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Dear Cassius
Dear Cassius,
Do you feel me watching you?
When Cassius starts his junior year of college, he has no idea how different it will be. The only thing he’s worried about is getting through college and his unrequited love for his best friend.
Initially, Cassius thinks nothing of the picture with a strange note slipped under the windshield wiper of his car, but it ends up changing his entire life.
Dear Cassius,
I can’t look away from you.
As strange things begin to occur around Cassius, he starts to feel like someone is watching him, following him. Stalking him. They are determined to destroy his peace of mind and the people around him. Thankfully, his friends and family are there to support him. But who can he trust when no one seems to be who he thought they were?
Cassius realizes that sometimes love can be found at the wrong time. But right now, love may be what he needs to help him get through this alive. Can Cassius open himself up to new love when he’s not sure he can trust those closest to him?
Dear Cassius is a light thriller with a romantic subplot. There is suspense and some violence, with the promise of a happy ending.
Trigger warnings: Certain triggers may be considered spoilers, so they can be found by using the “Look Inside” feature or by downloading the sample.
Do you feel me watching you?
When Cassius starts his junior year of college, he has no idea how different it will be. The only thing he’s worried about is getting through college and his unrequited love for his best friend.
Initially, Cassius thinks nothing of the picture with a strange note slipped under the windshield wiper of his car, but it ends up changing his entire life.
Dear Cassius,
I can’t look away from you.
As strange things begin to occur around Cassius, he starts to feel like someone is watching him, following him. Stalking him. They are determined to destroy his peace of mind and the people around him. Thankfully, his friends and family are there to support him. But who can he trust when no one seems to be who he thought they were?
Cassius realizes that sometimes love can be found at the wrong time. But right now, love may be what he needs to help him get through this alive. Can Cassius open himself up to new love when he’s not sure he can trust those closest to him?
Dear Cassius is a light thriller with a romantic subplot. There is suspense and some violence, with the promise of a happy ending.
Trigger warnings: Certain triggers may be considered spoilers, so they can be found by using the “Look Inside” feature or by downloading the sample.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2018
141 people are currently reading
553 people want to read
About the author
Alice Winters
62 books2,729 followersAlice Winters started writing stories as soon as she was old enough to turn her ideas into written words. She loves writing a variety of things from romance and comedy to action. She also enjoys reading, horseback riding, and spending time with her pets.
Follow me on Facebook where I put up short stories, teasers, and giveaways: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Alice...
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May 25, 2019Redundant News Flash:
Todd.
Does.
NOT.
Enjoy.
Mysteries.
Full stop.
After reading 2 very funny stories by the author, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and give this stalker story a shot, while hoping that enough of her twisted sense of humor would make up for my dislike of whodunnits.
*sigh* : (
But I'm just *really* not at all entertained by mysteries, even from authors that I genuinely like.
As the suspense ratcheted up, my discomfort kept notching higher and higher, and I *loathe* feeling nervous, so I had to stop shortly after "the cat thing".
I'm not rating the book, since the fault is 1,000% mine, and not the book's.
I just can't force myself to continue reading a story that turns me into "THAT TWITCHY BITCH". Not on purpose. :- /
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December 18, 2018
3.5 stars
Someone is stalking Cassius, taking pictures of him while he’s asleep, stealing his clothes. And soon, people close to him start dying until it seems there’s no one he can trust. Who’s doing this?
Winters wrote a fully fleshed, suspenseful book that will keep you guessing until the very end!
Someone is stalking Cassius, taking pictures of him while he’s asleep, stealing his clothes. And soon, people close to him start dying until it seems there’s no one he can trust. Who’s doing this?
Winters wrote a fully fleshed, suspenseful book that will keep you guessing until the very end!
October 7, 2019
4.25/5 stars rounded up
This book was much better than I had anticipated. The cover suggests it is a light hearted romance, but is definitely more low key thriller than romance . Written in first person present tense, this style is not my favourite, but i felt it mostly worked for this book, creating a sense of immediacy and adding to the slow-burning, constant tension to the story. The plot utilises some typical red herring devices but at various points during the story I felt I knew exactly what was happening - however I was wrong.
The writing is tight and the two main characters were well developed with surprising depth, especially the troubled Remington.
The book features some letter vignettes from the main antagonist, which at times felt overly dramatic and a bit overwrought, but overall I feel their inclusion added to the mystery regardless.
This book was much better than I had anticipated. The cover suggests it is a light hearted romance, but is definitely more low key thriller than romance . Written in first person present tense, this style is not my favourite, but i felt it mostly worked for this book, creating a sense of immediacy and adding to the slow-burning, constant tension to the story. The plot utilises some typical red herring devices but at various points during the story I felt I knew exactly what was happening - however I was wrong.
The writing is tight and the two main characters were well developed with surprising depth, especially the troubled Remington.
The book features some letter vignettes from the main antagonist, which at times felt overly dramatic and a bit overwrought, but overall I feel their inclusion added to the mystery regardless.
March 13, 2019
I wish I could un-read this book. I wanted to dnf it towards the end, but pushed through because I had like 25 pages left. I shouldn't have bothered.
It actually started ok, but as the story progressed, I disliked it more and more. Nothing worked here, the romance, the thriller part, the combination of the two, numerous subplots. Most of them were dealt with very superficially and in an unbelievable manner. There was a lot of humor / banter that I found out of place and not funny at all. And may I add tasteless, considering what was going on.
The ending was ridiculous, but at that point I had no expectations left.
It actually started ok, but as the story progressed, I disliked it more and more. Nothing worked here, the romance, the thriller part, the combination of the two, numerous subplots. Most of them were dealt with very superficially and in an unbelievable manner. There was a lot of humor / banter that I found out of place and not funny at all. And may I add tasteless, considering what was going on.
The ending was ridiculous, but at that point I had no expectations left.
December 11, 2018
Dear Cassius,
I can’t look away from you. You consume my world. My life. My every thought. And I can’t wait to destroy you. I’ll let you burn, Cassius. I’ll let you burn...
I’m ENJOYING every part of this book, the suspense, the mystery and all the creepiness this book gave me!
This book successfully hooked me since the very first page until the end. I keep guessing who’s Cassius’s psychopath stalker is and the reason behind all the creepy terrors that threaten Cassius’s life. I must admit that the author succeed in playing with the game. The way the author trying to blurry the suspect and leave the readers to keep guessing and guessing then ‘smoothly’ lead the reader to the wrong suspect before finally revealed the real one is fascinating. It’s feels fun and annoying at the same time, BUT that’s what make this book didn’t lose it grip and interesting enough to follow.
I have my own suspect of course but I must admit that I’m a bit ‘fall’ into the author’s ‘game’ and didn’t see the twist until its coming. And its kinda ‘hurt’ the Sherlock side in me you know. But THAT what also made this book deserve my rare five stars!
Overall, the story is good, very intriguing, a bit dark and creepy at some part. I love ALL the characters in this book, and THAT include the creepy stalker!
But what I love the most about this book is the writing!
Well, I won’t give you any spoilers about the story. I WANT you to feel what I felt during the reading and enjoy the guessing games the author set! *devilish smirk*
Dear Cassius maybe my first book from Alice Winters, but if her other works will be written as good as this one, I’ll looking forward for her books in the future!
Recommended!!
*I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author*
January 23, 2020
JA PIERNICZĘ, ALE KSIĄŻKA!!!
Tym razem za komentarz posłużą ocenzurowane fragmenty mojej rozmowy z Ag.
A:Czytasz?
B: Tak jestem na…..(cenzura)
A: O to ja tylko kawałek dalej. I myślę, że obie przegramy.
…..
B: Cholera jasna, kto ??!!!
B: ZAWAŁ!!!
A: Nooo, ciekawe kto to będzie!
…..
B: Nie, nie, to strasznie zły pomysł!
A: Wszystkie nasze teorie spiskowe idą w pizdu.
B:O nieee, nie zgadzam się. Niemożliwe. Osiwieję przez tę książkę
…
B: WHAAAAAAT?
A (w tym samym czasie) WTF?!
…..
B:Omogomgomgomg. Jezusie Nazareński!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
B: O BOŻE!!!!!
A: Milcz!!
I tyle w temacie 🤣
Milczę 😉😘
Tym razem za komentarz posłużą ocenzurowane fragmenty mojej rozmowy z Ag.
A:Czytasz?
B: Tak jestem na…..(cenzura)
A: O to ja tylko kawałek dalej. I myślę, że obie przegramy.
…..
B: Cholera jasna, kto ??!!!
B: ZAWAŁ!!!
A: Nooo, ciekawe kto to będzie!
…..
B: Nie, nie, to strasznie zły pomysł!
A: Wszystkie nasze teorie spiskowe idą w pizdu.
B:O nieee, nie zgadzam się. Niemożliwe. Osiwieję przez tę książkę
…
B: WHAAAAAAT?
A (w tym samym czasie) WTF?!
…..
B:Omogomgomgomg. Jezusie Nazareński!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
B: O BOŻE!!!!!
A: Milcz!!
I tyle w temacie 🤣
Milczę 😉😘
December 11, 2018
I liked the premise\plot of this story, the blurb really pulls you in, college kid with a stalker. At first he thinks its some sort of joke, but then each incident begins to escalate and now he's getting worried and tells his brother, who happens to be a police officer.
In between each chapter we get a little letter from said stalker, which always starts out with "Dear Cassius". I like the idea of it, gives the story an extra thrill. What I didn't totally love about them was, I felt the letters were written a little too OTT cheesy.
I also didn't feel any real chemistry between any of the characters. I felt absolutely nothing between Cassius and Keaton, so I wasn't surprised that "relationship" fell through. Alex and Cassius are BFF's and their friendship is believable- Cassius is in love with Alex though, and there is a scene between said straight boy, Alex, and Cassius, which wasn't believable to me and was out of character for A and just didn't fit and had me a little baffled. Also, Cassius really does believe he is in love with Alex and has been for several years, so when he suddenly isn't in love with him anymore, it doesn't feel organic at all. I don't think deep feelings like that change at the drop of a hat, or a weird boy who needs emotional protection from his father.
Alex is dating Hanna, and right after their relationship ends (enter homo-erotic scene) he is now psuedo-dating Hanna's good friend. Alex seems to jump back and forth between these 2 friends, and to me that seems against "girl code". I would never date my friends ex. Especially if we were still friends.
I have a love/hate with Remi's character. I think he is sweet, once he gets past the weird morbid stage. He and Cassius seem like they could be good together, but he also pisses me off. I kind of see him as a weak character, always allowing Cassius to speak up for him. Like he literally sits back and just waits to see what Cassius will say, at least that's how i took it, and it didn't really sit well with me.
I also think Cassius is a bit pushy with Remi. One minute he says he will take his time with him, then the next his thoughts are like he wants to rush Remi into a physical relationship. It was confusing to me.
Aside from all of that, the story is entrancing and you don't want to put it down. The whole time you're trying to guess who the stalker could be. One moment you think you have it, then something else happens to change your mind, and in the end you're kind of blown away with who it really is. I also think the story would translate well into an audio.
My absolute favorite character is the old lady from church. I really wish more people were like her :)
In between each chapter we get a little letter from said stalker, which always starts out with "Dear Cassius". I like the idea of it, gives the story an extra thrill. What I didn't totally love about them was, I felt the letters were written a little too OTT cheesy.
I also didn't feel any real chemistry between any of the characters. I felt absolutely nothing between Cassius and Keaton, so I wasn't surprised that "relationship" fell through. Alex and Cassius are BFF's and their friendship is believable- Cassius is in love with Alex though, and there is a scene between said straight boy, Alex, and Cassius, which wasn't believable to me and was out of character for A and just didn't fit and had me a little baffled. Also, Cassius really does believe he is in love with Alex and has been for several years, so when he suddenly isn't in love with him anymore, it doesn't feel organic at all. I don't think deep feelings like that change at the drop of a hat, or a weird boy who needs emotional protection from his father.
Alex is dating Hanna, and right after their relationship ends (enter homo-erotic scene) he is now psuedo-dating Hanna's good friend. Alex seems to jump back and forth between these 2 friends, and to me that seems against "girl code". I would never date my friends ex. Especially if we were still friends.
I have a love/hate with Remi's character. I think he is sweet, once he gets past the weird morbid stage. He and Cassius seem like they could be good together, but he also pisses me off. I kind of see him as a weak character, always allowing Cassius to speak up for him. Like he literally sits back and just waits to see what Cassius will say, at least that's how i took it, and it didn't really sit well with me.
I also think Cassius is a bit pushy with Remi. One minute he says he will take his time with him, then the next his thoughts are like he wants to rush Remi into a physical relationship. It was confusing to me.
Aside from all of that, the story is entrancing and you don't want to put it down. The whole time you're trying to guess who the stalker could be. One moment you think you have it, then something else happens to change your mind, and in the end you're kind of blown away with who it really is. I also think the story would translate well into an audio.
My absolute favorite character is the old lady from church. I really wish more people were like her :)
April 16, 2020
The story was a bit uneven for me.
The mystery was good, it took me a long time to figure out who it was. Then there were parts that were a bit unbelievable or I felt were glossed over, almost as if there were too many elements thrown in.
The mystery was good, it took me a long time to figure out who it was. Then there were parts that were a bit unbelievable or I felt were glossed over, almost as if there were too many elements thrown in.
January 24, 2020
Książka, której jedna strona wystarczyła, żeby pokonać mój kryzys czytelniczy :)
Cudowne rozpoczęcie tegorocznego czelendżu.
Cudowne rozpoczęcie tegorocznego czelendżu.
October 9, 2024
October 8, 2024: I’ve been wanting to re-read this for a while. The only good thing that came out of Goodreads posting old read books on the accounts was that it reminded me of some books I was wanting to read again anyway lol
February 22, 2021: 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Damn. This was freaking good! I couldn’t put it down. I was so wrapped up in the mystery of whom could be Cassius’s stalker. I was able to guess early on who the stalker was but because the writing was great it didn’t bother me. I was always intrigued. There was never a moment the story lagged or got boring. It was a constant on the edge of your seat suspense. With lots of humor added in.
It was so easy to love ALL of the characters. There was one in particular I fell in love with more than the others. I don’t think I should mention who it is because I don’t want to spoil the mystery.
I also loved the the side story of acceptance in the gay community, and what those who try to be themselves go through. I thought it was a perfect side addition to the stalker story. It was almost like the photograph of the vulture and the carcass.
The writing was superb and I would love to read another book like this from the author!
February 22, 2021: 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Damn. This was freaking good! I couldn’t put it down. I was so wrapped up in the mystery of whom could be Cassius’s stalker. I was able to guess early on who the stalker was but because the writing was great it didn’t bother me. I was always intrigued. There was never a moment the story lagged or got boring. It was a constant on the edge of your seat suspense. With lots of humor added in.
It was so easy to love ALL of the characters. There was one in particular I fell in love with more than the others. I don’t think I should mention who it is because I don’t want to spoil the mystery.
I also loved the the side story of acceptance in the gay community, and what those who try to be themselves go through. I thought it was a perfect side addition to the stalker story. It was almost like the photograph of the vulture and the carcass.
The writing was superb and I would love to read another book like this from the author!
January 25, 2020
Oh Goooooooooood. Gooooooooooood. What a book.
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
May 5, 2023
This was different
I know the blurb said this was not a romance so I was not expecting such a good suspense story with an actual romance in it.
Spoilers ahead
In here we have Cassius. A young college guy who is in love with his best friend when he suddenly starts getting creepy pictures and notes.
He meets a couple of new guys he is interested in and bad things happen.
His stalker is devious. They have managed to set up a group of people to do things for her. Because of course its going to be a woman. I am still confused as to how she got them to do things, though.
During this time, he meets and falls for Remington, a fellow college goer who has issues with being gay and who the bad guy setup to be in a relationship with.
Thanks to her villainous gang, Cassius does not realize who it is until the end, where its wrapped up rather easily.
These two mcs end up together and do get a hfn.
My nitpick for this one was the reason why this girl hated him. I mean really? Also that whole ending, I mean here was a lot of shooting but only the girl gets arrested?
Outside of that, this was really good.
I know the blurb said this was not a romance so I was not expecting such a good suspense story with an actual romance in it.
Spoilers ahead
In here we have Cassius. A young college guy who is in love with his best friend when he suddenly starts getting creepy pictures and notes.
He meets a couple of new guys he is interested in and bad things happen.
His stalker is devious. They have managed to set up a group of people to do things for her. Because of course its going to be a woman. I am still confused as to how she got them to do things, though.
During this time, he meets and falls for Remington, a fellow college goer who has issues with being gay and who the bad guy setup to be in a relationship with.
Thanks to her villainous gang, Cassius does not realize who it is until the end, where its wrapped up rather easily.
These two mcs end up together and do get a hfn.
My nitpick for this one was the reason why this girl hated him. I mean really? Also that whole ending, I mean here was a lot of shooting but only the girl gets arrested?
Outside of that, this was really good.
December 11, 2018
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 stars!!!!
🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 3
Oh my word! What an amazing thrill ride!
This book was intense and thrilling, with classic Alice Winters wit, humour and a few twists and turns, I couldn’t put the book down!
I didn’t know what to expect from this book but I loved Alice’s other work so I had to read this book too. It’s not like anything else I’ve read. I kept trying to guess who the stalker was and every clue seemed to changed who it could be. The ‘letters’ between chapters are so creepy it kept me on edge and enhanced the thrill. I enjoyed the supporting characters and am so glad there’s a happy ending!
This book is so well written I didn’t see the twists coming! Alice injects such wit into her writing that it is so well balanced that it enhanced the thrill or gave you a much needed reprieve at the ‘darkest’ points. Although Alice addresses some serious and confronting topics in this book she does it with respect and care. I felt the changing emotions and stress of Cassius as his life is turned upside down and messed with.
This is a thriller not to be missed! Another smash hit for Alice Winters!
Thanks for reading 📚!
🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 3
Oh my word! What an amazing thrill ride!
This book was intense and thrilling, with classic Alice Winters wit, humour and a few twists and turns, I couldn’t put the book down!
I didn’t know what to expect from this book but I loved Alice’s other work so I had to read this book too. It’s not like anything else I’ve read. I kept trying to guess who the stalker was and every clue seemed to changed who it could be. The ‘letters’ between chapters are so creepy it kept me on edge and enhanced the thrill. I enjoyed the supporting characters and am so glad there’s a happy ending!
This book is so well written I didn’t see the twists coming! Alice injects such wit into her writing that it is so well balanced that it enhanced the thrill or gave you a much needed reprieve at the ‘darkest’ points. Although Alice addresses some serious and confronting topics in this book she does it with respect and care. I felt the changing emotions and stress of Cassius as his life is turned upside down and messed with.
This is a thriller not to be missed! Another smash hit for Alice Winters!
Thanks for reading 📚!
April 14, 2020
I think I'm too old for college aged characters. I want to strangle them all.
April 17, 2020
First off, I love the humor of all of the books that I have previously read by this author... BUT this book?
My suspect list just kept growing... then I would go back and rethink all my choices and just when I knew that I had it all figured out I realized that I had missed something and FINALLY it all made sense. I know that this type of book isn't everyone's cup of tea, but they always work for me! Well, as long as they are well-written and keep me guessing... I love that tight, queasy feeling that I get in my tummy when the MC is happily making out with the one person that you just can't quite scratch off the suspect list, but you want to so bad it makes you scream!!! Yep, this is definitely my kind of story! *grin*
My suspect list just kept growing... then I would go back and rethink all my choices and just when I knew that I had it all figured out I realized that I had missed something and FINALLY it all made sense. I know that this type of book isn't everyone's cup of tea, but they always work for me! Well, as long as they are well-written and keep me guessing... I love that tight, queasy feeling that I get in my tummy when the MC is happily making out with the one person that you just can't quite scratch off the suspect list, but you want to so bad it makes you scream!!! Yep, this is definitely my kind of story! *grin*
December 11, 2018
I absolutely loved this book. There is mystery and romance and on top of that it’s full of witty banter. Once I started I absolutely didn’t want to put the book down and finished it in a single afternoon.
I received an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 23, 2019
A nice read, but I didn't feel the MC's fear and despairation. And where did those cops learn their job?
March 3, 2019
Dear Cassius,
I’ve waited so long. I’ve waited too long. I’ve never had patience, but for you, I’ll do anything. Everything has finally fallen into place. Tonight is the night it begins. I’ll ruin your entire life. And I’ll watch as your life crashes down around you.
Are you ready?
I am.
Dear Cassius is about college student, Cassius, who's enjoying typical college life while he is suffering from a unrequited crush on his best friend. This is abruptly interrupted when he starts receiving strange messages and weird pictures.
The story is told from both the victim's and the stalker's POV, making this quite the suspenseful read with an unexpected end.
Dear Cassius,
Lock your doors. Shut your windows. Close your blinds. I’m coming for you. Nothing will stop me. Not a lock. Not a wall.
Nothing.
Because I’m already inside.
Waiting for you.
June 23, 2019
I absolutely adored this book. It was equally terrifying in its intensity (after all this is a crime mystery). I literally couldn't put the book down and finished it in less than two hours.
Be it the admirable MCs (both of whom I loved) or the secondary characters who absolutely rocked, I was hooked from the very first page. The MCs couldn't have been any more different from each other; one of them being full of joy and optimism while the other was broken and weighed down by pessimism.
The way the MCs met and progressed from classmates to enemies to friends to lovers was so beautiful to read. I felt like I was watching a crime thriller with a romantic twist. I kept guessing the villain of the story and literally suspected each and every one of the characters at some point of the story. The mystery element in this book is sky high and the romance takes the passenger seat.
Absolutely recommend it for mystery lovers.
Be it the admirable MCs (both of whom I loved) or the secondary characters who absolutely rocked, I was hooked from the very first page. The MCs couldn't have been any more different from each other; one of them being full of joy and optimism while the other was broken and weighed down by pessimism.
The way the MCs met and progressed from classmates to enemies to friends to lovers was so beautiful to read. I felt like I was watching a crime thriller with a romantic twist. I kept guessing the villain of the story and literally suspected each and every one of the characters at some point of the story. The mystery element in this book is sky high and the romance takes the passenger seat.
Absolutely recommend it for mystery lovers.
August 3, 2019
I was so damn sure I knew who the psycho was and then they died. That pissed me off that I was wrong. Then something clicked and I figured it out. It all made sense and this person is so cuckoo for coco puffs! There wasn’t one thing that stood out, it was just my brain seeing it. I loved Remi from jump street and knew, absolutely that he was not it. Remi hurt my heart. Damn conversion therapy is a crock of shit. I loved when the old lady got up with her friends and left the church right behind Cassius and Remi and Remi’s father kicks him out. Pissed me off what happened to Scotch, that was so u called for. Anyway I loved the story and I love this author.
June 10, 2019
2.25☆
I had no idea who the stalker was until it was revealed.
I dunno about you but the Mc annoyed me he was in love with his Bff
until suddenly he wasn't
He was "dating" Keaton while still secretly pining over his straight Bff
and then there 's Remi yeah I just wasn't really feeling it.
I just have to say that if an policy officer tells me to not go into the house and stay safe in the car I will stay in the car and wait but no Cassius doesn't listen
I had no idea who the stalker was until it was revealed.
I dunno about you but the Mc annoyed me he was in love with his Bff
until suddenly he wasn't
He was "dating" Keaton while still secretly pining over his straight Bff
and then there 's Remi yeah I just wasn't really feeling it.
I just have to say that if an policy officer tells me to not go into the house and stay safe in the car I will stay in the car and wait but no Cassius doesn't listen
December 11, 2018
Cassius is a fun and intriguing new adult romance by Alice Winters.
It has a whole lot of mystery, as Cassius seems to have a stalker. Included with the danger is a whole lot of cuteness.
The banter is fun, Cassius is super witty, and the flow is seamless. I can't get enough of the humor and sarcasm. There's also some super hotness.
I really enjoyed this story!
It has a whole lot of mystery, as Cassius seems to have a stalker. Included with the danger is a whole lot of cuteness.
The banter is fun, Cassius is super witty, and the flow is seamless. I can't get enough of the humor and sarcasm. There's also some super hotness.
I really enjoyed this story!
December 12, 2018
so totally amazing and wonderful and holy crap.. i loved it so much.. twists and turns i didnt see coming.. it was just perfect and amazing.. these characters were wow.. this was just so much intrigue and mystery.. so much love and funny things happening.. i smiled and i sat on the edge of my seat turning the page as fast as i could to see what was next. i loved it!
March 1, 2020
DNF @ 30% BUT SKIMMED UNTIL THE END (SO I KNOW EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED)!! IF I COULD MINUS STARS HERE, I DEFINITELY WOULD!!!
First, I think this author is awesome I really really do and I think that her writing is fantastic, it really REALLY is … as a general whole, this author has EXCELLENT writing, her sense of humour is absolutely fantastic ... she really is, like I said, a FABULOUS author!! She really is TOTALLY AWESOME!!!
Having said that, while I wanted to like this particular book, I simply just could not, and I cannot rate something highly just because I think an author as a general whole is really fantastic … even the best authors have absolute fails at least once, and for me, that fail was this book!! My review here is about THIS PARTICULAR BOOK and absolutely nothing beyond that!!
With that being said, THIS BOOK WAS ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS!! IT WAS HORRIBLE x 100 AND IT WAS SUPREME ANGER INDUCING!! I COULD NOT STAND ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK; I SIMPLY HATED IT 😔😡!!!
To be honest after so much effort into the depravity that this psychopath went through all throughout the book, to not have and in depth and solid and satisfying ending/closure/resolution to all of it, to not have the same out of effort put into the end into telling us what happened to this cycle path to the sadist, and not having absolute clarity and enclosure in her extreme legal punishment, was disgusting to me and it was a tragedy in and of itself,!! I definitely felt cheated in that sense and it pissed the shit out of me!! And as a book as a whole wasn’t already really bad that aspect obliterated any chance of this book being even semi possible, it obliterated annihilated and destroyed it!!! Though to be frank, the whole book did that to itself but the ending was the insult to this injury!!
Update on ending: This criminal … This absolutely psychotic sadist who not only attempted to murder Cassius murdered other people and tortured and murdered animals as well; to not have extreme insight into the closure and insight into the lifetime punishment forced upon the psycho after all the buildup we’ve been through in this book; to not have that insight mights as well be a spit in the face of the reader and I am disgusted by the whole Hanna plot-line! I mean where is the decency in giving us a proper ending?!? Where is the decency in properly wrapping up that aspect of the plot and letting us know what happened to her?!? The ambiguity of “if his brother had any say in it she never see the light of day again” is ridiculous, because fucking hell it’s the law, and she should be given the chair for fuck’s sake!! Also emphasizing the fact that she’s mentally unstable is supposed to what ... imply that she might get away with it?!? Hanna doesn’t deserve any mercy, any leniency, any sympathy, she is a fucking vile psychotic sadistic murdering animal abusing cunt!! I’m going to believe that it ended with her never ever ever seeing the light of day again!!
I am stunned that this author couldn’t be bothered to give us an invested, believable, thoroughly solid HEA, which includes a very detailed insight into the merciless justice served!! it just pisses the fuck out of me, But I choose at this point not to hold it against the author at all!! However like I said, this was SUCH a FAIL for me!!
This opinion is NOT on the author, I cannot emphasize enough how ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC I think this author is!! Really really 🙂!!
This opinion is SPECIFICALLY about this book and ONLY this book, and from my experience, this book was absolutely horrendous/horrible … So much so that I am flabbergasted that the same author wrote it!! This book was just really really REAAAAAAAALLY terrible ... such a colossal train wreck!!
IT SUCKS THAT HANNA WASN’T KILLED OFF ... AFTER THE DESTRUCTION SHE WREAKED, WITH HOW EVIL SHE WAS [TRYING TO MURDER CASSIUS, MURDERING OTHERS, MURDERING AND TORTURING AN ANIMAL, ALMOST DRIVING SOMEONE TO SUICIDE, TO NAME A FEW THING SHE DID, SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY DESPICABLE], SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OFF!! THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CHARACTER/PLOT/HEA JUSTICE!!
To quote another reviewer, she sums it up perfectly: “
First, I think this author is awesome I really really do and I think that her writing is fantastic, it really REALLY is … as a general whole, this author has EXCELLENT writing, her sense of humour is absolutely fantastic ... she really is, like I said, a FABULOUS author!! She really is TOTALLY AWESOME!!!
Having said that, while I wanted to like this particular book, I simply just could not, and I cannot rate something highly just because I think an author as a general whole is really fantastic … even the best authors have absolute fails at least once, and for me, that fail was this book!! My review here is about THIS PARTICULAR BOOK and absolutely nothing beyond that!!
With that being said, THIS BOOK WAS ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS!! IT WAS HORRIBLE x 100 AND IT WAS SUPREME ANGER INDUCING!! I COULD NOT STAND ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK; I SIMPLY HATED IT 😔😡!!!
To be honest after so much effort into the depravity that this psychopath went through all throughout the book, to not have and in depth and solid and satisfying ending/closure/resolution to all of it, to not have the same out of effort put into the end into telling us what happened to this cycle path to the sadist, and not having absolute clarity and enclosure in her extreme legal punishment, was disgusting to me and it was a tragedy in and of itself,!! I definitely felt cheated in that sense and it pissed the shit out of me!! And as a book as a whole wasn’t already really bad that aspect obliterated any chance of this book being even semi possible, it obliterated annihilated and destroyed it!!! Though to be frank, the whole book did that to itself but the ending was the insult to this injury!!
Update on ending: This criminal … This absolutely psychotic sadist who not only attempted to murder Cassius murdered other people and tortured and murdered animals as well; to not have extreme insight into the closure and insight into the lifetime punishment forced upon the psycho after all the buildup we’ve been through in this book; to not have that insight mights as well be a spit in the face of the reader and I am disgusted by the whole Hanna plot-line! I mean where is the decency in giving us a proper ending?!? Where is the decency in properly wrapping up that aspect of the plot and letting us know what happened to her?!? The ambiguity of “if his brother had any say in it she never see the light of day again” is ridiculous, because fucking hell it’s the law, and she should be given the chair for fuck’s sake!! Also emphasizing the fact that she’s mentally unstable is supposed to what ... imply that she might get away with it?!? Hanna doesn’t deserve any mercy, any leniency, any sympathy, she is a fucking vile psychotic sadistic murdering animal abusing cunt!! I’m going to believe that it ended with her never ever ever seeing the light of day again!!
I am stunned that this author couldn’t be bothered to give us an invested, believable, thoroughly solid HEA, which includes a very detailed insight into the merciless justice served!! it just pisses the fuck out of me, But I choose at this point not to hold it against the author at all!! However like I said, this was SUCH a FAIL for me!!
This opinion is NOT on the author, I cannot emphasize enough how ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC I think this author is!! Really really 🙂!!
This opinion is SPECIFICALLY about this book and ONLY this book, and from my experience, this book was absolutely horrendous/horrible … So much so that I am flabbergasted that the same author wrote it!! This book was just really really REAAAAAAAALLY terrible ... such a colossal train wreck!!
IT SUCKS THAT HANNA WASN’T KILLED OFF ... AFTER THE DESTRUCTION SHE WREAKED, WITH HOW EVIL SHE WAS [TRYING TO MURDER CASSIUS, MURDERING OTHERS, MURDERING AND TORTURING AN ANIMAL, ALMOST DRIVING SOMEONE TO SUICIDE, TO NAME A FEW THING SHE DID, SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY DESPICABLE], SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OFF!! THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CHARACTER/PLOT/HEA JUSTICE!!
To quote another reviewer, she sums it up perfectly: “
March 5, 2019
Holy moly! I need my inhaler. I have seriously been on the edge of my seat for the past several hours. If you want a gripping, terrifying, chilling, seriously creepy (in the BEST way) thriller, this is your book. This is not a romance. There is romance in it but because the MC is being pursued by someone we don't know, it was hard for me to get into the romance parts because I was too busy suspecting every single thing they did or said. I suspected everyone, up to and including the MC himself (ala Dean Koontz's Coldire). I honestly had no idea who the stalker was until the very end but that's par for the course for me. I take people at face value and never figure out who the stalker / killer is. But I'm happy that way. There's plenty of clues in the text that I can look back on now and see but while reading it ... nope. In fact, it was the last person I suspected, honestly. I wasn't even casting shade in that direction.
That said ... it was also a very good romance. If you're wanting a straight romance, this isn't your book. The romance takes a looooong time to develop and like I said, is heavily clouded by suspicion. But it does get its HEA so it fulfills all the romance check boxes. I really loved the romance, when I was able to finally relax and enjoy it.
The fact that there was so much suspicion (at least on my part), made it difficult for me to get attached to any of the characters. I did get somewhat attached but not as attached as I may have gotten was I not constantly looking at them sideways for slip ups and clues. I did like many of the characters quite a bit but it was difficult.
This is also a book about the plight of gay people. I am not a gay person so take what I say with that in mind. I'm a straight against hate person. Despite that, I feel that issues that gay people face, especially in a college setting and the age range of young college students, were all portrayed sensitively and accurately. Unfortunately, gay people (and I use the word "gay" to define all the alphabet letters that have, now, and will apply to the gay community at large) have to face struggles and trials and hurdles in their everyday lives that straight people don't. The story could have existed without pointing those out but the romance was so much better for it. It had nothing to do with the thriller aspect of the story and I feel that was a smart move on the author's part.
There were very little typos or grammatical errors but there were a few cases where editing was lacking. A character had something in his hand from one scene to the next that he had not picked up. My guess is that part of a scene was cut and the following scene wasn't properly adjusted to account for that. Not a big deal but in a story like this where everything might mean something, it tends to become more noticeable. This happened less than a handful of times and was not so noticeable that I couldn't move on and still enjoy the eff out of this story.
I highly recommend this story as a thriller first with strong gay issues and characters and a lovely romance arc.
That said ... it was also a very good romance. If you're wanting a straight romance, this isn't your book. The romance takes a looooong time to develop and like I said, is heavily clouded by suspicion. But it does get its HEA so it fulfills all the romance check boxes. I really loved the romance, when I was able to finally relax and enjoy it.
The fact that there was so much suspicion (at least on my part), made it difficult for me to get attached to any of the characters. I did get somewhat attached but not as attached as I may have gotten was I not constantly looking at them sideways for slip ups and clues. I did like many of the characters quite a bit but it was difficult.
This is also a book about the plight of gay people. I am not a gay person so take what I say with that in mind. I'm a straight against hate person. Despite that, I feel that issues that gay people face, especially in a college setting and the age range of young college students, were all portrayed sensitively and accurately. Unfortunately, gay people (and I use the word "gay" to define all the alphabet letters that have, now, and will apply to the gay community at large) have to face struggles and trials and hurdles in their everyday lives that straight people don't. The story could have existed without pointing those out but the romance was so much better for it. It had nothing to do with the thriller aspect of the story and I feel that was a smart move on the author's part.
There were very little typos or grammatical errors but there were a few cases where editing was lacking. A character had something in his hand from one scene to the next that he had not picked up. My guess is that part of a scene was cut and the following scene wasn't properly adjusted to account for that. Not a big deal but in a story like this where everything might mean something, it tends to become more noticeable. This happened less than a handful of times and was not so noticeable that I couldn't move on and still enjoy the eff out of this story.
I highly recommend this story as a thriller first with strong gay issues and characters and a lovely romance arc.
December 10, 2018
That was awesome! I started reading it later in the day, but when I had to wake up to do my elf on the shelf duties, I just had to finish the book.
This thriller of a story was enthralling. I thought I had it figured out several times, but each time, I was wrong. I love the way Ms. Winters brought the villain's thoughts into the story. It made the story more captivating than if we were only seeing it from the MC's, or the victim's POV.
There are several key players in the story line, but I was so happy when the two MCs I was rooting for ended up together. This is a very slow burn romance, with only a few sexy times, but they were very well done. However, the book does not necessarily revolve around the romance. The character development is well thought out, and the plot is full of suspense. The secondary characters were important to the plot, and were not underdeveloped. Overall, I thought this was an excellent book.
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. *
This thriller of a story was enthralling. I thought I had it figured out several times, but each time, I was wrong. I love the way Ms. Winters brought the villain's thoughts into the story. It made the story more captivating than if we were only seeing it from the MC's, or the victim's POV.
There are several key players in the story line, but I was so happy when the two MCs I was rooting for ended up together. This is a very slow burn romance, with only a few sexy times, but they were very well done. However, the book does not necessarily revolve around the romance. The character development is well thought out, and the plot is full of suspense. The secondary characters were important to the plot, and were not underdeveloped. Overall, I thought this was an excellent book.
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. *
December 12, 2018
5 / 5 Stars
I think this may be one of the last books I read this year and sure enough, I'm happy about it. This author is one of higlight of the year since I discovered her books.
It's an engrossing story that keeps the suspense until the end, even if I thought I knew what was going on, there were new twists and events happening that made my guessing the more difficult.
The romance is slow but not less thrilling, I really loved the main couple. The characters are nicely done, have their flaws but you cannot avoid loving them less anyway.
I was left with the same feelings after reading Hidden in Darkness... I want a sequel, LOL! Or at least turn it into a series where we get to see the other characters' stories.
I think this may be one of the last books I read this year and sure enough, I'm happy about it. This author is one of higlight of the year since I discovered her books.
It's an engrossing story that keeps the suspense until the end, even if I thought I knew what was going on, there were new twists and events happening that made my guessing the more difficult.
The romance is slow but not less thrilling, I really loved the main couple. The characters are nicely done, have their flaws but you cannot avoid loving them less anyway.
I was left with the same feelings after reading Hidden in Darkness... I want a sequel, LOL! Or at least turn it into a series where we get to see the other characters' stories.
January 7, 2019
First book of the year and it was very good! Lots of mystery and intrigue and I can proudly say that while I did have a few choices for who the stalker was, the person it ended up being was the one I had suspected form the beginning and my top suspect. Will definitely look out for more by this author!
July 11, 2019
Outstanding
Every book by Alice Winters is outstanding. The balance of comedy, drama, and dialog is brilliant. Alice Winters is an autobuy for me.
Every book by Alice Winters is outstanding. The balance of comedy, drama, and dialog is brilliant. Alice Winters is an autobuy for me.
May 26, 2019
Another solid read from Alice Winters. I love her conversational banter and all-around entertaining storytelling. There is always something unusual about her characters or plot, but the way she brings it all together is pretty awesome. Lots of twists and turns, be it a contemporary or a mystery/suspense.
The blurb states, "Dear Cassius is a light thriller with a romantic subplot. There is suspense and some violence, with the promise of a happy ending.", and I would completely agree.
It's meaty .... digs into Cassius's life, we see those close to him and how they all deal with the mounting threats against Cassius. There is so much normal that the not-normal stands out more as the book moves along. Once the story is set, the twists and turns begin. The violence is minimal, so no worries about the story being gory. The Baddie was on my short list, but the reasoning was not. And the romance was sweet, with unexpected consequences. I just had to keep reading.
I've seen in other reviews that some of the backstory and character development assigned to some of the supporting cast didn't mesh for some readers. Speaking for myself ... I thought it all worked. This is where some of that unconventional plotting comes in, because while the characters may have not gone the expected or traditional path we see in other stories or might ourselves do in real life, their actions and motivations make sense for the characters and story the author created.
And one of my favorite things about the book is Cassius himself, how he kept his sunny, humorous, and caring disposition throughout the book. He was obviously concerned, then creeped out, and then appropriately scared ... but he didn't let that override everything. When others were hurt or targeted because of their connection to him, he jumped in 100% to make sure they were okay. You may have moments of screaming at your device, telling him not to go into the house or situation, but he won't listen. That's just not the type of person he is. Compassion outweighs self-preservation every time.
Overall ... I am a fan.
The blurb states, "Dear Cassius is a light thriller with a romantic subplot. There is suspense and some violence, with the promise of a happy ending.", and I would completely agree.
It's meaty .... digs into Cassius's life, we see those close to him and how they all deal with the mounting threats against Cassius. There is so much normal that the not-normal stands out more as the book moves along. Once the story is set, the twists and turns begin. The violence is minimal, so no worries about the story being gory. The Baddie was on my short list, but the reasoning was not. And the romance was sweet, with unexpected consequences. I just had to keep reading.
I've seen in other reviews that some of the backstory and character development assigned to some of the supporting cast didn't mesh for some readers. Speaking for myself ... I thought it all worked. This is where some of that unconventional plotting comes in, because while the characters may have not gone the expected or traditional path we see in other stories or might ourselves do in real life, their actions and motivations make sense for the characters and story the author created.
And one of my favorite things about the book is Cassius himself, how he kept his sunny, humorous, and caring disposition throughout the book. He was obviously concerned, then creeped out, and then appropriately scared ... but he didn't let that override everything. When others were hurt or targeted because of their connection to him, he jumped in 100% to make sure they were okay. You may have moments of screaming at your device, telling him not to go into the house or situation, but he won't listen. That's just not the type of person he is. Compassion outweighs self-preservation every time.
Overall ... I am a fan.
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