Five Steps Ahead

Dark Shadows #1

by Samantha Baca

How do you stop a killer who is always five steps ahead?

I had one job.

One responsibility.

Lust wasn’t a distraction that I had time for, and love was even further off the table. My career was demanding and required my undivided attention which left little time for romance. But when my sister went missing
after meeting a guy from the same dating app as the beautiful— way too young for me— college student that I had been assigned to protect, everything changed.

Keeping Hannah safe was my top priority, along with finding my sister. But the closer Hannah and I got, the more clouded my vision became. She was as sweet as she was innocent and things needed to stay that way. The only problem was that in order to keep her safe— she had to stay with me until the threat was handled.

Living in cramped quarters, I was up close and personal with all of the reasons why I couldn’t get involved with Hannah. With chemistry so combustible it could set the world on fire, we knew we had to keep our distance. One wrong move could be fatal with her stalker constantly five steps ahead.

Content Warning:  

This book contains language and storylines that may be bothersome for some readers and is intended for a mature audience. Violence and sexual scenes may be shown in detail as well. The reader is encouraged to reach out to the author directly if they would like to further discuss the content warning(s) for this book.
Warnings for Five Steps Ahead:
Stalking
Violence
Murder

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Amazon, M F Romance, Suspense, Forced Proximity, Romance, Contemporary

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2021

About the author

Samantha lives in the southwest with her husband and two children, where she enjoys writing, drinking iced coffee, and watching the greatest show of all time—Friends. With over 30 books published, Samantha enjoys writing across several different genres, from steamy romantic suspense to laugh-out-loud spicy romantic comedies. She also has a sweet spot for holiday stories, so grab a blanket and get ready to binge some of the sweetest—yet spicy—holiday romance your heart can handle!

Samantha loves connecting with her readers, so here’s a list of where you can find her:

Facebook Reader Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/29457...

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSamant...

Instagram:
https://instagram.com/author_samantha...

Webpage:
www.samanthabaca.com

Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/authorsamant...

Books2Read:
https://books2read.com/ap/RQAYK9/Sama...

Reviews

[MarvelUsReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating! Nail-Biting! Jaw-Dropping! Samantha Baca’s Five Steps Ahead is a page-turning read, guaranteed to keep you at the edge of your seat!

Hannah, a homesick college student still mourning the death of her father, decides to circumvent her sense of loneliness by utilizing a dating app. Unfortunately, to her dismay what was intended to be a search for happiness, ends up being a nightmare leaving her fending for her life. Someone is watching her...and will stop at nothing to make her his!

Hannah’s case is assigned to none other than the handsome detective Max. She has a stalker and his job is to protect her, but he soon finds himself falling for her. Lines are crossed, perceptions blurred, but can he save her before it's too late?

Each page laced with mystery, betrayal, secrets, murder and romance. Samantha Baca you have wowed us yet again!

Thank you to Samantha Baca for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

www.marvelusreads.com

[Sarah Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of romantic suspense and an even bigger fan of NA books so this one seemed straight up my alley. I also studied criminal justice when I was in school so I’m a bit critical of law enforcement involvement. I’m happy to say this book didn’t let me down. I read it over three days and when I wasn’t reading I was thinking about it. There’s good chemistry between the main characters and the pacing is quick. Definitely worth the read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thrilling romantic suspense that's bound to get you hooked from the very first page.

Hannah Anderson is the quiet good girl minding her studies at NYU with very few friends and no steady boyfriend in sight. The online dating apps she is introduced to seems to provide an opportunity to at least get to know someone but the very first online date Hannah chooses to go to ends with her drugged and unconscious and, to top it off, mysterious notes start appearing in her apartment.

Hannah has a stalker and the detective who took her statement after the disastrous date is the one she instantly turns to.

Detective Max Romano has had more than his share of heartache. Serving and protecting is his life and he's not interested in any romance. Keeping Hannah safe becomes his priority since her problems started after dating a guy using the same app his own sister used just before she went missing a few days back. Cracking Hannah's case may give him a lead on his own sister and if Max will need to babysit Hannah 24/7 to achieve it so be it.

They can't get involved with each other. He is way older and she is in trouble. But the attraction between them can't be denied. With the stalker breathing down their necks and upping the game every time, Hannah and Max will need to keep their heads in the game to find his identity out, without allowing their feelings to get in the way.

Fast paced, thrilling and addictive, this book here had me hooked from the very first page and I found myself reluctant to set it down till I reached the end.
The characters are wonderful and the mystery intriguing.
Some things did seem to conveniently happen while a few others in the MCs behaviour didn't sit quite right with me and the detectives took such a long time putting the clues together...
And yet, there was something about the tale that made me keep on reading.

All in all, Five Steps Ahead is a very enjoyable and quite thrilling romantic suspense that may have you reconsider that little elementary school poem roses are red violets are blue.
That particular rhyme gave me the chills here.

[Karen's Utterly Unashamed · Rating 3 out of 5]

That good old elementary school roses are red violets are blue poem might give you the chills after reading this one.

Hannah has lost a lot in the last few years and is trying to make something of herself while she navigates college at NYU. Her friend Amber tells her she should try a dating site and her life begins to spiral downward in the worst way. But is her date the only bad guy???

Now, the target of a stalker, possible killer, Hannah meets NYC detective Max who she needs to rely on to protect her. Max is sexy, kind, and ten years older than her.

You can see where this is going...right?!?!



But the road there is paved with twists, turns, tragedy, and blood.

A great romantic, mystery, suspense novel.

Now, I will say I had a little trouble with some of the things Hannah, Max and the other detectives did along the way. It was like a 90's horror movie where your yelling:



They make some very casual decisions during times when they should have been on edge and scared. It took away from the anxiety a thriller needs to have for me. It also took away a little from Max. You know we romance readers love our alphas and the way he would let her walk away or take risks without fighting her on it just didn't fit or work for me.

But overall, a good, enjoyable, read!



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[claire - clairesbooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thoughts while reading this book:
▪️I bet he's the bad guy!
▪️Nope, this guy is the bad guy.
▪️Ugh, never mind, he wasn't the bad guy.
▪️Ohh, wouldn't it be crazy if he was the bad guy?
▪️OMG here's a new guy we've never heard of! I bet he's the bad guy!
▪️Scratch that idea.
▪️I KNEW IT!

Hannah has a stalker and people she has had recent contact with have been murdered. Max, a detective with the NYPD, has decided he isn't letting Hannah out of his sight with all the creepy notes she's getting. Hannah and Max are getting close since she's agreed to stay with him while her apartment is considered a crime scene. Once Samantha goes back to her apartment, everything seems fine until she agrees to meet someone she has been talking to on an online dating site. Can Max save her now?

I love it when a suspense, thriller, or mystery can keep me guessing until I get super close to the end. And the big scene near the end was my favorite part! I love when an author can draw you into a story like this one. This is the first romantic suspense of Samantha Baca's I've read, and I have to say I love it as much as her rom coms, which I really, really love!

CW: Stalking, murder, physical violence, and voyeurism.

THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU IF:You love some suspense with your romance, and it isn't super obvious who the bad guy is!

[Amanda Marie ❤'s Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five "loved it" stars!

Coming in August 2020 from author Samantha Baca- her newest romantic suspense: Five Steps Ahead!

Heart-pounding. Intense. Thrilling.

This romantic suspense kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I couldn't put it down. I fought sleep to keep reading it, and woke up sleeping on top of my dead phone (true story). I had to know what would happen next. There were no lulls, no slow parts- the pacing was on-point to keep me interested, but not exhausted.

The layout of the book was genius, the first chapter featuring a scene much later in the book, then moving into the period leading up to that scene. Each chapter had a countdown to what I had already been told (via chapter one) would happen, and it was a masterful way to build the tension.

No fluff, no unnecessary scenes- each scene served a purpose, and moved the story along. It makes a book far more satisfying when the writing is tight. There was never an urge to skim any pages.

The chemistry between Max and Hannah was palpable. It probably helped that he was ten years older than her, and a detective (hello, age-gap with a man in a position of authority). Swoon.

I was also swooning a bit for Max's friend Trevor... here's hoping he gets a book, too. I'd be all over it!

I love that the author included some chapters from the villain's POV. It adds that extra bit of terror, especially when he is unraveling and having crazy thoughts. It is clear by the end that there is something profoundly wrong with the villain- he is not just evil, but legitimately insane. As we all know, you can't reason with crazy- you can just avoid it. But, what happens when you can't avoid it because it is stalking you? Guess you'll need to read Five Steps Ahead to find out.

Recommended for fans of romantic suspense!

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[Ashlee Wahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Steps Ahead is Samantha Baca’s second book. After reading her first one, I knew that she would be a new author that I would enjoy. I enjoyed her first book, and was ready to dive into book two. The two books are not connected and each is a standalone, so no need to worry about reading one before the other. Five Steps ahead starts with Hannah attending college. She spends her time in a study group and her best friend encourages her to date. What Hannah doesn’t realize until it is too late, is that she is being stalked and everyone near and dear to her is at risk. No matter what she does, her stalker is always five steps ahead.

The character building was great, and the world building was fantastic too. Things were described so well that I really felt that I could visually think about where the characters were and what they were doing. Hannah is not a fragile girl, and she’s not afraid to go after what she wants. Despite knowing someone is stalking her, she’s still determined to hold her own and not rely on anyone else to protect her. Those that do protect her are doing it because they care, and not because Hannah has asked to be protected. The connection between Max and Hannah is instant. I would consider this a slow burn, which in this particular type of book fits perfectly. I enjoyed Hannah and Max’s character, and I’m pretty sure my heart was won over by Trevor, Max’s best friend.

Samantha has proven that she’s working hard to be an amazing new author. I was blown away by the writing in the first book, and never would have guessed that it was her debut novel. Each book that Samantha writes is going to get better and better. I really loved Five Steps Ahead and cannot wait to see what Samantha has in store for us next.

[Allison Benavidez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a well written book! I enjoyed the different perspectives of the characters. It challenged my imagination to ponder what lay ahead in the plot with ever so subtle hints. Never a dull moment in this book, it kept me engaged throughout and captured within! I loved the ending. Samantha Baca’s books have helped me to renew my love for reading.

[Janine - The World Was Hers for the Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah, a college freshman at NYU is ready to start her life as an adult and explore who she is. She may be on the shy and quiet side, but she has a job, a small apartment, and has started making friends. What she wasn't expecting however, was to become the object of a stalker’s deadly obsession.

Max is a police detective. When his sister goes missing he is desperate to help find her, but not allowed to work the case. Instead, he is put on the case of a young college woman who was drugged at a coffee shop and thinks she has a stalker.

As Hannah's stalker escalates and her world begins to crumble, she and Max grow closer. But, can he keep her safe from a man who always seems to be 5 steps ahead?

The suspense was incredible! You know that Hannah is taken by her stalker . . . the book starts with that scene . . . but going back in time and building back up to that scene was terrifying and I felt levels of agitation and unease growing page by page as each chapter brought us closer to that event!

I also enjoyed that each chapter is from the viewpoint of a specific character, shifting mostly between Hannah, Max and occasionally the stalker, which was stunningly creepy to see his viewpoint! I loved that Max and Hannah's relationship was slightly taboo as it went from professional, to friends, to lovers very quickly.

Five Steps Ahead was intense and had me freaked out as I read! The author did an amazing job of building suspense and keeping readers feeling a heightened sense of dread with each new chapter just waiting to see if Hannah would be rescued in time or not. 5 stars!

[Book Estuary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Estuary Review

Dark Shadow, Five Steps Ahead Summary

Five Steps Ahead is the username of the antagonist in this book by Samantha Baca. It tells the story of Hannah who is a NYU student and Max who is a detective in NYPD. Hannah and Max’s lives were entangled when a case involving Hannah and Max’s sister, Elena, was brought to the attention of NYPD. In this story, we see Hannah and Max fell in love in the midst of a thrilling situation involving a mad serial killer.

What did I like about Dark Shadow, Five Steps Ahead?

I like how this book caught my attention the moment I opened its pages. It is a guaranteed page-turning story that will put you on the edge. In a way, I like Hannah’s personality because I see in her a strong woman with not much of a drama despite what she had been through. I like how her self-preservation instinct kicked every time Max showed disinterest in her.

I must say the story is well-written with fewer or minimal irrelevant fillers. The way Max and Hannah’s love story progresses is realistic and I did not find it like it is being forced in the story given the fact that their’s is a love that you can classify as instalove.

What is lacking about Dark Shadow, Five Steps Ahead?

In several instances, I was frustrated at how slow Max and even Hannah analyzed the pieces of evidence that were in front of them. However, I can understand it to some degree because it can be the author’s way of giving the story more suspense and thrill. Also, the way Max let Hannah go on several occasions sounds unromantic to me.

The use of “roses are red, violets are blue” poem sounds in place but is unfortunately not very impactful for me coming from a professional and educated serial killer.

Overall Rating and Final Thoughts

Overall, Dark Shadows, Five Steps Ahead by Samantha Bacca is an enjoyable read that will put you on edge. It is a page-turner with realistic situations that I easily relate to. The romance is realistic and steamy. Although the story will make you nervous and worried, a guaranteed happy ending awaits you in the end. With these things in mind, I give Dark Shadows, Five Steps Ahead my 4.7-star rating.

[Gsmitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, Samantha Baca has taken me on a whirlwind emotional rollercoaster ride of a journey with Five Steps Ahead! From the very first chapter, the descriptions had me enthralled as I lived the experiences and met and fell in love with the characters. The drama is gripping, and as everything unfolds, you simply can't guess what comes next!
Hannah is so strong. Forced to grow up from a young age, focused on what she wants, yearning for something she doesn't or can't have, at least not right now. Yet so mature, and driven! 
And then there's Max. Stoic and staid, and full of emotion buried down deep that bubbles to the surface. So caring, so dedicated to those that he loves. Honorable and always trying to do the right thing by everyone, even if that might not be in his favor. 
This story is jam packed with tension, chemistry, thrill, and a fascinating depth of characterization that gives the reader insights into everyone, and I mean everyone, giving the plot and the story an extra punch you feel right in the gut as you sit on the edge of your seat, waiting impatiently to find out what happens next.
If you're looking for what I'd determine a romance with a strong romantic suspense and thriller vibe, look no further than Five Steps Ahead! 

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy for an honest review.

This book was just ok. It won't stop me from reading the next book, but I was a little underwhelmed by this one. I loved the premise, but to me it fell short in the romantic suspense department. I just felt like if I had to be told that Max was attracted to Hannah that something was wrong. There was no ah-ha moment when they met. Max's friend Trevor had to tell us that Max was attracted to Hannah. And then it became obvious. He started to blush, and then started to talk about his attraction to her. And Hannah annoyed me at times. I think part of that was her immaturity with relationships. Which in the characters defense she is only 19. Her push and pull started to get annoying. Those are the things that bothered me, but I still loved the premise of her having a stalker and Hannah and Max getting involved because his sister was a victim of the same guy. I loved how he got wrapped up in Hannah and that things revolved around an online dating app. I really did root for Hannah and Max, I just think some things fell short for me. This was my first book by this author, but by no means am I throwing in the towel on her.

[Lusine · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Samantha Baca's debut novel, I was beyond excited to get into her second romantic suspense.
Five Steps Ahead is another page-turner with wonderful characters and heart-pounding and steamy scenes that hooks you up from the first chapter.
After my first experience with her book, I was really cautious not to read it late at night to avoid feeling anxious and creepy with the unpredictable and suspenseful scenes. I was particularly impressed by the spine-chilling poems the stalker would send Hanna, the main character.

I highly recommend this book and I can't wait to see the release of Samantha's next book.

[Lorena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!

This is the second book I've read by Samantha and definitely not the last!! Such an amazing and keep you on the edge of your seat or in my case on the edge of your bed kind of book!! (P.s. When you start this book do it an appropriate time in the day, not at night or you'll end up still awake at 6am because it's impossible to put it down! Thank you coffee!) Amazing story and as good as if not better than her first book 'Til Death Do Us Part. Cannot wait for more to come!

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another great book by Samantha Baca!! I got hooked from pretty much the beginning and just kept wanting to read more! Loved how this book had action, mystery, and romance pretty much from the start. Oh yes, there is always that one male character with sex appeal that catches my attention and wants me wanting to know more! In this book, that would be Max. I definitely recommend this read and look forward to more books from Samantha.

[Jessica Aiken-Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Five Steps Ahead had me hooked from the first page and kept me engaged until the last. Samantha Baca is a talented writer who does a great job at getting inside the characters’ heads. It was a suspenseful read that kept me up later than I should have been to see what happens next. If you enjoy suspenseful romance novels, this book is for you.

[niki_reads_romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

intense

Whew. This story was interesting and intense. There were some pretty slow parts, but overall I truly enjoyed it! Hannah and Max’s relationship started slowly, and I liked that it wasn’t instant. Though I really love insta-love books, it would not have fit with this story. Hannah was really childish a few times, causing some serious eye rolling, but that ending was so sweet.

[Alex Sweetman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! The suspense and romance were a match made in heaven for me!

[Torey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the suspense aspect of this book. The FMC makes some seriously unwise choices but she is only 19 so it tracks. The narrator for this book did a great job as well.

[Saundra Fulford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. If you like thrileswith doe romance this I for you.

[Bookshelf Productions · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omg this book!! If you love romantic suspense, you need this book! There were so many twists and I was seriously n the edge of my seat.

Max is a detective and when his sister goes missing, he is pulling out all the stops to find her. Hannah is thrust into his life when she was drugged while on a date. When she thinks she has a stalker, Max starts noticing the similarities between the two cases. When things heat up in the case and with their growing relationship, can Max catch the stalker and possible killer before it’s too late?

I’m not throwing out any spoilers. You seriously need to read this book!

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah is a college student who is used to putting the needs of others before her own.  At the coaxing of a friend she decides to branch out and meet new people. Unfortunately she's caught the eye of a stalker who is determined to have her.

Max works in law enforcement and is desperate to keep Hannah safe from a madman who is connected to the  disappearance of his sister.

There is non stop action throughout this book. I was not able to put it down- it is  addictively readable.  There is conflict, suspense, an age gap romance with forced proximity and a gripping journey.

This was my first time reading this author and will not be the last!

[INeedABookBreak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This romantic suspense novel had me on the edge of my seat. It was incredibly unpredictable and was full of secrets and chilling tension. Five Steps Ahead is the first book in the Dark Shadows series. There is some dark stuff in this book, so check TWs if you have known triggers.

Hannah is a quiet college girl. Her friend finally convinced her to put herself out there, so she joined a dating app. After a terrible coffee shop date, Hannah wakes up in the hospital suffering the after effects of a date rape drug. She meets Max, a detective who is looking into the disappearance of his sister, Leni. Leni went missing after going on a date with a guy from the same app.

The main conflict of the story was really thrilling. Hannah has a lot going on. In addition to her attraction to a certain detective, she finds herself to be the target of a stalker/murderer. Max is also struggling. His sister, who he is close to, is missing and he isn’t sure how to handle his attraction to Hannah. Max isn’t a relationship person and has been hurt in the past. However, Max and Hannah had great chemistry, but the book is a little low on spice. I really did like the forbidden aspect of their relationship between the age gap and the fact that Max is a detective, who is also protecting Hannah.

I also really liked Max’s best friend, Trevor. He is the hero in book two of the series (Ten Seconds Too Late), which I am excited to read when it comes out Monday, April 25.

[Patricia G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh.My.GOD.

I need the next book immediately!!!! My ovaries shall not survive it!

The plot is suspenseful, well-written & intriguing with interesting characters that have good chemistry & as they grow emotional closer they begin to complement each other.

Five Steps Ahead is not what I expected; it’s so much more. Their story is chaotic and messy. We read their journey of trying to move forward and healing, which is a rough, painful ride. It’s raw.

It was quite an emotional read to be honest. Their self loathing & self destruction was brutally written & not skimmed over.

Samantha Baca wrote a truly chilling, spine-tingling story that swept me away to a realm of serial killer.

Samantha has a way with words like very few authors have, in my opinion. I fell in love with her characters and can't get enough.
Can't wait for her next book in this series.

[Christy Parrott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max is devastated by the disappearance of his sister Elena. He does everything in his power to find her. He end up crossing paths with Hannah, and he feels a need to protect her from the same date as his sister. I loved their relationship, as well as Trevor as a side character. If he got his own book, I would read it lol As far as plot it was kind of predictable, but otherwise amazing! I was hooked all the way through.Overall, I loved the characters and their relationships. I also love a good mystery romance and it definitely delivered that. Definitely recommend.

[Brooke Conklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it say I devoured this book I mean it!! I read the whole thing in less than a day!! It was so damn good!!
I loved the different POVs and all the guessing and wondering what the hell was going on.
Multiple times I said "WTF" and other times I had to walk away from the book to gain my composure.

Such a good, page turning book. Gahhh!!!

@author_samantha_baca holy hell you write some amazing romace thriller/suspense!!! Damn!!

[Peaceful · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book in one of reveal romance book boxes and oh boy!!

I could not put this gem down. It has romance but it is almost secondary. It is a thriller that keeps you on your toes, on the edge of your seat, and turning the next page.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (7/9/2023)! 🎁

[Ashleigh Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.7 Stars (Standard rounding rules apply)

Having read Ms. Baca before I went into this with no true expectations just a little hope, as she has wowed, but also, left me wanting more with other novels. With the premise of this book, and the reviews that I had seen I was hoping this would be on the wow end of things. Unfortunately, that just didn't happen for me. There were a few reasons why.

When going into a thriller/suspense type novel it's my hope that I can get through three-quarters of the book prior to figuring out who the villain is. Personally, I knew who it was as soon as they were introduced/mentioned into the story. While I understand that isn't the case for most people, it's also my opinion that if one truly thought about it, they would see the 'neon' signs throughout the novel.

The characters left me wanting something, anything. Hannah was naïve and annoying. Max came across as all over the place and self-righteous. The romance was lacking and not organic at all, in fact at certain points if Max's best friend Trevor didn't point out what Max was feeling - Hannah wouldn't have known. Their reactions to certain things were downright frustrating. Sometimes it was overplayed, while others were underplayed. It was all over the place. Truly difficult, in my opinion, to like these characters. Trevor was probably the only one that knew what was up, and seemed to develop in anyway.

Another issue that came up a lot was inconsistencies. Like Max not being allowed to investigate his sister's case - but was okay to deal with Hannah's... though he was attracted to, and then sleeping with, her? Or allowing him back on his sister's case because the other officers were getting nowhere? Trevor just randomly is assigned to Hannah as protection because Max dictated that's what would happen, though he isn't an officer of the law- like how was that even allowed? That was just one big glaring inconsistency there were others as well that it just got to the point of expecting them; instead of hoping they got better along the way.

While the premise of the story is what drew me in, it fell flat. For all the reasons above, and because there was very minimal developing done. We went from zero to one hundred with almost no build up. She meets a guy at the coffee shop, then BAM we are running like Sonic the Hedgehog through Green Hill Zone. It took away from the storyline that held so much promise.

What was redeeming though would be any part that had the villain in it. Not sure what that says about me, but honestly, those were truly the only captivating parts - even knowing who it was almost straight away.

Overall, I would not read this again; and I can't state that I am looking forward to the next one. It also isn't the worst novel, and while frustrating my mind didn't go straight to DNF'ing. I did finish it, and this is just going into the meh pile for myself.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have listened to most of Samantha Baca's books and they are usually short novella stories that are sweet, sexy romances.
Five Steps Ahead is a completely different pace from what I have listened to from Samantha Baca,this book is edgier a bit darker ,suspenseful and deals with some serious subjects.
Hannah is a student 19 years old and trying to fit in,joining a dating app so she can meet more people.Its this app that gets her into big trouble and where she meets the sexy detective who will try to protect her from danger.
I don't want to give too much away..but Hannah ends up being stalked by a psychopath and it is linked to the disappearance of Max's sister.
Max is a detective he never thought he would have to use his skills to try to find his missing sister,who he knows has been taken against her will...This leads him to meet Hannah who had a traumatic experience on a date she went on through the app.
Suddenly though things turn bad and people start to die which makes it more serious and Max needs to keep Hannah safe by having her stay with him.There is a spark between Max and Hannah and as they are in eachothers space they can't seem to fight the attraction...Let the sexy times begin..!!
Hannah did annoy me sometimes as her actions were questionable and I didn't understand her reasoning for what she did or thought..It was like watching a horror movie and yelling at the character to not go in there,but they do any way..Max falls head over heels for her pretty quickly,but he has a murky past with relationships and so is not sure he is ready for something serious.
This is an age gap romance as Max is 29 and Hannah is 19..but you don't really notice that as a factor to the story...and I didn't guess who the stalker/psychopath...was..
This audiobook was narrated by Marcus Barton who is a new narrator to me,and I found him easy to listen to...He did a great job at performing all the characters in this story..He had different tones for each characters so you could differentiate who was speaking.I enjoyed listening to him tell this story.
This is a thrilling and riveting romance from Samantha Baca that is the start of a series of books which I am now eager to listen to also.
A fantastic story and Audiobook.
LOved it.
5 Stars.