He leans in closer, the glow of his mask illuminating my face. His fingers press firmer against the back of my neck, anchoring me in place. “I’ll give you a head start, princess,” he whispers, his voice silk and sin. Then… He vanishes. No footsteps. No rustle. Just gone, like he was swallowed by night, as if he was never there.
This moment haunts my every thought. It all began on Halloween night.
A millionaire’s party where I didn’t belong. A hedge maze crawling with shadows and creatures, waiting to drag me away. A masked stranger who touched something deep inside me… and never let go.
What started as a favor for my best friend became something darker. Something I couldn’t escape.
I stepped into the haunting maze… And something else stepped in with me.
Now I can feel him everywhere. In the silence between heartbeats. In every breath.
He was supposed to be a stranger. But now he’s a phantom I can’t outrun. A presence I can’t ignore. A temptation I can’t resist.
And now I’m caught in a world of secrets, seduction, and power. His eyes are always on me. Watching. Waiting.
Perfect for fans of dark romance, slow-burn obsession, and haunting mystery.
Lost in the Chase is a seductive, spine-tingling ride that will keep you hooked until the very last page.
4.5⭐️ If you’re looking for a book that will keep you on your toes and guessing the entire time this is the one! Every time I thought I had it all figured out Danni threw me a curve ball that had me second guessing everything! This book is perfect if you are new to dark romance or a seasoned dark romance reader, and if you enjoy a good mystery plot. I had to force myself to put this book down just to sleep!
This book had phenomenal anxiety representation, and after talking with the author knowing how much of herself and her own experiences she reflected through the FMC it truly made that aspect of the book hit even harder. Lila and her best friend Aster (I need an Aster in my life btw) go to a Halloween party, she decides she’s finally going to come out of her shell a little bit. This will turn into a night she never forgets. Lila finds herself participating in a party game that could change everything for her, and her sick mother. What she doesn’t expect is to find herself at the center of the attention of not 1…but 3 intriguing men. Let the chase begin..This one unexplainable night changes Lila’s future, but it also puts her in more danger than she’s already in.
I truly feel it’s best to go into this as blind as possible, so I’ll let you figure out who the MMC is for yourself. The phantom, the red mask, or her mysterious coworker…or was he even real at all..
This book will have you feeling every emotion, tears, laughter, tension and longing. Please check your TWs this book does revolve around trafficking although not in great detail but it’s at the forefront of the plot line.
Thank you so much to Danni Marie for sending me a gifted copy in exchange for my honest review, I’m truly on the edge of my seat for book 2!!
4.5 ⭐️ For someone who doesn't read a ton of Dark Romance, I really enjoyed this one! It was dark, sexy, mysterious and absolutely binge-worthy!
The mysterious aspect of "the chase" really kept me intrigued the entire time. The plot was pretty good and I thought the pacing was on point. You get tension, spice, masked men, banter, etc. It was a WILD roller coaster ride, that's for sure!
I would recommend this to anyone wanting to read a binge-worthy dark romance with a ton of mystery! Just make sure to check the trigger warning list!
Thank you so much, Danni for the opportunity to ARC read! Well done! 👏🏽
This book had me in a chokehold! Kage oooo 💋chefs kiss💋 that man is FINE. And Lila that sweet girl can be a spitfire. I love how he brings out her feisty side😈 This book ends on a cliffhanger but it’s sooooooo good! Also having anxiety and panic attacks I definitely resonated with the FMC. All in all I would definitely recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I will say it is a little slower than what I was expecting. It’s good it’s keeps you on your toes and really brings you down a story of events that connect and are going to mean something in the second book! Kage tho! 🥰😩🥵 a man who is obsessed ruthless but soft only for Lila. 😩 red flag in all the right places 😍
I loved ever aspect of this book ! Loved the descriptive writting . Loved the characters! Loved the ending ! Yet I need the next book and any other books written by Danni Marie !
ARE YOU JOKING ME?! This book kept me on the edge of my seat, addicted! The mystery! The suspense! The spice! 🥵 You honestly are trying to figure out in your head the whole time! I did not see any of this coming! The fact that panic attacks are not only mentioned but shows how people work through them, especially when you’re fairly new to them & still get very scared of them. The lightning explanation, I’ve never been able to truly explain how it felt until that part 🌩️ This book was AMAZING! 😍🖤♥️
thank you so much to the author for letting me read an ARC of her debut book!! i straight up BINGED the last 70% of the book in one night hehe. once i got to around the 40% mark, i was invested in who was red mask and what was happening with lila and could not put it down. i did feel like the beginning was rushed a bit into her acceptance of stalking and her new sexual journey especially after hearing about her trauma later on, and the but i still had such a good and fun time reading it. i didn't know this was going to be book 1 of a series and now i'm just (impatiently) waiting for book 2 lol. i do wish we would've gotten more povs from red mask to see what his thought process would be as we only get lila's pov throughout the book besides the prologue, but i'm hoping we'll get his pov in book 2 to connect the dots as to why he acts the way he does, especially with lila. i also love our bff aster too and hope to see more of her! overall, i really love reading for the fun vibes and this was just a nice little dark romance to get into :')
I received this book as an ARC read and let me tell you, I could not put it down!! Danni Marie did such a great job with the characters and writing them in a way that you fall in love with them so fast! The story is original with tropes we all love! The masked man trope has been done a lot, but in this book it’s done REALLY well!! 10/10 recommended to read!
This story consumed me. From the first haunting moment in the hedge maze, the atmosphere is thick with tension, mystery, and temptation. The masked stranger is equal parts terror and allure, and that single whispered promise—“I’ll give you a head start, princess”—set the tone for everything that followed. Chilling, seductive, and unforgettable.
What truly elevated this book for me, though, was the internal dialogue. The FMC’s thoughts felt raw, intrusive, and painfully honest. Her anxiety and panic weren’t glossed over or romanticized—they were messy, spiraling, and incredibly real. As someone who understands that edge-of-your-breath feeling, I loved how authentically her fear, confusion, and unwanted desire were portrayed. You don’t just read her panic—you feel it.
The story masterfully blurs the line between danger and desire. The way he becomes a phantom presence—lingering in silences, breaths, and shadows—kept me on edge the entire time. Every scene drips with obsession, power, and secrets, making it impossible to tell where fear ends and temptation begins.
Dark, atmospheric, and emotionally gripping, this book haunted me long after the last page. If you love masked strangers, psychological tension, and FMCs who feel achingly real, this one is an absolute must-read
I got asked if I wanted to read this book and now I’m kicking my own ass for not picking it up faster. Well arcs were done so I picked it up and I don’t regret it. The plot was perfect so I started reading and was like okay I love. Who wouldn’t love an insecure woman who gets dragged to a Halloween party by her bestie who is almost like her fairy godmother. Dressed up as Rapunzel cast iron bag and all and off they go. Lila gets a panic attack and runs upstairs what she wasn’t expecting was to see a phantom getting a bj. She doesn’t leave oh no she stays, watches and touches herself. You would think that would be the end to her night but nope in a maze if she wins it she gets a wish granted. Soon she runs into a man in a red mask a couple of times. On the last he corners her and touches her. On her wish interview she meets Beck and soon his friend Kage. Kage is someone she wants but he’s broody and is like a hurricane. I devoured this book and that ending ma’am I’m going to need the second book you can’t leave me in suspense.
I was lucky enough to ARC read this book, and let me tell you it did not disappoint! This would be an amazing step into dark romance if you are trying to dip your toes into the world. What spice is there is spicy, and I found myself building up and up waiting, you could literally feel the tension through the book. I binged the last 70% of the book so freaking fast. I was captivated. Dannie Marie laid out the story in the way that you are wondering who the red mask is, who the phantom is. I had my suspicions, and was correct, BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT THAT CLIFFHANGER?? I’m impatiently waiting for the next book now, and can not wait to get my hands on it, hopefully I can ARC read it too! I���m hoping in the next book we get more backstory of a certain someone, because she left it vague for a reason. There are so many questions and scenarios still swirling around in my mind. Good job Danni Marie on your debut novel, it did not disappoint!
Lost in the Chase had such a compelling premise, and that’s what really hooked me. The whole concept of the mysterious man behind the mask — always watching, protecting, and somehow always finding her — created this constant sense of tension and intrigue that made it hard to put down. That protective, slightly obsessive energy mixed with the secrecy added a strong emotional pull to the story, and I loved the feeling that the heroine was never as alone as she thought.
The connection between the characters was intense, and the “who is he really?” element kept me turning the pages. There’s something about a hidden identity and quiet devotion that just works, and this book definitely delivered on that atmosphere.
My only drawback was that the focus on sexual urges came up very frequently, sometimes in moments where I wished we got more plot or backstory instead. I found myself wanting deeper insight into the characters and the overall story development beyond the physical side of their connection.
Overall, though, the storyline and the masked-protector concept were strong enough that I really enjoyed the read. If you love dark romance vibes, mystery surrounding the male lead, and protective energy, this one is worth picking up.
I found Danni on TikTok and immediately downloaded her book after I finished a different one. At first, I was a little skeptical because I’ve read so many dark romances and found myself DNFing quite a few lately. When I tell you, this story is GOOD! It has it all: masked men, spicy scenes, AND a twist at the end??? For a debut, I actually was pleasantly surprised. The only reason why I gave it a 4/5 is because the dialogue makes me giggle. If you were a Wattpad kid ( like me ) you’ll def want to pick this up. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
If you are looking for a read that contains all things spooky season…
~Halloween parties 🎃 -masked men 🎭 ~maze chases with killer on the lose vibes 🌲 -masquerade balls💃
But in all honesty my favorite part was the bestie duo 💛🖤 Aster and Lila were so fun and the perfect opposites. They’re friendship is so beautiful. I was thinking throughout this read how I would love a spin-off of Aster and her man! But now that i know there is a book two coming, I’m excited and hopefully we will get some chapters on them!
The MMC has me at a loss as of now. I’m definitely happy I read the bonus chapter because it helped clear up a few questions I had about his personality.
Overall i enjoyed this read and will be picking book two!
I just finished this book this week and right off the bat the prologue had me hooked. I really have to get sucked in right away or I have a hard time getting into the story.
I was instantly hooked and found Lila to be so relatable I loved watching her character develop through out the book
All the twists and turns had me wanting to keep going. I didn’t figure out some of the mysteries till later in the book which I love. I hate when it’s too easy to figure things out. Overall I highly recommend this book, I can’t wait to keep going with this story!
I absolutely loved this book and could talk about it for hours. Had my jaw dropping, had me giggling, stunned, shocked, any emotion you name it! I am ENAMORED with this book. It's the type of dark romance where it's not pushing personal boundaries and making you uncomfortable, but pushing boundaries that have you asking "what is she even doing" and the main character is thinking the same thing! It's emotional and hot and steamy, freaky/spicy ofc! Best of all, it's full of love, support, and personal growth. I really encourage everyone to read this!
I loved the wild ride this book took you through and “the chase” it provided! 🖤🔥 It was everything you need in a dark romance; dark, spicy, mysterious…and masked men…yes, masked men!!! 😈 And some seriously good banter!! 🌶️ Mentions of Halloween, haunted trails, and a masquerade ball are also in this book! 🙌🏻🖤 You will fall in love with Lila, but your heart will also break for her! I also love Lila’s best friend, Aster! The build up involved with all the characters is so good and something you would’ve never guessed coming! If you want a book with a roller coaster of feelings; this is it!! This book will keep you hooked and will have you BINGE READING!! 🖤🔥 And the plot is chef’s kiss!! 😘 I NEED, NEED, NEED Book 2 because I have so many questions and I need to see what happens!!! I also need more of Lila and the “masked men”! And I’m hoping there is more of Red Mask’s POV! ♥️ P.S. Be sure to check your trigger warnings before reading this book! ‼️
I love this book! The beginning of this book I loved the setting of it, it was very different and it caught me in! I loved the characters they are all unique, different, and independent in their own way! If you love a good chase this book here is for you! I highly recommend!!
I absolutely loved this book. The plot, the spice, the emotional aspects, and the tension were all there!! I loved how Danni included the songs playing during a scene, it really set the mood of how the scene is going. I am so excited for the second book!!
I had the privilege of editing this novel before publication, and needless to say, I believe this is a must read for those who love the dark romance genre. The smut is perfectly spicy, the characters are well-rounded, and the book always keeps you guessing. An absolute job well done.
The spice is spicy, but such a good story too. Masked man, stalker, obsessed protective mmc, all of the best red flags. The main characters are working to take down a trafficking ring that they have a history with and Danni does a great job of writing in the mental health after their trauma. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger for the fmc and mmc, so I cannot wait for book two!!!
This book was a very good read. From the beginning it had me locked in. 3 masked men, hallowed, a maze, and all the spice. When I tell you I kept guessing who these men were and who’d she choose, I couldn’t put the book down. This is a great book for everyone but especially for those who are just getting into a dark romance.
If there were any critiques, it would be there was a contradiction in the book from what I read but I could also be wrong (lol). But that’s just being very nit picky.
This book was definitely not what I expected but it was an interesting read. Took me a minute to read and get into it but once I was I enjoyed it. I love anything with phantom of the opera vibes and this had that and you had me at masked men… honestly. But the ending threw me because I thought it was a stand alone… I was incorrect. Will be waiting for book 2!
How did Lila not see that coming??? 3 masked men??? Which will she choose! I really hope the second book comes out soon, I really have a lot of questions and I think I will be heartbroken when I read Lost in the Pain!
🥀Review🥀 Like I said up top I have lots of questions!
The flow of the book wasn’t all that smooth, but you get the bigger picture for sure. Our FMC, Lila goes through a traumatic event that actually leads her to want to work for the company that saved her, which I thought was great.
I can’t say much without spoiling it so I won’t, but I will say that my gut was right about something!!!
Nothing will put this into words better than if you thought you were unhinge-fully in love with dark romances with masked mmc. You don’t know anything until you read this magnificent piece of art. I think I’ll go crawl in a hole now bc there’s nothing that will come close to the way this book make me feel and I need book 2 asap now thank you 😂🤦♀️