I would almost say this book is darker and more twisted than the first.
And that's saying something.

In Strokes, we are following Rose as she tries to help heal Anton.
Ivan is away on a business trip in Moscow for two weeks and Anton needs her help more than she needs to be away.

We already knew Anton was dark and twisted.
It's the appeal Rose found in each of the men at Browlace Manor.
But now we get to learn WHY he is this way.



Bea Paige brought to life this obsessive and soul-consuming monster that was hard to put down.
Her writing was just phenomenal and I felt what each of these characters were going through.
I wanted to reach through the book and console each of them as pain and torment seemed to rip them apart.

If you haven't read Steps, then you might not know the depth of warning these books need to have set upon them.
I'm not a person that is triggered easily by things in books, but I will say that this one had me second guessing at times.
I think it was the honesty of the book. Of how real some of these addictions-physical and mental-are.
To come upon someone who suffers this way would be heart-wrenching and unbearable.
But it was a sight to behold to watch Rose anchor herself and become what Anton needed to put away his own demons. Even at great cost to herself.



We do get a few glimpses of Erik in this book as well, mostly in the epilogue, that sets us up for the final book in this trilogy.
It will be interesting to see how his book plays out.
Because I think he will be the hardest of them all to break through. Mostly because of his mother.

These are highly recommended books.
If you are into dark, twisted, and unhinged men...definitely pick it up and read it today.
You won't be sorry.