Vuoi un passaggio? (Ride or Die)

Ride or Die Romances

by Lauren Biel, V.C. Studios (translator)

"Ready or not, rabbit, here I come"

Lex
The moment I open the car door and see her sweet face, I know I'm making a mistake. By offering to give me a ride, so is she. I spot the rabbit’s foot hanging from the rear-view mirror. It's not her lucky day.

I take her with me as I run from the law. Despite being a felon and a documented sociopath, I only mean for Selena to be a ride to the border. But somewhere along the way she stirs up feelings I've long thought myself incapable of.

She's my rabbit, my sweet little bunny, and I need to teach her how to run from me so I can catch her and show her what it's like to be devoured by the predator she should be afraid of.

Danger lurks in every corner, and the risk of getting caught grows by the day. What will I do once she takes me to my destination? Will I let her go or do something much worse? Can we find some way to stay together when the world wants to pull us apart?


Trigger Warnings: Infidelity (not between mcs), domestic violence (not between mcs), detailed abuse in the past for both mcs, murder, violence, abduction, suicidal ideations, dubious/non consent, attempted non con (not between mcs), sociopathic behavior, somnophilia scene, c*ck stuffing scene, degradation kink, praise, spitting, outdoor/car scenes, primal play, c*m play, b*tt stuff (including anal and oral), voyeurism, exhibitionism, jealous/possessive behavior, sado-masochism

Hitched is a dual POV dark hitchhiker standalone novel with an HEA

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Romance, Audiobook, Smut, Forced Proximity, Enemies To Lovers

270 pages, Paperback

Published March 27, 2024

About the author

Lauren’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.

Reviews

[nikki · Rating 1 out of 5]

ETA: One look at the comments and I can see who the jobless people are🤡 You know, I decided that I would be the bigger person and not say anything when the hate comments started rolling in last year. But the truth is, I'm not. I'm petty asf. So let's start. First of all, if any of you Karens had two braincells to rub together, you'd know that I'm a seasoned dark romance reader who LOVES reading dubcon/noncon/CNC. It is implied that when these triggers are listed in the TW, it is between the main characters and not anyone else. If there happens to be any previous CNC/dubcon/noncon with several other women, then it's known as RAPE. Google the word if you don't know the definition. Second of all, I know y'all have miserable lives...but getting butthurt over a negative review of a book? Maybe just try therapy???🤣 Lex was just a disgusting character, not only for the previous rape and heinous crimes that he'd committed but also for the way he treated Selena. Man's was supposed to be "obsessed" but he was ready to let another man have sex with her just to repay his debt + let her abusive ex-husband also fuck her in front of him? That's what y'all like?? For your kind information, your leader, Lauren Biel, made changes to this book after reading MY review and the updated version most likely doesn't have the content that I initially read. There's literally bigger and worse things happening in the world rather than being a bitch over a single negative review on goodreads that mind you, you can scroll past. Regardless, I love the hate that y'all are showing in the comment section because honestly? I love fangirl behavior hehe - makes me feel like a celebrity💅🏻 If any of my new haters are reading this, you can message me and I might just send you an autograph if you win the lucky draw🤣🤣🤣 With that being said, I will not be supporting nor reading anything by this author because of her bullying tendencies and her need to send her cronies after me. That is all I have to say. Thank you *bows down* *claps once* *lights off*

We romanticising rapists now huh?😃🔫 This author tried SO hard to redeem Lex, but in my eyes, there'd absolutely no fucking redemption for a fucking rapist. I mean, initially, I thought that he meant CNC/non-con/dub-con but when he said that he never took consent from women who "couldn't" give it...that's when I realised what a fucked up character he was. And I mean fucked up in a real bad way. Like "deserves to rot in jail and then go on death row" typa fucked up. Selena was no better. Miss girl, has your mama never taught you about stranger danger??? It's giving Ted Bundy's victim frrrrrr. What a fucking shitshow seriously. This book coulda been good if Lex's character wasn't irredeemable. Something about inmate/convincted felon escaping prison, carjacking a woman, and then falling in love with her had the potential to be a decent story if he hadn't been an abuser and rapist. Fuck this shit honestly. I'm done🤢😭🥴

[Kursed Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Late one night, a downpour forced 22-year old Selena to pull off onto the side of the road.

Hitchhiking amid the storm, a soaked-to-the-bone Lexington pulls on Selena’s heartstrings.

The story of a Good Samaritan quickly morphs into an unconventional, opposites attract (supa steamy) love affair. Moreover, Lex and Bunny’s becomes a tale of growth and self-discovery.

I will not be surprised if an entire subgenre of dark romance explodes following the release of Hitched. Every author will want to re-create the Lex and Bunny vibe.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🖤🖤🖤
Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 😳🫣😩🥵😍
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual}

🗂 Genre: Dark Romance

✨ Tropes: Alphahole, Antihero, Forced Proximity, Kidnap/Captive, One Bed, Opposites Attract, Touch-Her-and-💀, Who Hurt You

💋 Kinks: 🍑 Play, Blood Play, 🐓 Warming, Cum Jammer, Degradation, Dirty Talk, Domination, Finger Licking Good, Good Girl, Public Play, Primal, Spit

⚠️ Warning: This book may cause blushing, squirming, combusting panties, and/or self-care. It’s definitely NSFW or with a kiddo by your side. In fact, I would highly recommend you read this one after dark to avoid side eye or awkward conversations.

🚩 Safety Squad: Domestic VioIençe (Not by H), DubÇon, Cheating (Kinda, Not Between MCs), UnaIiving, VioIençe, and other triggering elements. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📣 Type: Hitched is a standalone.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[moretomary · Rating 2 out of 5]

A whole lot of smut with no plot

[Jamie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can deal with murderer H’s, they don’t even affect me at all at this point, but I really don’t like H’s that have raped others before. And also didn’t like the fact that he wanted to see her abusive husband fuck her and would get off to the thought 🤨🤢
And forgot to mention he almost lets some guy rape her in exchange for him getting a fake id. The guy gets so far as touching her , I’m pretty sure touching her while she’s naked but I could be wrong about that, before he stops it. Then it’s never really brought up again that he was going to let someone do that.

I love dark romance, but the H has to at least be redeemable to the h.

[Larissa Cambusano · Rating 2 out of 5]

i will never be picking up a hitchhiker <3

[Sonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

ohhhh this has lots and lots of kinks!

If you can think it, then this book has it, and it’s 🔥.

This has lots and lots of triggers too, so please check those out on the author’s website (I’ll list them down below as well).

I’ve been eyeing this book for a while. I’ve never read a hitchhiker book before, so this was a new experience for me.

Lex (40s) just got out of jail and is anxiously trying to hitch a ride from someone. He went to jail for killing people (NOOOOT rape- it looks like the author changed it in this version). It’s raining/pouring and he’s just trying to get out of the elements. Enter Selena.

Selena’s (22) having a hard time seeing as she drives when she spots a figure off the side of the road. She approaches him, feeling bad that he’s out in this storm, and debates on giving him a ride. He actually leaves when she hesitates after he asks to bum a ride to the nearest exit, but then she feels guilty and she goes after him.

He gets in and she changes her mind again 😬, but now it’s too late, because Lex has a g u n and he’s not afraid to use it 😅.

What I liked- SPOILERS
—the amount of 🔥. Oh. My. Gawd. This book is 🥵. First of all, Lex isn’t afraid of hand necklaces 😮‍💨, but then he finds a way of manipulating her by using fingers and force😅, and this is all within the first 10% 👀. I don’t know how Selena concentrated while she was driving 👀; it’s clear Lex knows how to work his fingers 🥵. And the way he uses her unmentionables 👀 there’s only so much cleaning you can do to get rid of it 😉. By 20%, he enjoys her all the way 🔥💦. The 🔥 goes until the end of the book 😉

—the car scene. Umm… when Selena is wanting to give up life , Lex convinces (🥵) her to keep on living 😉. And let’s not talk about the other car scene where they’re driving 😳😅. That takes a loooot of skill right there 😮‍💨. I don’t know how they didn’t crash 😳

—Lex isn’t afraid of some 💦

—primal play 😮‍💨. I love me some good chasing scenes, and these had my heart racing 👀🔥

—sooo many kinks. I could go on and on and on

—both Lex and Selena have messed up backgrounds. Yes, Selena comes from “money” while Lex witnessed the death of his mother (drugs) and was in the foster system, they are able to complement each other and understand what the other needs. It takes a while to get to this point, but they get each others strengths and weaknesses

—how their relationship transforms. Obviously, it starts off badly (he kid naps her…), but then it morphs as time passes. Did it always make sense? No, but I was fine with it for the most part

—revenge for the abuse. Selena’s marriage has been horrible in MANY damaging ways- her ex-husband was abusive in all forms- she has the bruises to prove it, and Lex helps her seek revenge 💅

—Lex doesn’t understand the word no 🫣. Luckily, Selena likes that 😅

—he didn’t go to jail for rape (I’m soooo glad the author changed this 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻)

—no ow anything 👏🏻

What I didn’t like/wanted more of: SPOILERS
—the killing of innocents 🫣. I know this is a dark read, but I felt like Selena felt- horrified and upset. Sigh. There are two that we see on page 😏. Maybe if we had learned they were actually bad guys then I would’ve felt better… but… sigh 😏. The other ones that get killed don’t bother me AS much

—the fake ID scene 😬. Lex almost let the OM get to Selena as payment for the ID. He stops it before anything real happens, but it almost does 🫣. I felt the betrayal Selena felt ☹️

—the aftermath of her husband’s death and maybe her family? Once they move on from that scene, we don’t know what else happens

—how 🤦🏻‍♀️ can Selena be? She didn’t learn from her “mistake” letting a hitchhiker in her car in the first place, she then feels bad for another one towards the end of the book 😐and then The consequence for that one’s just terrible ☹️

—their future. Their HEA/HFN implies they’re maybe still committing crimes, for sure they’re living with the bare minimum, but I wish they were more established and not necessarily living frugally. But then again, since they’re running from the law, it makes sense to be hiding so 🤷🏻‍♀️

—birth control? STDs? Pregnancy? These aren’t even thoughts in the MCs minds 😳. I’m not that reader who pretends they don’t exist. It DOES make it easier because Lex has been in jail for 10 years, but still

Overall, it was an okay read. It’s very very 🔥. If you have no triggers, then this’ll be perfect for you

⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating*/sharing*/owd
-the h is married when she meets the H (so cheating)
-noncon/dubcon
-marital abuse/domestic violence
-violence/death
-murder of innocent/bad people
-slut shaming
-suicidal ideation/thoughts
-parental death recounted
-psychopath/multiple ish personalities
-SA: the H allows another man to touch her in exchange for an ID. He ends up killing him before he enters her. Not necessarily sharing but he was willing to have her get f’ed. the H takes care of him 💅. Later in the book, another man touches her. The H takes care of him 💁🏻‍♀️
-praise kink/hand necklace/somnophilia/exhibitionism/degradation kink/anal play/lick/primal play/somnophilia/cockwarming/spit play/💦 play/primal
-H has been celibate for 10 years/h has only been with her husband
-no condoms/no mention of birth control or STDs or anything
-HEA/epilogue/a year ish later

[Medollga · Rating 2 out of 5]

not sold on the "romance" aspect of it all, if you even can call it that.

both of them needed therapy in a maximum security prison, not a HFN, but oh well 💅😬

[nikki · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is what happens when I read books that are massively hyped on social media - I end up disappointed. The premise of this story was actually really good but I'm just not sure that it was executed properly. There was very little plot, and just them fucking like rabbits - I just kept thinking to myself "If you stopped fucking each other constantly, you might have time to get to the border before the police catch up to you!" - there were definitely lots of eye-rolling moments.
I'm really not a person who is bothered by triggers and will read almost anything, so the whole serial killer thing didn't really bother me, but some of it was just so far-fetched that I started skimming just to get to the end.
The sex is HOT, not gonna lie, but I think that's all it really had going for it sadly. I know my review is going to be in the minority because it seems everyone else absolutely loved Lex and Selena, but it just wasn't for me.

[Cécile Smits · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read the excerpt of Lauren Biel’s Hitched on Book Sirens,i quickly applied for the ARC.
And jumped right into the story when it landed in my inbox.
Now that i’ve finished,i have to warn you….it’s not a pretty story.
It’s dark,it’s gritty and has scenes that could be triggering.
Having said that,it’s also a story that’s right up my alley!

An escaped convict,a serial killer that was serving a multiple life sentence.
One that needs a ride,and gets it from a girl that seems to be a spoilt rich little bitch.
Lex planned to hitch a ride,do and kill the girl and take the car,but she intrigues him…
And somehow,she gets under his skin.
But is that a good thing,or will it turn out to be a fatal decision to keep her?

A woman in a bad marriage,desperate to get home in time,gives a man a lift.
A man that seems to be harmless,until Selena sees his tats and his gun….
Being forced on the road with him,he somehow gets under her skin.
He may force her to do things way out of her comfort zone,but he doesn’t actually harm her….

These two both have a past that scarred them,but their actions differ.
Lex turned into a sociopath because of what happened to him.
Selena is trapped in a loveless,abusive marriage with no way out but death.
Being stuck together,on the run,what will happen?

This was a rollercoaster ride ,one that held me captive from the first page.
A story that i enjoyed reading,very much.
Even though Lex was a hardened criminal,he grew on me.
He gave Selena what she needed,even if she didn’t know it herself.
He may have been a sociopath,but he grew into one that made different decisions because of her.
And Selena,she may have been stuck in a bad marriage,but Lex set her free.
She grew into a strong woman,one that knew what she wanted,and wasn’t afraid to get it.

[Melanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS!

I want to fuck that sweetness out of her and fill her with my darkness.

Leave your moral compass at home; this was dark, twisted, and delicious.

While I couldn't give it full stars because the framework on which the story hung (them being on the lam) wasn't realistic in any way, I did love Selena and Lex's very messed up relationship.

"Don't call yourself a predator when you can't handle your prey."

Be aware that there are triggers upon triggers in this one: dub con, physical and emotional abuse (not by the Hero, though some would argue . . .) gruesome murder, murder

[Crystal (Crystalreads2) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I contemplated how to start this review. I want to thank the person who wrote a one-star review without insulting them. They have a right to how they feel. Because it was too much for them, and they didn’t like spit kink. I dove right in and loved it. Bad reviews can work both ways.

My mother told me never to pick up a hitchhiker. She was wrong. Dead wrong 😂

Here is what to expect

Anti-hero that is a sociopath

A heroine with a horrific past

Age-gap

Darkness

Spicy

Force proximity


Our heroine, Selena, with a heart of gold and a side of darkness, decides to pick up the hitchhiker, Lex. Lex straight out from escaping prison. He forces Selena to drive. Both not expecting emotions and what to happen next.

Hitched is worth the hype of being spicy. It’s hot AF. Lex is almost unredeemable. He is not to society but is to Selena. Both characters are complex and complicated. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Overall it was an enjoyable read. Read the trigger warning. This book is not for everyone, and that is okay on my dark scale, dark grey. But if you’re looking for a dark romance with an interesting plot that Is spicy, Hitched is for you.

[Destiney Bomberry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Completely unhinged and nothing but smut!!!! The plot? Barely there.

[Inés Molina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliciously Dark

Oh my goodness, I don't think I've ever read a book with a sexy psychopath hitchhiker. Lex is just yum with all his craziness. This was a wild ride full of kinks and murder. I love that he calls her rabbit and wants to devour her like the rabbit that she is. It was amazing how both of their characters start to change, they would both kill for each other literally.

[benevolent bastard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Selena lands in absolute chaos the moment she mets Lex. I had the most interesting experience reading about the way she broke free from her cage. Yummy.

[april ♡ probably reading smut - safety reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 “I’m destined for hell but her pussy is heaven, and I’ll be saved as long as I’m inside her. I’m washed of my sins as long as I bathe in her come.”

Okay, wow, this book was intense! I loved every second of reading it. It's definitely not the type of book I would usually read (I prefer no cheating in any aspect in my romance novels & virgin heroines) but it just... worked for me. I love how possessive Lex was, regardless that Selena was married. His intensity and passion shined through. Selena was more reserved, but she couldn't help but be attracted to the mysterious hitchhiker who makes her wish she wasn't married.

“But now that I’ve been inside you, no one else will ever be, including your fucking husband.”

Lex and Selena meet one dark night and she offers to give him a ride because he's walking with no transportation. He hijacks the car (and Selena) and their adventure starts there.

“Tell me what you want,” he says. “You,” I whisper, accepting my sin.

Lex is one kinky motherfucker. I LOVED him so much! This book is full of kinks and triggers so be sure to check before you start reading. Lex and Selena have so much passion and sexual tension between them, I loved it. This was a one-sitting read and I'm so glad I decided to go for it. I need to get out of my comfort zone like Selena gets out of hers!

“Don’t worry, sweet bunny. If you let me keep you alive, I’ll show you how I truly fuck. I’ll give you a reason to take that next breath for me.”

SAFETY:
Ages: 22h, 40sH
Virgin/celibate: no virgins, h has only been with her husband
Tropes: hitchhiker romance
Triggers: infidelity (not between MC's.), domestic violence, detailed recalling of abuse, murder, violence, abduction, suicidal ideations, noncon, dubcon, attempted rape (not by H)
Kinks: somnophilia, cockwarming, praise, degradation, spit play, outdoor/car scenes, primal play, cum play, anal, voyeurism, exhibitionism
HEA?: yes!

[Janabookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

4💫 out of 5💫

*** Review will be coming soon**

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Sexy steamy bunny stars!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚🖤💙❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: ☺️😊😁😉🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Duet Narration

The heroine: Selina - she is in her early twenties and is married to an abusive and controlling husband. Her marriage was a business deal between families, and she had no choice in the bargain. She is now on her way home in the midst of a storm and she is running late but finding it hard to see so she has to pull over, though she is worried about it making her late. Her husband will be angry.

The Hero: Lex - he grew up in an abusive situation and spent the last decade in prison as a lifer. One thing he liked about being a lifer, was that he could do anything he wanted, kill anyone and the extra time didn’t matter because he only had one life to give. Though he recently escaped and was walking down a nearly abandoned highway in the pouring rain.

The story: while parked along side of the road, Selina is startled when someone knocks on her window. It is a man, soaked with rain, asking for a ride. Though she knows it is not smart, she feels bad that he is out in the rain and without a jacket. She agrees to give him a ride, but soon finds herself at the end of a gun and forced to drive him in the opposite direction of her home. Her husband is expecting her home, and she knows he will punish her for what has happened.

Many times, I dislike books like this where the anti-Hero is a really bad guy, because his inner monologue on all the terrible things he has done seems more like someone who wants to think they are bad and exaggerates their own terrible accomplishments in order to make themselves sound much worse. Like someone trying too hard to be bad. Though this book didn’t strike me that way. Maybe it was the narration, but I liked Lex, and he was believable as a bad guy, and I was glad when he decided not to kill Selina.

This book was super steamy, but it didn’t seem like gratuitous smut, especially since Lex has been in prison for over 10 years, so I can understand the fact that he wanted to do everything sexually possible with Selina and he had a never-ending desire for her. The one plot point I didn’t exactly like was the fact that every man they came across seemed to want to rape Selina. Lex had to rescue her from that fate like 4 times in as many days.

This audiobook is told in dual points of view via duet narration and is narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Angelina Rocca. I like both narrators quite a bit and they do a terrific job. Teddy Hamilton has a great voice for the killer that Lex is. His voice is deep and gravelly, and he narrates so naturally that you can’t tell he is reading. He embodies Lex so well. Angelina Rocca has a soft feminine voice that sounds youthful, and she does a wonderful job as Selina.

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[Camille · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my second attempt at reading a book by this author. Sadly, I just don’t think her work is for me. I love dark romance, and the hitchhiker/fresh out of prison theme really intrigued me. There are so many directions this could have gone, and I just didn’t enjoy how it was executed. The “plot” was nothing more than a backdrop for the smut. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I was hoping for more of an actual story and at least somewhat fleshed-out characters.

I read the trigger warnings and was fine to continue. What DID bother me that I didn’t expect was for the MMC to be literally twice the married FMC’s age. Don’t get me wrong, she was young. But middle-aged MMCs and age gaps (especially 20+ years) don’t do it for me at all, and I wish I had known before wasting my time. Additionally, while I’m cool with non-con and read plenty of books with this type of content, I wasn’t expecting the MMC of this story to be an unabashed serial rapist. Call me a hypocrite, but I only enjoy it within the context of the MMC/FMC relationship. I.e. He’s so obsessed with her and crosses the line because he’s that fucked up. Or one of them was abused on or off page. Reading about how the MMC has raped many women who didn’t want him had the opposite effect for me, personally, and I was completely turned off after that. I guess I’m just possessive and particular about rapey heroes and only want them focused on the heroine. Serial killers I can even manage (if done right), but it looks like I’ve found my line at serial rapist.

[Karla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I fully expected to love this (I thought it was the perfect book to get me out of my reading slump) but it was SO DISAPPOINTING!! This book had SO MUCH POTENTIAL but it ended up being a mess. Had it been shorter I would have enjoyed it so much more but spending 258 pages on NOTHING and wasting so much time made me feel aggravated; I want the time and emotion I invested back.

[kaleigh]

Started off so good….

I usually read books with virgin heroes but since the mmc has been celibate for 10 years since he was in prison, I let it pass.

Story moves on and we find out the hero is an actual rapist😐 What is romantic about that??

“I’ve fucked women when they didn’t want it. I’ve fucked women who couldn’t tell me they didn’t want it.”

“Remember when I said I fucked women who couldn’t consent? If you think being asleep deters me, it doesn’t.”

I love dark romance but there’s always a line to be drawn. Mine is usually when there is OW drama but i just discovered the biggest no-no is when the hero raped someone.

And another ick is when he gets excited she has only been with one person sexually before (her abusive husband) not a fan of that trope when he’s been around and all.

Oh and he treats her like shit. I’ve read kidnapping romances but even they treat their women better than the hero in this book did. He slapped the heroine😐 did he seriously not even think about her abusive husband and how that might bother her?!

I would love to read another hitchhiker romance but please for the love of god don’t make the hero a rapist. It’s disgusting.

[Mia S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark!

Even though 3 I did enjoy the book, the killings not my thing though but honestly that’s just my taste but I think it would’ve been more getting into the backstories of Lex and Selena, even the story with husband. It was heart pounding for sure just wondering when he was going to snap or when they were going to get caught. Still good!

[Kiandra &#x1f98b; · Rating 1 out of 5]

I fear Lauren Biel books are no longer for me.

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't often say this, but I think this should have been a novella... I was really into up to a certain event. Then after this event I think they should have just jumped to an epilogue. I didn't all the back and forth and death in between.

I lost engagement in the couple as I watched them spiral.

Also, as a true crime junkie.. these two are definitely dying or back in prison within 10 years, so the HEA factor is tainted when I think to hard. Hence why I think a shorter version of this would work better. 🤷‍♀️

But boy... it sure was hot, if that's what you want!

3 stars
5 on the spice scale

CW: SA, non con, dubcon, kidnapping, domestic abuse, death, and more I'm sure.

Sexy Content: breath play/throat necklaces, spit play, backdoor action, primal play, very rough sex.

[Laurens.Little.Library · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5⭐️

🥴🥴🥴

lol that was so stupid

[Christina (stinarinareads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The face journey was intense with this one. Super informal and chaotic review.

LAUREN BIEL CAN WRITE. Her writing was addicting. I read this all in one sitting and easily, even with the subject matter, simply because of Lauren's talent with words. The writing itself was engaging. And although yes, the back half of this book probably could've used a trimming down of those words, the words itself were very, very easily digestible.

Another good was [most] of the spice. Parts were really, really hot. Those parts pushed my limits and I bent like rubber, I went with it, and expanded my horizons on certain tropes. I am a forever student of life, I love learning :)

[Kate V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read 9/9/2024 - still an addicting read!

4 - 4.5 stars!

Hitched was disturbing but completely addicting and Lex and Selena put off some serious batshit crazy vibes but somehow they worked. It was a steamy steamy crazy train that I didn't want to get off and I loved their journey together, as well as individually.

"Her pussy may be incredible, but there’s so much more there. Even though we’re from totally different worlds, I recognize some of her pain. I see someone who’s been let down by every single person in their life, just like me. Where we differ is that she swallows it, letting it eat her away from the inside instead of becoming angry and violent. I sacrificed my freedom to make people feel some of the pain I felt."

Lex is an escaped murderer and makes no apologies for who he is. NONE. Stumbling upon Selena, he fully intends on hitching a ride, killing her, and moving on to his freedom. However, once he's in the car she, much to his surprise, reaches him on more levels than just physical.

Selena is stuck in a horrific marriage and desperate to get home so her husband doesn't take it out on her body again but decides to be a good Samaritan and give a man a ride. As soon as he gets in the car, she knows she's made a grave error in judgement. Lex forces her to accompany him and despite the trauma and pain from their pasts, these two find something incredible along the way.

"She’s broken through decades of antisocial and homicidal behavior. She worked her way through the layers of me that psychologists never could. She confronted my past and lived to tell about it. She meets my demons head on with her own, which makes me certain she’s so much more than I can ever begin to understand. Maybe there’s not much more to understand. Maybe she’s just as dangerous as me, and my kind of crazy loves hers. And I wouldn’t have it any other way."

Lex is a sociopath and Selena has darkness inside her. Lex isn't a good man by any stretch of the imagination but he TRIES to be for Selena. He is dominant, possessive, kinda scary, definitely unhinged, kinky and dirty, and makes no excuses for the choices he's made in his life that have led him to this point. I don't know what it says about me but I grew to really appreciate his crazy alpha personality and the care in which he took with Selena (outside of the bedroom). Selena initially comes off as a bit of a doormat but after meeting Lex she grows immensely. Her buried darkness calls to Lex's crazy and soon she learns to exist as herself and as the woman in love with a sociopath.

Hitched was relationship focused and Lauren did a fantastic job at cultivating an air of angst and intrigue. The steam and action bits in here may be triggering for some but I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Overall, a really well written dark romance that even came with a HEA.

“Bunny, you have all that’s left of my heart. Anything I can feel is for you.”

[Ray M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

istg it's just mid-tober at this point....

The story was mid. The whole plot was basically finished by 50% point. The rest was just dragging and emotional immaturity from both Selena and Lex. Also... whoever says they read this for the plot....They're LYINGGGGGG. The whole reason I'm even giving this book 3 stars was for the smut. IT was icky in the beginning but after he saw how she was being abused? (terrible ik)


It was good. Good enough to bump my review too 3 stars.

Let's talk about the characters for a min before I end this review. I liked that Selena learned how to stick up for herself in the end. Would I have done it the way the author did? Absolutely not, but considering her circumstances I think she did pretty ok. I'm just surprised that after she got away from her shitty husband who gave her Gucci that she settled for the brokie murderer... NOT I...

As for that brokie murderer, Lex. Man was blander than a vanilla cake. I didn't see anything new from a dark romance love interest as many of them see women as toys and less than so... I didn't expect much and as I predicted he didn't surpass those expectations. The author did try to add the Jekyll and Hyde element with Lex but it came off so dumb and cringy.... Lex and Killian should be friends honestly.... they both suck...

Either way the smut made this pretty entertaining so if you're looking for a book that has no plot and is basically smut than this is the perfect book for you... I'm lowkey debating on buying this book but I felt like I've read better smut no plot books....

[The Book Villain · Rating 5 out of 5]

”You shouldn’t have let me feel you coming around my fingers, because now I want more.
No, I need more.
So when I tell you that you aren’t going to wear panties or that you’re going to wear that little skirt, you’re going to listen. I’ll make you feel better than your husband ever did.”

THIS MAN 🥵

Overall Rating: 5/5
🔥 Spice Rating: 5/5
📈 Plot: 5/5
🗺️ World Building: 4/5
👤 Characters: 5/5
⚖️ Interpersonal Relationships: 5/5

Themes:
🖤 Dark Romance
🖤 Hitch Hiker
🖤 Criminal
🖤 Revenge on FMC’s partner
🖤 Primal Play
🖤 Forced Proximity

The chase.
The hunt.
The catch.
Her promise. Maybe she’s precisely where she needs to be: a place where her demons can play freely with mine. Under the watchful eye of the wolf, the rabbit will live another day.

[Megan Coggins · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was pure just smut.
The Big Bang happened at like 50% and then the last half was… I’m not sure. Sex scenes.
Plot was loose.

[Dev 鹿子 ♡]

Dnf @ 25. The writing style is very amateur. Not my thing.