Killian Asher has spent his adult life focused on destroying and taking over companies run by corrupt men like this father, never allowing himself to get close to anyone. But when he sees Skye, he can't understand this strange pull he has toward her. Knowing he'll never be good enough for her he tries to stay away, but his overwhelming need to protect her makes him intervene when her abusive ex comes around.
One glimpse of a handsome stranger was enough to have Skye painting his image. After a chance sighting of him he disappears again. But she can feel someone watching her and realizes it's him. She should be scared but somehow she's not... especially when he rescues her and everything changes. But when she finds out his secrets, can she accept him for what he really is?
Despite the red flags I was feeling at first, Killian is definitely the anti-hero but not as creepy as he first seemed. But definitely read the author's trigger warnings for yourself first. I loved Skye's character because despite the horrible experiences in her childhood, she still manages to be a happy personality. The pacing of the story was good with plenty of romance and spice.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Honestly, i’m having such a high expectations for this book after reading the description. I’m expecting a type of intense, angsty, dark and mysterious undertones between both characters. But, it just feels flat. And, i’m a fan of spicy read, but even for me this is just too much spicy scene but there’s no nuance or like something that makes me excited to read any of those scene.

I’m sorry but this one just not for me.

Killian, also known as Stalker is this mysterious man who has loads of money and just as many dark secrets whereas Skye is the easy-going, sunshine persona.

we follow along as they get to know each other after their fleeting first meeting, two years ago.

the plot had a lot a potential as well as the characters if they would have been developed more. All we know is that Killian is this dark, broody man and we barely know anything about skye except that she's a yoga teacher and paints.

once they decided to stop pretending and succumb to their chemistry, the book turns to porn. I'm all for a good old smut book but that was just pure porn without plot.

“I couldn’t tell her I loved her because what I felt for her was so much more than that”
“She was a part of me, a part of my tainted soul”
“We were a perfect match made in hell”

ARC RATING: 4.50/5.0
Thank you, BookGoSocial, NetGalley and of course, Kimberly Quay for letting me have an ARC of this book. It was one awesome hell of an emotional roller coaster!

Tainted Dreams by Kimberly Quay is now available in Kindle Unlimited.

SUMMARY:
Killian Asher, a grumpy, cold-hearted billionaire knows everything business except matters of the heart. So, when he met Skye Larsen, the insatiable pull was too much she became his obsession…
Skye Larsen, a perky, self-made yoga instructor and a tormented artist is anything but. Surviving a dark past that keeps haunting her, will she ever be safe under the dark, watchful eyes of her stalker?
Unable to resist the force that draws them to each other, will Killian and Skye survive the darkness of their past? Or will it taint their dreams of being together?

TROPES AND THEMES:
• Age Gap
• Anti-Hero
• Billionaire MMC
• Grumpy-Sunshine
• Stalker/likes being stalked
• Touch her, you’ll die

TWs
• Aside from those mentioned in the content warnings: murder instigation, abandonment, emotional repression/suppression.

BOOK REVIEW:
I was surprised I got hooked from the very beginning. The book reminds me of the Crossfire series but it only lasted until the 2nd chapter. What unfolded after, gave me an emotional-roller coaster ride.

ME: Girl, run. This ain’t good.
This book literally gave me contradicting feelings about stalking [may I dare say that it is thrillingly hot?]. Like, wait, stalking is bad right? But why the heck is this whole stalking thing sweet and hot? Also, a morally gray character who knows how to validate a person’s feelings? Ugh. Yes, please.
ALSO, ME: Ugh, may I have a tall glass of Killian Asher, puhlease?
But, seriously. I have always appreciated dark romance genres with a good storyline and this book really hit the right spots for me. Sure, smut is everywhere but the book isn’t just centered on smut – the story has real and strong character development, which I really, really liked. [thank you very much].
I also love that the story is being told on DUAL POVs so we really get to see how the story unfolds on both the male and female character’s perspective.
Other things that I liked about the book:
• The Playlist.
• Flirty, innocent banters. FMC isn’t your typical damsel. She’s one feisty, sweet and perky woman who loves to push back and annoy our MMC.
• Supportive female friends. Layla and Chelsea? Need I say more, go get the book and find out yourself 😊
• Feel-good red flags. Only specific to MMC’s manner of stalking (which, is hot), the level of possessiveness in terms of keeping FMC safe at all times, and only within the realm of fiction.
Lastly, the only thing I probably disliked (but have actually grown accustomed with) was FMC’s spidey-sense of some sort whenever MMC’s around.

P.S. I keep on wondering about Chelsea and Lucian, and oh, Layla and Wes, too. 😊

RECOMMENDED FOR:
• 18+ years of age due to dark themes, violence, explicit sex scenes, etc.
• Fans of Crossfire Series by Sylvia Day (or anything similar)
• People who are starting out on dark romance genre

3.5 stars rounded up.

It took me a few days to write this review, because I just wasn't exactly sure how I felt.

I churned through the book fast, it kept me hooked and wanting to read every minute of the day. But it also kept me wanting - it had dark themes but it wasn't a dark vibe. It had stalking but it was very light stalking. I wanted a bit more angst, but it was straight to the insta-obsession/insta-love.

It kept me hooked but I can't figure out if it was because I just wanted to see if I'd get *more* or if the book had me hooked...

I did enjoy the plot twist, it felt natural and while it was a surprise it didn't feel out of character or out of the blue in any way. I also appreciated the mini-time jumps, nothing bothers me more than when an entire romance plot happens in less than a month.

I really enjoyed this book. Couldn’t put it down and was invested in the characters and story from the off.

Excited for the next instalment

Um, hello Killian Asher! This unhinged stoic jigsaw puzzle of a (fictional) man just stole me heart and sanity.

Let’s backup a bit…this is the first book I’ve read from Kimberly Quay and it will not be my last. In fact I cannot wait for the rest of this Tainted series because I love this world that Quay has built and the characters that fill it.

Skye Larsen has not had an easy life and has always run away from her real emotions. Her character arc and growth throughout this story and its only fitting that the man who encourages to stick up for herself and strengthen that backbone is the one who gets the brunt of it.

Killian Asher, as perviously mentioned is wonderfully morally grey. This man is obsessed (and I will not accept anything less in a future partner). He fights for this girl, and not just for her heart…he will fight anyone who hurt her (past, present, and future) while simultaneously helping her grow as a person.

I know conflict is going to happen and in a book it seems much more avoidable than in real life but this one got to me a bit as it started. I did not love the way everything went down and part of that is because I was forming my own theories in my head that ended up being much more dramatic than the reality. However, Quay’s writing shined in the last half. She used her skill to make everything come together like quilt woven to perfection. It gets a little messy in the middle but the final piece is a gorgeous work of art.

The chemistry. The passion. The groveling.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this one. I mostly liked the characters, but found the insta obsession and stalker plot line a bit much.

“Tainted Dreams” by Kimberly Quay is a romance with many dark themes. We follow two characters point of views. We have Killian who to the doesn’t let anyone in. He is grumpy. Killian stalks his prey. He gets what he wants no matter what it takes. Then we have Skye, the bright bubbly girl despite the bad things she goes through. She is all sunshine. Killian and Skye feel a magnetic pull between the two of them.

This book has a lot of different tropes and is filled with SPICE. Some of the Tropes are sunshine x grumpy, touch her and you die, and stalking, I defiantly recommend checking the trigger warnings because it is dark. This gives mafia romance vibes.

I really did enjoy the book. I wish there was a little bit more plot. There was a plot twist which did surprise me but, it wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. I think all the tropes worked well together. I did enjoy seeing the characters interact. There was some character growth, not as much as I had hoped. The book kept me interested the whole time. Overall I enjoyed the book.

3,5 stars. We follow Skye Larsen, a yoga instructor who loves to paint and is a talented artist, and Killian Asher, a ruthless businessman who values his privacy. They are both drawn, and feel this indescribable connection to one another. Maybe it’s because they both have some dark history behind them?

This book has a lot of spice and different dark topics, so definitely check content warnings before reading. If you’re looking for a spicy book with mostly vibes, a mafia-ish romance, then I recommend you to read this book.

Honestly this was the kind of vibe I wanted from a book at this moment. Just vibes and spice and not too much plot. I will say *spoiler* the end part was a bit rushed imo, and I didn’t quite understand why Skye was so unwilling to forgive. Plus, since there was so much time skipping at the end I just got really thrown off and that’s why the ending felt somewhat rushed.

The first of its series, Tainted Dreams is about a billionaire with psychopathic tendencies and a good girl with a dark side. The story has numerous dark elements but I wouldn’t categorize it as a dark romance because the darkness does not crowd their love life.

Skye is a yoga-instructor cum artist who has learned to take on life with happiness despite everything upending in her life multiple times. But something about Killian draws her in to the extent of her not minding being stalked by the latter.

Killian is a no-nonsense millionaire who has made it big by playing in the darker side of the business. His grey and black life suddenly gains colour with the entry of Skye and he’ll take on all the reasons for her painful past and give her only the light.

The book is spicy with the sweetness of their love for each other. The hot scenes are to be expected. The build-up is mostly relayed vocally and could use some more angst in the book at several points.

The book had its pick of villains. I mean it literally and yet the main villain was… secrets. I feel that this could be made better. Having pointed it out, the story is cute with multiple romantic gestures. I love the nicknames they call each other.

“Stalker.”
“Sunshine.”

Happy Reading!

Hmmm. I have mixed feelings about this book. It was a little much but at the same time not enough. It felt like it didn't deliver what it needed to if that makes sense. The beginning started off strong and I really liked Skye and Killian for the first 15%. The stalking was not over the top and it was (dare I say) kind of hot. Also, his nickname for her “sunshine” was adorable. But the entire relationship felt lackluster and the spice too. There is a lot of spice but again I felt like it didn’t deliver. The scenes were quick and felt rushed. A lot of it felt rushed. There was too much description for some scenes and people, then not enough in others. The missing information and time jumps could’ve potentially made the relationship stronger.

For example, there was a part where Skye talks about both of them having nightmares and it would’ve been sweet if there was detail in how they helped each other through them. Then it would’ve felt more genuine when it comes to their relationship. Instead, the reason is that they both felt this pull a.k.a. insta love.

There is also a good portion of time they spend separated (1 year) and it felt kind of unnecessary.

Dark Billionaire Romance. Book Trope= Dark romance, Dominating Alpha Male, Very Spicy, May contain triggers for some readers as book contains abuse from past relationships, alcohol abuse, death of parent and severe violent scenes.
Book Summary: Killian is a Dark, vengeful alpha male but has endearing qualities when it comes to Skye. The fact she falls in love with a man who stalks her may turn some readers off but personally, I thought it was written well and can understand why the 2 main characters are drawn together. This is a story of 2 kindred spirits that harbour darkness that many people don't experience in their lifetime. The dark scenes which may trigger some readers were written well and pulled at my emotions for the characters. Personally, I finished the book in one go as I just wanted to know what happened next for this couple. I would recommend for readers who like to read Dark romances and are fine with the triggers mentioned. Looking forward to reading more in this series.
"You sure are intent on labeling yourself a bad guy. Well, I've always preferred the villain anyway" Skye

Tainted Dreams by Kimberly Quay is a suspenseful romance keeping readers wanting to know more. Killian and Skye each have a rough past making this story and their journey together more captivating. This book has all the passion, steam, chemistry, and sizzle you want from a good romance. This was my first read from this author and it will not be my last.

Wow! Is all I can say I loved this book. I had no clue how it would end up but ready for the 2nd book!

Thank you NetGallery for the ARC of Tainted Dreams by Kimberly Quay.

I just couldn’t get into it this book. There seemed to be a lot of unnecessary bits… or it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

you could not pay me to read this without skipping the useless parts and unnecessary smut scenes (seriously who has that much activity?? concerning)

I could make this short and stop there and YET I will share my unsolicited opinion in details.

1. unbelievable and surreal. she feels him watching her like it's a damn superpower, stop it you are delusional

2. their INTENSE obsession with each other after crossing eyes, 2 YEARS LATER and in their first ever conversation she lets him nibble her earlobe in the middle of the street??? woman you need help

3. impossible to take seriously with the intensity of their relationship and feelings on day 2 of ever knowing each other, him being a stalker and her being turned on by any criminal activity (we've all been there....... but in fiction. your man should be in jail) + sitting on your boyfriend's lap and getting turned on while at DINNER with your brother and your bff right in front of you???? behave yourself

4. the only real positive thing which was great was the character development, her with her emotions and him..... becoming a human person

5. still hard to find them a personality apart from horny and, respectively, vulnerable and alpha male

6. tendency to info dump, in chapter 1 about a character we've never seen but whose backstory is now explained in details, and later about places descriptions

7. not to be repetitive but Skye is seriously insane. again, never really talked to the man, but she "senses a lethal/dark side/an edge in him" girl??? you're so not like other girls, you're crazier

8. "said a voice I had never heard before but recognized instantly." I could not leave out this magical sentence, perfectly capturing the essence of Skye's delusion

9. anyway despite my big meanie comments I still gave it 2 stars because some real efforts were put in the subplots and storylines outside of their (absurd) relationship, which not all romance authors care to do, so thanks for that!

"Tainted Dreams" is an enthralling and captivating romance novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. With its magnetic characters and intense storyline, this book is a rollercoaster ride of emotions and passion.

What sets "Tainted Dreams" apart from other romance novels is the depth and complexity of the characters. Killian and Skye are both flawed individuals with troubled pasts, making their journey all the more compelling. The author skillfully explores their emotional struggles and vulnerabilities, allowing readers to empathize with them on a profound level.

The chemistry between Killian and Skye is electric and palpable. Their interactions are charged with tension and desire, creating a sense of anticipation that keeps the pages turning. The author beautifully captures the rollercoaster of emotions experienced by the characters, from passion and longing to fear and vulnerability.

"Tainted Dreams" is an addictive and passionate romance novel that will leave readers breathless. With its well-drawn characters, sizzling chemistry, and captivating storyline, this book is a must-read for fans of the genre. Prepare to be swept away by the power of love and the depths of human connection in this compelling tale.

An arc in exchange for an honest review, we have Skye and Killian our two main characters.
If you’re into dark sexy romances this is it. I could not set the book down, and I wish I was Skye in terms of having a sexy “stalker” aka our male lead character Killian.
Literally from page one, all I could feel was pure steam, and the chemistry and dynamic between our main characters are super intense from the get-go.
No matter how Killian tries he just can’t seem to stay away from Skye.
Just keep in mind this is a dark romance, so if you’re easily triggered you should steer clear. If you’re looking for a panty dropping book boyfriend, Killian is just extremely hot.

3.75 ⭐️ The grumpiest of grumps and a golden ray of sunshine. Such an enjoyable story that you don’t want it to end. Unfortunately the ending felt rushed like it needed to wrap up all loose ends. I’d rather it bled into another book or novella, but simply a personal preference.
Can’t wait to read other works from Kimberly!