Audiobook

Nowadays, I can't go right into a book by Shen and say, "oh yeah, I know EXACTLY what I'm going to get and its going to be epic!" Whelp, now, for her last TWO books, I've been blown away, just like the beginning days and I was so happy about it! Yes, it started out dark with the men oppressively hating women but morphed into something real and rich over the course of the book. It was a slow burn and the build up made me fall that much more in love with it. With having read a few books by Huntington (who is an amazing writer herself) I could tell (well, I think so at least) who wrote what and that was fun too! Parker seems to write books where her H respects the h a bit more than Shens more recent books but still have a heck of a backbone and doesn't take crap. We got a good blend here and it made this book magical. I loved how we got to peel back the layers of both characters and how they seemed to have absolutely NOTHING in common only to discover they both have fierce determination and dogged steadfastness, not allowing anything to get in the way of what they wanted. That right there was the foundation of this union and it blossomed into a thing of beauty. The , of course, we have those infamous stëamy scenes! 😮‍💨those bad boys were straight up unapologetically raunchy! 😏I even had to clutch my metaphorical pearls a time or two and THATS saying something! For the actual act to not even be the end game of the smëxy times this made it that much more naüghty in my opinion! These two were 🌶️💦🥵🔥HOT without a doubt. Yeah, these authors know how to light it up for sure!! I have mixed feelings about the secondary characters and will wait to see how their stories pan out in the next few books to fully make a judgement but I did like them, they were fun and brought some laughter to the story for sure! But also have the potential to go the crazy route too (and who says that's a bad thing)?? All in all, this was a great read and even greater listen. I first heard the narrator Jacob Morgan in my 1st Parker S. Huntington book and have followed him since. I LOVE his voice, just YUM! Stella Hunter is also one of my favorites. She gives great inflection and draws you deeper into the story she makes you feel part of it. These 2 together? Wow, made for an amazing, hit AF read. Its such a relief when authors get the right narrators to pair with their books! These 2 were spot on in this case and you will be grateful for it if you chose to listen! I did a little bit of both (read & listen) as I like to listen when I'm driving too! Can't wait to see what happens next!

Dallas Costa, a strong-willed woman who refuses to marry a man she doesn’t want, is caught in a twisted game of revenge when she meets her Romeo, a guy who’s driven by anything but love. Their connection is instant, but not in the typical romantic way. He sees her as a pawn in his plot to get back at his rival, and she’s got her own vendetta against him. The banter between these two is pure gold—so much dry humor and teasing that you’ll be laughing out loud. Seriously, some of the things they say to each other had me cracking up. While there isn’t a super complex plot, the chemistry between Dallas and Romeo makes up for it. Their tension-filled interactions and smutty moments are steamy, and the emotional connection is surprisingly real considering the circumstances. I’ll admit, I couldn’t put it down, even though I know it’s not going to win any literary awards. Sometimes, you just need a fun, entertaining book that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and My Dark Romeo delivers on that front. There are some odd moments—like the random references to Riverdale and TikTok—but it didn’t ruin the fun for me. If you're looking for a book with wild drama, steamy scenes, and a lot of humor, give this one a try. It’s the kind of read that’s so bad it’s good, and I absolutely had a great time with it. ᪥ Dark Romance ᪥ Arranged Marriage ᪥ Age Gap ᪥ Billionaire ᪥ Mafia ᪥ Enemies To Lovers ᪥ Dual POV

📖 My Dark Romeo by Parker S. Huntington Rating: ★★★★.5 Okay, so I just finished *My Dark Romeo* and my brain is still doing cartwheels, but like, the good kind. If L.J. Shen and Parker S. Huntington write it, my finger is already hovering over that 'buy now' button, no questions asked! And this one? It absolutely delivered. Seriously, this book is a masterclass in slow-burn, will-they-won't-they tension that had me absolutely hooked. It's a dark romance, yes, and oh my goodness, the spice is definitely there, but it's so much more than just that. The way they balance the intense heat with genuine character development? *Chef's kiss*. Dallas, bless her heart, is so much more than her character initially lets on. She's smart, sassy, and genuinely loving, not just a pawn in some grand revenge scheme. (Though, side note, maybe we could tone down the "she loves to eat" bits just a tiny bit, haha, relatable but also, girl's got layers!). And Romeo? *Swoon*. He's the morally gray MMC of my dreams, seriously. His character arc is a strong, compelling part of the book, watching him navigate his own darkness and evolve. This story dives deep into an arranged marriage where Romeo, a cruel billionaire heir, is out for vengeance against Dallas, a feisty heiress who is absolutely not afraid to fight back. Their dynamic is a wild dance of power, vulnerability, and shifting alliances, evolving from initial animosity into something much deeper. They tackle some heavy topics, but with such grace and respect, which I really appreciated. The theme of breaking free from constraints resonated so much, like this quote: "Cages aren't made of bars. They're made of thoughts, expectations, and fear."🗝️💭🐦 It perfectly captures how these characters grapple with internal and external cages, seeking liberation. If you're looking for an intense, spicy dark romance with heavy emotional themes, morally gray characters, and complex relationship dynamics that give you substance beyond just physical attraction, then this is your next read. 📦 What to Expect 💖 Slow Burn Romance 🔥 Grumpy/Sunshine Dynamic 🤯 Complex Relationship Dynamics 💔 Deep Emotional Themes 🌶️ Plenty of Spice 👑 Arranged Marriage Trope ⚔️ Vengeance Plot 📚 Book Tags Keywords: Dark Romance, Arranged Marriage, Billionaire, Revenge, Morally Gray, Spicy, Emotional Tropes: Grumpy/Sunshine, Enemies to Lovers, Will-They-Won't-They, Beauty and the Beast Vibes, Forced Proximity Triggers: Dark Themes, Vengeance, Emotional Manipulation, Violence 🎯 Final Thoughts Honestly, if you're ready for a book that will grab you by the heart and not let go, with characters you'll obsess over and a story that's both intense and incredibly rewarding, then you need *My Dark Romeo* in your life. Go read it, you won't regret it!

Let me just start by saying I LOVE both of these authors. While this was an enjoyable read, it just missed the mark for me. This book is a SLOW BURN and I loved the actual build up and banter of Romeo and Dallas. However, I had a hard time getting into their physical encounters to be honest...IYKYK. I found some of it hard to believe and difficult to picture with how things were described. Now on to Romeo and Dallas. Dallas has no real aspiration in life other than wanting to be a mom and while there is NOTHING wrong with that, I found her character to be a little flat. With that being said though, it works in this book! I enjoyed Dallas being frivolous and doing the most to get under Romeo's skin. I was rooting for this girl to get Romeo to blow a gasket! Romeo...wasn't as memorable to me. His character was also a little flat but he is a broken boy and I was waiting to see why he was! This book was very character driven and no real "story" I guess in my opinion. I felt very much in a character bubble while the story of his family's company was off to the side. Overall, my favorite parts were the banter between Dallas & Romeo and Romeo's bromance with his 2 best friends, Zach and Oliver! I will likely continue on to read these characters because they intrigue me, especially Zach!

My Dark Romeo was such a delightful surprise. I even thought the co-authors, Parker S Huntington and L.J. Shen, had slipped up on the genre because I couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear. And not only did I have trouble putting this enemies-to-lovers standalone down, but what-the-heck moments kept me on my toes. Get this! The witty banter combined with everything I look for in an angsty read isn’t just unforgettable; it’s sensational! How could I not fall for Dallas Townsend, an angelic-looking southern lass whose parents had overindulged her and who freely admits dilly dallying her days away reading, sleeping and feasting? She’s got herself into a real pickle this time! Much to daddy’s dismay, the apple of his eye has got to eat humble pie to rectify an almighty blunder. Now, there’s a catch that isn’t exactly his idea, but all said and done, making sure the Joneses would decipher it as he thought fit might smooth over the damage done. Ooh, my—if I didn’t laugh out loud, I cried! I disliked Dallas’ future husband from the word go. Romeo Costa is cranky, meticulous, filthy rich, and oh-so sure of himself that his proposal felt like he did what he’d set off to do in one breath. Easier said because drama will be nipping at his heels at every turn. So, had he bitten off more than he could chew? Yeap, literally chew!!! Wait for it—he has a habit I detest, and his usage of the word ‘wifey’ made me cringe on the spot! Neither was I into his trying to make Dallas obey the rules by trying to knock the sass out of her innocent yet vengeful spirit. If that isn’t enough, she comes up all rosy-cheeked with a bee in her bonnet. The question is if he’ll dampen her desires. I can’t remember the last time I’d cheered someone on so much as Dallas. Neither can I recall my opinion of an anti-hero like Romeo taking a 180-degree turn the way it did. Goodness me, if there were ever someone who melted my heart and rattled my cage at the same time, it was him! I loved that the authors kept me waiting to learn about his past life and the reasoning behind him only letting a special few see his true colours. Would Dallas be able to break down the walls Romeo had built to protect himself whilst he’s safeguarding her? Perfect character plot development, and reading Romeo and his two comrades in arms cracking messages was a real treat—their sarcastic comments about the whole situation abounding. Ooh, and steaminess is guaranteed! Simply phenomenal, ladies, and looking forward to more! Bravo!

In first half i was entertained with the humour. I laughed loud a few times. I can't say that I loved the characters but it was fun. It felt like too much: Dallas way of thinking, laziness, food obsession and that she didn't seems to be very clever. No, it's not because she didn't respect education and wanted to be a mother, it was her behaviour. Rom was ... it is hard to find the words. He was a bit too much too. Trauma after trauma with huge effect on him, he met Dallas and all gonna be okay now. He is heeled. Because she is so special: lazy, sleeping, eating, messy, burning books, leaving stains, shopping designers clothes like there is no tomorrow but promised to be faithful, promising mother, against weapons manufacturers, sense of right and wrong, during robbery don't give her grandmother's earrings because she is ... santimental (or stupid), romantic and that makes her sweet! He got a bullet for this, who cares, and randomly she felt very very hot for him while he was bleeding in the bathroom and she initiates intercourse. Anyway, she is very charitable with his money because... what was the reason? Oh yes! Doing good for children when she is mad at him because of his indifference. She has ability to make friends! She became besties with the woman that cooked for them. However, Dallas wasn't bad, she was special in her own way. Their banter was very comical and entertaining, specially in the first half, later you get used to it.

What an amazing duo, L.J.Shen and Parker S. Huntington did an amazing job, and gave us great book, a masterpiece that is going to leave you only wanting for more. This was my first time reading something by Parker S. Huntington, and for sure it won’t be the last time. And for L.J.Shen there is no secret that I am obsessed with her work. Every time I read a new L J Shen book I say that this is her best work, and every time she writes another one, I am completely blown away by her talent and writing. And this time, she did it again. I couldn't put the book down, I was fascinated by the story and I finished the book in only a few hours. My Dark Romeo is an arranged marriage, with a twist of grumpy meets sunshine, Beauty and the Beast vibes, standalone that is absolutely going to steal your heart. It was such an amazing reading experience, I had the best time while reading this book. It has everything you could possible want: from the constant banter between the two main characters that is so entertaining, the back and forth between them, the perfect amount of angst and the spicy scenes that are just the perfect amount of spice and steam, that in the end you will need to bathe in holly water for the rest of your life. Romeo Costa is absolutely the worst, and I am being very kind saying this, he is every woman wet dream, he is handsome, and he knows it, with a body that could make the Greek Gods jealous, and just his presence makes every girl and woman week in their knees. All of them, expect Dallas. Dallas (or Shortbread as Costa likes to call her) is the match the set fire to Romeo’s life. She has been raised in a small but very wealthy southern town with so much aged traditions in it. Even though she was sheltered all her life, she is so much more that meets the eye. She is smart, driven, loves to read, stubborn and has a mouth on her that most of the time gets her in trouble. I loved her obsession with all that is food, especially sweets, her enchanting personality and her passion for life. I absolutely loved seeing these two interact with one another, they were constant banter and their perfect chemistry. If you love a good enemies to lovers, grumpy meets sunshine and arranged marriage tropes, believe me when I promise you that this book is perfect for you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Another 5 star review of LJSHEN/P. Huntington collaboration of My Dark Romeo. I loved the characters in this book! Ljshen is one of my favorite authors and I really enjoyed this collab with P. Huntington. This is a dark Romeo and Juliette retelling with dark twist and second chance love. I found this story at times witty, characters were relatable and I loved the pace of the book as well as the explosive chemistry of the Romeo& Dallas “Dal”. I bought all 3 versions of this book including the beautiful hardcover in a slipcase, ribbon and sprayed edges. I also splurged and listened to the audio. All were beautifully done. This is the beginning of a new series calle” Dark Prince Road” collection. It can be read as a standalone, but will have at least one more book to complete the series. I’m sure the second book will contain cameos of these two main characters who literally rewrite their future. “Juliette” aka Dallas is no shrinking violet, even though she may be a southern debutant. Sit back and enjoy he ride! Great read!! Highly recommend!!