Haunt Me: A Forbidden Desires Novel

by Monique Koen

"JUST A LITTLE TASTE"

Starlet is an exceptional criminology student who immerses herself in the chilling world of killers and psychopaths.

However, she never anticipated becoming a victim.

Ignoring her instincts, she becomes embroiled in a tangled game of hide-and-seek, a thrilling and chilling dance, awakening feelings within her she never knew existed.

Despite the fear, she’s captivated by his dark charisma, unable to resist the magnetic pull that keeps her entangled in this dangerous game.

Will she escape his grip, or willingly give in to the seductive darkness and descend into his abyss?

Genres: Romance, Dark Romance, Dark

262 pages, Paperback

Published September 9, 2024

About the author

Monique Koen is a South African author living in Australia with her husband and two beautiful children. She’s a horror movie fanatic, obsessed with true crime stories about serial killers, and has always dreamed about being a Forensic Psychologist.
When she's not spending time with her family or dwelling in the world of horrors, she brings her imagination to life.

Reviews

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌸 𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂 🌸 can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤K𝐈T𝐓Y K𝐀T𝐒 𝐂R𝐀Z𝐘 𝐀B𝐎U𝐓 𝐁O𝐎K𝐒

'H𝐀U𝐍T M𝐄' Is the first full length novel in the (Deadly Sin) series by Monique Koen. Spoken in 'Dual POVs.. Argent and Starlet

An obsessed hero and a pure heroine

I saw this pop up on my newsfeed a few times and couldn't help but #oneclick it, the blurb aka word STALKER 🚩 made me do it!! And who doesn't love a good stalker book..

I think I need therapy because I kind of fell for this stalker, like he wasn't too bad, he only broke into her house a few times 🤷‍♀️ watched her sleep a few times, installed a camera without her knowledge (that's ok isn't it) and followed her everywhere oh and he even killed for her (well the guy did touch his property) Nope no red flags here at all. 0800therapy

......📚 '𝖨'𝗏𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗐𝖺𝗍𝖼𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗁𝖾𝗋
𝗌𝗍𝗎𝖽𝗒𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗁𝖾𝗋.
𝖨 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝖾𝖼𝗋𝖾𝗍𝗌, 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖽𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗋𝖾𝗌, 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖿𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗌.
𝖠𝗇𝖽 𝖨'𝗅𝗅 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗉 𝖺𝗍 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗈 𝗆𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖾'

This is Monique Koen's debut novel which surprised me because her writing style runs faultlessly to the point I thought she was a seasoned author so this has impressed me even more. This pulled me in straight away, a little bit dark but not too dark for new peeps dipping their toes into this genre.

Almost twenty-four year old Starlet is hiding the fact that she's studying criminology and not following in her parents footsteps and studying law as they seem to think, throw in the fact that she's always felt unloved and unwanted compared to her sister whom both parents dote on, has made her forge her own path in life, by leaving home, earning her own money, and studying what she wants to study has finally made her a stronger person tethering the hold her parents had on her.

Argent is a different kettle of fish altogether, He's not set foot back in Chicago near on eight years but business has brought him back on his home turf. During his childhood he's struggled with a few mental health issues which had him institualised. He deals in drugs and guns and isn't afraid to get his hands bloody.

I was a bit surprised how close he is with her best friend’s brother that these two hadn’t crossed paths sooner.

A few twists and turns which came out of nowhere which I loved, throw in the cliffhanger and I’m definitely ready for the next book.

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[Allanah Garay · Rating 3 out of 5]

i’m feeling like a 3.75 is a more accurate rating for this one 👀

my my my, argent and starlet have indeed intrigued me and i will be *patiently* waiting for book 2 😑

- stalker romance
- kinkyyyy afffffff 🥵
- touch her and die 😵

this one was very quick paced and it reads nice and easy with a plot that is for the most part very easy to follow and understand. while being a fast paced read it does convey the plot lines and character arcs well and i’m intrigued to see how the second book plays out!!

unfortunately i did in fact pick up on what the cliffhanger was early on, which may have been the authors intention and if it was then it succeeded, otherwise i think that’s just a testament to me reading stalker romances 😌

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I would destroy everything in my path to keep her safe, even if it meant destroying myself."

[It’s Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect example of touch her and die. Like literally… anyone who touches his girl… dies.
Argent is just one giant red flag…and we kind of dig it 🤣
This was such an incredible debut novel and I cannot wait for book 2.
…AND WHAT WAS THAT CLIFF HANGER!?!?

[Leisha 💗📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had my jaw on the floor… I did not want to put it down at all! I could’ve read this in one sitting!
i think I am colour blind because Argent may be a red flag, but he was a sweetie towards Starlet and I was here for it!
I cannot believe this is Monique’s debut, her writing is just absolutely phenomenal and I was hooked from the get go!
the twists were twisting and I cannot believe that cliffhanger… I need the book yesterday!

I highly, highly recommend this book for all my dark romance lovers out there!

[✨DeannaK✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal! A quick, addictive spicy as heck read. I need a shower, 5 stars, 4 chilli spices. I am obsessed with this book and Argent. He is a tall, sexy red flag and I’m here for it. Knife play, touch her and die, suspense. The cliffhanger sent me, I need book 2 right this instance. Monique has absolutely slayed her debut book. “I am consumed by him, and I never want to be found.”

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally ate this book up! First book I’ve ever read in one day! One of my first dark romances and loved it! Such a good quick read that kept me engaged the whole time!
Ends on a cliffhanger so I NEED the next one NOW! 🤭
Spicy and I loved it 🌶️🤤

[Alyssa J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great! I immediately want to read book 2. It had a little bit of spice, a little crazy. It kept my interest the entire time.

[Skyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING! I need the second book ASAP 😭 Monique’s writing is seriously impressive and I can’t believe this is her debut novel. This is a great start to a series and I’m in shock and awe! I cannot wait to read book two. I might have been giggling and kicking my feet while reading some parts.. I need all my friends who love dark romance to read this! Argent is freaking everything. Starlet is a great strong, snarky and intelligent FMC. I loved the side characters as well. The plot unfolds so well. There were twists I didn’t see coming and I appreciate those in books. Overall, this was an excellent read and I HIGHLY recommend!

[Mikayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

First things first — Haunt Me is a dark stalker romance, which means it does tackle some heavy themes, so make sure to check the trigger warnings and look after your mental health before diving in.
There is nothing I love more than supporting Australian indie authors, and I’m so glad I came across Monique Koen in a TikTok live. Her writing style instantly stood out to me. She blends past and present tense in such a captivating way that pulls you right into the story and keeps the flow sharp and immersive.
Let’s talk about Starlet and Argent — not only are these names refreshingly unique (and a breath of fresh air compared to the same recycled names you often see in romance), but their dynamic had me hooked from the very beginning. The tension, the obsession, the way their connection built layer by layer — it was the perfect balance of dark, dangerous, and addictive.
The pacing kept me on the edge of my seat, and those plot twists… I didn’t see a single one coming. Every reveal landed like a punch and left me reeling, especially as all the threads started to tie together. And that ending? Let’s just say the last 10% turned me into a gaping goldfish. My jaw was on the floor. That cliffhanger was absolutely brutal — thank goodness Save Me is already out, because I could not imagine waiting after that.
This was a stalker romance done right, with all the intensity, unpredictability, and dark allure you could hope for. Monique Koen is definitely an author I’ll be keeping on my radar.

[Natalie Orford · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. A lack of depth and detail failed to get me immersed into the story. I feel it lacked description of characters, height, build, what they're wearing etc. 57% into the book we find out he's 6ft 8...81% in and we find out he's 28 years old.

Personally I struggled to feel the attraction between the FMC and MMC. Discrepancies, for example, she falls asleep, wakes up with the 'TV blaring' but in the next sentence it's 'quiet'.

She tells her best friend she has a stalker who presented her with the entails of a guy she nearly had sex with and she was unphased by, practically shrugged it off.
She happily let's him in her house when he's injured, he sits in her bathroom, nothing happens, then he leaves, then the next time they meet she's running from him.

"Oh Darling, I know more about you than you think." He claims to know everything about her, even that she's a virgin, yet doesn't know she's was in an abusive relationship and was involved in a car accident that left her paralysed for 6 months a few years previous.

Trigger warnings: knife play, branding, stalker, murder

+ short, can be read in a few hours.
- due to length I felt it lacked detail and character development. I just didn't feel the chemistry and attraction between the characters.

[Teneil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, obsessive, and disturbingly addictive.
Haunt Me starts off as a slow-burn thriller that gradually pulls you into a web of tension, paranoia, and obsession. Just when I wasn’t sure where it was going, the pace picked up — and that cliffhanger? I immediately grabbed book two.

Starlet is a criminology student who finds herself being watched, stalked, and slowly seduced by the danger she’s meant to fear. The stalker romance vibes are strong, with a morally grey MMC and plenty of “you should run but you don’t” energy.

Stalker romance
Virgin FMC
Obsessive love interest
Knife play & blood kink
Club meet-cute gone wrong
Power imbalance
Cliffhanger ending

If you’re into obsessive, morally grey characters and romances that toe the line between terrifying and hot — this book is for you. It’s unsettling in all the right ways. The writing sharpened toward the end, and I couldn’t look away. I didn’t expect to be hooked... but now I need to know what happens next.

[Emilia · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 12% because wtf?
Parents think she’s doing Law, heavy emphasis on their ill treatment of her and that they’d be disappointed if she lied, they’re not very nice to her, spoil her younger sister ok yeah I get it.
I turn the page, her mother’s showed up to her place like “I can’t believe you lied to me and doing some kind of crime nonsense”, “UHM ACSHUALLY MOM ITS CRIMINOLOGY” ok?
And she never depended on her parents for anything yet has a 2 bed house, how have you managed that then?

Also, a whole page to describe the cascading flow of the shower water cooling her skin and the plush towel inviting her into its warmth…

I don’t know why it irked me.
Might give it another go down the line but she pissed me off and I just know she’ll annoy the hell out of me.

[Anna Goldsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put Haunt Me down. Monique Koen does such a great job blending suspense with just the right amount of dark romance. The main character, Starlet, really pulls you in—she’s smart, flawed, and caught in this intense push-pull with someone dangerous but magnetic. The whole story had me hooked with its twists and emotional depth. If you’re into psychological thrillers with a romantic edge, this one’s definitely worth reading.

[Marie MARIONETTE · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is short, fast paced and dark.
Ideal when you want to feel something real quick.

The story?
It’s simple; he has been intrigued since day one, decided she was his & to let her know, he stalked her… not that discreetly.

Argent as a morally grey MMC has no issue unaliving whoever touched Starlet.
And she seems to attract trouble. He realizes that people around Starlet are also linked to him in some way.

Now I am on my way to read the second book.

[Mariah📕🖤 · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️| 🌶️🌶️🌶️

📝 Stalker
🍴 Branding
📝 Knife Play
🍴 Spicy FMC

This book is very fast paced and gets right into the action. This MMC fades from grey to black but is also a complete softy for her! The amount of twists and turns that this book took me on I was ready to read the next one immediately. This was a one sitting read!

[THE REALEST · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF by 52%
I don’t know something wasn’t right
The writing style is just not it
I feel like because you wanna make the book short you’re missing words
I didn’t feel anything from this book.
I don’t know how to explain it. It just didn’t give what it was supposed to give.
Messy writing style, not my type

[Alison turton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunt Me

Loved this, I’m going to come back to this after I read the next one, but, I loved everything so far, it’s definitely dark, I mean he stalks her, kills for her and punishes her for her mistakes but oh lord is he devoted! And those punishments? Well let’s just say I would be behaving badly all the time if it were me.

[Lydia Gibson · Rating 2 out of 5]

what the hell was this? I've never read s book that had So little going on aside from the girl getting stalked and going to work and back home. Why is there 3 men with names similar to each other ? Aiden , Adrian , Argent?
why was there no contest on what happened in the warehouse before they all walk free ??
won't be reading the next one.

[Sybil · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t really like Starlet. None of her reactions to the situations seem real. And her best friend being chill with her sleeping with the stalker after knowing that he killed someone. Like please pretend to have some morals.

[Dalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book in one day. Argent is a yummy red flag walking. He does have some trauma. Scarlet's character is well written and captivating. I loved her. If you enjoy the trope of touch her and d!e this book is the literal definition of that. It is spicy well-paced and ends on a cliffhanger.

[zoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75 ⭐️ I really loved it, MMC was absolutely perfect, he's my favorite type of villain, my favorite stalker too, but the worst part is that it has an open ending which is interesting, I want to read more, and I'm eagerly waiting for the rest of the series.

[Madison Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a Little Taste had me hooked from the first page! The tension, the danger, and the undeniable chemistry made it impossible to put down. Starlet’s journey into darkness is haunting yet thrilling, a perfect mix of fear and desire. Brilliantly written and completely unforgettable! 👏🔥

[Gideon Koen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had a WONDERFUL time reading this🌶🌶💦

[Liana Ambrey-Attard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it. The characters are amazing and I love the heat and mystery and that cliffhanger my goodness 😱 I need that second book now ❤️

[Taryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did this as a buddy read and can I just say this book lives rent free in my head... I can't wait for Save me 🥰

[Janene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short read, definitely some surprising twists and moments that I absolutely loved. Can’t wait to go on to book 2.

[A Bee That Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being from SA, i read this in a SA accent for the first half of the book🥲😂
Over all really wasnt a bad book.
O quite enjoyed it.
Now on to the next.

[Talisa Gason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girl go out the window

[Abbie Prentis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found it hard to get into, jumping from place to place. But ! Near the end I was totally invested I need to know more !