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The Obsession Duet #1-2
Obsession: Cruel Obsession / Deadly Obsession
The Obsession Duet Book One and Two.
My obsession with Dove wasn’t normal, it toed the line on psychotic, but my love for her overshadowed that.
I’d killed, destroyed, and hurt those that had done her wrong. I’d watched her for years wanting to claim her but refusing to. I was both her guardian angel and a demon lurking in the shadows.
She was mine, even though she didn’t know it yet.
I had planned to let her live her life while I watched from afar. Until one night, everything changes, and I’m forced to kidnap her.
She doesn’t remember me.
She begs me to let her go.
But I can’t. I won’t.
There are things she doesn’t know.
Secrets I cannot tell her, but one thing is clear.
I’ll die before I ever let her slip through my fingers.
**This book contains dark themes that may be triggers to some readers. Please consider this before reading.**
My obsession with Dove wasn’t normal, it toed the line on psychotic, but my love for her overshadowed that.
I’d killed, destroyed, and hurt those that had done her wrong. I’d watched her for years wanting to claim her but refusing to. I was both her guardian angel and a demon lurking in the shadows.
She was mine, even though she didn’t know it yet.
I had planned to let her live her life while I watched from afar. Until one night, everything changes, and I’m forced to kidnap her.
She doesn’t remember me.
She begs me to let her go.
But I can’t. I won’t.
There are things she doesn’t know.
Secrets I cannot tell her, but one thing is clear.
I’ll die before I ever let her slip through my fingers.
**This book contains dark themes that may be triggers to some readers. Please consider this before reading.**
- GenresDark RomanceDarkRomance
348 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2020
152 people are currently reading
393 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Beck
236 books7,159 followersJ.L. Beck is the USA Today Best Selling author of unapologetic romance. She lives in WI with her husband, two kids, and four dogs. She enjoys writing and recently starting a literary agency to help represent authors in the industry.
To learn more about her books or interact with her go here: https://linktr.ee/jlbeckbooks
J.L. Beck xoxoxo
To learn more about her books or interact with her go here: https://linktr.ee/jlbeckbooks
J.L. Beck xoxoxo
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 19, 2022
**4.2/5 stars**
Phew! Where to even begin? Let me start at the end actually. While I was reading the epilogue, I noticed that some of the characters seemed to have a story of their own, and after doing some digging, I found out that this duet is a spin-off of the series The Rossi Crime Family. As much as I wish I'd read those books first, mostly for the characters, I didn't feel like it was essential to do so. This book can definitely be read as a standalone.
Now the plot wasn't revolutionary, but it seemed to me that the execution was very well done, mostly in the first part Cruel Obsession. I wasn't too fond of the second part, but I'll get to that soon. The story begins with Dove, a young woman who spent most of her childhood in foster care, lonely, rejected and unloved until she finally found a good home. Now that she's an adult, she lives a simple life, trying to date but having no real success doing so. She also has that impression of constantly being watched, which her therapist puts on the fact she had a traumatic experience as child...but what she doesn't know is that she really is being watched. By none other than Zane, a young hitman for the mob who is absolutely obsessed with her. When for whatever reason, Zane is tasked to kill Dove, he decides to protect her instead by kidnapping her.
You know, I'm very difficult when it comes to psychotic boyfriends in books, which is why my list of favorites is so short. I'm often disappointed one way or another as the story goes, usually by the choices they make along the way. I must say, Zane was a pretty good character, and totally deserving of earning this best-psycho-boyfriends tag of mine. He was so obsessed and possessive, and he actually had a reason for being that way with Dove. I liked that he was fiercely protective the whole way through, no matter what. Without her, there was no him and he didn't want to fail her. He had a protective and caring side, but also had a darker side who wanted to dominate and punish Dove. There were nuances to his obsession which made him interesting and stand out. Without him, I don't think I would've enjoyed this story as much. And for those who are wondering, he used to sleep with women that looked like Dove years ago, to try and sate his hunger for her but it was never enough. After that, he decided he would stay celibate. He literally never cared about anyone but Dove, he only wants and needs her.
As for sweet Dove, I really liked how she fought Zane every step of the way. She didn't instantly submit to him, although she remained a gentle person. She actually attacked him a couple times while she was his captive. I had mixed feelings about it all, but it made so much sense. It also added a fun dynamic between them and helped showing Zane's different sides. She wasn't the brightest heroine but not the most idiotic either. She definitely had her moments to shine, even though certain of her decisions got on my nerves a little. I liked that she had some growth; going from someone who needed saving to someone ready to step up and act for herself.
Their dynamic was the best part of this story hands down, which is why the first part of this story was my favorite. The fact that Dove was an unwilling captive, not easily falling for her captor was refreshing. Zane was caring but intense and I LOVED that he didn't give her a choice. He also never went too far, always had her well-being in mind. The way she fell in love with him was smooth, not instantly; she felt safe with him and she didn't understand why. She slowly started to accept him and his obsession with her.
Now, like I said, I wasn't too fond of the second part Deadly Obsession because of how it diverged from that dynamic that hooked me at first. The plot wasn't centered on Dove and Zane's relationship but rather, on Dove's identity and why the mob wanted her dead. As much as I appreciated that some light was put on her past and origins, I just didn't really feel absorbed by the story. There were some cliché situations you often find in mafia stories like: forced engagement, forced separation, drama to protect, etc. that I didn't really care for. I rolled my eyes a little at some of the situations. Maybe I would've liked it better if I had read The Rossi Crime Family before, since some of the characters from that series played a role in this story. This is why I didn't rate too low because I concluded that the appreciation for the second part of this duet potentially comes from knowing the side characters presented, which I obviously didn't. And overall, when it came to the main characters, I was fairly satisfied by everything they did, there were good explanations for things that happened, and the ending was pleasing enough. It was a bit rushed but nice nonetheless.
✔️HEA
✔️Standalone
✔️Dual POV
✔️MC's age
✔️OTT/Possessive/Obsessed/Stalker H
✔️Sweet/Strong/Virgin h
✔️Childhood friends
✔️Forced proximity/Captive
✔️No OW/OM
✔️No cheating
✔️Separation
🔥 Steam level: 2.5/5
⚡Content warning
⚡Trigger warning
Would I recommend this book? I would! Mostly for Zane though. Like mentioned, I think it might be good to read The Rossi Crime Family series first but again, it doesn't seem essential to do so. One can easily pickup this duet and enjoy it as a standalone. Not as dark as I thought it would be but still enjoyable.
Phew! Where to even begin? Let me start at the end actually. While I was reading the epilogue, I noticed that some of the characters seemed to have a story of their own, and after doing some digging, I found out that this duet is a spin-off of the series The Rossi Crime Family. As much as I wish I'd read those books first, mostly for the characters, I didn't feel like it was essential to do so. This book can definitely be read as a standalone.
Now the plot wasn't revolutionary, but it seemed to me that the execution was very well done, mostly in the first part Cruel Obsession. I wasn't too fond of the second part, but I'll get to that soon. The story begins with Dove, a young woman who spent most of her childhood in foster care, lonely, rejected and unloved until she finally found a good home. Now that she's an adult, she lives a simple life, trying to date but having no real success doing so. She also has that impression of constantly being watched, which her therapist puts on the fact she had a traumatic experience as child...but what she doesn't know is that she really is being watched. By none other than Zane, a young hitman for the mob who is absolutely obsessed with her. When for whatever reason, Zane is tasked to kill Dove, he decides to protect her instead by kidnapping her.
You know, I'm very difficult when it comes to psychotic boyfriends in books, which is why my list of favorites is so short. I'm often disappointed one way or another as the story goes, usually by the choices they make along the way. I must say, Zane was a pretty good character, and totally deserving of earning this best-psycho-boyfriends tag of mine. He was so obsessed and possessive, and he actually had a reason for being that way with Dove. I liked that he was fiercely protective the whole way through, no matter what. Without her, there was no him and he didn't want to fail her. He had a protective and caring side, but also had a darker side who wanted to dominate and punish Dove. There were nuances to his obsession which made him interesting and stand out. Without him, I don't think I would've enjoyed this story as much. And for those who are wondering, he used to sleep with women that looked like Dove years ago, to try and sate his hunger for her but it was never enough. After that, he decided he would stay celibate. He literally never cared about anyone but Dove, he only wants and needs her.
“I just want you to know that if something happens to you, anything at all, I will blame myself forever, and I’ll gladly put a bullet between my own eyes. You’re my world, and if you’re not in it, then there is nothing left for me to live for.”
-Zane
As for sweet Dove, I really liked how she fought Zane every step of the way. She didn't instantly submit to him, although she remained a gentle person. She actually attacked him a couple times while she was his captive. I had mixed feelings about it all, but it made so much sense. It also added a fun dynamic between them and helped showing Zane's different sides. She wasn't the brightest heroine but not the most idiotic either. She definitely had her moments to shine, even though certain of her decisions got on my nerves a little. I liked that she had some growth; going from someone who needed saving to someone ready to step up and act for herself.
“Tell me you don’t want this, that you don’t want me, and I’ll take you anyway. I’ll still claim your body just as you’ve claimed my heart, without a single fuck given. You’re mine, Dove, mine and only ever mine.”
-Zane
Their dynamic was the best part of this story hands down, which is why the first part of this story was my favorite. The fact that Dove was an unwilling captive, not easily falling for her captor was refreshing. Zane was caring but intense and I LOVED that he didn't give her a choice. He also never went too far, always had her well-being in mind. The way she fell in love with him was smooth, not instantly; she felt safe with him and she didn't understand why. She slowly started to accept him and his obsession with her.
Sometimes the love of your life is right in front of you. Other times, he’s hiding right outside your window, watching you sleep.-Dove
Now, like I said, I wasn't too fond of the second part Deadly Obsession because of how it diverged from that dynamic that hooked me at first. The plot wasn't centered on Dove and Zane's relationship but rather, on Dove's identity and why the mob wanted her dead. As much as I appreciated that some light was put on her past and origins, I just didn't really feel absorbed by the story. There were some cliché situations you often find in mafia stories like: forced engagement, forced separation, drama to protect, etc. that I didn't really care for. I rolled my eyes a little at some of the situations. Maybe I would've liked it better if I had read The Rossi Crime Family before, since some of the characters from that series played a role in this story. This is why I didn't rate too low because I concluded that the appreciation for the second part of this duet potentially comes from knowing the side characters presented, which I obviously didn't. And overall, when it came to the main characters, I was fairly satisfied by everything they did, there were good explanations for things that happened, and the ending was pleasing enough. It was a bit rushed but nice nonetheless.
✔️HEA
✔️Standalone
✔️Dual POV
✔️MC's age
✔️OTT/Possessive/Obsessed/Stalker H
✔️Sweet/Strong/Virgin h
✔️Childhood friends
✔️Forced proximity/Captive
✔️No OW/OM
✔️No cheating
✔️Separation
🔥 Steam level: 2.5/5
⚡Content warning
⚡Trigger warning
Would I recommend this book? I would! Mostly for Zane though. Like mentioned, I think it might be good to read The Rossi Crime Family series first but again, it doesn't seem essential to do so. One can easily pickup this duet and enjoy it as a standalone. Not as dark as I thought it would be but still enjoyable.
August 8, 2022
4/5 🌟
✔️ Virgin heroine
✔️ Celibate Hero
✔️Mafia
✔️It's always been u
✔️Stalker/Kidnapping
✔️ One Bed Trope
Really liked this book 🙌
The heroine was soo sweet and I loved her 😍
Also the hero... ZANE is EVERYTHING 🤍
Great book I hope I'll read more books by this author soon 🙌✨
✔️ Virgin heroine
✔️ Celibate Hero
✔️Mafia
✔️It's always been u
✔️Stalker/Kidnapping
✔️ One Bed Trope
Really liked this book 🙌
The heroine was soo sweet and I loved her 😍
Also the hero... ZANE is EVERYTHING 🤍
Great book I hope I'll read more books by this author soon 🙌✨
did-not-finish
July 4, 2023DNF @ 27%
Not really liking this and the mmc is way too agressive with the heroine. For someone who claimed to love her for a very long time he sure as crap didn't know how to be understanding with her. He didn't give her time to adjust, he do whatever he wants with her, not even considering her emotions and mental health. He kidnapped her and he wanted her to immediately be comfortable with him. And he got annoyed that she's trying her best to avoid him and find an escape.
Also there's the fact that even though he was so "in love and obsessed" with her, he fucked women before that who looks like her. Yet he scared away all the guys who showed interest in her, because according to him he's the only one who can claim her. Whatever the heck that means. Freaking double standards. He's basically gatekeeping her v-card but he can screw around. What an utter bullshit.
Not really liking this and the mmc is way too agressive with the heroine. For someone who claimed to love her for a very long time he sure as crap didn't know how to be understanding with her. He didn't give her time to adjust, he do whatever he wants with her, not even considering her emotions and mental health. He kidnapped her and he wanted her to immediately be comfortable with him. And he got annoyed that she's trying her best to avoid him and find an escape.
Also there's the fact that even though he was so "in love and obsessed" with her, he fucked women before that who looks like her. Yet he scared away all the guys who showed interest in her, because according to him he's the only one who can claim her. Whatever the heck that means. Freaking double standards. He's basically gatekeeping her v-card but he can screw around. What an utter bullshit.
Read
June 6, 2022I think I made it to 16% and had to dnf 😂😂
He's so obsessed with her that he's watching her at home and keeping her safe by not having anything to do with her. But then he's hired to take her out (not to dinner heh) and he kidnaaps her to a house that's like a jail.
Shes scared of him and lashes out. He loves her (insert "but why" GIF here) but hates that she doesn't love him like he does her so he gets hulk angry with her. And on and on and on.......and on and on. Jaysus. He makes a lot of food and goes on grocery runs and she gets busy finding lamps to bean him with. Yeah.....
I'm good stopping there 🤷
He's so obsessed with her that he's watching her at home and keeping her safe by not having anything to do with her. But then he's hired to take her out (not to dinner heh) and he kidnaaps her to a house that's like a jail.
Shes scared of him and lashes out. He loves her (insert "but why" GIF here) but hates that she doesn't love him like he does her so he gets hulk angry with her. And on and on and on.......and on and on. Jaysus. He makes a lot of food and goes on grocery runs and she gets busy finding lamps to bean him with. Yeah.....
I'm good stopping there 🤷
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2022
3.6 stars for possessive stalker anyway.
It was good until I lost a bit of interest in the end. It's actually not too bad but I feel just a bit lacking to build their relationship after Dove discovers who is Zane is. Maybe there is so much happening between them or so...
This is my first book from these two authors, I will try to read more from them.
It was good until I lost a bit of interest in the end. It's actually not too bad but I feel just a bit lacking to build their relationship after Dove discovers who is Zane is. Maybe there is so much happening between them or so...
This is my first book from these two authors, I will try to read more from them.
November 20, 2022
2.8 stars
Review with mild spoilers:
I went into this duology solely because he was obsessed with her and I was curious how the stalking and kidnapping and mafia elements would be handled. Now let me tell you I was absolutely hooked during the first third or so, and I kindly shoved all my morals into one tiny little box for later, but even so the repetitiveness of the story didn't help my enjoyment. The books felt like they could've been simultaneously more detailed (I felt like the relationship didn't have much to stand on, there was no development there while they were in the bunker together, which was literally the best reason for them to get to know each other and for Dove to start developing feelings, instead we got her trying to knock him out multiple times and him being nice and then a little threatening only for it all to get repeated again later), but then again the books also felt incredibly long. I feel like the repetitiveness of the story made it seem endless. Dove was passed around like hot potato between three mob bosses and the story felt like it was going in circles. It would've been better to reduce it all a little, or again expand the story so it doesn't seem like she's having random short lived captivity scenes with everyone. Not to mention some scenes lasted maybe a page in total of them walking into a room for a meeting, the meeting concluding in five minutes and then them storming off. I personally don't like short scenes like that, because they seem random and instead of using them as a chance to show relationships between characters and set the scene better, we're yanked out of it three seconds later. The writing was alright, though again we suffered with the too many synonyms for a penis like "iron rod" and let me not even get started on her "channel". I did like the way Zane loved Dove though, how he was ready to do anything for her, but again I didn't appreciate when he spoke for her and tried to decide for her, even if it was out of protectiveness. Overall it was a fun and quick read, but some polishing would've made it even better!
Review with mild spoilers:
I went into this duology solely because he was obsessed with her and I was curious how the stalking and kidnapping and mafia elements would be handled. Now let me tell you I was absolutely hooked during the first third or so, and I kindly shoved all my morals into one tiny little box for later, but even so the repetitiveness of the story didn't help my enjoyment. The books felt like they could've been simultaneously more detailed (I felt like the relationship didn't have much to stand on, there was no development there while they were in the bunker together, which was literally the best reason for them to get to know each other and for Dove to start developing feelings, instead we got her trying to knock him out multiple times and him being nice and then a little threatening only for it all to get repeated again later), but then again the books also felt incredibly long. I feel like the repetitiveness of the story made it seem endless. Dove was passed around like hot potato between three mob bosses and the story felt like it was going in circles. It would've been better to reduce it all a little, or again expand the story so it doesn't seem like she's having random short lived captivity scenes with everyone. Not to mention some scenes lasted maybe a page in total of them walking into a room for a meeting, the meeting concluding in five minutes and then them storming off. I personally don't like short scenes like that, because they seem random and instead of using them as a chance to show relationships between characters and set the scene better, we're yanked out of it three seconds later. The writing was alright, though again we suffered with the too many synonyms for a penis like "iron rod" and let me not even get started on her "channel". I did like the way Zane loved Dove though, how he was ready to do anything for her, but again I didn't appreciate when he spoke for her and tried to decide for her, even if it was out of protectiveness. Overall it was a fun and quick read, but some polishing would've made it even better!
Read
August 4, 2022I have never DNF'd a book so fast in my life LORDT...
Felt terribly uncomfortable with the way the ml viewed the fl. I *really* shouldn't be surprised considering the title of the series but whew...If I could tell Zane, the ml, one thing I'd say you are more so Dove's than she is yours. She got him on a leash and everything without even interacting with him. The power that she has...astronomical. So claiming that she is yours is a reach, babe. Let's work on our rewording!
However, I must say, if you are interested in mls who are actually and not metaphorically obsessed with the fl, I recommend checking this out. The man kills for her. Literally. Burning the entire world except her type of deal. Also, the writing is very fluid which has you turning pages faster than you normally would which is nice. Don't let my review deter you from reading this two-piece series, you never know if it'll be your next favorite. It's just not my cup of tea, that's all.
That's all I got to say. Oh! Except for this: if you kin Zane, please stay 1,000,000 ft away from me 😀
Felt terribly uncomfortable with the way the ml viewed the fl. I *really* shouldn't be surprised considering the title of the series but whew...If I could tell Zane, the ml, one thing I'd say you are more so Dove's than she is yours. She got him on a leash and everything without even interacting with him. The power that she has...astronomical. So claiming that she is yours is a reach, babe. Let's work on our rewording!
However, I must say, if you are interested in mls who are actually and not metaphorically obsessed with the fl, I recommend checking this out. The man kills for her. Literally. Burning the entire world except her type of deal. Also, the writing is very fluid which has you turning pages faster than you normally would which is nice. Don't let my review deter you from reading this two-piece series, you never know if it'll be your next favorite. It's just not my cup of tea, that's all.
That's all I got to say. Oh! Except for this: if you kin Zane, please stay 1,000,000 ft away from me 😀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2022
Loved it
Love d how Zane was so obsessive of Dove. She drove me crazy being so naive. Especially when she was playing along with Mateo but when Mateo tells her to make Zane leave and then he won't kill Zane. Of course he was going to kill Zane! Why not give Zane a heads up. Maybe it's just me.
Love d how Zane was so obsessive of Dove. She drove me crazy being so naive. Especially when she was playing along with Mateo but when Mateo tells her to make Zane leave and then he won't kill Zane. Of course he was going to kill Zane! Why not give Zane a heads up. Maybe it's just me.
February 22, 2022
excellent
This mafia romance is about dove and Zane. These two orphans found each other in a brutal foster home. The many twists and turns in this read keep you glued to the pages. Very good.
This mafia romance is about dove and Zane. These two orphans found each other in a brutal foster home. The many twists and turns in this read keep you glued to the pages. Very good.
September 7, 2020
Okay story
This book was good, it didn't get me hooked and it also did not bore me. There were also some typos as well.
This book was good, it didn't get me hooked and it also did not bore me. There were also some typos as well.
February 11, 2023
Stopped at 62%.
Not for me, taking anything by force is not love.
Some books\movies keep promoting that females are attracted to psychopaths and criminals, females like to be forced and without will. I don't really understand why they want to spread this humiliating idea.
Even when the female lead in situations when she had the power, she acted weak🤦🏻♀️ she needs her bodygard\lover\soulmate\the one who knows her better than herself\the only one for her\whatever to rescue her🤦🏻♀️
Not for me, taking anything by force is not love.
Some books\movies keep promoting that females are attracted to psychopaths and criminals, females like to be forced and without will. I don't really understand why they want to spread this humiliating idea.
Even when the female lead in situations when she had the power, she acted weak🤦🏻♀️ she needs her bodygard\lover\soulmate\the one who knows her better than herself\the only one for her\whatever to rescue her🤦🏻♀️
February 27, 2023
Screaming crying whore for him
December 12, 2023
1,75⭐️ No se ni como me lo termine 💀💀decepción total
January 23, 2024
Just not my style of writing. H seemed like a caricature of a “mafia” guy.
August 20, 2025
so poorly written. very wattpad esq.
June 8, 2022
This started out with massive potential...
October 18, 2023
Interesting read, I liked book 1 better. It was just okay. Read it in a book club
January 13, 2023
I liked how Zane was into Dove. It started when they were in foster care-childhood together and he became obsessed with her. His obsession/love never stopped and he “took care” of her from afar, watched her creepily from cameras, stalked her and everything else.
He plans on making her love him back and made an underground bunker that looks like a full house (nice one too), and eventually has to kidnap her when he gets told by his mafia boss to kill her.
Eventually through the duet a lot comes out through Zane, Dove and three different mafia families that Dove is also tied to them, unbeknownst to her, and Zane does his best to protect her at all costs.
He plans on making her love him back and made an underground bunker that looks like a full house (nice one too), and eventually has to kidnap her when he gets told by his mafia boss to kill her.
Eventually through the duet a lot comes out through Zane, Dove and three different mafia families that Dove is also tied to them, unbeknownst to her, and Zane does his best to protect her at all costs.
October 6, 2024
Me personally, I gave this book of 4.5 I loved his obsession with her, and how her love grew more and more throughout the book as well, The epilogue was so adorable. The only reason why I gave it 4.5 stars and not five was because Dove made me mad at times and she was really naïve and then out of nowhere she wasn’t becuase of Matteo’s I get she had to start somewhere but than when she told Zane to leave it broke my heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews