Down Low

by Deandre Kralevic

Some secrets ain’t meant to see the light. Especially when blood runs the streets.

Daja’s got the perfect man. The kind that makes other men bow when he enters the room. But when temptation comes with a blue flag and dangerous hands, she can’t stay away. Now she’s playin’ a deadly game between loyalty and lust—and if the wrong one finds out, it won’t just be her heart that gets broken. In Book 1 of the Blood in Blood out series, Down Low is a raw, sexy, urban thriller where love is risky… and betrayal gets buried.

180 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2025

Reviews

[Abby Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has you hooked from the very beginning, it's a fast paced book following Daja who has gotten herself into a sticky situation when she decides to mess with someone that isn't on the same side as her bf.
But is her secret actually safe?
The whole book has you at the edge of your seat wondering what's gonna happen next!
You get an action pact thriller, and you get some good spice 🌶️

Deandre keeps you guessing what the next chapter is gonna be and of course he ends it on a spot where you want more right away!!

I can't wait to see what happens in book 2!!!

[Alana Copeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Deandre Kralevic has done it again! This new series had me on the edge of my seat, flipping pages like my life depended on knowing what happens next. “Blood In Blood Out: Down Low” is a wild, gritty, action-packed ride filled with heat, betrayal, and secrets that kept me stressed from start to finish.

Daja had me holding my breath the whole way through wondering if she’d slip, get caught, or somehow survive the dangerous game she was playing between two powerful men on opposite sides of the streets.

Torn between loyalty and lust, Daja’s caught in a storm of passion where everyone has a hidden motive, and no one plays fair. Is this real love… or just revenge in disguise? Either way, someone’s bound to get burned.

This is a steamy, unpredictable story that keeps you guessing who’s using who — and who will lose it all.

Book Tropes You’ll Find in Down Low:
🔥 Why Choose (Maybe)
🔥 Forbidden Romance
🔥 Good Girl x Bad Boy
🔥 Loyalty vs. Love
🔥 Criminal Underworld / Street Power Struggles
🔥 Cheating / Emotional Affair
🔥 Protective Alpha Male
🔥 Hood Romance / Street Lit

If you love messy, dangerous love triangles and urban heat where nothing,and no one is safe, this book is for you. I need the next one, like, yesterday.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deandre Kralevic has done it once again! Another 5 star read! Deandre is extremely talented when it comes to pulling in literally page one, but also good about leaving you wanting more at the end of the book!

This story follows Daja, Reign & Ice. Daja is wanting break free and get out from under Reigns control. Fear holds her back well to a certain limit cause she’s sleeping with the enemy and quite literally risking her life and Ices life.

Daja is playing with fire but she’s willing to risk her life for Ice and what she believes they have. But she has to keep her lies polished, clean and can’t be caught slippin cause Reign has eyes and ears everywhere in the streets.

This is a fast, quick pace short read that you won’t put down once you pick it up. Typically my reviews are always long or more in depth, but I don’t want to spoil this one.

One last thing which might be unpopular…. Team Daja & Ice! Said what I said.

Just some of my favorite quotes below in no particular order

“I was in this deep. And the only way out was keepin’ the lie alive or out in a body bag.”

“Keep your lies short, baby” he said, voice like velvet dipped in threat. “Long ones start to trip over themselves”

“I forgive a lot. But disrespect? That’s something I bury.”

[🐷Shay loves books🐷 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time! I read it in less than a day. In true Deandre fashion, he pulls you in and keeps you, and doesn’t let go! This book is fast paced and full of action! Mess with fire and you’re gonna get burned, and even Ice can’t help you once that happens! In this book we have Daja, reign and Ice as the main characters. Daja is a player and she’s playing both guys but they are from rival gangs and she’s messing up big time. Her lies are lying and she can’t even keep them straight, and they land her in some serious trouble. Reign thinks he has all the power and Ice thinks he does, when in reality none of them do. Such a thrilling ride! If you haven’t read anything by Deandre yet, you shld! He’s a genius when it comes to writing a book that you can’t put down!

[Casandra Kane · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY SHIT! Okay so I have read all of Deandre’s books and they just keep getting better and better!

This book is incredible!! And it could almost be bad off of real life events! You have the “Bloods” and the “Crips”. And then there is her!
From beginning to end it’s a WILD RIDE! The spice is spicing!!! Like my favorite spicy scene is definitely the last one!!

But of course he HAD to end it on a cliff hanger! I need to know what happens and not sure I can wait long at all!

The passion, the sex, the love, the loyalty from family and the biggest betrayal of all! You will find it all in the book!

[Morgan Cowart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deandre, I'm gonna need you to not leave things on such a cliffhanger!!!!! I need book 2 ASAP!

so lucky to have gotten an ARC copy of this book! right out of the gate, the spicy HITS! this book has it all and I ATE.IT.UP! I'll be honest, Daja is a stirred the pot for real, but she knew Reign was someone to not be messed with. I LOVE a why choose story! Oh, I can't wait to see where this series goes!

[Saiko Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wasn’t love.
This was war.
And I just became the motherf*ckin’ frontline.
———
I am mind boggled! The pure anxiety, adrenaline, and heart pounding spice this book brings blows my mind. The twists and turns had me literally kicking on the edge of my seat! Deandre is always an auto buy author for me but the way this made me feel is like no other. The ending left me freaking gasping! I cannot wait for the next one in the series!

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deandre has written another masterpiece, but... What. The. Actual. Cliffhanger!!!

This book is fast paced, pulls you in from page one, and keeps you wanting more even after it is over.

This book follows Reign, Daja, and Ice. Reign is a Blood while Ice is a Crip. Daja, well, she is caught in the middle. Daja is Reign's girl, who turns out to be playing with fire. Daja ends up messing with the one man who can get her killed. All the creeping, scheming, leaking information, and lying catch up to Daja. However, Ice has her back.

I am the odd one out because #TeamIce! The way I was so mad at the ending of this book, though, had me throwing my Kindle!

[Tiffani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m just say this now I wanted to throat punch Daja the ENTIRE book. Girl it’s your fault we in this situation. Baby lies will catch up with you and turn your world upside. Reign’s level of calm is scary. They always say there’s a calm before the storm. I’m ready to see this storm and the damage it causes. I will say Smoke is a real one. Reign say the word and no questions need to be asked. I just don’t believe that happened to him. Nope not him

[Booktokqutiepie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow…hooked from page 1

I swear literally everything I have read by this man has been a masterpiece.

This one is no different. Raw, gritty, explosive and leaves you aching for more.

I can’t decide who I like more Ice or Reign cause I’m gonna be honest either one of them could make me there Daja!

Daja our FMC, Is in the thick of a web of lies from the start! Girl is going through it. Reign is one of the mmc’s and he exudes power, wealth, control, cold calculation and a dark possessiveness that rivals a great man MMC’s. Ice the other mmc I can decide his angle even now (that cliffhanger sure didn’t help) he’s still got a lot of mystery for me I feel like there is more there.

This one might be on the shorter read side but it is jammed packed with deliciousness 5 ⭐️ for me and a whopping 4 🌶️ though that last scene with Reign …🥵

Looking forward to the next !

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

To me, it is the mark of a very talented individual, when each story carries its own unique voice, tone, and atmosphere. This book was no different. The plot kept me hooked in right up until the very last page, and I literally gasped when I reached the ending! I will most definitely be keeping an eye on what goes down next in this series. If your in the market for a story with a modern day Romeo & Juliet vibe then I highly recommend adding this book to your TBR!

Thank you again to the author for the ARC.

[Melissa Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives you a raw look into the rough life of individuals caught up in the street life. The lies, and betrayals get heavier with every page turn only amplifying the potential fall out of it all and the twist ending will leave you desperate for more.

[Kamiyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get ready for a ride!!!

This book was full of twists, turns, and excitement! I love urban fiction/romance, so this was right up my alley and had all the typical (but necessary) elements of urban fiction.

Daja… man… where do I even begin with her? lol she pissed me off so much lol but that’s part of what kept me hooked— trying to see what was going to happen to her ass. She pisses me off but that just means there will likely be great character development as this series continues and she learns from her experiences.

Great book! Definitely recommend, as well as anything from his catalog.

[Angel aka BooksnCats007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's fast-paced with action packed drama that immerses you into a world of forbidden love, betrayal, and gang rivalry. Finished in one sitting. Better have book 2 because this thriller leaves you wanting more!

[Ashley Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Down Low by DeAndre Kralevic is a pulse-pounding, high-stakes drama that plunges you headfirst into the dark, dangerous world of gang rivalries, forbidden love, and betrayal—where one wrong move can cost you everything.

At the center of it all is Daja, caught in a deadly game between two rival gang members: her possessive, power-hungry boyfriend Reign, and Ice—the one man she was never supposed to touch… but absolutely couldn’t resist.

I’m not gonna lie—I’m Team Ice all day. I loved his edge, his loyalty, and the way he protected Daja, even when everything was crumbling. But that final scene with Reign? OK, sir. I see you 👀. That man is dangerous in every sense of the word… and I’m not mad about it.

If you love fast-paced stories with forbidden romance, betrayal, tension you can feel, and characters that stay with you long after the final page—Down Low needs to be at the top of your TBR.

[J.J. J. Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A smooth sexy induction

DeAndre does it once again with Down Low! A sexy, smooth, suspenseful induction into this world. I can't wait for the next one!

[Ezra Virgil-Fawcett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am lost for words. Deandre Kralevic comes out with a banger and yet he leaves us with a jaw dropping cliffhanger! This book has it all!!! Forbidden romance, gang related violence, the spice is spicing, dark romance, Down Low book 1 of Blood In Blood Out was incredible! I can’t wait for you guys to read it on June 25!!! Deandre leaves us in a chokehold with this book!

[Melissa Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved Daja’s mom. I’m on the fence about Reign and lean more toward preferring Ice. I just liked Daja’s and Ice’s relationship more bc it seems that he really loves her, where with Reign, Daja is more of a possession that he likes to control and play with. The spice is high on the spicy level. I read across the romance spectrum from no spice to extreme spice. I will say this one is more on the extreme side. The plot is great. I read it in 2 sittings- only bc I started it at around 9:30 pm and had work the next morning. It definitely kept me interested and I can hardly wait to see what happens next. I literally screamed “NOOOOOOOOOO” at the end bc I wanted more.

[Ona Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down Low book 1 in the Blood In Blood out series and the first book that I’ve read by Deandre Kralevic. I’m usually prefer e-books however I got a physical copy and It was phenomenal.

From the very first page I was knew that I was going to love this book. The words are edgy and full of grit, and real. As a fictional book I still felt as though this would be real conversations and situations that people find themselves in.

The character development is intriguing and throughout the book I found myself torn between which character I was rooting for.

An absolute page turner, just the right amount of spice, not overly filthy or gross no need for trigger warnings. An amazing book, I couldn’t put it down I had to know what was going to happen next.

5 ⭐️
3 🌶️

[Demetrica Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your NOT read Deandre then what are you reading?! This book has ups, downs, curves,& twists. The drama starts as soon as the book does and ends as soon as you read the last page. Which will leave you craving book 2!

[Latoya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deandre Kralovic has done it once again! Another 5-star read! Deandre is extremely talented when it comes to pulling in literally page one, but also good about leaving you wanting more at the end of the book! I can't wait until the next drop this story was amazing and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

This story follows Daja, Reign & Ice. Daja is wanting break free and get out from under Reigns control. Fear holds her back well to a certain limit cause she’s sleeping with the enemy and quite literally risking her life and Ices life. Sister just didn't know what she has done. Get ready for the wild ride it will take you on.

Daja is playing with fire but she’s willing to risk her life for Ice and what she believes they have. But she has to keep her lies polished, clean and can’t be caught slipping cause Reign has eyes and ears everywhere in the streets.

This is a fast, quick pace short read that you won’t put down once you pick it up. And it will simply have you waiting on book 2 I pinky promise you that. Check it out now.

[Yesenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deandre Kralevic takes you on a tumultuous ride through the streets of passion and peril. The fast-paced narrative had me hooked from page one, earning it a solid 5-star rating! Daja's internal struggles with loyalty and lust resonated deeply, blurring the line between love and betrayal. This urban thriller delves into the dangers of temptation and the consequences of risky love. Kralevic's compelling storytelling kept me eager to unravel the mysteries of Daja's journey. The book stirred up a whirlwind of emotions, leaving me captivated and emotionally invested in every twist and turn.

[Ashley Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

sooooooooo good love this whole series! I devoured all 3 in a day! I couldn't stop reading them!

[BG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in one day. Loved it, about to hop on the next book now. This book was amazing the story line had me hooked wanting more. Awesome job Deandre 💪🏾💪🏾🖤🖤