Book Review: Watch Me by Cynthia Eden

Watch Me
Dark Obsession #1 
Author: Cynthia Eden
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance | Romantic Suspense
Released: December 9th 2014
Review Source: Hocus Pocus Publishing | Netgalley

Watch Me…The first book in New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Cynthia Eden’s sexy new romantic suspense series…DARK OBSESSION.

He was hired to protect her.

Watching gorgeous Gwen Hawthorne wasn’t a hard job—but it certainly was tempting. Chance Valentine had tried to keep his distance from the sexy socialite for years, but when her father hired him to keep watch on her—as a twenty-four, seven bodyguard—Chance knew his control was about to be pushed to the limit.

He’d never wanted another woman the way he desired her. Hot. Intense. Consuming. Being so close to Gwen, Chance knew that he wouldn’t be able to resist her. So he gave into his need, her need, and he took them both to the edge of a dark and consuming desire.

But Chance soon realizes that he isn’t the only one watching Gwen. Someone else is out there, a stalker who won’t rest until Gwen is destroyed. Every day, every moment…Gwen is in danger. And Chance knows that if he can’t unmask the stalker, then he may just lose the only woman he has ever loved.

She’s in danger. He’s been hired to protect her. He’s also the man she can’t seem to shake from her mind when their lives come clashing back together when Chance is the only man she’ll allow to bodyguard her. Danger lurks around every corner...

“He’s watching me” ... “He could see me” ... “He knew what I was wearing” 

He watches her, stalks her, and knows her every move. Things get dangerously serious when her bag was stolen and a mysterious van tries to run her over. It’s no longer about stopping the man who’s stalking her; it’s about stopping the man before he kills her.

Chance is hired by Gwen’s father to protect her, but he’s not interested in the money. Not interested in the clientele the powerful man could bring to his business. Gwen was in danger, and that was all he cared about.  But it wasn’t that easy. Gwen and Chance have a past, not one which can be shoved under the rug and forgotten about.

“You could destroy me, and you’d never have to lift a hand to do it.”

I really enjoyed the first instalment to the Dark Obsessions series. And I’m about to say something I’ve never said before...in this novel, I enjoyed the mysterious aspects more than the romantic side. The romance wasn’t lacking, in fact it progressed lovely and we got to see as Gwen and Chance reconnected and sorted things out. But the question of “who is doing all of this and why?” bugged me. It had me intrigued from start to finish and even then I was still shocked when everything unravelled. I loved how it was all planned out and executed.

I’m looking forward to the next instalment, too. The sub-characters were written in an appealing way that I actually want to pick up book two when it’s unleashed on the world (unfortunately there’s been many times where I’ve never picked up book 2 because they weren't appealing enough in book 1). Great job, Cynthia!