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Watch Me Break
He's aways watching. She's starting to want him to.
What do you do if you have an injured raccoon with a boob fetish, dead bodies being dropped in your driveway, and a masked stalker who watches you, breaks into your bedroom at night, and takes your body to heights you didn’t know were possible?
If you’re Dr. Luna Foster, owner of Sage & Summit Wildlife Sanctuary, you seek out your new neighbor, Damien Wolfe, billionaire security mogul, and ask him to wire your property with security cameras.
But little do you know... He might just be the most dangerous predator of them all.
Damien
I have three rules: stay hidden, leave no traces, never let the target know. But Dr. Luna Foster's smile shatters every rule I've lived by. Now I want her to see me, to know what kind of monster is watching her. I’ve spent years in the dark, perfecting the art of hunting those who deserve death. Now I’ve found someone who makes me want to step into the light—even if it means she'll see the blood on his hands.
Luna
The first time I feel someone watching, I'm terrified. The second time, I'm curious. By the third, I'm leaving my curtains open on purpose. But when I realize my stalker isn't the nightmare—he's the one who hunts them—I find myself craving his deadly attention. Slowly, the weight of his gaze starts to feel less like terror and more like a deadly promise I want him to keep.
Fans of H.D. Carlton's Haunting Adeline, Navessa Allen's Lights Out, and Sheridan Anne's Pretty Monster will devour this unforgettable series where love and violence dance hand in hand.
This is a dark romance containing mature themes, graphic violence, and morally ambiguous characters. Intended for adult readers who enjoy psychologically complex relationships and anti-hero love interests. Please see full content warnings on the author's website.
What do you do if you have an injured raccoon with a boob fetish, dead bodies being dropped in your driveway, and a masked stalker who watches you, breaks into your bedroom at night, and takes your body to heights you didn’t know were possible?
If you’re Dr. Luna Foster, owner of Sage & Summit Wildlife Sanctuary, you seek out your new neighbor, Damien Wolfe, billionaire security mogul, and ask him to wire your property with security cameras.
But little do you know... He might just be the most dangerous predator of them all.
Damien
I have three rules: stay hidden, leave no traces, never let the target know. But Dr. Luna Foster's smile shatters every rule I've lived by. Now I want her to see me, to know what kind of monster is watching her. I’ve spent years in the dark, perfecting the art of hunting those who deserve death. Now I’ve found someone who makes me want to step into the light—even if it means she'll see the blood on his hands.
Luna
The first time I feel someone watching, I'm terrified. The second time, I'm curious. By the third, I'm leaving my curtains open on purpose. But when I realize my stalker isn't the nightmare—he's the one who hunts them—I find myself craving his deadly attention. Slowly, the weight of his gaze starts to feel less like terror and more like a deadly promise I want him to keep.
Fans of H.D. Carlton's Haunting Adeline, Navessa Allen's Lights Out, and Sheridan Anne's Pretty Monster will devour this unforgettable series where love and violence dance hand in hand.
This is a dark romance containing mature themes, graphic violence, and morally ambiguous characters. Intended for adult readers who enjoy psychologically complex relationships and anti-hero love interests. Please see full content warnings on the author's website.
420 pages, Paperback
Published October 30, 2025
49 people are currently reading
2407 people want to read
About the author
V.E. Huntley
5 books146 followersI'm a retired film producer who now writes dark, steamy romance about foul mouthed anti-heroes with anger management issues & the sweet and resilient heroines who know how to tame them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
November 23, 2025
I tore through this book like my life depended on it. There’s no pacing yourself here - you’ll read it in one sitting because putting it down isn’t an option.
Damien doesn’t mess around. Cross Luna and he’ll end you - make her cry and you might as well start digging your grave. He’s dark, dangerous, and utterly ruthless…and somehow, it’s impossible not to be obsessed with him.
This is EASILY a 6 star read and nobody can change my mind.
✨ T r o p e s + T r i g g e r s ✨
Masked Stalker
Touch Her & Die
Age Gap
Primal Play
Serial Killer
Bondage
Fear Play
Mentions of Animal Abuse
Cliffhanger
Book Cover ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Would I recommend this book to you? YES!!
Expected Release Date: Available Now
Thank you to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and Author V. E. Huntley for the arc. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Damien doesn’t mess around. Cross Luna and he’ll end you - make her cry and you might as well start digging your grave. He’s dark, dangerous, and utterly ruthless…and somehow, it’s impossible not to be obsessed with him.
This is EASILY a 6 star read and nobody can change my mind.
✨ T r o p e s + T r i g g e r s ✨
Masked Stalker
Touch Her & Die
Age Gap
Primal Play
Serial Killer
Bondage
Fear Play
Mentions of Animal Abuse
Cliffhanger
Book Cover ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Would I recommend this book to you? YES!!
Expected Release Date: Available Now
Thank you to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and Author V. E. Huntley for the arc. All thoughts in this review are my own.
November 28, 2025
4🌟 3🌶
Thank you, Netgalley and BooksGoSocial publishing for the ARC!
I was craving a little dark romance, and this checked a lot of the boxes! Stalker romance just does something for me. Don't judge me, please 😅
The writing was actually very good, giving the story an easy feel to it. The characters were well written and very likable! No comments!
The spice was there and, again, was very well written. This is a dark romance book, but the explicit scenes were actually not that dark. There is some NC and bondage, but not as dark as you might think. I actually think this book is a great way if you are new to the dark romance genre and looking for something a little more out there without it being too much. To be clear, I'm just talking about the spice scenes. There are grafic descriptions about death and murder that may not be your cup of tea!
I won't go in to to much detail, I don't want to spoil anything, but damn Damien. What a man... (*insert GIF "He was the best guy around. What about the people he murdered? What murder?"*)
The book doesn't end with a crazy cliffhanger, but damn I want book 2 like yesterday! This love story does something to me, and I badly want to see where it ends!
Thank you, Netgalley and BooksGoSocial publishing for the ARC!
I was craving a little dark romance, and this checked a lot of the boxes! Stalker romance just does something for me. Don't judge me, please 😅
The writing was actually very good, giving the story an easy feel to it. The characters were well written and very likable! No comments!
The spice was there and, again, was very well written. This is a dark romance book, but the explicit scenes were actually not that dark. There is some NC and bondage, but not as dark as you might think. I actually think this book is a great way if you are new to the dark romance genre and looking for something a little more out there without it being too much. To be clear, I'm just talking about the spice scenes. There are grafic descriptions about death and murder that may not be your cup of tea!
I won't go in to to much detail, I don't want to spoil anything, but damn Damien. What a man... (*insert GIF "He was the best guy around. What about the people he murdered? What murder?"*)
The book doesn't end with a crazy cliffhanger, but damn I want book 2 like yesterday! This love story does something to me, and I badly want to see where it ends!
November 25, 2025
English first, Dutch next!
‘Watch Me Break’ is a dark romance in which obsession, control and revenge take center stage.
Dr. Luna Foster, a wildlife veterinarian, rescues injured, abused and neglected animals. But her quiet life changes drastically when bodies start appearing on her doorstep and, at night, a man enters her home and does things that seem impossible. To protect herself, she asks her neighbor, Damien Wolfe, to secure her house. But is he merely the wealthy owner of a large security company, or is there a dangerous predator hiding behind his charming façade?
V. E. Huntley’s writing style is very smooth and keeps you engaged from beginning to end. Huntley creates a constant tension in which Luna’s fear blends seamlessly with her desire. Beyond the erotic elements, the story also carries emotional depth. Luna struggles with the loss of her parents and with the burden of caring for animals she cannot save or must watch slip away.
The story follows two perspectives: Luna, who spends her days caring for animals and her nights with her masked visitor, and Damien, whose dark thoughts and actions we get to witness. This structure gives insight into Luna’s struggle with her stalker while also revealing how he thinks and acts. Luna is a layered character who grows visibly throughout the story, and Damien, too, has a complex and dark side that is fascinating to follow. The tension rises the moment he puts on his mask. The erotic scenes are intense and intertwined with danger, which strengthens the magnetic pull between Luna and Damien.
Who falls harder: Luna for her masked predator, or the reader for Damien Wolfe? With the second book coming soon, the tension is far from over.
***Dutch***
‘Watch Me Break’ is een dark romance waarin obsessie, controle en wraak centraal staan.
Dokter Luna Foster, een dierenarts voor wilde dieren, redt gewonde, mishandelde en verwaarloosde dieren. Maar haar rustige leven verandert drastisch wanneer er lijken voor haar deur belanden en ’s nachts een man haar huis binnendringt die dingen doet die onmogelijk lijken. Om zichzelf te beschermen, schakelt ze haar buurman Damien Wolfe in om haar huis te beveiligen. Maar is hij enkel de rijke eigenaar van een groot beveiligingsbedrijf, of schuilt er een gevaarlijke predator achter zijn charmante façade?
De schrijfstijl van V.E. Huntley leest zeer vlot en het verhaal houdt je van begin tot eind geboeid. Huntley weet een constante spanning op te bouwen, waarbij Luna’s angst naadloos samengaat met haar verlangen. Naast de erotische elementen bevat het verhaal ook emotionele diepgang. Luna worstelt met het verlies van haar ouders en met de zorg voor dieren die zij niet kan redden of ziet sterven.
Het verhaal kent twee verhaallijnen: Luna, die overdag druk is met haar dieren en ’s nachts met haar gemaskerde man, en Damien, waarvan we de duistere gedachtegang en acties volgen. Hierdoor krijgen we inzicht in Luna’s worsteling met haar stalker en ontdekken we hoe hij denkt en handelt. Luna is een gelaagd personage dat zichtbaar groeit gedurende het verhaal, en ook Damien heeft een complexe, donkere kant die fascineert. Zodra hij zijn masker opzet, stijgt de spanning voelbaar. De erotische scènes zijn intens en verweven met gevaar, wat de aantrekkingskracht tussen Luna en Damien alleen maar versterkt.
Wie valt er harder: Luna voor haar gemaskerde predator… of de lezer voor Damien Wolfe? En met deel twee dat binnenkort verschijnt, is de spanning nog lang niet voorbij.
‘Watch Me Break’ is a dark romance in which obsession, control and revenge take center stage.
Dr. Luna Foster, a wildlife veterinarian, rescues injured, abused and neglected animals. But her quiet life changes drastically when bodies start appearing on her doorstep and, at night, a man enters her home and does things that seem impossible. To protect herself, she asks her neighbor, Damien Wolfe, to secure her house. But is he merely the wealthy owner of a large security company, or is there a dangerous predator hiding behind his charming façade?
V. E. Huntley’s writing style is very smooth and keeps you engaged from beginning to end. Huntley creates a constant tension in which Luna’s fear blends seamlessly with her desire. Beyond the erotic elements, the story also carries emotional depth. Luna struggles with the loss of her parents and with the burden of caring for animals she cannot save or must watch slip away.
The story follows two perspectives: Luna, who spends her days caring for animals and her nights with her masked visitor, and Damien, whose dark thoughts and actions we get to witness. This structure gives insight into Luna’s struggle with her stalker while also revealing how he thinks and acts. Luna is a layered character who grows visibly throughout the story, and Damien, too, has a complex and dark side that is fascinating to follow. The tension rises the moment he puts on his mask. The erotic scenes are intense and intertwined with danger, which strengthens the magnetic pull between Luna and Damien.
Who falls harder: Luna for her masked predator, or the reader for Damien Wolfe? With the second book coming soon, the tension is far from over.
***Dutch***
‘Watch Me Break’ is een dark romance waarin obsessie, controle en wraak centraal staan.
Dokter Luna Foster, een dierenarts voor wilde dieren, redt gewonde, mishandelde en verwaarloosde dieren. Maar haar rustige leven verandert drastisch wanneer er lijken voor haar deur belanden en ’s nachts een man haar huis binnendringt die dingen doet die onmogelijk lijken. Om zichzelf te beschermen, schakelt ze haar buurman Damien Wolfe in om haar huis te beveiligen. Maar is hij enkel de rijke eigenaar van een groot beveiligingsbedrijf, of schuilt er een gevaarlijke predator achter zijn charmante façade?
De schrijfstijl van V.E. Huntley leest zeer vlot en het verhaal houdt je van begin tot eind geboeid. Huntley weet een constante spanning op te bouwen, waarbij Luna’s angst naadloos samengaat met haar verlangen. Naast de erotische elementen bevat het verhaal ook emotionele diepgang. Luna worstelt met het verlies van haar ouders en met de zorg voor dieren die zij niet kan redden of ziet sterven.
Het verhaal kent twee verhaallijnen: Luna, die overdag druk is met haar dieren en ’s nachts met haar gemaskerde man, en Damien, waarvan we de duistere gedachtegang en acties volgen. Hierdoor krijgen we inzicht in Luna’s worsteling met haar stalker en ontdekken we hoe hij denkt en handelt. Luna is een gelaagd personage dat zichtbaar groeit gedurende het verhaal, en ook Damien heeft een complexe, donkere kant die fascineert. Zodra hij zijn masker opzet, stijgt de spanning voelbaar. De erotische scènes zijn intens en verweven met gevaar, wat de aantrekkingskracht tussen Luna en Damien alleen maar versterkt.
Wie valt er harder: Luna voor haar gemaskerde predator… of de lezer voor Damien Wolfe? En met deel twee dat binnenkort verschijnt, is de spanning nog lang niet voorbij.
November 8, 2025
Thank you to the Publisher BooksGoSocial for providing this book for review purposes via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
While I initially loved this book and went into it fully aware of the trigger warnings, I love a dark romance and have read plenty in this genre but dark romance has a very fine balance and I don’t feel this book met that balance. I had to stop reading at 60%/chapter 30 as what happens in this chapter was too much even for me. I have given this book three stars as I think if the sex scenes had been toned down just slightly I would have continue to read as I was fully gripped up until this point, there is reluctance and then there’s taking it too far.
I admire the authors writing as she sets the scene really well and I loved Luna as I thought she was very realistic and true to life. The way in which she cares for the animals she rehabilitates and it breaks her heart to release them, I think this was very realistic as animals have their ways of working into your heart and I imagine it can be hard to let them go. I loved her best friend Maren and the relationship the two have, Maren has her best interests at heart. Damian reminded me a little of Dexter as he only kills the bad guys and the ones who didn’t get justice served. I think readers who like really dark romances and stalker romances will really enjoy this book but read the trigger warnings first before reading.
While I initially loved this book and went into it fully aware of the trigger warnings, I love a dark romance and have read plenty in this genre but dark romance has a very fine balance and I don’t feel this book met that balance. I had to stop reading at 60%/chapter 30 as what happens in this chapter was too much even for me. I have given this book three stars as I think if the sex scenes had been toned down just slightly I would have continue to read as I was fully gripped up until this point, there is reluctance and then there’s taking it too far.
I admire the authors writing as she sets the scene really well and I loved Luna as I thought she was very realistic and true to life. The way in which she cares for the animals she rehabilitates and it breaks her heart to release them, I think this was very realistic as animals have their ways of working into your heart and I imagine it can be hard to let them go. I loved her best friend Maren and the relationship the two have, Maren has her best interests at heart. Damian reminded me a little of Dexter as he only kills the bad guys and the ones who didn’t get justice served. I think readers who like really dark romances and stalker romances will really enjoy this book but read the trigger warnings first before reading.
November 3, 2025
•ARC Review•
📚Watch Me Break
✍🏼 V.E. Huntley
⭐️5/5
🌶️4/5
Happy Release day!
Luna is a brave veterinarian who can calm any animal, no matter how wild. Then she meets Damien Wolfe, a rich and charming man who seems perfect, but something dangerous hides behind his smile🐾🐻
Watch Me Break fuses masked-stalker romance with serial-killer suspense, obsessive anti-hero ❤️🔥
Now for the characters; I literally loved all the animals she took care of. Luna’s bestie, Maren she is trying her best to help her out in almost everything- she is so lovable (I hope she gets her own book in the future) 🐺 what can I say about the MMC Damien Wolfe… well he very much dominates every scene- I MEAN IT. And the main FMC, girl even tho u are fictional, you are SO lucky.
That cliffhanger- oh lord… I need book 2 literally NOW.
Grab this book now and spread the word; this book deserves all the love! 📚✨
Thank you @booksirens & @vehuntley for giving me the chance to read this!!
📚Watch Me Break
✍🏼 V.E. Huntley
⭐️5/5
🌶️4/5
Happy Release day!
Luna is a brave veterinarian who can calm any animal, no matter how wild. Then she meets Damien Wolfe, a rich and charming man who seems perfect, but something dangerous hides behind his smile🐾🐻
Watch Me Break fuses masked-stalker romance with serial-killer suspense, obsessive anti-hero ❤️🔥
Now for the characters; I literally loved all the animals she took care of. Luna’s bestie, Maren she is trying her best to help her out in almost everything- she is so lovable (I hope she gets her own book in the future) 🐺 what can I say about the MMC Damien Wolfe… well he very much dominates every scene- I MEAN IT. And the main FMC, girl even tho u are fictional, you are SO lucky.
That cliffhanger- oh lord… I need book 2 literally NOW.
Grab this book now and spread the word; this book deserves all the love! 📚✨
Thank you @booksirens & @vehuntley for giving me the chance to read this!!
October 21, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was absolutely obsessed with this book — I devoured it in about four hours because I simply couldn’t put it down. From the very first chapter, Watch Me Break had me completely hooked. I’ve read a few dark, high-intensity romances before, but this one stands out for all the right reasons. It’s raw, emotional, and gripping from start to finish.
What really impressed me was how V.E. Huntley managed to make a story like this — one that doesn’t sit firmly in realism — feel so authentic. That balance is incredibly hard to achieve. When a book steps outside the boundaries of everyday reality, it can easily lose its emotional grounding, but here, both the story and the characters feel vivid, believable, and deeply human. Huntley’s writing pulls you in and makes you care, even when things get dark or uncomfortable.
The intensity between the main characters is electric — it’s the kind of chemistry that keeps you glued to the page, torn between wanting to slow down to savour it and needing to race ahead to see what happens next. The emotional tension, the push and pull, and the vulnerability behind the toughness are all handled with real skill.
The only small drawback for me was that some of the side characters didn’t seem to have a clear purpose. They drift in and out of the story without much impact, which was a little frustrating in an otherwise tight and focused narrative. Hopefully, this is something that will be developed or explained more in the sequel, as there’s definitely room to expand their roles.
This book gave me everything I wanted from the genre — passion, danger, tension, and that addictive, almost cinematic energy that makes you forget about everything else around you. The pacing is perfect for a binge read; there’s never a dull moment, and every chapter leaves you wanting more.
And that ending — I can’t believe I have to wait for the sequel! I need to know what happens next immediately. Huntley has created something powerful and addictive here, and I’ll be first in line for the next installment.
I was absolutely obsessed with this book — I devoured it in about four hours because I simply couldn’t put it down. From the very first chapter, Watch Me Break had me completely hooked. I’ve read a few dark, high-intensity romances before, but this one stands out for all the right reasons. It’s raw, emotional, and gripping from start to finish.
What really impressed me was how V.E. Huntley managed to make a story like this — one that doesn’t sit firmly in realism — feel so authentic. That balance is incredibly hard to achieve. When a book steps outside the boundaries of everyday reality, it can easily lose its emotional grounding, but here, both the story and the characters feel vivid, believable, and deeply human. Huntley’s writing pulls you in and makes you care, even when things get dark or uncomfortable.
The intensity between the main characters is electric — it’s the kind of chemistry that keeps you glued to the page, torn between wanting to slow down to savour it and needing to race ahead to see what happens next. The emotional tension, the push and pull, and the vulnerability behind the toughness are all handled with real skill.
The only small drawback for me was that some of the side characters didn’t seem to have a clear purpose. They drift in and out of the story without much impact, which was a little frustrating in an otherwise tight and focused narrative. Hopefully, this is something that will be developed or explained more in the sequel, as there’s definitely room to expand their roles.
This book gave me everything I wanted from the genre — passion, danger, tension, and that addictive, almost cinematic energy that makes you forget about everything else around you. The pacing is perfect for a binge read; there’s never a dull moment, and every chapter leaves you wanting more.
And that ending — I can’t believe I have to wait for the sequel! I need to know what happens next immediately. Huntley has created something powerful and addictive here, and I’ll be first in line for the next installment.
November 3, 2025
BEWARE: There are many triggers in Watch Me Break by V E Huntley, so check the book out good if you are squeamish. She has a list of warnings on her website.
Myself, I love walking the dark side, and Watch Me Break definitely has all kinds of darkness. There are many moments of lightness and laughter added to the mix of erotica, stalker, serial killer and vigilante justice. Like Luna’s best friend, Maren, and Ricky the raccoon with a boob fetish. You may wonder how a raccoon could come in to play. Well, Luna runs Sage & Summit Wildlife Sanctuary.
Now that we’ve met Luna, let me introduce you to Damien Wolfe, a billionaire who bought an isolated mansion with a shady history and becomes her nearest neighbor. Once he bumps into her, he lays his claim, keeping his true identity camouflaged. Does he knock on her door? Hell no, he just walks right in.
As soon as I met Damien, I thought of Dexter. He metes out justice to those who manage to evade the law…But there’s more. He’s a stalker who can’t stay away from Luna, but also can’t let her know his true identity. He wants to totally dominate her and is brutal about it. I did flinch a time or two, before I came to accept that their sexual life is not one I would want, but they are consenting adults.
Maren is the wacky best friend that had me laughing out loud with the dialogue that V E Huntley supplied. Maren has a big personality, but will lay her life on the line for her bestie. They both feel an affinity with the animals that come to the wildlife sanctuary.
Watch Me Break had me squirming at times, but I loved every minute of it. Whether Damien was punishing those he feels deserve it, or punishing Luna. I love dark novels, especially when there are serial killers and vigilante justice. Quirky characters, laughable moments and unexpected animals add extra elements to an already great story.
Watch Me Break is the first book in the Watched In Darkness series, with Book II, Watch Me Burn up for preorder and due to be published on December 3, 2025. I can hardly wait to find out what happens next.
My thanks go out to V E Huntley for the chance to read Watch Me Break.
See more at https://www.fundinmental.com
Myself, I love walking the dark side, and Watch Me Break definitely has all kinds of darkness. There are many moments of lightness and laughter added to the mix of erotica, stalker, serial killer and vigilante justice. Like Luna’s best friend, Maren, and Ricky the raccoon with a boob fetish. You may wonder how a raccoon could come in to play. Well, Luna runs Sage & Summit Wildlife Sanctuary.
Now that we’ve met Luna, let me introduce you to Damien Wolfe, a billionaire who bought an isolated mansion with a shady history and becomes her nearest neighbor. Once he bumps into her, he lays his claim, keeping his true identity camouflaged. Does he knock on her door? Hell no, he just walks right in.
As soon as I met Damien, I thought of Dexter. He metes out justice to those who manage to evade the law…But there’s more. He’s a stalker who can’t stay away from Luna, but also can’t let her know his true identity. He wants to totally dominate her and is brutal about it. I did flinch a time or two, before I came to accept that their sexual life is not one I would want, but they are consenting adults.
Maren is the wacky best friend that had me laughing out loud with the dialogue that V E Huntley supplied. Maren has a big personality, but will lay her life on the line for her bestie. They both feel an affinity with the animals that come to the wildlife sanctuary.
Watch Me Break had me squirming at times, but I loved every minute of it. Whether Damien was punishing those he feels deserve it, or punishing Luna. I love dark novels, especially when there are serial killers and vigilante justice. Quirky characters, laughable moments and unexpected animals add extra elements to an already great story.
Watch Me Break is the first book in the Watched In Darkness series, with Book II, Watch Me Burn up for preorder and due to be published on December 3, 2025. I can hardly wait to find out what happens next.
My thanks go out to V E Huntley for the chance to read Watch Me Break.
See more at https://www.fundinmental.com
December 14, 2025
Oh. My. Gosh! I am absolutely blown away by this book! From the very first page, I was completely hooked and couldn’t put it down. Luna and Damien's story is an explosive mix of dark romance and wild intrigue that left me gasping for breath with every twist and turn.
Luna, the captivating wildlife vet, is so fiercely devoted to her animals that you can't help but adore her. And then there's Damien! Talk about a complex, brooding, dark anti-hero! His mission for justice intertwines with this intense, burning connection to Luna that's impossible to ignore. The chemistry between them is off the charts, straddling that razor-thin line between terror and desire. I'm here for it! Like REALLY here for it. 🥵
🔥The way the tension builds in this story is simply masterful.🔥
Just when I thought I understood Damien, the layers peel back, revealing a vulnerability that made me swoon. And let’s not forget those jaw-dropping moments that made my heart race! The secrecy and the danger lurking at every corner kept me on the edge of my seat.
I’m left craving more! V.E Huntley, if you’re reading this, PLEASE, I beg you for more! I need to know what happens next! Give me that sequel NOW!
If you love dark romances that mix raw emotion with pulse-pounding suspense, then this book is an absolute must-read. I can't recommend it enough! I'm counting down the days until the next installment—December can’t come soon enough!
📚Thank you V.E Huntley, NetGalley, BooksGoSocial for this ARC. All thoughts and reviews are my own📚
Luna, the captivating wildlife vet, is so fiercely devoted to her animals that you can't help but adore her. And then there's Damien! Talk about a complex, brooding, dark anti-hero! His mission for justice intertwines with this intense, burning connection to Luna that's impossible to ignore. The chemistry between them is off the charts, straddling that razor-thin line between terror and desire. I'm here for it! Like REALLY here for it. 🥵
🔥The way the tension builds in this story is simply masterful.🔥
Just when I thought I understood Damien, the layers peel back, revealing a vulnerability that made me swoon. And let’s not forget those jaw-dropping moments that made my heart race! The secrecy and the danger lurking at every corner kept me on the edge of my seat.
I’m left craving more! V.E Huntley, if you’re reading this, PLEASE, I beg you for more! I need to know what happens next! Give me that sequel NOW!
If you love dark romances that mix raw emotion with pulse-pounding suspense, then this book is an absolute must-read. I can't recommend it enough! I'm counting down the days until the next installment—December can’t come soon enough!
📚Thank you V.E Huntley, NetGalley, BooksGoSocial for this ARC. All thoughts and reviews are my own📚
November 2, 2025
Check, check, check—well, all the checks. VE Huntley brought it all to the table in Watch Me Break. Her bio states that she has a background in film and television. I can tell by her experience that what she puts into her story benefits us as readers, drawing from her background. The visuals she creates immerse the reader so it’s as if we are in the surroundings. She builds the intensity with this story with the right pacing. The anti-hero she introduces is multifaceted and complex in many ways. But that’s what makes us love him more.
The characters and themes are dark, but there are well-timed moments of comic relief. Centered around an animal sanctuary, there’s a randy raccoon and the sweetest wolf. The spice scenes are hot. There are unanswered questions, as it leaves on a cliffhanger. However, the next book is scheduled for release soon.
Thank you to VE Huntley for the gifted e-copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The characters and themes are dark, but there are well-timed moments of comic relief. Centered around an animal sanctuary, there’s a randy raccoon and the sweetest wolf. The spice scenes are hot. There are unanswered questions, as it leaves on a cliffhanger. However, the next book is scheduled for release soon.
Thank you to VE Huntley for the gifted e-copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 22, 2025
Watch Me Break destroyed my exceptions and rebuilt something truly breathtaking and magnificent! I had no idea what I was walking into when I opened the pages of this book. What I found was something breathtakingly raw, painfully vulnerable, and exquisitely extraordinary. There is nothing old or cliche about this journey of discovery and transformation. It will take you by the throat, toss you around, and then open your eyes to everything at once until you either pass out or completely surrender to its primal call.
Honestly, I am still trying to regain my breath and my footing after walking through that beautiful whirlwind. I was left reeling at the end of this first book, but it left me with a whole lot to chew on and contemplate and savor. This is one story that will grab hold of you and dig and seep its way into your very soul. It is not shy about taking what it wants, and it will show you a world of wonder in exchange.
This story is not for the faint of heart, but it is for a person who has a lot of heart and soul to give. It is wild and desperate and searching for something it can't name. When it finally finds a label for what it desires most, the surprise and wonder is an exceedingly spellbinding sight to behold! You won't know if you should cry or dance or maybe just bask in its warmth and revelation. No matter what you find yourself doing, know that you are not alone.
We are all on our own journey to find the missing piece of our own heart and soul. We are all part primal and civilized. Both parts feed into the other and need the other in order to be completely who who we are. The secret is finding someone you can safely be all parts of yourself with, and in turn you become the safe haven for that person and all of who they are. Only then will we know true and absolute freedom in a world that enjoys making us choose and chaining us to the version they want.
Honestly, I am still trying to regain my breath and my footing after walking through that beautiful whirlwind. I was left reeling at the end of this first book, but it left me with a whole lot to chew on and contemplate and savor. This is one story that will grab hold of you and dig and seep its way into your very soul. It is not shy about taking what it wants, and it will show you a world of wonder in exchange.
This story is not for the faint of heart, but it is for a person who has a lot of heart and soul to give. It is wild and desperate and searching for something it can't name. When it finally finds a label for what it desires most, the surprise and wonder is an exceedingly spellbinding sight to behold! You won't know if you should cry or dance or maybe just bask in its warmth and revelation. No matter what you find yourself doing, know that you are not alone.
We are all on our own journey to find the missing piece of our own heart and soul. We are all part primal and civilized. Both parts feed into the other and need the other in order to be completely who who we are. The secret is finding someone you can safely be all parts of yourself with, and in turn you become the safe haven for that person and all of who they are. Only then will we know true and absolute freedom in a world that enjoys making us choose and chaining us to the version they want.
November 30, 2025
This is such a perfect spicy morally grey stalker read! Personal Note: I recently had to put my 16 year old dog to her forever rest recently and did not realize how much this book would hit my heart.
The FMC Luna is a Vet for a wildlife rescue that was apart of her inheritance. It describes in detail of animals being hurt and some even passing away. Luna's love for her rescues and animals hit me deep while reading this fresh from my grief from losing my pet.
With that said I would still highly recommend this book to anyone in love with animals with a bit of stalker!
The MMC Damien is perfect in his obsession of Luna. Although his obsession does become his cage and defining their relationship when he hides his true identity. He is the definition of "burn the world for her" and "who hurt you". He borders on morally grey vigilante to obsessed stalker but his feelings for her are always the same...she is his to own and claim.
The FMC Luna is a Vet for a wildlife rescue that was apart of her inheritance. It describes in detail of animals being hurt and some even passing away. Luna's love for her rescues and animals hit me deep while reading this fresh from my grief from losing my pet.
With that said I would still highly recommend this book to anyone in love with animals with a bit of stalker!
The MMC Damien is perfect in his obsession of Luna. Although his obsession does become his cage and defining their relationship when he hides his true identity. He is the definition of "burn the world for her" and "who hurt you". He borders on morally grey vigilante to obsessed stalker but his feelings for her are always the same...she is his to own and claim.
October 18, 2025
Watch Me Break
by VE Huntley
⭐️ ARC Review ⭐️
I’m already a huge VE Huntley fan, so when I saw stalker dark romance on the horizon—best believe I was ready to dive into the shadows 😈
The story follows Luna, a badass veterinarian with a heart of gold and a knack for calming even the wildest beasts 🐺🐾. Then enters Damien Wolfe - billionaire, philanthropist… or something far more dangerous lurking beneath that perfect façade 👀
This one gave me Dexter vibes-if Dexter wore Armani with a compass that only swung toward punishing evil 😏
The chemistry? 🔥 The banter? Sharp. The tension? Deliciously dark.
And let’s be real - the animals at Luna’s sanctuary totally stole the show.
Especially the raccoon with a boob fetish 🦝😂 (yes, you read that right).
If you love:
💀 dark stalker romance
🎭 secret identities
🖤 morally gray heroes
🌒 mysterious strangers
🐾 animal sidekicks that deserve their own spin-off
Then this book will have you hooked and feral in the best way.
✨ Rating: 4.7 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🗓️ Goes live November 3!
by VE Huntley
⭐️ ARC Review ⭐️
I’m already a huge VE Huntley fan, so when I saw stalker dark romance on the horizon—best believe I was ready to dive into the shadows 😈
The story follows Luna, a badass veterinarian with a heart of gold and a knack for calming even the wildest beasts 🐺🐾. Then enters Damien Wolfe - billionaire, philanthropist… or something far more dangerous lurking beneath that perfect façade 👀
This one gave me Dexter vibes-if Dexter wore Armani with a compass that only swung toward punishing evil 😏
The chemistry? 🔥 The banter? Sharp. The tension? Deliciously dark.
And let’s be real - the animals at Luna’s sanctuary totally stole the show.
Especially the raccoon with a boob fetish 🦝😂 (yes, you read that right).
If you love:
💀 dark stalker romance
🎭 secret identities
🖤 morally gray heroes
🌒 mysterious strangers
🐾 animal sidekicks that deserve their own spin-off
Then this book will have you hooked and feral in the best way.
✨ Rating: 4.7 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🗓️ Goes live November 3!
October 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Watch Me Break by V.E. Huntley is a dark and twisted romance where danger and desire collide. Dr. Luna Foster has a mysterious new neighbor, Damien Wolfe, and a stalker who’s more monster than man, but the line between the two begins to blur. As Luna seeks safety, she’s pulled into a web of obsession, secrets, and temptation that threatens to consume her completely.
I love a good stalker romance with a morally dark-grey MMC (I wouldn't say he is a fully black), and this one definitely delivered. Don’t get it twisted though, Damien isn’t just morally grey, he’s in the dark-grey range. He doesn’t take no for an answer, but at least he only goes after the truly bad guys. In that sense, he’s kind of morally grey, but in every other way, he’s much more dark. Boundaries are clearly not his thing.
Luna is the complete opposite. She’s bright, kind, and genuinely wants to do no harm, even when she’s tempted to go after people who abuse animals. That’s where she and Damien connect. They share the same sense of justice, just with very different approaches. When bodies of animal abusers start showing up on her doorstep, Luna starts realizing that maybe she’s not as innocent as she thought, and that tension had me hooked.
I really enjoyed Luna’s character development, but I do wish we got a bit more from Damien’s POV so we could fully see how unhinged he was getting. And while Luna is clever and strong, I wanted her to be a little more aware toward the end, or the plot made more aware to her.
Having the animals play such a big role in the story was such a refreshing twist. It made the plot stand out compared to the usual dark romances where the MMC is dangerous but not motivated by anything beyond his obsession. And shoutout to Luna’s best friend for being an absolute baddy!
Would I recommend this as a dark romance? Absolutely. It’s intense, addictive, and the tension between Damien and Luna is just electric. There was just a tiny something missing for me emotionally, but overall it’s a wild, thrilling, and very satisfying read.
⟣Tropes⟢
✅ Touch her and 💀
✅ 🖤 Morally Dark-Grey MMC 🖤
✅ Only deletes the bad
✅ Obsessive/JP MMC
✅ Dirty Talk 🥵🥵🥵
✅ Dual POV’s (first person)
✅ No OW/OM drama
✅ No cheating
✅ FMC not Virgin
✅ He falls first
✅ Stalker
✅ Masked MMC
✅ Chase/Primal
✅ 🔪 Play
✅ Serial Unaliver
✅ MINE
✅ Cliff
***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.***
‼️‼️‼️Trigger Warning‼️‼️‼️
I don’t have any specific triggers and was okay reading it without any warnings, but always take care of your mental health before diving in, since this book definitely has triggers.
🌶🌶🌶🌶
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Watch Me Break by V.E. Huntley is a dark and twisted romance where danger and desire collide. Dr. Luna Foster has a mysterious new neighbor, Damien Wolfe, and a stalker who’s more monster than man, but the line between the two begins to blur. As Luna seeks safety, she’s pulled into a web of obsession, secrets, and temptation that threatens to consume her completely.
I love a good stalker romance with a morally dark-grey MMC (I wouldn't say he is a fully black), and this one definitely delivered. Don’t get it twisted though, Damien isn’t just morally grey, he’s in the dark-grey range. He doesn’t take no for an answer, but at least he only goes after the truly bad guys. In that sense, he’s kind of morally grey, but in every other way, he’s much more dark. Boundaries are clearly not his thing.
Luna is the complete opposite. She’s bright, kind, and genuinely wants to do no harm, even when she’s tempted to go after people who abuse animals. That’s where she and Damien connect. They share the same sense of justice, just with very different approaches. When bodies of animal abusers start showing up on her doorstep, Luna starts realizing that maybe she’s not as innocent as she thought, and that tension had me hooked.
I really enjoyed Luna’s character development, but I do wish we got a bit more from Damien’s POV so we could fully see how unhinged he was getting. And while Luna is clever and strong, I wanted her to be a little more aware toward the end, or the plot made more aware to her.
Having the animals play such a big role in the story was such a refreshing twist. It made the plot stand out compared to the usual dark romances where the MMC is dangerous but not motivated by anything beyond his obsession. And shoutout to Luna’s best friend for being an absolute baddy!
Would I recommend this as a dark romance? Absolutely. It’s intense, addictive, and the tension between Damien and Luna is just electric. There was just a tiny something missing for me emotionally, but overall it’s a wild, thrilling, and very satisfying read.
⟣Tropes⟢
✅ Touch her and 💀
✅ 🖤 Morally Dark-Grey MMC 🖤
✅ Only deletes the bad
✅ Obsessive/JP MMC
✅ Dirty Talk 🥵🥵🥵
✅ Dual POV’s (first person)
✅ No OW/OM drama
✅ No cheating
✅ FMC not Virgin
✅ He falls first
✅ Stalker
✅ Masked MMC
✅ Chase/Primal
✅ 🔪 Play
✅ Serial Unaliver
✅ MINE
✅ Cliff
***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.***
‼️‼️‼️Trigger Warning‼️‼️‼️
I don’t have any specific triggers and was okay reading it without any warnings, but always take care of your mental health before diving in, since this book definitely has triggers.
November 16, 2025
The way I frantically scrolled on, hoping for a bonus chapter and then immediately searched for the sequel before beginning this review, says it all.
I loved this. Yes to the tension, the action, the side characters, the depravity, the spice. Yes to it all.
Honestly I cannot relate to Luna because I'm not half as brave as she is. And then I don't mean airheaded brave. Luna is smart y'all. There are some FMCs out there who are extremely bad-ass but don't think before they act, kicking down doors, guns blazing, you know the type I'm talking about. That's not what Luna is.
Granted, even smart girls can make dumb decisions because she had no way of knowing her stalker wouldn't kill her those first few times she interacted with him. So nooooot a really smart move on her part, but she did get some great orgasms out of it so it worked out in the end.
Now someone I can relate to, is Maren. I loved her humour and sexual innuendos to lighten the mood. Their frienship is what every girl needs.
What every girl also needs is to have someone obsessing over them like Damien (okay maybe not exactly like Damien because no thank you on the stalker and dubious consent parts irl but you catch my drift).
But sir. SIR. This man is (to quote my beloved Maren) sex on a stick. This man was all about possessiveness and I was here for it. And I'm sure we can work on the tenderness and love in the next book, right?
Do read the trigger warnings before reading because this is a dark romance and it gets dark, okay. It might not be for everyone and that's perfectly fine, but don't blame the writer mkay thankyew.
I loved this. Yes to the tension, the action, the side characters, the depravity, the spice. Yes to it all.
Honestly I cannot relate to Luna because I'm not half as brave as she is. And then I don't mean airheaded brave. Luna is smart y'all. There are some FMCs out there who are extremely bad-ass but don't think before they act, kicking down doors, guns blazing, you know the type I'm talking about. That's not what Luna is.
Granted, even smart girls can make dumb decisions because she had no way of knowing her stalker wouldn't kill her those first few times she interacted with him. So nooooot a really smart move on her part, but she did get some great orgasms out of it so it worked out in the end.
Now someone I can relate to, is Maren. I loved her humour and sexual innuendos to lighten the mood. Their frienship is what every girl needs.
What every girl also needs is to have someone obsessing over them like Damien (okay maybe not exactly like Damien because no thank you on the stalker and dubious consent parts irl but you catch my drift).
But sir. SIR. This man is (to quote my beloved Maren) sex on a stick. This man was all about possessiveness and I was here for it. And I'm sure we can work on the tenderness and love in the next book, right?
Do read the trigger warnings before reading because this is a dark romance and it gets dark, okay. It might not be for everyone and that's perfectly fine, but don't blame the writer mkay thankyew.
October 22, 2025
ARC Review-Author
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date: Nov 3, 2025
Format: Digital
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Genre: Dark Romance/Stalker/Serial Killer Romance
Okay so I was so obsessed with this from the beginning! I love Luna as a character and we really get to know her and her life as she owns a sanctuary to take care of animals. Dual POV between Luna and Damien. Things get hot and heavy as Luna has to deal with a masked stalker and knowing about this Damien dude she really has conflict to fight him off as masked man wolf is around her every night to claim her and it’s spicy! This was entertaining and steamy right from the get go but it’s not just all about the stalker romance. It’s also heartwarming and emotional because of the animals that’s just how I feel. I loved the animals and I love Luna’s best friend Maren who helps out and she was just so funny. I was kinda hoping by the end that Luna and Damien really knew each other and he would just come out and tell her who he really is. I enjoyed it from beginning to end nonetheless and I can’t wait to read the second one.
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date: Nov 3, 2025
Format: Digital
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Genre: Dark Romance/Stalker/Serial Killer Romance
Okay so I was so obsessed with this from the beginning! I love Luna as a character and we really get to know her and her life as she owns a sanctuary to take care of animals. Dual POV between Luna and Damien. Things get hot and heavy as Luna has to deal with a masked stalker and knowing about this Damien dude she really has conflict to fight him off as masked man wolf is around her every night to claim her and it’s spicy! This was entertaining and steamy right from the get go but it’s not just all about the stalker romance. It’s also heartwarming and emotional because of the animals that’s just how I feel. I loved the animals and I love Luna’s best friend Maren who helps out and she was just so funny. I was kinda hoping by the end that Luna and Damien really knew each other and he would just come out and tell her who he really is. I enjoyed it from beginning to end nonetheless and I can’t wait to read the second one.
November 5, 2025
This book was fire. Everything about it keeps you on the edge of your seat. I absolutely loved Luna in this. Because at first she was afraid but in the end she was so curious that she was wanting to see what was actually going on. Damien is the undercover hot sexy stalker type that I think every woman fantasizes of. And this book was hot. It was sexy it had spice it made you wanna keep reading and not put it down until you were finished with it. There wasn’t anything about this book that I didn’t like. I loved the characters. I loved the plot. I loved the twists and turns the darkness. This book at every element that every dark stalker romance should have. I truly can’t wait to read more from this author.
October 30, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Luna’s love for animals immediately made me love her character and I fell in love with Shadow almost immediately!! The animals play a major part and my favourite is definitely Ricky the boob loving Racoon…
“My darkness adheres to a code. Every life I take balances scales that the law abandoned”. This book gave me Dexter vibes with a dark element and I was obsessed. Damien knows what he wants and gets what he wants from the start, a dark, messed up MMC who KNOWS HOW TO YEARN.
A dual POV which keeps the anticipation running throughout the book. This book is disturbing but in all the best ways. I am a sucker for dark romance, and this HIT THE SPOT!
I need the next book, and I need it now, Damien and Luna have unexplainable chemistry and I cannot wait to see how their bond plays out in the second book!
Luna’s love for animals immediately made me love her character and I fell in love with Shadow almost immediately!! The animals play a major part and my favourite is definitely Ricky the boob loving Racoon…
“My darkness adheres to a code. Every life I take balances scales that the law abandoned”. This book gave me Dexter vibes with a dark element and I was obsessed. Damien knows what he wants and gets what he wants from the start, a dark, messed up MMC who KNOWS HOW TO YEARN.
A dual POV which keeps the anticipation running throughout the book. This book is disturbing but in all the best ways. I am a sucker for dark romance, and this HIT THE SPOT!
I need the next book, and I need it now, Damien and Luna have unexplainable chemistry and I cannot wait to see how their bond plays out in the second book!
October 22, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. Damien is quite an interesting character. I love how he gets mad about Luna kissing him and going on a date with him just because it’s billionaire him and not wolf him.
There were so many parts of this book I loved and the spice was spicing. I felt like I really connected with Maren and can’t wait to read her reaction when she finally learns about the wolf.
This book ends on a cliffhanger but the second book will be out soon and is totally worth the read.
There were so many parts of this book I loved and the spice was spicing. I felt like I really connected with Maren and can’t wait to read her reaction when she finally learns about the wolf.
This book ends on a cliffhanger but the second book will be out soon and is totally worth the read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2025
My arc review
This book had me on choke hold m definitely a VE Huntley fan 100% couldn’t put it down. If you spicy this is it don’t forget to check the trigger warnings. I love Luna character but I also loved Damien but wish I got to know more about his background it would’ve helped me understand him more. But other than that this book was definitely a page turner and I loved it.
This book had me on choke hold m definitely a VE Huntley fan 100% couldn’t put it down. If you spicy this is it don’t forget to check the trigger warnings. I love Luna character but I also loved Damien but wish I got to know more about his background it would’ve helped me understand him more. But other than that this book was definitely a page turner and I loved it.
October 26, 2025
OMG!!! This is just…..wow!!! It’s all I can say I’m seriously speechless. I was pulled in the moment I started reading this and as I got more into the book it kinda gave me Haunting Adeline vibes which is right up my alley! I loved it!!! I now claim Damien Wolfe as mine! Cannot wait for the second book to come out!
November 15, 2025
Damien's always watching. Luna's starting to want him to.
What do you do if you have an injured raccoon with a boob fetish, dead bodies being dropped in your driveway, and a masked stalker who watches you, breaks into your bedroom at night, and takes your body to heights you didn't know were possible?
If you're Dr. Luna Foster, owner of Sage & Summit Wildlife Sanctuary, you seek out your new neighbor, Damien Wolfe, billionaire security mogul, and ask him to wire your property with security cameras.
But little does she know...He might be the most dangerous predator of them all.
Damien has three rules: stay hidden, leave no traces, never let the target know. But Dr. Luna Foster's smile shatters every rule he's lived by. Now he wants her to see him, to know what kind of monster is watching her. He's spent years in the dark, perfecting the art of hunting those who deserve death. Now he's found someone who makes him want to step into the light – even if it means she'll see the blood on his hands.
The first time Luna felt someone watching, she's terrified. The second time, she's curious. By the third, she's leaving her curtains open on purpose. But when she realizes her stalker isn't the nightmare – he's the one who hunts them – she finds herself craving his deadly attention. Slowly, the weight of his gaze starts to feel less like terror and more like a deadly promise she wants him to keep.
Fans of H.D. Carlton's Haunting Adeline, Navessa Allen's Lights Out, and Sheridan Anne's Pretty Monster will devour this unforgettable series where love and violence dance hand in hand.
This is a dark romance containing mature themes, graphic violence, and morally ambiguous characters. Intended for adult readers who enjoy psychologically complex relationships and anti-hero love interests. Please see full content warnings on the author's website.
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.
Tropes: Dark Stalker Romance, Secret Identities, Morally Grey Heroes, Mysterious Strangers, Animal Sidekicks, Dark Romance, ✔️Secret Identities, ✔️Morally Grey MMC, ✔️Masked MMC, ✔️Strong Resilient FMC, ✔️Age Gap, ✔️Serial Killer, ✔️Dual POV, ✔️Raccoon who loves Boobs, ✔️Non Con/ Dub Con, and ✔️Fear/Breath/Primal Play.
Watch Me Break is the 1st book in the Watched in Darkness Series by V.E. Huntley.
What a book, from the first page I was nothing less the obsessed with it – I can't remember how quickly I read it, but as soon as I opened the book I couldn't put it down. This book hooked me from the very first word, I have read some very dark, high-intensity romances in the past, even in the last few weeks, but I have to be honest and say that Watch Me Break is one that stands out above them all. This book is raw, emotional, and from the first word till the last it is nothing less than enthralling and enticing and it keeps you in its grip.
One of the things that I love about this book – especially as it doesn't sit right in the realm of realism – is that V.E. Huntley still managed to make the entire story feel authentic. The talent that is needed to achieve that kind of balance is bordering on masterful. As soon as a book steps outside the boundaries of our everyday realities, it's so easy to lose the emotional grounding you had previously achieved, and yet in Watch Me Break, we get to see both the story and the characters feel vivid, believable, and really so very human. Huntley manages to pull you into the story, making you care about the characters and what happens to them, even when things are getting really very dark and uncomfortable.
Watch me Break follows Dr. Luna Foster, owner of Sage & Summit Wildlife Sanctuary, she's also this bad-ass vet who has a pure heart of gold and she can manage to calm the wildest beast, no matter how wild, terrified, or hurt they may be. When Luna realizes she has a masked stalker watching her, dead bodies dropping onto her drive way and that same masked stalker breaking into her bedroom at night and taking her body to heights she has only ever dreamed of, she knows she has to do something to put a stop to it, so she reaches out to her security mogul next door neighbor Damien. She gets him to wire her home and Sanctuary with camera's hoping that will keep her safe from her stalker.
And the there is Damien Wolfe, this billionaire and philanthropist but beneath that, he's something so much more dangerous. Something that Damien manages to hide beneath his perfect facade that he presents to the outside world.
There are three rules that Damien has lived his life by: stay hidden at all times, leave absolutely no trace he's been there, and never let the target know he's been there or he's was watching them. But, Luna's smile destroys those rules in an instant. Now Damien wants nothing less than for Luna to see him, to see the real him, and know the kind of monster that has been watching her. Damien's been living in the dark for years, perfecting the art of the hunt and tracking those who deserve death. Now that he's met Luna, he's finally met someone who makes him want to step into the light – even if that means she sees the blood that stains his hands.
When Luna first felt someone watching her, it terrified her. The second time, it made her curious. By the third, she just leaves her curtains open, on purpose. The she realizes that her stalker isn't the nightmare she thought he was – he's actually the one who hunts the nightmares – suddenly Luna finds herself craving his attention, even if it is deadly. And slowly, the weight of his gaze begins to feel less like terror and more like this deadly promise that she wants nothing more than to keep.
I absolutely loved how intense the chemistry was between Damien and Luna, it's electric and it just sizzles and jumps off the page – it's their chemistry I think that helps to keep you riveted to the page, torn between the need to slow down your reading pace and your desire to need to know what happens next. It's that emotional tension that V.E. Huntley puts you through, that push and pull, the sheer vulnerability that lies behind the toughness that's handles with masterful skill.
Honestly Damien gave me Dexter in Armani suits vibes that pushed the compass towards pure evil.
But, then the chemistry, banter, that was sharp and on par. The tension was torturous, deliciously dark. And then there is the raccoon. OMG, that raccoon with the boob fetish (no you didn't misread that, I said raccoon with a boob fetish). That raccoon was just so hilarious and just stole the story and every scene it was in. I just loved that raccoon.
I loved all the secondary characters that we got to meet throughout this book and the story. Even though some of them seemed to not have a singular purpose and they just drifted in and out of the story and didn't really have an impact on the story itself, they left an impact on the reader I found. And while they didn't seem to have much of a purpose in this book, I am sure their role will become clear in the next book.
Watch Me Break does something rather incredible, and I am still trying to figure out if V.E. Huntley did this intentionally or not. But, through telling this story, she reminded each and everyone of us that we are all on journeys of our own. We are all in search of that missing piece of our heart, that one person who is perfectly matched for our heart and soul. (I am one of the lucky ones that I have found my soulmate, fated mate, what ever you want to call him, I have the privileged of knowing that I have truly found him). But more than that, this book reminds us that there is still that part of us that is still part primal while the other we have managed to civilize.
And the reality is, we need both part of ourselves, the civilized and the uncivilized in order to be completely whole and who we are supposed to be. The real secret, the one that has always been hidden and we really haven't wanted to admit to anyone – not even ourselves sometimes – is we are searching for that one person who we can truly safely be who we truly are. That person we can let down our guards with and show the civilized and uncivilized part and in return they get the safe haven they search for in us. And once we have found that, once we can truly let down our guards, once we can truly show someone else every part of who we are, only then will we ever know what true, absolute freedom feels like, especially in this world that loves to make us choose what version of us everyone gets to see.
Watch Me Break gave me everything that I didn't know I had been missing from this genre – the passion, danger, tension, even the addictive and near cinematic energy that leaves you almost forgetting everything around you.
V.E. Huntley has mastered the art of perfect pacing, she has made sure that there is never a moment that there's not something going on and keeping your apt attention, and with each chapter you read you are left wanting more and more.
And what was with that killer ending? That was the kind of ending that leaves you hanging on waiting on teeter hooks dying to get your hands on the next book needing to know ASAP what happened and what's going to happen next. Watch Me Break is powerful and so very addictive and I am going to be grabbing that next book as soon as it is offered to me.
I found that even after I had finished this book I was left still thinking about it, still chewing over and contemplating what I had read and savoring all the information I had just digested. The story itself had managed to dig itself into my very soul and its refused to let go and in exchange for taking a little piece of you, V.E. Huntley is giving you a world of extreme wonder and delight in exchange and in my mind that's a more than fair exchange.
What do you do if you have an injured raccoon with a boob fetish, dead bodies being dropped in your driveway, and a masked stalker who watches you, breaks into your bedroom at night, and takes your body to heights you didn't know were possible?
If you're Dr. Luna Foster, owner of Sage & Summit Wildlife Sanctuary, you seek out your new neighbor, Damien Wolfe, billionaire security mogul, and ask him to wire your property with security cameras.
But little does she know...He might be the most dangerous predator of them all.
Damien has three rules: stay hidden, leave no traces, never let the target know. But Dr. Luna Foster's smile shatters every rule he's lived by. Now he wants her to see him, to know what kind of monster is watching her. He's spent years in the dark, perfecting the art of hunting those who deserve death. Now he's found someone who makes him want to step into the light – even if it means she'll see the blood on his hands.
The first time Luna felt someone watching, she's terrified. The second time, she's curious. By the third, she's leaving her curtains open on purpose. But when she realizes her stalker isn't the nightmare – he's the one who hunts them – she finds herself craving his deadly attention. Slowly, the weight of his gaze starts to feel less like terror and more like a deadly promise she wants him to keep.
Fans of H.D. Carlton's Haunting Adeline, Navessa Allen's Lights Out, and Sheridan Anne's Pretty Monster will devour this unforgettable series where love and violence dance hand in hand.
This is a dark romance containing mature themes, graphic violence, and morally ambiguous characters. Intended for adult readers who enjoy psychologically complex relationships and anti-hero love interests. Please see full content warnings on the author's website.
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.
Tropes: Dark Stalker Romance, Secret Identities, Morally Grey Heroes, Mysterious Strangers, Animal Sidekicks, Dark Romance, ✔️Secret Identities, ✔️Morally Grey MMC, ✔️Masked MMC, ✔️Strong Resilient FMC, ✔️Age Gap, ✔️Serial Killer, ✔️Dual POV, ✔️Raccoon who loves Boobs, ✔️Non Con/ Dub Con, and ✔️Fear/Breath/Primal Play.
Watch Me Break is the 1st book in the Watched in Darkness Series by V.E. Huntley.
What a book, from the first page I was nothing less the obsessed with it – I can't remember how quickly I read it, but as soon as I opened the book I couldn't put it down. This book hooked me from the very first word, I have read some very dark, high-intensity romances in the past, even in the last few weeks, but I have to be honest and say that Watch Me Break is one that stands out above them all. This book is raw, emotional, and from the first word till the last it is nothing less than enthralling and enticing and it keeps you in its grip.
One of the things that I love about this book – especially as it doesn't sit right in the realm of realism – is that V.E. Huntley still managed to make the entire story feel authentic. The talent that is needed to achieve that kind of balance is bordering on masterful. As soon as a book steps outside the boundaries of our everyday realities, it's so easy to lose the emotional grounding you had previously achieved, and yet in Watch Me Break, we get to see both the story and the characters feel vivid, believable, and really so very human. Huntley manages to pull you into the story, making you care about the characters and what happens to them, even when things are getting really very dark and uncomfortable.
Watch me Break follows Dr. Luna Foster, owner of Sage & Summit Wildlife Sanctuary, she's also this bad-ass vet who has a pure heart of gold and she can manage to calm the wildest beast, no matter how wild, terrified, or hurt they may be. When Luna realizes she has a masked stalker watching her, dead bodies dropping onto her drive way and that same masked stalker breaking into her bedroom at night and taking her body to heights she has only ever dreamed of, she knows she has to do something to put a stop to it, so she reaches out to her security mogul next door neighbor Damien. She gets him to wire her home and Sanctuary with camera's hoping that will keep her safe from her stalker.
And the there is Damien Wolfe, this billionaire and philanthropist but beneath that, he's something so much more dangerous. Something that Damien manages to hide beneath his perfect facade that he presents to the outside world.
There are three rules that Damien has lived his life by: stay hidden at all times, leave absolutely no trace he's been there, and never let the target know he's been there or he's was watching them. But, Luna's smile destroys those rules in an instant. Now Damien wants nothing less than for Luna to see him, to see the real him, and know the kind of monster that has been watching her. Damien's been living in the dark for years, perfecting the art of the hunt and tracking those who deserve death. Now that he's met Luna, he's finally met someone who makes him want to step into the light – even if that means she sees the blood that stains his hands.
When Luna first felt someone watching her, it terrified her. The second time, it made her curious. By the third, she just leaves her curtains open, on purpose. The she realizes that her stalker isn't the nightmare she thought he was – he's actually the one who hunts the nightmares – suddenly Luna finds herself craving his attention, even if it is deadly. And slowly, the weight of his gaze begins to feel less like terror and more like this deadly promise that she wants nothing more than to keep.
I absolutely loved how intense the chemistry was between Damien and Luna, it's electric and it just sizzles and jumps off the page – it's their chemistry I think that helps to keep you riveted to the page, torn between the need to slow down your reading pace and your desire to need to know what happens next. It's that emotional tension that V.E. Huntley puts you through, that push and pull, the sheer vulnerability that lies behind the toughness that's handles with masterful skill.
Honestly Damien gave me Dexter in Armani suits vibes that pushed the compass towards pure evil.
But, then the chemistry, banter, that was sharp and on par. The tension was torturous, deliciously dark. And then there is the raccoon. OMG, that raccoon with the boob fetish (no you didn't misread that, I said raccoon with a boob fetish). That raccoon was just so hilarious and just stole the story and every scene it was in. I just loved that raccoon.
I loved all the secondary characters that we got to meet throughout this book and the story. Even though some of them seemed to not have a singular purpose and they just drifted in and out of the story and didn't really have an impact on the story itself, they left an impact on the reader I found. And while they didn't seem to have much of a purpose in this book, I am sure their role will become clear in the next book.
Watch Me Break does something rather incredible, and I am still trying to figure out if V.E. Huntley did this intentionally or not. But, through telling this story, she reminded each and everyone of us that we are all on journeys of our own. We are all in search of that missing piece of our heart, that one person who is perfectly matched for our heart and soul. (I am one of the lucky ones that I have found my soulmate, fated mate, what ever you want to call him, I have the privileged of knowing that I have truly found him). But more than that, this book reminds us that there is still that part of us that is still part primal while the other we have managed to civilize.
And the reality is, we need both part of ourselves, the civilized and the uncivilized in order to be completely whole and who we are supposed to be. The real secret, the one that has always been hidden and we really haven't wanted to admit to anyone – not even ourselves sometimes – is we are searching for that one person who we can truly safely be who we truly are. That person we can let down our guards with and show the civilized and uncivilized part and in return they get the safe haven they search for in us. And once we have found that, once we can truly let down our guards, once we can truly show someone else every part of who we are, only then will we ever know what true, absolute freedom feels like, especially in this world that loves to make us choose what version of us everyone gets to see.
Watch Me Break gave me everything that I didn't know I had been missing from this genre – the passion, danger, tension, even the addictive and near cinematic energy that leaves you almost forgetting everything around you.
V.E. Huntley has mastered the art of perfect pacing, she has made sure that there is never a moment that there's not something going on and keeping your apt attention, and with each chapter you read you are left wanting more and more.
And what was with that killer ending? That was the kind of ending that leaves you hanging on waiting on teeter hooks dying to get your hands on the next book needing to know ASAP what happened and what's going to happen next. Watch Me Break is powerful and so very addictive and I am going to be grabbing that next book as soon as it is offered to me.
I found that even after I had finished this book I was left still thinking about it, still chewing over and contemplating what I had read and savoring all the information I had just digested. The story itself had managed to dig itself into my very soul and its refused to let go and in exchange for taking a little piece of you, V.E. Huntley is giving you a world of extreme wonder and delight in exchange and in my mind that's a more than fair exchange.
October 22, 2025
**This one is an ARC review**
Okay… this book was dark(Definitely check your TW!!)— but I couldn’t put it down. 😳
Luna just wants a quiet life running her wildlife sanctuary, but when Damien Wolfe moves in next door, everything changes. He’s dangerous, obsessive, and way too hard to resist. The tension? 🔥
V.E. Huntley gives us a fast, twisted, emotionally charged ride that had me torn between run, girl! and okay but maybe one more chapter… 🤭
Okay… this book was dark(Definitely check your TW!!)— but I couldn’t put it down. 😳
Luna just wants a quiet life running her wildlife sanctuary, but when Damien Wolfe moves in next door, everything changes. He’s dangerous, obsessive, and way too hard to resist. The tension? 🔥
V.E. Huntley gives us a fast, twisted, emotionally charged ride that had me torn between run, girl! and okay but maybe one more chapter… 🤭
December 30, 2025
Dr. Luna Foster spends her days saving wildlife creatures at her Colorado sanctuary. Billionaire Damien Wolfe spends his nights ridding the world of animal abusers and stalking Luna. From the moment he meets her it’s game on. In the light she sees a rich business man, but once night comes he’s her mysterious wolf. How long can Damien keep up his double life?
Watch Me Break is a great example of a stalker romance book. The pacing is steady, and it has solid world building. Although this book is dark and depicts gruesome scenes, there was lighthearted humor sprinkled throughout. I thought the characters were well rounded. I enjoyed reading about Luna interacting with Damien and her wolf. It might have been the same man, but it read as if they were two separate people. This book is full of steamy scenes. I can’t wait to read more about Luna and Damien’s growing relationship!
I have become a fan of V. E. Huntley, and I’m anticipating the second book in this duology.
A warm thanks to V. E. Huntley, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for this ARC!
Watch Me Break is a great example of a stalker romance book. The pacing is steady, and it has solid world building. Although this book is dark and depicts gruesome scenes, there was lighthearted humor sprinkled throughout. I thought the characters were well rounded. I enjoyed reading about Luna interacting with Damien and her wolf. It might have been the same man, but it read as if they were two separate people. This book is full of steamy scenes. I can’t wait to read more about Luna and Damien’s growing relationship!
I have become a fan of V. E. Huntley, and I’m anticipating the second book in this duology.
A warm thanks to V. E. Huntley, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for this ARC!
November 10, 2025
Watch Me Break: A Dark Stalker Romance (Watched in Darkness Book 1) by V.E. Huntley is a gripping and provocative dive into the darker corners of romance, blending psychological suspense, intense chemistry, and morally complex characters.
This book delivers a unique take on the stalker romance subgenre, balancing unsettling tension with a surprising emotional depth that kept me hooked.
The story follows Dr. Luna Foster, a compassionate veterinarian running the Sage & Summit Wildlife Sanctuary, whose life takes a chilling turn when she senses she’s being watched. Strange occurrences, like dead bodies appearing on her property!
Seeking protection, Luna turns to her enigmatic new neighbor, Damien Wolfe, a billionaire security expert with a shadowy past. Unbeknownst to her, Damien is the very predator stalking her, a man whose life revolves around secrecy, control, and eliminating those he deems deserving of death. As their paths intertwine, Luna’s fear transforms into curiosity and desire, while Damien grapples with his need to remain hidden and his growing obsession with her.
The story is gripping, the author takes the stalker trope and infuses it with psychological depth. Luna’s evolution from terror to fascination is written with feeling, making her a compelling character.
Her internal conflict, torn between fear and attraction, adds layers to the story, taking it beyond a simple romance.
Damien, meanwhile, is a fascinating antihero. His cold, calculated nature as a vigilante killer contrasts sharply with his vulnerability around Luna, creating a dynamic that’s equal parts dangerous and intoxicating.
The chemistry between Luna and Damien is electric, with their interactions dripping with tension and forbidden allure. The author’s writing is evocative, particularly in scenes where Luna begins to embrace the thrill of being watched, turning the power dynamic into something unexpectedly empowering.
The novel also weaves in moments of dark humour, such as the raccoon’s bizarre fetish, that provide levity without breaking the mood. Those moments did make me chuckle.
Watch Me Break explores themes of control, desire, and the blurred line between fear and freedom. It’s a story about embracing the darkness within and finding connection in unexpected places. Fans of dark romance, psychological thrillers, and complex antiheroes will be drawn to this book.
Recommended for readers who crave dark romance with a side of suspense and don’t mind a morally ambiguous hero.
🦋
This book delivers a unique take on the stalker romance subgenre, balancing unsettling tension with a surprising emotional depth that kept me hooked.
The story follows Dr. Luna Foster, a compassionate veterinarian running the Sage & Summit Wildlife Sanctuary, whose life takes a chilling turn when she senses she’s being watched. Strange occurrences, like dead bodies appearing on her property!
Seeking protection, Luna turns to her enigmatic new neighbor, Damien Wolfe, a billionaire security expert with a shadowy past. Unbeknownst to her, Damien is the very predator stalking her, a man whose life revolves around secrecy, control, and eliminating those he deems deserving of death. As their paths intertwine, Luna’s fear transforms into curiosity and desire, while Damien grapples with his need to remain hidden and his growing obsession with her.
The story is gripping, the author takes the stalker trope and infuses it with psychological depth. Luna’s evolution from terror to fascination is written with feeling, making her a compelling character.
Her internal conflict, torn between fear and attraction, adds layers to the story, taking it beyond a simple romance.
Damien, meanwhile, is a fascinating antihero. His cold, calculated nature as a vigilante killer contrasts sharply with his vulnerability around Luna, creating a dynamic that’s equal parts dangerous and intoxicating.
The chemistry between Luna and Damien is electric, with their interactions dripping with tension and forbidden allure. The author’s writing is evocative, particularly in scenes where Luna begins to embrace the thrill of being watched, turning the power dynamic into something unexpectedly empowering.
The novel also weaves in moments of dark humour, such as the raccoon’s bizarre fetish, that provide levity without breaking the mood. Those moments did make me chuckle.
Watch Me Break explores themes of control, desire, and the blurred line between fear and freedom. It’s a story about embracing the darkness within and finding connection in unexpected places. Fans of dark romance, psychological thrillers, and complex antiheroes will be drawn to this book.
Recommended for readers who crave dark romance with a side of suspense and don’t mind a morally ambiguous hero.
🦋
October 24, 2025
"This is for you, Luna. This is what happens to monsters who hurt what you love." 😍 Poetically morbid but so romantic 😍😍
That intro to DAMIEN!!!!!!!! I didn't know I could be so easily swooned by pg 2 but here we are 🥹 knew the way to my heart immediately. So instant soft spot created for Damien. He might be a serial killer and an obsessive stalker but it's for the right reasons right? 😬🫣 "Every life I take balances scales that the law abandoned." Not all heros wear capes..
He's complex.. a tad insane... But we will just look past the morally gray parts like we always do because "She has my complete protection. My obsession. My devotion" 😍🥵
I loved his character. I do wish we got more about his past. While there were glimpses I wanted more! I have so many questions about his history. I'm hoping more of that will be revealed in the next book 🥹
Then Luna! I'm an avid animal lover and I can relate to her so much given her career and thought processes.. Her compassion towards the animals, intuition..strong, resilient ..she's such a light in all the darkness. Her character really resonated with me on such a deep level.
"That girl has more heart in her little finger than most folks have in their whole bodies."
Her friendship with Maren is just *chefs kiss*
The banter between all characters is hilarious! They all had me laughing at some point. I know there are a TON of TW and as dark as this is it's also filled with love, laughter, and loyalty. It was raw, emotional, jaw dropping. The author does a fantastic job with balancing everything and let's not forget about RICKY!!!! (he deserves a shout out) 😂
I love when authors can describe and have things flow so specifically that it plays out like a movie/show in my head and V.E. Huntley accomplished that. The entire premise of this book ran so much deeper for me than just a fictional dark romance (given the animal background I have) it was a masterpiece that I devoured and hooked me from start to finish. Speaking of the finish and the end. WTF. 😳 I nearly threw my phone! I need book 2 now 😭
if you have made it this far into my lengthy review here are tropes you might love
✔️Dark romance
✔️Secret identities
✔️Morally gray MMC
✔️Masked MMC
✔️Strong resilient FMC
✔️Age gap
✔️Serial killer
✔️Dual pov
✔️Raccoon who loves boobs
✔️Non con/ dub con
✔️Fear, breath, primal play
Thank you for my ARC! I'm leaving this review voluntarily
That intro to DAMIEN!!!!!!!! I didn't know I could be so easily swooned by pg 2 but here we are 🥹 knew the way to my heart immediately. So instant soft spot created for Damien. He might be a serial killer and an obsessive stalker but it's for the right reasons right? 😬🫣 "Every life I take balances scales that the law abandoned." Not all heros wear capes..
He's complex.. a tad insane... But we will just look past the morally gray parts like we always do because "She has my complete protection. My obsession. My devotion" 😍🥵
I loved his character. I do wish we got more about his past. While there were glimpses I wanted more! I have so many questions about his history. I'm hoping more of that will be revealed in the next book 🥹
Then Luna! I'm an avid animal lover and I can relate to her so much given her career and thought processes.. Her compassion towards the animals, intuition..strong, resilient ..she's such a light in all the darkness. Her character really resonated with me on such a deep level.
"That girl has more heart in her little finger than most folks have in their whole bodies."
Her friendship with Maren is just *chefs kiss*
The banter between all characters is hilarious! They all had me laughing at some point. I know there are a TON of TW and as dark as this is it's also filled with love, laughter, and loyalty. It was raw, emotional, jaw dropping. The author does a fantastic job with balancing everything and let's not forget about RICKY!!!! (he deserves a shout out) 😂
I love when authors can describe and have things flow so specifically that it plays out like a movie/show in my head and V.E. Huntley accomplished that. The entire premise of this book ran so much deeper for me than just a fictional dark romance (given the animal background I have) it was a masterpiece that I devoured and hooked me from start to finish. Speaking of the finish and the end. WTF. 😳 I nearly threw my phone! I need book 2 now 😭
if you have made it this far into my lengthy review here are tropes you might love
✔️Dark romance
✔️Secret identities
✔️Morally gray MMC
✔️Masked MMC
✔️Strong resilient FMC
✔️Age gap
✔️Serial killer
✔️Dual pov
✔️Raccoon who loves boobs
✔️Non con/ dub con
✔️Fear, breath, primal play
Thank you for my ARC! I'm leaving this review voluntarily
November 5, 2025
ARC - Release Date: November 3, 2025
Thank you for gifting me a copy and allowing me to read and review this book.
WOW. Seriously, WOW. From the moment I read the dedication, I was absolutely gripped. If you're a woman looking for a book that delivers on every front, this is it. The author has crafted a story that is an unapologetic, exhilarating thrill ride, packed with everything you could want and then some.
The Spice & The Plot:
Let's talk about the steam: the spice was spicy, folks! 🔥 Prepare yourself, because the chemistry is off the charts. But this isn't just about the heat; the plot was absolutely plotting, keeping me glued to the page. It's a masterful take on the classic stalker & secret identity trope that will have you on the edge of your seat with genuine anticipation. Every twist and turn felt earned, leading to a truly satisfying—and heart-pounding—climax.
Damien: The Dream:
I'm just going to say it: Deep down, I think everyone needs a little Damien in their life. This hero is everything—protective, intense, and utterly captivating. And yes, for those who know, that "five times!?" moment lives rent-free in my head.
The True Stars: Rescue Animals:
Beyond the romance and suspense, the rescue animals completely steal the show. They add such a unique, heartwarming layer to the story. And we simply cannot end this review without giving a special shout-out to the legendary raccoon with a boob fetish. That moment alone is worth the price of admission and provided some much-needed laugh-out-loud relief! 😂
Bottom line: If you love an intense, spicy romance with a high-stakes plot and characters (both human and furry) that you'll adore, read this book. You won't regret it!
Thank you for gifting me a copy and allowing me to read and review this book.
WOW. Seriously, WOW. From the moment I read the dedication, I was absolutely gripped. If you're a woman looking for a book that delivers on every front, this is it. The author has crafted a story that is an unapologetic, exhilarating thrill ride, packed with everything you could want and then some.
The Spice & The Plot:
Let's talk about the steam: the spice was spicy, folks! 🔥 Prepare yourself, because the chemistry is off the charts. But this isn't just about the heat; the plot was absolutely plotting, keeping me glued to the page. It's a masterful take on the classic stalker & secret identity trope that will have you on the edge of your seat with genuine anticipation. Every twist and turn felt earned, leading to a truly satisfying—and heart-pounding—climax.
Damien: The Dream:
I'm just going to say it: Deep down, I think everyone needs a little Damien in their life. This hero is everything—protective, intense, and utterly captivating. And yes, for those who know, that "five times!?" moment lives rent-free in my head.
The True Stars: Rescue Animals:
Beyond the romance and suspense, the rescue animals completely steal the show. They add such a unique, heartwarming layer to the story. And we simply cannot end this review without giving a special shout-out to the legendary raccoon with a boob fetish. That moment alone is worth the price of admission and provided some much-needed laugh-out-loud relief! 😂
Bottom line: If you love an intense, spicy romance with a high-stakes plot and characters (both human and furry) that you'll adore, read this book. You won't regret it!
November 13, 2025
A dark, edgy premise that doesn't quite stick the landing
Watch Me Break starts with an irresistible hook—an animal-loving vet with a shadowed past, a masked stalker with lethal hands and obsessive eyes, and a slow burn that promises dangerous tension. I was drawn in by the concept of a morally gray romance between predator and prey where the lines between fear and desire blur—and for the most part, the book delivers that vibe. There’s something magnetic about Luna, a heroine who’s soft with animals but grappling with her own inner darkness, and Damien, the brooding mystery next door who watches her from the shadows and kills only the wicked.
That said, the pacing dragged for the first half, with repetitive stalking setups and trauma flashbacks that didn’t move the emotional arc forward. The premise had me hooked, but the execution needed more polish—particularly in how long Luna ignored obvious clues about Damien’s identity and how little we learned about his past. The emotional growth between them felt one-sided: Luna tiptoes toward self-acceptance while Damien stays emotionally locked down, even when it hurts them both.
The tension simmers, and the spice is there (dark and kinky, if that’s your flavor), but I wanted deeper connection and more resolution before the book wrapped. Especially since it's a duology, I hoped this installment would deliver a stronger midpoint payoff. Instead, it felt like a long setup with a soft landing—no real cliffhanger, but not enough punch to make me desperate for book two.
If you love dark romance with serial killer energy, a heroine who bottle-feeds raccoons, and a morally gray dynamic that teeters between obsession and love, you’ll likely enjoy the atmosphere here. I just wish it had dug deeper into its own shadows.
Watch Me Break starts with an irresistible hook—an animal-loving vet with a shadowed past, a masked stalker with lethal hands and obsessive eyes, and a slow burn that promises dangerous tension. I was drawn in by the concept of a morally gray romance between predator and prey where the lines between fear and desire blur—and for the most part, the book delivers that vibe. There’s something magnetic about Luna, a heroine who’s soft with animals but grappling with her own inner darkness, and Damien, the brooding mystery next door who watches her from the shadows and kills only the wicked.
That said, the pacing dragged for the first half, with repetitive stalking setups and trauma flashbacks that didn’t move the emotional arc forward. The premise had me hooked, but the execution needed more polish—particularly in how long Luna ignored obvious clues about Damien’s identity and how little we learned about his past. The emotional growth between them felt one-sided: Luna tiptoes toward self-acceptance while Damien stays emotionally locked down, even when it hurts them both.
The tension simmers, and the spice is there (dark and kinky, if that’s your flavor), but I wanted deeper connection and more resolution before the book wrapped. Especially since it's a duology, I hoped this installment would deliver a stronger midpoint payoff. Instead, it felt like a long setup with a soft landing—no real cliffhanger, but not enough punch to make me desperate for book two.
If you love dark romance with serial killer energy, a heroine who bottle-feeds raccoons, and a morally gray dynamic that teeters between obsession and love, you’ll likely enjoy the atmosphere here. I just wish it had dug deeper into its own shadows.
November 3, 2025
If you like spicy stalker —
Watch Me Break
is your girl. Now, I went in relatively blind, only knowing it was a stalker romance and it was getting good reviews. The last dark romance I read was a dud so I was really looking for something to fill that void and this did not disappoint.
I really liked our FMC, Luna, and her devotion to her wildlife sanctuary. She has a great support system in her friends (loved Maren) and employees as well as the support of the small town they live in. Damien, the billionaire, was def an enigma given we see him mostly as Wolf, Luna’s masked stalker whose methods in courtship are a little unconventional. So many of the MCs in stalker romances end up in cringeville and thankfully, this does not. Obv the spice does not disappoint 😏
Not sure if I just missed it in my eagerness to jump right in but totally did not realize this is book 1 in a series. While I’m glad based on how the book was flowing (totally makes sense for me after the fact), the ending did come rather abruptly cos I wasn’t paying attention to how much was left.
Definitely looking forward to Watch Me Burn and please don’t tease me that the Dec 3 2025 release isn’t legit. I’m hoping we get more of Cade when he has to inevitably come help clean up some of the small town mess I expect sheriff Karen to uncover. 🤔
Thanks so much to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for a copy of this ebook.
I really liked our FMC, Luna, and her devotion to her wildlife sanctuary. She has a great support system in her friends (loved Maren) and employees as well as the support of the small town they live in. Damien, the billionaire, was def an enigma given we see him mostly as Wolf, Luna’s masked stalker whose methods in courtship are a little unconventional. So many of the MCs in stalker romances end up in cringeville and thankfully, this does not. Obv the spice does not disappoint 😏
Not sure if I just missed it in my eagerness to jump right in but totally did not realize this is book 1 in a series. While I’m glad based on how the book was flowing (totally makes sense for me after the fact), the ending did come rather abruptly cos I wasn’t paying attention to how much was left.
Definitely looking forward to Watch Me Burn and please don’t tease me that the Dec 3 2025 release isn’t legit. I’m hoping we get more of Cade when he has to inevitably come help clean up some of the small town mess I expect sheriff Karen to uncover. 🤔
Thanks so much to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for a copy of this ebook.
November 2, 2025
Watch Me Break
Watched in Darkness Book 1
By V.E. Huntley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
🐺 Dark Romance
🔪 Masked St@lker
🐺 OTT P0ssessive/Obsessive MMC
🔪 Strong FMC
🐺 Age Gap
🔪 Touch her and ☠️
🐺 🔪 Play
🔪 Secret identities
🐺 Banter
🔪 And amazing sidekick animals that could be MC's of their own!
Okay this first instalment of Watched in Darkness has me hooked!
You have Luna the fierce FMC who has a heart of gold rescuing animals at her animal sanctuary, she even has a wolf as her unofficial sidekick who protects her and a raccoon she has saved who is OBSESSED with b👀bs. When she literally almost gets knocked off her feet at the local post office by the new tall dark and handsome man in town. QUEUE Damian.
Damian or The Wolf, as we learn 🤤🥵 is instantly obsessed, he cannot get enough, She. Is. His. And lucky for him he lives right next door 😉
She doesn’t know what's coming, just that she knows she's being watched.
This book is filled with spicy tension, st@lking, Banter Obsession and secrets that will knock the breath right out of you in the best way 🥵
I absolutely cannot wait for book two especially after the way this one ended!
Watch Me Break releases November 3rd 😘🖤
#darkromance #stalkerromance #maskedman #bookreview #booktokfyp
Watched in Darkness Book 1
By V.E. Huntley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
🐺 Dark Romance
🔪 Masked St@lker
🐺 OTT P0ssessive/Obsessive MMC
🔪 Strong FMC
🐺 Age Gap
🔪 Touch her and ☠️
🐺 🔪 Play
🔪 Secret identities
🐺 Banter
🔪 And amazing sidekick animals that could be MC's of their own!
Okay this first instalment of Watched in Darkness has me hooked!
You have Luna the fierce FMC who has a heart of gold rescuing animals at her animal sanctuary, she even has a wolf as her unofficial sidekick who protects her and a raccoon she has saved who is OBSESSED with b👀bs. When she literally almost gets knocked off her feet at the local post office by the new tall dark and handsome man in town. QUEUE Damian.
Damian or The Wolf, as we learn 🤤🥵 is instantly obsessed, he cannot get enough, She. Is. His. And lucky for him he lives right next door 😉
She doesn’t know what's coming, just that she knows she's being watched.
This book is filled with spicy tension, st@lking, Banter Obsession and secrets that will knock the breath right out of you in the best way 🥵
I absolutely cannot wait for book two especially after the way this one ended!
Watch Me Break releases November 3rd 😘🖤
#darkromance #stalkerromance #maskedman #bookreview #booktokfyp
November 21, 2025
This story hooked me on the first page and never let me go! I love Luna and Damien’s story. Being a veterinarian myself, I can say with certainty that Huntley does such an amazing job capturing the elating wins and heartbreaking losses faced by veterinary professionals everywhere through Luna’s position as wildlife sanctuary and veterinarian. Damien’s obsessive love and support of her rescue efforts and work is so uplifting, even if his methods of support are…unconventional. I can’t get enough of these two and adore their character development, trials, and internal struggles each faces throughout the novel. Will be rereading this book and cannot wait until the next installment!!!
Some favorite quotes:
“He’s a predator…Like recognizes like. And his instincts tell him he doesn’t need to protect you from me.”
“This is for you, Luna. This is what happens to monsters who hurt what you love.”
“He taught me that every creature deserves compassion, even the ones that seem dangerous or beyond saving.”
“Because you’re real. In a world of masks and pretense, you’re exactly who you appear to be.”
Some favorite quotes:
“He’s a predator…Like recognizes like. And his instincts tell him he doesn’t need to protect you from me.”
“This is for you, Luna. This is what happens to monsters who hurt what you love.”
“He taught me that every creature deserves compassion, even the ones that seem dangerous or beyond saving.”
“Because you’re real. In a world of masks and pretense, you’re exactly who you appear to be.”
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