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Ataraxia: A Dark Romance

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CHYLER TATE

I work for Charlotte.
She takes dirty jobs from anonymous clients and feeds them down to us.
I handle the bulk of the dirty work. Spilling blood is nothing to me, it's easy.
We've been hired to hunt down and eliminate a big player in the Pharmaceutical Industry.
The only problem, is finding him before we get caught.

HIM

A single night and he had me in his back pocket.
No one touches what’s mine. He is mine.
He doesn't know who I truly am, and I don't know if I'll ever be able to tell him.
But what I do know…
He is going to be the one to ruin me.
He is going to be the one who ruins everything.

ATLAS JENSEN

I'm being transferred to a new CIA Unit in Minneapolis.
We've been tasked with shutting down whoever has been hunting Roman Atwater by picking off his employees for information.
Whoever is doing this is brutal, vicious and unforgiving.
None of their victims survive.
They need to be stopped.
Their body count is only climbing.

HER

From the moment I saw her, I knew she was mine.
There's a fire to her and I was drawn in like a moth to a flame.
One night was all it took to bring me to my knees.
She has me wrapped around her finger.
I'd do anything for her.
Anything.

ATARAXIA

A drug that promises the relief of addiction to those who take it.
A single dose miracle that could give lives back to those who've lost them.
What length would you go to, to finally be free of the vice that controls you.
How much faith do you have in the industry?

Ataraxia by Jacklyn Parker is a Dark Romance. There are scenes of a violent and sexual nature in this story, therefore it is intended for readers of 18+ years. Please take note of the trigger warnings.

362 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 6, 2024

88 people are currently reading
455 people want to read

About the author

Jacklyn Parker

8 books92 followers
If you're looking for memorable, high‑heat romance with darker themes, secret societies, and morally complex characters—and you don’t mind some violent or suspenseful elements—Jacklyn Parker delivers it in spades. Her pacing is fast, the spice is hot, and the characters are beautifully flawed.

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5 stars
75 (46%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
Profile Image for The Lovers Library.
7 reviews2 followers
August 5, 2024
ARC REVIEW | SPOILER FREE

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to read this book before it gets released on September 6th. Thank you to the author Jacklyn Parker as well as NetGalley and Victory Editing for my copy of the book 🫶🏼.

Where to start?! This book isn’t your typical dark romance (in the best way!). Most dark romances feature a morally grey MMC however this books FMC is a force to be reckoned with… introducing CHYLER TATE. Chyler has a very interesting job and she loves to get her hands dirty! Whilst on a job she crosses paths with your new book boyfriend ATLAS JENSEN. Sparks fly from the start and Atlas has no issues with keeping up with our girl Chyler.

I loved both main characters and the chemistry they had together. The plot was great and it got WILD at the end. It was very fast paced and has early spice - I would say that was the only thing that I didn’t LOVE. It was very insta love - I’m a slow burn girlie what can I say! I loved the Charlie’s angels feel with Chyler, Madison & Alexis - who doesn’t love strong female characters?

If you love dark romance, spice, strong female characters & an MMC with a filthy mouth, this books for you!

‘She began to crawl - and it was the most beautiful thing I had ever witnessed. The way her hips swayed and her shoulder blades pitched with every flawless movement. She was a lioness, prowling for the kill - and I was her pray. Gladly.’

4 ⭐️’s for me with a 4 🌶️ rating for the spice 🔥. I can’t wait to see where this series goes, will definitely continue reading.
Profile Image for Becca.
427 reviews78 followers
September 27, 2024
Ataraxia is a gripping dark romance that dives deep into the tumultuous relationship between Atlas and Chyler. From the very beginning, the book draws you into a world filled with intensity, mystery, and passion, making it hard to put down. Charlie's Angels vibe is what leaves it a mystery too.

However, the book may not be for everyone. Its darker elements and the morally ambiguous nature of its characters might be challenging for some readers. But for those who enjoy a romance that pushes boundaries and explores the grayer areas of love and desire, Ataraxia is a compelling read. It doesn’t shy away from delving into the complexities of power dynamics, trust, and vulnerability in relationships. Such a scorching spicy good time in other words!

Overall, Ataraxia is a standout in the dark romance genre. It offers a story that keeps you hooked from start to finish, with characters that linger in your thoughts long after you’ve turned the last page.

Permanent ARC team
5 reviews
August 3, 2024
This book is amazing! I was blessed to be able to read this book as an ARC and I will still be buying the book when it comes out. The author puts you into the story to where you feel every emotion that they experience and the suspense at the end makes you not want to put it down. The spice is awesome as well. I will definitely be recommending this book to friends. Amazing work, and I can't wait for book two.
Profile Image for Jennelle Glassburn.
99 reviews9 followers
October 29, 2024
Where to start?! This book takes dark romance to a new level, introducing a fierce female lead, Chyler Tate, who is anything but typical in this genre. Most dark romances showcase a morally gray male main character, but here, our powerful FMC steals the show! Chyler’s an assassin who loves getting her hands dirty, and when she crosses paths with CIA agent Atlas Jensen, the sparks are instant and electric.

The chemistry between Chyler and Atlas is off the charts from the start! Their connection is intense, spicy, and unapologetic, with Atlas proving he can keep up with our deadly heroine. I couldn’t help but be pulled into their fiery dynamic. However, I’ll admit that the insta-love didn’t completely win me over as I wish there was a little more build up to their intense connection!

Chyler’s friends, Madison, and Alexis, both strong female characters who add layers of intrigue and excitement to the story. The action is high-stakes, and with each chapter, the plot takes some wild turns that kept me hooked right until the jaw-dropping end. Be warned: it’s fast-paced and full of twists, which, while thrilling, did sometimes leave me wanting just a bit more time to absorb it all.

Ataraxia is not for the faint of heart. It explores darker themes and complex power dynamics between its morally ambiguous characters. This isn’t just romance; it’s a heated dance of vulnerability, trust, and a deliciously dangerous game of cat and mouse. Readers who love dark romance and are ready for an intense, boundary-pushing love story will find it impossible to put down.

Trigger warnings should be taken seriously, as some scenes may bring up strong emotions or memories for some readers. While there are plenty of twists, and the story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, it sets up what promises to be a thrilling series. Overall, Ataraxia is a standout in dark romance—a blend of heat, tension, and unforgettable characters that will linger with you long after the last page.
Profile Image for Liv.
117 reviews
August 7, 2024
4 ⭐️ A deliciously spicy game of cat and mouse with jaw dropping plot twists.

Chyler, an assassin for hire, turns her emotions off and her game face on - she does what she’s asked to do and doesn’t question it.

Atlas is a CIA agent looking to put an end to these brutal killings - he won’t stop until this blood bath is over.

Right off the bat the sexual chemistry between these two characters is absolutely delicious. Skip a meet-cute, this is a meet-hot-as-fuck. I’m not even lying when I say the dirty talking is so hot it makes you need to take a cold shower.

There are quite a few trigger warnings, which is to be expected in literally any dark romance but make sure you read them before going into the book because they can bring up feelings of trauma.

However, over it was a really good read - not too dark but not too fluffy; it was just right.

Although this is a phenomenal book,I decided to rate it 4 stars because of the never ending number of plot twists. In my understanding this book is the start of a series of interconnected standalones and I felt myself getting confused and having a lot of questions by the end of it.

This book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger (sort of) which is enticing to a reader because they’ll want to read the next one - BUT until that one is released you have to hold on and wait to see what happens. I’m just too impatient for that.

Nonetheless, I’ll still be talking about this book to anyone who will listen to me over the next few months and I’m not even sorry.

Key preference(s): dark romance, plot, intense spice, character development

………………………………………………………………….

Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing, and Jacklyn Parker for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Trinity.
117 reviews2 followers
September 20, 2024
“Ataraxia” is a sensational dark romance novel written by Jacklyn Parker! Prepare yourselves to dive into the story of Chyler Tate. An assassin, who finds spilling blood to be one of the easiest things a girl can do. Her current job is hunting down and annihilating a big player in the pharmaceutical industry and easily enough her team just needs to do it before they get caught. Which should be no problem. Work is her life… until she runs into Atlas Jensen. A CIA agent recently transferred to Minneapolis. Atlas and his team are tasked with tracking down the killers who are seemingly after Roman Atwater. Picking off Roman’s employees one by one, the number of bodies ever growing shows how badly they need to be stopped, and Atlas is the man for the job. Nothing distracts him or so he thought, that was prior to spotting Chyler working the bar. Now both of them are wrapped in eachother completely and can’t escape. But be careful, nothing is as it seems.
Jacklyn does an excellent job at making the reader feel every emotion on the spectrum. She makes it seem like there is no way for there to be a twist coming, all while keeping a bunch of tiny little secrets locked away. Ones that are sure to have you bawling your eyes out when they finally come into play. However, do not worry because she is an amazing person and will not leave you in absolute shambles; your soul will slowly but surely be put back together piece by piece. The plot of this book is intriguing, and she makes it flow extremely well! The novel hooks you in right away and creates vivid scenes that make you feel like you are watching a movie instead of reading a book!
Not only is the plot well thought out and pieces together beautifully making it feel like everything is happening so fast; but her characters are exceptional. For starters Chyler is intelligent, however, she can be impulsive. Chyler is the morally black FMC with an off switch. She struggles with trauma she never properly grieved. Despite this she is emotionally strong. She has her priorities straight and doesn’t want to change them for anything. Thankfully there is a lot of character growth for her, and she finally decides things need to change. Then we have Atlas Jensen, he seems like the perfect man but be careful because everyone has secrets to hide, and this picturesque eye candy has a closet full. Even in his POV his secrets stay deeply submerged in the depths of his mind, only revealing them when the time is right. There are a number of other characters but I’ll leave them for the review for the second book!
Overall I really enjoyed this novel and I can’t wait to see what else Jacklyn does! Her work is amazing and deserves a ton of attention especially from the dark romance beauties. I hope this novel gets out there because I feel like this will be a favourite of many. I am extremely grateful to have gotten the opportunity to ARC read this book. There are so many creative and interesting pieces that make up this book. Jacklyn Parker is a phenomenal author and is definitely one I look up too.
147 reviews3 followers
August 4, 2024
Well where do I start.....

This book has me debating whether I was going to finish it or not. Not because it was bad, oh no I just did not want the outcome to be what I thought it would be as I don't think I would of coped.

Well I was surprised...

Chyler is a hired assassin and is working to take down a known pharmaceutical warlord with 2 of her closest pals.
She meets Atlas (a CIA agent) whole workings job and wow does it get hot from there.

The spice is lust worthy and I live the push and pull between the characters and the relationship they build together.

Atlas is a CIA agent working the case to bring the people who are killing all the people working at the pharmaceutical company, but is always one step behind them.

I didn't really like near the end of the story where she just abandoned her friends to the CIA and not look back to be with Atlas. I felt she would of been more loyal to them at least

I really enjoyed reading this book and I look forward to the next one.

I was given this book in advance for an honest review on Goodreads.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for annas.bookcase.
408 reviews8 followers
July 24, 2024
This was dark Charlie’s angels meets Mr & Mrs Smith but make it extra spicy 🌶️🔥
This book doesn’t exactly end on a cliffhanger as it is a standalone but book 2 will see the return of familiar characters. I will definitely be following along with the series as the books come out!

“I may look like the good guy, but if it’s the villain you want — I will be that for you”

Chyler works for an anonymous source who hands down jobs to her team according to the clients needs. Currently tasked with locating Roman Atwater, a pharmaceutical figure who is peddling his drug Ataraxia as the cure for addiction. Tracking him down leads a trail of bodies in her wake that has unknowingly drawn the attention of the CIA.
Atlas has just transferred into the unit tasked with locating the persons responsible for eliminating Roman Atwater’s employees and getting to him first.
What follows is a whirlwind of secret identities, plot twists, and a slight revenge plot.
Profile Image for Jessica.
173 reviews3 followers
August 16, 2024
The ending of this book is amazing. I was not expecting it at all and could not put this book down especially as everything was wrapping up!
Ataraxia is about an assain for hire who falls in love with a CIA agent - I’m sure you can guess what the problem will be there. I really enjoyed the FMC and how strong she was portrayed though she is definitely a little morally grey.
There are quite a few spicy scenes and some triggers. The author has a link that you can look them up or you can go into the book blind. The book has a complete ending, but the door is open for the next book and I can’t wait to read it! Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC!
4.5 ⭐️ Definitely Recommend
Profile Image for Crystal Smith.
919 reviews56 followers
September 9, 2024
So this is not your typical dark romance with a morally grey MMC, in this book the FMC is the morally grey one! That alone, should make you want to devour this book.

FMC, Chyler, is an assassin whose current job is tracking down and eliminating a big player, Roman Atwater, in the pharmaceutical industry.

MMC, Atlas, is CIA who is tasked with finding out who is eliminating Romans employees.

When these two meet the chemistry is off the charts!

But with them working on two opposites sides get in the way?? Guess you have to read and find out.

I was honored to receive this book in advance and can’t wait to read the rest of the series to come.

4.5⭐️ (rounded up)
Profile Image for Sammi.
222 reviews1 follower
August 4, 2024
Most books focus on morally grey men, but meet Chyler Tate, morally grey badass female with an off switch. When the author said Charlie's Angels but make it dark, she meant it and it is so good. I love a strong, independent FMC and Chyler is definitely that. This is "Touch him and die".


I could not put this book down. Instantly becoming obsessed with the characters, I was desperate to keep reading. The fast pace and dual POV kept me hooked and the pages just kept turning. Dark and intense, the twists kept coming. I'm excited for the second book. 


This is a dark romance and comes with trigger warnings.
Profile Image for Violettareads.
92 reviews3 followers
August 4, 2024
If I could rate this book 4.5 ⭐️’s I would! The spice, the romance, the flirting between the 2 main characters literally had me kicking my feet and giggling. The storyline was incredible, very well written. The plot twist had me literally shocked, I did not see that coming at all I was shook to my core! The FMC was such a badass, this gave the female rage we all needed in a FMC. The MMC was so perfect for her and I love when an MMC can reciprocate the FMC’s affections. I had a blast reading this, such a great read!
Profile Image for D.Mariie_Sinful.Reads.
102 reviews6 followers
September 6, 2024
First I want to say thank you to Jacklyn for giving me this opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book!

All I have to say is HOLY SMOKES 💨
This book is amazing! From the spice to the plot ! There were so many twists that I honestly didn’t see coming. And let’s not forget about the two main characters !!!!!! 🥵🤤 Atlas and Chy !!! I’m convinced Jacklyn made Atlas for me!!! Who doesn’t love a man in ALL black waiting for you for your date night !!! Overall great book ! Can’t wait for another Jacklyn masterpiece 🙌
Profile Image for Christina  Kearney.
127 reviews
September 2, 2024
***Received ARC through NetGalley***

Search for trigger warnings before reading this book.

3.5 ⭐

A good start to an interconnected standalone series. I look forward to the rest of this series.

An enjoyable book, but a little too insta-love for me.

Lots of twists and turns, some predictable others not so much.
Profile Image for Ashley Fisher.
75 reviews1 follower
July 25, 2024
If I could rate this higher I would! The story line is well written! Fast paced, and TONS on spice 🥵🌶 definitely worth the read!
Profile Image for Jolina.
114 reviews10 followers
August 1, 2024
this book is not a typical dark romance. it’s unique and the fmc is an absolute badass. it’s very fast paced with lots of plot twists. i would definitely love to see more!
25 reviews1 follower
January 30, 2025
I wasn’t in love with this. It was so quick between characters that it was almost was not believable for me. The last 1/4 of the book started to pick up for me.
Profile Image for Danielle Brown.
379 reviews21 followers
October 19, 2024
This book had me turning pages and not able to put it down until it was finished.. The story is jam packed with suspense and intrigue and makes you feel wvery emotion of the characters as if you were right there in the book.. definitely one for everyone to read
Profile Image for Dirty Dayna.
2,152 reviews109 followers
January 27, 2025
For me this had promise for sure ! I couldn't get over the slowwww buildup and the name chyler to be honest.
I loved the assassin heroine and the CIA boyfriend . I loved the 2nd half of this book but as a whole it needed more tension and believability (is that a word).. it felt very flat all the personal stories and stuff I cant mention but it was like

So I put whip cream on my hot dogs
And he's like that's okay
And then we just moved on ....what?
Profile Image for Tehmeena.
146 reviews7 followers
August 28, 2024
〰️Thank you to Net Galley, Jacklyn Parker, and Victory Editing for the opportunity to receive this eARC. My review is based on an Arc version of this story. Pub Date 6 Sep 2024.〰️

⚠️ CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS ⚠️
Be warned this is a dark romance and triggers are riddled within this book if you venture forward, hence please keep this in mind. Some of them are as following;
- Explicit Sexual Content, blood and gore, violence, suicide, kidnapping and torture, alcohol, drugs/drug addiction, death of family member...

You have been warned and informed.

Okeedokee! Let's begin ~ NO SPOILERS...

⛓️🥀 Dual POV
⛓️🥀 Enemies to Lovers
⛓️🥀 Secret Identities
⛓️🥀 MFC Assassin x MMC CIA Agent
⛓️🥀 Insta-Love
⛓️🥀 Morally Grey MFC
⛓️🥀 Strong/Badass MFC
⛓️🥀 Obsessive MMC
⛓️🥀 "Touch him and die"
⛓️🥀 Standalone

Atlas was transferred to a special unit tasked with finding those responsible for the murders - Surrounding a large Pharmaceutical Industry - who worked closely with Roman Atwater and his drug named Ataraxia. Roman claimed it a cure for addicts, an instant relief for any and all addictions. Quite a strong claim, wouldn't you say? Intriguing. One by one the lab workers began being picked off by a group of mysteriously clad assassins. Roman, on the other hand, was on the run...

~ "...a drug that rewires the reward circuit of the brain. essentially eliminating a person's addiction and physical cravings."~


Chyler and her two female assassins/friends were a deadly trio! Given the mission by their clandestine boss, Charlotte, to hunt and kill a Roman Atwater before he got caught by anyone else, they go on and leave a trail for the CIA Agents to try and decipher the who, what, when, and why (it gave me a "Charlie's Angels" vibes. Dangerously dark and spicey!) When Chyler meets Atlas, the CIA agent working her case, she falls head over heels for him. As did he, obsessively thinking about her and wanting to know more. Naturally, It didn't take long for all hell to break loose with their little cat and mouse game that kept me on the edge of my seat.

~"I was going to make her beg for me. I was going to claim her for myself."~


Chyler is plagued by her dark, traumatic past and has trained herself to switch off her emotions to let her inner, depraved, messed up side come out and play - something that even her fellow accomplices are afraid to test. Also, I've not read that many books about a female lead who is the morally grey character, so this was quite a refreshing change for me. Oh my Lord, I actually loved her. Such a head-strong and badass female lead? Hell yes.

On top of that, Atlas was so swoon-worthy. I was as enchanted by his tricoloured heterochromatic eyes as she was - even though I wasn't blessed with seeing them in real life, but maladaptive daydreaming does wonders for the imagination. Atlas, you absolute hot mans, you! Double hell to the yes..

~"...I knew I had to have him. That he was going to be mine."~


This book was full of scorching scenes that left me breathless because I almost needed an inhaler. I am not joking. And then followed by the dirty talk? F**k off, it was so hot! I loved every interaction of theirs and how they got each other so riled up. It was fast-paced, plot twists. For me the plot got interesting after the 18% mark to be honest - basically the moment he is taken by her and the plot thickens from there with a trail of fire in its wake. Literally, I could feel the heat. And I'm using the much tamer excerpts because I don't want to ruin the fun! You'll have to find out for yourself how scrumptious the dirty-talk is...Had me giggling and kicking my feet Got me all flustered and I had to take a mini break staring at the wall before diving straight back in a few seconds later.

~"I had every intention of ruining her. She was mine."~


The only thing I wished it had was a tad bit of slow-burn? Insta-love is hot, yes, most definitely, however I'm a sucker for the yearning and longing - it would have been the icing on the cake.

~"Hands on the mirror baby, baby. And whatever you do, don't let go."~


The descriptions were just right - not overly detailed and not under detailed, fabulous for my imagination to run wild with my maladaptive daydreaming. The flow of the story was easy to follow, not overly complicated, simple and easy to read. The story didn't drag on and on either.

Last but not least, the COVER. It was the first thing that attracted my attention, I won't lie. And to top it off a dark romance? Sign me up. A strongly recommended read! You won't regret it if you liked my review so far. Again, check your triggers beforehand if you don't like going in blind. Your mental health matters.

Anyway, I can't wait for the next installment.

Happy reading ❤️

⛓️🥀 Format: eArc/Digital/Epub
⛓️🥀 Age: 18+
⛓️🥀 Chapters: 26 (not including the extra two of the "Extended Prologue" and "Bonus Spice". Content warnings at the end.)
⛓️🥀 Genre: Romance, Dark Romance, Fiction.

OUT OF FIVES;

Cover: ✨✨✨✨✨
⛓️🥀 Heat: ️‍🔥️‍🔥️‍🔥️‍🔥️‍🔥
⛓️🥀 Darkness: 🖤🖤🖤🖤
⛓️🥀 Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
⛓️🥀 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
⛓️🥀 Action: 💥💥💥
⛓️🥀 Suspense: ❗❗❗❗
⛓️🥀 Heroine: 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
⛓️🥀 Hero: 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋.
⛓️🥀 Overall Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⛓️🥀 Character Development: 👍👍👍👍👍
⛓️🥀 World Building: 🌍🌏🌍🌏🌍
⛓️🥀 Would I recommend? Absolutely.
Profile Image for Erica Judah.
31 reviews1 follower
October 1, 2024
ARC Review for Ataraxia (release date September 6th) WHERE to begin!? Unlike most dark romance novels it’s our FMC who is the morally grey one and I love that. An assassin for hire who falls in love with the CIA agent working her case. This book is fast paced and gets right into the down and dirty very early on. Just when you think you know how it all plays out PLOT TWIST and then 27 seconds later ANOTHER PLOT TWIST. I was shook. This book was definitely a good time and I’m excited to see what Jacklyn Parker comes up with next!
Profile Image for Kimmy Cervantes.
98 reviews2 followers
April 23, 2025
I went into this book not reading the blurb or finding anything out about it and I'M 100% HAPPY THAT I DID IT THAT WAY!!

You guys this book is giving Mr. & Mrs. Smith times 100 - 100 more sexiness, 100 more twists and turns, 100 more laughs, 100 more jaw dropping moments that had me finishing this book in 1 DAY!!!

I thought I knew how this book was going to go and it completely altered my brain. I was shocked! I was in love with the FMC & the MMC (yes please!!)

6/5 STARS!
Profile Image for holly.
167 reviews6 followers
August 14, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ataraxia revolves arounds Chyler Tate, our morally grey and badass assassin for hire who is on an assignment to take down pharmaceutical warlord. She is working alongside to of her best friends, trying to track down his whereabouts and getting their hands dirty. She is mostly closed off, independent and has no time for dating despite her friends pushing her for it.

Then we have Atlas Jenson, a transferred CIA agent who is trying to look into a string of murders linked to the pharmaceutical warlord and to find and taken down the assailant responsible. He has his own dark past that he has to conquer.

When their paths meet, they instantly are attracted to one another. They are both keeping their own secrets and demons while they both break down each others walls as they open up to one another.

I liked the characters individually, especially with a more morally grey female character which this book made me realise I definitely need to read more of.

My issue with this book is that it is very fast paced and not entirely fleshed out and I didn’t believe in the chemistry between the two main characters because it was very insta-love and everything happened so quickly. I just wish there was much more yearning, tension and general built-up chemistry.

The last quarter of the book was the best with its twists and turns and much more needed action. This is where the fast pace of the book finally worked with me because things were HAPPENING. And I was on edge.

Overall, I think this book is decent. The characters were great, It was spicy, had good ideas which are easy to follow and when it got good, I was excited. I just wish it was fleshed out so we could have that much needed tension I craved. I will be on look for the next books to see where this world takes us.

If you like the Mindf*ck series and Charlie’s Angels with a hint of darker themes (check trigger warnings because there are heavy themes) then this would definately be the series for you!
Profile Image for Krystal Kraft.
219 reviews2 followers
September 4, 2024


When I first tried putting my feelings about this book onto paper I had a tough time and it boiled down to me loving the ENTIRE thing too much and being a little speechless.

I love that it had a strong female main character! My favorite addition to a novel. This one individually though is able to switch off those pesky emotions and get stuff done which makes her perfect for a job that requires a bit of a secretive dark side. Not your typical 9-5. And not your ordinary girl.

Or is she?

Chyler Tate. She helps remind us that we all come with a past and things we haven’t dealt with but that doesn’t mean we aren’t able to overcome the obstacles that life throws our way. She is fully prepared to guard her heart. Although that becomes a bit of a challenge when we are introduced to a smoking hot CIA agent, Atlas Jensen, with an agenda and secrets of his own. Let’s not forget to mention that he also comes fully equipped with talents that will leave you in a chokehold.

Are we allowed to pick a book boyfriend to come to life?!🥵

I am extremely picky when it comes to passionate scenes in books and let me tell you she knocked it out of the ballpark with this one. The spice was spicin…🌶️🌶️ and then it spiced a little more. I was blushing. I was feeling all the feels. I was wanting more and I know that you will too.

I adored the characters and their relationship building throughout the book. All of it. You have moments of loyalty and honesty as well as moments that raise questions.

But it all leads you to a place you didn’t think you’d end up! I loved the ending, so much!👏

If you enjoy a book with a great plot, some crazy twists and the perfect amount of steaminess.

Then look no further because this is the book for you.

I am impatiently waiting for more character stories from it to unfold in future books to come!💜

5/5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Would HIGHLY recommend to the right person….😉
Profile Image for Miasia.
298 reviews11 followers
October 30, 2024
Listen, I know everyone LOVES morally grey men but I have been DYING for a morally grey female and Jacklyn freaking delivered 👏🏽 oh did she deliver!

This story is between Chyler and Atlas, where Chyler is the morally grey MC assassin in this book where Atlas is the CIA agent, but can and will become morally grey for Chyler.

Chyler knows who and what she is and has absolutely NO shame in it, and takes what she wants. She is emotionally closed off and completely unhinged but has her sister Madison to help redirect and help her understand what is holding her back and pushes her to accept Atlas.

She finally accepts Atlas when she was filled with a jealous range and went on a “touch him and die” spree and damn, let me tell you! The way I squealed in delight. On top of the touch him and die SHE DID NOT APOLOGIZE or see what was wrong with that she did 👏🏽👏🏽yesss *flips hair” yasss Chyler no regrets.

Atlas has his own demons but you don’t find out till the very end, when Jacklyn hits you with that twist. He is also morally grey and does NOT hesitate to take what he wants as well as protect Chyler with everything he has. He does NOT require for her to change who she is, even when he finds out that she is the assassin and can flip her humanity off to do what she does.

This book is fast paced but does not leave any of the details out that would cause you to become confused. It’s written with the right amount of smut to make it a damn good book.

I can’t wait for the second book to be released!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Heather ♡.
32 reviews1 follower
September 6, 2024
I had the privilege of reading and reviewing Jacklyn Parker's debut novel, "Ataraxia".
This was my first CIA operative read and I was not disappointed! This early spice, insta-love, unknown enemies to lovers story will captivate you and keep you on the edge of your seat, begging for more like a good girl (or boy). 😉
I cannot wait for the next book to be released!

This is a dark romance and has plenty of triggers so please be sure to check them before diving in.

Spme Spoilers Below:

Chyler Tate appears to be your average girl next door, but is she? Mercenary for hire, Chyler and her two best friends are hired to track down a big pharma baddie. While on the job, Chyler meets Atlas, to her an average everyday guy, so far.
She falls hard and fast, willing to kill anyone who touches the man she loves. Full of secrets and heartbreak, Chyler is absolutely vicious and will stop at almost nothing once she turns her emotions off.

Atlas Jensen, CIA agent who was recently transfered in hopes to find and capture whoever is behind the recent string of murders. Unknowingly, he falls in love with the very person he's hunting.
Trying to work through his own dark past, he has his own secrets that bring an absolutely mind blowing plot twist.

Together, they bring all the emotions and spice you could need. An instant love that will have you blushing, giggling and kicking your feet all while begging for more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sara.
229 reviews3 followers
November 12, 2024
Overall thrilling game of "chaser" and spicy plot.
The good agent with a dirty side. The emotionless murder for hire woman, who's world is turned upside down.
While I like the major portions that made up the storyline, things at the end could have been done better and felt like some editing could have continued.
The "bad Charlie's angels" was cliche but fun and I was here for it. Badass women supporting each other.
The fight for a state of the art drug to market was interesting. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions with each other, even the secondary characters.
I didn't like the dual pov overlapped with plot points more often than needed. I would prefer the story to continue on, not rehash the same scenes.



Spoiler thoughts...!

I knew where she would eventually get caught by Atlas and he would probably help her escape, but his involvement was a nice twist.

She killed a girl in a bar bathroom and no investigation was ever done?
The ending also was a little jumbled. While I could suspended reality for the adventure context it when too far past anything believable and had me rolling my eyes. What job would take the word of an employee that another employee was working on a job no higher ups seemed to know about but could video call in?
The intermingling of their trauma lines was unnecessary, they already knew each others pain and it connected them.


I was gifted a ecopy from Netgalley and publishers for an honest review.
Profile Image for Blondies Book Binge.
94 reviews11 followers
January 28, 2025
I stumbled across this book and it sounded good so I read it. And I’m glad I took a chance on mood reading because it was awesome!!! Secret identities, super spicy scenes, twisty fast paced plot, pet names, insta lust to love. Whew what a ride! I also loved all the glimpses we got into the main characters pasts as the story unfolded, it really made me get so attached to them and made me understand why they are the way they are. Chyler is a hired assassin tasked by her boss with getting information and taking out people associated with big bad pharma. She’s such a bad ass I loveeeeeed her character! Atlas is so sexy and swoon worthy, a CIA agent who’s recently been transferred to Minneapolis and his motives are not what they seem.
All in all this is an epic dark romance. I would definitely recommend it and plan to continue down this author’s list of published books and read some more of her work because I loved her writing style and the way I got so sucked into the book, I stayed up until after midnight to finish it.

Dedication:
For those who love a man in uniform.
Just kidding; take that shit off.
I want to see everything.

“I know women like you, and I know I look like the good guy—but if you want a villain, I will be that for you—Let me ruin you, my sweet thing.”

“You have consumed me in ways I had never expected. You have become what I live for, what I breathe for. I want forever with you.”
187 reviews2 followers
August 30, 2024
ARC Review A deliciously spicy game of cat and mouse with jaw dropping plot twists.

Chyler, an assassin for hire, turns her emotions off and her game face on - she does what she’s asked to do and doesn’t question it.

Atlas is a CIA agent looking to put an end to these brutal killings - he won’t stop until this blood bath is over.

Right off the bat the sexual chemistry between these two characters is absolutely delicious. Skip a meet-cute, this is a meet-hot-as-fuck. I’m not even lying when I say the dirty talking is so hot it makes you need to take a cold shower.

There are quite a few trigger warnings, which is to be expected in literally any dark romance but make sure you read them before going into the book because they can bring up feelings of trauma.

However, over it was a really good read - not too dark but not too fluffy; it was just right.
When the author said Charlie’s Angels but make it dark, she meant it and it is so good. I love a strong, independent FMC and Chyler is definitely that. This is “Touch him and die”.


I could not put this book down. Instantly becoming obsessed with the characters, I was desperate to keep reading. The fast pace and dual POV kept me hooked and the pages just kept turning. Dark and intense, the twists kept coming. I’m excited for the second book.
Profile Image for Terry.
1,496 reviews
August 28, 2024
4 ½ Stars ... beware of the dark!

This is a great debut novel for this author! It's a nice change that the female lead is the bad guy ... and wow is she twisted! But yet Chyler could be really sweet. I don't know how she was able to turn herself between Jekyll and Hyde so quickly and with such ease. I love how confident Atlas was without being arrogant. The twists and turns had me saying WTF ... I just didn't see them coming. And don't get me started on the steam ... HOT!

Chyler lost her parents when she was 15 and by the time she was in her mid 20s she was a hitman. Chyler and her partners were hired to find a pharmaceutical giant who has the medication to help people with addictions. Atlas is a CIA agent who was recruited from DC to Minneapolis to help with a case of pharmaceutical lab techs showing up dead ... and tortured in a gruesome way. Atlas meets Chyler on a night out at a bar and there is an instant connection between them. But both of them are keeping secrets that will blow up their relationship.

I received an ARC courtesy of the author through NetGalley.
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