I found this one tough to get through, so I am going to be holding out for the audiobook instead—especially since the audio for Book 1 set such a high standard. The narrators, as expected, did a fantastic job. Unfortunately, it’s the story and character development this time around that really fell short for me. Because ok one was amazing and it had so much expectations set for this that it fell short for me.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Do not let my duration to read this book fool you, it was absolutely amazing. I loved this more than book one which I find crazy! But the story and the character and the spice scenes were just amazing.

I beg everyone to read this book! You can read as a standalone and I recommend listening to it on audiobook 👏

Having also read book one, I have to say I much preferred Caught Up to Lights Out. I liked that Junior and Lauren’s relationship wasn’t as aggressive and dark, as what Aly and Josh’s was. Given how the book ended, it’s easy to guess who the main characters will be in book 3.

Caught up review:

I finally had the time to pick up and read Caught up and it did not let me down! I absolutely adored Lights out and i was ready for another book by Navessa!
First of all I need to explain how much I LOVED the audiobook! Teddy Hamilton’s voice fit perfectly to Junior!
I really liked how this book wasn’t a copy and paste of Lights out and was its own separate book entirely. I LOVE a mafia man, but matched with a camgirl is utterly unmatched!
Overall this book was a really good time, I binged it in under 24 hours… Im loving the vibes of this series and can’t wait to read what Navessa comes up with next👀

… better than the first one! I know not a lot of people will agree but I di feel this was the better one in the standalone series. Deeper, filled with more angst than humor, it altered my brain chemistry

I came for the spice, but stayed for the plot! Great fun, I will explore other titles by this author now.

I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as I thought I was going to, which I am really sad about. Lights Up was hilarious, dark and sexy. This was a bit ... lacklustre in my opinion.

I enjoyed the voyeurism scenes and the beginning chapters when Junior was still watching and enjoying Lauren from afar. I found that as the book went on, I wasn't excited about the plot.

I did however really enjoy Ryan as a side character, and loved the appearances of Josh and Ally. And seeing Junior's dad getting tased? BEST PART OF THE BOOK.

But yeah, in a nutshell this was not a hit for me. SORRYYYYYYYYY I needed more darkness, more stalking, more grit :(

DNF

I really struggled to read this one, so instead was waiting for the audio to come out and listen instead as Book 1's audio version remains absolutely unchallenged in it's greatness. I'll start by saying the narrators are great, as to be expected, it's sadly the story and characters that are lacking :(

The funny banter and cringe humour of book 1 is absent and it really shows as the same charm just isn't there, which is what hooked me last time!!! I didn't warm to the characters at all and I think that in itself is where it falls short as I just keep comparing back to lights out where the characters had such life.

So glad to get the opportunity to read, or at least part read, just sad it wasn't for me!

I loved the first book and my feelings are the same for the second one. I like the characters and the spice level is perfect. Also, the covers! So beautiful and edgy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

I personally didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first. The banter and “humour” felt extremely forced :( I still love love love this series and will read the next one but this one just wasn’t as good

All I can say, is Nico please get in my bed. Lauren can come too actually 🤣 I have seen some reviews about this book where people have said ‘it’s not the same vibes as lights out’ and THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT. Don’t get me wrong, Josh and Ali are my angel babies and yes, we will ride that handle any day, I loved their cameos in this book, but Lauren and Nico are just on a different level.

I absolutely loved their dynamic in this book, the opening adventure into the kink world, the way certain topics were dealt with so delicately and our poor little Nico just wanting to be a good and wholesome man. I ate this UP.
It was hot, intriguing, engaging and I loved the vulnerability these two had. The dad can suck an egg for sure, but I did like seeing more into the family dynamics and how the family worked when we were introduced in the first book.
I was kept on the edge of my seat and I read it in one sitting. Please Navessa, I need more!

This was a fun one - the vibe is different to Lights Out but more what I anticipated from a dark romance. Lights Out left me craving a little more weight to the plot and this one delivered! Handling themes around sex workers is delicate and I appreciate the author for seeking their advice beforehand - and it truly shows. The pacing wobbled a little as the romance was dotted amongst the more serious mafia plot but was still entertaining enough to keep me going. Navessa is a talented author with some room for growth and I can't wait to see how the last book in the trilogy turns out ❤

After reading the first book in the series which I enjoyed a lot I had very high hopes for this book. Unfortunately they were not met. I was missing the lightheartedness and humor that distinguished the first book. This one was rather run-on not very fun and rather more a story advocating for sex workers rights. I would still recommend the book to our customers depending on what kind of dark romance they ask for and whether this book fulfills their descriptions.

Ok Lights Out would always be a tough act to follow and I like this but LO is still my favourite! I like how the world is expanding though and am intrigued what will come next… 👀

📸🏍️📸🏍️

Premise:
Junior (Aly’s cousin, and 2nd in command to his mobster father) has just made a man ‘disappear’. And his first course of action, is to reconnect with the man’s daughter, Lauren, his first love who he hasn’t seen in 10 years.

But Lauren hasn’t forgiven him for destroying her life all those years ago. But little does she know, Junior has been stalking her through her cam work, and his obsession is strong.

📸🏍️📸🏍️

Themes / Tropes: Trust issues ; Second Chance Romance ; Stalker ; Kink club ; Camgirl FMC ; Mobster MMC ; Voyeurism.

📸🏍️📸🏍️

Lights Out was a hands down 5 star read for me and whilst I like that this one went in a different direction, and didn’t just copy and paste, it didn’t have me obsessed in the same way. I really missed the humour in Lights Out (mainly Josh’s ridiculous mind), and whilst Junior and Lauren had some fun banter, it wasn’t the same.

But looking at separately to LO, what I liked:

📸 Lauren is a fab FMC! She’s very empowered when it comes to sex and her life! And I love that in a female character, especially in a mafia romance, as sometimes the characters can be weaker. If you liked Aly, I think you’ll like Lauren!

📸 The dynamic of the two! They are both fun and freaky from the outset, especially with their first experience in the voyeur room 👀 and I love that they both don’t kink shame and allow each other to explore what they want. Plus how supportive Junior is of Lauren’s career 🫶

📸 The wider world and characters! Firstly obvs Aly and Josh make cameos and it fills my heart 🥰🥰 I love seeing them post THAT epilogue in the last book! Also Josh has new friends and I feel so proud 🫶 But also I love the potential for new books! Firstly, I knew Tyler would have potential from book 1, and I love what we saw of him this book 👀 plus I’m intrigued if anything will come of Junior’s brothers. Alec was very entertaining and Stefan is a dark horse… let’s see how far this series goes!!

📸 The spice. There’s no ride the handle moments but the kink club does not disappoint! And given Lauren’s job it’s pretty hot from the outset! I would say it’s perhaps less plot driven than the first book, but still fun! My only disappointment was the lack of the utilisation of the bike for some fun…

But bring on book 3!!

A very anticipated sequel to Lights Out!

The spice was spicing and the story had humour and excitement. Maybe it was that Lights Out was something new and interesting and the hype that surrounded it just didn’t transfer to this book. I enjoyed it but it will never beat its predecessor.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I couldn't imagine the pressure to follow up after such a banger like Lights Out, but Navessa Allen absolutely slayed with Caught Up!

Nico and Lauren were kinda not really one-time childhood sweethearts, until Nico does her dirty, lies, and basically ruins her teenage life. They don't cross paths again until years later, when Lauren's dad dissapears, and Nico'sdark obsession can't be lived through a screen anymore.

Lauren is the epitomy of a confident, badass queen who knows who she is and what she wants. Nico on the otherhand gives off a bit of a slimey grunt vibe, despite Allen's attempts to position him as a saucy bad bo. It took me a while to warm up to him, but once I did the chemisty between the two was frothy!
For the lights out fans, we get to interact with our besties Ally & Josh again, and we meet a whole new found family to fall in love with, and despite all the darker elements, this story doesn't lack and vulneraility or deeper, heartfelt moments.

“He’s ruthless; a walking red flag. Good thing red is my favorite color.”

Comparing Caught Up to Lights Out I think is a bit of a disservice, introducing a new F&MMC is going to change the dynamic, the story and introduce a whole new chemisty, and I think Allen does a great job at recreating the same magic in a new story.

Side note: Personally, I felt a bit icky everytime we referred to Nico as Junior.

I read this as an e-arc, and I cannot wait to listen to this in audio 🔥🔥

#bookreview #arcreview #lightsout #caughtup #intodarkness #darkromance #romance #bookrecommendation #booklover

Holy moly! I LOVED this book!!!
Nic is everything!! He takes touch her and d*e to a new level and I’m here for it!
I didn’t think I would prefer this over lights out, but I really, really do!
It was SO good!!!
The supporting cast especially nonna bianchi is a hoot! I love Taylor and Ryan as well.

first off, screaming that I got the chance to read this before it was released. lights out was one of my all time favourites and caught up did NOT disappoint !!! sometimes when the MMC is infatuated from the start it annoys me, but Navessa just writes so beautifully and it added to the storyline nicely. the spice in this book is next level but I also just love Lo and Junior’s characters and personalities. a 10/10 dark romance book x

⭐️⭐️

After feeling like I wasn’t sure what my feelings were after Lights Out, I’m sure glad this book cleared them up for me. This series just isn’t for me unfortunately. The lightheartedness (if you can even call it that) from Lights Out wasn’t really here in this one, and at some points felt a bit too wordy? One thing I am certain of - the main fella has a motorbike and we are for sure made aware of this fact.

Mafia romance fans this might be for you, but alas not for me.

Thank you to Quercus books for the eARC of this book. I leave this review honestly and voluntarily

First of all, I want to start this off by thanking quercusbooks for approving me for the ARC of this book!

I really enjoyed the mob aspect in this book. It was so interesting to get a bit of background surrounding Junior and his ties to the mob, especially having a father like Nico Trocci.

Junior’s temper was unmatched, and I adored how he was so protective of Lauren, and tried to make life better for her, unbeknownst to her.

And LAUREN! What an absolute brilliant character. She was so confident, and fiery, and I loved her bite. Definitely a good match for Junior.

The spice wasn’t entirely for me, but that’s simply down to personal preference. So, if you like a VERY spicy read, perhaps involving some public stuff, then you might just love this!

Overall, a very good, quick read for me. Can’t wait for the next instalment!