Hold Me Close

Dangerous Obsession #3

by Nikki Sloane

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Audiobook

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 25, 2026

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Nikki Sloane landed in graphic design after her careers as a waitress, a screenwriter, and a ballroom dance instructor fell through. Now she writes full-time and lives in Nashville with her husband, two sons, and two super destructive cats.

She is a four-time Romance Writers of America RITA® & Vivian® Finalist, a Passionate Plume & HOLT Medallion winner, a Goodreads Choice Awards semifinalist, and couldn't be any happier that people enjoy reading her sexy words.

Reviews

[Jennifer Wycech · Rating 4 out of 5]

Protective MMC
Secret Identity
Mafia
Only one Bed
Female Pilot
Dual POV - 1st person

Duet narration - Blair Thatcher & Gabriel Spires
Fabulous duo of narrators! I really enjoyed their performance

Book #3 Dangerous Obsession series
*Recommend reading in order to avoid any spoilers*


He's the secret spy sent to gather information on a mafia family. She is the female pilot contracted to fly the mafia family around. These two have instant tension and chemistry. Both MC's have a past they would rather avoid. She is wounded hero, he has scars from many different ops. These two are drawn together like magnets. Steamy, great banter, and a gripping plot.

Overall, a wonderfully written story about finding the life and love inside yourself after trauma.

[Audio book lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

🔥✈️ One last job. One dangerous bodyguard. And a mission where falling in love might be the deadliest mistake of all. ✈️🔥

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Spice-meter: 🌶️🌶️☆☆☆ (2/5)
Audiobook: 🎧 Duet
Series: Dangerous Obsession, Book 3 (interconnected standalone)
HEA: Yes

Hold Me Close is a fast-paced romantic suspense packed with tension, danger, emotional stakes, and a love story unfolding right in the middle of absolute chaos. Nikki Sloane delivers a dramatic and satisfying conclusion to the Dangerous Obsession series, balancing betrayal, action, and romance in a way that keeps the momentum high from beginning to end.

This book builds steadily for most of the story, layering secrets, chemistry, and suspense, and then around the 88% mark it absolutely takes off. The final stretch had me fully locked in, with twist after twist raising both the emotional and physical stakes.

What I continue to love about this series is how cinematic it feels. The suspense never overshadows the romance, and the romance never slows the action. Olivia and Ethan’s dynamic works so well because both characters bring strength, intelligence, and emotional walls that make every vulnerable moment feel earned. The protector dynamic, hidden identities, and constant danger created exactly the kind of addictive tension I want from romantic suspense.

What I Loved

✔️ High-stakes romantic suspense
✔️ Alpha protector MMC
✔️ Strong, capable FMC
✔️ Hidden identity / spy tension
✔️ Mafia intrigue and danger
✔️ Only one bed perfection
✔️ Action-packed final act

🎧 Narration

Narrated by Gabriel Spires and Blair Thatcher.

Gabriel Spires and Blair Thatcher were fantastic together. Their performances felt natural, immersive, and emotionally layered, with both handling the accents and character dynamics incredibly well.

Gabriel absolutely nailed Ethan, capturing every layer of his personality, from his protectiveness and quiet intensity to his ruthless edge when the situation demanded it. Blair Thatcher was equally strong as Olivia, bringing confidence, vulnerability, and emotional depth to every scene.

Together, they created believable chemistry and elevated both the banter and the emotional beats, making this an audiobook that was incredibly easy to get lost in.

Tropes & Vibes

✔️ Romantic Suspense
✔️ Alpha Hero
✔️ Spy / Hidden Identity
✔️ Mafia Romance
✔️ Protector MMC
✔️ Military Elements
✔️ Only One Bed
✔️ Strong Heroine
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Female Pilot
✔️ Dual POV

Final Thoughts

Hold Me Close is an exciting, tension-filled finale that delivers everything I want from romantic suspense: danger, chemistry, emotional payoff, and a hero willing to risk everything for the woman he loves.

Olivia and Ethan’s story is intense, addictive, and full of high-stakes emotion, with a final act that completely delivers. If you love protective heroes, secret identities, mafia danger, and romances where the suspense keeps your heart racing, this series is absolutely worth picking up.

[Bette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific Story & Narration🎧 Gripping & Intense!

Hold Me Close
Dangerous Obsession, Book 3
By: Nikki Sloane
Narrated by: Gabriel Spires, Blair Thatcher

Nikki Sloane wraps up her amazing “Dangerous Obsession” series with a thrilling romantic suspense that, once you start it, you can not tear yourself away because you need to know what happens next. I have been looking forward to Ethan’s story, an intriguing character, an undercover operative and spy who speaks several languages and wears many hats. His new assignment has him infiltrating a mafia family, one that he is familiar with, and all the pieces fell together, making him Abramos new bodyguard and translator. A trip to Africa tests him, or rather Abramos’ personal flight captain, Olivia Wallace, does, from the moment they met, and her presence is a challenge he could have done without, one that could compromise him and the mission. Both these characters had secrets, his being more intense, living a secret life, hers of her past, that she is trying to forget. The chemistry between these two is electric, and you could feel the tension, but the resistance was futile. Olivia knew the people she worked for were not good people, and she hoped she could leave once her contract was up, but that hope went out the window after witnessing how bad her boss really was. Ethan’s protective mode kicks in, but could Olivia put her trust in him? The complexity of the characters and the story is incredible, and Sloane did an amazing job putting all the pieces together and bringing the story full circle and back to the Dunn’s and past events. There is never a dull moment in this well-written, cleverly plotted story, a story with non-stop drama, angst, thrilling suspense, heartfelt emotions, and steamy romance. The world-building and character growth and development are remarkable, and it was great to see the characters from the earlier books again too. Nikki Sloane, thank you for another amazing story and wild ride.

🎧📚🎧 Gabriel Spires and Blair Thatcher did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life, giving each a voice that was fitting, accents and all, and was believable in every role. Spires killed it as Ethan, grasping every facet of his personality, from his protectiveness to his strength and determination, and he was just as amazing playing the ruthless mafia Don. Thatcher was a natural in Olivia's role, and did the same showcasing all aspects of her personality, too. Both were fabulous performing the roles of the side/secondary characters too. Their expressive delivery conveyed all the characters’ emotions, making you feel them all, and they expertly handled back-and-forth banter effortlessly. These two make a great team, with voices and talent that complement each other and a captivating performance that keeps you glued to the story.

[Cigi cini · Rating 5 out of 5]

🔥 Alpha Hero
🕵️ Spy / Hidden Identity
🖤 Mafia Romance
🛡️ Protector Hero
💔 Guarded Hearts
🎖️ Military
🛏️ Only One Bed
💪 Strong Heroine
⚡ Romantic Suspense
🚨 Forced Proximity

Star: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

What makes this story so compelling is the tension between deception and desire. Both characters are living under false pretences, both are carrying secrets that could destroy them, and yet neither can deny the pull between them. As the truth begins to unravel, the stakes escalate in a way that pulls in the Italian mafia and turns their fragile connection into something far more dangerous than either of them expected.

The romance is layered with distrust, protection, and emotional conflict, and the forced proximity only heightens the intensity. The chemistry feels raw and consuming, balanced with moments of vulnerability that give depth to both characters. Olivia is strong and resourceful, refusing to be a passive player in her own story, while the hero is the classic protective force who is willing to cross every line when it comes to keeping her safe.

Hold Me Close is a fast Hold Me Close by Nikki Sloane is the explosive conclusion to the Dangerous Obsession series and it delivers everything readers have come to expect from this world of danger, secrets, and high stakes romance. Olivia Wallace is counting down the days until her final job is complete so she can finally walk away from the criminal world she has been pulled into. One last flight, one last assignment, and then freedom. But nothing about this mission goes to plan once she lands in South Africa and finds herself surrounded by threats she cannot fully see or understand.

The savanna becomes more than just a backdrop, it feels like a living, breathing danger zone where trust is a luxury Olivia cannot afford. The arrival of her boss’s new bodyguard changes everything. He is controlled, intense, and clearly hiding something behind his calm exterior. The chemistry between them is immediate and undeniable, even as every instinct tells Olivia to stay guarded. He claims he is not a good man, but his actions speak louder than his words when violence breaks out and he risks everything to protect her.

paced romantic suspense with high tension, emotional stakes, and a love story built in the middle of chaos. It brings the Dangerous Obsession series to a dramatic and satisfying close, tying together danger, passion, and betrayal in a way that keeps the momentum high right to the final pages

[Kay Daniels (Kay Daniels Romance) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterfully crafted and well written, Hold Me Close is the final book in the Dangerous Obsessions series. Each book has been intense, full of action, and full of passion, but this book is leveled up and left nothing on the table.

Ethan Foster is a field agent for the CIA and has been in the background of the Dunn brother's stories since book one. He's literally been in the background and since he's an undercover agent and in this story it's uncovered just how deep his cover went and what's at stake or specifically what he's willing to do for his country. That is..until he meets Olivia Wallace.

Captain Olivia Wallace first meets Ethan, known to her at that point as Nathan, working security for a rich, spoiled man she's been flying around the world. For her, the job begins as just any normal day, but it soon goes off the rails. She can pinpoint the biggest change as the hottest man she's ever flown with, and something tells her that Nathan, or Ethan, is the one man who can protect her, and that's when she's not protecting herself. Olivia is one tough woman and I loved that she was constantly surprising Ethan. I mean he's a man who is trained to save the world, but every time she steps up, his instinct is of course to protect her, but his attraction to her also goes up exponentially. It's a great combination to witness.

Their chemistry is off the charts, if only their lives weren't constantly in danger. Olivia and Ethan are in a constant state of "unfinished business" while also running for their lives. In regards to this state of "unfinished business", it's elemental to how their relationship evolves and it was everything. Ethan first puts this in Olivia's phone as his contact name. Then they both kept using this phrase when they were parted or separated. It was perfect for them and meant so much more than saying "goodbye" each time they had to part. It helped create suspense, and emotion, and every time they used it it meant so much more. I loved it.

The entire series was fantastically woven together and I loved how everything tied up. Past characters were brought in throughout this book, not just for show, but for specific plot purposes. This could be read as a standalone, but I strongly suggest reading the series, beginning from book one to get the most reading enjoyment out of reading this book, due to the interconnected plot from book one through book three.

[Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.75/5

This book had me in an absolute chokehold.

When I started the Dangerous Obsession series, thriller romance was completely new to me. I remember being unsure in the beginning because the obsession felt so immediate and intense. At first, I wasn’t sure what to think.

But by the time I reached this final book, I understood it completely.

Somewhere throughout this journey, I became fully invested in these characters, their stories, and this world.

This was such a strong conclusion to the series.

The suspense kept me hooked, the romance was addictive, and the plot had me turning pages long into the night. I genuinely didn’t want the story to end.

One of my favorite things about this book was the female protagonist. She was strong in a way that felt realistic and refreshing. She wasn’t written to be dramatic or unnecessarily difficult. Instead, she was emotionally intelligent, mentally resilient, and incredibly capable. I absolutely loved her character.

I also loved seeing appearances from previous characters throughout the story. Even though each book works as a standalone, those moments added so much emotional value and reminded me how far this journey has come.

What surprised me most is how attached I’ve become to this series. When I finished the final page, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. If there were five more books planned in this world, I would read every single one without hesitation.

Thank you to the author and the PR team for allowing me to be part of this journey through the ARC process. It has been such a memorable reading experience and one that introduced me to a genre I didn’t know I would love this much.

A thrilling, emotional, addictive conclusion to a series that I will remember for a long time. ❤️‍🔥

📚 Instagram: @monaafterdark

[Alodia B Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ 8 out of 10

Great. Way. To. End. The. Series.

I got impressed book after book & when I thought there's nothing to top Shawn, BOOM! Ethan. Also the cover? Delicious.

Super grateful that I got to receive the ARC for all three books because the sickening thrill that intervenes with these characters' lives apparently feels like drug to me.

Much like the previous, this book revolves around hidden identity and cat-and-mouse chase between the main couple and the people who think they do them wrong. Ethan's mission was supposed to be the Abramos but when the clan's personal captain stepped into the picture, the priority started to shake a bit. Things got worse when the Abramos drew a connection between Juric, Constantine and the Dunns/Haywards and well.. them. Compared to Ethan, Olivia held way more stories & it wasn't until half the book did we know what actually happened long time ago. She bottled up those events that eventually shaped her guarded self. During many threatening situations where clearly her feelings for Ethan occassionally dripped for everyone to see, she still reigned herself back and made the right choices. Both Ethan and Olivia are characters of control and caution, but it's so adorable to see Ethan eventually doing all these stuffs to make her understand her own feelings.

Like I can imagine him giving her a shake and just snap "goddamn, you love me!!".

All these reworks of her previously published books are done real good & I really appreciate the dragging tension, temporary separation (yes it hurts but we need it), spice (HA!), and the closure.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold Me Close is the last in the Dangerous Obsession series and what a conclusion it was. This book centers around our sexy spy Ethan or shall we say Nathan. He is working undercover for some really bad folks and has a dark secret that could get him killed if they find out. This just may be his most dangerous assignment yet. Then add in the beautiful Olivia, the pilot and stuff just got real.

As the danger levels are out of control in this book, their is a lot more torture than we have endeared in the past books. I mean you could literally see and feel the pain. Just when you thought all was well with the German group more bad guys come out to play and they are just as deranged as Juric.

This book is a pretty steady read till you get 88% in, then it takes off like a rocket. There is an air of danger around every corner and is filled with triggers that will be pretty bad. Stuff like torture, attempted rape, blood, gore, gun violence and kid napping. This book is a dark romance thriller that will give you all the thrills and chills perfectly blended together. We will get to see our old friends in action as well as the new ones.

This nonstop adventure is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. I would suggest reading the first two books before diving into this one, just so you can experience the full effect. If you don't you may not understand some of the story told by other playing characters, but you won't be a total loss.

I highly recommend this book along with its predecessors for all those you adrenaline junkie readers out there. It is sure to keep you invested.

[Jaelene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikki Sloane has done it again and delivered an AMAZING book, this time finishing out her latest trilogy. I was obsessed with the entire series, and this might be my absolute favorite one yet.

I was maybe a bit in love with our FMC - I mean, what an absolute badass. A pilot? A badass veteran? I love women who can hold their own in crazy situations, and she handled it all with confidence and certainty, and I LOVED HER so much. She deserves everything beautiful and amazing coming to her.

And let's not forget about our amazing CIA Agent MMC. He was strong, and I loved finally seeing his love story. Throughout the series, I was hoping he would find his happily ever after, and I am not at all disappointed. I love that they are two halves of a whole and they find their way to work.

The story was such a wild, spicy, chaotic ride, and I was gripped the entire time. Literally, I listened to the entire story in one day because it was THAT FREAKING GOOD. The narrators killed it and added another beautiful layer of delight with their emotion and the way that they played the characters. They both were able to handle the main and side characters beautifully, and I never had to guess who was saying which lines, and it was easy to tell when they were speaking "out loud" verse "in their heads", which is a huge plus.

Thank you so much to Nikki Sloane and Valentine PR for the ALC for this book, and all of the books in this series! I'm officially fan-girling Nikki Sloane!

[Awilda Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLD ME CLOSE by Nikki Sloane is the explosive conclusion to the Dangerous Obsession series, and it delivers everything readers have come to expect from this world of danger, secrets, and high-stakes romance 🔥
Olivia is counting down to her last job — her ticket out of the criminal world she never asked to be part of. One last flight, one last assignment, then freedom. Except nothing goes to plan once she lands in South Africa and finds herself surrounded by threats she can’t fully see or understand.
And Ethan’s story?? The one I’d been waiting for. Undercover operative, multilingual man of mystery, infiltrating a mafia family he already knows — as their new bodyguard and translator. Watching all the pieces fall into place was so satisfying 😩
The way Nikki Sloane wove this entire series together — past characters returning with real plot purpose, not just nostalgia — is a masterclass. This can be read as a standalone, but I strongly recommend starting from book one for the full payoff; the plot is deeply interconnected from book one through book three.
🎧 narrated by Gabriel Spires & Blair Thatches — absolutely stunning performances

Things to know
Duet narration, dual pov, forced proximity, protective mmc, bodyguard mmc, pilot fmc, abduction, murder, assault, hidden identity, mafia, one bed, romantic suspense, military, fierce FMC, guarded hearts, strangers to lovers

[Megan Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Valentine PR and Nikki Sloane for the opportunity to read and listen to *Hold Me Close* early!

Good lord, I absolutely devoured this book in a single day. I couldn't stop listening to the audiobook or reading whenever I had the chance. Every time I told myself "just one more chapter," I ended up reading several more.

I honestly thought the second book would remain my favorite in the series, but Ethan and Olivia completely stole my heart. Their chemistry, emotional connection, and journey together had me hooked from beginning to end. The suspense was so well done and kept me completely invested in the story. I also loved how intertwined the entire series is—every book connects so seamlessly, making the overall reading experience even more enjoyable.

Nikki Sloane delivered all the tension, emotion, romance, and suspense I've come to love, and this has officially become my favorite Nikki Sloane book to date. I would highly recommend this series to anyone looking for characters they'll fall in love with and a story they won't be able to put down.

[Amy [Book Addict Reviews] · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am obsessed with this series and this book was no exception to that.

Ethan works for the CIA and is deep undercover and has been since we first were introduced to him in the previous books. Olivia is a pilot, working for a mafia family. She also has her own secrets.

This book had me HOOKED. The drama, the suspense, the romance. I am here for it all. I just kept turning the page, because I need to know more about Olivia and her secrets. I fell in love with Ethan, he is a man with a lot of different layers and I loved learning about all of them. The chemistry between these two was off the charts. Though, there was definitely a few times where there was some unfinished business between them.

I loved getting to see the Dunns/Haywards, again and the roles that they played when it came to Ethan and Olivia.

This book is absolutely addictive from the suspense, the adventure, to the relationship between Ethan and Olivia. I honestly did not want it to end and it was the perfect way to end this series.

If you’re looking for a dark, alpha hero, forced proximity, romantic suspense check this one out.

[Crystal Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ALC from Valentine PR for this book. Perfect conclusion to this series. I was blessed to receive an ALC for all 3 books & they all have been 5 🌟 reads. I’ve been curious about Ethan since book one, so I was excited to get his story. Nikki has a knack for writing the most suspenseful, action packed love stories. This book was no different. So many twist and turns. I love that this is a standalone but the overall plot continues throughout each book (so yes, I recommend you read books 1 & 2 first) Olivia is perfect for Ethan. I absolutely love their banter. They are the perfect example of teamwork makes the dream work. As with the previous books, the narrators did an amazing job bringing the story to life. I’m a firm believer that with the right narrators, you feel way more emotion with books because of their personality& delivery. Gabriel Spires and Blair Thatcher had the perfect delivery. This series was my first from Nikki Sloane but it definitely will not be the last. I can’t wait to see what she has in store next.

[Clary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook while reading along this story and this is the perfect mix of plot and spice. First of all, Olivia is a total baddie. Ex military, pilot, independent strong as heck, unstoppable woman, and I love that in an FMC. Then we have Ethan, who I loved in the previous installment of this series, natural protector, who will stop at nothing to make sure Olivia is safe. These two are fiery hot together. The tension between them is off the chart from the moment they met and I could not get enough. That being said, what made this book, and in all honesty this whole series, so special is the amazing plot that accompanied the spice and the romance. An amazing romantic suspense or romantic thriller that kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time. I devoured this book just as ferociously as I devoured the entire series. The narration by Blair Thatcher and Gabriel Spires was pure perfection. It had the chemistry and the mystery that this story exudes. An easy recommendation if you enjoy romantic suspense with great plot and delicious spice!

[Felecia Rodney · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALC Review:
Duet Narration by Blair Thatcher and Gabriel Spires
4.25 ⭐

Tropes:
Romantic Suspense
Spy
Military
Protective MMC
Strong FMC
Guarded Hearts
Only One Bed

The story follows Captain Olivia Wallace on her final flight job, where she crosses paths with Ethan, a lethal bodyguard harboring massive secrets. When their mission collides with the Italian mafia, they have to rely on each other to survive.

Olivia is such a refreshing FMC unlike Laurel and Kara Hayward who were civilians, Olivia is attracted to danger and proves she can absolutely hold her own like a boss. Both she and Ethan are incredibly guarded people, which makes their connection feel so earned.

Blair Thatcher breathes life into Olivia's fierce strength, and Gabriel Spires is perfection as the mysterious, intense Ethan.

What a fantastic way to end a fantastic series. A huge thank you to Valentine PR and Nikki Sloane for this ALC! What a phenomenal series!

[Ashley Herndon]

This was my fav of this series!

Ethan. He’s been with us through it all. Taken the brunt of the anger from Jason. Feels so much guilt for the Dunn’s in general.

His job had created jagged edges and broken pieces.

He was not prepared for Olivia.

Olivia. Just wants to fly. And escape some memories that won’t let go. She feels hollow and numb. Just the way she likes it.

Enter ‘Nathan’.

What do you do when your hollow parts fit his broken ones!

Well. Obviously.

Loved this so much!

Highly recommend.

[Reading is escaping reality · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep his cover all while trying to keep her safe, I mean what can go wrong. This kept me on my toes and had me guess what was going to happen! This was so good! And the way she stood strong and yet in a way vulnerable towards him was absolutely perfect!


I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kari Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay. This one was my absolute favorite from the series. Another fabulous story from Nikki Sloane.

This one about Captain Olivia Wallace and CIA Ethan from the 1st two books.

Duet narration with Blair Thatcher and Gabriel Spires was perfect. They were both the perfect voices for Olivia and Ethan.

More later.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this little series. They are all quick easy reads with fast burns and lots of action. I would of liked an epilogue that showed me how they actually ended up though.

I received an arc from valentine pr.

[Brandy McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this audiobook. The narrators did a really good job bringing these characters to life. I wanted a little more at the end. I just wanted to know more of there future. I have enjoyed this entire series and I would recommend.