Dark Notes

Spiral #1

by Chelle Rose

As the lead singer of the Dark Notes, I have my choice of any woman, night after night. After I set eyes on her, I don’t want them. I want her. I need her. When I see her boyfriend abusing her, something in me snaps. He doesn’t see her worth, but I do. McKinley is mine, even if she doesn’t know it yet.



Life hasn’t been kind to me. I’ve been trapped in an abusive cycle for my entire life. When people ask why I put up with my boyfriend’s hurtful words, I never have an answer for them. Not because I don’t have one, I do, but because people don’t want to hear the truth.

Can Jagger save her from not only her violent boyfriend, but from the demons of her past? Can she tame the bad boy of rock? Or are they doomed from the start?

* This is an emotional read with a lot of trigger warnings. Please check those out prior to reading.*

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Audiobook, Romance, Mental Health, Music, Adult

222 pages, Paperback

Published November 19, 2024

About the author

I hate talking about myself. I'm awkward AF and write super spicy books with twisty plots. Most of my books are dark romance so always check the content warnings!

Reviews

[GCR | Book Realm]

ALC provided by Blue Nose Audio

Chelle Rose has an incredible ability to write men who make you question why you’ve ever accepted anything less. And Dark Notes was such a beautiful reminder that the right person can see every flaw you think you have and still love you so deeply and completely.

I absolutely loved everything about this story. The devotion, the unconditional love, and the way their relationship developed was just beautiful. I found myself smiling through their moments together and feeling that ache in my chest during the darker ones. The pacing, emotional depth, and character development were all so well done. Nothing felt rushed or unnecessarily drawn out, and I was completely invested in these characters and their relationship. Chelle Rose writes men in love so incredibly, painfully beautifully.

The audiobook was pure perfection. Maxine Mitchell and Joe Arden brought so much life and emotion to these characters. Every shift in tone, every vulnerable moment, and every emotionally intense scene was delivered beautifully. Their performances captured the characters and their feelings so naturally that I could feel the emotions behind their words.

I recommend this to readers who love deeply devoted MMCs, emotionally intense romances, unconditional love, and beautifully developed relationships. And if you enjoy audiobooks where the narration makes an already incredible story even more meaningful, this is absolutely one to listen to.

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chelle Rose has very quickly gone from a complete unknown to me author to one of my absolute favorites. This deeper-than-soul-deep-emotional, some-of-us-have-been-there traumatizing, have a box of tissues nearby, raw, souls laid bare, gut wrenching, other woman wants your man drama, groveling, super heated sexiest of sexy times, and a love deeper than the galaxy — Because Jett has been obsessed with Mia for 7 years. Loudly. Devotedly trying to win her heart. To the point where In the end, there is no Jett without Mia.

This book wrecked me in the best way. I will carry these two with me for quite a while. The ups and downs they face. The cruelties. The pain. The terrors. The strength that only comes from finding the one that sees you, accepts you, fights your demons with you / for you, takes you as you are.
I love this book.
*** Recommended ***

MMC:
✨Jett
FMC:
✨Mia
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Series:
✨Book 2: Spiral Duet
Tropes:
👉steamy rockstar romance
👉bad boy mmc
👉ex super model fmc
👉emotional trauma
👉obsessive mmc
👉hurt / comfort - both
Triggers:🛑see content warning page/author’s website for full list🛑
📌So many trigger warnings. Make sure they’re your cuppa📌
💥18+
💥 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, mf, open🚪sex
💥profanity
💥violence, rape, abuse
💥death, suicide
💥addiction rep
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Novellaworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

How Chelle Rose manages to write characters like this continues to astound me.

Dark Notes: Volume One resonated with me more than I expected.

Eating disorders. Body dysmorphia. Gaslighting. Trauma.

Some of these themes felt incredibly authentic, and there were moments that stayed with me long after I’d put my Kindle down.

And before anyone tells me I need therapy…

I’m British.

I need a strong cup of tea, a metaphorical plaster, a reassuring “there, there”… and then to disappear into the world of morally grey men. It’s much cheaper… and let’s be honest, far more entertaining. 😂☕🖤

Joking aside…

⚠️ Please check the trigger warnings.

This is a dark romance that tackles some incredibly difficult subjects, and Chelle doesn’t shy away from any of them. If you need to protect your peace, there’s absolutely no shame in checking the warnings first.

Now… can we talk about insta-lust?

Is it a real thing?

Well… I met my husband on a blind date. Nine months later we were planning our wedding, and we’ve just celebrated 35 years together. ❤️

Did we have to survive everything Jagger and Kinsley go through to get there?

Absolutely not.

Thank goodness! 😂

And then there’s Jagger…

Is he a green flag?

Well…

He’s more of a walking traffic light. 🚦

🟢 Green for his girl.
🔴 Red for… well… pretty much everyone else.

At this point I’m not even sure what colour I’m looking at anymore… but I know one thing…

I absolutely loved him.

Because beneath all that possessive, protective, morally grey goodness is a man who never stops fighting for the woman he loves.

And Kinsley…

My heart absolutely broke for her.

She carries trauma upon trauma, and somewhere along the way she stops believing she deserves anything better.

Watching Kinsley realise that she deserved to fight for herself was the moment that broke me. We all want someone to rescue us, but Chelle reminds us that healing starts when we believe we’re worth fighting for too.

Jagger never stopped believing in her. He never stopped loving her. He never stopped fighting for her.

But he couldn’t take that first step for her.

And I think that’s what made their journey so powerful.

As for Erik…

He doesn’t deserve a paragraph.

He’s an absolute shitstain of a human being.

Good riddance. 👋

Once again, Chelle Rose has taken me on an emotional journey that hurt, healed, made me laugh, made me swoon, and then rewarded me with enough spice to practically set my Kindle on fire. 🌶️🔥

Now excuse me while I join everyone else begging, pleading and generally making a nuisance of myself for Dark Notes: Volume Two…

Because Chelle…

Those little teasers you’ve been dropping?

I noticed every single one. 😉🖤

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4 stars

[Ashhh🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

IM EASY TO PLEASE BUT JAGGER WILD WOULD HAVE ME ON MY KNEEESSSSSSSS 🤪

I’ll return after a short moment with my rose 🌹

[Shes _Crafty_reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Some love stories are written in the stars, but some are forged in the dark.”

Jagger Wild is the ultimate playboy rockstar, until he sees McKinley and falls HARD. 😍 This man will do ANYTHING to make her happy! He’s constantly showering her with compliments, building her up, and reminding her just how beautiful and worthy she is. 🥹🖤 Honestly, I think I have a new book boyfriend. SWOON! 🎸🎶❤️

McKinley has been through so much and struggles with self-hatred and an extremely abusive relationship, making Jagger’s unwavering support even more swoon worthy.

Their relationship is sweet, supportive, full of chemistry and PACKED with delicious SPICE!🔥

‼️Check your trigger warnings‼️

I need Jagger's bandmate JETT’S story ASAP!



“You’re stunning. And when you’re mine, you’ll hear me tell you how beautiful you are, every fucking day. Because you are.” -Jagger

[ana lopes · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

⭐️ DARK NOTES: VOLUME ONE — CHELLE ROSE ⭐️

🎧 ALC Review | Blue Nose Audio
🎙️ Narrated by Joe Arden & Maxine Mitchell

There is dark romance, and then there is the kind of DARK that takes you to the very edge of emotional pain, makes you feel every single scar left behind by trauma, and somehow manages to tell one of the most beautiful stories of survival, healing, and unconditional love. And that is exactly what Chelle Rose gave me with Dark Notes.

This was my very first experience with Chelle Rose, both as an author and through audiobook, and let me tell you something: I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THIS! Not for the emotional devastation, not for the intensity of this story, and certainly not for how deeply these characters would get under my skin.

Because this book is DARK. And I mean intensely, painfully, heartbreakingly DARK.

Kinsley's story is one of the most devastating portrayals of trauma I've experienced in a romance, not only because of the unimaginable violence she has endured, in practically every form possible, but because somewhere along the way she has been made to believe that she actually deserves every single bit of it. And I think that was what hurt me the most, watching a woman who has suffered so much become convinced that she is somehow responsible for her own suffering, that she isn't worthy of kindness, and that pain is simply what life has reserved for her.

Chelle Rose doesn't shy away from the darkest aspects of depression, and she certainly doesn't try to make them easier for us to digest. The emotional abuse, the physical violence, the manipulation, the self-hatred, and the overwhelming sense of hopelessness are portrayed with such intensity that there were moments when I genuinely felt Kinsley's pain in my own chest.

And those scenes where she turns that pain against herself, where cutting or writing on her own skin becomes a desperate way of expressing everything she cannot bring herself to say out loud? GOD, THOSE SCENES BROKE ME.

But what makes this story so incredibly beautiful, despite all the darkness, is that it is also a story about survival, about finding the strength to fight the demons that have been living inside you for far too long, and about slowly discovering that the person you've been taught to hate the most, yourself, is actually someone worthy of love.

And then we have Jagger! this is also a rockstar romance, with absolutely everything we associate with that world: sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll, fame, chaos, temptation, and musical references that had me completely losing my mind! Seriously, THE MUSIC REFERENCES!! I absolutely loved how music became such an important part of the atmosphere of this story, making the emotions feel even more intense.

But beyond the rockstar lifestyle, the possessiveness, and all that delicious morally grey energy that we dark romance lovers adore, Jagger is a man whose love and devotion are simply extraordinary. He sees Kinsley, ALL of her, including the scars she desperately tries to hide, the darkness she carries, and the broken pieces she believes make her unlovable, and he refuses to see her as anything less than someone deserving of the most extraordinary kind of love.

And I absolutely adored that, because although his love is fierce, protective, and unconditional, this story also reminds us that loving someone who has experienced so much trauma doesn't mean you can simply erase their suffering. Sometimes the greatest act of love is standing beside someone while they find the courage to believe in themselves again.

NOW, THE AUDIOBOOK?! if reading this story is already an emotionally devastating experience, I honestly don't know how to describe what happens when you put Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell behind the microphones and let them bring all that pain, desperation, and unconditional love to life.

I have listened to Joe countless times, and I already knew how extraordinarily talented he is, but there is something about the way this man portrays emotional pain that completely destroys me every single time. He has this incredible ability to make you hear the anguish beneath the words, to capture that moment when a character is desperately trying to hold himself together while everything inside him is falling apart, and to deliver the most heartbreaking emotions with a voice that feels almost painfully real. And in this audiobook, he was simply MAGISTRAL.

I cried more than once, and not because the words themselves were necessarily sad, but because of HOW he delivered them. The vulnerability, the desperation, the anger, the tenderness, and especially those moments when his voice seemed to carry more pain than the character could possibly express in words... I genuinely had tears running down my face.

Because if there is one narrator who can make me feel someone's suffering through nothing but his voice, it is JOE ARDEN.

And then there is MAXINE MITCHELL, who deserves just as much praise for the extraordinary emotional intensity she brought to Kinsley. What impressed me the most about her performance was the way she gave a voice to depression itself, not just through sadness or tears, but through the exhaustion, the emptiness, the insecurity, and that devastating conviction that Kinsley simply isn't good enough and never will be.

There were scenes, particularly those involving self-harm and the desperate need to externalize everything Kinsley feels about herself, when Maxine's performance became almost unbearable to listen to, because she made those emotions feel so incredibly authentic that I wasn't simply following a character's suffering anymore. I was feeling the weight of it.

And that, to me, is what separates a good audiobook from an extraordinary one. When two narrators manage to take an already emotionally intense story and make you experience every single emotion as though you were standing right there with the characters, when their voices can bring you to tears, make your chest ache, and then somehow make you smile through those same tears, THAT is the magic of audiobook narration.

Chelle Rose, YOU HAVE A NEW FAN!! And now I desperately need Volume Two, preferably with these incredible narrators again! just manifesting!!

⚠️ PLEASE, PLEASE CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS.

I cannot emphasize this enough. This book addresses extremely sensitive and potentially distressing subjects, including domestic violence in multiple forms, physical and psychological abuse, manipulation, severe depression, self-harm, suicidal themes, and deeply traumatic experiences. Some scenes are particularly graphic and emotionally difficult, so please make sure you know what you're getting into.

For those who love their romances intensely dark, emotionally devastating, filled with complicated characters, fierce devotion, and stories of survival that stay with you long after the final chapter, I cannot recommend this audiobook enough.

[Marici · Rating 1 out of 5]

It amazes me the amount of positive reviews here.

[Angelique · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤🎹 Dark Notes by Chelle Rose | Book & Audiobook Review 🎹🖤
Thank you Blue Nose Audio for this amazing ALC
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Some stories break your heart quietly. Others reach into the darkest corners of it, touch the wounds we try so hard to hide, and remind us that even the most beautiful souls can forget their own worth.

Dark Notes is a story that does exactly that.

McKinley’s journey touched me because beneath the darkness, the tension, and the romance is a woman struggling to believe she deserves more. More than the pain she has endured. More than the cruel words that have chipped away at her confidence. More than the life she has learned to accept because the unknown feels more frightening than the hurt she already knows.

And that is what makes her story so emotional.

Sometimes, when someone has been hurt for so long, they stop seeing themselves through their own eyes. They begin to believe the things that have been said to them. They learn to make themselves smaller, to stay quiet, to survive instead of truly live. And watching McKinley, the FMC, navigate those struggles makes her journey about so much more than romance. It becomes a reminder of how difficult it can be to find yourself again when life has taught you to doubt your own worth.

Then comes Jagger, the MMC.

The rock star with a past of his own, a man who recognizes more than McKinley realizes. His history has shown him the devastating reality of abuse, and when he witnesses what she is enduring, something inside him changes. His desire to protect her becomes about more than attraction. He wants her to see what he sees. A woman worthy of tenderness, respect, and a future that isn’t defined by the pain of her past.

What moved me most about their story is the idea that sometimes another person sees the light in us long before we can see it ourselves. But finding someone who recognizes your worth is only part of the journey. Learning to believe it for yourself? That’s where the real healing begins.

🖤 And the audiobook… oh, the audiobook!

Maxine Mitchell and Joe Arden bring McKinley and Jagger to life in a way that makes this story feel deeply personal.

Maxine captures the vulnerability and emotional weight of McKinley’s journey, giving voice to the insecurities, the hurt, and the feelings that can be so difficult to put into words. She allows us to feel the woman behind the wounds, the person beneath the fear, and the strength that can exist even when someone feels anything but strong.

And Joe Arden brings Jagger to life with that unmistakable depth and emotion. There is something about the way he delivers a character who carries his own history of pain yet is determined to protect someone else that makes the listening experience all the more powerful. He brings intensity to Jagger, but also the heart beneath it.

Together, Maxine and Joe create an immersive experience that draws you into every vulnerable moment, every complicated emotion, and every beat of this story. They don’t simply tell us about McKinley and Jagger. They invite us to feel their struggles, their connection, and the hope woven through their darkness.

🎹 My Final Thoughts

Chelle Rose gives us a story that reminds us that love isn’t simply about someone wanting you. It’s about being seen. It’s about being reminded that you are more than what you’ve endured, more than the things you’ve been made to believe about yourself, and more than the scars you carry.

McKinley’s journey is a reminder that healing isn’t always beautiful or easy. Sometimes it is messy. Sometimes it is frightening. Sometimes it begins with one small moment when you finally dare to believe that maybe, just maybe, you deserve better.

And Jagger? He reminds us how powerful it can be when someone looks beyond the hurt and sees the person still waiting to emerge from beneath it.

This story is dark, emotional, and filled with complicated feelings, but beneath it all is a message about worth, survival, and the possibility of finding something beautiful even after so much pain.

And listening to Maxine Mitchell and Joe Arden bring these characters to life made the experience even more meaningful.

Some books entertain you. Some make you ache for the characters. And some leave you thinking about the parts of ourselves we sometimes forget to love.

Dark Notes reminded me that even when life has taught us to question our worth, we are still worthy of love, tenderness, and a chance to begin again.

Because sometimes the darkest notes in our lives become the beginning of a melody we never imagined we’d hear. 🖤🎹

Chelle Rose, Maxine Mitchell, and Joe Arden — thank you for a story that reminds us there is still beauty to be found, even in the darkest places.

🖤🎧 A story to read with your heart and experience with your headphones.

[Booked & Broken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Notes is a beautifully written story. Please check your trigger warnings and if there is anything that could harm your mental health, just don’t read it. This book is an emotional rollercoaster and may contain scenes that are not best for you.

McKinley has suffered some emotional and physical situations. Until Jagger sees her. He really can’t stand her current boyfriend. She can’t leave him. She won’t! They come from two different worlds. And he wants something he can’t have.

I knew from the moment he was introduced, I knew would love him.

Jagger shows her what true love and patience is. These are things she’s never experienced before. He teach her, and help her deal with some of the things she’s been through. But will she accept it and understand where he is coming from and why he feels the way he does!

It took me about 7 hour total to read this book. I can’t wait for volume two.

[Maddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! To start off this book is dark and deals with trauma and other triggering things. On the other hand I absolutely loved this book. I was giggling and crying and constantly wondering what would happen next. Our bad boy lead singer Jagger falls for McKinley after seeing her once. One problem she’s dating a man who doesn’t know her worth. When Jagger decides she will be his no matter what he has to do. When he finally gets her and seems to have her for good it leads to him losing her. Three years later they get back together but something unexpected happens and they almost lose each other again. This book was very well written and handle the issues it dealt with very well. It was also really spicy and seeing how obsessed with each other they were was an added bonus. I cannot wait to read Jett’s story when it comes out.

[Carmela Dimattia · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG what an amazing book this was. Dark, intense, emotional and such a head spin with this story. Jagger, Jagger, Jagger what wonderful, caring and romantic man who would do anything to keep the woman he loves, McKinley happy and by his side but he is also so very vulnerable and when McKinley needs him more than ever he does exactly as she wishes only she is never far from his mind. McKinley’s story was very heartbreaking but Chelle Rose did such an amazing job with writing it very compassionately. A few triggers in this book so if you are vulnerable with triggers please read the warning. A wonderful book that I loved very much and I am looking forward to book two in this series.

I received an arc copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Laney Yoder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first review ever and I don’t think there’s a better book to be my first review. I’m not one to cry during books, but this book definitely made me shed a few tears. I felt like I WAS McKinley and that I was feeling everything she was.

Jagger is also such a sweet MMC with a little bit of a dark side that makes him just *chef’s kiss*. I absolutely LOVED this book (not going to lie, I finished it in one sitting in 3 hours). I am excited for the next book to see what happens next with Mia and Jett!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am HAPPILY leaving this review voluntarily.

[Doris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Loved It

Wow!! This was was everything I love in my rock romances. I had the bad boy rocker and a “real” woman that he fell for. This author did a really good job having me actually feel emotions that were going on. My heart broke for McKinley the woman who had a lifetime of abuse. I loved the bad boy rockstar who actually cared about someone and was willing to go the extra mile for the woman he had fallen for.

This book was an emotional roller coaster ride and the steam was just right. I can’t wait to see what comes next!!

[☆KittyKatsBooks☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

OOOOOOFT!!!! 5⭐️ 5🌶 100👩‍🍳💋
Every woman, who ever felt like she was never good enough; that every bad thing thrown her way was deserved. This is for you. For me too!

Chelle's writing captured me from the moment I read the dedication; until the very end. I did not put this book down, for one minute, literally, it even came to the toilet with me 🙈 I am literally OBSESSED!! 😻
I will be reading all of Chelle's books, and am super keen to read the rest of the Spiral Series.

Jagger Wild;
"She isn't something. She's fucking everything."

[What the smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an ARC review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book was something that hit so close to home for me. McKinley survived horrible abuse, including fat shaming, verbal and physical abuse. Jagger seriously struggles to help her see herself as he sees her, doing everything he can to get through to her. The chemistry between them was fire 🔥 but as a couple they need to desperately overcome devastating past trauma. I can’t wait for Mia’s story!

[Allie Koval · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This story broke my heart, then put it back together slowly. McKinley and Jagger were such beautiful chaos. Jagger saw the broken girl McKinley was and truly wanted to help her heal. It truly tugged at my heartstrings while also having the darkness & spice Chelle's books are known for. Highly recommend, but check the TW/CW.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so fast paced, Id like to know where the rest of the story went?
Thank you Blue Nose for this ALC. Narration was awesome- Maxine Mitchell + Joe Arden. The story though, lost me halfway through. Started out so strong, I was on board with the premise but like a blip, the story flew and none of it made any sense.

[ajscenic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is brilliant. I absolutely loved McKinley and Jagger. The emotion, tension, steam and utter sweetness that is Jagger was amazing.
McKinley is a wonderful character, who has been through so much. If I had been through what she had, I would have been an absolute wreck.
I thought I had the plot sussed and I am so happy to be wrong as the first chapter threw me for a loop.
This is a thoughtful story, where the characters have been well-planned and crafted to perfection.
This read had everything, but I am not going to reel it off as I wouldn’t want to spoil it.
All I will say is that it is one of my most enjoyable reads in 2024.
This is a must-read!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Read✨

✨🖤Dark Notes: Spiral Series Vol 1🖤✨
Author: Chelle Rose

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

❤️McKinley❤️
Sweet broken McKinley… she started out with a very unhealthy childhood. And the darkness followed her into her adulthood. She lets people treat her how she feels like she should be treated… which isn’t good. Then she meets Jagger and she doesn’t understand what his obsession is with her. They spend time together, and then he finally has to leave her alone. For just one night… and then it happens.

🖤Jagger🖤
Jagger saw her and immediately he needed her. Then her boyfriend hit her, so he grabbed her and took off to his dressing room. From that day on, she was his… she just couldn’t accept it. Jagger tried to change her thoughts on herself, but she just wouldn’t listen. The magical time they spent together was everything he wanted for the rest of his life… until he had a show to perform… then his world fell apart.

McKinley took something from Jagger that he couldn’t get back. Until one day, he took it back.
What will happen in the end? Will they be able to move past this darkness that consumes them?

The first of this series releases on December 1st! Make sure you add it to your list to find out what happens!🫣

[Ashlyn Palmisano-Rojas · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rockstar romance that just didn’t hit the mark for me. The plot was jumbled and seemed like it hopped around. I found some errors in the writing where one thing was said but then was incorrect in the next scene. I also think the ending was very rushed and the climax with the ex boyfriend was weak in comparison to the scene of the MMC hurting the ex. It just fell flat.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[cynne★ · Rating 0.5 out of 5]

i wanted to read something with a person suffering from mental illness and not a porno with shallow plot twists

[Melissa · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Chelle doesn't shy away from life's uglier sides, and what unfolds between Jagger and McKinley is so much more than a love story. It's about the damage people can leave behind, the lies we eventually start believing about ourselves, and how difficult it can be to recognize your own worth when you've spent your entire life being told you have none.

Jagger Wild is everything you might expect from a famous rockstar. He's arrogant, possessive, a little unhinged, and definitely not a conventional good guy. But when it comes to McKinley? That man is ALL IN. From the moment he sees her, he knows what he wants, and her having a boyfriend is apparently just a minor inconvenience. 😂 Not that I would call him a boyfriend because her "boyfriend" was a POS.

And McKinley. Oh, my heart hurt for this woman. The emotional abuse she's endured has shaped the way she sees herself so completely that kindness feels suspicious and love feels undeserved. Watching her struggle with her body image, self-worth, and the deeply ingrained belief that she's somehow responsible for the cruelty she's experienced was heartbreaking. I appreciated that Chelle didn't make her healing something that could be accomplished simply because a man loved her. Jagger could remind her of her worth a thousand times, but McKinley ultimately had to begin believing it herself.

Between the suspense, the emotional intensity, the chemistry, and the darker elements, there was never a shortage of things keeping me invested.

Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell are such a fantastic pairing, and they brought incredible emotion to these characters. Joe captured Jagger's larger-than-life personality beautifully, from his cocky rockstar attitude to the moments when his desperation came through. Maxine had the especially difficult task of portraying McKinley's emotional struggles, and she handled those quieter, painful moments like the pro that she is. Their performances added another layer to an already intense story, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to them together.

Dark Notes is definitely not a lighthearted rockstar romance. It explores some incredibly sensitive subjects, so I strongly recommend checking the content warnings beforehand.

Chelle Rose delivered a dark, passionate, heartbreaking story with surprising hope woven throughout. I'm definitely looking forward to listening to Volume Two!

[Mars Rads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book might be one of the best I have read in a while. It struck me somewhere deep inside and I am still trying to put all of my feelings into words. There are some trigger warnings, and they definitely should be heeded. I think part of the reason I loved this book so muchis because I could relate to both of the characters. There is a line where it’s said that children remember what they are told and I just thought how perfect that was. The trauma that we endure as children stays with us and this book portrays that so well. The pain and hurt and emotional trauma that the characters endured gripped my heart. There was a part where I was trying to read through my tears because I was so emotional. This book was one that I won’t soon forget.

What McKinley went through dealing with her body and her eating is something that so many go through. When people call you fat, or continually put you on some diet, you begin to believe every word. The pain that McKinley was feeling felt so real and I just kept reading hoping that she would magically heal, knowing that is not how that works. Something that really struck a chord with me was the sugar free creamer. I could feel that pain so much.

While I know exactly how McKinley was feeling, I have been Jagger. I have been the guy trying to convince the girl that she is gorgeous when she can’t see it. What he went through felt so real and I hurt so much reading everything that he was going through. He has moved to the top of my list of MMCs. The part with him that really got to me was when he wanted to give McKinley everything she was ever denied and then realized that’s not what she needed. That is such a hard lesson to learn.

To me, a great book is one that grabs me and refuses to let me go. It’s one that the characters are so well written that they feel real. This is one of those books. And yes, there are definitely so top notch spicy scenes. But the story is what really grabbed me. I don’t know if everyone will have this same response to this book, but I think that anyone who has been through the pain and trauma can relate to what these characters go through. I can’t wait for Part 2.

[sycokittykat - Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning to be loved

First off this book is super dark and has some very prominent in your face depictions so please check the triggers before you read this book.

Nearly every woman at some point hates the way they look. But what if you have been told how terrible and fat you are for as long as you can remember. Well now those words are facts in your mind. This is where we find McKinley.

When McKinley met Erik she thought things were going to be great and for the first year they were. As his true colors came out she knew everything he said was true and that she should just be happy he cared enough to try to change her.

Erik is the singer of a band and he is opening for McKinley's favorite band, Dark Notes, so when her and her friend get a chance to go to the show they are so excited. While backstage (she is also Eric's PA) she is eating something from the catering table when Erik explodes saying she is eating something unapproved. The fight escalates enough that the lead singer of Dark Notes hear the commotion.

Jagger is pulled from his dressing room and is stopped short when he sees the most beautiful woman. His band mate tells him she's with Erik so he is prepared to leave it alone. Well that is until he lays her across the table and punches her in the face.

This moment is the first real turning point in this story and things get better and worse along the way.

This book is beautiful and tragic and parts of it felt entirely too real for me. I absolutely loved that it was written and am so glad to have read it. I absolutely adore Jagger and what he does throughout the story.

He may be a bad boy rockstar but he is a really sweet guy too.

"If you'd give me the chance, I'd give you romance, baby. I'd f** romance you until your goddam head spins"

This story leaves us with questions about what is going on with McKinley's best friend. It also makes you wonder about Jett's background. I can't wait to see what we find out next because I have a feeling it is terrible and I truly hope Jett finds a reason to be better.

[BrewedBookDragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

For every girl who has had terrible things said to them and believed them to be true.....yeah this one is for you!!!

This is my first Chelle Rose book and yesterday when I saw there was a mistake and the Zon dropped early.....I dropped what I was doing and read this!!!

This will NOT be my last book by her!!

⚠️ Please read the trigger warnings. While @chellerosedarkromanceauthor is extremely compassionate in how she writes this story, the trauma is very real and palpable as you read. There is zero shame in protecting your mental health ⚠️

This story talks about Eating disorders, Body dysmorphia, Gaslighting, and Abuse to name a few.

I have never been a skinny girl but I also wasn't fat....I wish I had believed me over the voices coming at me. It took me a long time to heal and even to this day I still struggle with my reflection. I was not to the point of McKinley but I cannot truly express in words what an incredible job Chelle does with this topic. This felt authentic.

Jagger is the bad boy of Rock but honestly he is also the best man and wants nothing more than to show McKinley how beautiful she is. To reverse the damage caused by decades of abuse and trauma. Is he a walking green flag? Absolutely not!!! But he Will do whatever it takes to protect her.

McKinley's story was heart wrenching. Watching her take trauma after trauma and believe that was what she deserved. Chelle shows us that healing has to come from the inside and the moment McKinley realizes she needs to fight for herself damn near broke my heart. 💔

Now I don't want to give anything away and yes this was an ARC copy but y'all know me and these are my own thoughts and review. I highly recommend this Rockstar romance.

I'll just be sitting over here waiting on the next book in the Spiral Series because I saw those teasers you were dropping in this story!!

[Emilee - The Booked Baddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤ALC REVIEW🖤
⭐️𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 5 / 5
🔥𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞: 3 / 5
💧𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬: 3 / 5
🎙️𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 5 / 5 - Maxine Mitchell & Joe Arden
🎧𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞: DUET

I went into this one kinda blind…I saw the tropes but read zero reviews & scanned the blurb but tbh when the ALC hit my email I forgot what it was about lol! But let me say this absolutely did not disappoint me in the slightest! Maxine Mitchell & Joe Arden always have the best chemistry…they are two of my favs! The emotions that these two always bring to my ears is next level!

This entire story especially with McKinley (the FMC) hit me in such a deeply personal way that it was almost like her thoughts & actions were mirroring my own…or at least what used to be my own. McKinley, the beautiful yet severely traumatized curvy girl is dating an up and coming musician who, let’s just say I absolutely hated with every fiber of my soul. He’s abusive, manipulative, controlling & just simply horrible in every form. She struggles with her weight & self esteem so badly it comes to a point that no one (especially a woman) should have to deal with. But when Jagger Wild, the rock God spots her at a band party, he stops dead in his tracks & is in awe of her. Knowing the track record of her current boyfriend, he knows he has to steal her away.

Jagger is one of my favorite MMC’s now. He is patient, kind, supportive, emotional, & loves so fiercely. McKinley is so broken & she see’s only one way out. All of the things that these two go through are heart wrenching & yet so relatable. This entire story made me feel seen & heard. So much so that I sent a DM to the author telling her my own story.

This book is for every curvy girl that didn’t think she deserved to be loved, worshipped, or that she was beautiful & good enough. You are & always will be worthy!

Thank you to Blue Nose & Chelle Rose for providing me with a complimentary ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.

[TalkbookswithKaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 STARS!

Dark Notes by Chelle Rose 🎸🖤

Honeyyyyy!!! This book had me in my FEELINGS!!!

First of all, can we talk about how much I LOVE seeing a plus-size FMC?! There is something so refreshing about reading a character whose body feels relatable to mine. I love seeing plus-size women being desired, loved, and appreciated without their size being something that needs to be changed.

But what really made me fall in love with this story was that he wasn’t there to save her. She saved herself. And THAT is what I needed from this book!

He recognized that she needed space to heal, grow, and find her own strength. Instead of trying to become her hero, he stepped back and allowed her to do the work herself. He could love her, support her, and protect her without taking away her ability to stand on her own two feet. I absolutely LOVED that!

Now listen… just because he knew when to step back doesn’t mean that man wasn’t possessive and protective as HELL!!! 🥵 Because HONEY!!! That combination of giving her room to heal while making it VERY clear that he wasn’t playing about her?! YES MA’AM!!! I was eating that UP!

And let’s give Maxine Mitchell and Joe Arden their flowers for that duet narration! Their performances brought so much emotion and intensity to the listening experience. And Joe Arden delivering that protective, possessive energy?! Sir, PLEASE!!! 🫠

This story gave me something I genuinely appreciate in romance: a woman who finds her own strength and a man who understands that loving her doesn’t mean he has to be the one who saves her.

Five stars from me!!! 🖤🎧

[Trinity Reznor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing, it's also emotionally rough, like really dark. I seriously suggest that you read the tw's before you read it. There were a few times I had to put it down and cry, but it was such a great story I always picked it back up. I got sucked into this story. Although, fortunately, my life wasn't at the level of McKinnley's, it was close enough that I felt her pain like it was my own. What messed up girl doesn't want a world famous rock star to save her and love her? Jett is a lead singer and major player. When he sees the girlfriend of a dude from his opener he feels something he doesn't understand and can't explain, but he wants to make her his. He does some pretty shady stuff to make that happen.
Just when you think "wow, this is way too soon for the HEA", something incredibly unexpected and heartbreaking happens that shatters everything. I wasn't sobbing, you were sobbing! Will they find their way back to each other? If they do will McKinnley even be able to handle the relationship? Will Jett put up with someone with so much past trauma? There are so many twists and turns in this book that it is not boring or drawn out for one single sentence, 5 well deserved stars. Also, it's filthy as heck, hotness and smexy time abounds! I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of this book for free, but as soon as I can, I'm buying it for my permanent collection. I'm leaving this review because I love sharing books that I love with my other sick girls! I'm really looking forward to her best friend Mia's story in the next book!!!

[Nasi · Rating 5 out of 5]

*******

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐, 5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

*******

McKinley is a sweet soul and her story is really heartbreaking. Never loved by her mother and when Eric pays attention to her, she believes she has found the right one. After just a year, he shows his true color. and McKinley's struggles begins. Her struggle with her body which leads to disordered eating behavior, Never recovered from her childhood trauma and her mental health issues makes the whole story so raw, so real. Her story shows that recovering is never simple and it is not to be taken lightly.

And there is Jagger, when he first sees McKinley, one thing came up into his mind "I will marry her.". After he witnessed something and knows more about McKinley, Jagger has one goal, to help her in every possible ways. He worships every part of her, shows how beautiful she is and he loves every inch of McKinley even when she thinks she is not worthy. They chemistry and bond was undeniable. While reading u are able to feel the emotional effect of the MMCs to each other. The twist, turns and also the challenge of their relationship they build sticks out.

‼️Let me say, if someone doesn't want to be healed or not believes that he/she is worthy than u can't really help a person to heal.‼️

Before starting with the reading check the trigger warnings, please read them and if u are uncomfortable with any of the themes than don't read this book, cuz this book includes themes like verbal, emotional, physical abuse, fat shaming, and suicide attempts etc.