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The One That Got Away
Someone is following me. I’m not imagining it. I’m not crazy.
Charlie Falkingham is convinced someone is after him. There are signs. There are clues, but no one believes him. After living through a childhood horror, Charlie suffers from a severe paranoia disorder, among many things, and the Hamilton Police have labeled him The Boy Who Cried Wolf.
When the only person on the force who ever listened to Charlie’s concerns retires, who can Charlie reach out to for help?
Arrogant and young, Officer Takoda Dyani has a chip on his shoulder a mile wide. He’s rude and brash and doesn’t play well with others. He has more enemies than friends, and he doesn’t care. When his senior officer assigns him to be Charlie’s consultant, Takoda knows it will end badly. He doesn’t have time to coddle a prissy rich boy.
However, if he can’t calm Charlie’s paranoid delusions and act civil for once, he’ll lose his job.
But are they delusions?
The longer he knows Charlie, the more Takoda realizes, something isn’t right.
Is someone stalking Charlie, or is Takoda getting too wrapped up in Charlie’s fragile world?
**The One That Got Away is an MM psychological romantic suspense. Triggers for severe anxiety and panic disorder, OCD, dissociative episodes, PTSD. The plot line includes a reference to a past child kidnapping and sex trafficking incident. The details of the sex trafficking are NOT discussed in any detail.**
Charlie Falkingham is convinced someone is after him. There are signs. There are clues, but no one believes him. After living through a childhood horror, Charlie suffers from a severe paranoia disorder, among many things, and the Hamilton Police have labeled him The Boy Who Cried Wolf.
When the only person on the force who ever listened to Charlie’s concerns retires, who can Charlie reach out to for help?
Arrogant and young, Officer Takoda Dyani has a chip on his shoulder a mile wide. He’s rude and brash and doesn’t play well with others. He has more enemies than friends, and he doesn’t care. When his senior officer assigns him to be Charlie’s consultant, Takoda knows it will end badly. He doesn’t have time to coddle a prissy rich boy.
However, if he can’t calm Charlie’s paranoid delusions and act civil for once, he’ll lose his job.
But are they delusions?
The longer he knows Charlie, the more Takoda realizes, something isn’t right.
Is someone stalking Charlie, or is Takoda getting too wrapped up in Charlie’s fragile world?
**The One That Got Away is an MM psychological romantic suspense. Triggers for severe anxiety and panic disorder, OCD, dissociative episodes, PTSD. The plot line includes a reference to a past child kidnapping and sex trafficking incident. The details of the sex trafficking are NOT discussed in any detail.**
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 22, 2021
275 people are currently reading
2528 people want to read
About the author
Nicky James
76 books2,264 followersI live in the small town of Petrolia, Ontario, Canada and I am a mother to a wonderful teenage boy (didn't think those words could be typed together...surprise) and wife to a truly supportive and understanding husband, who thankfully doesn't think I'm crazy.
I have always had two profound dreams in life. To fall back hundreds of years in time and live in a simpler world, not bogged down by technology and to write novels. Since only one of these was a possibility I decided to make the other come alive on paper.
I write mm romance novels that take place in fantastical medieval type settings and love to use the challenges of the times to give my stories and characters life.
I have always had two profound dreams in life. To fall back hundreds of years in time and live in a simpler world, not bogged down by technology and to write novels. Since only one of these was a possibility I decided to make the other come alive on paper.
I write mm romance novels that take place in fantastical medieval type settings and love to use the challenges of the times to give my stories and characters life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 506 reviews
October 27, 2022
This was such a great story. I was drawn to the characters and the storyline from the very first page.
I loved Charlie. I loved Takoda, too. He is the type of character that seems very unlikable at first, but you know that will change as the book goes on and you can't wait to see it happen. And it was delicious. The relationship between these two characters was amazing.
I loved how the author built the suspense in this story. It was very engaging, the pacing was just right and I loved the way it developed and unfolded gradually.
*******
Re-read 10/2022 via audiobook
I loved Charlie. I loved Takoda, too. He is the type of character that seems very unlikable at first, but you know that will change as the book goes on and you can't wait to see it happen. And it was delicious. The relationship between these two characters was amazing.
I loved how the author built the suspense in this story. It was very engaging, the pacing was just right and I loved the way it developed and unfolded gradually.
*******
Re-read 10/2022 via audiobook
April 5, 2021
I don't always have luck with Nicky's books, but when I do? Boy they are the best!!! And this? THIS?!! I can't stop thinking about this shit! 😫😫❤
Besides the second chapter where Koda was a little bit of an ass, I LOVED EVERY. SINGLE. THING!!! I fell so hard for Charlie! Every little tick, every little need that made him feel crazy, I was there with him and god I wanted to love him so bad!!! The way his life was wrecked at such a young age and how people respond to his mental illness? HEAR MY RANT!!! Why and how were in my mind a lot, like: why lie to him? Why drug him? How come no one sees this mistakes?! HOW COME NO ONE SEES HIM!! Until Koda and thank god for that!
Koda *sighs* I want me a Koda, he was hard to like at the beginning, he had so much hate that I thought I wouldn't like him, but I was WRONG!!! He's a good guy and he SAW Charlie, he believed in him, not only with the crime but he believed Charlie could manage his issues and he fought for him! And I melted every single time, did it seem a little bit like the feelings came out of nowhere? Yes, BUT I DON'T CARE!! I loved this!! *protects the book like a mama bear* 🤩🤩🥰
The mystery part was well done, I didn't see it coming till it was too late and it was well constructed. LOVE IT I TELL YOU!! 😫🥰❤
A must read!!! And I'm just gonna end with a quote that felt important to me while reading this:
"I want to help you discover all your strengths because I think you focus too much on your weaknesses. I want to keep making you feel safe.”
Peace out! *drops the mic* 🎤🤞🏻
Besides the second chapter where Koda was a little bit of an ass, I LOVED EVERY. SINGLE. THING!!! I fell so hard for Charlie! Every little tick, every little need that made him feel crazy, I was there with him and god I wanted to love him so bad!!! The way his life was wrecked at such a young age and how people respond to his mental illness? HEAR MY RANT!!! Why and how were in my mind a lot, like: why lie to him? Why drug him? How come no one sees this mistakes?! HOW COME NO ONE SEES HIM!! Until Koda and thank god for that!
Koda *sighs* I want me a Koda, he was hard to like at the beginning, he had so much hate that I thought I wouldn't like him, but I was WRONG!!! He's a good guy and he SAW Charlie, he believed in him, not only with the crime but he believed Charlie could manage his issues and he fought for him! And I melted every single time, did it seem a little bit like the feelings came out of nowhere? Yes, BUT I DON'T CARE!! I loved this!! *protects the book like a mama bear* 🤩🤩🥰
The mystery part was well done, I didn't see it coming till it was too late and it was well constructed. LOVE IT I TELL YOU!! 😫🥰❤
A must read!!! And I'm just gonna end with a quote that felt important to me while reading this:
"I want to help you discover all your strengths because I think you focus too much on your weaknesses. I want to keep making you feel safe.”
Peace out! *drops the mic* 🎤🤞🏻
January 8, 2022
Audio - 5 ++ NJR doing the Brooklyn/Queens accent...LOL Awesome stuff!!!
Story - 5 +++++
There's a reason I stalk this author's IG page and website.
Story - 5 +++++
There's a reason I stalk this author's IG page and website.
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March 9, 2025
|| 4.0 stars ||
This is a mystery, suspense, drama and romance all rolled into one, and it made for a very amazing whole. All the different aspects were worked out well and added their own value to the overall story. It was intriguing, enthralling and truly managed to capture my interest as well as my heart.
I honestly cared about what I was reading here, and that was mostly due to the fact that I loved our main character, Charlie, so incredibly much. Charlie’s personality was complex and heart-breaking, and I couldn’t help but want to find out everything that had happened to him and see how he was feeling about it all.
Charlie’s mental health issues were a big part of this story, and I thought it was very well-done. I got pissed off on his behalf plenty of times, and I genuinely felt like strangling everyone who kept dismissing him and refusing to listen to what he had to say as if he was nothing more than a paranoid lunatic. Charlie invoked a lot of sympathy from me, and I grew incredibly fond of him.
My immense love for Charlie was why I was really happy that after a while he at least had an ally in Takoda, who constantly stood by his side, thoroughly defended him and always had his best interest at heart. It was truly the type of love and care Charlie deserved, and I was so happy he finally got that, even if it was with someone who did not make the best first impression.. But I’m not going to get into that, since Takoda more than made up for his less than stellar introduction! His relationship with Charlie ended up being very sweet and gentle, which I loved.
The plot developed at a really nice pace and really managed to capture a feeling of suspense. I truly wanted to find out every single thing about what had happened to Charlie in the past and also about what was happening to him now. The mystery was always present in the story, and didn’t feel like it was just a tool to create drama or shock. It was all well-written and very interesting in nature.
My one real complaint with this book would be that I very much preferred the first half over the second. I’m not sure what it was that made my engrossment wane a little, but unfortunately that did happen. I felt a little less invested in the story and the characters at that point, whereas before, my investment levels were at a ten out of ten. Maybe it was just me or maybe the book truly went downhill.. Whatever it was, I wish I would have enjoyed this book equally the whole way through. But oh well. I’m still a big fan overall, and I thought this book was really great!
Nicky James books:
Love Me Whole - 2.0 stars
The One That Got Away - 4.0 stars
This is a mystery, suspense, drama and romance all rolled into one, and it made for a very amazing whole. All the different aspects were worked out well and added their own value to the overall story. It was intriguing, enthralling and truly managed to capture my interest as well as my heart.
I honestly cared about what I was reading here, and that was mostly due to the fact that I loved our main character, Charlie, so incredibly much. Charlie’s personality was complex and heart-breaking, and I couldn’t help but want to find out everything that had happened to him and see how he was feeling about it all.
Charlie’s mental health issues were a big part of this story, and I thought it was very well-done. I got pissed off on his behalf plenty of times, and I genuinely felt like strangling everyone who kept dismissing him and refusing to listen to what he had to say as if he was nothing more than a paranoid lunatic. Charlie invoked a lot of sympathy from me, and I grew incredibly fond of him.
My immense love for Charlie was why I was really happy that after a while he at least had an ally in Takoda, who constantly stood by his side, thoroughly defended him and always had his best interest at heart. It was truly the type of love and care Charlie deserved, and I was so happy he finally got that, even if it was with someone who did not make the best first impression.. But I’m not going to get into that, since Takoda more than made up for his less than stellar introduction! His relationship with Charlie ended up being very sweet and gentle, which I loved.
The plot developed at a really nice pace and really managed to capture a feeling of suspense. I truly wanted to find out every single thing about what had happened to Charlie in the past and also about what was happening to him now. The mystery was always present in the story, and didn’t feel like it was just a tool to create drama or shock. It was all well-written and very interesting in nature.
My one real complaint with this book would be that I very much preferred the first half over the second. I’m not sure what it was that made my engrossment wane a little, but unfortunately that did happen. I felt a little less invested in the story and the characters at that point, whereas before, my investment levels were at a ten out of ten. Maybe it was just me or maybe the book truly went downhill.. Whatever it was, I wish I would have enjoyed this book equally the whole way through. But oh well. I’m still a big fan overall, and I thought this book was really great!
Nicky James books:
Love Me Whole - 2.0 stars
The One That Got Away - 4.0 stars
August 10, 2022
Audiobook - 4 stars
Story - 4.5 stars
Very Intense, Heartbreaking and beautiful.
The title got the Katy Perry song stuck in my head.
Story - 4.5 stars
Very Intense, Heartbreaking and beautiful.
The title got the Katy Perry song stuck in my head.
April 9, 2021
The more complex Nicky James' characters are, the more I like her books.
April 15, 2021
I was hooked from the start!!!
Charlie Falkingham has to be one of the most endearing MC’s I’ve come across in a long while and I loved him immediately. Kidnapped when he was 12, Charlie was the sole survivor of a child sex trafficking ring and over the last 17 years, the long term impact on his mental health has taken its toll. Convinced that he is being followed, he reaches out to the local police force but given his history of paranoia, is not taken seriously. Officer Takoda Dyani, is tasked with mollifying Charlie. Not only is his job on the line, he’s an arrogant asshole with a rather large chip on his shoulder. I didn’t like him at first. I couldn’t believe their first meeting - Charlie wasn’t the only one with palpitations 😡 I wanted to throttle Takoda - A LOT!!! However, despite their bumpy introduction, it doesn’t take Takoda too long to develop some empathy, overcome certain prejudices and realise that Charlie’s suspicions may actually be warranted. Over time, they forge an unlikely bond.
Whilst their initial attraction for each other was a little quick off the mark for me, I really liked how their relationship subsequently progressed. Takoda totally won me over in how he treated Charlie, how he believed in him, how he was sensitive to his needs/quirks and how he didn’t push him into anything too fast. Given Charlie’s history, I wasn’t even sure if a sexual relationship would even be possible but I think the author did a great job. It was handled just right.
I’m not sure if this is the start of a new series but there’s definitely potential. I wouldn’t mind reading about Takoda’s colleague (potentially bi-curious Kevin); or Charlie’s sister Adelaide, who never actually made an appearance, but along with her mother certainly made an impression on me 😡
If I had to nitpick, my one quibble would be that Charlie’s past trauma wasn’t explored as deeply as I would have liked. I wanted a little more. However, it was still thoroughly entertaining and I’ll be checking out the rest of this new to me author’s backlist in the future.
Charlie Falkingham has to be one of the most endearing MC’s I’ve come across in a long while and I loved him immediately. Kidnapped when he was 12, Charlie was the sole survivor of a child sex trafficking ring and over the last 17 years, the long term impact on his mental health has taken its toll. Convinced that he is being followed, he reaches out to the local police force but given his history of paranoia, is not taken seriously. Officer Takoda Dyani, is tasked with mollifying Charlie. Not only is his job on the line, he’s an arrogant asshole with a rather large chip on his shoulder. I didn’t like him at first. I couldn’t believe their first meeting - Charlie wasn’t the only one with palpitations 😡 I wanted to throttle Takoda - A LOT!!! However, despite their bumpy introduction, it doesn’t take Takoda too long to develop some empathy, overcome certain prejudices and realise that Charlie’s suspicions may actually be warranted. Over time, they forge an unlikely bond.
Whilst their initial attraction for each other was a little quick off the mark for me, I really liked how their relationship subsequently progressed. Takoda totally won me over in how he treated Charlie, how he believed in him, how he was sensitive to his needs/quirks and how he didn’t push him into anything too fast. Given Charlie’s history, I wasn’t even sure if a sexual relationship would even be possible but I think the author did a great job. It was handled just right.
I’m not sure if this is the start of a new series but there’s definitely potential. I wouldn’t mind reading about Takoda’s colleague (potentially bi-curious Kevin); or Charlie’s sister Adelaide, who never actually made an appearance, but along with her mother certainly made an impression on me 😡
If I had to nitpick, my one quibble would be that Charlie’s past trauma wasn’t explored as deeply as I would have liked. I wanted a little more. However, it was still thoroughly entertaining and I’ll be checking out the rest of this new to me author’s backlist in the future.
May 17, 2021
5 stars 💫
Wow, this book is perfect, and I love this so much. I knew I was going to love this story from the start, and I wasn't wrong. This is the first time I've read a book is written by this author, and well, I'm hooked. This story felt natural and beautiful. You couldn't put this book down until the end. 😇
I love Charlie and Takoda. Charlie is fragile, broken, and innocent where Takoda is caring and patience. They work great together. At first, I had a hard time liking Takoda. But it's how he has raised his safety wall, and he has his reasons for behaving like the way he behaves at first. Once he shows his true heart, you couldn't find a perfect person like him. He is the exact boyfriend Charlie needs. I couldn't love them more. 💕
Highly recommended ❤️
Wow, this book is perfect, and I love this so much. I knew I was going to love this story from the start, and I wasn't wrong. This is the first time I've read a book is written by this author, and well, I'm hooked. This story felt natural and beautiful. You couldn't put this book down until the end. 😇
I love Charlie and Takoda. Charlie is fragile, broken, and innocent where Takoda is caring and patience. They work great together. At first, I had a hard time liking Takoda. But it's how he has raised his safety wall, and he has his reasons for behaving like the way he behaves at first. Once he shows his true heart, you couldn't find a perfect person like him. He is the exact boyfriend Charlie needs. I couldn't love them more. 💕
Highly recommended ❤️
April 30, 2021
I liked this one but I didn’t love it. I love Nicky James’ writing style, it always works for me. Her characterization is top notch. Her characters always feel like I could run into one of them on a street corner as I’m doing the little dance you do when you’re trying to cross the street but the cars won’t stop??? Right at that moment. We’d make eye contact and I’d shrug and say cars, am I right? I just want to hug Charlie and never let him go but I’m so happy that he has Takoda and his wonderful father to do that for him!
Alas, I do have some complaints though. Maybe it’s just me but it did feel a little fast when Takoda went from finding Charlie annoying to wanting to protect him and be intimate with him. As much as I loved Takoda and Charlie together it was a wee bit too much of a 180 for me to fully believe it, especially considering how Takoda talked about Charlie. I also felt like the book could have been more. Many plot points were just left open: Charlie’s relationship with his mom, Takoda’s brother who is in jail. We were given a lot of information that I wish had been expounded on. The villain wasn’t even that...villainy? I just kept wanting more because I know how capable Nicky is. It’s like when you go to a restaurant you love and know is fantastic and it turns out to be good but not great. Like I know how tasty the food can be but come on, my chicken dish is lacking flavor! The ending fell flat for me too. It was so tame and so fast. The conclusion to my paragraph? The chicken needs more salt! Give me more, more, more! Sometimes over the top is better than…..under the top? That sounds like a sex thing but whatevs. 😛 I’m leaving it in! Gah. That also sounds like a sex thing!!!! Hahahah
On a lighter note, I felt like I was reading a Barry Palms book with how many times Charlie’s icy winter sky-blue gray stormy etc. eyes and his fragility were mentioned. It was Jory’s chocolate brown eyes and model good looks 2.0!
What I really appreciate though is how the suspense aspect of the book was front and center. I may or may not be shading a certain author again with that remark but so be it! (Fairy Balmes). The action didn’t take place within the span of three pages and everything wasn’t magically resolved in the same amount of time either. Also: the animals! I loved hearing about Stanley’s dog and Takoda’s cats. So very sweet. Another thing that warmed me to my core? Takoda being so very gentle with Charlie and also being fiercely protective of him. Holding his hands or rubbing his back when he started to worry his fingers. Adorable. 💜
But overall, I think this is a good book that had potential to be a great book. I think there’s a Nicky James book for everyone and this one just so happened to not be the one for me.
Alas, I do have some complaints though. Maybe it’s just me but it did feel a little fast when Takoda went from finding Charlie annoying to wanting to protect him and be intimate with him. As much as I loved Takoda and Charlie together it was a wee bit too much of a 180 for me to fully believe it, especially considering how Takoda talked about Charlie. I also felt like the book could have been more. Many plot points were just left open: Charlie’s relationship with his mom, Takoda’s brother who is in jail. We were given a lot of information that I wish had been expounded on. The villain wasn’t even that...villainy? I just kept wanting more because I know how capable Nicky is. It’s like when you go to a restaurant you love and know is fantastic and it turns out to be good but not great. Like I know how tasty the food can be but come on, my chicken dish is lacking flavor! The ending fell flat for me too. It was so tame and so fast. The conclusion to my paragraph? The chicken needs more salt! Give me more, more, more! Sometimes over the top is better than…..under the top? That sounds like a sex thing but whatevs. 😛 I’m leaving it in! Gah. That also sounds like a sex thing!!!! Hahahah
On a lighter note, I felt like I was reading a Barry Palms book with how many times Charlie’s icy winter sky-blue gray stormy etc. eyes and his fragility were mentioned. It was Jory’s chocolate brown eyes and model good looks 2.0!
What I really appreciate though is how the suspense aspect of the book was front and center. I may or may not be shading a certain author again with that remark but so be it! (Fairy Balmes). The action didn’t take place within the span of three pages and everything wasn’t magically resolved in the same amount of time either. Also: the animals! I loved hearing about Stanley’s dog and Takoda’s cats. So very sweet. Another thing that warmed me to my core? Takoda being so very gentle with Charlie and also being fiercely protective of him. Holding his hands or rubbing his back when he started to worry his fingers. Adorable. 💜
But overall, I think this is a good book that had potential to be a great book. I think there’s a Nicky James book for everyone and this one just so happened to not be the one for me.
May 14, 2021
Well that was absolutely bloody brilliant! It's the first book I've read by this author and I'm hooked. The writing is perfection with strong, rich characters, a great story with suspense that kept me hooked from word one. I couldn't put this one down.
One of my best reads this year, loved it!
One of my best reads this year, loved it!
April 27, 2021
4.5 ⭐️
Imagine what happens when a person with severe paranoia is actually in danger? And nobody believes them? Charlie was kidnapped as a child, and suffers with paranoia, OCD and several other issues as a result of that kidnapping. He calls the police regularly to report danger. His family is rich and influential. So they just placate him and move on.
Takoda grew up poor and fatherless. He is a gay police officer with a giant chip on his shoulder. He hates rich people and everything around them.
Charlie is awkward, brilliant, and a fantasy writer. And a virgin. Takoda is a player who has never read a book in his life.
These two were not meant to be. I spent the first few chapters giddily wondering how they could possibly ever get together. ❤️❤️❤️
Takoda is the sweetest most patient man. He makes Charlie feel safe. He believes him. They are the sweetest couple and I loved them so much. It is low heat and very sweet, but there are some steamy scenes.
The suspense was awesome, kept my interest and was resolved in a way that made sense to me.
Highly recommended! Nicky James does mental illness like a queen.
Imagine what happens when a person with severe paranoia is actually in danger? And nobody believes them? Charlie was kidnapped as a child, and suffers with paranoia, OCD and several other issues as a result of that kidnapping. He calls the police regularly to report danger. His family is rich and influential. So they just placate him and move on.
Takoda grew up poor and fatherless. He is a gay police officer with a giant chip on his shoulder. He hates rich people and everything around them.
Charlie is awkward, brilliant, and a fantasy writer. And a virgin. Takoda is a player who has never read a book in his life.
These two were not meant to be. I spent the first few chapters giddily wondering how they could possibly ever get together. ❤️❤️❤️
Takoda is the sweetest most patient man. He makes Charlie feel safe. He believes him. They are the sweetest couple and I loved them so much. It is low heat and very sweet, but there are some steamy scenes.
The suspense was awesome, kept my interest and was resolved in a way that made sense to me.
Highly recommended! Nicky James does mental illness like a queen.
October 4, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶🌶
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Well that was intense, keep you on the edge of your seat drama and I was here for it!
Gah! Poor Charlie, he went through so much as a kid (kidnapped/trafficked) and now suffers severe paranoia among other mental health issues. He’s babied by his father even though he’s 29 and nobody believes anything he says, to the point where he has to question himself.
Then there’s Takoda who had a poor upbringing so he was always treated unfairly. So he became a cop to gain control and the upper hand. He has a huge chip on his shoulder but he comes by it honestly.
In a last ditch effort to get rid of him, Nakoda’s boss makes him “deal” with Charlie and his paranoia. At first Nakoda is pissed, Charlie is catered to because his family has money and his mother is a big time attorney. But once he gets to know him he starts to feel for him and begins to wonder if he’s really paranoid or if there is someone out to get him.
First off, I freaking hated Nakoda’s boss, I was practically screaming at my phone as I listened to all his bullying and bs, even when they knew!
I very much enjoyed the growing chemistry between Charlie and Nakoda, for such a hardass that cop had a sweet side. Especially when animals were involved and his cats and him we’re the cutest!
There were so many twists and turns there was no way to even try and guess what was going on or who was involved. I love that!
Great character development, great pacing and buildup. Overall a pretty phenomenal read.
Plus the audio? Nick J Russo did a fantastic job with the numerous characters, it was so easy to differentiate with his many voices. And the drama? Just wow.
🌶🌶
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Well that was intense, keep you on the edge of your seat drama and I was here for it!
Gah! Poor Charlie, he went through so much as a kid (kidnapped/trafficked) and now suffers severe paranoia among other mental health issues. He’s babied by his father even though he’s 29 and nobody believes anything he says, to the point where he has to question himself.
Then there’s Takoda who had a poor upbringing so he was always treated unfairly. So he became a cop to gain control and the upper hand. He has a huge chip on his shoulder but he comes by it honestly.
In a last ditch effort to get rid of him, Nakoda’s boss makes him “deal” with Charlie and his paranoia. At first Nakoda is pissed, Charlie is catered to because his family has money and his mother is a big time attorney. But once he gets to know him he starts to feel for him and begins to wonder if he’s really paranoid or if there is someone out to get him.
First off, I freaking hated Nakoda’s boss, I was practically screaming at my phone as I listened to all his bullying and bs, even when they knew!
I very much enjoyed the growing chemistry between Charlie and Nakoda, for such a hardass that cop had a sweet side. Especially when animals were involved and his cats and him we’re the cutest!
There were so many twists and turns there was no way to even try and guess what was going on or who was involved. I love that!
Great character development, great pacing and buildup. Overall a pretty phenomenal read.
Plus the audio? Nick J Russo did a fantastic job with the numerous characters, it was so easy to differentiate with his many voices. And the drama? Just wow.
March 15, 2023
I really loved the suspense/mystery portion of this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat, I didn't want to stop reading but wanted to take breaks because it had such an unsettling vibe to it.
The romance portion of this book felt a bit underdeveloped to me.
The ending was pretty abrupt too. The book just ended but there were a few things that could have been wrapped up better and so many questions left unanswered.
The romance portion of this book felt a bit underdeveloped to me.
The ending was pretty abrupt too. The book just ended but there were a few things that could have been wrapped up better and so many questions left unanswered.
March 5, 2025
Well Done!! 👏👏👏
I really liked this. Really!!
Was is perfect? No. But I had a great time reading it.
I thought it would be darker or angstier that it was based on the subject (past kidnapping & sexual abuse), but it wasn’t.
The fact that I wasn’t swimming in a deep, dark hole of angst, but was instead climbing out of that hole along with the MC made this book almost fun. Is that weird? Calling a book like this fun?
It was fun to see two characters change. One went from an angry, hotheaded young cop to a loving, calmer man.
The other MC slowly escaped from a mental prison of his own making and began to function in the world and face his fears.
These characters were fantastic—they were very, very flawed.
The mystery, the psychological thriller aspect was weaker than the men, but strong enough to carry their story to an HEA.
My rec? Don’t let the blurb scare you.
Triggers: references to past captivity & abuse (vague), forced medication.
I really liked this. Really!!
Was is perfect? No. But I had a great time reading it.
I thought it would be darker or angstier that it was based on the subject (past kidnapping & sexual abuse), but it wasn’t.
The fact that I wasn’t swimming in a deep, dark hole of angst, but was instead climbing out of that hole along with the MC made this book almost fun. Is that weird? Calling a book like this fun?
It was fun to see two characters change. One went from an angry, hotheaded young cop to a loving, calmer man.
The other MC slowly escaped from a mental prison of his own making and began to function in the world and face his fears.
These characters were fantastic—they were very, very flawed.
The mystery, the psychological thriller aspect was weaker than the men, but strong enough to carry their story to an HEA.
My rec? Don’t let the blurb scare you.
Triggers: references to past captivity & abuse (vague), forced medication.
November 29, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
How is it even possible that every book I read by Nicky James is better than the last I’ve read, and it’s just getting better.
This book was absolutely brilliant. The suspense was nothing short of amazing, And I’m not a fan of suspense in romance, but it was perfect for this story.
I loved Takoda and Charlie together so much 😍
Takoda was grumpy af but he also has a gentle soul.
Charlie... my heart broke for him...
like all James’s book, you can expect HEA.
———————————————————————
Highly recommended 🎉
How is it even possible that every book I read by Nicky James is better than the last I’ve read, and it’s just getting better.
This book was absolutely brilliant. The suspense was nothing short of amazing, And I’m not a fan of suspense in romance, but it was perfect for this story.
I loved Takoda and Charlie together so much 😍
Takoda was grumpy af but he also has a gentle soul.
Charlie... my heart broke for him...
like all James’s book, you can expect HEA.
———————————————————————
Highly recommended 🎉
September 10, 2021
***4 - 4.5 ❤***
May 30, 2021
4,5 stars
100% enjoyable!
THIS is exactly why I like Nicky James so much.
I love the way she deals with medical themes (that’s what I call them, I’m sure there is a fancier word somewhere!). Here it is paranoia.
Sincerely traumatic events in Charlie’s past have left him with quite a number of issues, but his paranoia is the one really crippling his everyday life. The thing is: what happens if, for once, you don’t just ‘imagine’ things happening, but someone is really after you? Who would believe you?
Great scenario, executed brilliantly!
While 29-year-old Charlie, sexually totally inexperienced and most innocent at heart, is a sweetheart all the way, Takoda is very difficult to like at the beginning.
What a grumpy a*****e! His attitude is sky-scraper high, and I was very tempted to 'clip his ears' and tell him to grow up and shut his big unruly mouth on several occasions.
Well, you can probably guess that I started feeling very differently about him pretty soon. Takoda is completely thrown by Charlie’s trust and the courage with which he masters his life, and just like with his siblings, Takoda feels overwhelmingly protective of him, even though Charlie is the older one.
I thoroughly enjoyed their journey, Charlie’s firsts, Takoda’s patience (the man’s been a number 1 player up to this point) and the way the mystery turns out. Yes, I had to suspend some belief at one point, but that didn’t in any way infringe on my enjoyment.
When we leave Charlie and Takoda they are at the very beginnings of their relationship. I’d love to revisit them and see how they work out together and fare in the long run. There’s so much more to explore! (Pretty please, Ms. James!!!!)
Highly recommended.
100% enjoyable!
THIS is exactly why I like Nicky James so much.
I love the way she deals with medical themes (that’s what I call them, I’m sure there is a fancier word somewhere!). Here it is paranoia.
Sincerely traumatic events in Charlie’s past have left him with quite a number of issues, but his paranoia is the one really crippling his everyday life. The thing is: what happens if, for once, you don’t just ‘imagine’ things happening, but someone is really after you? Who would believe you?
Great scenario, executed brilliantly!
While 29-year-old Charlie, sexually totally inexperienced and most innocent at heart, is a sweetheart all the way, Takoda is very difficult to like at the beginning.
What a grumpy a*****e! His attitude is sky-scraper high, and I was very tempted to 'clip his ears' and tell him to grow up and shut his big unruly mouth on several occasions.
Well, you can probably guess that I started feeling very differently about him pretty soon. Takoda is completely thrown by Charlie’s trust and the courage with which he masters his life, and just like with his siblings, Takoda feels overwhelmingly protective of him, even though Charlie is the older one.
I thoroughly enjoyed their journey, Charlie’s firsts, Takoda’s patience (the man’s been a number 1 player up to this point) and the way the mystery turns out. Yes, I had to suspend some belief at one point, but that didn’t in any way infringe on my enjoyment.
When we leave Charlie and Takoda they are at the very beginnings of their relationship. I’d love to revisit them and see how they work out together and fare in the long run. There’s so much more to explore! (Pretty please, Ms. James!!!!)
Highly recommended.
May 22, 2024
What an intense read!
I adored sweet, troubled Charlie from the get-go. Takoda was not as likable, at least initially, but he grew on me.
My only complaint is that we got cheated out of an epilogue. I really needed a stronger ending to believe Charlie and Takoda's relationship would last.
I adored sweet, troubled Charlie from the get-go. Takoda was not as likable, at least initially, but he grew on me.
My only complaint is that we got cheated out of an epilogue. I really needed a stronger ending to believe Charlie and Takoda's relationship would last.
March 26, 2021
"It would have been easy to back away from it all. Shut down. Close my eyes and retreat. But I'd been doing that for years, and I was tired of being afraid."
This book kept me from sleeping peacefully because I just can't stop thinking about it. This book gave me AJ Finn's Woman in the Window vibes for certain parts. We have Charlie, a 29 year old man suffering from severe paranoia because of his *drumroll* dark past (I swear I feel like every character has a dark/troubled past). I mentioned the Woman in the Window because just like in that book Charlie here has a habit of people watching in his window. Every day he knows the routine of his neighbors. And then one day, he believes someone is stalking him. Do you believe him or not? The suspense/thriller aspect of this story truly gripped me.
"I couldn't explain what it was about Charlie that calmed me down when everyone else in the world seemed to rile me up."
The romance between Charlie and this police officer assigned to him, Takoda Dyani, was just top tier for me. It's a classic enemies to lovers in a slow burn setting. Character development! It was satisfying how the events changed Takoda from being this cocky and arrogant asshole to someone completely different. I wanted to smack him in the first chapters because of how dismissive he was to Charlie, calling him nasty names.
"For a fraction of a second, I envisioned destroying the look of innocence on Charlie's face. Totally sex wrecked would look good oon him. "
There are only two reasons why I'm not giving this a good 5 stars.
January 15, 2025
2,5*
Finally I finished this book. And I'm sad to say it wasn't my cup of tea despite the amazing premise.
The plot itself, the suspense was good and it kept me going, even though the first half was better. It's the romance and the characters themselves that didn't really work for me. Charlie I kind of liked, but Takoda... he's a no. He had some character development that unfortunately happened so quickly that I didn't believe it. At first I almost despised him - HOW is he a cop?? His dismissive, cruel and condescending behaviour could be triggering to anyone who's had a bad run-in with a cop... It's one thing to have a bad boy vibes, I'm all for that; it's another to be a complete asshole. And the start of their relationship... Charlie's trauma makes him vulnerable and frankly that was why Takoda liked him despite all that privilege and money that surrounds Charlie and that's just fucked up.
The writing wasn't bad at all, although a bit too cringe for my tastes. Also, I really loved the relationship between Charlie and his dad, that warmed up my heart.
Overall, this book simply wasn't for me and my pet peeves.
Finally I finished this book. And I'm sad to say it wasn't my cup of tea despite the amazing premise.
The plot itself, the suspense was good and it kept me going, even though the first half was better. It's the romance and the characters themselves that didn't really work for me. Charlie I kind of liked, but Takoda... he's a no. He had some character development that unfortunately happened so quickly that I didn't believe it. At first I almost despised him - HOW is he a cop?? His dismissive, cruel and condescending behaviour could be triggering to anyone who's had a bad run-in with a cop... It's one thing to have a bad boy vibes, I'm all for that; it's another to be a complete asshole. And the start of their relationship... Charlie's trauma makes him vulnerable and frankly that was why Takoda liked him despite all that privilege and money that surrounds Charlie and that's just fucked up.
The writing wasn't bad at all, although a bit too cringe for my tastes. Also, I really loved the relationship between Charlie and his dad, that warmed up my heart.
Overall, this book simply wasn't for me and my pet peeves.
September 27, 2023
4 Stars!! Loved it!! ❤️❤️ Was tough to read sometimes; and I hated Takoda in the beginning; but his transformation from a..hole to protective mode was quite something. Charlie’s life and coping mechanisms just broke my heart.. 💔and the mystery was quite engrossing.. 😥 But overall, I enjoyed it; both the slow burn gentle romance and the suspense. Highly recommended!! 👍🏻👍🏻
PS: I can’t understand the title of the book 🤔 Is it about the villain? Also; I keep thinking about the Katy Perry song 🤪
PS: I can’t understand the title of the book 🤔 Is it about the villain? Also; I keep thinking about the Katy Perry song 🤪
June 22, 2021
3.75 stars
I liked this, but there were also a few things that bothered me.
What I liked:
- I liked how Takoda changed from being a nasty unlikable person to someone who was patient and sweet to Charlie. At first I didn’t like him at all, but I was glad to see him change to the point where I ended up liking him.
- The romance was pretty sweet, and even though it had a rocky start, these guys were all in after that. There was no push and pull or fabricated break-up.
- Parts of the case were interesting and I wondered how it would all end.
Things I didn’t like:
- I honestly have no idea why Nicky James found it necessary to have Takoda speak made up words. Was it to showcase he was lower class? I’ve never come across this in a book before, and it threw me, since it kind of made him sound dumb instead of lower class. I mean, is there anyone who really says aks instead of ask? (repeatedly)
- The case. While I liked some parts of it, I got super annoyed when the whole thing got solved because I didn’t buy that at all.
- I know Nicky James mentions that there are no on page details about the time Charlie was held by the sex trafficking people, but I couldn’t help wondering if Charlie And just for the sake of understanding his trauma better it would have helped me if I had known what happened (even without too many details). But these guys kept skirting around this, so I never knew for sure.
So overall I did like this, but I wish some things were handled differently.
I liked this, but there were also a few things that bothered me.
What I liked:
- I liked how Takoda changed from being a nasty unlikable person to someone who was patient and sweet to Charlie. At first I didn’t like him at all, but I was glad to see him change to the point where I ended up liking him.
- The romance was pretty sweet, and even though it had a rocky start, these guys were all in after that. There was no push and pull or fabricated break-up.
- Parts of the case were interesting and I wondered how it would all end.
Things I didn’t like:
- I honestly have no idea why Nicky James found it necessary to have Takoda speak made up words. Was it to showcase he was lower class? I’ve never come across this in a book before, and it threw me, since it kind of made him sound dumb instead of lower class. I mean, is there anyone who really says aks instead of ask? (repeatedly)
- The case. While I liked some parts of it, I got super annoyed when the whole thing got solved because I didn’t buy that at all.
- I know Nicky James mentions that there are no on page details about the time Charlie was held by the sex trafficking people, but I couldn’t help wondering if Charlie And just for the sake of understanding his trauma better it would have helped me if I had known what happened (even without too many details). But these guys kept skirting around this, so I never knew for sure.
So overall I did like this, but I wish some things were handled differently.
July 7, 2021
I have to say it again. I admire the work Nicky does to write complex characters.
Charlie suffers from extreme paranoia, anxiety and OCD after what happened to him when he was a child. He has a routine to secure his home and he always struggles not to get lost in her mind. But he knows. He feels it. Someone is following him. And when he seeks help, his path crosses with Takoda, an officer with a big mouth and many prejudices, but who loves animals and machines.
I have to say, at first I didn't see these two together. I was very skeptical. Takoda hates rich people. He carried a profound hatred for people who came from wealth, had privilege, or wielded power. So when he finds out that he has to take care of Charlie (who has a lot of money), the attitude he takes towards him is awful. Basically, he is an asshole to him. A lot. And I didn't like it. But Ariana told me "keep reading" and girl, thank you. Because Takoda is more than a jerk on the surface. He is careful, understandable, and honest. He learns that being rich does not mean that you are not lost.
"Go on. Say it. Get it out of your system. The place is a fucking shithole. It’s not good enough for you. You can’t stay here because It’s a hazard to your precious health.”
"I’m a twenty-nine-year-old man who lives with his father because sometimes, when I’m having a bad day, I forget to feed myself. I’m too busy fighting dragons inside my head and deciding what spell might best subdue them. I’m so far gone sometimes, I drool on myself.” I turned to Takoda, shrugging. “So stop. You said you have cats?”
With a lot of work, he listens to Charlie's story, and then tries to do whatever he can to help him. He listening and is brutally honest with him. All Charlie asked for was a little faith in him, and Takoda gives it to him.
And oh Charlie is incredibly strong. I loved him. He was the one who kept me reading. Charlie has become one of my favorites characters of all her books. He is the most developed and I was completely absorbed by his story.
"Immobile, fingers twitching, tears filled my eyes. The fight was real, and I didn’t know how to suppress it or make it stop. I couldn’t simply enter a house and not perform my checks. It was like trying to ignore an insatiable itch."
I really enjoyed how Charlie corrects Takoda with his grammar and how Takoda tries to give Charlie some joy.
All that said, I did feel like the change from hating Charlie to wanting to protect him was a bit quick. But what I really liked the most about the story were the characters as individuales. So, Nicky had me.
He dropped his arms, his face flushed. “You’re mean.”
“You’re cute.”
“I’m trying to insult you.”
“Mean is the lamest insult ever, and I’m trying to make you smile.”
“It’s not going to work.”
“It already has.”
The mystery has a slow pace and in the end things escalate. It was really great.
Niggles: Now, I'm going to forget the ending, ok? I believe that you can help a person, but not save him. That corresponds to the person.
And what i can't FORGET is that Takoda doesn't apologize for some of the things he said to Charlie. Yeah, he ends up helping him, but man, you treated him badly at first and he didn't do anything to you, I feel like it was the vital thing that was missing before starting over. But hey, it might just be me🤷♀️
I really enjoyed it, more than I expected. Nicky does again 😉
Charlie suffers from extreme paranoia, anxiety and OCD after what happened to him when he was a child. He has a routine to secure his home and he always struggles not to get lost in her mind. But he knows. He feels it. Someone is following him. And when he seeks help, his path crosses with Takoda, an officer with a big mouth and many prejudices, but who loves animals and machines.
I have to say, at first I didn't see these two together. I was very skeptical. Takoda hates rich people. He carried a profound hatred for people who came from wealth, had privilege, or wielded power. So when he finds out that he has to take care of Charlie (who has a lot of money), the attitude he takes towards him is awful. Basically, he is an asshole to him. A lot. And I didn't like it. But Ariana told me "keep reading" and girl, thank you. Because Takoda is more than a jerk on the surface. He is careful, understandable, and honest. He learns that being rich does not mean that you are not lost.
"Go on. Say it. Get it out of your system. The place is a fucking shithole. It’s not good enough for you. You can’t stay here because It’s a hazard to your precious health.”
"I’m a twenty-nine-year-old man who lives with his father because sometimes, when I’m having a bad day, I forget to feed myself. I’m too busy fighting dragons inside my head and deciding what spell might best subdue them. I’m so far gone sometimes, I drool on myself.” I turned to Takoda, shrugging. “So stop. You said you have cats?”
With a lot of work, he listens to Charlie's story, and then tries to do whatever he can to help him. He listening and is brutally honest with him. All Charlie asked for was a little faith in him, and Takoda gives it to him.
And oh Charlie is incredibly strong. I loved him. He was the one who kept me reading. Charlie has become one of my favorites characters of all her books. He is the most developed and I was completely absorbed by his story.
"Immobile, fingers twitching, tears filled my eyes. The fight was real, and I didn’t know how to suppress it or make it stop. I couldn’t simply enter a house and not perform my checks. It was like trying to ignore an insatiable itch."
I really enjoyed how Charlie corrects Takoda with his grammar and how Takoda tries to give Charlie some joy.
All that said, I did feel like the change from hating Charlie to wanting to protect him was a bit quick. But what I really liked the most about the story were the characters as individuales. So, Nicky had me.
He dropped his arms, his face flushed. “You’re mean.”
“You’re cute.”
“I’m trying to insult you.”
“Mean is the lamest insult ever, and I’m trying to make you smile.”
“It’s not going to work.”
“It already has.”
The mystery has a slow pace and in the end things escalate. It was really great.
Niggles: Now, I'm going to forget the ending, ok? I believe that you can help a person, but not save him. That corresponds to the person.
And what i can't FORGET is that Takoda doesn't apologize for some of the things he said to Charlie. Yeah, he ends up helping him, but man, you treated him badly at first and he didn't do anything to you, I feel like it was the vital thing that was missing before starting over. But hey, it might just be me🤷♀️
I really enjoyed it, more than I expected. Nicky does again 😉
June 21, 2022
I finished this book last night, and I woke up still thinking about it. I have read another book by this author, and just chatting with other friends I know NJ writing is intense. This book is no different. The writing sucks you into the story and you feel like you are there with Charlie and feeling everything he is going through.
Charlie Falkingham suffered a horrific childhood trauma, one that he is still battling every day. He suffers from anxiety, OCD, dissociative disorders and more. He is tired of being drugged and needs to find out what exactly is going on when he feels someone is following him. It’s only when Officer Takoda Dyani is told to “babysit” him and it doesn’t take long until Takoda believes Charlie.
Even though this is more a psychological mystery, it’s also a sweet romance. I loved Charlie and Takoda together, especially their sweet and tender moments.
Highly recommend
Charlie Falkingham suffered a horrific childhood trauma, one that he is still battling every day. He suffers from anxiety, OCD, dissociative disorders and more. He is tired of being drugged and needs to find out what exactly is going on when he feels someone is following him. It’s only when Officer Takoda Dyani is told to “babysit” him and it doesn’t take long until Takoda believes Charlie.
Even though this is more a psychological mystery, it’s also a sweet romance. I loved Charlie and Takoda together, especially their sweet and tender moments.
Highly recommend
April 14, 2021
2★'s = it was ok, sort of.
Ugh. I normally jive with this author but not really this time. How do you even rate a book that comes across as judgmental against a person based on where they came from?
My main issue with this one seems to be how Takoda was portrayed in the story. It was so offensive and I can’t seem to shake the feeling. Continuously throughout the story Takoda used words incorrectly or words that don’t exist at all. Those words were then made to stand out in the story by placing them in italics. I don’t even understand why it was done. It was never addressed as a learning disability or anything like that. He acted as if he couldn't spell either. One word that sticks out to me is Pontiac. I don't know a single man or woman who doesn't know how to spell Pontiac, especially a police officer. If it was meant to be cute, it was not. Doing this throughout the whole story made him come across as less. I get that he came from “the wrong side of the tracks” but that in no way shape or form would that equal stupidity which is how he was written. That in itself is so offensive I feel ashamed. Even worse, we learn later in the book he is actually college educated. What was the point of doing this? Why did he continuously use words incorrectly or words that did not exist? Were we meant to think he wasn’t smart? It offended me in huge way and it didn’t stop there.
His home, which we are led to believe he owns which is a HUGE accomplishment, was described as a pit. A rundown, dirty pit. Why did he not take care of his home? I don’t care where your home is you can still take care of it. It is actually your responsibility to do this and you can get in trouble for not doing it. He didn’t cut his grass because he lived in a lesser income neighborhood? One he chose to live in? Is that right? You don’t have to cut your grass and your weeds can grow knee high because you had a terrible childhood and don’t like where you live? He’s a police officer for God’s sake! Police are called for things like this and he felt he didn’t have to take care of his home? His windows were gross, his whole house was described as so run down but he was proud of it? If he was proud of it he’d cut his fucking grass. I don’t understand what the point of this was either. Why would someone who didn’t take care of his home be attractive?
And lastly, at the beginning, he assaulted a civilian because he let teenagers drink at a party. He went to a house and assaulted someone. Were we supposed to be ok with this? I actually ended up liking Takoda until I just remembered that part. I think he shouldn’t be a police officer if he had other instances like that. I really don’t even know how he became a police officer with his past. I’m sorry but his childhood sounds like it was nothing but criminal activity. It’s a shame that I remembered this part. Truthfully, his anger toward people with more than him was so unjustified and ridiculous I am now starting to think maybe I didn't like him. His sister decided to prostitute herself. And his brother got drunk underage, drove and killed people. Why is this the people with more money or better situations fault? His Mom worked THREE JOBS! At 15 the sister could have gotten a job. How did he end up in college and a policeman when his sister was a prostitute and his brother in jail? I just don't know.
I’ve liked Nicky James’s other stories about mental illness and I always have tried to remind myself I’m not reading non-fiction and I’m reading a romance but for some reason I also struggled with that here.
Charlie was kidnapped at the age of 12 and I guess we are to use our worst imagination possible when understanding what happened to him in the 2 weeks he was captive. I’m thankful there wasn’t a play by play but I feel like I just never grasped what really happened and well, I just am assuming the absolute worst. From that point forward he was drugged, abandoned by his Mother and Sister and lied to about every single thought he had about anything it seems. No one around him seemed to want him better. Ever. If he struggles with something let’s drug him. It all read just a tad to terrible for me and I’m surprised he could even function let alone become a successful author. And then it was all kind of magically fixed.
I liked the actual mystery/story and I even really liked the romance between Charlie and Takoda, I wanted them to fall in love, but everything else just weighed so heavy on me I had a hard time letting myself get swept away with it. How do I even rate this when so much overshadowed the actual story? Ugh, ugh, ugh.
I might have to step back from this author for a minute. I am just not sure what she was going for here with her portrayal of Takoda but it seems like she was prejudice against him and where he came from. She could have easily made him angry due to his experience but boosted him up based on his success, she instead tore him down and made him look stupid when he was not. There is actually a speech he makes toward the end of the book that sounds like a highly educated person would have said it, not someone who uses words that don’t even exist. I just am really confused and ashamed by all of it.
Ugh. I normally jive with this author but not really this time. How do you even rate a book that comes across as judgmental against a person based on where they came from?
My main issue with this one seems to be how Takoda was portrayed in the story. It was so offensive and I can’t seem to shake the feeling. Continuously throughout the story Takoda used words incorrectly or words that don’t exist at all. Those words were then made to stand out in the story by placing them in italics. I don’t even understand why it was done. It was never addressed as a learning disability or anything like that. He acted as if he couldn't spell either. One word that sticks out to me is Pontiac. I don't know a single man or woman who doesn't know how to spell Pontiac, especially a police officer. If it was meant to be cute, it was not. Doing this throughout the whole story made him come across as less. I get that he came from “the wrong side of the tracks” but that in no way shape or form would that equal stupidity which is how he was written. That in itself is so offensive I feel ashamed. Even worse, we learn later in the book he is actually college educated. What was the point of doing this? Why did he continuously use words incorrectly or words that did not exist? Were we meant to think he wasn’t smart? It offended me in huge way and it didn’t stop there.
His home, which we are led to believe he owns which is a HUGE accomplishment, was described as a pit. A rundown, dirty pit. Why did he not take care of his home? I don’t care where your home is you can still take care of it. It is actually your responsibility to do this and you can get in trouble for not doing it. He didn’t cut his grass because he lived in a lesser income neighborhood? One he chose to live in? Is that right? You don’t have to cut your grass and your weeds can grow knee high because you had a terrible childhood and don’t like where you live? He’s a police officer for God’s sake! Police are called for things like this and he felt he didn’t have to take care of his home? His windows were gross, his whole house was described as so run down but he was proud of it? If he was proud of it he’d cut his fucking grass. I don’t understand what the point of this was either. Why would someone who didn’t take care of his home be attractive?
And lastly, at the beginning, he assaulted a civilian because he let teenagers drink at a party. He went to a house and assaulted someone. Were we supposed to be ok with this? I actually ended up liking Takoda until I just remembered that part. I think he shouldn’t be a police officer if he had other instances like that. I really don’t even know how he became a police officer with his past. I’m sorry but his childhood sounds like it was nothing but criminal activity. It’s a shame that I remembered this part. Truthfully, his anger toward people with more than him was so unjustified and ridiculous I am now starting to think maybe I didn't like him. His sister decided to prostitute herself. And his brother got drunk underage, drove and killed people. Why is this the people with more money or better situations fault? His Mom worked THREE JOBS! At 15 the sister could have gotten a job. How did he end up in college and a policeman when his sister was a prostitute and his brother in jail? I just don't know.
I’ve liked Nicky James’s other stories about mental illness and I always have tried to remind myself I’m not reading non-fiction and I’m reading a romance but for some reason I also struggled with that here.
Charlie was kidnapped at the age of 12 and I guess we are to use our worst imagination possible when understanding what happened to him in the 2 weeks he was captive. I’m thankful there wasn’t a play by play but I feel like I just never grasped what really happened and well, I just am assuming the absolute worst. From that point forward he was drugged, abandoned by his Mother and Sister and lied to about every single thought he had about anything it seems. No one around him seemed to want him better. Ever. If he struggles with something let’s drug him. It all read just a tad to terrible for me and I’m surprised he could even function let alone become a successful author. And then it was all kind of magically fixed.
I liked the actual mystery/story and I even really liked the romance between Charlie and Takoda, I wanted them to fall in love, but everything else just weighed so heavy on me I had a hard time letting myself get swept away with it. How do I even rate this when so much overshadowed the actual story? Ugh, ugh, ugh.
I might have to step back from this author for a minute. I am just not sure what she was going for here with her portrayal of Takoda but it seems like she was prejudice against him and where he came from. She could have easily made him angry due to his experience but boosted him up based on his success, she instead tore him down and made him look stupid when he was not. There is actually a speech he makes toward the end of the book that sounds like a highly educated person would have said it, not someone who uses words that don’t even exist. I just am really confused and ashamed by all of it.
January 9, 2022
4.5 stars
Let's start with the fact that Nick Russo absolutely NAILED this narration. He almost always does, so it's not a surprise!
The emotions, the inflections, the different voices he used. Absolutely nailed this!
As for the book.
God, I absolutely loved this book to pieces. It was pretty darn close to perfect.
1. Fragile, Vulnrable Charlie, a child sex trafficking survivor, racked with mental health issues, from paranoia and anxiety to OCD and disassociation. He's been living in fear since his abduction and retreats inside his mind and his literary world to escape.
2. Brash Takoda, with a chip on his shoulder was tasked to babysit Charlie and listen to his paranoid delusions. After a rocky start, Takoda sees beneath all the anxiety and discovers the real Charlie.
3. The Romance: It blossoms slowly, due to both the MCs' misconceptions and history. It was beautiful to see how it all unfurled. Charlie was SO CUTE correcting Takoda's grammar and vocab. And how Takoda jusy melts for him and takes care of him? Gahh so sweet.
4. The Plot: Going hand in hand with the romance, it also develops slowly. I loved that nothing felt too rushed in this book.
5. The Steam: Low steam for obvious reasons but it didn't lack in emotions and imtimacy.
6. The HEA: It was sweet and tender.
Now the half star that I shaved of?
I wanted to see more of them after everything settled. Them dating, us experiencing Charlie's firsts and how he and Takoda navigates them. A kind of future that the book didn't tackle.
Other than that? Loved every minute of it.
Let's start with the fact that Nick Russo absolutely NAILED this narration. He almost always does, so it's not a surprise!
The emotions, the inflections, the different voices he used. Absolutely nailed this!
As for the book.
God, I absolutely loved this book to pieces. It was pretty darn close to perfect.
1. Fragile, Vulnrable Charlie, a child sex trafficking survivor, racked with mental health issues, from paranoia and anxiety to OCD and disassociation. He's been living in fear since his abduction and retreats inside his mind and his literary world to escape.
2. Brash Takoda, with a chip on his shoulder was tasked to babysit Charlie and listen to his paranoid delusions. After a rocky start, Takoda sees beneath all the anxiety and discovers the real Charlie.
3. The Romance: It blossoms slowly, due to both the MCs' misconceptions and history. It was beautiful to see how it all unfurled. Charlie was SO CUTE correcting Takoda's grammar and vocab. And how Takoda jusy melts for him and takes care of him? Gahh so sweet.
4. The Plot: Going hand in hand with the romance, it also develops slowly. I loved that nothing felt too rushed in this book.
5. The Steam: Low steam for obvious reasons but it didn't lack in emotions and imtimacy.
6. The HEA: It was sweet and tender.
Now the half star that I shaved of?
I wanted to see more of them after everything settled. Them dating, us experiencing Charlie's firsts and how he and Takoda navigates them. A kind of future that the book didn't tackle.
Other than that? Loved every minute of it.
October 13, 2021
Charlie is a sweet little cherub and I WOULD DIE FOR HIM
August 20, 2024
This was REALLY good. 4.5 stars- RTC!
April 11, 2021
｡⋆ ☂˚｡⋆ 4.25 Stars ⋆｡˚☁˚｡
*× ɪɴᴛʀᴏ ○*
NICKY JAMES is an author I need to give more love to, seriously, I always end up. . . not underestimating her stories, but I definitely always underestimated how invested I get once I start reading them. This happened when I basically binge read her Trails of Fear series. You'd think I'd have learnt my lesson. . . HA, I did not, hence why I shelved this book in my newly coined "read-instead-of-being-productive" shelf. I believe I was supposed to be writing some paper or other, INSTEAD I power read The One That Got Away .
This book perfectly blended the suspense and romance, while also greatly developing its main characters. In addition, NICKY JAMES gave a lot of nuance, and heart to both Takoda and Charlie.
*× ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴏᴛ ○*
Charlie Falkingham and Officer Takoda Dyani meet under less than ideal circumstances. Charlie has a lot of psychological issues after being kidnapped at age 12. The horrendous incident has stuck with him and left him pre-disposed to extreme paranoia. That's why when he goes to the police station to report a suspicious car no one believes him. Takoda is a young cop with an enormous chip on his shoulder. He's holding on to his job be the skin of his teeth, and when he's assigned Charlie's case it's clear that its his last chance. At first glance these two men do not mesh at all, but as the walls come down they find themselves drawn to one another. However, there's still the matter of the car that's supposedly following Charlie. . .
*× ᴏᴠᴇʀᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ○*
✅ THE STORY // PLOT was extremely engaging. One of the reasons I didn't check out this book right away is because I'm not the biggest fan of romantic-suspense. Not knowing the horrors and bad stuff that are going to befall the characters makes me nervous. I end up spending the whole book waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop. That's why I prefer, if there is going to be doom and gloom, that it happen AT THE BEGINNING of the story. However, with THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY that feeling was largely absent. That was partially because things were pretty predictable, but also because I just wanted the things Charlie was seeing to be true. Overall, the story expertly balanced the more suspenseful aspects of the story *cough* Charlie hiding in that chest *cough* with the more romantic moments.
✅ THE ROMANCE REALLY WORKED (for the most part). All in all, I was extremely invested in Takoda and Charlie as a couple. I loved how when both men met there was. . . definitely no love lost. Overtime however, they started to rethink their respective first impressions. I greatly enjoyed the camaraderie and friendship that they developed first. This romance was born out of understanding and patience. Both men made an effort to really be patient and understand where the other was coming from. They also had some pretty cute banter which as you all know, i'm a total sucker for.
🆗 EVERYONE WHO WASN'T TAKODA was portrayed. . . weird. Everyone around Charlie had been dealing with his extreme paranoia for many years. Now, I don't condone how everyone lied to him, BUT, but, if it was the only way to calm him down and actually allow him to live his life I can understand why certain characters did what they did. That being said, DEAR LORD, almost everyone who wasn't Takoda or Charlie's dad was made to look like a soulless monster. I think I would've liked a bit more background in what Charlie was like directly following his accident. We're told that he kinda slips into his own imaginary world, but we never really get to see how badly his paranoia can be. Which, speaking of. . .
❌ MAGICALLY CURING DICK SYNDROME was definitely present in this story. Now, I don't want to discount the real and genuine connection both Takoda and Charlie had, because their love felt very real. BUT, that being said, WOW, did Charlie's mental illness get magically cured within .5 seconds of meeting Takoda. For example, Charlie gets overwhelmed really easily, especially when talking about his past. When this happens he basically shuts down and goes into his own mind to escape. Allegedly, it's really hard to snap him out of it. . . BUT NOT FOR TAKODA. Magically, Takoda can pull Charlie out of his anxiety attack after knowing him for less than a minute. Or take Charlie's paranoia. It wasn't very consistent. In the beginning of the book we see him obsessively looking out his window and witness him become very fixated on the car following. We're told through other characters that this is a common occurrence. However, once he starts hanging out with Takoda it just. . . disappears. I guess my main gripe with the dynamic between Charlie and Takoda was the way in which Charlie suddenly just seemed. . . fine. It didn't really ring true. Maybe if we got a deeper explanation into what Charlie was like on a day to day basis his sudden turn around would've seemed less. . . miraculous?
✅ CHARLIE WAS SUCH A SWEETHEART and probably my favorite character. Despite, some of my qualms about how his issues were handled, overall, I'd say that Charlie was my favorite character. While I liked Takoda there was just something extremely endearing about Charlie. He had both this air of innocence and yet this incredible inner strength. Watching him prove to everyone else just how strong he was was amazing. In addition, I so loved the relationship between him and his dad. This father son duo was perfect and the love they had for each other hit me right in the feels. Ultimately, I'd say that THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY is Charlie's story. This is the story of Charlie gaining confidence in himself, finally being ready to face the truth of his horrific past, and Charlie realizing the immense strength he carries within himself.
*× ɪɴ ᴄᴏɴᴄʟᴜsɪᴏɴ ○*
Overall, I highly recommend THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY . It expertly balances the suspense and romance, while also taking the time to dig deep into its main characters. The suspense really drives the story forward and the sweet moments between Takoda and Charlie allows a hint of light in the dark. While I did have a few minor issues *cough* magical curing dick syndrome *cough* it didn't greatly hamper my enjoyment of the story. If you're a fan of NICKY JAMES or want to check out her work then I highly recommend this book.
➽ ᴀ ʙʀᴇɪғ ᴘsᴀ - this is the second book in my read-instead-of-being-productive series. was it worth it? i'm going to go with Y-E-S. i have yet to find a Nicky James book that i regret reading. also i'm going to attempt to keep this review short & sweet ʅ(°ヮ°)ʃ
*× ɪɴᴛʀᴏ ○*
NICKY JAMES is an author I need to give more love to, seriously, I always end up. . . not underestimating her stories, but I definitely always underestimated how invested I get once I start reading them. This happened when I basically binge read her Trails of Fear series. You'd think I'd have learnt my lesson. . . HA, I did not, hence why I shelved this book in my newly coined "read-instead-of-being-productive" shelf. I believe I was supposed to be writing some paper or other, INSTEAD I power read The One That Got Away .
This book perfectly blended the suspense and romance, while also greatly developing its main characters. In addition, NICKY JAMES gave a lot of nuance, and heart to both Takoda and Charlie.
*× ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴏᴛ ○*
Charlie Falkingham and Officer Takoda Dyani meet under less than ideal circumstances. Charlie has a lot of psychological issues after being kidnapped at age 12. The horrendous incident has stuck with him and left him pre-disposed to extreme paranoia. That's why when he goes to the police station to report a suspicious car no one believes him. Takoda is a young cop with an enormous chip on his shoulder. He's holding on to his job be the skin of his teeth, and when he's assigned Charlie's case it's clear that its his last chance. At first glance these two men do not mesh at all, but as the walls come down they find themselves drawn to one another. However, there's still the matter of the car that's supposedly following Charlie. . .
*× ᴏᴠᴇʀᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ○*
✅ THE STORY // PLOT was extremely engaging. One of the reasons I didn't check out this book right away is because I'm not the biggest fan of romantic-suspense. Not knowing the horrors and bad stuff that are going to befall the characters makes me nervous. I end up spending the whole book waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop. That's why I prefer, if there is going to be doom and gloom, that it happen AT THE BEGINNING of the story. However, with THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY that feeling was largely absent. That was partially because things were pretty predictable, but also because I just wanted the things Charlie was seeing to be true. Overall, the story expertly balanced the more suspenseful aspects of the story *cough* Charlie hiding in that chest *cough* with the more romantic moments.
✅ THE ROMANCE REALLY WORKED (for the most part). All in all, I was extremely invested in Takoda and Charlie as a couple. I loved how when both men met there was. . . definitely no love lost. Overtime however, they started to rethink their respective first impressions. I greatly enjoyed the camaraderie and friendship that they developed first. This romance was born out of understanding and patience. Both men made an effort to really be patient and understand where the other was coming from. They also had some pretty cute banter which as you all know, i'm a total sucker for.
🆗 EVERYONE WHO WASN'T TAKODA was portrayed. . . weird. Everyone around Charlie had been dealing with his extreme paranoia for many years. Now, I don't condone how everyone lied to him, BUT, but, if it was the only way to calm him down and actually allow him to live his life I can understand why certain characters did what they did. That being said, DEAR LORD, almost everyone who wasn't Takoda or Charlie's dad was made to look like a soulless monster. I think I would've liked a bit more background in what Charlie was like directly following his accident. We're told that he kinda slips into his own imaginary world, but we never really get to see how badly his paranoia can be. Which, speaking of. . .
❌ MAGICALLY CURING DICK SYNDROME was definitely present in this story. Now, I don't want to discount the real and genuine connection both Takoda and Charlie had, because their love felt very real. BUT, that being said, WOW, did Charlie's mental illness get magically cured within .5 seconds of meeting Takoda. For example, Charlie gets overwhelmed really easily, especially when talking about his past. When this happens he basically shuts down and goes into his own mind to escape. Allegedly, it's really hard to snap him out of it. . . BUT NOT FOR TAKODA. Magically, Takoda can pull Charlie out of his anxiety attack after knowing him for less than a minute. Or take Charlie's paranoia. It wasn't very consistent. In the beginning of the book we see him obsessively looking out his window and witness him become very fixated on the car following. We're told through other characters that this is a common occurrence. However, once he starts hanging out with Takoda it just. . . disappears. I guess my main gripe with the dynamic between Charlie and Takoda was the way in which Charlie suddenly just seemed. . . fine. It didn't really ring true. Maybe if we got a deeper explanation into what Charlie was like on a day to day basis his sudden turn around would've seemed less. . . miraculous?
✅ CHARLIE WAS SUCH A SWEETHEART and probably my favorite character. Despite, some of my qualms about how his issues were handled, overall, I'd say that Charlie was my favorite character. While I liked Takoda there was just something extremely endearing about Charlie. He had both this air of innocence and yet this incredible inner strength. Watching him prove to everyone else just how strong he was was amazing. In addition, I so loved the relationship between him and his dad. This father son duo was perfect and the love they had for each other hit me right in the feels. Ultimately, I'd say that THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY is Charlie's story. This is the story of Charlie gaining confidence in himself, finally being ready to face the truth of his horrific past, and Charlie realizing the immense strength he carries within himself.
*× ɪɴ ᴄᴏɴᴄʟᴜsɪᴏɴ ○*
Overall, I highly recommend THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY . It expertly balances the suspense and romance, while also taking the time to dig deep into its main characters. The suspense really drives the story forward and the sweet moments between Takoda and Charlie allows a hint of light in the dark. While I did have a few minor issues *cough* magical curing dick syndrome *cough* it didn't greatly hamper my enjoyment of the story. If you're a fan of NICKY JAMES or want to check out her work then I highly recommend this book.
January 12, 2022
This should be one of the author's most popular books, I don't know why it's not getting more attention.
Turned out to be one of my favorites.
It's not super-high on angst. On a scale of 1 to Nicky James, it's somewhere in the middle.
I expected some really dark stuff, but thanks to Takoda's character, and to the fact that the past abuse was not on page, it was enjoyable, without having to worry about any triggers.
I'm not gonna repeat the blurb, Takoda was a refreshing character to read about, gave me some LOL moments.
I loved the relationship development, slow and cautious. Low-steam read.
Some of their interactions were more superficial, but given what Charlie went through, he needed that lightness.
4.5 stars
Turned out to be one of my favorites.
It's not super-high on angst. On a scale of 1 to Nicky James, it's somewhere in the middle.
I expected some really dark stuff, but thanks to Takoda's character, and to the fact that the past abuse was not on page, it was enjoyable, without having to worry about any triggers.
I'm not gonna repeat the blurb, Takoda was a refreshing character to read about, gave me some LOL moments.
I loved the relationship development, slow and cautious. Low-steam read.
Some of their interactions were more superficial, but given what Charlie went through, he needed that lightness.
4.5 stars
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