Hideaway

Oh my, what a delicious ride Hideaway is. An epic dark romance, filled with surprises and suspense. This much anticipated chapter to the consuming Devil's Night series was so worth the wait. Diving more into Kai's world, and the mystery of Banks, will have you up till late hours of the night, devouring this story, and for me, loving these books and this group of characters even more. Kai Mori never thought the threats from the past were buried, not with Damon still out there. He fears more than the others, that he will be back. And he'll want to make them all pay. Kai, Rika, Michael and Will, need to prepare, and work hard to keep their guard up, they need to make sure they are always one step ahead. Kai is in for a shock when he learns, that the women working against Kai and his friends, and making his life more difficult in finding Damon, is none other than the girl he could never seem to forget. One Devil's Night, long ago, Banks, pushed back, ran from and played Kai's games. And now she's here watching his every move, and getting in his way. He'll have to be faster, smarter, and soon he'll be chasing after her once again. Banks has watched Kai from a far for years now, always wanting what she knew she could never have with him. Banks finds herself confused, pulled in two different directions. Her loyalty to Damon, which is all she knows. Finding him and keeping him safe is what she needs to do. But then there is Kai, who she try's to keep at a distant, and not give into temptation whenever he's near. He could ruin everything she's been working for. The want, the need. All the fighting, the sex, the need of being together, yet their different worlds trying to keep them apart. Makes for one passionate and unforgettable romance. I could not get enough of Banks and Kai's back and forth chase. The mystery of who Banks is, where she came from, had me so intrigued from the moment we first got a hint of her. She is a serious bad-ass, I loved being in her head, and feeling the, all over the place emotions she felt. Her loyalty may confuse Kai and the others, and anger some, but Banks is just fighting for what she knows. All she's ever really know. She's just trying to survive. Banks has had to fight and prove she could hold her own. I loved the dynamic of Banks. She was lost, lonely. But strong. Innocent in a lot of ways, but has seen darkness and pain. Being hidden away most of her life, looked past, Banks is slowly embracing a new side of herself. She's finding who she is, and realizing all the things she could have, want, for her life. Kai. Kai Mori. I knew I was going to love this character, but I didn't know how much. And oh man is he my favorite. I mean favorite. Out of all the wonderful, sexy men, Penelope Douglas has given us in her stories, Kai is in the top spot. I LOVED him. A protective, kinky alpha with a dirty mouth, there's nothing you can't love about Kai. Kai is a bit of a mystery, a good guy, who doesn't see that about himself. Kai feels he has to hide a lot of who he is, the darker parts, his needs and thoughts, things to dark, he feels, for some to handle if they saw the real him. Preferring to be alone, Kai finds he hides a lot of himself from his friends, from his family. He fears disappointing them anymore than he already has. Kai has been working hard to get his life back, so he wont let anything or anyone jeopardize that. Penelope Douglas's writing is addicting. Hideaway was intense, a perfect blend of scary, sexy, and it left me craving so much more in this wild world of the Horsemen. I just want to read it over and over again. With characters you don't want to leave, questions that you need answered, and a craving to stay in the darkness just a little longer, ending this book was bittersweet. But I will be happily, and a bit impatiently, cause I NEED more, waiting for the next book.

Woah. I was clutching the book towards the end! The plot was very suspenseful and exciting. I loved seeing the development of the characters, and seeing more into Damon's world. I appreciate that there were a lot of layers to this story and the perspective that Banks brought. It makes me excited for Kill Switch. For a FMC, I didn't know if I liked Banks or not because of how too confident she was in the beginning; however, I appreciate how her character brings a whole level of conflict or considerations to the group. Kai was a great MMC and I do like how human he really is underneath. This book gives me a new appreciation for Michael and Rika too!

Hideaway goes deeper and darker in a way that really surprised me. The story feels heavier emotionally, and you get to see a more vulnerable side of the characters while the tension never really lets up. There’s a constant sense of unease that makes everything feel unpredictable. What stood out to me most was the emotional depth. It’s not just about chaos or drama, there’s a lot of internal struggle and trauma woven into the story, and it adds weight to everything that happens. The characters feel broken in a very real way, which makes their choices messy and sometimes frustrating, but believable. The pacing works well and the atmosphere is intense without feeling rushed. Some parts are uncomfortable to read, but that’s kind of the point. It’s not meant to be easy or clean, and it doesn’t try to soften the darker themes. This isn’t a light read at all, but if you like dark romance with depth, tension, and complicated characters, this one delivers.

Don’t shoot me please and know right away that I’m a big fan of Penelope Douglas. There were many very good things in this book that I’ll explain later but also what I experienced as “inconsistencies” and missed opportunities. Hideaway is Corrupt’s sequel and the books should be read in order. I loved Corrupt: the thrill, the twists, the jerks the revenge etc. And I loved Michael and Rika. One scene was particularly hot and Kai Mori was VERY involved. Kai all mysterious, distant and sexy. I could not wait for his story and the same can be said for Damon’s story. Hideaway revolves around Kai and Banks. Kai and his friends are determined to find Damon as he is a threat to Rika. That’s the official version as Kai has other motives to find Damon. Said motives will only be revealed later in the book and helped keep me interested in the story. What was Kai’s secret? Damon is hiding in plain sight and he escapes all attempts at being found. He is like a ghost! It’s obvious Damon will need some incentive if they want him to “leave his den” so they go looking at his father’s house. Damon’s father, Gabriel, is a cruel and vile man. While visiting him they stumble upon “Banks”. Banks an Kai have history. Six years ago something happened between them at Devil’s Night. You could say it even began earlier that day. On that fateful night Kai discovered a very possessive Damon. Something he never was when women were concerned. Banks could be the leverage they need. OK that’s all for the plot as I don’t want to give spoilers. So what worked for me? Well I loved Kai and Banks. I even loved Banks better than Erika as she had to struggle her whole life just to eat and be considered. Banks is a fighter but she also is insecure as she never attended high school and always wore used outfits. She was also living in a very dangerous environment for girls: Gabriel’s house. Better be a man than a girl toy! She also had a very peculiar relationship with Damon. Some could say an unhealthy relationship but I won’t say more. Suffice to say that she is loyal through and through to Damon. Kai and Banks made perfect sense together and I loved the “hot and cold” as Banks had her reasons to rebuff Kai countless times. You could feel the tension and the chemistry between these two and it took a very strong person to keep Kai at arm’s length like Banks did. I also loved the perpetual threat hanging on their heads as Damon was lurking somewhere and I waited all along to see him make his move. It gave the book a slight oppressive feeling. You know the villain is waiting to catch you but you don’t know when he’ll strike and where he will strike. Above all else I loved all the information about Damon’s past. At the end of Corrupt I said that I would love reading about Damon as I thought he was a complex character and had probably “reasons” to do what he’s done. Hideaway confirmed what I thought and I’m fascinated by Damon. Truth be told what happened to me was appalling! That said several things bothered me. First: what I would call an “inconsistency” or a “hard to believe fact”: Kai never realizes Banks identity whereas someone close to him knows it. You would think after so many years the cat would be out of the bag and I did not think this very believable. Second: we learn pretty soon that Kai loves “watching”. I thought it pretty exciting and expected some hot scenes around that topic but… nothing. Why give us this tidbit and not exploit it? It would have made sense and would have added another steamy layer to the story. Third: Banks always chooses Damon. Yes I can understand why she would do it but on the other hand given the circumstances she should have realized by now that he did not really need her or rather that he was using her for his own benefits. Choose him for some time yes but after so many pages it was tiring. On the other hand I can understand that “the devil you know… “ and all that jazz was appealing to Banks. Given her personal history she craved protection and stability. Something she thought hard to achieve on her own for the girl without high school diploma. Did Penelope sometimes struggle with her story? General opinion So why three stars given all the “plus” here above compared to the “minus”? Well because it’s Penelope and I expect grand things from her. The same as a teacher expects more from brilliant students I desire excellence from Penelope. Recommend it? Certainly! If you have read Corrupt this is a must read. Will I read other Penelope Douglas’s books? Of course! She is among my favorite author. This is probably just a blip. What bothered me may not deter you from your read at all!

As usual Pen didn’t disappoint me. She’s the most talented!! Devil’s Night series became a part of me. The dark romance wouldn’t exist without Pen.

Helaas Beschadigde cover, maar wel correct op tijd geleverd en uiteraard een fantastische boek.

A great book. The way the author leads the story keeps you on the edge, enjoying the twists and turns but the suspense part was low compared to first book. I absolutely adored Kai. He was perfect. Banks was a great character, quite different, deep and with many shades. There was unnecessary drag with the contract marriage sequence, which was a waste of ink. Other than that, leaving apart few loose ends (as the book is not really over since the series is open) this is a very satisfying read.

one of ma favourite

The second book in the Devil’s Night series, Hideaway leaves you guessing with dangerous secrets, twisted loyalties, and intense passion! Each book follows a different character - but they are required to be read in order to fully understand the story. This book follows the story of Kai. He is the perfect anti-hero, whose vulnerability and hidden past is slowly revealed over the course of the story. His love interest, Banks, is a woman who you are left trying to guess her story and figure her out. The chemistry between them is electric from the moment they meet and filled with moments that will make you both swoon and gasp. The pacing of the novel is quick, with a constant flow of high-stakes tension, passionate encounters, and shocking twists. Douglas has a knack for blending romance with suspense, and she expertly builds the world of Devil’s Night, making it dark and thrilling but never overwhelming. You’re left wanting to just straight into the next read as the endings always leave you in suspense! At times, the story can feel a little repetitive, and you might find certain plot elements to be predictable or familiar within the genre. As with all dual POV books you can already guess the love interests and where they end. However, I really enjoyed how Douglas was able to combine a little dark romance with suspense.