My Masked Shadow

Beautiful Stalkers #3

by Arden Hart

I'm in her firewall. She's under my skin.

I don’t need to creep down dark alleys to stalk her.
I have the internet. I have her passwords.
I have everything.

Barbara thinks she knows me—the loudmouthed, cocky brother-in-arms of her best friend’s boyfriend. The one who’s always too much, too boisterous, too inappropriate.
She doesn’t know the other me.
The one who lives in the shadows of her devices.

I see her through her cameras.
Hear her through her mic.
Watch her play our favorite game at night, hair in a messy bun, soft little sighs spilling into my headset while she’s convinced I’m just another player, another anonymous stranger online.

She thinks she hates me. But she can’t stay away from me online.
And she has no idea the man behind the screen is the same one who watches her move through her apartment like a living fever dream.

I’m not an assassin like Killian. Not a vigilante like Damien.
I’m a different kind of predator—one who worms his way past firewalls the same way he worms his way into a life.

Barbara doesn’t realize she’s already mine.
But soon, she’ll understand:
The shadows she can’t escape aren’t on her walls.
They’re me.

My Masked Shadow is a dark, obsessive romance featuring a brilliant, morally gray ex-military hacker antihero and the stubborn kindergarten teacher–turned–gamer girl who can’t decide if she wants to block him… or beg for more.

Genres: Dark Romance, Stalker, Romance, Dark, Spicy, BDSM, Contemporary

182 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 28, 2025

About the author

Arden Hart writes dark, obsessive romances that linger in the shadows. Expect possessive heroes, twisted desires, and tension that grips you until the last page.

When not weaving danger and obsession onto the page, Arden enjoys strong coffee and dreaming up morally gray characters who refuse to let go.

Reviews

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unhinged, Obsessed, and Impossible to Resist



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💜🤎💚❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋😀😍☺️🥰

📚 Book Review: My Masked Shadow (Beautiful Stalkers, #3)

Author: Arden Hart
Genre: Stalker romance

🦸🏼‍♀️ The Heroine: Barbara

Barbara is a warm, grounded kindergarten teacher who traded the sunshine of Los Angeles for New York’s icy winters—mostly because her best friend Emily is there. She’s not built for the cold, so winter turns her into a cozy homebody, tucked away from the world. When she meets Emily’s fiancé and his best friend Ethan, she’s instantly irritated. Ethan is loud, arrogant, and far too confident for his own good. Sure, he’s gorgeous, tattooed, and clearly dedicated to the gym, but Barbara refuses to be charmed. In her eyes, he’s the exact kind of man she avoids.

🦸🏻‍♂️ The Hero: Ethan

Ethan is a brilliant hacker with a military background, a sharp mouth, and a confidence level that borders on outrageous. He spends hours behind a computer screen, but he still trains like he’s preparing for combat. From the moment he meets Barbara, he’s captivated—and he handles that fascination in the most Ethan way possible: by inserting himself into her life through a “mysterious” gaming computer she thinks she won. Then he slips into her favorite online RPG under the alias “Sebastian,” determined to win her attention from behind a screen.

He’s cocky, obsessive, and absolutely relentless. And he knows it.

📚 The Story

After copying Barbara’s keys the night they met, Ethan breaks into her apartment and installs cameras everywhere under the guise of protecting her. His justification? Emily was recently targeted by a violent human trafficking ring, and Barbara could be next. But even Ethan knows he didn’t need to put cameras in her shower or above her bed to keep her safe. His obsession is personal, not tactical.

Meanwhile, Barbara grows closer to “Sebastian,” her charming online companion, completely unaware that he’s actually Ethan. When she asks for a selfie, he sends her a masked, polished version of himself—just enough truth to keep the lie alive.

🌟 Highlights

• Ethan is an unapologetic, over-the-top stalker, and somehow that makes him irresistible on the page. In real life, he’d be terrifying, but in a stalker romance? He’s exactly the brand of unhinged devotion that makes this series so addictive.
• The heroes in this world are dangerous men—former military, highly skilled, and absolutely lethal when necessary. That edge of danger adds tension, heat, and a sense of high-stakes romance.
• Despite their morally gray behavior, Ethan and his friends are fundamentally good men. They may cross lines for the women they love, but their mission—taking down predators who hurt women—keeps them firmly on the side of justice.
• Ethan’s tech genius is a standout element. The VR warehouse with haptic floors, sensory feedback, and immersive simulations is vivid, cinematic, and incredibly fun to imagine.

💔 Where It Fell Short

• Barbara’s moments of confusion about Ethan/Sebastian felt a bit forced. She only has two men in her life—how does she not connect the dots when they say the same things? Those scenes made her seem less perceptive than she should be.

💬 Final Thoughts

This installment delivers everything a stalker-romance fan craves: an obsessive hero, a heroine who grounds the chaos, and a plot laced with danger, heat, and emotional intensity. Ethan is unhinged in all the best ways, and the blend of tech intrigue, military grit, and romantic obsession makes the story compulsively readable. While Barbara’s obliviousness occasionally strains believability, the overall experience is fast, dark, and deliciously addictive. If you love morally gray heroes who would burn the world down for their woman, this book is a standout addition to the series.

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[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ethan … Oh you sexy, sexy stalker. Barbara hit the jackpot when she caught the obsessive eye of hacker Ethan—not that she knew about it. It was his dirty little secret. She tells herself she hates Ethan. Hates everything about him. She even meets someone online. He’s incredibly hot, attentive, and seems to genuinely care. Then this … thing happens. And another thing happens. And she. is. confused. Confusion leads to shocking revelations, huge decisions, enemies slipping through, and lives put on the line and lost. This is an awesome book. Caleb is next!

*** Recommended***

MMC:
✨Ethan
FMC:
✨Barbara
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Series:
✨Book 3 of Beautiful Stalkers
Epilogue:
🌗yes
Tropes:
👉dark stalker romance
👉serial killer romance
👉ex military mmc
👉obsessive mmc
👉possessive mmc
👉hacker mmc x gamer fmc
👉touch her and ☠️
👉primal masks
👉bdsm, roll play
Triggers:
💥18+
💥sex, rough, explicit
💥profanity
💥violence
💥death, murder
💥stalking, video surveillance, voyeurism
💥primal
Burn Speed:
✨fast
Spice Level:
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨MF.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Catte Coelho · Rating 4 out of 5]

🇬🇧

OMG. THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING.

Pardon me, ETHAN SEBASTIAN KANE WAS EVERYTHING. 😭🖤

Both him and Barb are officially my Roman Empire. What a sexy, addictive and ridiculously entertaining little ride. I genuinely don’t know what took me so long to discover Arden Hart’s writing, but apparently I’ve been missing out because I am OBSESSED.

The chemistry between Ethan and Barb had me hooked from the beginning. They’re fun, they’re hot, they’re incredibly easy to root for, and I could’ve happily stayed with them for another hundred pages just watching their dynamic play out.

But Ethan?

Yeah. That man got me.

I’m an absolute loser for a good golden retriever MMC, and apparently making him a gamer too was all it took to completely destroy me. 🎮😂 Sweet, sexy, adorable and impossible not to love? I’m DONE.

Definitely my favorite of the series so far, and now I need more Arden Hart immediately because Ethan and Barb have officially taken permanent residence in my brain.

I’m obsessed. That’s it. That’s the review. 🖤

🇵🇹

OMG. ESTE LIVRO FOI TUDO.

Perdoem-me, mas ETHAN SEBASTIAN KANE FOI TUDO. 😭🖤

Ele e a Barb são oficialmente o meu Roman Empire. Que pequena viagem sexy, viciante e absurdamente divertida. Genuinamente, não sei o que é que demorei tanto tempo a descobrir a escrita da Arden Hart, mas aparentemente andava a perder MUITO porque estou OBCECADA.

A química entre o Ethan e a Barb agarrou-me desde o início. São divertidos, são hot, é impossível não torcer por eles e eu teria ficado perfeitamente feliz com mais umas cem páginas só para continuar a acompanhar a dinâmica dos dois.

Mas o Ethan?

Pois. Aquele homem apanhou-me.

Eu sou uma completa perdida por um bom golden retriever MMC e, aparentemente, torná-lo gamer foi tudo aquilo que era necessário para acabar comigo de vez. 🎮😂 Doce, sexy, adorável e impossível de não amar? ESTOU FEITA.

Definitivamente o meu favorito da série até agora e, neste momento, preciso de mais Arden Hart imediatamente porque o Ethan e a Barb já ocuparam residência permanente no meu cérebro.

Estou obcecada. É isso. É a review. 🖤

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

He’s in her devices. He’s under her skin. And she has no idea.

Barbara thinks Ethan is just her best friend’s cocky, inappropriate acquaintance, the guy who’s always too much and always around. What she doesn’t know is that he’s already inside her life, watching her through hidden cameras, listening through her mic, and flirting with her online under a false name, feeding her a fantasy he's controlling from behind the screen.

She falls for the masked stranger online, unaware he’s the same man she tries to avoid in real life. When fantasy slips into reality, their connection ignites in a chase that strips them both to the bone. Ethan pushes her limits, and Barbara gives him something he never saw coming, a kind of vulnerability that changes everything.

Just as trust begins to take root, danger from Ethan’s past slams into their present. A hidden threat targets Barbara, forcing Ethan to protect her out in the open and prove that he’s more than just the shadow lurking in her world. ‍

Ethan starts as a cold, calculating observer, but Barbara forces him to feel. She begins guarded and grounded, yet opens herself to the intensity that grows between them. What starts in secrecy and control becomes a bond that’s fierce, tangled, and real.

A dark, steamy, enemies to lovers, morally gray, stalker hacker romance exploring obsession, surveillance, control, identity, secrecy, emotional surrender, and transformation. It’s about what happens when deception turns into desire, and two people choose each other fully, even with every secret still burning between them.

The Elevator Pitch: A dark, addictive romance where danger watches from the shadows and obsession feels a lot like love. She falls for a masked fantasy, never knowing he’s been in her life all along, pulling the strings and crossing every line. Twisted, explosive, and dripping with heat, it’s about control, surrender, and the thrill of being hunted.

[theshadyivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🫦🫦🫦🫦

Whew… what a ride!
Arden has done it again, spinning a mesmerizing story around Ethan and Barbara—your next favorite couple in this series.

I adored all the little details Arden wove in to craft the perfect illusion for Ethan to draw Barbara in. It could have felt creepy, but Arden’s razor-sharp wit and playful banter had me snickering more times than I can count. The chase through virtual reality? Absolutely thrilling—and I have to admit, I was hooked from start to finish.

And the action? Top-notch. It made Ethan utterly irresistible. 🔥

Plus, fans of My Masked Savior are in for a treat—Morgan and Damien have a little surprise waiting for you. 😎

I’m already counting the days for Caleb & Basia’s story!

If you love your MMCs unhinged, morally grey, and darkly compelling, this book is a must-grab.

[okudugumusoyluyorum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kurgu, giriş gelişme ve sonuç bakımından sanırım serideki en başarılı kitap. Yazar serinin ilk kitabından itibaren kendini geliştirmiş.

Ethan okurken keyifleneceğimi biliyordum ki özellikle Seb kısımlarında gerçekten keyif aldım. Smut dozuda seride çok yüksek ve git gide artıyor gibi.

İlk kitaptan itibaren kurguya dahil edilen olayın sonuç kısmı biraz basit kaçsa da kurgu içinde yayıldığı için güzeldi.

[Sara's reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estava mesmo a precisar disto 😂

[Alina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
The overall banter with them was fun but sometimes it got so cheesy I got annoyed

[Josephine Bercegeay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope everyone has this on the if they have not read it yet and if it is one you trb move it to the top the mmc and mfc are so great loved them and the spice was spicy 🔥 just enough to make it work and not over done I can't wait to read more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jetscarbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

”They’re coming to get you, Barbara”

The author MISSED a huge opportunity to use that line from The Night of the Living Dead. These heroes are OTT/P stalkers who chase their women. The line could have been easily used. 😂

The book was okay. Plenty of spice. Barbara was not my favorite heroine. I haven’t really liked her since book 1. I’m just not a fan of a whole guy group seamlessly all hooking up with the girl group. It’s just too perfect.

If I could offer the author any critique, it would be to please quit using snatch for vagina and honey for cum. Maybe that’s just a ME thing, but it’s like nails on a chalkboard. It actually makes me physically cringe. 😬

[Siren by Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so, confession time: I read the first book, got a glimpse of Ethan being his loud, chaotic, annoying-but-not-really self, and my brain immediately went "yep, that's my man".
So naturally I skipped book two entirely and went straight for book three. Zero regrets. NONE!

Barbara is out here just trying to survive New York winters (a whole personality trait, honestly, because same) while being emotionally sabotaged by her best friend's fiancé's best friend — the human embodiment of "too loud, too much, too confident for his own good."

Except surprise! Ethan's actually got a whole secret hacker-antihero situation going on, watching her through cameras like it's totally normal Tuesday behavior.

Red flags? Absolutely.
Did I still swoon? Also absolutely.

Their chemistry? SO FREAKING HOT!!!!
IT WAS EVERYTHING!

The online gaming-stranger-who's-actually-your-crush trope? Chef's kiss. I was fully invested in these two from page one! Rooting for a relationship built on mild digital stalking and questionable life choices 🤣

The spice ...WAS SPICING, I was kicking and giggling the whole time!!!

I wanted MORE — more slow burn, more chaos, more of these two being unhinged at each other before the big reveal.

But listen, that's a me problem, not a book problem!

Ethan Sebastian Kane has officially moved into my brain rent-free and I don't see him leaving anytime soon.

10/10 would let a hacker watch me play video games again.

[ChokeholdByFiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ethan. Fucking. Kane.
Gods...
Yeah, I'm gone 😮‍💨🖤
This was easily my favourite book in the series so far. Ethan absolutely stole the show for me. The man had me swooning from beginning to end, and I wasn't even trying to resist.
I loved the banter between Ethan and Bee. Their chemistry was fantastic, and the tension between them had me hooked. Every interaction felt fun, flirty, and entertaining.
The plot itself was intriguing enough to keep me invested, but let's be honest... Ethan was the main event 🤣
And can we talk about the VR simulator for primal chase for a second?
Because that's the kind of ridiculous nonsense that should have had me rolling my eyes, but instead I was fully on board 😭
Honestly, Ethan had the energy of an overexcited teenager who'd been fueled entirely by Red Bull and bad decisions, and somehow it worked perfectly.
The humour landed, the romance worked, the tension was chef's kiss, and I loved getting more of the overall story and characters.
Best couple in the series so far. 🖤

[Steph Adkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gosh I love this series (interconnected standalones, but really does help to read them all in order) so fricken much! Arden really knows how to write these quick dark romance reads. These ARCs are 3/3 for me, none of them have disappointed.

Ethan uses his ex-military and internet hacking skills to use when he wants to win over Barbara. Does he take it slightly over the top? Yes. Was I still grinning and kicking my feet at the exchanges and chemistry between the two main character? Also yes.


Super excited to continue this series and continue to learn more about each character of the group, can’t wait for the next installment! Check your triggers!

* I received my copy of this book as an ARC and I’m leaving my review voluntarily *

[Jas "L.B. Grim" Gonzales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course the gamer/hacker turns out to be my favorite, so far, as the gamer girly!

It’s the classic push and pull. Barbara makes up all kinds of excuses of why she shouldn’t/wouldn’t fall for the loud, arrogant Ethan. But then she meets “Seb” online, who turns out to be Ethan, and who she thinks is an absolutely great person.

She eventually finds out the truth and just when she thinks she can give him a chance, shit hits the fan.

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
He built a training sim for him and his buddies but uses it for Barbara’s primal chase fantasy 😍🥵 and made sure to keep an eye on her vitals so he could immediately stop if she wasn’t okay with it! Yes!! Amazing!!

[Leoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

TWs:
- Stalking & Obsession (non-con surveillance)
- Voyeurism (non-consensual)
- Deception/Alter Ego
- Violence, Blood, Guns
- Murder on Page
- Breeding Kink (no pregnancy)
- Praise/Degradation
- Possessive/Obsessive MMC
- Rough, Explicit Sex
- Anal Play
- Primal Chase Roleplay
- Sex In Semi-Public Spaces
- Organized Crime/Terrorist Elements
- Mentions of Stalking/Trafficking
- Attempted Kidnapping (not by MC)

[Pam.ela.82 · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

AB KU
Came across this as I searched for Joe Arden on Spotify and the book length was perfect for the remaining listening hours I had left.
My first read of Arden Hart and I really enjoyed it, so much so that I've added the other 3 books of this series to my TBR.
Adored Ethan 😍
As always with Joe and Marie Hawkins narration - brilliant.

[jords:) · Rating 5 out of 5]

HAWT. My only qualm is that he told a massive lie and she didn’t make him grovel. Still a 10/10 read - quick, dirty, and dangerous.

[Alva Schwung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ethan Kane. that’s it. that’s the entire review.

[Billie Parsons · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a few parts that gave me second hand embarrassment for Barbara and Ethan. Overall I liked the book though.

[Madalena · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Syarafina · Rating 5 out of 5]

did not expect to like this book this much but maybe i just love the double identity trope hehe (but highkey wished the fmc did not forgive the mmc so easily UGHHH make uim grovel more gurllll)

[Maria Lopes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5⭐️

[Marlene Franco · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

3,75⭐️

[Brita Mackay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ethans in her firewall. She's under his skin.

He doesn’t need to creep down dark alleys to stalk her.
He has the internet. He has her passwords.
He has everything.

Barbara thinks she knows him—the loudmouthed, cocky brother-in-arms of her best friend’s boyfriend. The one who’s always too much, too boisterous, too inappropriate.
She doesn’t know the other him.
The one who lives in the shadows of her devices.

He sees her through her cameras.
Hear her through her mic.
Watch her play their favorite game at night, hair in a messy bun, soft little sighs spilling into his headset while she’s convinced he’s just another player, another anonymous stranger online.

She thinks she hates him. But she can’t stay away from him online.
And she has no idea the man behind the screen is the same one who watches her move through her apartment like a living fever dream.

He's not an assassin like Killian. Not a vigilante like Damien.
He's a different kind of predator—one who worms his way past firewalls the same way he worms his way into a life.

Barbara doesn’t realize she’s already his.
But soon, she’ll understand:
The shadows she can’t escape aren’t on her walls.
They’re him.

My Masked Shadow is a dark, obsessive romance featuring a brilliant, morally gray ex-military hacker antihero and the stubborn kindergarten teacher–turned–gamer girl who can’t decide if she wants to block him… or beg for more.

YOU'RE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please read and pay close attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. There is some content and scenes in this book that are not suitable for all readers and could be triggering for others. Always remember that your mental health comes first at all times. Reader discretion is advised. Intended for readers 18+.

Tropes: Interconnected Standalones, Dual POV, Masked Man, Hacker x Gamer Girl, Enemies-to-Lovers, OTT obsessed MMC, Who Knows no Boundaries to his Stalking and Voyeurism, He Calls her Firecracker, Little Bee, She Calls Him Jerk, Asshole, HEA, Hacker Antihero, Kindergarten Teacher, Gamer Girl, Dark Romance, Obsessive Romance, Can’t Escape Him, Brother-in-Arms, Boyfriends Best Friend.

Her Masked Stalker is the 3rd book in the Beautiful Stalkers Series A Dark Hacker Romance by Arden Hart.

I’ve been addicted to this series since finding book 1 and finding myself engrossed in it. Now I just keep grabbing each new book every chance I get and now I am a die-hard fan of Arden Hart and I know that if she writes it, I will read it. She has found a fan in me.

At one point Barbara thought that the biggest problem she had was just surviving the chaos of her day to day teaching her kindergarten class and then kicking back and gaming at night. Now, it’s now that easy as she knows that someone’s watching her – and it’s not just anyone – they know her passwords, her secrets, every move she makes.

She looks at Ethan as this loud, cocky, arrogant, and annoying best-friend of her boyfriend in real her real life. Online though, he’s this cryptic player named Sebastian Barbara can’t stop herself from thinking about.

She just doesn’t know that Ethan and Sebastian are one and the same. And Ethan’s done sitting back and waiting. As he’s fond of saying “Privacy is nothing more than an illusion, and Barbara belongs to him – whether she realizes it or no.”

I have to say that Arden has done such a fantastic job with everything in this book. She did such a stunning job with the spicy scenes, those scenes had me needing either a cold drink of water or a cold shower, but dang was I hot under the coller.

I love colourful language, seeing as I love using colourful language in my day-to-day life and I have since I was a teenager, so words like absofuckinglutely, cumdump, the DP Express, sexcapade, her snatch, Jesus on a bike, I loved this language and honestly, I think that I am going to be adding some of these to my own repertoire for regular use.

And I loved the references to the popular film and stars like Billie Eilish or Law & Order, Law & Order SVU, and S.W.A.T.

Now I am so hyped for Caleb & Basia’s story. I can’t wait to get my hot little hands on that story.


My favorite quotes:

“I'm in her firewall. She's under my skin.”

“Fuuuuuuck.”

“Putting a camera into Barbara's shower? Best. Decision. Ever.”

[PlotTwist&Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your moral compass still points north, this book will spin it like a carnival ride and leave it sobbing in a corner. My Masked Shadow is dark romance in its purest, most unhinged form: a man with a hoodie, a hacker setup, and the audacity of someone who thinks Google is a personality trait tries to claim Barbara like she’s his favorite deluxe downloadable content.

Ethan is the tech-savvy stalker who doesn’t just toe the line—he crosses it, dances on it, and then sets it on fire while whispering sweet nothings into Barbara’s hacked microphone. The man breaks into her life with the confidence of someone who believes the FBI is too understaffed to deal with his nonsense. Honestly? He’s ridiculous. And devastatingly compelling. You know, the usual.

Barbara, bless her anxious gamer-girl heart, has chemistry with “Seb” (sure, Ethan, keep lying to yourself) that is so electric I’m shocked a small forest didn’t catch fire somewhere. Their phone calls, the voice-chat tension, the accidental emotional intimacy… it’s messy, it’s hot, it’s questionable, and it scratches the “I should not want this, but here we are” itch perfectly.

The prose leans cinematic: neon masks, hacked webcams, wet dreams on fancy pillows… Arden Hart said “morality is optional,” and honestly? She committed.


Why This Book Works
• The tension is so thick you could spread it on toast.
• Ethan is written exactly how a deranged book boyfriend should be.
• The stalker vibes are shameless in the best way.
• Barbara is adorably chaotic and surprisingly relatable.
• The pacing hooks you like you’re the one being stalked.

Why You’ll Side-Eye Yourself
• You will root for Ethan despite fully understanding he should be on a government watchlist.
• You will defend Barbara even though she trusts men on the internet like she’s speedrunning disaster.
• You will enjoy scenes you absolutely should not enjoy.


Triggers (non-spoilery)
• Stalking
• Voyeurism
• Cyber intrusion / hacking
• Break-ins
• Power imbalance
• Manipulation
• Explicit sexual content
• Violence (mild references)
• Obsession

If your therapist asks how you’re doing after reading this, please just lie. It’s easier for everyone.


Ratings

Overall: ★★★★☆ (4.7 / 5)
Spice: Flaming hot gamer headset ♥♥♥♥½
Dark Factor: Enough to make your moral compass pack a suitcase
Characters: Hot, messy, wildly unhealthy, but addictively readable


Final Thoughts

This book is pure chaos wrapped in a neon mask. It’s addictive, unhinged, and crafted to make you deny it publicly and read it again privately. Arden Hart really said: “What if your online crush AND the man who irritates the living daylights out of you… were the same stalker?” And somehow, it works.

If you want danger, lust, unfiltered obsession, and a romance that makes you question your life choices… congratulations. You’ve found your next read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Leigh Brooker · Rating 5 out of 5]

PLEASE READ TRIGGER WARNINGS 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Yeah have to say this series has definitely become my obsession. I was looking forward to this one having got to glimpses of the MMC in the other two books and I wasn't disappointed. I've loved how the author has made each one of these men so vastly different from each other, Killian brutal and blunt, Damien quiet and reserved and of course Ethan, loudmouthed and cocky. (Yep you can bet he stole my heart from the get go.) And the lengths they will go to to get their girl. Again the other characters from previous books appear keeping you up to date with how their lives are going, while the ongoing storyline from books one and two plays out. The dynamic between the two main characters was electric, even if Barbara is in denial on how she really feels about Ethan. This is definitely my favourite of the bunch so far and I can't wait to get to book 4.

Ethan Kane ex army intel specialist now computer hacker, is infatuated with his brother in arms girlfriend best friend Barbara. From the moment they met he can think of nothing else but her, the only problem she can't stand him. But he doesn't need to stalk her from alleyways, or break into her apartment, not when he has control of her devices at his fingertips. Barbara doesn't realise that she already belongs to him, but soon she'll understand, as the time for watching and waiting is over.

As I said I freaking adored Ethan right from his introduction in book one. He's larger than life personality boisterous, inappropriate and cocky gave him a charisma that made him damn funny at times, and completely hooked me in. The fact that he's infatuated with a woman who can't stand him made it even more delicious. So what does he do, he does what any self respecting stalker does and creates an online personality to woo the girl of his dreams, while still trying to charm her in real life. Yes this couple was definitely my favourite by far, and I look forward to seeing them in the next book.

Have to say it, loved, loved, loved Barbara. Her sassy, stubborn nature had me wanting to be her best friend from the start. Her and Ethan's banter was on point and had me giggling at the way she denies the attraction between them. Instead showing him distain and contempt while falling for his online persona 'Seb'. But even as she does, it's Ethan that she finds herself fantasizing about more and more....

Another fast paced intense read which I literally couldn't put down, and really wanted more of. I only have one more book to go in this series and I'm dying to get to Caleb's story next. Totally recommend if you love morally grey men who will do literally anything to possess the women in their sights. 😁

[Chandra Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story sinks into your bloodstream from page one—equal parts unsettling, addictive, intimate, and shockingly tender in the most morally gray way possible. Ethan is a man made of shadows and sharp edges, an ex-military hacker who slips through firewalls as easily as he slips into the darkest corners of your mind. And Barbara? She’s the stubborn, soft-hearted kindergarten teacher who thinks she has Ethan figured out: the too-loud, too-inappropriate, too-much guy who grates her nerves.

She has no idea.

Because the man who teases her in person is the same anonymous voice she can’t resist online—the man who listens to her soft sighs through her headset, who watches her game with her hair in a messy bun, who knows every digital doorway into her world.

And yes, it’s wrong.
And yes, he goes too far.
And yes, you will still find yourself smiling, blushing, and kicking your feet because Arden Hart somehow makes the forbidden feel dangerously intimate.

This book doesn’t tiptoe around obsession—it embraces it, bares its teeth, and challenges you to decide how far is too far when it comes to love, protection, and possession. Ethan’s devotion is terrifying, intense, and strangely beautiful. He’s not a hero. He’s not a villain. He’s something in-between—the shadow under the bed that you want to touch you.

Barbara’s confusion, her push-pull craving, her attempts at boundaries that melt the moment truth bleeds through—it’s messy, relatable, and emotionally gripping. She’s caught between the safety she thinks she wants and the danger she can’t tear herself away from. And when the lies fracture, when enemies slip in, and when everything explodes into life-or-death stakes…you feel every beat of it.

What makes this book shine isn’t just the obsession or the heat—it’s the vulnerability underneath. The moments where Ethan’s hunger cracks open and becomes something like reverence. The moments where Barbara realizes that being truly seen—every flaw, every habit, every secret—is both terrifying and intoxicating.

My Masked Shadow is for readers who crave morally gray men who love too hard, heroines who fight even while falling, and a romance that isn’t afraid to take you into the dark…and then make you want to stay.

If you love obsessive antiheroes, hacker intrigue, high-stakes danger, and chemistry that feels like static electricity under your skin, this is a one-sitting, heart-racing, spine-tingling read you do not want to miss.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

a D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S. dark stalker romance

I recently discovered Arden Hart through her 2nd book in the Beautiful Stalkers series - My Masked Savior - and I can tell you now:

🖤If Arden Hart writes it, I will read it!🖤

My favorite quotes:
✍️too many to name, but here are a few:

I'm in her firewall. She's under my skin.

Fuuuuuuck.

Putting a camera into Barbara's shower? Best. Decision. Ever.

What it is about:
Barbara thought her biggest problem was surviving kindergarten chaos by day and gaming by night. But someone is watching - someone who knows her passwords, her secrets, her every move. To her, Ethan is just a loud, cocky, arrogant and annoying friend-of-a-friend in real life. Online, he’s the mysterious player Sebastian she can’t stop thinking about.
What she doesn’t know? They’re the same man. And he’s done waiting. In his world, privacy is an illusion, and Barbara belongs to him - whether she realizes it or not.

What I loved:
♾️E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G., except maybe the name Barbara *shudders in stereo*
🔥the s*xy scenes are so well written, it got me all hot & bothered! 🫠
🌈colorful language, such as absofuckinglutely, cumdump, the DP Express, sexcapade, her snatch, Jesus on a bike
🎬popular references; Billie Eilish, Law & Order: SVU, S.W.A.T.,...

What you need to know:
📚interconnected standalones
🫂dual POV
🫠masked man
👨‍💻hacker x gamer girl
🤬enemies-to-lovers
🖤OTT obsessed MMC, who knows no boundaries to his stalking and voyeurism
🎆he calls her firecracker, little bee
🤣she calls him jerk, asshole
❤️HEA

For the safety squad:
Besides the obvious (this is a dark stalker romance after all), here are a few others:
🔥good girl, primal play, rough sex, edging, spitting, squirting, breeding kink (but on birth control),...
🦺attempted kidnapping, violence, murder, guns, human trafficking (mentions of),...

[Ivett · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ Rating: 4/5
🌶️ Spice: 3/5

Arden did it again. This book fits perfectly into the series - well written, fun, and full of characters you can’t help but enjoy. I especially loved the banter between Barbara and Ethan. I kept smiling every time she barked back at him. Their exchanges are gritty, vicious, packed with edge, and yet you can see the tension simmering beautifully underneath.

Barbara, like Emily, is a kindergarten (or nursery) teacher by day and a gamer by night. I loved this detail - mostly because I used to be a huge gamer myself, now downgraded to casual status. The opening scenes with her, Seb, and their online sessions brought me straight back to my MMORPG era. (I was an Aion girl - insta runs, PvP, Spiritmaster supremacy, defending Inggison… and yes, Elyos forever.)
We do get to know Barbara, but for my taste, I would’ve liked a bit more. Not a full open-book character - where’s the fun in that? - but just a little more depth.

Now Ethan, the golden retriever with a big (and very dirty) mouth. He’s hilarious and easy to love, though Damien is still my #1, Killian my #2, and Ethan slides in at #3. I am extremely curious to see if Caleb is going to shake up that ranking.
As for the “find my partner in an online game” trope - it didn’t hit me as hard because, well… that’s how I met my ex-husband (9Dragons - he was Heavenly Demon, I was Sacred Flower). So while I vibed with the setup, I accepted it quickly and moved on.

During the first 130 pages, I was craving some real Ethan action. We see a lot of Killian and Damien earlier, but Ethan was lurking behind the monitors. So when he finally stepped into the spotlight, especially during that chase (not that chase - though the warehouse one was great), I was thrilled. He proved he’s more than all bark; he’s fiercely protective and absolutely capable.
Also… the car scene with the police and Caleb just outside? Insanely hot.



Would I recommend this book?
Hell yes. Just like the others. Arden delivers engaging characters, thrilling moments, and spicy scenes that are written just right - they definitely keep your mood up (yes bab, mood). I love how the stories connect; you never feel like these are three separate novellas. Everything blends together seamlessly.

Another solid hit in the series.

[Michelle Frater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most people have no idea just how exposed they are in a world stuffed with smart tech—laptops, cameras, every device we casually trust. All it takes is the wrong person with the right skills for your private life to become their personal viewing window. And Ethan? He’s exactly that person. An ex-military hacker with an arsenal of spyware toys and the talent to make privacy a myth. Luckily for Barbara, he isn’t out to hurt her… he wants to claim her. Too bad Barbara thinks Ethan is nothing more than an infuriating, loud-mouthed jerk. Nothing like Sebastian, the smooth, mysterious gamer she’s been flirting with online, the one who leaves her flushed and curious. What she doesn’t know is that Ethan and Sebastian are one and the same, and he’s been watching her fall for both sides of him. The banter between Barbara and Ethan absolutely crackles, every quip and clash layered with sexual tension thick enough to cut. But the real magic happens when the mask (both literal and figurative) drops. Suddenly the man she’s been trying so hard to resist and the fantasy she’s been secretly craving collide… and Barbara finally sees the whole very real, very irresistible man. Ethan becomes the best of both worlds—feral, possessive, and yet utterly devoted, ready to give Barbara everything she’s brave enough to take. And when he brings her to his warehouse for some raw, primal play? Game. Over. The finale delivers a perfect adrenaline spike with Ethan unleashing his full protective fury while the villain gets exactly what’s coming. It’s dark, it’s delicious, and it’s exhilarating. A wickedly addictive hacker/stalker romance where the gamer girl doesn’t just get the guy, she gets every fantasy she never dared to voice.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.