Dylan Keller hoped college would help her escape the grief of her father’s death, and meeting the charming Callum seems to be the fresh start she needed. But Fletcher Collin’s, her father’s best friend, has been hiding an obsession with her since she re-entered his life. As Dylan grows closer to Callum, Fletcher’s dark presence begins to consume her world. Secrets unfold, and Dylan realizes too late that the one watching her has always been closer than she imagined. In this dark romance, desire blurs the line between love and obsession, leaving Dylan to question whether love can save her—or destroy everything.
A.S. Lorenzen operates under a pen name and was born in 1998 in the beautiful mountain state of Colorado, where she still resides with her husband, son, and their two dogs. She currently works as a paramedic full time but enjoys reading and writing when she is off duty. She prefers fantasy but is also a stickler for romance. The Hand of the Forbidden is her first published literary work.
When you think things are going slow…but all of a sudden it takes an unexpected twist and pace that has you in suspense because you will never imagine what’s going to happen next!
The main characters (Dylan and Fletcher) are complex and with such depth that, even when their relationship starts unconventionally, their life circumstances makes you root for them at the end. I would’ve love more moments between them 💙🖤
I also loved the subtle nods the author made to the tittle throughout the book. It was a nice touch.
🛑Trigger Warnings: (18+) ❕Sexual Explicit Content ❗️Dubious Consent ❕Murder/Death ❗️Sexual Harassment/Abuse/Assault/Rape (not between main characters) ❕Human Trafficking ❗️Child Abuse (off-page; not via main characters) ❕Kidnapping ❗️Gun Violence ❕Incest (not between main characters) ❗️Profanity ❕Torture
💜 THANK YOU to Sunny Babe PR and A.S. Lorenzen for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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Cuando crees que todo va lento… pero de repente da un giro inesperado y un ritmo que te mantiene en vilo porque nunca imaginas qué pasará después.
Los personajes principales (Dylan y Fletcher) son complejos y tan profundos que, incluso cuando su relación empieza de forma poco convencional, sus circunstancias de vida te hacen apoyarlos al final. Me hubiera encantado leer más momentos entre ellos 💙🖤
También me encantaron las sutiles referencias que la autora hizo al título a lo largo del libro. Fue un detalle genial.
🛑Advertencias: (18+) ❕Contenido Sexual Explícito ❗️Consentimiento Dudoso ❕Asesinato/Muerte ❗️Acoso/Abuso/Agresión/Violación Sexual (no entre los personajes principales) ❕Trata Humana ❗️Abuso Infantil (fuera de plano; no a través de los personajes principales) ❕Secuestro ❗️Violencia con armas de fuego ❕Incesto (no entre los personajes principales) ❗️Blasfemias ❕Tortura
💜 GRACIAS a Sunny Babe PR y a A.S. Lorenzen por enviarme este ARC a cambio de una reseña honesta.
**FULL review coming soon** I just had to come on here and say that this book had me in a f**king chokehold and I’m not ok in the best way 😅 Had me sweating, crying, heart racing and stopping to deep breath at 80%.
I need 2 business days to process before I can tell you exactly why you must read this book.
******** I’m back!!! Phew, I am still thinking of this book daily and have probably annoyed the shit out of my family/friends talking about it. Honestly, I was hooked from the dedication. If you like dark, this book is dark. I had to keep covering half my kindle because I couldn’t stop my eyes from frantically trying to read ahead. I was left with so many conflicting emotions at the end of every chapter. As soon as I felt like I could guess what was going on, things would take a turn. Constant thoughts of, “how do I feel about this….am I cool with this?” At one point, I was internally yelling at our girl, Dylan, to run as my screen door was squeaking in the middle of the night, creeping me right out. Fletcher had my head as f*cked up as Dylan’s. Does everyone inject themselves into the main characters role or is it just me? By the end, every emotion I thought I had already experienced came back to wreck me and make my insides burn. I thought I had an idea of where things were going. And I was right about a couple details, but the way this plot twisted and turned and left me dizzy.. I was not ok. I can’t classify this as a HEA, but it did end with a “happy as it can be” very healing ending. The trauma is real, but so is life after that trauma. It is gritty and sharp and real. But it can also be beautiful. I CANNOT wait until the second one. Please 🙏 tell me it is already halfway done at least lol.
🔪 Dual POV Me, as soon as I got to Fletcher’s first chapter: *snuggles deeper into blankets* yesss, tell me how much you are obsessed with her, Fletcher.
🔪Age gap/forced proximity/power imbalance The two sides of my brain were at constant war over Fletchers questionable actions. In the end though, He is *daddy*
🔪 Touch her and die How do you make your audience fall in love with the villainous, manipulative, stalker MMC? Introduce an even darker villain and watch our man transform into the hero for the woman who belongs to him.
Applause to the author for the top notch emotional damage I received. I loved it🫶🏼
For those with certain types of trauma that can handle reading through the darkest of plots, we know these types of books feel like healing a part of the darkness in your soul. While I sobbed and shook and had to take a break, making it to the end felt like a deep breath and a weight lifted. I’m so glad to have read this ❤️ Pay attention to the trigger warnings and respect your mental health!
Thank you to the author and SunnyBabe PR for sending me a copy of this. All opinions are my own and freely given.
This story has some of my most favorite tropes & I was on for the crazy ride 🫶🏽 I enjoyed the build up of suspense & also that it’s dual POV 🥰 which made it even better! The FMC Dylan was definitely a trooper 😅 poor girl was going through it! And I love Fletcher!! Obsessed with him from the start 😂 Thank you to SunnyBabePR for the opportunity to read this book!
This is a tough one for me. I personally love a possessive mmc but this book left me with a weird feeling the entire time.
I really enjoyed Dylans character but Fletcher left me with alot to be desired. I feel like I definitely missed something.There is a decent age gap between the two of them but WHY is he so obsessed with her?
Overall I would still recommend the book to those who enjoy some age gap with a possessive mmc. I just feel like this may not be my genre. Definitely make sure you check out the trigger warnings as there are a few!
Thank you to SunnyBabe PR and AS Lorenzen for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book to review.
This one wasn't for me. While it was incredibly suspenseful, which kept me reading, and it evoked a lot of feelings out of me, albeit horrified ones - I didn't feel connected to the characters. I needed more backstory between the MCs.
Review: So, I'm conflicted only because I really love how this is developing but also feel like there were missed opportunities to have made the bond between Dylan and Fletcher stronger earlier on. He's super obsessed and protective but I don't get why. I would've loved more flashbacks to solidify the nature of their platonic relationship from her at 7-14. He left when she was 14 to do military missions and that's when he says he "changed" (but another event contributedto that to that we don't learn about till about 20 pages from the end) . It felt too lust driven for most of it.
I just felt like a gap of explanation was missing. Otherwise, I found myself a little perplexed during his long passages of love obsessed dialog. I loved what he says don't get me wrong and I love his kind of sta1ker obsessed OTT protectiveness, but I just desired more backstory to understand why.
All that said, I still really liked this because of the plot driven focus alongside the sta1ker subplot. I loved seeing Fletcher in work mode on dismantling a villainous trafficking ring and seeing that admirable, hero side to him. Quite the shift to his sta1ker persona, almost like two people which didn't fit for me. But I want to SEE the backstory stuff to justify how he's acting. And also wanna see why Dylan is allowing this controlling behavior. The "little viper" pet name I think was over used too.
He's just very enigmatic though and that's why I couldn't stop reading. The third act is highly tense and can be triggering. I absolutely loved how he became more caring and not pushy with s3x after that third act. He seemed more "real" and more like the Fletcher from her childhood. I do wanna see what happens in book 2 because I'm much happier with how Fletcher became in the last bit.
I am so elated that I was able to be an ARC reader for this book!
To the hearts stitched together by pain, who love anyway, because they understand that light is born from the darkest nights.
I was not expecting my emotional attachment to this book. A rollercoaster of emotions is an understatement to what I felt while reading Peripheral Vision. I am already a sucker for a stalker romance or a dad’s best friend romance… but a two for one 🥵🥵 Fletcher is a prior military turned FBI operative with a little (big) obsession with his deceased best friend’s daughter. He is protective, obsessive, and 14 years older than her. Dylan is mourning her father’s death. She is moving on and enrolling in college campus classes. She is finding a job at a local bar that seems too good to be true. Callum seems nice enough, the son of the owner of the bar that Dylan is now employed at. But not everything is always what it seems.
This book is full of trigger warnings and reasons to put it down and not turn the page. It includes s*x traffickers, SA, abuse, stalking, murder, kidnapping, etc. and if you can stomach these and more than please do yourself the pleasure of picking up this book and giving it a go.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I was 100% in my feels during this read. I had emotions left and right. It was so worth it!
I am officially emotionally ruined for the time being 😅 But it was soooo worth it!
Thank you so much to SunnyBabePR and the author for sending me a copy of this phenomenal masterpiece🥰
Out now! Go (run) pick up your own copy and eat. this. book. up 👏👏👏
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
💀 Good girl x Bad boy 💀 Forced Proximity 💀 Age gap 💀 Stalker 💀 Dad's Best Friends ⚠Please note the triggers in this book.
This book follows Dylan as she moves to college to get away from the army base and the grief of her father’s death. She meets Callum, a charming barman, and he is just what she needs. Unfortunately he is not the only one interested in her.
After the death of his best friend, Fletcher finds himself obsessed with Dylan. But he is also trying to take down a very dangerous group of people. As his obsession grows with Dylan his two words start to collide. Will he be able to handle both?
I will be honest and say I don’t know how to feel about this book. This book has a very heavy subject line but I feel it was handled well and not romanticised . This is a dark romance in the sense of stalking but that is not the dark subject. It goes places that made me feel uncomfortable but it is harsh reality unfortunately.
Dylan’s character went through so much and she is still trying to come to terms with it. I love how Fletcher starts off harsh and controlling but in the end he is patients and respects her. He just loves her more and more every day. Their relationship may have started as stalking but it developed amazing. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Thank you Sunny Babe PR and A.S. Lorenzen for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Advanced Reader Copy REVIEW . Give me few days to recover… thank you. This was a rollercoaster. I enjoyed this arc so much 😮💨. As good as it was, I shed a lot of tears.
Dylan, my poor baby. I thought it would be a good stalker dark romance when it turned into something more. She’s been through A LOT. Finding out who was behind it all fucked me up. I couldn’t stop crying every time I would read her pov from the middle until the end. I’m so proud of her for fighting and doing her best not to give up. She’s brave and definitely little stubborn, but I love her regardless.
Fletcher, 😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨. I want this one. I loved him from the very start. His character did not fail to disappoint. He’s very determined. He never gave up on her, he’s so understanding and patient with her. I wanted to sob so hard every time he had to see what she had to endure.
I LOVE dogs in books. Alaska definitely played that role well 👏🏻. So did Nathan. I love it when side characters are almost as good as main. This book ends on cliffhanger which I did not see coming. I’m definitely looking forward to next book because I have 0 theories on what next one could possibly be about.
Thank you to @sunnybabepr & A.S. Lorenzen for sending me this ARC. This is a dark romance/thriller that definitely kept me on my toes. If you like books like Haunting/Hunting Adeline, then you will love this book. This book includes tropes like age gap, touch her and die, and morally gray MMC.
To start we have Dylan, a college student who recently lost her father. She has no other immediate family around so she tries to start fresh by moving near her college campus. While looking for a job she meets this charming guy named Callum. As they get closer, an old family friend Fletcher shows up and makes Dylan’s world turn upside down. Dylan starts to question everything, even herself.
Even though this is a dark romance what kept me most entertained was the thriller aspect of it. This is more of a personal preference, but the romance was just ok for me. The thriller part was most exciting. The book gets very in depth with the characters, which I always love in a good book. There are also some great twists throughout the books. Some of which I did guess and some of which I definitely didn’t.
Well, this was a dark read and I highly recommend reading the trigger warnings before jumping into it.
I love a good stalker trope and this one definitely hit the marks. From her stalker getting into her vehicle, her house and leaving creepy cryptic notes around? And the fact she knew him but didn’t know it was him? Perfection!
The job that Fletcher does for a living is highly dark and dangerous but definitely needed. I know human trafficking is a thing but I never really thought about what goes on and this shines a light into that world. Fletcher, fictional or not, is the definition of a hero along side Nathan.
And Dylan. The sweet little Dylan that lost of her father and is trying to find her footing again. As if dealing with that isn’t traumatic enough, having someone she wanted to build a connection with turns against her? I kind of figured it out but it was still suspense.
And the ring leader of all of this? That betrayal? The physical, mental and emotional torture. This is where the trigger warnings need to be looked at!
Overall this book is highly well written and I need more especially because I can’t fully tell if the end of this book ended on a cliffhanger or not!
I received this book as an ARC from Sunny Babe PR and the following review is my honest opinion:
First things first: READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS ! It's VERY heavy with sexual assault, rape human trafficking and kidnapping
This was a rough one. It got a little dodgy there in the middle. I really enjoyed Dylan's character and I liked her spunky, independent attitude. I wanted to like Fletcher but it put me off that he knew her and was active in her life since 7. In the middle he started acting more like a dad and kind of aggressive with possessiveness. BUTTTTTT homie ended up having ACTUAL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT! Something we don't often see in dark romance. He ended up seeing he needed to change who/what he thought he needed to be for Dylan and listened to her to see what she actually needed.
His actions towards the end of the book where he's gentle and patient with her was a really nice development and I'm happy the author changed him from this domineering, overly possessive, jealous boyfriend into a patient, kind, (still possessive but more flirty, not as aggressive) man.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was the first book I’ve read by A.S Lorenzen and won’t be the last. I’ve been really enjoying dark romances lately and the added thriller aspect to this book really drew me in.
I originally read this for the tropes. I’m a big fan of age gap, forbidden, possessive mmc and touch her and ☠️. This book was not a typical stalking dark romance which was nice. I would highly suggest reading over the trigger warnings before reading.
This book had a great thriller aspect to it which kept me interested and wanting more. I do wish there was a bit more backstory on Fletcher and why he missed such a large part of Dylan’s life.
This book definitely took an unexpected turn but I was happy to see both characters come out on the other side changed and also stronger. If you are a fan of dark romance and thrillers add Peripheral Vision to your tbr!
Thank you to A.S Lorenzen and Sunny Babe PR for the opportunity to receive an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book! I’m always a sucker for a good age gap romance, and the dad’s best friend trope is one of my favorites; this story did it so well. Dylan, the FMC, was instantly likable, strong, and easy to root for. Fletcher took a little longer to win me over, but once he did, I was all in. His obsession with Dylan was intense in the best way, and as the plot took some darker turns, it made me appreciate how fiercely protective he was of her.
The chemistry between them built beautifully, and the tension kept me flipping pages nonstop. I loved watching their dynamic shift as things got more serious and emotional. Dylan went through so much, and seeing Fletcher be her rock made the story even more powerful.
If you’re into forbidden romance, emotional intensity, and steamy scenes with just the right amount of edge, you need to read this. I couldn’t get enough and definitely recommend it!
If you’re looking for a Dark Stalker Suspense then this one is for you!
This one definitely took me on a wild ride! But the suspense in this one had me so hooked that literally I lost sleep with this one! And the twist and turns in this fantastic. Literally at times I’m pretty sure I was gasping out loud!
This Author had me on an emotional rollercoaster. Some parts were so heartbreaking. But the Author did an exceptional job at writing this one!
I absolutely loved the Character Development throughout this one! Dylan and Fletcher (FMC & MMC) truly grew on me throughout this one and I definitely was rooting for them!
I definitely will be reading book 2!!
🛑Trigger Warnings: (18+) • Sexual Explicit Content • Dubious Consent • Murder/Death • Sexual Harassment/Abuse/Assault/Rape (not between main characters) • Human Trafficking • Child Abuse (off-page; not via main characters) • Kidnapping • Gun Violence • Incest (not between main characters) • Profanity • Torture
⭐️⭐️⭐️ &1/2, 🌶️🌶️🌶️ for this advanced reader copy. This book had so much unused potential I feel. While I loved the characters of Dylan and Fletcher as family friends with Fletcher super protective of her as her dad’s best friend, the relationship of them together gave me the ick, as it made me think of my dads best friend and how it would have been a hard no for me if this scenario were real in my life.
The storyline itself about human trafficking and abuse was well written and had me on the edge of my seat. The incestuest Uncle made the story dark and unforgiving.
I would have loved to learn a bit more about Fletcher and what led him to his obsession with Dylan, I feel like that was a big missing component. What was it that happened between them all those years ago that made him feel like she was his?
I would definitely read more from this author! Can’t wait to see what she writes in her coming novels.
Thank you to A.S Lorenzen and Sunny Babe PR for including me on this advanced reading copy!
This was a darker book than what I am used to reading, but I enjoyed Dylan as the main FMC. She had been through so much in her young life and now with the passing of her dad, she wanted to focus on school. Little did she would be focusing on her survival. First, she had a stalker, then she thought she was making a friend at work, and that backfired. Then once she found out who her stalker was, she was no longer afraid, but strangely attracted to the man. The chaos is never ending and at times I wondered how much more Dylan could handle. If you are looking for a dark romance that includes a stalker, sex trafficking and more, this juicey book is just for you!
This book started out so strong! I couldn't set it down! You learned so much about Dylan and her life. She drew me in faster than I had expected. I love how she kind of always knew she had a sta1ker but didn't really care to acknowledge do anything about it..
Fletcher was such an interesting character. He knows his desires are not highly looked upon but he just can't stop! With the work he does I found it kind of funny with his own age gap. I couldn't get enough of the chapters about the trafficking I wanted more! He just kind of changed for me. He was so protective at the beginning and then BAM mine mine mine. I would love to hear more of backstory and more memories of Dylan as a child. Her relationship with Fletcher as a child. Over all is definitely recommend
☠️ St@lker ▪️𝗚𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘆 x 𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕖 ☠️ Age gap ▪️Who did this? ☠️ Forced proximity
Dylan just wants a fresh start after her father's death. College, a new town, and maybe something sweet with the charming bartender, Callum. But Fletcher-her dad's best friend-has other plans. He's been watching. Wanting. And now? He's stepping out of the shadows.
This one's packed with age gap, forced proximity, stalker romance, and touch her and you die energy. It's dark, intense, and honestly kind of addictive. The writing doesn't romanticize the heavy themes -it leans into the tension and leaves you uneasy in the best way. Fletcher and Dylan's dynamic? Complicated, raw, and slowly unraveling. That ending? I'm still reeling.
This was a dark, emotional ride! I was consumed! Couldn’t put it down! Definitely one that you think you have an idea about what’s going to happen then plot twist!! The intense suspense will keep you on edge, a definite page turner.
We follow Dylan, trying to move on after her father’s death. She is hoping going to college will help consume her and escape the grief. When she meets Callum, is he just what she needs? And, there’s her father’s best friend, Fletcher, who is obsessed with her.
I loved how the author draws you in. How the storyline is intricately woven so that it has you feeling the emotions and seeing it all unfold. The Dual POV was a wonderful way of connecting to the characters. A whirlwind of anxiety and fast heartbeat on my part with the suspense of the stalker, the betrayal, the twists … never saw the ending coming! I definitely need the second book!
--Check TWs before reading! This is a DARK romance with some heavy topics--
Spice: 2/5
Dylan, the main character, went through an emotional gauntlet in this book, and her determination to keep fighting made her a compelling lead, even if there were moments that tested my patience with her. Fletcher’s obsession was intense and vividly written; his fixation practically leapt off the page, though I did find myself wishing for more insight into the roots of that obsession, especially given the long gap between their last interaction. His unexpected gentleness in the aftermath of Dylan’s trauma revealed a softer side that contrasted sharply with the image he tried to project, making his feelings feel surprisingly genuine. The supporting characters added charm; Alaska, the hilariously ineffective guard dog, was a standout, reminding me of my own lovable traitor of a pet. Nathan and Thea were intriguing in their limited appearances, and Thea’s storyline in particular left me eager for more after that cliffhanger. I’m definitely curious to see where book two takes things.
Tropes Include: -Dad’s Best Friend -Stalker -Good Girl x Bad Boy -Age Gap (10+ Years)
Thank you SunnyBabePR for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
In my closest Stefan voice, this book had it all. Stalkers, traffickers, a hot bartender with a sexy accent, spice that makes you wonder what’s wrong with you, and a MMC that is so morally grey that he’s a sexy charcoal. You’ll be on the edge of your seat with this one, mouth open (make sure Fletcher isn’t nearby with his pants down), and begging for more. I can’t wait for the next book, because I HAVE to know what happens next! Thank you to Sunny Babe PR and A.S Lorenzen for letting me be a part of this ARC!
All the elements for a proper stalker romance, with a unique twist. I’m having a hard time putting together a review without giving anything away because the twists just don’t stop! The story is as complex as the characters and their relationship.
If stalker romance is your vibe this will be for you!
If you're into dark romance with some twists, Peripheral Vision is worth the read. It’s got a dual POV (which I love), and it hits a bunch of my favorite tropes—age gap, “touch her and die,” dad’s best friend, stalker MMC, good girl x bad boy, forced proximity… the whole spicy, emotional package.
The writing keeps you hooked and on edge the entire time. One moment you're sweating (hi Fletcher🥵), the next you're sobbing for Dylan😭. She goes through it, and I don’t want to spoil anything, but let’s just say things get intense. Fletcher? 💀Yeah, he's morally black, determined, possessive, but patient and understanding when he needs to be.
I would have preferred a little more spice🌶. But overall, this was an emotional rollercoaster I didn’t want to get off. Warning—there are some seriosly heavy topics (check trigger warnings), and it ends on a cliffhanger.
Peripheral Vision is a sold read. Make sure you read the trigger warnings cause there are some dark topics. With that said I was immersed into Dylan story. I also like the twist on the MMC and his job. You read allot about sex trafficking but you don't read alot about organ trafficking and I really enjoyed that dark twist. If you enjoy haunting/hunting adeline you will enjoy this book. The spice level is lower level but the plot is there and that is what I enjoy. You have the dad bff and daughter troupe which is fun as well. I don't want to say allot cause I don't want to spoil it, also if you don't have trigger warnings go in blind it makes it more fun.
Very spicy! Suspenseful throughout the entire book. Twists and turns that had my jaw dropping. Cannot wait for the 2nd book! Will definitely be waiting on it with anticipation. Heart breaking in some parts and triggering in others. Make sure to check the trigger warnings!
I wasn’t sure how I felt when I first started this book... but that didn’t last long. Once I was hooked, I was HOOKED. Couldn’t put it down.
I was constantly trying to guess what would happen next, which kept me on my toes. It was definitely a rollercoaster ride and the last third of the book absolutely broke my heart.
And yes… it ends on a cliffhanger. I’m dying for book two!
This is 100% a dark romance, so please check the TW before diving in.
Thank you SunnyBabe PR for sending me a copy of this book!
I wasn’t sure when I’d be able to write another book or find inspiration after writing the forbidden Duology. But here it is, my third novel, with the fourth on the way and a novella to match. I’m super proud of this one and how far I’ve come. I can only hope you enjoy it the way I did.
It took me until a little bit to really get into Peripheral Vision. There were little crumbs along the way that kept me interested, but about halfway I got sucked in. After that it was a constant rollercoaster ride. The last 30% my heart broke for the FMC Dylan! I just couldn't believe who and what was going on. Even more heartbreaking when one stops and thinks about the fact that those same things are happening to girls every single day. I had higher hopes for Callum, just shows another example of never to trust the first love interest. I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about Fletcher....I need more!