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Dangerous Games #3
The Chase
Elias
I don’t know what’s wrong with me to want something like this. To pay money for something like this. But I love it, even in my terror, even with tears streaming down my face as I race through the dark. What’s happening is my fantasy, isn’t it? Not some random person chasing me? The uncertainty adds to my panic.
But when he catches me and throws me down, when his powerful body dominates mine, I know it’s him. The one who’s been instructing me via text. The one I need.
The problem is, once won’t be enough. But this one brutal, blissful moment is all I can afford.
Andre
I’ve never gotten obsessed with someone whose fantasy I fulfilled. That’s the point. It’s a moment spent, a role played. When it’s over, it’s over. But Elias …
I can’t stop thinking about him, and not just that night. Other times. Little things. Yes, I’m stalking him.
I need to stop, but instead I find myself approaching him, again and again. He doesn’t know who I am, that I’m the one who chased him. So when I offer him a job with the kind of income that could fund another of his dark fantasies? He doesn’t realize that I’ll be fulfilling a fantasy of my own. I’ll be toying with him. Playing two roles.
It’s a bad idea, of course. Everything depends on my control, on keeping things in their own, separate boxes. I tell myself I can do it. But something about Elias—the way he needs me, the way he responds to me—turns this fantasy into a very dangerous game … for both of us.
*Books in the Dangerous Games series can be read as standalones, though some events are connected and characters may cross over. Please note that these dark MM romances have HEAs but contain potentially triggering content. Each book's content list (which will contain spoilers) can be found in its ebook sample.
I don’t know what’s wrong with me to want something like this. To pay money for something like this. But I love it, even in my terror, even with tears streaming down my face as I race through the dark. What’s happening is my fantasy, isn’t it? Not some random person chasing me? The uncertainty adds to my panic.
But when he catches me and throws me down, when his powerful body dominates mine, I know it’s him. The one who’s been instructing me via text. The one I need.
The problem is, once won’t be enough. But this one brutal, blissful moment is all I can afford.
Andre
I’ve never gotten obsessed with someone whose fantasy I fulfilled. That’s the point. It’s a moment spent, a role played. When it’s over, it’s over. But Elias …
I can’t stop thinking about him, and not just that night. Other times. Little things. Yes, I’m stalking him.
I need to stop, but instead I find myself approaching him, again and again. He doesn’t know who I am, that I’m the one who chased him. So when I offer him a job with the kind of income that could fund another of his dark fantasies? He doesn’t realize that I’ll be fulfilling a fantasy of my own. I’ll be toying with him. Playing two roles.
It’s a bad idea, of course. Everything depends on my control, on keeping things in their own, separate boxes. I tell myself I can do it. But something about Elias—the way he needs me, the way he responds to me—turns this fantasy into a very dangerous game … for both of us.
*Books in the Dangerous Games series can be read as standalones, though some events are connected and characters may cross over. Please note that these dark MM romances have HEAs but contain potentially triggering content. Each book's content list (which will contain spoilers) can be found in its ebook sample.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2026
141 people are currently reading
513 people want to read
About the author
Rina Saint
5 books612 followersRina loves her romances dark and dirty. Her books take you into the erotic lives of her complex, morally gray characters. If you love high intensity and fabulous smut, you're in the right place.
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Review of advance copy received from Author
THIS BOOK WAS MADE FOR ME🫢😋😋😋😋, AND I DEVOOOOOURED IT LIKE A STARVING ANIMAL...WITH MY TEETH CLENCHED AND MY SOUL WIDE OPEN...LIKE IT KNEW MY HUNGER AND DIDN’T TRY TO SOFTEN IT, FEEDING ME EXACTLY WHAT I’D BEEN STARVVVVVVVVVVING FOR, AND SOMEHOW MAKING EVERY SINGLE DISH MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITEEEEEEEE 🤏😮💨🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤💖🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈
Review of advance copy
ARC achieved please be great please be great...! 🥰
YES!!! Another incendiary winner from Rina Saint, who so far has delivered hit after hit of obsessive-possessive romance that dances in the dark but never over my boundaries. This author understands the assignment!! This story fills in parts from The Contract and The Club, replaying key scenes from Andre’s POV and filling in blanks as it goes. You can read it as a stand-alone and not be confused, though I highly recommend all three books.
This is the third story in a continuing series about men who’ve survived hell, having been sold, collected, or even sent as young boys to an island to be used as sex slaves for rich older men predators who do all the sorts of the worst depraved things you would never want to imagine. (Suspend disbelief that some rich men would do this to their sons and heirs; that’s the premise. Some are lost boys but some are from wealth.) In the present they’ve all been rescued and gone on to claim their fortunes…and seek vengeance.
MC Andre is one such survivor, who built a life and currently runs an exclusive hotel that he acquired as part of his vengeance against one of their abusers.
Elias works in a bodega and keeps to himself, hiding a deep loneliness. He’s scrimped and saved…and bought his secret, most shameful sex fantasy through an app…
Andre receives the assignment, a client asking to be chased down and assaulted, and something about Elias trips him over the line into possessive mode. He stalks Elias while interacting with him as a bodega customer, delivers what Elias wanted, and then…takes over his life.
But Elias is hiding something that will have more impact than either knows, because neither man is who he presents to the world.
Oh, I loved this story! It started a little emotionless? I didn’t have a sense of what was at stake for either of them, it seemed more perfunctory even as Andre’s obsession amped up, and that was a miss for making me care at first. Andre’s “handler,” Wes, who owns (runs?) the dark-sex-fantasy business, seemed to know all about him, but, we never learn much about why Wes is running this dark sex fantasies site in the first place, or why and how Andre wound up working for him. In fact, I kept thinking I should recognize Wes from the first two books, but I…don’t, and I think we needed to learn more about him. He’s so sensitive to Andre’s hair-trigger obsessive nature and knows when he’s going over the line and steps in, but…why? Who is Wes?
Most important, we never hear that Andre quits working for Wes/the app and won’t be taking on anymore assignments, now that he’s fallen for Elias, which was a major weird oversight. He and Elias never talk about it, and I kept waiting and WAITING for it. I got no sense of how long Andre had been doing it and how many clients he might have serviced (it is sex-for-hire for dark fantasies), or that he didn’t want to do it anymore. It was a huge hole in the romance, and puzzling. I assumed he wouldn’t, and that it sure wouldn’t be okay with Elias, but, c’mon, clear that up!
BUT. Once things took off and Andre started making his moves, doing his stalking, taking over Elias’s life and bringing him to work for Andre as Andre’s PA (yep, it becomes boss-employee!) I was HOOKED hard and just loved the read. The author excels at writing the psychology of trauma authentically and respectfully (I think, layperson here, but, I sensed only caring and understanding from the storytelling), and creates strong intimate and sensitive connections, having a sense of whose broken pieces fit someone else’s perfectly in a way that is both affirming and healing to both, and Elias and Andre seemed perfect for each other.
Elias’s backstory is revealed as we go, and is as dramatic and sad as one would expect. I would have loved more insight into Andre. I know he inherited his wealth from his father/parents, but, I’m not even sure what happened to them? I didn’t retain the info (will re-read more carefully, honestly, I was eating it up/just focused on the romance…whoops…!) but I think they’re dead. And I hope Andre killed his father.
Secondary characters from previous books have their moments to shine, and I loved the evolution and new direction that Noah and Andre’s relationship went in this story. Poor Andre, unable to connect to the only people who would understand what he’d gone through…until he needs help for Elias. And now, finally, he’ll have the support system he’d had all along but been too traumatized to see and be part of. It was heartbreaking and ultimately so rewarding! Some characters fell off though, like Andre’s terrific manager, Gina. What happened to her?
The story does involve violence, but don’t worry, only the deserving die in this series. Justice is had again and again.
Overall, the romance delivered all the possessive obsessiveness I was hoping for, and I was immersed and loved this story as hoped! More please, Rina Saint!
HEA, obsession-possession, hurt-comfort, stalking, consensual non-consent (TW! this is delivering on a rape-fantasy), boss-employee, hidden identity, blood and violence. NO OM action or drama (Andre has a tough moment where he doesn’t know what Elias was up to one night, but Elias wasn’t up to anything OM-y), entirely safe for me (except…iI really wanted that “I’m not doing the fantasies anymore” discussion from Andre…! Grrrr.). Highly recommended as is this series for any looking for twisted obsessive romance. This author delivers.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.
YES!!! Another incendiary winner from Rina Saint, who so far has delivered hit after hit of obsessive-possessive romance that dances in the dark but never over my boundaries. This author understands the assignment!! This story fills in parts from The Contract and The Club, replaying key scenes from Andre’s POV and filling in blanks as it goes. You can read it as a stand-alone and not be confused, though I highly recommend all three books.
This is the third story in a continuing series about men who’ve survived hell, having been sold, collected, or even sent as young boys to an island to be used as sex slaves for rich older men predators who do all the sorts of the worst depraved things you would never want to imagine. (Suspend disbelief that some rich men would do this to their sons and heirs; that’s the premise. Some are lost boys but some are from wealth.) In the present they’ve all been rescued and gone on to claim their fortunes…and seek vengeance.
MC Andre is one such survivor, who built a life and currently runs an exclusive hotel that he acquired as part of his vengeance against one of their abusers.
Elias works in a bodega and keeps to himself, hiding a deep loneliness. He’s scrimped and saved…and bought his secret, most shameful sex fantasy through an app…
Andre receives the assignment, a client asking to be chased down and assaulted, and something about Elias trips him over the line into possessive mode. He stalks Elias while interacting with him as a bodega customer, delivers what Elias wanted, and then…takes over his life.
But Elias is hiding something that will have more impact than either knows, because neither man is who he presents to the world.
Oh, I loved this story! It started a little emotionless? I didn’t have a sense of what was at stake for either of them, it seemed more perfunctory even as Andre’s obsession amped up, and that was a miss for making me care at first. Andre’s “handler,” Wes, who owns (runs?) the dark-sex-fantasy business, seemed to know all about him, but, we never learn much about why Wes is running this dark sex fantasies site in the first place, or why and how Andre wound up working for him. In fact, I kept thinking I should recognize Wes from the first two books, but I…don’t, and I think we needed to learn more about him. He’s so sensitive to Andre’s hair-trigger obsessive nature and knows when he’s going over the line and steps in, but…why? Who is Wes?
Most important, we never hear that Andre quits working for Wes/the app and won’t be taking on anymore assignments, now that he’s fallen for Elias, which was a major weird oversight. He and Elias never talk about it, and I kept waiting and WAITING for it. I got no sense of how long Andre had been doing it and how many clients he might have serviced (it is sex-for-hire for dark fantasies), or that he didn’t want to do it anymore. It was a huge hole in the romance, and puzzling. I assumed he wouldn’t, and that it sure wouldn’t be okay with Elias, but, c’mon, clear that up!
BUT. Once things took off and Andre started making his moves, doing his stalking, taking over Elias’s life and bringing him to work for Andre as Andre’s PA (yep, it becomes boss-employee!) I was HOOKED hard and just loved the read. The author excels at writing the psychology of trauma authentically and respectfully (I think, layperson here, but, I sensed only caring and understanding from the storytelling), and creates strong intimate and sensitive connections, having a sense of whose broken pieces fit someone else’s perfectly in a way that is both affirming and healing to both, and Elias and Andre seemed perfect for each other.
Elias’s backstory is revealed as we go, and is as dramatic and sad as one would expect. I would have loved more insight into Andre. I know he inherited his wealth from his father/parents, but, I’m not even sure what happened to them? I didn’t retain the info (will re-read more carefully, honestly, I was eating it up/just focused on the romance…whoops…!) but I think they’re dead. And I hope Andre killed his father.
Secondary characters from previous books have their moments to shine, and I loved the evolution and new direction that Noah and Andre’s relationship went in this story. Poor Andre, unable to connect to the only people who would understand what he’d gone through…until he needs help for Elias. And now, finally, he’ll have the support system he’d had all along but been too traumatized to see and be part of. It was heartbreaking and ultimately so rewarding! Some characters fell off though, like Andre’s terrific manager, Gina. What happened to her?
The story does involve violence, but don’t worry, only the deserving die in this series. Justice is had again and again.
Overall, the romance delivered all the possessive obsessiveness I was hoping for, and I was immersed and loved this story as hoped! More please, Rina Saint!
HEA, obsession-possession, hurt-comfort, stalking, consensual non-consent (TW! this is delivering on a rape-fantasy), boss-employee, hidden identity, blood and violence. NO OM action or drama (Andre has a tough moment where he doesn’t know what Elias was up to one night, but Elias wasn’t up to anything OM-y), entirely safe for me (except…iI really wanted that “I’m not doing the fantasies anymore” discussion from Andre…! Grrrr.). Highly recommended as is this series for any looking for twisted obsessive romance. This author delivers.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.
January 27, 2026
If you’re looking for a reality check or a healthy, balanced relationship, don’t look this way.
This is not that book.
But if what you want is wrongness—possessive, rough, obsessive wrongness—The Chase is definitely one to read.
Rina Saint leans fully into the darker side of romance: power imbalance, dangerous fantasies, obsession that crosses lines, and situations that feel intense and sometimes unreal. The relationship between Elias and Andre isn’t meant to be safe or aspirational; it’s meant to be consuming and uncomfortable at times, and undeniably hot. The author is very clear about that, and it works because nothing is sugar-coated.
This story is driven by desire and control, by fantasy bleeding into reality, and by characters who don’t make good choices, but make interesting ones. The dynamic is deliberately unbalanced, morally grey, and messy—and the book owns that completely.
I also liked that this story connects to the Island and that we get to see Rafael and Domenic again. Spoiler alert: they are just as unhealthy and possessive as in The Club, maybe even more. There’s a very dark side to this book, from both main characters, and their trauma is explored in a way that felt more grounded and real to me—especially for Andre, but also for Rafael, Domenic, and even Dante. In their own twisted way, they end up acting like vigilantes for a good cause, and I actually enjoyed that part of the story.
That said, I did find the book repetitive at times, especially on the physical side. The sex scenes were hot, but they started to feel very similar. I almost never skim smut, but I admit I did here. Also, after Andre discovers who Elias really is, his sadistic behaviour didn’t fully work for me. The chase and the punishment concept sounded great at first, but after that point it crossed into something that felt abusive, at least to me. I’m not a huge fan of BDSM when the dominant comes across more as a controlling bastard than anything else, and some of the punishments felt unnecessarily cruel.
However—and this is a big but—I loved that Andre recognised his mistake and that we actually got proper grovelling. That part was done really well.
The Chase doesn’t ask you to approve of what’s happening—it asks you to feel it. If you enjoy dark MM romance with possessiveness, obsession, intensity, and heat, this book delivers exactly that.
Just don’t come here looking for healthy. Come here looking for dark, intense, and knowingly wrong.
I received a copy of this book from GRR, and this is my honest review.
This is not that book.
But if what you want is wrongness—possessive, rough, obsessive wrongness—The Chase is definitely one to read.
Rina Saint leans fully into the darker side of romance: power imbalance, dangerous fantasies, obsession that crosses lines, and situations that feel intense and sometimes unreal. The relationship between Elias and Andre isn’t meant to be safe or aspirational; it’s meant to be consuming and uncomfortable at times, and undeniably hot. The author is very clear about that, and it works because nothing is sugar-coated.
This story is driven by desire and control, by fantasy bleeding into reality, and by characters who don’t make good choices, but make interesting ones. The dynamic is deliberately unbalanced, morally grey, and messy—and the book owns that completely.
I also liked that this story connects to the Island and that we get to see Rafael and Domenic again. Spoiler alert: they are just as unhealthy and possessive as in The Club, maybe even more. There’s a very dark side to this book, from both main characters, and their trauma is explored in a way that felt more grounded and real to me—especially for Andre, but also for Rafael, Domenic, and even Dante. In their own twisted way, they end up acting like vigilantes for a good cause, and I actually enjoyed that part of the story.
That said, I did find the book repetitive at times, especially on the physical side. The sex scenes were hot, but they started to feel very similar. I almost never skim smut, but I admit I did here. Also, after Andre discovers who Elias really is, his sadistic behaviour didn’t fully work for me. The chase and the punishment concept sounded great at first, but after that point it crossed into something that felt abusive, at least to me. I’m not a huge fan of BDSM when the dominant comes across more as a controlling bastard than anything else, and some of the punishments felt unnecessarily cruel.
However—and this is a big but—I loved that Andre recognised his mistake and that we actually got proper grovelling. That part was done really well.
The Chase doesn’t ask you to approve of what’s happening—it asks you to feel it. If you enjoy dark MM romance with possessiveness, obsession, intensity, and heat, this book delivers exactly that.
Just don’t come here looking for healthy. Come here looking for dark, intense, and knowingly wrong.
I received a copy of this book from GRR, and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I always love returning to this fun and enthralling series that plays with pushing the limits while keeping you immensely entertained with the premise and characters. The Chase follows that same tone while providing such a fascinating story within a dark, forbidden romance.
Andre and Elias are complex characters who have specific roles in life, and watching them unravel and slowly succumb to their feelings for one another is so addicting to see. Andre is struggling with his growing feelings, while Elias is not the shy, submissive guy he often portrays himself to be.
Overall, I loved this story from start to finish. I love how exhilarating and intense this love story is and how it kept me on the edge of my seat. I cannot wait for the next entry in this series.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
Andre and Elias are complex characters who have specific roles in life, and watching them unravel and slowly succumb to their feelings for one another is so addicting to see. Andre is struggling with his growing feelings, while Elias is not the shy, submissive guy he often portrays himself to be.
Overall, I loved this story from start to finish. I love how exhilarating and intense this love story is and how it kept me on the edge of my seat. I cannot wait for the next entry in this series.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
January 25, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Elias + Andre
Primal play | CNC | Rich/poor | Touch starved sad boy
This is Rina's darkest book for sure.
It definitely had some questionable things that I don't feel were accurately described in the content warnings. Issues with consent mostly.
But I did enjoy it for the most part, just not as much as her others.
⚠️ potential spoilers below in detailed tropes, content and warning lists
Tropes/content:
Hotel owner and grocery store worker
Eventually boss and employee when Elias is hired as Andre's PA
Sad loner boy (cries himself to sleep most nights)
Smaller age gap (23 and 30)
Rich man/ poor man
Fantasy website
Touch starved
Stalking (physically, cameras, gps)
Butt plugs
Primal play
CNC (safe word was established on the website application)
💦 hands free
Rough sex
Fear kink
Fear boners
Mask w/voice changer
Bareback w/ confirmed test results prior
One sided phone sex/demands
Dildo
Vibrating butt plug
Dark alley sex
Rough sex
Exhibitionism
Club couch sex
Blind fold
Sadist + Masochist
Collar
Anal beads
Face fuck
They're both hard basically 24/7
Strict roles
HFN
No epilogue
They end up getting a cat and its kitten that Elias used to feed when he worked at the grocery store
Warnings:
Andre manipulates Elias's feelings and moods by not giving him attention, making him thinks he's forgotten him, etc.
Insecurity
The apartment that Andre sets up Elias in has cameras that he doesn't know about
Unconsciousness after sex
Non-con vouyerism (watches him jerk off through the cameras he doesnt know about. He later submits a fantasy to be stalked, but this was before that. He later learns about the cameras and he's not happy about it.)
Elias's mom killed herself with pills when he was a baby (not on page or more detailed than that)
Elias's dad hates him for existing. Blamed him for his mothers suicide
Drugging of one MC to another (Elias doesnt know that his stalker is also Andre, his boss. So when they end up having blind folded sex at Lush, Andre ends up drugging Elias to get him home safely without seeing his identity).
Andre has sexual trauma from a pedophile island - he gets slightly triggered a couple times when Elias grabs his dick (Elias has no idea and was blindfolded during it so couldn't see his face. You only know from Andre's inner monologue).
At one point Andre thinks Elias betrayed him (he didn't) - he first bounds him to a chair naked in a cell. When he has to pee, he puts him on the ground face down and spanks him against the ground repeatedly and hard as he pees all over himself. Was not consensual or enjoyed at all. Not part of the CNC either. This wasn't just kinky spanking and it should have been listed as such in the CW.
Self harm in the form of deep scratches on thighs and abdomen
Safe word used
Scars on Andre's back and ass from his abuse
Elias is kind of held hostage for a short time. Ends up stabbing his "dad" in the balls with a letter opener. Elias is not injured.
Elias + Andre
Primal play | CNC | Rich/poor | Touch starved sad boy
This is Rina's darkest book for sure.
It definitely had some questionable things that I don't feel were accurately described in the content warnings. Issues with consent mostly.
But I did enjoy it for the most part, just not as much as her others.
⚠️ potential spoilers below in detailed tropes, content and warning lists
Tropes/content:
Hotel owner and grocery store worker
Eventually boss and employee when Elias is hired as Andre's PA
Sad loner boy (cries himself to sleep most nights)
Smaller age gap (23 and 30)
Rich man/ poor man
Fantasy website
Touch starved
Stalking (physically, cameras, gps)
Butt plugs
Primal play
CNC (safe word was established on the website application)
💦 hands free
Rough sex
Fear kink
Fear boners
Mask w/voice changer
Bareback w/ confirmed test results prior
One sided phone sex/demands
Dildo
Vibrating butt plug
Dark alley sex
Rough sex
Exhibitionism
Club couch sex
Blind fold
Sadist + Masochist
Collar
Anal beads
Face fuck
They're both hard basically 24/7
Strict roles
HFN
No epilogue
They end up getting a cat and its kitten that Elias used to feed when he worked at the grocery store
Warnings:
Andre manipulates Elias's feelings and moods by not giving him attention, making him thinks he's forgotten him, etc.
Insecurity
The apartment that Andre sets up Elias in has cameras that he doesn't know about
Unconsciousness after sex
Non-con vouyerism (watches him jerk off through the cameras he doesnt know about. He later submits a fantasy to be stalked, but this was before that. He later learns about the cameras and he's not happy about it.)
Elias's mom killed herself with pills when he was a baby (not on page or more detailed than that)
Elias's dad hates him for existing. Blamed him for his mothers suicide
Drugging of one MC to another (Elias doesnt know that his stalker is also Andre, his boss. So when they end up having blind folded sex at Lush, Andre ends up drugging Elias to get him home safely without seeing his identity).
Andre has sexual trauma from a pedophile island - he gets slightly triggered a couple times when Elias grabs his dick (Elias has no idea and was blindfolded during it so couldn't see his face. You only know from Andre's inner monologue).
At one point Andre thinks Elias betrayed him (he didn't) - he first bounds him to a chair naked in a cell. When he has to pee, he puts him on the ground face down and spanks him against the ground repeatedly and hard as he pees all over himself. Was not consensual or enjoyed at all. Not part of the CNC either. This wasn't just kinky spanking and it should have been listed as such in the CW.
Self harm in the form of deep scratches on thighs and abdomen
Safe word used
Scars on Andre's back and ass from his abuse
Elias is kind of held hostage for a short time. Ends up stabbing his "dad" in the balls with a letter opener. Elias is not injured.
January 20, 2026
JEEZ! This was intense! And I loved every second. I don't want to talk about it. It would be a shame to give things away. It would ruin the story experience. Just check your triggers and dive into this darkling if you're so inclined.
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January 24, 2026
it's not you, it's me?
my hunt for a dark romance that doesn't make me cringe continues. there's nothing particularly wrong with this book (aside from some moments that really had me grimacing at my kindle), but nothing particularly great about it either. what doesn't work for the book probably just doesn't work for ME, but i'm sure appeals to plenty others.
i just couldn't get over one mc stroking the other's balls, and the other mc thinking "the cum inside them belongs to him"
my hunt for a dark romance that doesn't make me cringe continues. there's nothing particularly wrong with this book (aside from some moments that really had me grimacing at my kindle), but nothing particularly great about it either. what doesn't work for the book probably just doesn't work for ME, but i'm sure appeals to plenty others.
January 18, 2026
Tropes: Rich / poor, secret identity, boss / employee
Feels: 2/5
Steam*: 3/5
Kinks: praise, toys, CNC, dubcon, primal play, exhibitionism, voyeurism, BDSM
Angst: medium
HEA: HEA
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: past CSA, past childhood neglect, murder, drugging, stalking, abduction, mafia, sex trafficking
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: No
Other person drama: neither of them have any interest in anyone else once they meet. Elias tries to make Andre jealous and goes to a sex club, but it was just to draw Andre out into the open.
3.5 stars
Elias ran away from his old Life 5 years ago when he was 18. He's now 23 and working at a bodega and he's bored with life. He saves up money and buys a sex fantasy online, he has dark urges and wants to live out a primal play CNC fantasy. Andre (30) is a filthy rich luxury hotel owner who moonlights working for the website, so that he can indulge his own urges. When he's assigned to Elias he starts stalking him and Elias is a perfect sexual match for him. For a good hunk of the book, Andre interacts with Elias under two identities, his real one and his masked stalker identity. After the fantasy is fulfilled, Andre doesn't want it to be over, so he hires Elias so that for one he will be close to him and for another that he will be able to afford buying another fantasy with him.
When Andre was 15, he was rescued from a sex trafficking ring. He was traumatized from repeated assaults by rich and powerful men. He's gotten revenge on at least some of those men that attacked him. He hasn't been able to open up and have a normal sex life since. With Elias catching his attention, he wants more with Elias, but it turns out Elias has a connection to what happened to Andre that might blow up their relationship, and put them both in danger.
This book was more dark erotica and it was light on the romance to me. Eventually, the mmcs both said they loved the other, but we didn't see much of the softness to their relationship. They spent so much of the book horny and f******. It seems like every opportunity that they had to talk, to get to know each other, to be soft with each other, they were just too horned up. I wish they had talked more and earlier. We only got a little softness towards the end.
I did like the rich / poor dynamic, it was funny at times. I liked that Andre was so obsessed that he went to such crazy lengths for Elias. The steam between them was good.
Some notable moments:
"Elias stares at me. “Is this a joke?” “No.” Elias keeps staring at me like I’m going to reveal that this is, actually, a joke. I just stare back and let him see that I’m dead serious. I know the instant he believes me because his face goes pale. He sways and catches himself against the counter. He keeps staring at me, his eyes huge with shock and maybe a touch of horror. God, I’m enjoying this."
"“It’s just a thought.” “It’s more than a thought. You’re making plans in your head, and you’re including me in them.” “Yeah,” he says as he slips an arm around my waist. “I am.” My breath catches. I set down my knife and turn to him. I tug at him until he jumps up into my arms, wrapping his arms and legs around me. “You can have everything you want,” I promise wildly as I look up at his beautiful, delighted face. Elias smiles down at me with soft, loving eyes and says, “I already do.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
Feels: 2/5
Steam*: 3/5
Kinks: praise, toys, CNC, dubcon, primal play, exhibitionism, voyeurism, BDSM
Angst: medium
HEA: HEA
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: past CSA, past childhood neglect, murder, drugging, stalking, abduction, mafia, sex trafficking
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: No
Other person drama: neither of them have any interest in anyone else once they meet. Elias tries to make Andre jealous and goes to a sex club, but it was just to draw Andre out into the open.
3.5 stars
Elias ran away from his old Life 5 years ago when he was 18. He's now 23 and working at a bodega and he's bored with life. He saves up money and buys a sex fantasy online, he has dark urges and wants to live out a primal play CNC fantasy. Andre (30) is a filthy rich luxury hotel owner who moonlights working for the website, so that he can indulge his own urges. When he's assigned to Elias he starts stalking him and Elias is a perfect sexual match for him. For a good hunk of the book, Andre interacts with Elias under two identities, his real one and his masked stalker identity. After the fantasy is fulfilled, Andre doesn't want it to be over, so he hires Elias so that for one he will be close to him and for another that he will be able to afford buying another fantasy with him.
When Andre was 15, he was rescued from a sex trafficking ring. He was traumatized from repeated assaults by rich and powerful men. He's gotten revenge on at least some of those men that attacked him. He hasn't been able to open up and have a normal sex life since. With Elias catching his attention, he wants more with Elias, but it turns out Elias has a connection to what happened to Andre that might blow up their relationship, and put them both in danger.
This book was more dark erotica and it was light on the romance to me. Eventually, the mmcs both said they loved the other, but we didn't see much of the softness to their relationship. They spent so much of the book horny and f******. It seems like every opportunity that they had to talk, to get to know each other, to be soft with each other, they were just too horned up. I wish they had talked more and earlier. We only got a little softness towards the end.
I did like the rich / poor dynamic, it was funny at times. I liked that Andre was so obsessed that he went to such crazy lengths for Elias. The steam between them was good.
Some notable moments:
"Elias stares at me. “Is this a joke?” “No.” Elias keeps staring at me like I’m going to reveal that this is, actually, a joke. I just stare back and let him see that I’m dead serious. I know the instant he believes me because his face goes pale. He sways and catches himself against the counter. He keeps staring at me, his eyes huge with shock and maybe a touch of horror. God, I’m enjoying this."
"“It’s just a thought.” “It’s more than a thought. You’re making plans in your head, and you’re including me in them.” “Yeah,” he says as he slips an arm around my waist. “I am.” My breath catches. I set down my knife and turn to him. I tug at him until he jumps up into my arms, wrapping his arms and legs around me. “You can have everything you want,” I promise wildly as I look up at his beautiful, delighted face. Elias smiles down at me with soft, loving eyes and says, “I already do.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2026
Alright, so going into this, my expectations were already ridiculously high because Rina Saint = usually perfection for me. Her books are intense, obsessive, emotionally unhinged in the best way. Her characters don’t fall in love nicely they spiral, they cling, they need each other like air. So yes, the bar was high high.
And honestly? I did love this book.
The setup alone had me hooked. Elias pays actual money to live out his fantasy being chased, stalked, dominated, fucked and gets paired with Andre to bring it to life , yeah, there’s this online platform that ppl actually submit their darkest fantasies, pay money and get it come to life in a safe process. So The first fantasy which is the chase happens, it’s hot, it works, fantasy fulfilled… except Andre immediately realizes there is no way this can be a one-and-done thing for him. He’s obsessed.
So what does he do? He inserts himself into Elias’s life.
Andre ends up playing two roles:
– the masked, voice-altered man who hunts Elias and owns him in his fantasy
– and the handsome stranger Elias meets at the supermarket where he works , who offers him a high-paying job as his personal assistant, complete with bonus, salary, and housing
And Elias is attracted to both versions of him. Which is delicious. Watching the fantasy slowly bleed into real life, watching Andre lose control while pretending he has all of it that part of the book worked SO well for me.
But then there are parts that I didn’t enjoy much.
The moment Elias’s real identity comes out that he’s actually a mafia heir, running from his abusive father, a man who frequented the Island where boys like Andre were raped and abused everything explodes. Andre completely snaps. He doesn’t listen. He doesn’t pause. He restrains Elias, assumes the worst, and treats him like a threat instead of a person.
And listen I understand Andre. I understand his trauma. I understand why his brain went there. He’s a survivor, deeply damaged, reacting from fear and rage.
But that scene?
It sat heavy in my gut.
I felt genuinely sad for Elias. He felt beaten down, powerless, and undeserving of what was happening to him. Andre does apologize later, and we do see him fall apart over it but for me? I wanted more. More groveling. More accountability. More reassurance that Elias hadn’t done anything wrong. That imbalance lingered longer than I was comfortable with. Elias moved on and forgave but I couldn’t.
Elias himself is okay with it. He forgives Andre. He understands where it came from. He moves forward without holding it against him. So this is very much a me-as-a-reader issue, not the book failing at what it set out to do.
And to be fair, the book does recover. They do find their way back to each other. They do fill something broken in one another. The obsession is mutual, the bond makes sense, and the ending is satisfying.
So yeah I loved The Chase.
It just didn’t hit me as hard other books of this series.
And honestly? I did love this book.
The setup alone had me hooked. Elias pays actual money to live out his fantasy being chased, stalked, dominated, fucked and gets paired with Andre to bring it to life , yeah, there’s this online platform that ppl actually submit their darkest fantasies, pay money and get it come to life in a safe process. So The first fantasy which is the chase happens, it’s hot, it works, fantasy fulfilled… except Andre immediately realizes there is no way this can be a one-and-done thing for him. He’s obsessed.
So what does he do? He inserts himself into Elias’s life.
Andre ends up playing two roles:
– the masked, voice-altered man who hunts Elias and owns him in his fantasy
– and the handsome stranger Elias meets at the supermarket where he works , who offers him a high-paying job as his personal assistant, complete with bonus, salary, and housing
And Elias is attracted to both versions of him. Which is delicious. Watching the fantasy slowly bleed into real life, watching Andre lose control while pretending he has all of it that part of the book worked SO well for me.
But then there are parts that I didn’t enjoy much.
The moment Elias’s real identity comes out that he’s actually a mafia heir, running from his abusive father, a man who frequented the Island where boys like Andre were raped and abused everything explodes. Andre completely snaps. He doesn’t listen. He doesn’t pause. He restrains Elias, assumes the worst, and treats him like a threat instead of a person.
And listen I understand Andre. I understand his trauma. I understand why his brain went there. He’s a survivor, deeply damaged, reacting from fear and rage.
But that scene?
It sat heavy in my gut.
I felt genuinely sad for Elias. He felt beaten down, powerless, and undeserving of what was happening to him. Andre does apologize later, and we do see him fall apart over it but for me? I wanted more. More groveling. More accountability. More reassurance that Elias hadn’t done anything wrong. That imbalance lingered longer than I was comfortable with. Elias moved on and forgave but I couldn’t.
Elias himself is okay with it. He forgives Andre. He understands where it came from. He moves forward without holding it against him. So this is very much a me-as-a-reader issue, not the book failing at what it set out to do.
And to be fair, the book does recover. They do find their way back to each other. They do fill something broken in one another. The obsession is mutual, the bond makes sense, and the ending is satisfying.
So yeah I loved The Chase.
It just didn’t hit me as hard other books of this series.
January 18, 2026
WELL HELLO dark stalker, primal mm romance book that I didn't know I needed in my life until I read it!
This is the first book I have read from Rina Saint, but I am immediately going and buying the first two books in this series. I never felt super lost while reading this one. I only felt like a couple scenes in the late-middle part of the book didn't resonate as strongly with me because there are definitely characters in this who were also in books 1 and/or 2, and I just don't know their stories.
There are so many great, delicious things going on in this book. We have
- Primal chases
- Stalking, controlling, very much red flag of a MC lol
- Mafia vibes
- A masked man
- Rich/poor MCs
And I just ate this book up honestly. I absolutely loved Elias and him navigating his relationships with his stalker-for hire and his new boss - who, of course, is the same man - Andre.
Definitely check trigger and content warnings (I read an arc and there is a full list at the start of the book) as this one is definitely, like LEGIT dark lol.
Honestly, give me more of this please lol
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book I have read from Rina Saint, but I am immediately going and buying the first two books in this series. I never felt super lost while reading this one. I only felt like a couple scenes in the late-middle part of the book didn't resonate as strongly with me because there are definitely characters in this who were also in books 1 and/or 2, and I just don't know their stories.
There are so many great, delicious things going on in this book. We have
- Primal chases
- Stalking, controlling, very much red flag of a MC lol
- Mafia vibes
- A masked man
- Rich/poor MCs
And I just ate this book up honestly. I absolutely loved Elias and him navigating his relationships with his stalker-for hire and his new boss - who, of course, is the same man - Andre.
Definitely check trigger and content warnings (I read an arc and there is a full list at the start of the book) as this one is definitely, like LEGIT dark lol.
Honestly, give me more of this please lol
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 8, 2026
I received an advanced copy of The Chase from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review!
Ugh! I’ve missed these boys! The brutally tortured souls from the Island (and Noah❤️).
Everyone already knows that I am OBSESSED with Rina Saint books. And surprise, The Chase can be added to the ‘obsessed’ category! What can I say, the lady knows how to write a DARK EROTIC af MM romance!
The Chase is book 3 in the Dangerous Games series but can be read as a standalone.
Welcome to ForbiddenX, where your darkest fantasies can come to life… all you have to do is pay to play. This was such an intriguing story line, and with the internet and sex being so prevalent today, it made this so much more believable and real.
Andre is the intense, dark, twisted soul who puts himself in the role to act out other peoples fantasies through the ForbiddenX website.
And Elias has been harboring some DARK fantasies. It’s more than just fantasies for him though, he desperately wants/needs to be SEEN. And NO ONE will see him like Andre does. When the two of them are near each other, you will literally be on the edge of your seat. The sexual tension is insane! Andre and Elias, the masochist and the sadist. Their romance is dark, controlling, obsessive and possessive as fuck… but it’s exactly what they both needed from each other.
And let me just tell you, Andre is up there with fucking Michael Myers when it comes to stalking someone who’s running from you. Felt like I was watching a horror movie (and Elias didn’t even have to trip over anything 😂)
Fantasy and reality start to blend in this beautifully chaotic and suspenseful dark love story. I could easily read a 600-700 page book about these characters. 250 pages was not enough for Andre and Elias! The HEA was WELL deserved ❤️ and I can’t wait for more in this series. Keeping my fingers crossed that we get a happily ever after for Noah, god knows that man deserves it.
Rafael 👏🏼 and 👏🏼 his 👏🏼 corset 👏🏼 vests.
That’s all.
As Ludacris says:
“you make it so good I don't wanna leave…. But I gotta kn-kn-kn-know, what-what's your fan-ta-ta-sy?”
Ugh! I’ve missed these boys! The brutally tortured souls from the Island (and Noah❤️).
Everyone already knows that I am OBSESSED with Rina Saint books. And surprise, The Chase can be added to the ‘obsessed’ category! What can I say, the lady knows how to write a DARK EROTIC af MM romance!
The Chase is book 3 in the Dangerous Games series but can be read as a standalone.
Welcome to ForbiddenX, where your darkest fantasies can come to life… all you have to do is pay to play. This was such an intriguing story line, and with the internet and sex being so prevalent today, it made this so much more believable and real.
Andre is the intense, dark, twisted soul who puts himself in the role to act out other peoples fantasies through the ForbiddenX website.
And Elias has been harboring some DARK fantasies. It’s more than just fantasies for him though, he desperately wants/needs to be SEEN. And NO ONE will see him like Andre does. When the two of them are near each other, you will literally be on the edge of your seat. The sexual tension is insane! Andre and Elias, the masochist and the sadist. Their romance is dark, controlling, obsessive and possessive as fuck… but it’s exactly what they both needed from each other.
And let me just tell you, Andre is up there with fucking Michael Myers when it comes to stalking someone who’s running from you. Felt like I was watching a horror movie (and Elias didn’t even have to trip over anything 😂)
Fantasy and reality start to blend in this beautifully chaotic and suspenseful dark love story. I could easily read a 600-700 page book about these characters. 250 pages was not enough for Andre and Elias! The HEA was WELL deserved ❤️ and I can’t wait for more in this series. Keeping my fingers crossed that we get a happily ever after for Noah, god knows that man deserves it.
Rafael 👏🏼 and 👏🏼 his 👏🏼 corset 👏🏼 vests.
That’s all.
As Ludacris says:
“you make it so good I don't wanna leave…. But I gotta kn-kn-kn-know, what-what's your fan-ta-ta-sy?”
January 24, 2026
Rating: 4
Steam: 4
PoV: dual, 1st person
Genre: dark romance, MM
Tropes / tags: past abuse, hurt / comfort, hidden identity
The Chase was a dark and intense romance from Rina Saint!
I'm really enjoying this series so far, the stories are dark and intense, all with characters that have been through a lot. Elias and Andre's story was for sure the darkest book in the series so far, and there were quite a few scenes with dubcon and lack of consent. It started off as a request on a fantasy website, but things quickly turned "real" and Andre didn't exactly follow the script at any point.
Andre was pretty manipulative, and he couldn't stay away from Elias even after the fantasy request had been fulfilled. Elias, on the other hand, was starved for attention and affection, so while he didn't react well to everything that Andre was doing, he was loving the attention of his stalker. There were a lot of 'forbidden' desires and fantasies, obsession and possessiveness, but also elements of self-acceptance and healing from the past.
I liked seeing the pieces fall together when it came to both Elias and Andre's pasts, even if it truly got messy at one point. Elias' past in particular added some suspense, but they had some reinforcements and I loved to see Dante, Rafael and Noah again. It was very easy to get intrigued by the story and plot overall, and I could barely put it down once I started. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll get Noah's story at some point, he's been through so much and he deserves a happily ever after more than anything… If you’re looking for a dark romance, I definitely recommend this series - just be mindful and check out the TWs if needed.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Steam: 4
PoV: dual, 1st person
Genre: dark romance, MM
Tropes / tags: past abuse, hurt / comfort, hidden identity
The Chase was a dark and intense romance from Rina Saint!
I'm really enjoying this series so far, the stories are dark and intense, all with characters that have been through a lot. Elias and Andre's story was for sure the darkest book in the series so far, and there were quite a few scenes with dubcon and lack of consent. It started off as a request on a fantasy website, but things quickly turned "real" and Andre didn't exactly follow the script at any point.
Andre was pretty manipulative, and he couldn't stay away from Elias even after the fantasy request had been fulfilled. Elias, on the other hand, was starved for attention and affection, so while he didn't react well to everything that Andre was doing, he was loving the attention of his stalker. There were a lot of 'forbidden' desires and fantasies, obsession and possessiveness, but also elements of self-acceptance and healing from the past.
I liked seeing the pieces fall together when it came to both Elias and Andre's pasts, even if it truly got messy at one point. Elias' past in particular added some suspense, but they had some reinforcements and I loved to see Dante, Rafael and Noah again. It was very easy to get intrigued by the story and plot overall, and I could barely put it down once I started. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll get Noah's story at some point, he's been through so much and he deserves a happily ever after more than anything… If you’re looking for a dark romance, I definitely recommend this series - just be mindful and check out the TWs if needed.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
January 14, 2026
2.5 ⭐️ (rounding up for goodreads).
I received an ARC from from Gay Romance Reviews and here’s my honest opinion. Let’s get into my thoughts.
First, this was marketed as “no prior reading required” meaning I didn’t NEED to read books 1 &2. This was implied that it was a standalone and I would understand everything. The lie detector test determined……….. that was a LIE. I HIGHLY recommend reading books 1&2 before you pick this one up. You will see characters from books 1&2 and the interactions, chemistry, tension, I feel like, is so important to know BEFOREHAND. I felt so lost the last 30% of the book because it was obvious there was something else going on and history there that I didn’t know or understand.
I really struggled with Andre’s “roles”. I understand WHY he needed them and what they represented but I feel like there was no real reason the push and pull between him accepting the roles versus not, should have lasted up until 80% of the book. There were a few plot points with Elias that felt rushed and also not addressed as well.
I struggled really hard to believe remotely ANY kind of “love” and “romance” between them. It wasn’t there, as a reader, I didn’t FEEL it nor did I really see it on the pages. Between the lack of believable romance and the anticlimactic/rushed ending, I can say I think I set myself up for failure by not reading the other books. I fear I wasn’t the targeted audience for this book and that’s okay.
I wish this author nothing but the best on their upcoming release and hope they have a successful launch!
I received an ARC from from Gay Romance Reviews and here’s my honest opinion. Let’s get into my thoughts.
First, this was marketed as “no prior reading required” meaning I didn’t NEED to read books 1 &2. This was implied that it was a standalone and I would understand everything. The lie detector test determined……….. that was a LIE. I HIGHLY recommend reading books 1&2 before you pick this one up. You will see characters from books 1&2 and the interactions, chemistry, tension, I feel like, is so important to know BEFOREHAND. I felt so lost the last 30% of the book because it was obvious there was something else going on and history there that I didn’t know or understand.
I really struggled with Andre’s “roles”. I understand WHY he needed them and what they represented but I feel like there was no real reason the push and pull between him accepting the roles versus not, should have lasted up until 80% of the book. There were a few plot points with Elias that felt rushed and also not addressed as well.
I struggled really hard to believe remotely ANY kind of “love” and “romance” between them. It wasn’t there, as a reader, I didn’t FEEL it nor did I really see it on the pages. Between the lack of believable romance and the anticlimactic/rushed ending, I can say I think I set myself up for failure by not reading the other books. I fear I wasn’t the targeted audience for this book and that’s okay.
I wish this author nothing but the best on their upcoming release and hope they have a successful launch!
February 20, 2026
3.5 stars
I really wish GR allowed for half stars. I have given 4 stars to each of the books in the Dangerous Games series but they were not in fact equal experiences for me. I would have given The Contract 4 stars, The Club 4.5 stars, and The Chase 3.5 stars - I rounded up here because Rina Saint is amazing, and even though this one didn't totally work for me, I wouldn't round down.
I feel like this should have hit so hard for me. It included a ton of my favorite tropes and tags: D/s dynamic with an asshole older MC sugar daddy type who swoops in and saves his boy from his sad, lonely life through absolute control; a very submissive "good boy" and a dom who is soft only for him; vibrating plugs and dildos, a collar, kneeling, and orgasm control. And yet...
I guess the premise didn't work for me in general - I don't love a hidden identity situation where one of the MCs isn't aware that the two men he's caught between are the same person. It feels like a connection can't fully form with either so the relationship doesn't progress right for me.
I think Andre might have been the most effected of the "Island" boys and I didn't like that he couldn't really commit to intimacy for such a long time (he ditched out on aftercare a few times and I'm super not a fan of that). That might be shitty to think about someone with trauma but these books are short and it's hard to have one MC closed off for a significant time.
I liked Elias well enough but his neediness and lashing out behavior didn't totally work with Andre. It didn't feel like he could get what he needed from Andre and I'm not sure Andre could read him as well as he needed to. Their sex was kind of lackluster. Most of the time I think Rina Saint does an excellent job crafting her scenes and giving them a broader context while still being hot as hell. Here they all felt somewhat the same and I didn't think it added much to the relationship at large. I honestly could've skipped most of them barring maybe the ones where Andre talks Elias through things on the phone (which shouldn't be hotter than them being together but it was).
I just felt like they weren't as good of a match for each other as Dante and Tristan or Rafael and Dominic. I'm not sure I felt like they could weather any storm and I feel like their relationship would be harder to maintain.
I did enjoy Andre's relationship progress with Noah, the inclusion of Wes (I'm guessing he will be a future MC and I look forward to it), and the cameos from the previous couples (I am all for them becoming a dark super hero team). There was also a conversation near the end where Andre tells Elias that he felt sort of betrayed by him - that he showed him a vulnerability and it seemed like Elias treated him as weak afterward. It was just a really good scene and I'm glad it was included.
I will read whatever Rina Saint dishes out so I'm not sad I read this, but I think if I were to re-read the series, I might skip this one.
Pet names: baby
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*
*
*
Safety (may contain spoilers)
SA/rape: Andre is another survivor of the Society/the Island child sex trafficking ring. There is nothing on page, no flashbacks, and no explicit memories. I do think this one had slightly more specific references than the past two. It still manages to stay generally safe.
Other person drama: None.
I really wish GR allowed for half stars. I have given 4 stars to each of the books in the Dangerous Games series but they were not in fact equal experiences for me. I would have given The Contract 4 stars, The Club 4.5 stars, and The Chase 3.5 stars - I rounded up here because Rina Saint is amazing, and even though this one didn't totally work for me, I wouldn't round down.
I feel like this should have hit so hard for me. It included a ton of my favorite tropes and tags: D/s dynamic with an asshole older MC sugar daddy type who swoops in and saves his boy from his sad, lonely life through absolute control; a very submissive "good boy" and a dom who is soft only for him; vibrating plugs and dildos, a collar, kneeling, and orgasm control. And yet...
I guess the premise didn't work for me in general - I don't love a hidden identity situation where one of the MCs isn't aware that the two men he's caught between are the same person. It feels like a connection can't fully form with either so the relationship doesn't progress right for me.
I think Andre might have been the most effected of the "Island" boys and I didn't like that he couldn't really commit to intimacy for such a long time (he ditched out on aftercare a few times and I'm super not a fan of that). That might be shitty to think about someone with trauma but these books are short and it's hard to have one MC closed off for a significant time.
I liked Elias well enough but his neediness and lashing out behavior didn't totally work with Andre. It didn't feel like he could get what he needed from Andre and I'm not sure Andre could read him as well as he needed to. Their sex was kind of lackluster. Most of the time I think Rina Saint does an excellent job crafting her scenes and giving them a broader context while still being hot as hell. Here they all felt somewhat the same and I didn't think it added much to the relationship at large. I honestly could've skipped most of them barring maybe the ones where Andre talks Elias through things on the phone (which shouldn't be hotter than them being together but it was).
I just felt like they weren't as good of a match for each other as Dante and Tristan or Rafael and Dominic. I'm not sure I felt like they could weather any storm and I feel like their relationship would be harder to maintain.
I did enjoy Andre's relationship progress with Noah, the inclusion of Wes (I'm guessing he will be a future MC and I look forward to it), and the cameos from the previous couples (I am all for them becoming a dark super hero team). There was also a conversation near the end where Andre tells Elias that he felt sort of betrayed by him - that he showed him a vulnerability and it seemed like Elias treated him as weak afterward. It was just a really good scene and I'm glad it was included.
I will read whatever Rina Saint dishes out so I'm not sad I read this, but I think if I were to re-read the series, I might skip this one.
Pet names: baby
I, half savior, half tormentor, crook my finger at him—and he comes to me. God, he’s such a good boy. Such a beautiful, obedient boy.
And when he whispers in my ear, “You’re perfect,” I’m defenseless enough to believe him.
He’s in agony from his arousal and his fear. But he’s a masochist and I’m a sadist, so we both just stand there and experience his suffering.
He’s obsessive and controlling and cruel, and he does want me. He has from the beginning. But, unlike me, he’s angry about it.
“But that’s just an act, isn’t it? One made just for me. I should’ve known. You were too fucking perfect for me. Every little thing about you—perfect.” Tears well in my eyes because he’s telling me the best things and the worst things he possibly could. It’s everything I want to hear, twisted.
I understand, finally. Elias isn’t mine just to possess but also to protect. To take care of. That understanding, I realize now, has been trying to form for a long time. I finally let it. When I reach for his collar, worry comes back into his eyes. “You’re still mine,” I reassure him. “You always will be.”
It’s a question: am I safe with you? If I let you into this space, what will you do? He’s been in my private, intimate, dark spaces many times, but I’ve never been in his. I don’t think anyone has been in his. I don’t think he’s ever trusted anyone enough to allow it. I don’t rush him. I inch closer to let that space ease open, and it does. He lets me move between his legs. He lets me crawl into his lap. He lets me join him.
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Safety (may contain spoilers)
SA/rape: Andre is another survivor of the Society/the Island child sex trafficking ring. There is nothing on page, no flashbacks, and no explicit memories. I do think this one had slightly more specific references than the past two. It still manages to stay generally safe.
Other person drama: None.
January 12, 2026
4.5⭐️
This book feels halfway between an erotica and a dark romance. But one thing is for sure… it’s definitely dark, and definitely erotic 😈
This story follows Andre, a survivor from the island in previous books. The owner of an expensive hotel, he is big rich, and he is big scary.
A special agency hooks him up with Elias, who is looking for a certain erotic experience (CNC). When Andre sees Elias, he knows he has to have him.
However, both characters are not what they seem on the surface!
This book has:
-a dark, erotic plot
-CNC, stalking, and other intense k*nks
-violence and a little action
-characters with layers and interesting backstories
-RED FLAG MC
-obsession
-touch him and 💀vibes
For what it is, this book was well done! The main reason I rated it so high is because it had me HOOKED and excited to read it the whole way through. Though there are some parts of the plot that maybe could have been better executed, I still enjoyed myself the whole way through.
Normally I don’t love books that are overly heavy on the spice, but this one made it work. Though the characters’ relationship is almost entirely based off of their physical connection, their dynamic somehow works for them. Is it healthy? NO. But that’s not what we’re reading dark romance for!
Anyways, definitely don’t miss this one! I think I may like it the most in the series so far! 👍
This book feels halfway between an erotica and a dark romance. But one thing is for sure… it’s definitely dark, and definitely erotic 😈
This story follows Andre, a survivor from the island in previous books. The owner of an expensive hotel, he is big rich, and he is big scary.
A special agency hooks him up with Elias, who is looking for a certain erotic experience (CNC). When Andre sees Elias, he knows he has to have him.
However, both characters are not what they seem on the surface!
This book has:
-a dark, erotic plot
-CNC, stalking, and other intense k*nks
-violence and a little action
-characters with layers and interesting backstories
-RED FLAG MC
-obsession
-touch him and 💀vibes
For what it is, this book was well done! The main reason I rated it so high is because it had me HOOKED and excited to read it the whole way through. Though there are some parts of the plot that maybe could have been better executed, I still enjoyed myself the whole way through.
Normally I don’t love books that are overly heavy on the spice, but this one made it work. Though the characters’ relationship is almost entirely based off of their physical connection, their dynamic somehow works for them. Is it healthy? NO. But that’s not what we’re reading dark romance for!
Anyways, definitely don’t miss this one! I think I may like it the most in the series so far! 👍
January 18, 2026
I have mixed feelings about this book. Maybe it was the pacing, but at some point it lost me. I didn’t like Andre, he invented all these roles for himself I get it was a defensive mechanism, but he kept slipping up. In one role he was the one to fulfill Elias fantasy for cnc, but he brought that behaviour into his other role, where Elias wasn’t being given a chance to consent at all. He was being watch, he was managed, he was left lonely and hurt. I can’t accept that. This was a miss for me. 2,5 ⭐️
January 17, 2026
Forbidden romance, dark fantasies, hurt and comfort, hidden identities, and plenty of spice in this dark mm romance.
Andre and Elias are definitely complex characters, and come with a ton of baggage, but they find what they need in each other.
I liked seeing Elias learning to love himself and see his worth, and Andre helping free him of his burdens and learn to let someone in.
It's a journey of survival and vulnerability, passion, control, and submission.
Andre and Elias are definitely complex characters, and come with a ton of baggage, but they find what they need in each other.
I liked seeing Elias learning to love himself and see his worth, and Andre helping free him of his burdens and learn to let someone in.
It's a journey of survival and vulnerability, passion, control, and submission.
February 5, 2026
3.5-4⭐️
This one took me a little while longer to get invested than the previous 2 but once I was, it kept me hooked.
This one took me a little while longer to get invested than the previous 2 but once I was, it kept me hooked.
January 15, 2026
Obsessed with this book from start to finish. It was delicious and I need more of them stat. 😂
February 20, 2026
And next… I totally loved the previous two stories, and to be honest, I was kind of wondering who to bring in next, as after Dante, Rafael was a likely choice and a character introduced in the books already, but I was completely blank on who might be the Protas in The Chase by Rina Saint 💕.
We meet Andre, who is observing a „client“ of his acquaintance order-a-k!nk website 🖤. The said client has submitted a dark fantasy to Wes’s company, asking for a chance to live out his deepest, most depraved fantasies 🔥. Wes and Andre always make sure that the client can handle their fantasies to be fulfilled, and Andre is sure that not only can Elias handle him, but there is a pull he feels he can not withstand 😮💨🥵.
Elias is a really sweet guy, I totally adored him for his shyness, his big heart, and how much he struggles with a part deep inside him that wants to crawl into the light 💕. He is not only struggling with his fantasies, but also with money, and even though there is not much to live on, he is so kind and optimistic, helping out in an animal shelter and caring for those around him 🫶. I really sometimes just wanted to cuddle him and kiss it better 🥰.
Andre, in contrast, is the owner of a luxurious hotel and has money and status ✨. He is obsessed with Elias even before he talks to him for the first time, and just can not stay away. In a very subtle way, he approaches Elias and makes him addicted and fall for him, which is easy when you know the deepest, most deprived, and unfulfilled desires of the other person that just 100% match yours 🫠🔥.
I really loved their cat and mouse game 🐱🐭, seeing how Andre plans to make Elias obsessed and how Elias wants to obsess over Andre, but just is way too shy and too self-conscious to go out and show it openly 🫠🔥. It was exciting to see how Andre manipulates Elias in a kind of semi-healthy way and how these two are so close in their roles and so far in real life ❤️🔥. I liked the power dynamic the book explored, and of course, one of these two has a past comparable to Dante and Rafael and struggles with trust and acceptance the way they are 🥹🥰.
I really loved these books, and even if that makes me a bad person, I totally enjoyed that each of the boys/men was able to get revenge on the men who were responsible for their very hard childhood.
Summa summarum, while I was a tiny bit confused at the beginning, I really started to adore Elias and Andre and their power dynamic and cat and mouse games ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
The tropes:
💛 Dark Past
💛 Broken Boys
💛 CEO
💛 Possessive Obsessive Protective MMC
💛 Mafia romance
💛 Healing
The k!nks:
❤️🔥 Primal Play
❤️🔥 Masked Men
❤️🔥 St*lking
❤️🔥 T*ys
❤️🔥 Hands Free
❤️🔥 Multiple Org*sms
❤️🔥 C*ck cage
❤️🔥 Exh*bitionism/V*yeurism
❤️🔥 D/S
We meet Andre, who is observing a „client“ of his acquaintance order-a-k!nk website 🖤. The said client has submitted a dark fantasy to Wes’s company, asking for a chance to live out his deepest, most depraved fantasies 🔥. Wes and Andre always make sure that the client can handle their fantasies to be fulfilled, and Andre is sure that not only can Elias handle him, but there is a pull he feels he can not withstand 😮💨🥵.
Elias is a really sweet guy, I totally adored him for his shyness, his big heart, and how much he struggles with a part deep inside him that wants to crawl into the light 💕. He is not only struggling with his fantasies, but also with money, and even though there is not much to live on, he is so kind and optimistic, helping out in an animal shelter and caring for those around him 🫶. I really sometimes just wanted to cuddle him and kiss it better 🥰.
Andre, in contrast, is the owner of a luxurious hotel and has money and status ✨. He is obsessed with Elias even before he talks to him for the first time, and just can not stay away. In a very subtle way, he approaches Elias and makes him addicted and fall for him, which is easy when you know the deepest, most deprived, and unfulfilled desires of the other person that just 100% match yours 🫠🔥.
I really loved their cat and mouse game 🐱🐭, seeing how Andre plans to make Elias obsessed and how Elias wants to obsess over Andre, but just is way too shy and too self-conscious to go out and show it openly 🫠🔥. It was exciting to see how Andre manipulates Elias in a kind of semi-healthy way and how these two are so close in their roles and so far in real life ❤️🔥. I liked the power dynamic the book explored, and of course, one of these two has a past comparable to Dante and Rafael and struggles with trust and acceptance the way they are 🥹🥰.
I really loved these books, and even if that makes me a bad person, I totally enjoyed that each of the boys/men was able to get revenge on the men who were responsible for their very hard childhood.
Summa summarum, while I was a tiny bit confused at the beginning, I really started to adore Elias and Andre and their power dynamic and cat and mouse games ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
The tropes:
💛 Dark Past
💛 Broken Boys
💛 CEO
💛 Possessive Obsessive Protective MMC
💛 Mafia romance
💛 Healing
The k!nks:
❤️🔥 Primal Play
❤️🔥 Masked Men
❤️🔥 St*lking
❤️🔥 T*ys
❤️🔥 Hands Free
❤️🔥 Multiple Org*sms
❤️🔥 C*ck cage
❤️🔥 Exh*bitionism/V*yeurism
❤️🔥 D/S
January 23, 2026
Received an ARC from GRR for my Honest Review.
“I know you’re very hung up on this, but you need to let it go. You don’t need to understand why I chose you. You only need to trust that I know what I’m looking for, and it’s you.”
These characters that have come into my life via this new installment of Dangerous Games quickly became my favorite. Although I still have a soft spot for Tristan and Dante, Elias and Andre are definitely top tier for me. They both have secrets that they have hidden so deep, both are so conflicted about what they want and both hate the feeling.
Honestly there isn't a single book of Rina that I haven't read and I so far I haven't complained about a single one. Also she does spice so well but still keeps a good plot going throughout. Although she could write pure spice with hardly a plot bunny to be seen and I would absolutely devour it.
Honestly if you haven't read this series then I am going to need you to get to it. Also devour the audiobooks as well. I cannot wait to see who she has narrate this book as there hasn't been a bad choice yet.
“I know you’re very hung up on this, but you need to let it go. You don’t need to understand why I chose you. You only need to trust that I know what I’m looking for, and it’s you.”
These characters that have come into my life via this new installment of Dangerous Games quickly became my favorite. Although I still have a soft spot for Tristan and Dante, Elias and Andre are definitely top tier for me. They both have secrets that they have hidden so deep, both are so conflicted about what they want and both hate the feeling.
Honestly there isn't a single book of Rina that I haven't read and I so far I haven't complained about a single one. Also she does spice so well but still keeps a good plot going throughout. Although she could write pure spice with hardly a plot bunny to be seen and I would absolutely devour it.
Honestly if you haven't read this series then I am going to need you to get to it. Also devour the audiobooks as well. I cannot wait to see who she has narrate this book as there hasn't been a bad choice yet.
January 16, 2026
Another book from Rina Kent that I have a hard time saying I enjoyed, but in reality, that's exactly what I did. Ha ha. The third book in the series follows Andre and Elias as they navigate a highly complex and very dark arrangement turned lovers. It was a little more difficult for me to get behind the dynamic in this instalment because it had an element of misleading communication. I HATE that trope. It was fairly mild in terms of actual angst from it, but I still found myself vaguely annoyed.
I am enjoying the ongoing resolution of destroying the Society members with each new book, and the start of healing for all the guys that were victims of that fucking Island!
TW for implied child SA, sexual violence between MCs, dubcon,
I received an advanced copie in exchange for a review.
I am enjoying the ongoing resolution of destroying the Society members with each new book, and the start of healing for all the guys that were victims of that fucking Island!
TW for implied child SA, sexual violence between MCs, dubcon,
I received an advanced copie in exchange for a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have spent the last week devouring the first 2 books in the Dangerous Games series in preparation for this book and it was sooo worth it. Andre and Elias have a cat and mouse primal/feral relationship going that's got a side of stalker and fantasy fulfillment. But things are not all whips, collars, and safewords. All roads lead back to the Island, the boys who were kept there, the evil who abused them, and Noah, who saved them. I love this series, even though it can be a tough read. Thank you to GRR for the ARC. This is my honest review.
January 21, 2026
This is definitely darker than the other books in the series, but I still enjoyed it overall. Wasn't the biggest fan of Andre sometimes, but I did understand why he was like that. Loved the sweet moments between him and Elias though 💗 Loved the cameos we got too!
At some point though, I was afraid that these men were having medical issues, because they were hard practically 24/7. Jesus Christ.
I'm wondering if we're getting a book about Wes, he was interesting to me.
At some point though, I was afraid that these men were having medical issues, because they were hard practically 24/7. Jesus Christ.
I'm wondering if we're getting a book about Wes, he was interesting to me.
February 26, 2026
4/5⭐️
This series really is out here making my day again and again.
Add one more twisted relationship to the tab, why don't we? Poor Noah just can't catch a fucking break - and I'm here for it~
Middle part was really toxic, though.
This series really is out here making my day again and again.
Add one more twisted relationship to the tab, why don't we? Poor Noah just can't catch a fucking break - and I'm here for it~
Middle part was really toxic, though.
February 6, 2026
4 Stars ❤️
Dark, Delicious and Delightful 🖤 these two were fire and depravity in the best way. I'm kinda loving this series!! I'd recommend.
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *
Dark, Delicious and Delightful 🖤 these two were fire and depravity in the best way. I'm kinda loving this series!! I'd recommend.
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *
February 11, 2026
2.5 ✨
Sadly this didn’t keep me interested as much as the second one 😢
I liked the beginning but towards the 50% I felt a repetitiveness around smut and around situations 😕
Sadly this didn’t keep me interested as much as the second one 😢
I liked the beginning but towards the 50% I felt a repetitiveness around smut and around situations 😕
March 10, 2026
4.5 stars
January 21, 2026
Dark, twisted
Elias has a fantasy, Andre is the one chosen to fulfill it.
Their connection is instant, steamy, and explosive.
The push and pull between them and fantasy and reality kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book.
Elias has a fantasy, Andre is the one chosen to fulfill it.
Their connection is instant, steamy, and explosive.
The push and pull between them and fantasy and reality kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book.
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