Watching You

by Erica Marselas

Kyle isn't your typical alpha male. He's shy, sweet, virginal, and a watcher.
Though everything changes when Jess comes crashing into his life- literally.
She's the first one to see him, accept him for who he is.
Kyle finally sees the life and love he's been missing while he was hiding in the shadows.

However, his compulsion to follow her, to watch her, wanting to protect her still overcomes him, and he just might end up driving the girl he loves over the edge.

This is a love story, but with thrill, suspense, excitement, self-discovery, passion, and hurt all rolled into one.

ebook

Published January 19, 2018

Reviews

[HiddeninmySoul FanFiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of this one....

Watching You is definitely a new favourite of mine the story of Kyle and Jess is something that I haven't read about before, well not in this capacity. (i read it when it was part of the fan fiction universe). This is one that I'm grateful for that got it's original characters, I felt it so much more.

Its not very often that I can find a book that brings out so many emotions in one chapter but about halfway through, Watching You did just that. Kyle and Jess are very much everyday people with insecurities and trying to navigate a world where they are still unsure exactly how they fit but together they seem to have found their grove...you get lost in their emotions and their actions and that's what I live most about this book. I read it in a day, would have been hours if I didn't have small people to run after. I highly recommend it if you love a good romance novel that has a unique twist to it.

The only thing for me is that I want more...more of the emotion, the love and their growth together.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

An ARC was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Erica Marselas has written a wonderful debut full length novel - “Watching You.” I’ve been part of Marselas’ writing circle for almost two years and I’m thrilled to see her publishing her stories! She has an ability to power write a variety of sub-genres within Romance, I can only hope we see much more in the future after “Watching You.”

Watching You is one of those books that is hard to write a review, simply because I don’t want give away a bunch of spoilers. If you have not read it… skip the reviews until you have read the book!

I’m serious. Stop. Right. Now! Read, read, read. Trust me, you can thank me later.

Marselas has written a thoughtful (a times, untraditional) love story. It tells a tale of Kyle and Jess. Two people who both have survived and experienced traumatic events throughout their lives. You will have your heart pumping, breaking and gluing back together throughout the whole book.

Kyle Parker has never gotten over his past trauma, pushing it to the side for more than ten years, only wanting, hoping for love. He lacks confidence and is unable to approach woman in an usual manner. He watches…

“You can’t get rejected when you watch”

Until one day he see’s Jess Hart…

“What it would feel like to be inside her. It’s something I will never know. I’m a watcher. I’ve always been just a watcher.”

We see a friendship, a love blossom between these two.

“I have no idea what this draw is to him. He sets me on fire. I want much more with him than a wham, bam, thank you, ma’am.”

I loved seeing a heroine more experienced, it was refreshing to read since our hero was very shy and lacking sexual prowess. Oh and by boy when he opened up, it got HOT, HOT, HOT. 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥

Watching You was a journey for Kyle and Jess. But we can’t forget it’s also about being hurt, manipulated by people they trusted the most, and learning how to move past that. Throughout the story they both built a strong relationship together, finding the love they have always wanted, creating the HEA they both deserved.

“I told you, you awakened something in me. I have a thirst for you.”

I LOVED IT ALL!

5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

My only criticism which I’m sure others may agree, we needed to see more of Kyle breaking free from his shell… maybe more fisty cuff fights with the several antagonists 😉.

[Erin Stamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to receive this this book as an ARC and have to say i was unable to out it down .
I had read this as a Fan fiction story and am excited that Eric has decided to publish so everyone can enjoy. Erica is definitely someone that needs to be watched as she has the ability to take the literary world by storm.

Watching You flows the unlikely romance of Kyle and Jess.
Kyle had a rough, lonely childhood who has no friends. "Watching" girls is the only way Kyle knows how to interact with women.
Jess is a free spirit who goes with the flow, has never had issue making friends and prides herself on being able to read people who is studying psychology.

When these two really run into each other, the spark they feel has everything changing what they know. Kyle is shocked that Jess wants to talk to him and Jess sees he needs a friend. They start a friendship that turns romantic and secures their connection from the start.
of course no relationship is without up/down as well as obstacles they need to overcome.

Kyle still feels the need to still "watch" Jess without her knowledge. What will happen if Jess fund out?
Jess feels there is something Kyle is hiding from her. What happens if he does and she finds out?

this a great story that shows the growth, love and understanding between these 2 characters throughout the story.

You will fight for them throughout the story

[Alexis Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to have received an ARC Copy of Watching You. And boy, am I glad to be one of the first.

Erica draws you in with the first chapter, and she never lets you go.

Kyle Parker - a man invisible to those around him, a watcher in the background... a man with a broken past, still haunting him to this day. And did I mention hot as sin? No, well, he is.

Jess Hart - a woman who has her own past, but is focused on her future, a woman who can mend a heart broken by the past, and beautiful to boot.

Their love story is sinfully hot, challenging, complicated and steamy.

Both of them need to overcome people, situations and their own challenges to realise who they are, and doing it together might not always be the right course of action.

Of course I want more, but in itself, it was beautiful. A beautiful love story, with a hint of caution thrown in there as well. A superb novel by Erica. I can't wait to see what she publishes next!

[AnneKR · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that it was different from all the other books. Kyle was bullied as a kid & grew up to be an introvert & socially awkward. He’s obsessed with secretly watching & following women, knowing it’s as close as he will ever get to the opposite sex. Then he literally bumps into Jess on the street. They instantly feel a pull towards each other. Jess feels the need to get to know Kyle. She senses his hesitation & awkwardness from their first meeting. They hit it off & things are progressing great between them but Kyle can’t shake off his obsession. He’s done it for so long he doesn’t know how to stop.

Jess is a strong character with a good heart. She helps Kyle boost up his confidence & showers him with her love. Jess has become Kyle’s everything & he is terrified of what she will do if she ever finds out about his secret obsession.

The main characters are easy to like, even Kyle & his issues. It was a great read & I look forward to reading more of her books!

[Clayre Tower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Kyle and Jess

Erica Marselas creates a fabulous romance with a twist on a usual type. A timid male in Kyle and a confident take charge female in Jess sets up a beautiful story between the two. It has just enough drama to keep things interesting without being over the top.
Kyle and Jess are one of my favorite new couples.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! The attraction at first sight was definitely there between Jess and Kyle! The author did an excellent job describing the struggle that Kyle had when dealing with his past demons and how Jess helped him with it. Some authors seem to struggle with writing on mental illness but not in this case. Glad that Kyle was able to push past the demons and he and Jess had a happy ending!

[Pearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book! Once I started it I didn't want to lay it down at all! Loved this story Line it had me guessing what was going to happen next! Very interesting and it was the kind of book I really miss when I finished it! Get this book you will not be disappointed!

[Milica]

DNF @ 33%

It looked like something I'd enjoy, and it was fine in the beginning, but it soon became boring.

[EmmaReadsToooMuch · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can’t understand all the 5 star reviews for this book! Maybe it’s just me, but the writing wasn’t great and the plot was a bit ridiculous. Normally I enjoy a good “stalker” story but this just didn’t do it for me.
2 stars only because I didn’t DNF it.

[Kate Rock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watching You by Erica Marselas

Contemporary Romance

New York City - Current Day

Young 20’s Kyle Parker’s only relationship with women is by observation or “watching” as he calls it. His life has been spent in the shadows due to a heartbreaking childhood. No one ever notices Kyle. Along comes Jess Hart, beautiful, captivating, smart and she notices him. Kyle is over the moon. Jess feels a strong captivating connection too.

Life changes from that point on for this love affair when Kyle must deal with his past or risk losing everything.
Will Jess stay, will she understand the deep, somewhat dark secrets of his past. Jess, a psychology student, wants to be there for Kyle, but she must also protect her heart.

The book works with each chapter alternating between characters. You get to know these interesting, strong and fascinating characters.

I like how the writer adds in both perspectives and focuses on some mental health issues that are a breath of fresh air to read about, especially now, when it is so prevalent in our society.

I really enjoyed this book. It took about 2 chapters to start to understand Kyle and after that I was HOOKED and the book takes you deep into what makes Kyle and Jess who they are. I read this book in one sitting and could not put it down.

I would recommend this book and give it 4 stars. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you to the author for asking me to review her book for an honest review.

[Evelyn Nicolett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great book from the start. Kyle was going through life being invisible,no one notices him anywhere. He’s never felt noticed by anyone. Everyone had made fun of him & made him feel unwanted and a nobody. He’s been watching women since he was young. One day he bumps into Jess,who actually notices him & his fixation ends with the other girl. And starts on her.

Jess feels there is something up with him,but still wants to get to know him.
They both feel a strong connection but think it’s too soon for the feelings they are having.

As time goes on Jess starts to feel someone is watching her. Kyle dismissed her concerns. He knows he needs to tell her but he’s afraid to loose her.

Looking forward to reading more books by this author.

[Sam~OTT Alpha Male Addict~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all this book was ridiculously expensive (for my standards). I’d pay that price if it was Nalini Singh or Suzanne Wright but an author i didn’t know ? I was on the fence about it but I decided to give it antry because I love my stalkerific alphas. Sadly Kyle failed to keep me mesmerized and the whole sheblam felt like a YA novel trying to be an adult novel but ended up becoming a less glittery, more virginal, human like twilight/fifty shades/every other stalker alpha YA book feeling mess that was all over the place.

And you know, Kyle isn’t even a stalkerific alpha. He’s an overgrown child with mental health issues stemming from a horrific accident he had years back. He’s projecting his un-treated PTSD by having psychopathic tendencies.

Needless to say I was not impressed.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an arc of this book. I love this story. I had read it when it was a fanfic so I was familiar with it. I don't want to give anything away so I don't want to say too much. I really felt for the characters, sometimes it broke my heart reading how Kyle felt. You will not want to put this down I read it all in one sitting.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read a book by this author and I loved this story from the start when I first heard about it I thought it was about a stalker but it's so much more than that and as well as being a romance it's a great story I definitely want to read more from this author I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watching You is a romance with a completely different twist. Kyle has the ability to creep you out while making you want to hug him and help him at the same time. His past has shaped who is and his behaviours, until Jess sees him. Can Jess be the one to make a difference for Kyle? Good story!

[Q.B. Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marselas knocks it out of the park in her debut full length novel. Watching You is that love story that leaves you with all of the feels. From the start, you immediately feel for Kyle Parker- the guy who's never quite fit in. The guy that's always been the outsider and the outcast. A virgin. It's rare that you read a contemporary love story with a virgin male, but it's a part of his charm. What makes him so endearing. I love his innocence in that way and that Jess kind of takes him under her wing. Even in the beginning she asks him out, she pushes for him to open up. She decides that they're friends and he has to deal with it. With Kyle's compulsion to watch not lessening as his relationship with Jess blossoms, I loved reading his inner thoughts in comparison to what he says aloud to Jess. It should have been so easy for him to just stop watching because he got the girl, right? I loved that he still continued to watch her even giving her that eerie feeling that someone was watching her. I loved reading his inner struggle on how to maintain a relationship and watch all while falling in love.

Kyle and Jess' story is so different than any other love story I've ever read and I loved it! Five Stars!

[✨ Denise’s Dreamy Reads ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right from the start, this story pulls you in, instantly!

My first thoughts on Kyle were how creepy he was about the things that he did. He literally knew everything! However, when you learn more about him, you get intrigued. He definitely has many layers to him, almost like an onion. I could not help but understand the things' he went through, it hurt my heart.

Then, he meets Jess who has had her fair share of hardships with a couple of jerks! When Kyle and Jess met, they just clicked! I instantly fell in love with their chemistry. They complimented each other, well. Jess is very carefree and easy to love, but so is Kyle, even with his "watching" tendencies. As you read about their relationship, you will quickly fall in love with Kyle and Jess, as much as I have!

Erica hit it out of the park with this one; I loved it from beginning to end. I also enjoyed how she wrapped up the story in the end. I cannot wait to read more of what she has to share with us! Great job, Erica! I am so happy for you and this amazing book!

[SP · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a fun Lighthearted take on a stalker romance. The way the hero is written, you understand the way he is, and his struggles. he so badly doesn't want to be this way, but through trauma from his childhood, he can't help it. It depicts mental Illness as well, which I enjoy reading about. He's almost addicted to what he does and it's a compulsion that he knows he needs to stop but can't. I liked that the characters delt with their issues in a mature way as well, once everything comes to light. Seeking therapy.

The characters were definitely relatable, and the story itself I found sweet and endearing. I definitely recommend this one. It's also one of my favorite tropes, which is virgin Hero.

[Carmel Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kyle Parker is a sweet and lonely tech nerd with a dark secret. He likes to watch. The story follows him falling in love for the first time with the smart and sassy Jess Hart.

Jess, like most 20-something women has dealt with her fair share of jerks, so when Kyle comes along she falls—hard. The only problem is, Kyle can’t seem to stop watching.

Watching you sucked me in from the first page. Kyle is so different from most heros, he’s shy and virginal and really a breath of fresh air.

Marselas knocked it out of the park with the story!

[shelly hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Writer!

Only a fantastic author could bend this subject matter into a brilliantly written love story. POW......the creep factor in this story almost had me dumping this book in the trash. However, Erica Marselas educated me unconditional love. The characters very well written.

Having been subjected to stalking while I was young, I couldn't craft a world where this story worked out well. So Erica you went as far as I humanly could tolerate, then bagged a thrilling finish. Hats off to you girl!

[Essie · Rating 3 out of 5]

At face value, the concept for this book is really weird. Kyle has stalked many women in the past, never with ill intentions... He bumps into Jess and she becomes his obsession.
I like how understanding Jess and even though Kyle was a grade-A weirdo, I wouldn't classify him as a creep. He is really shy and incredibly insecure but I'm glad he learns to overcome his issues.
Nice overall but I wouldn't reread again.

[Danielle Monteleone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was one of the lucky ones to get an ARC! And I must say that, Jess and Kyle’s story is one I have never read before and that is a good thing. I loved the story and the way Kyle is. I couldn’t put the story down, I ended up reading it 2 or 3 times because I didn’t want it to end!

[Jessica Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite stories Erica Marselas has written. I love the characters and the trials they both go through during their journey. It pulls you in from the very beginning and it doesn’t let you go until the last word.

[POL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked It!

I really liked this book! At certain points while reading the book I was having a hard time with the ‘stalking’ sections and I couldn’t figure out which direction the book was going to go. I am happy it turned out the way it did.

[Mrs Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was one of the lucky ones to be honored to receive this as an ARC. I was unable to put it down. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. It was a great book!

[Bonny Saxon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot and heavy

This was not exactly what I had in mind when I started reading. It was a vivid. Exciting, hot and heavy, filled with love and hate . A reply good book for people 16+

[liz black · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to get this before it comes out
I absolutely loved this. I would recommend to read this one and reading playing with fire they both are awesome