Okay, so I just finished 'The Butcher' and my brain is still in Paris with Bastian and Fleur. This book? Unputdownable. Like, 'who needs sleep anyway' unputdownable.

Bastian is THAT guy – the kind of dangerous that makes your Kindle overheat. Cold exterior, fiery possessiveness, and a moral compass that points straight to 'questionable'. Fleur? Queen of resilience. Her character arc from broken to bold had me cheering into my pillow at 2AM.

The chemistry? Nuclear. Penelope Sky writes tension so thick you could cut it with one of Bastian's knives (and he has many). That scene in Chapter 12 where they—*ahem*—never mind, no spoilers.

What surprised me was the emotional depth beneath all the steam. There were moments that punched me right in the feels between all the criminal underworld drama. The way Bastian slowly reveals his layers? Chef's kiss.

Only critique: I needed more descriptions of Paris! When they're walking by the Seine or through Montmartre, I wanted to smell the croissants and hear the accordions.

Already pre-ordered Book 2. My productivity at work tomorrow will suffer, but c'est la vie when you find a series this addictive!