Aria’s dream was to be a professional gymnast, and if it hadn’t been for a freak accident a couple of years ago, she would’ve been. Now she teaches little girls at the local dance studio, working two jobs to help her parents pay the medical debt from her accident. Life at home is horrible, and her stepfather does everything he can to remind her of the mistake she is. She wonders if she’ll ever escape this life?
Then she meets him… Knox Hale isn’t a hero. He’s the monster from your nightmares. When a beautiful young woman comes to him needing help, he finds it hard to say no to her.
That is, until she offers herself as payment, and suddenly, the idea of keeping the shy, quiet, sexy woman might be worth it.
Darcy Rose is a USA Today Bestselling author who writes about shy and innocent heroines, to match them up with dark and intense heroes who have only eyes for one girl.
If you like your books short, taboo, dark, and a bit (or a lot) kinky, then Darcy Rose is perfect for you.
The next story and this one is alil darker from the other books.
Aria had it all until it was taken from her a simple accident now has her being mental and physical abused by her mom and step-father who just put her though the ringer. And poor girl is being starved.. but she sees a opportunity in her site what's better then beating a abuser get someone to help you and that's where Knox comes in. She tries to ask him after she meets him but he was alil rude and blows her off.. until Knox follows her and boy Knox is confused and in wonder why she asked for his help. When he does see why he acts fast and has his girl out of that place. There some ups and downs and more drama.. but they get though it.
Low Angst,no ow/om drama, no cheating, Drama, secondary charas, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-maybe Cover-⭐⭐⭐ Heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Instalove Abuse mental and physical Humiliated Violence (also H hits a woman not the h) Starvation (h from her parents) No condom Hea Epilogue
i picked this up simply because it is about an ex-gymnast. she is college bound and suffers a crazy injury: “I did a backflip. When I came down, my footing was off. I landed hard, tore my ACL, and fractured my spine.” … a BACKFLIP did that? i’m not saying it’s not possible. but why not something more impressive like a double back tuck? a back whip? a full? instead we got a BACKFLIP LMAO that is not even what a gymnast would call it. backflip is more like a category, not a specific skill. ANYYWAAYYY!
the actual book was good, not great. it’s short so it’s a nice quick read. our mmc, knox, is a part of “the family”. our fmc, aria, has a terrible home life filled with abuse. that is, of course, until knox saves her.
“Tell me where the fuck she is, or I’ll slit your throat and finger the fucking hole until the blood stops pumping.”
OH- 😧
“I’m either a degenerate sex maniac or a hopeless romantic.”
Love how each book in this series is getting a little darker. Each story adds to the depth of the Hale organization. And with this one we got to glimpse behind the curtain and see some of the depravity play out.
Knox was merely mentioned in the last book, Their Ballerina, and now we get to see why he’s the last resort when interrogating suspects. A mere look into the man vacant eyes will leave you pondering all the wrongs you’ve committed, for staring at him is to stare death in the face.
Meanwhile Aria is merely a girl who’s dreams were shattered at seventeen. Reading this thought of hers is enough to break your heart for the struggles she’s enduring.
Having met what felt like her breaking point, Aria does the only thing she can, she asks for help. Knox isn’t the most approachable, heck he’s the scariest of the bunch, yet his soul calls to Aria. His response to her whispered plea for help doesn’t go as expected. Instead of saying yes, he chooses to watch her from the sidelines. He can’t understand why a wholesome, innocent girl like her would need a killer like him. That is until he witnesses first hand the abuse her parent inflict.
Knox is reminiscent of my favorite heroes from JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood. He cherishes and spoils his woman. Carrying her so she doesn’t have to walk. Drawing her baths and washing her clean simply because he wanted to be the one to pamper her. Feeding her by hand before feeding himself. The man is a contradiction in all the best ways.
But the most satisfying thing of all is the moment Ari’s parents get all the vengeance they’re due. Knox doesn’t disappoint.
🔥 instalove mafia romance 🔥 all the alpha goodness 😍 🔥 there’s a 🍆 piercing!! 🔥 hot public claiming by H 🔥 attempted noncon by villain 🔥 no cheating
This started out promising but got eyerolly real quick. The homicidal “monster” hero turned into a complete cream puff, feeding the h prosciutto and figs and being a stickler for consent and hiding a heart of gold💀… and the “shy and innocent h” was nothing of the sort, unless you consider “not ever having a pierced dick inside her” “innocent” or going down on the H like a pro with no coercion at all, before they’d even shared a kiss or much of a conversation. But I guess toMAto, toMAHto? 🤣🤣.
Anyway, this was a bit too insta and not enough angst for me. I liked the Cinderella-y set up, even if it was a bit OTT, with the pissing in buckets in the basement, because she’s not allowed to use the toilet at her house. 🙄 (but of course she IS allowed to shower, because we wouldn’t want the h to be dirty and slovenly for the H 🙃 - make it make sense) There’s a lot about her described nightmare of a home life that doesn’t stand up to much analysis, so you’ll need to suspend your disbelief to make it through.
Anyway… I didn’t hate this but I didn’t love it either. I need more grit with my reads, and not just gratuitous violence and outside drama.
Genre: Contemporary Romance Type: Standalone novella #3 of Dance for Me POV: First person - dual Rating: 4.25 Stars
A desperate situation forced Aria to take desperate measures. When she crossed paths with the notorious Knox Hale, she seized the opportunity to ask for help. But involving him might have created even bigger problems.
I liked how Aria took initiative and was willing to take risks to escape her situation. Knox was possessive and protective, but I’m not a fan of dark characters who change dramatically for their partner.
This book turned out to be more than expected. For a novella, it had enough depth and intrigue to keep my interest.
His Gymnast is a story of transformation. It would appeal to readers who enjoy a quick romance with a touch of darkness.
For more reviews/interviews/book talk/promo visit:
An enjoyable novella featuring Aria, a former star gymnast whose trajectory ended due to injury, and Knox, a guy not so on the up and up. An impromptu meeting at a restaurant, one of Aria’s three jobs, leads to her asking him for protection, safety from her abusive stepfather and caustic mother and the toils and mistreatment at home.
Drama, thrill, and character appeal were skillfully developed into this story making it vivid and compelling even while it was shorter. Additionally character development was good as to build drama and authenticity into the relationships, not to mention the steam so characteristic of Darcy Rose. I loved the faster pace that didn’t feel rushed as well as the gritty and rough around edges romance of the main characters. Aria was sweet but steely — she comes into her own — and Knox was the dominating bad boy with a soft spot for his girl.
Great read and I would love to read more in this world.
Aria (FMC) has a difficult life in this book when her dreams of becoming a professional gymnast fall through after she has a life changing accident. Living with an abusive stepfather, an uncaring and unfeeling mother and having to juggle multiple jobs. Aria & Knox's world collide when Aria needs his help. Yes Knox is a dangerous character but there is a genuine sweetness with his relationship with Aria. Which i liked. Dark and Steamy. A good read that i enjoyed reading
Aria and Knox's story was a little darker in terms of torture and massacre compared to the previous two books in the series. It was nice little story, that packed some steam. Overall a pleasant continuation of the Hale brothers stories.
Honestly I loved the idea but the execution was lacking. This would’ve killed if it wasn’t a novella (and I love novellas) but it was just not doing it for me sorry.
Aria life has been a living nightmare ever since her gymnastics dream ended in tragedy while in high school. Now her abusive stepfather and mother treat her as if she is a burden who they take great pleasure in physically and verbally abusing. She works two jobs to repay them for the mounting medical bills from her accident which they take everything. When she sees Knox Hale sitting at the table where she is the waitress she isn't afraid of him actually she is drawn to him. Everybody knows who he is and that his family is mafia. She has an idea maybe he can help her possibly protect her from her stepfather. She gets the nerve to finally ask but later recants but he is drawn to her so he decides to follow her to see what she needs protection from. He doesn't like what he sees and their storyline gets dark, dangerous, intense, emotional as well as a passionate as their journey turns to romance and love. It was a great addition to the other book in the series. Their chemistry was off the charts and I loved that she saw past what people thought and saw what was inside of him.
I received a free ARC from the author through Bookfunnel an I'm voluntarily leaving my review.
2.5 Stars. This was interesting and entertaining but it was too short for the full impact to be realized. This should have been a much more intense read but for all the activities and violence encountered, I never felt that level of tension that brings a story up a level. This needed a lot more pages tomake it the book it could have been. I was also a bit disappointed not to see how the twins reacted to Knox finding himself a woman.
The first sex scene was very unappealing because we only get Aria's POV before she has sex with Knox and she's feeling coerced and trapped but from Knox's perspective she wanted it and we have no reconciling information from Aria. I'm onboard for dubcon but this didn't feel like that was the intent of the scene. It felt off and unsexy to me.
I hate when a lead female character has no self-respect. And I blame the author for having this style of writing 🤮 And I've read plenty of arrogant men... but these books take the cake!! 🙄
Another disappointment 😞
**Humiliation **Struggling starved Female lead **Abusive parents
“ He’s mine—and lucky for me, I’m his. For always. Now, the future looks brighter than ever before. “
Finally, for the first time so far in this series, this novella actually felt like a novella worth reading.
The first two books in this series were meh. I felt little to no connection in them (even though i know all books in this series are novellas) and I felt as though the men were simply using the girls for their own pleasure. The “love” they claimed they had for their girls did not feel like it was actually there - until Knox came into the picture
For a novella, this was a quick and easy read. Knox and Aria were cute together and I loved the things he did for her - especially at the end. It shows how much he paid attention to her, the things she’s done, etc and I find value in the little things.
Knox and Aria’s relationship had minimal spice and was more focused on the actual “bonding” they made (as much bonding as a novella can have - aka not much) which was a decent change in my eyes.
All in all, I recommend reading this novella/book series if you’re looking for some quick, somewhat interconnected, reads to add toward your reading goal
Aria's life is a nightmare, haunted by the tragic end of her gymnastics dream and the abuse of her stepfather and mother. Working two jobs to pay off medical bills, she crosses paths with Knox Hale, a member of a mafia family. Despite his reputation, she sees him as a potential protector. Their journey unfolds into a dark, intense, and emotional romance, marked by undeniable chemistry and Aria's ability to see beyond Knox's facade. It's a compelling addition to the series, delving into themes of love, danger, and redemption. Aria and Knox's story takes a darker turn with elements of torture and massacre, contrasting with the previous two books in the series. Nevertheless, it provides a satisfying continuation of the Hale brothers' narratives. Aria's character is captivating at times; she displays moments of bravery and determination, knowing what she wants and seeking Knox's help, yet also wavering on whether she truly needs his protection, which can be a bit frustrating. However, given her history of abuse at home, her hesitance is understandable, making those parts particularly difficult to read for me. The relationship between Aria and Knox develops rapidly, even though she initially believes she owes him a favour, and their story concludes on a sweet note. The unexpected twist involving Aria's family adds depth to the plot. I definitely recommend reading this book, while it's not necessary to read the first two books in the series beforehand, each can be enjoyed independently. The series overall offers diverse and engaging stories with plenty of spicy moments, each with its own unique appeal. I'm curious to see what unfolds in future instalments of the series. This is a short series with easily digestible books that are enticing and enjoyable to read.
His Gymnast is the third installment in the Dance For Me series. It was heartwrenching, emotional, and riveting. It's beautifully crafted with intriguing characters and an excellent plotline Darcy Rose and BL Mute pulls the readers in from the first page with nonstop intensity. His Gymnast is riddled with verbal, physical, mental, and emotional abuse and a daily basis honestly it reminds me of A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer. Aria Young was once a gifted gymnast with a scholarship to the Georgia University for gymnastics. However, she suffered a horrific accident during her junior year of high school during a floor exercise for nationals while doing a backflip. When she came down her footing was off and she landed hard causing her to tore her ACL and fractured her spine. She had to undergo a lot of surgery and physical therapy in order to walk again. After her accident and scholarship went away everything in her home life changed. She went from a normal teenager to being treated inhumane and like a second class citizen in her own home by her mom and her stepfather Dale. Aria had to work two jobs to repay her stepfather and mother for all the hospital bills that they paid for her after the accident. She was led to believe daily that it was her fault. Aria can't dance anymore so she teach at a dance studio. She's also a waitress at Rigatoni restaurant. But her parents takes all her money from both jobs towards payment. Aria lives in a nice three bedroom two bathroom home but she's no longer allowed the luxury to in a bedroom instead she sleeps in the cold dark basement on a cot and pee in a bucket. She also has to clean up the house even though she doesn't live in there and doesn't make the mess. She's humiliated, degraded and beaten by her stepfather daily while her mom watches and snickered. She's not allowed to eat at the house even though they take all her money. Aria is mentally, physically, and emotionally broken she's at her wits end and she knows that one day her stepfather will go too far and she may not make it out alive. The Hale brothers are well known in town feared. They're a family of killers. When Kane, Cash and Knox came into to the restaurant Aria was the waitress for their table. Knox was captivated by Aria he couldn't take his eyes off her. Aria was drawn to him although there was this coldness about him she could not take her eyes off him and she was not afraid of him. Aria is beautiful and curvy with long wavy hair. Knox is cold, dark, calculated and twisted all tatted, gorgeous with dark eyes. Aria heard the rumors and knows what he's capable of then the of him protecting her came to. She knows that Dale is a monster and it's going to take another monster monster, one who's bigger than he is because she's living on borrowed time. She believes that she may have found the perfect candidate. Aria muster up the courage and chase after Knox outside to proposition he was a little rough at but when he saw bruise on her hand he was livid because he doesn't like when women is abuse. She asked him if he could provide protection for her. He ask her if she thinks that's what is family does take money to hurt people. He told him that she doesn't have any money she just need someone to protect her. He told her that he would think about it and walk away. But he dropped off his brothers and waited until she got off and followed her home to check things out unnoticed. He would follow her days watching her routine because by then he was obsessed with her. When Knox witnessed the abusing Dale Aria he kicked the door down beating him to a inch of his life taking her saving her from that situation. His Gymnast was filled with violence, torture, steam, action packed, intimidation, kidnapping, hatred, danger, attempted rape, rough sex, healing, love, humiliation, passion, drama, surprises, physical, emotional, and mental abuse. I can not wait for the next brother in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I am voluntarily reviewing an advanced reader copy of this book.
Aria had dreams of being a world class gymnast, in reality it was all that she had ever known. So when her routine went wrong and her landing was off she was left with her dreams in shatters and years of surgery and therapy in front of her. Her life from that day on could not have been more different here once loving mother and stepfather now has nothing but bitterness and hatred spewed at her daily and the beatings that she has received from them know no bounds. Her feeling of worthlessness only increases daily when she is forced to hand over all her wages from all three jobs to pay off the medical debts she has been made to feel responsible for, just when she thought that things couldn’t get any worse she is sent to live in the basement with no food. Her heart is no longer just bruised its dying that is until Knox Hale walks into the restaurant where she works, everyone knows of the Hale Family and especially Knox’s reputation. Does she dare to ask this man they call a monster for help and if he agrees will she be able to bare the cost?
Knox Hale is well aware of his reputation and has earned every single part of it, people call him a monster, he is only ever called in when all else has failed and they have one chance to tell Knox what the family want to know before he introduces them to death himself. He has thought of himself as broken for many years, he enjoys the job of death and women are only for physical relief before they are not so politely asked to leave so after his latest kill with his two twin brothers he finds himself at their favourite Italian restaurant where he catches the eye of the server. Unlike everyone else she looks him in the eye and doesn’t back down, no fear in her eyes or her body and he is curious in a way that he has never been before, so when she asks him for help he knows he needs to know more and what he discovers changes everything he never knew could or ever would. Suddenly he is feeling more than just nothing and even believes that he could have found something special but just when all is going better than he has ever had before it looks like he could lose the one thing that has ever made him happy. Will Knox be able to save Aria and have a love he never knew existed or will the choice be taken from him?
Where do I start with this book, well here is where I tell you that I loved everything about this book, don’t get me wrong there are some brutal descriptions that may make you uncomfortable to read but seriously I knew from page one that I was invested in Knox and Aria’s journey and sleep wasn’t an option until I was done. This is a trigger happy book for a lot of readers out there but I would say it was the best book I’ve read in a long time and why am I only just learning of these authors and this series??? Highly recommended ***** SuperNova stars. I just need to read the previous books in the series.
Style: Dark Romance Story: 3.5/5 Enjoyment: 4/5 Dark Level: 2/5 Sexual Level: GOOD Triggers: Yes Violence: Yes Male: Intense & Stoic Series: Book 3 Pages: loc. 1292 Audio: N/A Kindle Unlimited: Yes
STORY I really like Knox’s story. What pull me in was the build up and anticipation of both Knox and Aria. It created a buzz within me saying excitement (weird, yes, because it has dark contents). Aria comes from a broken home of abuse, and she was desperate enough to ask for help from a well known crime family member. Knox is very stoic and he is intense. I love that all the books so far in the series follows dancers of sorts with some brokenness as they all get picked off by these brothers in this crime family. For a quick read/insta love mix with dark content, I was satisfied.
SEXUAL CHEMISTRY: So the sex scenes were ok to good. I know it’s a short read, but wanted a little bit more with that.
SECONDARY CHARACTERS We got to see the twins for a bit, Kane and Cash. We also have a few scenes with Ace, the oldest brother. I’m a little excited about his story.
OVERALL A quick read with some dark content that satisfies my thirst.
✰✰TRIGGERS: Aria home’s situation, attempted rape and violence
****I don’t equate these stories to real life. It’s about personal taste and what you would or want to tolerate with the books you read. I know we all have different opinions and preferences with what we read. I based my book reviews on my preferences and what I like, and while these preferences may not be the same for others, I hope this review was still helpful.
The addition starts with the book cover….yeah…yeah…yeah don’t judge a book by its cover they say ….well we all do it and this one here it is the scratch to your itch or better yet the filling to your oreos! Speaking of filling…..wait, that’s for later. Within the first chapters you get the panoramic view of whom you’re dealing with! This is book is part of the Dance For Me series why just read one when you can start at the beginning and keep reading through the series it won’t be a waste of time. Aria sweet, a dancer that got hurt in an accident ending her gymnastics dream and being physically and verbally abused by her mom and stepfather needing help to deal with the whole situation. Working two jobs to try and pay for the medical bills she feels or made to feel is her fault but how is the question when she was in high school but needless to say she is overworked, abused and tired. Sexy as all get out Knox is in her restaurant when there is a pull towards him afraid to approach him because his family is mafia but she needs help by way of protection from her stepfather but she is so nervous she chickens out on asking for help but he follows her and what he sees set on him fire and will protect her but will it be enough, what happened to make her parents so abusive, will he take care of the problem and can they find happiness?
Aria is in a bad situation. After suffering a career ending gymnastics injury, she has become indebted to her mother and stepfather. They are truly evil people who hold her debt over her head and abuse her. Her only escape is when she gets to go to work with young gymnastics students. Now she can only teach since the injury keeps her from ever competing again.
Knox is one of the Hale Brothers (His Ballerina & Their Ballerina). Everyone knows the Hale Brothers and how they tend to work outside the law. People fear them and for good reason. Aria gets the idea that maybe Knox could help her get out of the situation she's in because he's meaner and tougher than the monsters she deals with everyday. Will she be brave enough to give him what he wants in return?
I love this author and throughly enjoyed this book. Can't wait for the next book to come out. Any book by Darcy Rose, I will instantly get it. I don't even read the descriptions, I just get the book because I know I'll love it. This is a dark romance with triggers, action, heat and an HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Aria was a gymnastics teacher. She was on her way home after another busy day to the home where she lives with mom and step-dad. It may be a two story house in a nice neighborhood with three bedrooms and two baths, but she is forced to live in the basement with a hard cot and a bucket for a toilet.
She had been happy when her mother had remarried when Aria was a teenager, but that all changed when an injury took away her chances of being a professional gymnast. She now worked three jobs, but she doesn't see a cent of this as her stepfather gets it all.
And now she gets home to find out that she is no longer allowed to eat at home. How is she supposed to eat before arriving home when they take every penny that she earns. When he grabs her hair and throws her down the stairs Aria wishes she could find someone for protection. The opportunity come to her the next night when three of the Hale brothers are seated in her area of the Italian restaurant where she works.
Another great book in this series about the Hale brothers. This book is action packed, full of danger and high in sexual chemistry. Highly recommend!
This book brings us Aria and Knox Hale. Knox Hale thinks he's a monster who takes part in killing others. Aria is a waitress who has an unbelievable home life, with her mother and stepfather being despicable people. At one time in her life, she was a gymnast until she hurt herself and could no longer train. Her parents make her life unbearable until finally she has had it and wants to ask Knox for help, but she chickens out. However, Knox follows her and finds her body language changes instantly upon returning home. He breaks into the home and is shocked by what he sees and beats the stepfather up and takes Aria home with him and tells her he will protect her. However, her stepfather isn't quite done with her and has Knox arrested and convinces Aria to come home. Enter superhero Knox - he takes care of Aria's problems once and for all - and the ending is spectacular. I highly recommend this quick read. I did receive an arc for an honest review.
I am so glad that Knox didn't listen to Aria when she said that everything was alright and she didn't need protection. Aria was a gymnastic star but landed wrong and destroyed her chance when she hurt herself. She's living in the basement at her home with her mother and her stepfather. They both abuse her and refuse to let her eat. They take all the money she makes and she's working two jobs. Knox is Knox don't really go into what he does but he does it good. He goes in and takes care of Dale, the stepfather, buy beating him up. He takes Aria home with him and their attraction and spart takes off. There is more action, murder, attempted rape and Knox getting rid of the trash. (Love that part) Great short story. Love the steam and the love that Knox finds with Aria. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Well this is a great short story. So lets meet Aria who is a nice sweet girl. She had dreams until they came crashing down. I feel like there is actually more to her story but we get some version of her past. Well her parents are totally d-bags and not worth the air you breath. That is for sure. Then you have Knox, you know him. He is broody and always with RBF when you look at him. He has never been interested in just one woman. But for some reason when he meets Aria, something starts to stir. There is something they both see in each other. So when she has for his protection he says he will think about it. Well then something happens and Knox does not like it. He has the need to protect her and to help her. He wants more with her and that was something that he thought he would never have. This is definitely a great story to read.
Besties I just finished this book! His Gymnast by @authordarcyrose and @authorblmute
This is Aria and Knox story. Ever since she got into an accident during gymnastics she has had a rough life at home.
She was working at the diner one night she notices Knox and his brothers eating. She is their waitress and she feels the need to ask him for protection.
While at home Knox is sitting outside watching what is going on inside. He realizes that once she got home he never seen her again that night. He does it again the following night only to find what he saw upset him and found him kicking the door down.
What happens when the one person you asked for protection is the one you end up falling for!?
Arias Gymnastic dream ended in tragedy after an accident I'm high school,now deep in medical debt, working two jobs, her home life is a continuing nightmare she's desperate for help and will pay anything for it. Knox's knows how to deliver pain and rage, when he spots Aria he's instantly drawn to her, she makes him feel things. Drastic times call for drastic measures and Aria knows just the person who can help her, Knox, but his actions come at a price one she can't refuse. This is well written with an engaging story line and chemistry sizzling characters, filled with action, violence, hot scenes and more! A great addition to the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Aria is in an abusive relationship with her mother and stepfather. She needs a hero. When she meets Knox she might have found her man. He's a monster but she's not afraid of him. When Knox first sees Aria the space where his heart used to be feels something for the first time. Will saving Aria make him more human or more deadly? I like the plot of this story. It has dark elements, a possessive/protective leading man, a fragile but strong leading woman, mutual fascination, brutal justice, descriptive details and intimate moments. I would like to read more about Knox's brothers. "His Gymnast" is a fast-paced and exciting read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.