Devious Obsession - S. Massery

"If you want to stay, you have to play the game…" 

Steele O’Brien is everything I hate in hockey players.

He’s cocky, brooding, antagonistic.

I played his game, learned his secrets, and got screwed over for it.

But I never could’ve imagined I’d meet him again the next day.

The golden boy with hidden demons is my new step-brother.

Now, the jerk is sleeping down the hall from me until we go back to college.

And oh, how I loathe the devious thoughts lurking under his smiling façade.

It seems that, for him, the game isn’t over.

He says I'm his to play with. His to torment.

And he's determined to not only get under my skin, but carve his name into it.

We know Steele from Brutal Obsession, but buckle up for him as he stars in his book Devious Obsession.

Set in the same university, Crown Point, we are reintroduced to our favorite hockey boys and come to realize that Jacob (next book) has graduated and plays for the NHL. The book starts over summer with a chance encounter between Steele and his mystery girl. They play a game of chance and find themselves fulfilling one another's fantasies for the night. It was a very spicy and very fun introduction to the way that each character thinks and acts without the pressure from outsiders.

Steele and Aspen are so in sync, so equally devious (get it) that you can’t help but root for them to make it in the end. Unlike Greyson, who was all rough edges and lived to push Violet to test her, Steele understands limits are and most importantly, understands HER limits. Their safe word is established from go and there’s a mutual respect and understanding between the two of them. Yes, he pushes them and does insanely wrong things but did we expect anything less? Their intimate scenes are very empowering for the most part, which made them that much more enjoyable.

Okay back to the insane moments, during these WTF moments you’ll be thinking “am I turned on? Am I angry? And I sad for her? Is she going to make it through this one? Is he actually a bad guy?” BUT most importantly there are also soft moments that we didn’t get in the previous book. Steele has serious clarity, and it really comes into play with the Aspen’s needs, wants, desires, and history. 

The beginning, post prologue, really throws the reader into the story without much background but you’ll pick up pieces as you read, much like Steele does regarding the Aspen’s past, and it all makes sense in a sensational way. There’s lots of action, this is Sara we’re talking about. Her stories always have a plot going on beyond the two characters hooking up, and lord was this a heavy one. Definitely read the TW’s before starting as I always recommend this with any dark romance but this had topics that were even harder to swallow as a victim of similar circumstance. It did NOT deter me from the book or the content, I thought Sara handled this sort of content with caution but also realism, Aspen was trigger by certain activity and words. It is refreshing to see a book character have their own triggers. 

Overall, this is a dark hockey read sure with tons of chasing (my favorite), pushing, fighting, and love, but it’s SO much more than that. The protective nature of Steele is so apparent and proven throughout. He isn’t just doing this because he’s obsessed with Aspen, he’s doing it all because this is how he shows love. 

Also.. if you’ve made it this far down I'd like to spoil the fact MAY see a familiar name... I think Uncle Cillian deserves a book with you know who… Right?

Rating: 5/5

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