His to Keep

by Eva Marks

Saving Brooklyn should’ve made me her hero. Unfortunately for her, I’m anything but…

When I saw a barely conscious woman being hurt at an exclusive club, I didn’t stop to think. I grabbed her and got us the hell out of there.
Thing is, the man who put his hands on her isn’t just anyone. One of the wealthiest men in Chicago is now after both of us, and he won’t stop until he’s done.
Not like I can’t fight back.
As a fixer, I have most of the city’s dirty secrets in the palm of my hand, including his. It also means I could make this whole mess go away with a snap of my fingers.

If I wanted to. Which I don’t.

Despite the secrets she’s hiding, ones I suspect could ruin me, Brooklyn is an obsession. An addiction. One I have no intention of letting go, no matter how wrong it is.

If that makes me the bad guy, so be it.
As long as I get to keep her.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Abuse, Forced Proximity

353 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2026

About the author

Writing spicy books about dirty talkers and the women who love them.


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Reviews

[Kursed Reads · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Brooklyn Hartley was planning an exposé on one of Chicago’s richest and most powerful bachelors. Instead, she nearly becomes his next victim.

As a fixer for the rich and famous, Penn Roswell has perfected the art of reading people and hoarding their secrets. The job also requires turning a blind eye to a certain level of depravity. But assault? That’s where he draws the line.

Whew… Penn’s intensity is something to behold. Watching him morph from a man who seemingly feels nothing to an utterly obsessed cinnamon roll was a damn treat. I loved seeing them work through their challenges and, especially, how Penn made Brooklyn feel safe and truly seen.

It had been a minute since I’d read anything by Eva, and now I’m kicking myself for waiting so long. This woman has perfected the art of writing intense, singularly focused, red-flag-waving, toxic alpha MMCs. And apparently, I will never get tired of them!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Format: 📱

🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Dark, Mystery/Suspense, New Adult

Ending: 💗 {HEA}
Length: 📚📚📚📚
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 😩🥵🫠😳😍
Darkness: 🖤🖤
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Pacing: 🏃‍♀️ {Moderate}
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Vibe: Emotional, Gritty, Intense, Swoony

✨ Tropes: Forced Proximity, Heroine in Danger, Hidden Identity, Insta-Obsession, Kidnapped/Captive,
 
💫 Microtropes: Boy Obsessed, Caretaker/Protective MMC, Caveman/Bridal Carry, Forehead Kisses, “Good Girl”, Grey Sweatpants, Hand Necklace, He Falls First, He Falls Harder, Pet Name (Little One), Secrets & Lies, Size Difference, Tattooed MMC, Tragic Past, Virgin FMC, “Who Hurt You?”

🔆 Character: Fixer, Journalist

💋 Kinks: 🍑, Biting/Marking, 🩸 Play, Clit Pinch, Cum Jammer, Degradation (Mild), Domination, Pearl Necklace/Spunk Art, 🐱 Slap, 🍆 Pacifier, Praise, Spanking, Spitting

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: Epilogue

🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, BC Tampering, Dominant MMC, Drugged (by MMC), Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive, MINE!, Touch-Her-and-💀, Tracking/Spying, Unhinged MMC

⛔️ Safety Squad: Attempted Assault (Not by MMC), Drugged (Not by MMC), Unaliving, Violence, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page, in the past and/or present, and to main and/or side characters. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📍 Setting: Chicago, Illinois 🇺🇸

📣 Type: His to Keep is a standalone.

⚠️ Warning: Enough plot to keep you turning pages, enough spice to keep you crossing your legs.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[Han · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

I really don’t like “little one” as a nickname 🫠

Safety
•Virgin h
•No others after meeting
•h: Think she said it had been 5 years since she dated since her assault but no real info
•H:didn’t seem like a manwhore, not much on past. Never felt like how he does with h with anyone else
•owd:no. Jealous moments (when H would leave for work at beginning h would confront him thinking he was cheating- he definitely was not)
•omd: no

⋆ 3 different guys have tried/ have SA’d her on page/ flashbacks. All dealt with by h with help from H. 1 was the ongoing drama

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Hehe it starts off pretty fast we have Brooklyn who's a undercover journalist trying to get the scoop on a shady man and well somethings happen that cause her to land in the arms of Penn and Fixer steps in when he watches her almost be assaulted.

From that moment obessions desire mine happens and Penn saves her and he plans to never let her go. So it becomes a force proximity lol. With secerts slowly being unfolded, the two bantering and having a back and forth in feelings well Brooklyn is 🤣.
Penn slowly uncovers everything and hes still unhinged about his girl. I love that Brooklyn fought and slowly started to let her walls down. Penn might be a monster who fixes things but hes also her monster.

No- ow/tiny om drama, no cheating, Drama, sexy times, virgin gal no manwhore

Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶

Slowinsta
Age gap
38H/23h
Force proximity
Hidden identity
Attempted SA (not by the mmc)
Drugged (by someone else & by the mmc)
Anal sex/play
Bc tampering
Manipulation by mmc
Tracker inside her
Bondage
Somnophilia
Violence
Cockwarming
Bloodplay
No condom
Hea
Epilogue

[Eva Marks]

His to Keep is live!!!

Grab your copy here ➡️ https://mybook.to/HistoKeepEM

What you can expect
💕 Savior complex gone wrong
💕 Forced proximity
💕 Hidden identity
💕 B C tampering
💕 Investigative journalist FMC
💕 Ray Donovan inspired, morally gray MMC
💕 Who did this to you?

[Jules]

DNF 6% - dialogue is too cheesy and it's been non-stop "let me go let me go let me go". She comes off too weak and the repetition is shutting my brain off.

[Ariday Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

La secuestra para mantenerla segura y según él todo es por su bien pero apenas ella intenta llamar a alguien se pone celoso pensando que tiene un novio al que quiere contactar👀xd SURE BUDDY 🫢
Thank you so much Eva for the ARC copy. You never failed me with your books. I ate this for sure🖤✨
——
💌tropes:
•dark romance
•proximidad forzada
•una cama
•captor x cautiva
•tócala y 💀

🖤book info:
•mmc obsessed
•mmc posesivo

•no drama OM(otra mujer)
•no drama OH ( otro hombre )

•célibes? El tiene años célibe / ella es virgen
•spicy:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 (no condon)

⚠️: Intento de SA en página (no por el MMC)/ mención de SA pasado/ Manipulación de anticonceptivos

•separación? No
•final feliz? si

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

An undercover journalist lands herself in the arms of a fixer and the rest is history.

Filthy, kinky and all the feels!

[The Fabled Librarian🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review | His to Keep by Eva Marks ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If I could give this book more than five stars, I absolutely would. His to Keep has easily become my favorite read of the year so far, and I genuinely cannot stop thinking about it. You know those books that completely consume you, make you forget about the real world for a while, and leave you wishing you could experience them for the first time all over again? This was that book for me. Brooklyn is an undercover journalist determined to expose a powerful man who deserves to be brought down. Penn is a fixer who finds himself stepping in when he witnesses Brooklyn being targeted. What starts as a matter of protecting her quickly becomes something much more complicated when Penn decides he has no intention of letting her go. Add danger, secrets, conflicting careers, and an undeniable attraction, and I was completely hooked. Brooklyn was such a fantastic FMC. She’s determined, resilient, and unwilling to let her past dictate her future. I loved watching her navigate the challenges thrown her way, stand firm in what she believes in, and grow throughout the story. Her dynamic with Penn was especially compelling, and I loved seeing the moments when she found the courage to speak up for herself, even when it wasn’t easy. And Penn? Another fictional man added to my ever-growing list of favorites. 🥵 He initially comes across as cold, guarded, and intimidating, but as more of his past and the realities of his work are revealed, you begin to understand the man beneath that carefully constructed exterior. Watching his walls come down as he grows increasingly protective and possessive of Brooklyn was everything. Once he decides she’s his, he’s all in, and I was absolutely here for it. The pacing was fantastic, making this such an easy book to devour in one sitting. I was invested from beginning to end, and between the tension, the danger, the secrets, and the pull between Brooklyn and Penn, I never once wanted to put it down. Their relationship had me completely captivated, and I was not ready to say goodbye when I reached the final page. Eva Marks is also an author who holds a special place in my heart. Her books offer the kind of escape I look for as a reader, pulling me into another world and making it so easy to forget everything else for a little while. There’s something truly special about an author whose stories resonate with you this deeply, and Eva continues to deliver that feeling for me.
If His to Keep isn’t already on your TBR, consider this your sign to add it immediately. If you’re looking for a gripping, binge-worthy romance with a strong heroine, a dangerously devoted hero, and a story that stays with you long after you’ve finished, do yourself a favor and pick this one up.
Eva, thank you for another story that completely stole my heart. So happy to have discovered you and your books! ❤️

Honest review in exchange for an e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lacey Browne · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Eva Marks STRIKES AGAIN, I’ve been looking forward to this book for so long & I was not disappointed!

[❁ itsabookthing.xo ❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Release Date: 13th October

I was promised an unhinged MMC and that’s exactly what I got. Two people that had darkness clinging from their past but were perfect together

I loved the:
» Intensity of their feelings
» Obsession
» Possessiveness
» Secrets and half truths
» Jealousy

Brooklyn was mysterious. Even with a background check she seemed to have fallen through the cracks which made Penn more determined to uncover her secrets. She had been through so much and had shred a lot of tears to overcome her battle that was tormenting her mind. Being saved that night put her in the path of our psycho Penn. But all was not as it seemed. Behind his intensity and raw emotions, he was capable of having a soft spot. But trust had to be earned , and knowing she was hiding behind lies, he had unconventional ways of keeping her safe. I sympathised with her and I was rooting for her to become strong. She may have been a damsel in distress at the beginning but at the end? She was a badass!

… And Penn? He was unhinged and his way of protecting was a little crazy. Was he a bad guy though ? I mean, sure he kidnapped her, tied her arms together to keep her safe?Installed a tracker, tampered with her birth control BUT he helped her to be brave. He helped her to overcome her panic attacks and ease the pain of her past.He took care of her in every way.

The lies kept me captivated in their story. I yearned to understand their strength and weakness of their past and current lives. They both understood eachother’s pain.Their chemistry , connection and passion was colliding with their need to protect their heart and lives.

Overall , this was a crazy unhinged love story but it was also a bittersweet story of revenge and self worth. I loved them both. Their growth was powerful. One had to learn to trust and to feel emotions he never knew was possible or believing to be capable of having and the other didn’t let her past own her. Both showed courage and determination to prove they were perfect for eachother.

Would I recommend? YESSSSSS!!! ABSOLUTELY!!!

“Breathe, I’ve got you.”

♡ Thank you Eva Marks for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review!

[Dark_romance_queen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book more than five stars I would.

This has to be my favourite read of the year so far. I have not stopped thinking about this book since I finished it.

Brooklyn is an undercover journalist determined to take down one of the most powerful men in the city.

Penn is a fixer and while on a job with one of his clients he comes across Brooklyn and quickly realises she is in danger.

Brooklyn was such a strong Fmc who was determined to not let her past affect her and her work in taking down those that deserve it. I loved seeing her character grow and how she was afraid to stand up to Penn when she needed to.

Penn is definitely in my list of favourite MMcs. In the beginning he comes across as a little cold and guarded but once you understand his past and his line of work you understand him better. He quickly starts to soften towards Brooklyn decides she’s his no matter what.

I never wanted this book to end if you haven’t already make sure to add this book to your tbr.

[Spicy BookNook Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book by the incredible Eva that I am obsessed with. Eva always knows how to write her men, and while this one didn't come across as dark and unhinged as most of her other men, I absolutely ate this up and loved every single second of this story.

Penn has some secrets, but hey that's okay, we all do, don't we? But what he never imagines is having his heart live outside of his body with someone completely he never saw coming.

Brooklyn has some secrets herself too. Again, we all do! And for her sanity, it is totally understandable! But when she gets mixed up in a situation she does NOT want to be in, Penn is her saving grace.

While this whole interaction between the two of them is not necessarily "right," it helps open each of their eyes on what they truly want and/need. And their story is so absolutely precious, in a dark twisty sort of way! Lol. But again, with Eva, that's how it goes!

And if you've read anything by Eva before, you know her epilogues are THE BEST! And I literally was a mush filled pile on the floor with this one! I loved this story soo soo much!

[star · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

this whole book felt like an example of tautology. things were just said on repeat; I feel like I gathered no information. actually, that’s probably because there was no information. a shitload of nothing happened for 250 pages then she left the house on the typical “i have to handle this myself” bs and got herself in trouble fucking immediately and he had to come save her anyway. shit like this makes me cringe so hard

they had no depth as a couple. couldn’t tell you why they liked each other. the development of their “feelings” felt like a cop out. he saw her and was obsessed (okay.) and over a week they like each other. and ofc, because he felt so strongly (🙄), he gave her a fake birth control

then, get this, he told her about the fake birth control and she’s okay with it and we just move past. EWWWWW! it’s been a couple weeks! yuck!

look, I do not like this trope, it’s always gross because the reaction is never valid

third act was stupid and I simply stopped having any fun when I realized nothing mattered. so dumb ugh

[Leigh ᥫ᭡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I freaking loved how the story just dived right on in ! My first opinion of Penn, was how unhinged and focused he was on getting what he wants, he doesn't fear death or even being put in difficult situations, that was very sexy!

Brooklyn was brave AF , even though she was scared and feared so much she did test boundaries. I loved when she would challenge Penn !

I loved every. Single. Red. Flag! The need they both had for each other , while there were secrets between them.

Penn was fearless & feral but all for the right reasons! When he says you're safe with him, he means it!

Honestly this arc had it all! I would absolutely recommend this ! Of course there's a list of triggers , if you're like me and love a long list of them then this book is for you !

[Mya Dsouza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a true Eva Marks book but also at the same time unlike any book of hers I've read before.
I absolutely enjoyed reading Penn and Brooklyn's story and not gonna spoil anything for you but THIS is THE EVA MARKS book you never knew you needed. Every time I think it doesn't get better than this and this girl proves me wrong with her stunning take on, dark romance and her amazing and easy to follow writing.
His to Keep is a phenomenal dark romance, and the best part of this book was not the pacing, the writing or the plot - though those were phenomenal - it was Penn and Brooklyn. I love these characters like I know them in real life and will not ever forget them!
Thank you Eva Marks for this ARC. 5 stars! No notes!
Forever your loyal worshipper hehe!

[Vivien R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is dark and spicy, just I like my romance and my MMCs. Brooklyn and Penn may be one of my favorite couples so far in this author’s books. I loved the way their story started and how he gallantly rescued her from being assaulted in a club. I was addicted from chapter to chapter. Penn rescued her from a bad man. But is he her hero or her captor?? Now that he has her, he has no intention of wanting to let her go. I love how obsessed he became with her. This is exactly the way I love my dark romance male characters..possessive, with touch her and d!e vibes. And the k!nks! L0rdy they were good.

[Bookslover09 · Rating 5 out of 5]

His to Keep by Eva Marks was absolutely addictive. Dark, intense, possessive, and deliciously twisted, exactly the kind of read that had me saying “just one more chapter” until there were no chapters left. The tension, obsession, and chemistry had me completely hooked. I devoured this one and loved every unhinged second of it. 🖤📸

5 stars
dark romance done right.

[Readwithmelis · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

It was an easy, bingeable read and kept me engaged the whole time, so I really enjoyed it.
As for the plot: one day, Penn sees Brooklyn about to be harassed at a restaurant and steps in to save her, only to lock her up in his house afterwards (it was strictly for her own safety at first... until he decided he wanted her for himself 🤭). Of course, the drama doesn't stop there, the scumbag who went after her is now hunting them both down. On top of that, Penn is a fixer and Brooklyn is a journalist, so their careers naturally clash at some point, leading Brooklyn to keep her job a secret. She thought everything would fall apart once the truth came out, but of course it didn’t. Their irresistible pull toward each other helped them overcome it all 🥹🖤
Eva is such a special author to me, she holds a very unique place in my heart because reading her books feels like a true mental escape. I personally love them so much. So glad you exist, my lovely author 🖤

[Helen Pham · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

"You're an obsession. One I won't survive without. The thought of a world where I can't touch you, see you, or hear you makes my heart bleed."

OVERALL RATING: 3.75/5
Plot Rating: 4/5
Characters Rating: 4/5
Themes Rating: 3/5
Spicy Rating: 5/5
Emotion Rating: 3/5

TROPES:
Dark
Forced Proximity
Insta-Love

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodreads Rating: 5/5 ⭐
Genre: Dark Romance
Tropes:
🖤Hidden Identity
🖤Kidnapped/Captive
🖤Heroine in Danger
🖤Forced Proximity
🖤Insta-Obsession
Format: ebook
Pages: 353
Spice: 3 🌶️
MCs: Brooklyn and Penn
S/S:

Check trigger warnings for any book

This is a new-to-me author. Thank you to the author Eva Marks for an advanced copy.
Lillian - @lillianbookreviews on instagram

[Kim Rahr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap this book was phenomenal! Another hit by Eva Marks. Penn and Brooklyn and toxic for each other but in the best ways possible. It was delicious and I had a very hard time putting this one down. It is dark so make sure you check your triggers before you read.

[couchpotata · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

tropes: damsel in distress, forced proximity, captivity, obsessive possessive MMC
spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

it's very much classic Eva Marks, with easy to follow and familiar storyline. still, i devoured this in < 5 hours. great chemistry, and it has comfort swoony feel to it. i just wish the FMC had more personality to her. i felt like she folded too quickly and was pretty compliant throughout.

[Canadianmombooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penn was such a dirty talker! Brooklyn is an investigative journalist and gets herself into a very bad situation that Penn helps her out of and then helps himself to her. A little force proximity, v card, obsessive & possessive and a whole lot of spice.

[Marisa Zamora · Rating 5 out of 5]

the obsession

The OTT-ness of Penn is incredible. He gave absolutely zero f’s. She’s his, full stop. I loved it. This showed true obsession and possessiveness, from both sides honestly. I’ll definitely read it again.

[Payton · Rating 5 out of 5]

so much yes

I meannnnnnnnn come on! I love this story, I love how he was prepared to do whatever to keep his girl. I know their love and relationship may not be the norm but it’s perfectly them

[Rachel · Rating 1.5 out of 5]

Opinión personal:
Me encanta leer libros con poca trama para salir de los bloqueos lectores pero este no sirvió de mucho, no hay trama, es más spicy que historia y ni sentí nada real en su relación, aburrido sin chiste (no pude terminarlo

[lovedarkreads_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The smut was good the rest was…well that’s just none of my business!

[Sammie Bow]

DNF @ 18%. Just not for me.

[Trishtan Means · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

I did not like this book at all! There wasn’t really a plot and it didn’t go anywhere. Would not recommend.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brooklyn is an obsession. An addiction. One I have no intention of letting go, no matter how wrong it is. If that makes me the bad guy, so be it. As long as I get to keep her.

Remember that viral picture from years ago where a woman wakes up in an unfamiliar bed after a night out, and on the nightstand is a note saying “DON’T PANIC”? Where the man was a bodyguard who “rescued her” and took her to his place so she could safely rest for the night?

Well Eva Marks loved it just as much as all of us….which is how “His To Keep” was born! This book starts literally moments before the chaos ensues and I ATE IT UP! I was hooked before chapter 1 even ended, but that’s no surprise considering Eva is by far one of my favorite authors.

Penn totally fits the definition of “morally grey”. He may work for some shady people, but this man did not HESITATE to swoop in and save Brooklyn no matter the cost. Brooklyn is wildly strong as well despite all the trauma she’s endured and while Penn didn’t want to get too close to her, he didn’t waste any time making sure she knew that if there’s anything she fears in the world it doesn’t need to be him.

This may be a bit of a “savior complex gone wrong”, but these two were MEANT for each other and you can’t convince me otherwise. Also can we talk about the level of respect these two held towards each other? They are both strong willed individuals but they both learned to give each other a chance. Once they entered each other's lives, deep down they definitely knew things would never be the same.

“His To Keep” had the style and pace of a movie, but with the bonus of getting all the extra details that we all love from books. There was suspense, tension, revenge, passion, and an overall great storyline!