Holy. Crap. This one completely pulled the rug out from under me. I went in thinking I understood what the story was building toward, but by the end I realized I’d been watching the wrong thing the whole time. The depth surprised me. The morally gray FMC and MMC were both compelling in different ways — strong, confident, and human without feeling cartoonish. He’s trauma-coded, dark, and feral in the strangest ways, but light for her. Their chemistry is instant and addictive, and the instalust actually works because it feels intentional, not shallow.

The plot felt believable within its world, and nothing made me roll my eyes. If anything, the final stretch accelerated so fast it almost left me breathless. The ending didn’t just close the book — it escalated everything. I didn’t expect to feel emotional and irritated and completely invested all at once, but here we are. The narration elevated it even more (and yes, the British voice worked). The spice was top tier, but what really made this hit was the psychological layering underneath the heat. This isn’t dark for shock value — it’s about power, choice, restraint, and two morally complicated people recognizing something in each other without flinching.

5 stars. I’d absolutely relisten — especially to catch the clues I missed the first time.

Who should read/listen: Readers who like their dark romance layered, character-driven, morally gray on both sides, and willing to escalate in the last 2%. If you love intensity with intention, this one delivers.

This book ended better than I expected, which honestly surprised me. The overall takeaway was about healing generational impact and recognizing that the damage we carry often isn’t because of us — it’s the result of choices made long before we had any control. That part landed in a quiet, grounded way that felt right by the end.

The FMC was genuinely solid. She made hard decisions for the right reasons, even when they cost her something personally. I really loved the sisters as well — their bond felt real and earned. One of the most interesting emotional threads was the FMC believing her parents’ split was her fault, only to realize it stemmed from her mother’s choices. That reframe felt painfully accurate and well done.

That said, the pacing dragged for me in the middle. There was a stretch where it felt like a lot of words without much movement, and I definitely drifted. It wasn’t bad — just slower and more internal than I tend to prefer.

The narration worked well overall. The narrator fit the tone and setting, and I appreciated that she actually sounded West Virginian — that added authenticity and helped ground the story.

Emotionally, I felt satisfied in a “this makes sense” kind of way. Not blown away, but settled. I didn’t love the devil connection or the blood magic elements — those didn’t really work for me — though I did like the presence of the Mothman conceptually, just not how it was executed.

⭐ 3.5 stars. I wouldn’t revisit it, but I don’t regret the read. For the right reader, especially someone interested in generational healing wrapped in Appalachian atmosphere, it’ll hit better than it did for me.

The Sun Down Motel was creepy but deeply satisfying in the way only a well-constructed thriller can be. From the start, the atmosphere was thick with unease — the kind that seeps in slowly and makes you aware of every sound around you. It hooked me early and never let go, but this was not a nighttime listen for me. Some scenes lingered in a way that made daylight feel like the better choice.

The combination of small-town secrets, a dual timeline, and a genuinely haunted place worked incredibly well. Nothing felt thrown in just to check a trope box — everything fit together naturally and intentionally. The motel itself felt like a character, and the slow unraveling of its history was paced perfectly.

Both FMCs were surprisingly reliable narrators, which I really appreciated. Heather and Nick stood out as grounded, steady presences — the kind of characters that feel real and trustworthy even when everything around them is unsettling. That balance helped anchor the story when things got truly creepy.

The narration matched the tone beautifully. The voices enhanced the tension without overplaying it, which is harder to do than people realize in thrillers. And yes — the creepy elements absolutely landed. The little boy ghost? Immediate no. Full body chills.

This is an easy 5-star read for me. I didn’t catch any plot holes beyond the ones that were clearly intentional and meant to keep you guessing. I’d recommend this to anyone who loves a good thriller that earns its creep factor and delivers a satisfying payoff without cheap tricks.