Locke

by R.J. Lewis

He is not a good man, nor a man without sin.
He was created from the darkness—the monsters of his past made certain of this.
He is cold, he is empty, and he is not sorry for it.
He will take what he wants, and he will stop at nothing to make her his.
Because that is what Max Locke does: he sees, he takes, and he will not let go.

Genres: Dark, Dark Romance, Contemporary, Kidnapping, Abuse, Steamy

Unknown Binding

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestseller, R.J. Lewis, is the number one bestselling author of the Ignite series, the Loving Lawson series, the Borden series, and numerous other titles. She has been writing all her life and looks forward to sharing her stories with readers who are interested in character growth and romance of the unconventional kind.

For news on upcoming books, you can follow her on:
WEBSITE: http://www.authorrjlewis.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/rj.lewis13
EMAIL: at rj.lewis@outlook.com.
MAILING LIST: http://eepurl.com/hi76Zb
INSTAGRAM: author.rjlewis

Nothing makes her happier than hearing back from readers!

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this bc I wanted Locke’s back story but all I got was smut. Hopefully in book two we get it.😏

[Mony · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd been really looking forward to Lewis' book. But was quite disappointed with what I read. The beginning chapters were well done but then it went into a direction that just felt "off". Only skimmed the last parts of the story. *Sigh* But I may be a minority & others may like it. 🤷‍♀️

[Mariam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back to her oldschool writing. Reads like Borden all over again. This is the rj I fell in love with. Can't wait for book 2.

[Jiji · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait!

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me start out saying that I love this author. I was so excited about this book coming out cause Connor Thames is my favorite by her. I loved Locke in those books. I was just extremely disappointed with this one can't really put my finger on it. I will be reading the next one tho to see if my opinion changes. I don't think I really care for Kali at all. I don't know maybe I'm just in a book funk.

[CLorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Locke by R.J. Lewis is a part of the Blackwater Boys series and follows the trajectory of four boys, now men who have overcome extreme hardships and trauma. The books are all duets (two more to come?) and the first story in the series features Conor Thames; I have not read Conor’s story, but he is mentioned in Locke. Their stories are interconnected but I did not feel at a loss while reading the Locke books, but I may go back and read the first duet. Locke is still grappling with dark and soul crippling events from his childhood. He copes by making sure that other children don’t suffer, and the “monsters” are eradicated. Kali has also had a traumatic childhood and when she stumbles on Locke in the middle of one his eradications, she is swept up in his wake as he takes her with him. Broken Locke has found someone as broken as he is, but she looks at him with bravery and passion. He is immediately possessive and feels that she is it for him. Will these two wounded souls find healing together or are they just too damaged to ever be close to whole? This book is a really dark romance with elements of dubious consent, kidnapping, violence and mental health issues so readers should pay attention to the triggers. Locke is one of the most fascinating and emotionally poignant characters I have encountered. His angst is heartbreaking and as OTT his actions are, we root for him and Kali. Kali is a fiery mixture of strength and sweetness; her ability to eventually see beyond Locke’s demons is uplifting. I really enjoyed this story and the next story, Locke 2, was equally enthralling. This book ends with a cliffhanger.
https://theretiredreader.com/f/locke-...

[Sianny · Rating 3 out of 5]

torn

Kali is coerced by her friends-when-it-suits-her roommate to hit up a club one night. She normally wouldn’t go, but her crush will apparently be there, and why shouldn’t she let her hair down for once?

But a few hours into the night, she finds her crush lacking, and finds herself staring at a man hidden in the shadows instead. A man who seems to be staring right back at her. A man who turns out to be none other than the notorious, insanely hot, terrifyingly dangerous, Max Locke.

Wow, I don’t even know what to say.

These two are messed up beyond comprehension. He’s dangerous and broken and wants to own her. But he wants to break her first. Wants to chase her. And she’s scrappy and feisty and damaged. And deep down she wants his depravity. Wants to be owned and broken by him. And loves to be chased.

In a way they’re perfect for each other but man are they toxic. I struggled with this one a bit because I just couldn’t relate to anything that was happening. At all.
Having said that, it was a definite page turner. I just had to know what happened.

Sadly there were quite a few very basic mistakes that should have been picked up by the editor. Most noticeably in Locke’s chapters because they were told in the third person, but every now and then it would change to first person and back. Often in the span of one sentence. It made for a disruptive reading experience.

As this is a duet, it of course ends on a cliffhanger because Lewis is the queen of those!

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhh where to begin? So there is a lot of history in this book, disturbing history we get glimpses of. Perhaps they are more present in the previous books (with another character who makes an appearance in this book) but they were as disturbing as they were short. I felt that storyline just served as the background for the romance and I was fine with that. Now h runs into H in one of his clubs. H is immediately attracted to h and during a rather violent incident that lands her in his way, he becomes obsessed. Used to getting what he wants and taking what he wants, he basically kidnaps the h. She is scared and freaked out but also unexplainably drawn to him. This causes a lot of push and pull. They end up with a dubcon/noncon/CNC type of dynamic where he manipulates her and her life in order to claim her.

This story was enjoyable but IMO would have been better had his POV been 1st person instead of 3rd person. I found it weird to read her POV in 1st and his in 3rd. I feel H would have been more intense had he been written in 1st person

Also, ends in a CH. Not sure if I will be picking up the 2nd book

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The blurb made it seem like this would be non con and I was here for it but she kept on going on and on about how hot he is and how she hated herself for wanting him and she kisses him so ya more like dub con. She was dumb and ruined the book for me never really got into it because could not stand her. Will not be reading the 2nd book bored already.

The flow was off with the book as well like it needed editing to fix the flow as well

[AddictedToReading2022 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually love this author but I was not into this book

It was missing something for me and the relationship is way too depraved

I also have a beef with this author bc she is dishonest with her readers -at the end of this book published in 2022, she writes that book 2 will come out soon, 2 years later is not soon

So now I will only read when all books are out

[Nuella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok so it’s hard to write this revue because I’m one of r.j Lewis’s biggest fans but this book just wasn’t it….. I mean it lacked substance, buildup , something!
I agree it was smut as others have mentioned and I found myself skipping pages and pages. I want to see if book 2 will be better because right now I’m crest fallen

[Juan Maldonado · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not expecting that ending! Just wow!

I love all you books. I wish this one would have been longer but I'll take what I can get. I can't wait to read the next one and all the ones that you're planning to release I hope.

[Alaina✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I NEED THE NEXT ONE NOW 😫

[lady d ⚡️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOCKE 🤌🏼

[Randi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow……

This book is not for the timid reader. I am so glad Locke has his books. Not sure where the next book is gonna go, but it’s going to be a ride…….

[Rose Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Locke and Kali

This was a very exciting read, can’t wait for book 2. I really enjoyed the story line and how it’s leading to Kali’s story.

[TJ ☾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I badly need book 2.

[charlotte carlile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it!

Love it, damaged finding damaged, needing damaged to repair. I can't wait to read the next book, and any other follow-up.

[Pudensiana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sigh! NO. Will I read the second book? I honestly don't know!

[Bklyncakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

omgggggg 😳🤌🏾❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

My mind is blownnnnnnn so u expected and I’m sickkkkk with having to wait for the second half of this book. What am i sposed to do? Work? Eat? Sleep? Ugg.

[Mildred · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 26%. The MMC inconsistently thought of himself in the third person and the FMC suffered from betraying body syndrome.

The one bonus is the the FMC is described as dark skinned.

[Johanna Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it

Wow Locke kind of blew me away! That ending was crazier than I expected! Fantastic dark romance! Five stars! I love the black water books!

[✶ ✶ Hummingbird ✶ ✶]

Awaiting details on:

OP drama

[Honestygal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hate a cliff ending! Really annoying

[Danielle Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS is a true dark romance. I loved it. The kinks in this one aren't ones often written in books, which made it all the more engrossing. I loved the passion, the level of obsession, how it teeters the line of morality. Very well done. I immediately bought and read the sequel!

[Joan GO · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very different. I liked the ending. I don’t know how I want to rate it so 3-4 stars. Ill probably read the second book.

[nyx frk · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was just sex and vibes and its not necessarily a bad thing but a lot of things felt like they were cut off/edited out which is why i might change my rating when book 2 comes out