his review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

 Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
 Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
 Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.5

 The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.
 
First Impressions
Hook or also known as "Lost in Darkness" depending on the edition you prefer to use or read, is a story that has been on my TBR for years and I was really happy to choose this one while using this book for the romanceopoly prompt for "Rainbow Row". This was a easy book to choose from the books I had listed under it. And I am really happy that I decided to read this one. I love the way that this one developed in the way that it did. I would say that this book is a retelling of sorts, with just some more theme elements of Peter Pan, it does deal with some morally grey aspects to the story in a contemporary setting.

 You are exactly the man I thought you were. And that man is amazing.

First Line
I'm getting more kids.

 The man who thinks he’s the villain but is actually the hero. A beautiful, broken, battered hero. Even if no one else learns the truth, I’ll know it. And I’ll be here to worship him, on my knees and at his feet, offering my body, my heart, and my soul. He is my Captain. And for as long as he’ll have me, I am his.

Summary
"Hook" begins with James also known as "HooK" who is leader of the "lost boys" and enjoys being king of his castle, but he has a great motivation, to destroy the man who destroyed his innocence and the boy he once was and has sacrificed everything he is for his younger brother and the other kids that were at risk if he didn't stand strong against Crocs. Enter in Darling, who works for the FBI, who grew up in the home for a time with James and always pined for the broody pirate. But their lives have led them on different paths, but now they are on a colliding course when Darling goes undercover on Hook's team to bring down Crocs. But them being in such close proximity has forced them to come to terms with their feelings for each other and the passion they feel...

 I want to tell him that I’m not going anywhere. That after everything is over, I have no intention of giving him up. I’ve run the gamut of lovers the past decade—everything from one-night stands to long-term boyfriends—and none of them can hold a candle to this complex, impossible-to-label thing I have with him.

What I Loved
Hook was such a fascinating book and I am so glad that I picked this one up here. I adored it in every way. Despite the slower start, once it picks up I didn't want to put it down. I was so drawn into Hook and Darling's book. Their chemistry was off the charts, but you also see such delicious pining and so many HEARTS AND FEELS that I just feel so hard for. I couldn't seem to get enough of. The Peter Pan theme was fascinating and how its incorporated into this series was simply fascinating. Its not a strict retelling, but just with a theme of it that the author adapts into her own world.

 
I’d rather be ruined by James Hook than be safe with anyone else.
 

What was intriguing about Hook was the unrequited love theme, seeing how John Darling works through Hook's issues and convinces him to take a chance on love. This isn't a an easy feit lol Hook is stubborn and willful and has so much hurt and pain deep inside. I just adored Darling because of the way that he fights for Hook. I just go weak at the knees when I see a character fight for the other in such a brilliant way. He puts aside the ways that Hook wants to hurt him to push him away, and fights against him with his own stubborness and prove to Hook that love is worth fighting for.

 
No one’s gotten to me as much as this man has. And for the first time in my life, I wonder if it’s possible for my heart to emerge from this as something different…something alive and strong with a reason to keep beating long past this mission.
 

The plot was so well developed and kept me on the edge of my seat and especially what happens in the third act, I just couldn't keep still, it was so intense and wild and loved how these two fight for each other in the end and destroy their enemy. And that ENDING ......swoony worthy and left me feeling so satisfied. This is what romance is and I can't wait to read more of this author and this series!!!

 
There’s nothing hotter, nothing tighter, than Johnathan Darling, and he’s all mine, mine, mine. I want to lose myself in his body, I want to make it my home. I want to cover myself in his scent after every shower so I always smell like him. I want to brand him into my skin so he’s forever a part of me, even after I inevitably fuck things up and he walks out of my life.
 

What I Struggled With
The pacing was a bit slow at first, but it picks up quickly once you get into it. So just keep with it, if you struggle with it, switch to the audiobook.

Overall View
Hook is a tension filled romance that brings in some tough topics that are tackled just right. Its a love tale of fierce devotion, deep rooted pain and rising above the darkness to the bright light of love. A TRUE KEEPER OF A READ!

 
“You are the hero, and you deserve a happily ever after. I want to be the one to give it to you, to share it with you. But if you can’t let me in, then you’re dooming us before we even have a fighting chance.”
 

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Character Types: Morally Grey, Law Enforcement, Bad Boy, Tortured Hero
Themes: Pining Hero, MM Love, Fairy Tale Retelling, BDSM
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, Opposites Attract

 
“No, James,” I whisper, hope surging through me when he just barely stiffens. “I’m the man who loves you and knows how your heart works.”
 

Book Perspective
Duo POV

 
But what I can’t find is another heart that beats in time with mine. You’re it for me. I want to help you heal, and I want to spend the rest of my life loving you—even when you push me away.”
 

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both

 
“If you can’t come into the light, then I’ll live with you inside the dark. You don’t need to believe you can be saved, James. I’ll believe it enough for the both of us. You only need to let me love you.”
 

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Jay Crownover
Natasha Madison
LJ Shen

Song This Book Inspires
You Are A Memory by Message to Bears

 
This is the end of everything.
 

Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as a standlone if needed

Steam/Spice Explanations

Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
 Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.


 
“Thank you, Johnathan.” “For what?” “For everything. For being my happily ever after.” “Always, Captain. Always.”