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Ride or Die Romances
Driving My Obsession
Driving my Obsession is a DARK GRAY hitchhiker romance. All of the Ride or Die romances are STANDALONE and can be read in any order!
I’ve been branded a monster, but some scars run deeper than the eye can see…
All it took was one ride, and I was obsessed. Now, every day I watch. Waiting. My obsession’s oblivious to my machinations. She doesn’t know that my life’s been fueled by anger and vengeance. Until today.
My fixation takes a twisted turn when Oaklyn needs to hitch another ride. How unfortunate she doesn’t know this could be her last ride—ever.
Yet the more I know, the more torn I am. She's different from them but not nearly enough. I cannot ignore how my ire rises with each layer she strips away. So why is her pain a balm to my tortured mind? Her tragedy is a siren's call to my dark, wicked soul.
At the end of the road, will Oaklyn meet her protector or will she meet her demise?
This dark hitchhiker romance has extreme content. Full list of content warnings on Laurenbiel com. Please read responsibly!
I’ve been branded a monster, but some scars run deeper than the eye can see…
All it took was one ride, and I was obsessed. Now, every day I watch. Waiting. My obsession’s oblivious to my machinations. She doesn’t know that my life’s been fueled by anger and vengeance. Until today.
My fixation takes a twisted turn when Oaklyn needs to hitch another ride. How unfortunate she doesn’t know this could be her last ride—ever.
Yet the more I know, the more torn I am. She's different from them but not nearly enough. I cannot ignore how my ire rises with each layer she strips away. So why is her pain a balm to my tortured mind? Her tragedy is a siren's call to my dark, wicked soul.
At the end of the road, will Oaklyn meet her protector or will she meet her demise?
This dark hitchhiker romance has extreme content. Full list of content warnings on Laurenbiel com. Please read responsibly!
310 pages, Paperback
Published September 25, 2023
1854 people are currently reading
18939 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Biel
38 books4,937 followersLauren’s stories are often emotionally raw, with lots of twists and turns. She describes her writing as “where light meets dark”, which represents how her witty humor compliments the darkness in every story. Instead of trying to mold her writing to fit in a box, she chooses to be unapologetically herself. While her focus is on Romance with dark elements, subgenre is no constraint for her. The common theme in every book is finding love when you least expect it. She enjoys putting her characters through tribulations, allowing their triumphs to be that much more poignant. Make sure you have your seatbelts secured. It’s always a bumpy ride.
When she’s not working, she’s writing. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with her husband, her friends, or her pets. You might also find her on a horseback trail ride or sitting beside a waterfall in Upstate New York. She has a pretty normal life, yet her stories are anything but.
When she’s not working, she’s writing. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with her husband, her friends, or her pets. You might also find her on a horseback trail ride or sitting beside a waterfall in Upstate New York. She has a pretty normal life, yet her stories are anything but.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,527 reviews
September 20, 2024
I was really looking forward to this bc I enjoyed the first two that I found randomly browsing the kindle unlimited library, and I’m so sad that this was a flop.
While I understand that the concept of dark romance is there’s a lot of taboo and darker themes, this doesn’t necessarily mean we need to disregard consent. CNC and dubcon is one thing, but straight up r*pe is still r*pe, not somnophilia, but r*pe. Bc that’s what Ambrose does to Oaklyn, he rapes her while she’s unconscious after drugging her drink. In the other books our MMC had some redeeming qualities and maybe even a little rizz, but Ambrose just fucking sucked. Nothing about him was likeable, no redeeming qualities, not even his origin story for why he is the way he is moved me. I felt no sympathy for him and by 12th time he referred to her as a whore I was just done.
I felt really bad for Oaklyn and that woman deserved some peace of mind and definitely is too good for Ambrose.
This is an Ambrose hate page
While I understand that the concept of dark romance is there’s a lot of taboo and darker themes, this doesn’t necessarily mean we need to disregard consent. CNC and dubcon is one thing, but straight up r*pe is still r*pe, not somnophilia, but r*pe. Bc that’s what Ambrose does to Oaklyn, he rapes her while she’s unconscious after drugging her drink. In the other books our MMC had some redeeming qualities and maybe even a little rizz, but Ambrose just fucking sucked. Nothing about him was likeable, no redeeming qualities, not even his origin story for why he is the way he is moved me. I felt no sympathy for him and by 12th time he referred to her as a whore I was just done.
I felt really bad for Oaklyn and that woman deserved some peace of mind and definitely is too good for Ambrose.
This is an Ambrose hate page
Read
August 8, 2023Stalker, enemies to lovers, somno? Need I say more?
October 1, 2023
Projecting his anger, Ambrose sets his sight on an unsuspecting Oaklyn.
A down-on-her luck, former ballerina, Oaklyn is just trying to get through one day at a time. When she begins to fear for her safety, she turns to the mysterious man who has a knack for showing up at just the right time.
I’m twisted up, conflicted, and tingly. Ambrose is unequivocally unlikable for most of the book. Yet, like a moth to a flame I’m drawn to his darkness. Oaklyn was a fun surprise. She was nothing like I was expecting and I loved that!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🖤🖤
Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 🙁😮🥵🥺😍
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual}
🗂 Genre: Dark Romance
✨ Tropes: Antihero, Captive, Disfigured MMC, Jealous/Possessive, MINE!, Revenge, Stalker, Touch-Her-and-💀
💋 Kinks: Breath Play, Cum Jammer, Pierced 🍆, Somnophilia, Spit
⚠️ Warning: This book may cause blushing, squirming, combusting panties, and/or self-care.
🚩 Safety Squad: Attempted Su¡ç¡de, CuTTing, Drugg3d, NonCon, Sėxu@I Aśś@uIt (Not by H), UnaIiving, VioIençe, and other potentially triggering elements. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📣 Type: Driving My Obsession is part of the Ride or D¡e Romances series, but can be read as a standalone.
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
A down-on-her luck, former ballerina, Oaklyn is just trying to get through one day at a time. When she begins to fear for her safety, she turns to the mysterious man who has a knack for showing up at just the right time.
I’m twisted up, conflicted, and tingly. Ambrose is unequivocally unlikable for most of the book. Yet, like a moth to a flame I’m drawn to his darkness. Oaklyn was a fun surprise. She was nothing like I was expecting and I loved that!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🖤🖤
Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 🙁😮🥵🥺😍
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual}
🗂 Genre: Dark Romance
✨ Tropes: Antihero, Captive, Disfigured MMC, Jealous/Possessive, MINE!, Revenge, Stalker, Touch-Her-and-💀
💋 Kinks: Breath Play, Cum Jammer, Pierced 🍆, Somnophilia, Spit
⚠️ Warning: This book may cause blushing, squirming, combusting panties, and/or self-care.
🚩 Safety Squad: Attempted Su¡ç¡de, CuTTing, Drugg3d, NonCon, Sėxu@I Aśś@uIt (Not by H), UnaIiving, VioIençe, and other potentially triggering elements. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📣 Type: Driving My Obsession is part of the Ride or D¡e Romances series, but can be read as a standalone.
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
July 6, 2025
Pardon me. Excuse the absolute fuck out of me and my goddamn French. But what on gods grey earth did I just read?
This book needs a priest.
I cannot believe I actually have to say this, but romanticising rape and rapists are just not it…
At this point I don’t even know if it was better or worse that not only one of them raped the other, but they both raped each other! I mean what the hell is this???
And I need to be clear on something. There is a difference between having these things in a book - as is usually mentioned in the trigger warning, including in this book - and romanticising it.
And there honestly need to be some kind of rule authors and publishers or whatever need to follow that keeps authors from being able to slap the dark romance label on any and all books that contain disgusting and perverse behaviour.
Create your own genre, cause this is not what dark romance is about.
I think it was entirely unreasonable for her to be terrified of being raped by her boss, being uncomfortable with random people touching her body, being disgusted and heartbroken over him repeatedly raping her, and then out of the blue just admit to herself that “huh, maybe I wouldn’t mind it happening again”. But she wasn’t okay with being raped by anyone else. No, no, no. Only by him.
I only read this because someone on TikTok dared me to do it, because she tried, and DNF’ed. But I couldn’t DNF, cause then it wouldn’t have felt right rating and reviewing it. I never really do that unless I have read all the way to the end.
Though I did skip over a lot of the unimportant stuff.
She was probably the dumbest person alive by the way. She knew he was going to kill her and didn’t even try to get her mother to help her when she showed up at her door out of nowhere. I just can’t even get into it, cause her stupidity gave me a headache.
I do believe that when the love interest is the one to do the sexual assault and straight up abusing then it should be a story about her finding herself, not about her finding love in him.
Then I believe it would have classified as dark romance.
But then she wasn’t much better considering she became a rapist herself.
Just…don’t read this. Honestly. Your life will be better for it.
———
I just saw someone on TikTok actually recommend this, and several comments say they loved it.
I don’t even know what to do with myself.
This book needs a priest.
I cannot believe I actually have to say this, but romanticising rape and rapists are just not it…
At this point I don’t even know if it was better or worse that not only one of them raped the other, but they both raped each other! I mean what the hell is this???
And I need to be clear on something. There is a difference between having these things in a book - as is usually mentioned in the trigger warning, including in this book - and romanticising it.
And there honestly need to be some kind of rule authors and publishers or whatever need to follow that keeps authors from being able to slap the dark romance label on any and all books that contain disgusting and perverse behaviour.
Create your own genre, cause this is not what dark romance is about.
I think it was entirely unreasonable for her to be terrified of being raped by her boss, being uncomfortable with random people touching her body, being disgusted and heartbroken over him repeatedly raping her, and then out of the blue just admit to herself that “huh, maybe I wouldn’t mind it happening again”. But she wasn’t okay with being raped by anyone else. No, no, no. Only by him.
I only read this because someone on TikTok dared me to do it, because she tried, and DNF’ed. But I couldn’t DNF, cause then it wouldn’t have felt right rating and reviewing it. I never really do that unless I have read all the way to the end.
Though I did skip over a lot of the unimportant stuff.
She was probably the dumbest person alive by the way. She knew he was going to kill her and didn’t even try to get her mother to help her when she showed up at her door out of nowhere. I just can’t even get into it, cause her stupidity gave me a headache.
I do believe that when the love interest is the one to do the sexual assault and straight up abusing then it should be a story about her finding herself, not about her finding love in him.
Then I believe it would have classified as dark romance.
But then she wasn’t much better considering she became a rapist herself.
Just…don’t read this. Honestly. Your life will be better for it.
———
I just saw someone on TikTok actually recommend this, and several comments say they loved it.
I don’t even know what to do with myself.
October 20, 2023
an acorn in her cooch. that’s it that’s the review.
October 4, 2023
Not a fan of blondes or mommy issues.
Also I’m scared of him.
Also I’m scared of him.
December 6, 2023
I won this as a Goodreads giveaway. Wishing I hadn't!
July 17, 2024
Hi, this wasn't good. The writing was poor, the character work was nonexistent, the TWs were so unserious and the plot? I've never seen such a thing. It sucked.
A quick summary would be:
If you like more longwinded reviews, I have one on my YT channel ✌🏻
A quick summary would be:
If you like more longwinded reviews, I have one on my YT channel ✌🏻
September 23, 2023
Lauren Biel is an author that pushes your buttons.
One that doesn’t shy away from the dark side of life.
Her Ride or Die series is a good example,and when i heard Driving My Obsession was coming,i couldn’t wait to find out how dark it would be.
Her dedication was a good start,and i settled in for another rollercoaster ride….
“It’s not that we haven’t learned our lesson about jumping into a car with a morally-black stranger. It’s that we just really like them.
To any reader who agrees, this one’s for you.”
I dó have to warn you,though…..mind the triggers,they’re there for a good reason!!
What i got was 2 damaged souls.
Ambrose,who was scarred inside ánd out by what his mother had done to him as a child,and now used his anger in cage fighting.
It was the only place he found people respected him…
Oaklyn,who was scarred by a car accident,and the only way to find a sliver of her lost dream was to poledance in a stripper club.
Ambrose needed someone to give him the closure he needed after his mother died,and a whore in the club she used to work in sounded like the perfect choice.
Oaklyn stirred something in him because she stood out,so she was going to be the one.
But the more he saw,the more he got confused….how could he get a hard on from looking at a whore??
And her background….how did she end up on a pole after her previous career?
It didn’t mean he was going to change his plan of killing her,only that he was going to take his time…
Stalking her,scaring her,using her after drugging her was fun.
And at the same time getting close to her,acting like a friend before showing his true colors.
It really was the perfect plan….and any confusing feelings he might have,he’d shed those in the cage,fighting his opponents.
Oaklyn was already miserable,her job sucked,her mother was a bitch she hoped to never see again,and her seedy boss had the hots for her.
All she wanted to do,was dance….that’s what she was made for…and if poledancing got her the money to buy a ghost of her dream,she’d do it,in spite of the misery she was in right now.
But now she had to add a stalker to that pile….one that seemed to know too much about her.
One that drugged her and then raped her!
The only thing she could think of,was leaving and hoping he’d lose interest.
But how….she had no car,and not enough money…
Unless…the man that had given her a ride home a few times,would he help her?
Finding out she asked help from the same man that hurt her,was a shock.
But finding out Ambrose planned to kill her,and his reasons why,was even worse.
What had she ever done to deserve this??
She was no whore! She wasn’t filth! She wasn’t his mother!
But the very worst thing?
She found him attractive,was drawn to him,and she even started to like what he did to her…..
Getting to know Oaklyn better shook his beliefs,but he wasn’t going to stop.
He needed this,and she was it,even if her life was a total tragedy.
But he kept finding reasons to prolong the kill….
Why was that?? Could it be because it seemed she started to like what he did?
Because she pretended to like him??
Because she couldn’t,could she??
Not this scarred ugly brute that only hurt her….
Lauren delivered yet another dark beauty that made me doubt my sanity.
Because how could i enjoy a story like this??
What was wrong with me for liking where these two ended up?
For cheering them on when they both got their closure in a totally different way?
Because lives wére taken!
And Ambrose díd some véry bad things to Oaklyn!
Was it ok because she liked it in the end?
Do i need therapy?
I don’t think so….right?
One that doesn’t shy away from the dark side of life.
Her Ride or Die series is a good example,and when i heard Driving My Obsession was coming,i couldn’t wait to find out how dark it would be.
Her dedication was a good start,and i settled in for another rollercoaster ride….
“It’s not that we haven’t learned our lesson about jumping into a car with a morally-black stranger. It’s that we just really like them.
To any reader who agrees, this one’s for you.”
I dó have to warn you,though…..mind the triggers,they’re there for a good reason!!
What i got was 2 damaged souls.
Ambrose,who was scarred inside ánd out by what his mother had done to him as a child,and now used his anger in cage fighting.
It was the only place he found people respected him…
Oaklyn,who was scarred by a car accident,and the only way to find a sliver of her lost dream was to poledance in a stripper club.
Ambrose needed someone to give him the closure he needed after his mother died,and a whore in the club she used to work in sounded like the perfect choice.
Oaklyn stirred something in him because she stood out,so she was going to be the one.
But the more he saw,the more he got confused….how could he get a hard on from looking at a whore??
And her background….how did she end up on a pole after her previous career?
It didn’t mean he was going to change his plan of killing her,only that he was going to take his time…
Stalking her,scaring her,using her after drugging her was fun.
And at the same time getting close to her,acting like a friend before showing his true colors.
It really was the perfect plan….and any confusing feelings he might have,he’d shed those in the cage,fighting his opponents.
Oaklyn was already miserable,her job sucked,her mother was a bitch she hoped to never see again,and her seedy boss had the hots for her.
All she wanted to do,was dance….that’s what she was made for…and if poledancing got her the money to buy a ghost of her dream,she’d do it,in spite of the misery she was in right now.
But now she had to add a stalker to that pile….one that seemed to know too much about her.
One that drugged her and then raped her!
The only thing she could think of,was leaving and hoping he’d lose interest.
But how….she had no car,and not enough money…
Unless…the man that had given her a ride home a few times,would he help her?
Finding out she asked help from the same man that hurt her,was a shock.
But finding out Ambrose planned to kill her,and his reasons why,was even worse.
What had she ever done to deserve this??
She was no whore! She wasn’t filth! She wasn’t his mother!
But the very worst thing?
She found him attractive,was drawn to him,and she even started to like what he did to her…..
Getting to know Oaklyn better shook his beliefs,but he wasn’t going to stop.
He needed this,and she was it,even if her life was a total tragedy.
But he kept finding reasons to prolong the kill….
Why was that?? Could it be because it seemed she started to like what he did?
Because she pretended to like him??
Because she couldn’t,could she??
Not this scarred ugly brute that only hurt her….
Lauren delivered yet another dark beauty that made me doubt my sanity.
Because how could i enjoy a story like this??
What was wrong with me for liking where these two ended up?
For cheering them on when they both got their closure in a totally different way?
Because lives wére taken!
And Ambrose díd some véry bad things to Oaklyn!
Was it ok because she liked it in the end?
Do i need therapy?
I don’t think so….right?
September 26, 2023
4.5 stars!
Driving My Obsession was a beautiful tragedy. While still very dark and gritty, it felt lighter somehow than the previous stories.
Was it still violent and bloody? Absolutely.
Was it still filthy, yet deviantly hot? Definitely.
Did it still cross that line of what’s considered socially acceptable and moral? Of course.
But did I revel in the darkness and depravity of their toxic and unconventional relationship? Ooooo yeah🙈.
Oaklyn had dreams and aspirations and when they’re crushed to smithereens from an injury she finds herself dancing at a club. While not her first choice or her end goal, it allows her to do what she loves most in life when the rest of her world is fractured at her feet.
Ambrose has an awful past and seeks revenge for those painful moments by killing who he deems is a whore. When he sees Oaklyn, he knows she’s his next target. Unfortunately for him, she is not who he thinks she is and a battle begins between killing her or keeping her.
Oaklyn was such a wonderful character. She had so much strength even in the moments she didn’t feel like she did. Her zest for life was burning beneath the layers of pain and I adored the way she fell and accepted Ambrose. It felt real and not Stockholm syndrome like. The steam between them was really hot and passionate in a psychopath kind of way 😂. Ambrose was batshit crazy but I was completely enraptured by the battle he had internally and the feelings he was starting to develop. Despite being a killer, he was surprisingly caring and protective toward Oaklyn. Their whole story arc was well done.
Driving My Obsession isn’t for those with triggers because there are no rules or limits in these stories. The characters in this series, specifically in this one, have deep scars that run from their soul to their outer appearance. Neither Oaklyn or Ambrose apologize or try to justify their actions and motivations even when they’re tinged with blood and pain. Lauren did a beautiful job at taking two people with broken psyches and pairing them together in such a way that they became a piece of each other. Ambrose couldn’t live without Oaklyn because his obsession ran too deep and Oaklyn found peace and someone to stand in her corner for her. Disturbingly delicious, I devoured this book and can’t wait to see what else Lauren writes.
P.S. I'll never look at an acorn the same way again. IYKYK.
Driving My Obsession was a beautiful tragedy. While still very dark and gritty, it felt lighter somehow than the previous stories.
Was it still violent and bloody? Absolutely.
Was it still filthy, yet deviantly hot? Definitely.
Did it still cross that line of what’s considered socially acceptable and moral? Of course.
But did I revel in the darkness and depravity of their toxic and unconventional relationship? Ooooo yeah🙈.
“Your dirty little cunt is dripping for me. Stop acting like you don’t want it. Now come on your evil stalker’s tongue. Come for the man who ruined you.”
Oaklyn had dreams and aspirations and when they’re crushed to smithereens from an injury she finds herself dancing at a club. While not her first choice or her end goal, it allows her to do what she loves most in life when the rest of her world is fractured at her feet.
“He looks almost…proud of me? It’s been a long time since I’ve had anyone take pride in anything I’ve done…But right now, he’s looking at me like I’m a racehorse that’s just won the Triple Crown. That look shifts something inside me, and it scares me.”
Ambrose has an awful past and seeks revenge for those painful moments by killing who he deems is a whore. When he sees Oaklyn, he knows she’s his next target. Unfortunately for him, she is not who he thinks she is and a battle begins between killing her or keeping her.
“Good fucking girl, tragedy.”
Oaklyn was such a wonderful character. She had so much strength even in the moments she didn’t feel like she did. Her zest for life was burning beneath the layers of pain and I adored the way she fell and accepted Ambrose. It felt real and not Stockholm syndrome like. The steam between them was really hot and passionate in a psychopath kind of way 😂. Ambrose was batshit crazy but I was completely enraptured by the battle he had internally and the feelings he was starting to develop. Despite being a killer, he was surprisingly caring and protective toward Oaklyn. Their whole story arc was well done.
“No one is exempt from the wake of destruction she’s left in the path to her end, and I’ve been caught in the fallout. Even if I can’t explain it, even if I don’t understand it, I have to save her.”
Driving My Obsession isn’t for those with triggers because there are no rules or limits in these stories. The characters in this series, specifically in this one, have deep scars that run from their soul to their outer appearance. Neither Oaklyn or Ambrose apologize or try to justify their actions and motivations even when they’re tinged with blood and pain. Lauren did a beautiful job at taking two people with broken psyches and pairing them together in such a way that they became a piece of each other. Ambrose couldn’t live without Oaklyn because his obsession ran too deep and Oaklyn found peace and someone to stand in her corner for her. Disturbingly delicious, I devoured this book and can’t wait to see what else Lauren writes.
P.S. I'll never look at an acorn the same way again. IYKYK.
June 26, 2024
I only read two books in the series but I get the feelings that Lauren Biel villains is all completely insane. This book was very dark and I had a hard time really feeling a romance between the two, as I struggled with the whole "you are a whore " thing. But both this and the other book have been very very creative in the "spicy" scenes. Not all are sexy stuff some are just very creative ways things are sexually done. Hard to describe haha
October 9, 2023
Lauren, I hate to do this to ya, but this wasn't it. DNF at 85%.
I wanna make this clear: My review is not due to the content or writing style. I'm a fan of Lauren, and I know what she writes. This was good until about 60% into the book, then it kinda just fell off a cliff and into an ocean of predictability and clichés. I can't go on. There's not enough excitement to keep me interested.
I wanna make this clear: My review is not due to the content or writing style. I'm a fan of Lauren, and I know what she writes. This was good until about 60% into the book, then it kinda just fell off a cliff and into an ocean of predictability and clichés. I can't go on. There's not enough excitement to keep me interested.
December 8, 2025
Please, someone hold my kindle while I go wash my soul in chamomile and holy water
*plunge*
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
*plunge*
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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December 8, 2024
Dark and twisty!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🖤💙
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌍
Character development: 😚☹️😭
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Duet Narration
The heroine: Oaklyn - she is a former ballet dancer who had dreams of broadway when she was in a terrible car accident that ended her ballet career. All she ever wanted to do was dance, so after she recuperated, she got a job at sleazy strip club. She loves to dance but works there because she needs the money. She lives in a trailer park in a trailer her grandmother left her. Her parents had disowned her when she went to New York to follow her dreams. Her boss Jake is interested in her and lets it be known.
The Hero: Ambrose - he fights in underground bare-knuckle boxing fights, and he cons money out of people. He is scarred from his childhood, both on the outside and inside. He has a lot of anger and wants to take it out on a stripper from the same club where his mother worked. He wants to punish his mother, but he can’t so he plans on punishing another one of the whore’s who work there.
The Story: Oaklyn is trying to save up to buy a car, and she has no choice but to work at the club. She takes the bus to work and doesn’t like to spend her hard-earned money on Uber rides, but Jake wants sexual favors for giving her a ride home. So, she hitchhikes home one day and Ambrose picks her up, planning to kill her, but for some reason he can’t. He tells himself if she ever gets in his Jeep again, he will do it but the next time he changes his mind and instead decides to stalk her and scare her in another way. Though he keeps giving her rides home.
This was definitely twisted. Ambrose did some terrible things to Oaklyn, and he was definitely not all there. He considered her a whore and treats her as such. He even sees her being raped, and though he stops it, he figures she deserved it because of what she does. Later, he rapes her as well. I liked the first two books in this series even though they were very dark, but I didn’t know how this one was going to redeem itself and it really never did. The Hero wasn’t even an anti-Hero, he was a villain. Though of course the heroine found herself attracted to him and into the same kinks as him.
I am a bit biased, since I am not a ginger, but it always bothers me how many redheads appear as the heroine in romance novels. Redheads are like 2% of the population, but they must make up at least 50% of the population of romantic heroines. Another thing that really bothers me is when the sexy man on the cover of a book doesn’t match his description in the book. Ambrose was described as huge, muscular and having dark blond hair that is shaved on the sides, with scars on his face. While the cover model looks to be a thin guy with dark black hair that isn’t shaved on the sides and without any scars.
This audiobook was told in dual points of view via duet narration and was narrated by Troy Duran and Lark Holloway. They do a terrific job, and I really like both of them. Troy Duran has the perfect deep voice for the character of Ambrose. He is just great at dirty talk. Lark Holloway has a youthful sounding voice and it sounds like she is in her twenties like the character of Oaklyn. Plus, I love the fact that this was done in duet narration.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🖤💙
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌍
Character development: 😚☹️😭
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Duet Narration
The heroine: Oaklyn - she is a former ballet dancer who had dreams of broadway when she was in a terrible car accident that ended her ballet career. All she ever wanted to do was dance, so after she recuperated, she got a job at sleazy strip club. She loves to dance but works there because she needs the money. She lives in a trailer park in a trailer her grandmother left her. Her parents had disowned her when she went to New York to follow her dreams. Her boss Jake is interested in her and lets it be known.
The Hero: Ambrose - he fights in underground bare-knuckle boxing fights, and he cons money out of people. He is scarred from his childhood, both on the outside and inside. He has a lot of anger and wants to take it out on a stripper from the same club where his mother worked. He wants to punish his mother, but he can’t so he plans on punishing another one of the whore’s who work there.
The Story: Oaklyn is trying to save up to buy a car, and she has no choice but to work at the club. She takes the bus to work and doesn’t like to spend her hard-earned money on Uber rides, but Jake wants sexual favors for giving her a ride home. So, she hitchhikes home one day and Ambrose picks her up, planning to kill her, but for some reason he can’t. He tells himself if she ever gets in his Jeep again, he will do it but the next time he changes his mind and instead decides to stalk her and scare her in another way. Though he keeps giving her rides home.
This was definitely twisted. Ambrose did some terrible things to Oaklyn, and he was definitely not all there. He considered her a whore and treats her as such. He even sees her being raped, and though he stops it, he figures she deserved it because of what she does. Later, he rapes her as well. I liked the first two books in this series even though they were very dark, but I didn’t know how this one was going to redeem itself and it really never did. The Hero wasn’t even an anti-Hero, he was a villain. Though of course the heroine found herself attracted to him and into the same kinks as him.
I am a bit biased, since I am not a ginger, but it always bothers me how many redheads appear as the heroine in romance novels. Redheads are like 2% of the population, but they must make up at least 50% of the population of romantic heroines. Another thing that really bothers me is when the sexy man on the cover of a book doesn’t match his description in the book. Ambrose was described as huge, muscular and having dark blond hair that is shaved on the sides, with scars on his face. While the cover model looks to be a thin guy with dark black hair that isn’t shaved on the sides and without any scars.
This audiobook was told in dual points of view via duet narration and was narrated by Troy Duran and Lark Holloway. They do a terrific job, and I really like both of them. Troy Duran has the perfect deep voice for the character of Ambrose. He is just great at dirty talk. Lark Holloway has a youthful sounding voice and it sounds like she is in her twenties like the character of Oaklyn. Plus, I love the fact that this was done in duet narration.
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October 1, 2023
It took me a min to figure out what rating for this book because it was way darker than the other 2 and a few times I did not like Ambores!!
Poor Oaklyn she was a raising star and was taken away from her in a blink of an eye, so now she has to strip. She's been harassed every day by her creepy boss, and the other girls hate her. It sucks.. all she wants is to buy a car. But it's not coming anytime soon, so she meets Ambores, who gives her a lift home. Little did she know she just put herself right in his eyes for revenge. Now Ambores doesn't know her he just hates strippers due to his mother, so he plans to ruin Oaklyn life. And he slowly starts to leave pictures of her past, jerking off into her dancing shoes and leaving other presents.
She's confused and angry why this keeps happening until one night ambores takes it pretty far and well.. I'm be straight he drugs her drink and SA her.. this is where I was like.. wtf ambores!!! But the dude was off his rocker and really took advantage of her. At this point, Oaklyn needed to get away from her stalker and ask her new friend Ambores to drive her to her family's cabin. AND BOOM!!
Things finally come out there's fights more head games and falling in love!! But the more time Ambores spends with her, the more his plan to kill her ends.
What made me go fudge, yeah!! Oaklyn got revenge on Ambores when she drugged him and SA him.. girl rode his dick like she hated him. Hehe, I knew it was not right, but girl got hers.
They still have few ups and downs and drama outside their relationship dealing with the creep boss and the fighting ring.
Low angst, no ow drama/Om drama, no cheating, drama, no virgins (she has to give her creepy boss a handjob and she is almost raped by him)
Recommend-maybe
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Slowinsta
Push/pull from both
Humiliation
Degradation
Spitting
Somnophilia
Praise kink
Self harm
Non-con/Dub-con (between Mc and and not)
Primal play
Masturbation
Water play
Force proximity
Choking
Torture
Murder
Knife play
Mentioned Child abuse
exhibitionism
Sadomasochism
No condom
Violence
Hea
Epilogue
Poor Oaklyn she was a raising star and was taken away from her in a blink of an eye, so now she has to strip. She's been harassed every day by her creepy boss, and the other girls hate her. It sucks.. all she wants is to buy a car. But it's not coming anytime soon, so she meets Ambores, who gives her a lift home. Little did she know she just put herself right in his eyes for revenge. Now Ambores doesn't know her he just hates strippers due to his mother, so he plans to ruin Oaklyn life. And he slowly starts to leave pictures of her past, jerking off into her dancing shoes and leaving other presents.
She's confused and angry why this keeps happening until one night ambores takes it pretty far and well.. I'm be straight he drugs her drink and SA her.. this is where I was like.. wtf ambores!!! But the dude was off his rocker and really took advantage of her. At this point, Oaklyn needed to get away from her stalker and ask her new friend Ambores to drive her to her family's cabin. AND BOOM!!
Things finally come out there's fights more head games and falling in love!! But the more time Ambores spends with her, the more his plan to kill her ends.
What made me go fudge, yeah!! Oaklyn got revenge on Ambores when she drugged him and SA him.. girl rode his dick like she hated him. Hehe, I knew it was not right, but girl got hers.
They still have few ups and downs and drama outside their relationship dealing with the creep boss and the fighting ring.
Low angst, no ow drama/Om drama, no cheating, drama, no virgins (she has to give her creepy boss a handjob and she is almost raped by him)
Recommend-maybe
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Slowinsta
Push/pull from both
Humiliation
Degradation
Spitting
Somnophilia
Praise kink
Self harm
Non-con/Dub-con (between Mc and and not)
Primal play
Masturbation
Water play
Force proximity
Choking
Torture
Murder
Knife play
Mentioned Child abuse
exhibitionism
Sadomasochism
No condom
Violence
Hea
Epilogue
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2024
What a psycho! I’m not sure who’s crazier - the MMC or me for loving this book 😅.
I really enjoy this series; it’s the perfect dark and twisted vibe for the season 👌
Somewhere between 4.25-4.75 ⭐️’s
I really enjoy this series; it’s the perfect dark and twisted vibe for the season 👌
Somewhere between 4.25-4.75 ⭐️’s
February 4, 2025
*audiobook
Surprise, surprise, misogyny is not sexy...
Surprise, surprise, misogyny is not sexy...
September 22, 2023
This is an ARC read and I enjoyed it. It's amazingly dark and I loved reading it. It's more of a dark book than a romance book.
>>> Please read the trigger warnings before you start reading this book. It has a heavy trigger warning.
"Crawl to me" - this line always gets goosebumps to me.
What happens when you hitch a ride and your world turns upside down? Well, things were already bad but it got worse when you decided to hitch a ride to escape your boss. What happens when suddenly you start seeing acorns and you slowly figure out that you have a stalker? What happens when you plan on escaping from the place for a few days to think about the situation at hand and calm your nerves but end up in a bigger mess? What happens when you have been used by someone but you can't recall the night or what happened to you? Will you be able to survive knowing that someone drugged you and took advantage of you? What state will you be in when you think of complaining about this to the police but then a thought crosses your mind that no one will believe it because you work at a strip club? What happens when the Killer gets obsessed with you and can't bring himself to kill you but can't leave you to live your life as well? What happens when you finally get to know who your stalker is and you figure out that you yourself brought yourself to this situation? What happens when your Stalker/Killer tortures the person in the most brutal way possible because that person abused you? Will you start admiring him after everything he has done to you?
Read this amazing Dark-romance book and get ready for a trip where your thoughts turn from Hatred to Love for him. At least that's what I experienced while reading this book.
The book has:
* Self-harm
* Non-con
* Water-play
* Dark past
* Cut off her breath
* Spitting
* Foreign object inside her
* Somnophilia
* Bully
* Torture
* Stalker (Cat and mouse)
* Obsession
>>> I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
>>> Please read the trigger warnings before you start reading this book. It has a heavy trigger warning.
"Crawl to me" - this line always gets goosebumps to me.
What happens when you hitch a ride and your world turns upside down? Well, things were already bad but it got worse when you decided to hitch a ride to escape your boss. What happens when suddenly you start seeing acorns and you slowly figure out that you have a stalker? What happens when you plan on escaping from the place for a few days to think about the situation at hand and calm your nerves but end up in a bigger mess? What happens when you have been used by someone but you can't recall the night or what happened to you? Will you be able to survive knowing that someone drugged you and took advantage of you? What state will you be in when you think of complaining about this to the police but then a thought crosses your mind that no one will believe it because you work at a strip club? What happens when the Killer gets obsessed with you and can't bring himself to kill you but can't leave you to live your life as well? What happens when you finally get to know who your stalker is and you figure out that you yourself brought yourself to this situation? What happens when your Stalker/Killer tortures the person in the most brutal way possible because that person abused you? Will you start admiring him after everything he has done to you?
Read this amazing Dark-romance book and get ready for a trip where your thoughts turn from Hatred to Love for him. At least that's what I experienced while reading this book.
The book has:
* Self-harm
* Non-con
* Water-play
* Dark past
* Cut off her breath
* Spitting
* Foreign object inside her
* Somnophilia
* Bully
* Torture
* Stalker (Cat and mouse)
* Obsession
>>> I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 2, 2024
UGHHH 😭
The acorn in the hole still threw me off 🤣 but God damn it these two falling for each other really got me 🥹
Also just loving her and showing up for her just melted me!
The acorn in the hole still threw me off 🤣 but God damn it these two falling for each other really got me 🥹
Also just loving her and showing up for her just melted me!
September 22, 2023
While reading: this is more of a horror story than a romance
*4 originally reluctant stars*
Omg, this one was a doozy. Out of all of Lauren's books, I felt most conflicted about this one. I really thought I was going to give this book one star, and I felt horrible about my impending one-star because I love Lauren's books, want to support her, and it's an ARC so I didn't want to not be approved for her books in the future if I gave one 1 star. I disliked Chapter 9 so much I almost DNF-ed. I hated what Ambrose was doing to Oaklyn, but I felt compelled to read more. I thought what he did would be insurmountable for me to root for him as a romance hero. I also hated how he thought for the longest time that she was only working at the club because "she's a whore who likes to let men use her body in exchange for cash" despite it being SO OBVIOUS that she was only working there because it was a venue to dance at. She could no longer dance on stage or something complicated like that where you're dancing for hours after a result of a car accident.
Speaking of the car accident, we never got the full story of how drunk driving led to the end of her dance career. I also needed to know more about why Ambrose's mother did what she did. I'm surprised no beta reader or editor caught this.
By the end of the book, I found the nickname "tragedy" adorable, lol.
I was like dude, find a stripper whose life has been less bad for you to kill! Background: Ambrose's mother was a stripper, who worked in the same club Oaklyn now works at. Ambrose's mom maimed him repeatedly, trying to kill him, as a little kid, and now he has horrific scars as a result. (It wasn't about him; she had a psychotic break.) Now Ambrose wants revenge on his mom by killing one of the strippers working at that club. By chance, he and Oaklyn meet when Oaklyn looks for a car to hitchhike back to her home from the club.
I do find it funny that all these seemingly "normal" heroines are totally okay with the heroes just resorting to murder in the end.
It was a good book, but you may hate the beginning like me. Definitely check the trigger warnings because this was dark. I mean, the hero is out for revenge on the heroine and contemplates killing her for most of the book. I don't think I'd feel comfortable if my family members knew I wrote this. I laughed when I saw Lauren's latest Instagram post: "No, I won't pay for your therapy."
Thanks to Lauren for approving my ARC and BookSirens for letting me know it was listed! I wonder if there will be a book 4 in this series. I still have to read Hitched!
*4 originally reluctant stars*
Omg, this one was a doozy. Out of all of Lauren's books, I felt most conflicted about this one. I really thought I was going to give this book one star, and I felt horrible about my impending one-star because I love Lauren's books, want to support her, and it's an ARC so I didn't want to not be approved for her books in the future if I gave one 1 star. I disliked Chapter 9 so much I almost DNF-ed. I hated what Ambrose was doing to Oaklyn, but I felt compelled to read more. I thought what he did would be insurmountable for me to root for him as a romance hero. I also hated how he thought for the longest time that she was only working at the club because "she's a whore who likes to let men use her body in exchange for cash" despite it being SO OBVIOUS that she was only working there because it was a venue to dance at. She could no longer dance on stage or something complicated like that where you're dancing for hours after a result of a car accident.
Speaking of the car accident, we never got the full story of how drunk driving led to the end of her dance career. I also needed to know more about why Ambrose's mother did what she did. I'm surprised no beta reader or editor caught this.
"Now she’s my tragedy, and she needs to pay."
By the end of the book, I found the nickname "tragedy" adorable, lol.
I was like dude, find a stripper whose life has been less bad for you to kill! Background: Ambrose's mother was a stripper, who worked in the same club Oaklyn now works at. Ambrose's mom maimed him repeatedly, trying to kill him, as a little kid, and now he has horrific scars as a result. (It wasn't about him; she had a psychotic break.) Now Ambrose wants revenge on his mom by killing one of the strippers working at that club. By chance, he and Oaklyn meet when Oaklyn looks for a car to hitchhike back to her home from the club.
I do find it funny that all these seemingly "normal" heroines are totally okay with the heroes just resorting to murder in the end.
It was a good book, but you may hate the beginning like me. Definitely check the trigger warnings because this was dark. I mean, the hero is out for revenge on the heroine and contemplates killing her for most of the book. I don't think I'd feel comfortable if my family members knew I wrote this. I laughed when I saw Lauren's latest Instagram post: "No, I won't pay for your therapy."
Thanks to Lauren for approving my ARC and BookSirens for letting me know it was listed! I wonder if there will be a book 4 in this series. I still have to read Hitched!
April 21, 2024
The beginning of this reminds me of a plot of an extreme horror/splatter punk book
The mmc hatred towords women annoyed me so much. He wasn't sexy, alluring, or misunderstood. I like my stalkers to actually like the fmc. His hatred is so constant.
The book captured from the same author where the mmc was also a predator and murderer, felt more misunderstood than this guy.
I just don't connect with Ambrose. I have read a lot of morally grey characters that did a lot of mess up things, probably even worse than this guy. However, this just annoys me and makes it hard to enjoy the book.
For the fmc I understand why she behaved the way she does (stupid) because this is a dark romance and if Oaklyn was actually sensible then this won't be a dark romance, the book would have pretty much ended if she went to the hospital or the police. Also, her story is really sad. It reminds me of other traumatic books, but this fmc still doesn't make me care enough. Another reason why the FMC infuriates me is that she wants to work at the place where she got sexually assaulted, a place that she don't like being at, a place where no one is her friend, who walk home with bleeding feet. Just so she can dance. Oaklyn says it is not for the money. WHAT!!! She can dance anywhere, girl go to a park and dance or something. Oh yeah, her mom is a B****
Anyway, this book is not my favorite. However, i will still read from this author. For some reason, the crazy things she writes about still don't deter me from reading more of her books. I won’t recommend it, tho.
The mmc hatred towords women annoyed me so much. He wasn't sexy, alluring, or misunderstood. I like my stalkers to actually like the fmc. His hatred is so constant.
The book captured from the same author where the mmc was also a predator and murderer, felt more misunderstood than this guy.
I just don't connect with Ambrose. I have read a lot of morally grey characters that did a lot of mess up things, probably even worse than this guy. However, this just annoys me and makes it hard to enjoy the book.
For the fmc I understand why she behaved the way she does (stupid) because this is a dark romance and if Oaklyn was actually sensible then this won't be a dark romance, the book would have pretty much ended if she went to the hospital or the police. Also, her story is really sad. It reminds me of other traumatic books, but this fmc still doesn't make me care enough. Another reason why the FMC infuriates me is that she wants to work at the place where she got sexually assaulted, a place that she don't like being at, a place where no one is her friend, who walk home with bleeding feet. Just so she can dance. Oaklyn says it is not for the money. WHAT!!! She can dance anywhere, girl go to a park and dance or something. Oh yeah, her mom is a B****
Anyway, this book is not my favorite. However, i will still read from this author. For some reason, the crazy things she writes about still don't deter me from reading more of her books. I won’t recommend it, tho.
September 24, 2023
I am loving this Ride or Die series and Driving my Obsession was as crazy and messed up as the others and I loved it.
Ambrose has a horrible past and very skewed views and when he sets is eyes on the red haired beauty Oaklyn his obsession is triggered and they are set on a course of destruction and chaos.
Trigger warnings should be listened to, this story is not for everyone, but if you love the darkness like me you will definitely love this story 🖤
Ambrose has a horrible past and very skewed views and when he sets is eyes on the red haired beauty Oaklyn his obsession is triggered and they are set on a course of destruction and chaos.
Trigger warnings should be listened to, this story is not for everyone, but if you love the darkness like me you will definitely love this story 🖤
August 7, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🔥🔥
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Biel paints a dark, gritty picture from the get go. Oaklyn, once a talented dancer full of promise finds herself on a stripper’s stage after a car crash that left her barely able to dance anymore.
This girl is so down on her luck. Her parents have basically disowned her, her grandmother, the only person who still believed in her died and she’s working for the biggest slimeball dancing for even worse customers.
So let’s make her the target for a psychopath!
Enter said psychopath, Ambrose. If you’re looking for a knight in shining armor, you’ve come to the wrong fucking place. This guy far surpassed morally gray, straight into pitch black. Stalker. Rapist. Torturer. Just a handful of his many dark traits.
There’s absolutely zero romanticism, this is the story of two fucked up individuals who discover that they click. Which is absolutely crazy! But to each their own.
I enjoyed this as a dark thriller, perhaps erotic horror story. This definitely isn’t a romance, not even of the dark variety, so if you’re expecting that, go look someplace else. But if you want a totally fucked tale of abuse and vengeance, this one is definitely for you.
🔥🔥🔥
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Biel paints a dark, gritty picture from the get go. Oaklyn, once a talented dancer full of promise finds herself on a stripper’s stage after a car crash that left her barely able to dance anymore.
This girl is so down on her luck. Her parents have basically disowned her, her grandmother, the only person who still believed in her died and she’s working for the biggest slimeball dancing for even worse customers.
So let’s make her the target for a psychopath!
Enter said psychopath, Ambrose. If you’re looking for a knight in shining armor, you’ve come to the wrong fucking place. This guy far surpassed morally gray, straight into pitch black. Stalker. Rapist. Torturer. Just a handful of his many dark traits.
There’s absolutely zero romanticism, this is the story of two fucked up individuals who discover that they click. Which is absolutely crazy! But to each their own.
I enjoyed this as a dark thriller, perhaps erotic horror story. This definitely isn’t a romance, not even of the dark variety, so if you’re expecting that, go look someplace else. But if you want a totally fucked tale of abuse and vengeance, this one is definitely for you.
March 2, 2025
These books just really do it for me,
you know what I mean 🥵🖤
you know what I mean 🥵🖤
June 6, 2024
3/5⭐️ 3/5🌶️ 5/5🎧
That was…interesting. Pitch black for sure, so check trigger warnings. I don’t really know what to say about this one other than I passed the Chapter 13 Challenge 😂😂😂 The narration was great.
That was…interesting. Pitch black for sure, so check trigger warnings. I don’t really know what to say about this one other than I passed the Chapter 13 Challenge 😂😂😂 The narration was great.
September 6, 2024
This was DARK. I have no triggers but this one was a lot for me. Ambrose isn’t morally grey, he’s a legitimate insane villain. There’s just too many non-consensual scenes for my taste in this one. It just wasn’t for me and I usually love a dark, stalker romance. Overall, it was a quick read but we also didn’t have much plot minus the “romance” part.
October 3, 2023
Another amazing book by Lauren Biel! I tried really hard not to like Ambrose because of what he did but in the end he still won my heart! There’s fun sarcasm and banter which is great.
May 17, 2024
We need to stop hyping up bad books
May 17, 2024
I really need to start DNFing books
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