that easily, despite the extenuating circumstances,,, still not for me.
will absolutely be readimg the next one tho bc i seriously need to see where this will go, it'll be for sure interesting. man, one thing can easily be said never a dull moment in this.
the CLIFFHANGER this ended on!!! i knew it was coming, but still, the way i GASPED!!!!!!
this was very engaging and interesting, but still reminded how dark romance isn't really for me, lol. this book was pretty neat but i was still grimacing and wincing at certain parts that i guess are just part of the territory when it comes to the genre. since i'be read this author before and knew her writing was fun, i decided to give it a go facing as just some good fast food, so it ended up better than the expected, but the whole... ya know, one treats the other absolutely awfully and the other forgives that easily, despite the extenuating circumstances,,, still not for me.
will absolutely be readimg the next one tho bc i seriously need to see where this will go, it'll be for sure interesting. man, one thing can easily be said never a dull moment in this.
August 23, 2023
Ok first that cliffhanger!!! What!!! I knew there was a cliffhanger but somehow was still not prepared.
I’m still processing this book. Trust me I couldn’t sleep last night because I was thinking about the hold this book had on me. I honestly have never read anything like it and I love that.
I was sucked in so emotionally in chapter 1. You go from past to present several times but it’s so wonderfully done that it’s not hard to follow. While “Memory Lane” is dark there’s so much love, emotion and heartbreak. You find yourself feeling everything the characters experience. Harrison and Lane will grab you so tight that you have no choice but to take this journey with them.
My jaw was on the floor so many times and I can’t wait for book 2!!!
I’m still processing this book. Trust me I couldn’t sleep last night because I was thinking about the hold this book had on me. I honestly have never read anything like it and I love that.
I was sucked in so emotionally in chapter 1. You go from past to present several times but it’s so wonderfully done that it’s not hard to follow. While “Memory Lane” is dark there’s so much love, emotion and heartbreak. You find yourself feeling everything the characters experience. Harrison and Lane will grab you so tight that you have no choice but to take this journey with them.
My jaw was on the floor so many times and I can’t wait for book 2!!!
December 11, 2023
Wowza
The first chapter of this book left me so confused then the next chapter came and I was becoming more invested. By a few chapters in I was completely invested and by the end I was ready to jump to the next book. Holy cow Rylee Hale has yet to disappoint because I loved her Neverland book and this one! Don’t stop writing because clearly you have a gift. I just happened across this book. I am going to jump right into the next!
The first chapter of this book left me so confused then the next chapter came and I was becoming more invested. By a few chapters in I was completely invested and by the end I was ready to jump to the next book. Holy cow Rylee Hale has yet to disappoint because I loved her Neverland book and this one! Don’t stop writing because clearly you have a gift. I just happened across this book. I am going to jump right into the next!
August 8, 2023
Be prepared for an epic journey with this one.
This book is so different from anything I have read before. It has all the aspects you would expect from a dark romance with a side helping of enemies to lovers, age gap, and Bi-Awakening but with some absolutely unexpected twists and turns along the way.
Harrison and Lane are so perfect for each other, and their chemistry is off the charts.
The concept of the book is so interesting and had me hooked from the very first page.
Can we talk about that cliffhanger, though?!? I mean, WTF? I did not see that coming...... be prepared for a jaw-dropping ending that will definitely have you wishing it was October already.
This book is so different from anything I have read before. It has all the aspects you would expect from a dark romance with a side helping of enemies to lovers, age gap, and Bi-Awakening but with some absolutely unexpected twists and turns along the way.
Harrison and Lane are so perfect for each other, and their chemistry is off the charts.
The concept of the book is so interesting and had me hooked from the very first page.
Can we talk about that cliffhanger, though?!? I mean, WTF? I did not see that coming...... be prepared for a jaw-dropping ending that will definitely have you wishing it was October already.
August 18, 2023
OH MY GODDDDDDS THIS WAS AMAZING!!!!
Talk about a unique book. Past lives...kidnapping...this book had it all and is an absolute PAGE TURNER! THAT ENDING THOUGH!!!!! MY MIND IS BLOWN AND I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK!
What to expect:
❤️ Age Gap
❤️ Dark Romance
❤️ Bi Awakening
❤️ Boss/Employee
❤️ Kidnapping
❤️ Possessive MC
❤️ Praise Kink
Talk about a unique book. Past lives...kidnapping...this book had it all and is an absolute PAGE TURNER! THAT ENDING THOUGH!!!!! MY MIND IS BLOWN AND I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK!
What to expect:
❤️ Age Gap
❤️ Dark Romance
❤️ Bi Awakening
❤️ Boss/Employee
❤️ Kidnapping
❤️ Possessive MC
❤️ Praise Kink
October 27, 2023
WHOOAAAAA
This was a really fascinating mix of science, romance, and morally grey.
Harrison Copeland is a man on his own. His parents both died when he was young, and he’s lost his grandparents as well. All he has left is bitter memories and his father’s lab, and he’s determined to finish what his father started.
Lane Hart has always been fascinated by past lives. Since childhood, he’s had flashes of memories that he knows are not his, but he doesn’t know who they belong to. These experiences led him to studying neuroscience, and getting to intern at Copeland Labs is a dream.
But Harrison is not who Lane thought he’d be…and Lane is not who he thought he was.
A twisty, turny, very dark romance with science fiction elements that were so cool to read!
This was a really fascinating mix of science, romance, and morally grey.
Harrison Copeland is a man on his own. His parents both died when he was young, and he’s lost his grandparents as well. All he has left is bitter memories and his father’s lab, and he’s determined to finish what his father started.
Lane Hart has always been fascinated by past lives. Since childhood, he’s had flashes of memories that he knows are not his, but he doesn’t know who they belong to. These experiences led him to studying neuroscience, and getting to intern at Copeland Labs is a dream.
But Harrison is not who Lane thought he’d be…and Lane is not who he thought he was.
A twisty, turny, very dark romance with science fiction elements that were so cool to read!
August 8, 2023
Wow. Just Wow! I couldn't put this down. I have never read anything like this. I need book 2 like yesterday! That cliffhanger..😳😳
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