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Off the Record #2
Replay
When the heart-rending mistakes of your past are stuck on repeat, you’re destined to replay every painful beat.
Rock guitarist Spook Mortensen never had trouble keeping his desires in check until Alle Hutton gate-crashed his life and reignited his libido. Now his life’s careening out of control.
With Black Halo about to embark on their first official cruise and Alle along for the trip, Spook knows that not succumbing to temptation will require constant vigilance and ingenuity.
Alle’s determined to prove to Spook—and everyone else—that his deviant desires don’t make him a monster, and she’s willing to put her heart on the line to prove it. But being in love doesn’t mean she’s blind to reality. She knows Spook’s keeping secrets and that coaxing them out of him will be as, if not more, challenging than enticing him to explore their sizzling chemistry. Luckily, she’s always up for a challenge.
When the return of a figure from Spook’s past leaves him emotionally untethered, Spook and Alle’s burgeoning relationship is put to the ultimate test. When trust is compromised, only the truth will suffice. But can their relationship survive the revelation?
Replay is an angsty, spicy, heart-wrenching rockstar romance with flawed characters and intense friendships, in which secrets emerge, loyalties are tested, and past mistakes hold fast with a tenacious grip. Prepare to have your heart ripped out and stomped on.
This is the second novel in the Off the Record series and forms part of the wider Black Halo world. These books are intended to be read in order.
Rock guitarist Spook Mortensen never had trouble keeping his desires in check until Alle Hutton gate-crashed his life and reignited his libido. Now his life’s careening out of control.
With Black Halo about to embark on their first official cruise and Alle along for the trip, Spook knows that not succumbing to temptation will require constant vigilance and ingenuity.
Alle’s determined to prove to Spook—and everyone else—that his deviant desires don’t make him a monster, and she’s willing to put her heart on the line to prove it. But being in love doesn’t mean she’s blind to reality. She knows Spook’s keeping secrets and that coaxing them out of him will be as, if not more, challenging than enticing him to explore their sizzling chemistry. Luckily, she’s always up for a challenge.
When the return of a figure from Spook’s past leaves him emotionally untethered, Spook and Alle’s burgeoning relationship is put to the ultimate test. When trust is compromised, only the truth will suffice. But can their relationship survive the revelation?
Replay is an angsty, spicy, heart-wrenching rockstar romance with flawed characters and intense friendships, in which secrets emerge, loyalties are tested, and past mistakes hold fast with a tenacious grip. Prepare to have your heart ripped out and stomped on.
This is the second novel in the Off the Record series and forms part of the wider Black Halo world. These books are intended to be read in order.
513 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 29, 2020
22 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Madelynne Ellis
79 books403 followersMadelynne Ellis is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of over 50 erotic romance novels.
Madelynne lives in the UK, not far from the Welsh border with her partner, family, & assorted pets. She is currently sipping rapidly cooling decaf coffee, listening to loud music, & indulging her obsession for tattooed bad boys.
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Madelynne lives in the UK, not far from the Welsh border with her partner, family, & assorted pets. She is currently sipping rapidly cooling decaf coffee, listening to loud music, & indulging her obsession for tattooed bad boys.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 2, 2020
5 Amazing Stars!!
Spook is hanging on by a thread and Alle is hoping to be the one to hold Spook together. How many people would believe that a famous hot rocker could stay away from all the women who throw themselves at him? We get to learn what has kept Spook celibate for years.
Alle is surrounded by brothers and one especially is not a relative you would want to claim. Marshall writes for a rag mag that is trying to dish on the Black Halo guys especially Spook. Marshall suspects Spook is holding onto some dark and dirty secrets. The jerk doesn't care that his sister is with Spook and has feelings for him.
Grab Spook and Alle's book and be ready for a deliciously hot read. Secrets will be revealed, people betrayed and one heck of a cliffhanger that left me on the edge of my seat. I would definitely not only recommend this book but the whole Black Halo series.
Spook is hanging on by a thread and Alle is hoping to be the one to hold Spook together. How many people would believe that a famous hot rocker could stay away from all the women who throw themselves at him? We get to learn what has kept Spook celibate for years.
Alle is surrounded by brothers and one especially is not a relative you would want to claim. Marshall writes for a rag mag that is trying to dish on the Black Halo guys especially Spook. Marshall suspects Spook is holding onto some dark and dirty secrets. The jerk doesn't care that his sister is with Spook and has feelings for him.
Grab Spook and Alle's book and be ready for a deliciously hot read. Secrets will be revealed, people betrayed and one heck of a cliffhanger that left me on the edge of my seat. I would definitely not only recommend this book but the whole Black Halo series.
July 28, 2023
4.5 stars
It is hot and racy, with sizzling chemistry. With loss, secrets, lies, mistakes, wants, needs, judgement, pain, suffering, lost hope, self-loathing.
The characters are flawed warts and all some you will like, and others could be better.
It is hot and racy, with sizzling chemistry. With loss, secrets, lies, mistakes, wants, needs, judgement, pain, suffering, lost hope, self-loathing.
The characters are flawed warts and all some you will like, and others could be better.
March 8, 2020
This book is a deliciously hot read full of secrets and betrayal and ends on one heck of a cliff-hanger.
The storyline takes you through extremes of emotion. I was hooked from the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
This is not a standalone. You have to read the first one and I recommend you read ALL the Black Halo books in order (I have missed a couple), as then so many tiny details woven throughout them all.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The storyline takes you through extremes of emotion. I was hooked from the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
This is not a standalone. You have to read the first one and I recommend you read ALL the Black Halo books in order (I have missed a couple), as then so many tiny details woven throughout them all.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 28, 2020
Just wow!!
If you like dark reads that have shadows of light come thru, then this is for you. Allegra has Spook thinking about her. Spook has been celibate for years now and Alleges is changing, but can Spook ignore the dark side and be vanilla? Or will his dark side emerge? These are deep characters with tons of baggage they must overcome. Read now to see where these two go.
If you like dark reads that have shadows of light come thru, then this is for you. Allegra has Spook thinking about her. Spook has been celibate for years now and Alleges is changing, but can Spook ignore the dark side and be vanilla? Or will his dark side emerge? These are deep characters with tons of baggage they must overcome. Read now to see where these two go.
February 27, 2020
I liked Spook and Alle together. It was I getting getting to know him and getting some of his back story. And cool that they are able to be themselves.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 7, 2023
REPLAY is the second instalment in Madelynne Ellis’ contemporary, adult OFF THE RECORD dark, erotic, rock romance series -a part of the Black Halo world. This is the continuing story of rock guitarist Jan ‘Spook’ Mortensen, and sound engineer Allegra ‘Alle’ Hutton. REPLAY should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events and cliff hanger of book one REFLEX.
NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers including BDMS and same $ex scenarios.
Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Spook and Alle REPLAY picks up after the events of book one. Black Halo has opted for a smaller tour as several members of the band are either on leave, have quit or are struggling within their personal lives but none more so than guitarist Spook Mortensen. Along with his ‘girlfriend’ Alle Hutton, Spook battles his demons that refuse to let go but as their journey through Europe brings Spook closer to home, the demons he has yet to address, take hold, and threaten Spook’s tenuous hold of his fragile psyche. Lines will be blurred then crossed, heart will be broken and crushed, secrets will reveal the true extent as to Spook’s shattered and splintered existence.
The world building continues to focus on Spook and Alle’s building relationship but also Spook’s friendship and dependency with Xane Geist. The world is about to be shown a monster they never knew existed but a monster that was created by someone else.
All of the previous story line secondary and supporting characters return. Alle’s brothers are about to destroy the man with whom she has fallen in love; and Spook’s past is about to reveal a fictionalized account of what happened in the past.
REPLAY is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, abuse and hatred, power and control. The character driven premise is heart breaking, dramatic and haunting-the complexity of Spook’s demons is dangerous and dark; the romance struggles in the face of secrets; the characters are broken, perhaps beyond repair.
HEED MY WARNING-this is NOT a story for everyone. There are issues that will trigger some readers; there are scenes both in the present and memories from the past that are graphic and heart wrenching. REPLAY ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.
www.thereadingcafe.com
copy supplied
NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers including BDMS and same $ex scenarios.
Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Spook and Alle REPLAY picks up after the events of book one. Black Halo has opted for a smaller tour as several members of the band are either on leave, have quit or are struggling within their personal lives but none more so than guitarist Spook Mortensen. Along with his ‘girlfriend’ Alle Hutton, Spook battles his demons that refuse to let go but as their journey through Europe brings Spook closer to home, the demons he has yet to address, take hold, and threaten Spook’s tenuous hold of his fragile psyche. Lines will be blurred then crossed, heart will be broken and crushed, secrets will reveal the true extent as to Spook’s shattered and splintered existence.
The world building continues to focus on Spook and Alle’s building relationship but also Spook’s friendship and dependency with Xane Geist. The world is about to be shown a monster they never knew existed but a monster that was created by someone else.
All of the previous story line secondary and supporting characters return. Alle’s brothers are about to destroy the man with whom she has fallen in love; and Spook’s past is about to reveal a fictionalized account of what happened in the past.
REPLAY is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, abuse and hatred, power and control. The character driven premise is heart breaking, dramatic and haunting-the complexity of Spook’s demons is dangerous and dark; the romance struggles in the face of secrets; the characters are broken, perhaps beyond repair.
HEED MY WARNING-this is NOT a story for everyone. There are issues that will trigger some readers; there are scenes both in the present and memories from the past that are graphic and heart wrenching. REPLAY ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.
www.thereadingcafe.com
copy supplied
August 29, 2023
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review:
I have a lot of mixed emotions about this book. The writing and story building were excellent, but at times I felt like the characters crossed a lot that I was uncomfortable with.
There is a lot of heart break and trauma that is felt with throughout the book. Spook is lucky to have such a supportive friend in Xane. Even though he put his own relationships at risk we should all want a friend as good as Xane that is willing to do literally anything to help you.
Thankfully we finally found out Spook’s back story. It is even worse than I imagined from the previous book. No wonder he chose a life of celibacy for so long.
Hero Rating: 🤴🤴🤴🤴
Hero Review:
I both love and hate Spook in this book. I feel so much empathy for him with the terrible things he went though in his childhood. Even though it was bad it didn’t give him license to treat Alle the way he does some time.
early in the book Spook and Alle had a threesome with Rock Giant. Even though Alle consented it felt like something she only did to please Spook and was not into it. I wish instead of hiding from hè he would have realized pushing her to sleep with Rock wasn’t going to help anything.
the Spook and Xane sex scene didn’t bother me nearly as much because it seemed to be something Spook needed to get through his trauma. I don’t condone his cheating, but I’m glad this helped him to move forward in his relationship with Alle. She didn’t deserve to be strung along any more.
Heroine Rating: 💃💃💃💃
Heroine Review:
I felt really bad for Alle and her lack of support from her family. It felt like she was very alone in this book. I hope that she is able to develop s support network outside of Ronnie in the next book. She is going to need it to get through how terribly her brothers are treating her.
I admire Alle with how resilient she is even with a terrible family. I also like how she is never going to give up on Spook no matter what. It is good to she finally started getting some of what she was looking for in the relationship towards the end of the book.
Spice Level: ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Spice:
There is lots of spice throughout the book. The author does a great job of including lots of sex scenes but not making them feel gratuitous. Thankfully Spook and Alle finally did the deed!!!
Review:
I have a lot of mixed emotions about this book. The writing and story building were excellent, but at times I felt like the characters crossed a lot that I was uncomfortable with.
There is a lot of heart break and trauma that is felt with throughout the book. Spook is lucky to have such a supportive friend in Xane. Even though he put his own relationships at risk we should all want a friend as good as Xane that is willing to do literally anything to help you.
Thankfully we finally found out Spook’s back story. It is even worse than I imagined from the previous book. No wonder he chose a life of celibacy for so long.
Hero Rating: 🤴🤴🤴🤴
Hero Review:
I both love and hate Spook in this book. I feel so much empathy for him with the terrible things he went though in his childhood. Even though it was bad it didn’t give him license to treat Alle the way he does some time.
early in the book Spook and Alle had a threesome with Rock Giant. Even though Alle consented it felt like something she only did to please Spook and was not into it. I wish instead of hiding from hè he would have realized pushing her to sleep with Rock wasn’t going to help anything.
the Spook and Xane sex scene didn’t bother me nearly as much because it seemed to be something Spook needed to get through his trauma. I don’t condone his cheating, but I’m glad this helped him to move forward in his relationship with Alle. She didn’t deserve to be strung along any more.
Heroine Rating: 💃💃💃💃
Heroine Review:
I felt really bad for Alle and her lack of support from her family. It felt like she was very alone in this book. I hope that she is able to develop s support network outside of Ronnie in the next book. She is going to need it to get through how terribly her brothers are treating her.
I admire Alle with how resilient she is even with a terrible family. I also like how she is never going to give up on Spook no matter what. It is good to she finally started getting some of what she was looking for in the relationship towards the end of the book.
Spice Level: ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Spice:
There is lots of spice throughout the book. The author does a great job of including lots of sex scenes but not making them feel gratuitous. Thankfully Spook and Alle finally did the deed!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2020
Dear gods, this broke me. As in, left me ugly-sobbing and curled in a ball, with my family thinking someone had died.
Luckily, no one - real or imagined - has. But the extremes of emotion as I read this second part in the Spook trilogy were at turns exhilarating and worrying. Madelynne Ellis had promised us that her rhythm guitarist was seriously damaged, and she wasn’t lying. Spook is, by anyone’s definition, quite broken, and as his relationship with Alle progresses the tightly bound layers he’s been using to hold himself together become frayed and loose, until finally he is exposed and raw.
The fallout is nothing short of spectacular. Even though I hadn’t exactly foreseen the black moment, when it arrived I was at the “Oh wow” but also the “how could it have gone any other way” stage. And it’s hard to convey just how perfectly written it is.
This is not a standalone. You have to read the first one. And tbh I recommend you read ALL the Black Halo books in order, as then so many tiny details woven throughout them all will suddenly coalesce into a huge ball of “omg, that poor guy really has been doing a spectacular job of pretending to be fine”.
But as a series about just Spook? You absolutely have to read Reflex first, and then the story of this talented, tormented and kinky Swede will become a favourite on your re-read shelf.
Luckily, no one - real or imagined - has. But the extremes of emotion as I read this second part in the Spook trilogy were at turns exhilarating and worrying. Madelynne Ellis had promised us that her rhythm guitarist was seriously damaged, and she wasn’t lying. Spook is, by anyone’s definition, quite broken, and as his relationship with Alle progresses the tightly bound layers he’s been using to hold himself together become frayed and loose, until finally he is exposed and raw.
The fallout is nothing short of spectacular. Even though I hadn’t exactly foreseen the black moment, when it arrived I was at the “Oh wow” but also the “how could it have gone any other way” stage. And it’s hard to convey just how perfectly written it is.
This is not a standalone. You have to read the first one. And tbh I recommend you read ALL the Black Halo books in order, as then so many tiny details woven throughout them all will suddenly coalesce into a huge ball of “omg, that poor guy really has been doing a spectacular job of pretending to be fine”.
But as a series about just Spook? You absolutely have to read Reflex first, and then the story of this talented, tormented and kinky Swede will become a favourite on your re-read shelf.
July 21, 2023
Spook Mortensen is a guitarist for the band Black Halo. Spook has been celibate the past 10 yrs. Allegra found out that Spook & the band lead singer, Xane had a hook up 10 yrs ago. But, the other band members had also been together in some way with each other also.
Allegra Hutton is a sound engineer who works with Black Halo and also works with other bands.
Allegra's brother Marshall is working for gossip Bang Magazine. With her and Spook dating she isn't sure how he is going to be around her or Spook, she doesn't know what may end up in the magazine and what won't.
Allegra keeps wanting to define what her and Spook are relationship wise. However, that is just spooking Spook and pushing him further away from her. Allegra goes with the band on tour and is putting her heart on the line. Will Spook let her in to show her his past?
This book is horribly long, should have been 1/2 of what it was.
I did receive this as a free ARC book copy. I am freely leaving an honest review.
Allegra Hutton is a sound engineer who works with Black Halo and also works with other bands.
Allegra's brother Marshall is working for gossip Bang Magazine. With her and Spook dating she isn't sure how he is going to be around her or Spook, she doesn't know what may end up in the magazine and what won't.
Allegra keeps wanting to define what her and Spook are relationship wise. However, that is just spooking Spook and pushing him further away from her. Allegra goes with the band on tour and is putting her heart on the line. Will Spook let her in to show her his past?
This book is horribly long, should have been 1/2 of what it was.
I did receive this as a free ARC book copy. I am freely leaving an honest review.
April 30, 2022
I’m just so frustrated and angry.
The way everything is just supposed to be justified and looked past is messed up. I hate when authors put the H in a certain situation and then expect the other characters including the h to just be understanding and forgiving. Absolutely not. For as strong as Allegra is supposed to be she’s really made out to be pushy and ultimately a pushover and weak. Why are the side characters making it seem like this is what you signed up for and you know you’re not going to leave so deal with it? Fuck that, there wasn’t even ANY groveling. Not my cup of tea. If there was some push back from the h I would have maybe jumped a few stars but that’s not how I like my MC’s to act.
Then on top of all that it ends on a cliffhanger AGAIN. I wouldn’t have started this series or whatever it is if I’d known it wasn’t completed.
The way everything is just supposed to be justified and looked past is messed up. I hate when authors put the H in a certain situation and then expect the other characters including the h to just be understanding and forgiving. Absolutely not. For as strong as Allegra is supposed to be she’s really made out to be pushy and ultimately a pushover and weak. Why are the side characters making it seem like this is what you signed up for and you know you’re not going to leave so deal with it? Fuck that, there wasn’t even ANY groveling. Not my cup of tea. If there was some push back from the h I would have maybe jumped a few stars but that’s not how I like my MC’s to act.
Then on top of all that it ends on a cliffhanger AGAIN. I wouldn’t have started this series or whatever it is if I’d known it wasn’t completed.
July 21, 2023
This is the second book in this series about Spook and Alle, and we find out what happened to make Spook the way he is. It is gut-wrenching and criminal. Alle, who has kinks that match his, understands and still loves him. Then the **** hits the fan, and it is her brother's fault for taking the criminal's story and printing it in his gossip rag as the truth. Then Alle's other brother jumps in, and things get even worse. It does feel like a replay of his original trauma. Before we get to this, Spook and Alle do have some passionate and fulfilling times. There are further complications, which I think will return in the next part of the story.
If you don't understand sadomasochism, please DO NOT read this book. You will not get it at all and leave nasty reviews.
I received an ARC from the author and left this review voluntarily.
If you don't understand sadomasochism, please DO NOT read this book. You will not get it at all and leave nasty reviews.
I received an ARC from the author and left this review voluntarily.
July 24, 2023
This is the second book in this incredible series, and this is Spook and Allie’s story. Spook is the rock guitarist for Black Halo, and he has been celibate for 10-years, while Allie is a sound engineer for the band as well as others. When Allie comes crashing into Spook’s life, she is determined to break through his barriers. This is an action-packed emotional roller coaster, with secrets, challenges, family, friendships, angst, revelations, loyalties, betrayal, and love, which leads to a heartwrenching, unpredictable, twisted, rock romance. This story ends in a doozy of a cliffhanger, and I cannot wait to read the next books.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
March 1, 2020
Rock star book excellence. I love this series, getting to know the characters over many books has been a joy. Spook has been a revelation, so many secrets and such heartbreak. I was gripped from the first page, I made myself slow down and kept putting the book down so as not to demolish it too quickly. This book revealed things that I had suspected but as usual the twists and turns in the story were a surprise. Alle and Spook - along with the rest of the Black Halo crew kept me entertained. Ronnie is a great addition. My only disgruntlement and it really is a little one - the fact that I have to wait for the next instalment.
July 25, 2023
Life for Spook and Allegra us not getting any easier! In this second book chronicling their relationship, the influence and intrusiveness of the outside world and its thirst for so called "scandal" is taking its toll. All the members of yhe band are affected, but particularly Spook, whose outward persona belies the torment and set of self beliefs that lie beneath.
I so hope for some peace to come in his direction soon! 💖💖💖💖
I so hope for some peace to come in his direction soon! 💖💖💖💖
February 26, 2020
He’s damaged and complicated.
I really liked how Ellis got into Spook’s head. He’s got multiple layers of all kinds of complicated. He and sex have a complex relationship. So, he’s celibate until Alle enters his studio.
She’s fearless.
He’s so many kinds of deliciously complicated.
Highly recommend for the nuanced physical and emotional connections (with plenty of steam).
I really liked how Ellis got into Spook’s head. He’s got multiple layers of all kinds of complicated. He and sex have a complex relationship. So, he’s celibate until Alle enters his studio.
She’s fearless.
He’s so many kinds of deliciously complicated.
Highly recommend for the nuanced physical and emotional connections (with plenty of steam).
February 26, 2020
Watching tortured Spook try to fight his urges has me all kinds of frustrated and turned on again. As we get a further glimpse inside this guy's past and head we feel for the sitaution and hopes she breaks him, in a GOOD way, of course. Can't wait for the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 2, 2020
This is the 2nd book I've read written by Madelynne Ellis; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I can’t wait to read more of her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
February 23, 2020
I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Omg, Madelynne has done it again. In this book you start to understand Spook and why he is the way he is. Spook explains it all to Alle and she accepts him for who he is. I can't wait to read the next book about Spook and Alle.
Omg, Madelynne has done it again. In this book you start to understand Spook and why he is the way he is. Spook explains it all to Alle and she accepts him for who he is. I can't wait to read the next book about Spook and Alle.
tbr-kindle-doc
February 13, 2020
Copy provided by the author for early review
February 15, 2020
Spook is starting to let go his past. There are others who aren't letting it go. Alli is breaking through to him. For her finally push through she needs to break a little for him.
March 30, 2020
Love the portrayal of complex queer characters and a fluid/open relationship, but goddamn does Spook ever need a therapist. Dragged in spots compared to the first.
July 1, 2021
Excellent part two! Love the band but Spook is amazing!
July 20, 2023
Amazing
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews