Bound to a Killer: A Dark Romance

by Elora Reed

He never meant to hurt her. But she'd already seen his face.

ARIA

I can feel him watching.
Even when he's nowhere in sight.

I spent my whole life being careful. The quiet girl in the corner. Always invisible.
Until the night I saw him kill.
His knife found my throat, a threat still lingering on his tongue.
I was sure that was the end.

But death wasn't what he had in mind.
What he wanted was far worse.

LEDGER

I had one job.
Slip in, eliminate the target, leave no witnesses behind.

I didn't plan on crossing paths with her.
The girl I'd helped just hours earlier.
The girl I should've left behind.

Hurting her was never part of the plan.
But the way she clung to my arm, her grip trembling with something between terror and silent resignation, broke my resolve.
I couldn't bring myself to kill her.
So I did something far more reckless.

I took her instead.

*Bound to a Killer is a standalone dark romance with no cliffhanger. Suitable for ages 18+.
Reader discretion is advised.

Genres: Dark Romance, Forced Proximity, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Slow Burn

364 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2025

About the author

Elora Reed lives in southeastern Michigan with her husband of nine years, two kids, and a steady dependency on sushi and strong coffee. When she’s not knee-deep in laundry or scrubbing syrup off tiny hands, she’s writing emotionally charged romance that dares to blur the line between love and obsession. Her stories dig into the raw, uncomfortable truths of connection. They leave readers wide-eyed, conflicted, and aching in the best way. Elora writes for those who crave messy dynamics, blurred lines, and love stories that don’t just cross the line. They erase it entirely.

Reviews

[Deanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to love notes pr for a arc copy in exchange for a honest review 🎀🫶

This was so complicated and for no reason, like I read the synopsis and thought 'okay this is gonna be a captor x captive romance' and it just didn't deliver what I wanted. I feel like a huge problem with this was that I didn't really like any of the characters and didn't feel chemistry between the main FMC and MMC, also it felt so fast paced and so rushed that it made no sense and the plot was all over the place so much so that it just made me feel disconnected from the story but it was somewhat entertaining.

So for ledger, I honestly don't have much to say other than he felt flat, distant and I just couldn't connect to him as a character or learn to really like him, I mean there was nothing bad about him and there were certain scenes where he was being protective and that was cute but you don't learn much about him or go in depth to learn about him so I just couldn't form a strong opinion unfortunately

Now for miss aria, okay now listen I know she's 17 throughout most of this book so she's supposed to feel immature, adolescent and naive but oh my gosh was it annoying, I mean she was whiny which I guess yeah understandable because she was being held captive but in general she just felt so immature and adolescent that I just couldn't connect with her. Overall I just don't have much to say other than I found her annoying, immature at time and adolescent which I couldn't get behind because this is an age gap so the dynamic between her and ledger didn't feel romantic.

Okay so for them together, this was one of my main issues with the book, I didn't like the couple, it felt like they had zero chemistry and it felt extremely forced and not real, like it just wasn't convincing, there was also barely any real build up to the romance and honestly this barely felt like a romance ngl, like it was just we got a few scenes of them kind of together and could classify as romantic but it wasn't enough, it really just felt like we went from a zero to a hundred real quick, like it felt like we went from her being scared of him and trying to escape to missing him and being in love immediately and I just couldn't get behind this couple because again there was no chemistry and just felt forced, so I just couldn't do it.

Tropes

Captor x captive
He's a serial killer
Virgin FMC
Age gap

[Lilliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The darkness sat next to me and I fell in love with its shade of black."

This book was divine!! I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC, and I'm so glad I did. I dropped everything and started it since my anticipation had me neglecting the adult chores I should've been doing instead. 😅🤣 But I wouldn't change a thing! Bound to a Killer had me giggling and kicking my feet while simultaneously cursing all the scumbag men in Aria's life. Although our dearest MMC, Ledger, is NOT one of those men.

Along with the overall story, I really enjoyed the emotional depth and turmoil explored within both of the main characters. 😩 Aria has grown up in an unstable home, leaving her to fend for herself in her final year of high school. When life can't seem to get any worse, she meets Ledger one harrowing evening. Despite knowing it's wrong, her feelings toward him become complicated. He's her captor, someone who turned her life upside down unapologetically, and someone she knows she should hate, but she can't seem to get her mind, heart, and body on the same page...

“I’m not your damn pet. If you want me to eat, then you’ll have to force my fucking jaw open yourself.”

“If you were my pet, you’d be much more obedient. Should I train you to behave like one?”

“I thought I wanted it, but the whole time his mouth was on mine, I was thinking about yours instead.”

Ledger is aware that he should eliminate the collateral damage created after Aria walks in on one of his kills, but he can't bring himself to do so. Instead, he wants to memorize everything about her, learn why there's a certain kind of sadness behind her eyes, and most of all, be near her intoxicating aura if only to both heal and break her. It doesn't matter if that makes him a selfish man as long as the rest of the world can't leave its mark on her. His stalker tendencies might end up getting him in trouble, but he just can't help himself, especially when it's to keep Aria safe...or so he says.

What I’d give to hear her pant my name into my mouth, just once, while I ruin her.

If you like:
🩸age gap
🩸touch her and 💀
🩸inexperienced x experienced
🩸stalking
🩸contract killer with a soft spot for her
🩸kidnapping
🩸tension and spice
🩸dual POV

then you need to read this book!! I know it'll be living in my head rent free for the foreseeable future.

[honeylu ୨₊˚🌱 · Rating 1 out of 5]

★ very awful; either writing or weird plot choices. dnf (expect a long partial spoiler review) ˙◠˙
: .DNF at 49% !
Genuinely If I could give a zero I would. This is purely the worst book I've read in a while. I'm not fully against stockhome syndrome but this book was terrible. I had to get up at 2:30 am to get this off my chest.
----
Okay so first this whole time I thought she was a minor due to her still being in high school and this threw me off unbelievably. I don't know when her age was confirmed but I saw it in a review of 18. Still I hate the thought of the fmc still in HS romantically involved with a grown man mmc. Not only was she subjected to child molestation from her step dad (on page, past) but also there was on page SA (no penetration, present). I'm not sure who this author is but I will for sure stay away from her forever. This book almost made me ill and tear up from the absolute trauma our fmc goes through. This can not be enjoyable.
IDC about reading the rest of the book the mmc is not redeemable for me!!! From only half-way through the book she's witnessed two murders, sa from a stranger & family, drugging, kidnapping, being tied to a bed for days. Not only that but mmc literally cuddles with her a few HOURS after she's assaulted by this man. Somehow this author makes it seem like this is cute and our fmc gets aroused by his touch. He straight up subjects her to so many forms of abuse. Id like to disclose I don’t have any triggers but I think this formed a new one??
--
It's genuinely getting concerning how people are giving this book 5 stars and calling this a dark romance. He manipulates her in everyway that no one loves her and he's the only one there for her. Then proceeds to threaten her or have his hand around her throat. THIS IS NOT ROMANTIC. This is vile. Our fmc is begging and loosing every bit of will of living to try to escape and he just looks at her.
His only good deed was he actually fed her? (do you hear how crazy this sounds) oh and he killed that rapist. THATS IT. Right before I stopped reading she literally BEGGED him to break her?? GIRL ARE YOU OKAY. I purely can not wrap my head around the "romance" in this book. Now lets get to highlights.
---
Highlights;

"Curves that definitely don’t belong to a high school student." need I say more?

“Just don’t give me a reason to hurt you, and I won’t.” hello????

"If that means I have to force obedience into her, so be it."

Suddenly, his hand glides lower across my abdomen, fingers skating my waistband. “Aren’t you going to tell me to stop?” UMMMM

The threat I made earlier about tying her in the trunk was enough to quiet her sobs... / GUYS this is super romantic.

I step outside then turn to yank Aria’s door open. She flinches. / Did I forget to mention he's dragged her out of the car multiple times?? the flinching thing pops up multiple times; this made me tear up because it hit so close and I purely don't know how this is a romance.

“You’re fighting hard to go back to a place that never wanted you,” DUDE she had friends that understood her.

“You think you know everything now? That you get it?” His words snap like a whip, fast and cruel. The thumb on my neck digs deeper. / This is genuinely when I was about to dnf, he was talking to her perfectly normal to going straight to being deranged and harming her physically.

“You really think you could hurt me more than I’ve already been hurt?” “Baby, I know I can,” GIRL PLEASE RUN AWAY FOR REAL THIS
TIME.

GET READY FOR THIS ONE
"I fling the other up toward the hand clamped around my throat, digging my nails into him but he doesn't budge. The spots in my vision widen." He rubbing her above her underwear in the shower while literally choking her so hard she's loosing oxygen and consciousness. Girl do not cover that up as an orgasm WTF. GUYS I CAN NOT WITH THIS BOOK.
-------
I do not recommend this book to any of my friends BECAUSE WHAT DID I JUST READ. Get me out of here immediately. I cannot believe I wasted a perfectly good night reading this.

[Faiza BEGUM · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Aria who’s been neglected all her life by her mother and had this hope that someday her mother will change for her and will see her. And Ledger who kill people. Aria was somewhere wrong place at the wrong time and witnessed something she shouldn’t and saw what Ledger was doing. Ledger quickly took her with him and held captive. But soon everything change between them. He can’t bring himself to see her in pain or that her having nightmares. When he got to know about her past he was so restless that he didn’t understand why. He couldn’t harm her even he wanted to. They start to fall for each other with time. It was good to see that other characters supporting them specially to Ledger. They have their own HEA.

I honestly enjoyed this books. It’ll make you wonder what’ll happen in next chapter. It’s a good book and I would recommend to everyone. Gentle reminder check trigger warnings before proceeding with it.

[Sammie Murdoch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bound to a killer is a standalone dark romance that has you gripped immediately and keeps hooking you in, desperately needing more!

The story is split into two parts where our Mmc, Ledger and our Fmc, Aria start their journey together as captive - captor. There's high stakes, so much tension and an undeniable connection. Everytime I thought I knew what was going to happen, I was wrong. It really kept me on my toes and I had so much fun reading it.

The second part is where they turn into a Stalker/ stalked dynamic and this part definitely pulled at my heart strings more. Watching them both question if the decisions they've made were the right ones. Him trying to protect her from afar. And poor Aria just never seeming to be able to catch a break. But damn, the drama is delicious!

🔪 Killer Romance
🩶 Morally Gray MMC x Inexperienced FMC
💀 Touch her and DIE
🔪 Forced Proximity
🩶 Seven-year Age Gap
💀 Kidnapping
🔪 Stalker
🩶 Spice
💀 Captivity to Stalker Obsessed
🔪 High School Setting

And the best part... the book is out now!! Go and enjoy! But check those trigger warnings out first! 🖤

[destiny · Rating 4 out of 5]

arc review to come 🖤

[Catheryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story starts off strong and was difficult to put down. I enjoyed the plot of this story and was surprised by the direction it took. I was very surprised by several events that happened but I wanted more explanation. I had so many questions regarding Ledger and his past. Some of the details didn't make sense to me. Also some of Aria's home life had me questioning things. I wanted to see more relationship growth in the second half of the story. I know its a dark romance, but it was difficult to read when every person she came across wanted to do her harm in some way, with the exception of one or two characters. If she wasn't talking, she was crying or being choked.

While the relationship was a bit lacking for me, the plot was pretty crazy and I could not put it down. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you Love Notes PR for the ARC.

[Tracy McDonell · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

Bound to a Killer was Elora Reed’s debut novel and I want to thank Elora for the opportunity to read her work as an ARC reader.

This book lacked connection with the characters. I did not feel any emotion between them and that caused the book to fall short for me. I did not mind the age gap it was just the lack of relationship and connection between the main characters that lost me.

I do think the lack of connection between the two characters caused the pace of the book to drag on through the middle.

There were some missed moments to strengthen the plot in the story.. and intensify some of the characters… to make the story more exciting and actually feel like it finished.

I am looking forward to reading more of Elora’s future books… she does have potential!!!

[Karen Brooks - TheTxLitChic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bound to a Killer
~Elora Reed

Bound to a Killer! Lawdy have mercy - this book sank its teeth into me from the prologue and did not let go! Before diving in, I strongly recommend reading the trigger warnings and taking them seriously. And above all else, remember: your mental health matters. If at any point you feel overwhelmed, please reach out to someone.

Aria wakes up to find her mother has, once again, completely wrecked her life. Her clothes and car are gone, she has nothing to wear to school, and she’s got a presentation first period—the one she stayed up all night finishing. Walking to school means she’ll be late, and failure isn’t an option if she hopes to earn the scholarship that could finally break her family’s generational curse. But as the day spirals, she learns the hard way that things can always get worse.

Enter Ledger—a grumpy, brooding, tattooed contract killer who swears he never does collateral damage… until Aria. When she accidentally walks in on one of his kills, he’s forced to make a split-second decision: take her out or take her with him. What he doesn’t expect is that when the time comes to “handle” the situation, he can’t bring himself to end her life. Instead, all he wants to do is protect her from the constant nightmares and curve balls life has to throw at her – oh, and keep her for himself.

Reed does an excellent job crafting emotionally resonant characters. Aria, especially, feels raw and real, her vulnerability and determination creating an immediate emotional connection with the reader. Ledger, while compelling, left me wanting just a touch more depth - though his mystery adds to the intrigue. My only small critique is that I wished Aria’s age had been clarified sooner. While the age gap is disclosed in the trigger warnings, the delay in confirmation left some early confusion about her being sixteen or eighteen – she drove so I knew she was at least sixteen.

Bound to a Killer has an undeniably cinematic quality. From the first page, Reed drops you straight into Aria’s world - the teenage chaos, the fear and adrenaline of witnessing a m*rder, the tension of captivity, and the slow-burn familiarity that forms between her and Ledger. You don’t just read Aria’s journey - you live it alongside her.

If you’re craving a dark, obsessive, age-gap romance with a fresh twist on the stalker trope, I highly recommend adding Bound to a Killer to your TBR. I, for one, am eagerly waiting to see what comes next for Aria - and what Elora Reed releases next.

I would like to thank Love Notes PR and Elora Reed for allowing me the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC for Bound to a Killer. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review.

Karen aka TheTxLitChic

[Caitlyn Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a thriller type dark romance then you are going to love Bound to a Killer! I read this in one day and it was such a fun and quick read while also grabbing at your heart strings a bit. Aria hasn't had the easiest life growing up and I felt awful for her and how she just couldn't catch a break. Her and Ledger are thrown into each other's lives when she ends up being a witness to one of his... jobs - which forever changed her life.

Ledger sees something in Aria before she even realizes it herself and he doesn't want her to lose her fight or her light. Just like Aria eventually starts to see Ledger for who he really is, even if he refuses to see the good in himself. I won't give anything away, but there are lots of secrets and even a few betrayals that happen that had me wondering who I could really trust and I LOVED that! You start second guessing a few characters and trying to figure out how everything is going to play out - and there was definitely a little plot twist in there that I didn't see coming!

I'm always a sucker for an age gap, even if it's a small one and the things ledger would say? Aria has more will power than I would have because I was rooting for him instantly lol. If you love a good slow burn then you'll appreciate their relationship even more because the tension between them was HIGH and made the ending so worth it. I wasn't expecting this to have so much of a thriller kind of vibe but considering I devoured it in a day, it's safe to say I absolutely loved it!

[Emmy Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was amazing, the perfect amount of darkness, tension, angst and smut. This book took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions though I was crying half the time. One of my favourite micro tropes is serial killer mmc, and that is perfection paired with the Stockholm syndrome trope. I loved the plot of this book, it was very intricate, well thought out, and I was stunned by lots of the plot twists. She witnessed his latest kill, she’s a liability, and he should kill her like a good serial should, but instead he doesn’t have the heart to and kidnaps her instead. She’s terrified obviously but when her kidnapper starts to comfort her when she has nightmares and protects her from everything, she starts to catch feelings. And him? Well he’s been down bad from the start, he’s the definition of pining. He’s a vigilante who thinks he’s going to “corrupt” her and ruin her life, honestly if I had a dollar for every time I’ve seen that trope I’d be like 100 dollars richer. But however it didn’t irk me like it usually does, I felt attached to the characters and hearing him constantly put himself in pain made me cry. I adored both of the main characters, the storyline was amazing, and the writing was great. I can’t wait to read more from her. I give this a 5/5

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

*arc review*

The way Ledger and Aria had me in a chokehold. This is the absolute BEST kind of dark romance, it’s fucked up in all the best ways. The way this man tried to fight every feeling, the way he consistently showed up for her 🥹 I think it’s safe to say these two are gonna be living rent free in my brain forever now so thanks Elora for that 😂 this whole story altered my brain chemistry in the best way and I’m pretty sure I’m in love 🖤

[Nora]

THE WAY THIS BOOK HAD A CHOKEHOLD ON ME!!! I can’t move on from Aria and Ledger, like I’ll be thinking about them forever and ever😭🖤 I’ve never read a captive romance done quite like this before, the balance between captivity and emotions building in the second half struck the perfect balance and it’s so so so good😮‍💨❤️‍🔥 I need to go contemplate my life rn

[Holly Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read from this author and I will definitely be reading more. This caught me right at page 1. The good girl and the bad boy trying to keep her and himself safe. A must read🩷🥰

[Liana · Rating 4 out of 5]

“She has no idea just how far I would go to keep her as mine. She wouldn’t want to know.”

Title: Bound to a Killer by Elora Read
Author: Elora Reed
Date read: 10/23/25 *ARC*
Release Date: 11/7/25
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Tropes:
🖤Dark romance
🖤Kidnapping
🖤Age gap
🖤Stalking/ obsessed MMC
🖤Past trauma
🖤Slow burn tension
🖤Touch her and literally ☠️
🖤Morally gray MMC

This one had me hooked from page one and I really couldn’t put it down—I had to know what would happen next! I received an ARC and I did stop in the middle of two other books to pick this one up. I may not have also stayed up until 2am reading. Let me tell you—I regret nothing!

This is a unique take on the stalker/kidnapper trope, the likes of which I haven’t read before. Normally first comes the staking and then comes the kidnapping, but in the world of contract killers and innocent 18-year-olds who were in the wrong place at the wrong time, this gets flipped on its head. I already couldn’t put the book down, but when he truly starts obsessing over her?? My kindle was GLUED to my hand.

There was a good flow to this book, and it was quite well-written in terms of prose and sentence structure. I will say that I wish there was a bit more depth to the characters, their motivations, thoughts, etc. There seemed to be a level of telling rather than showing, and it felt a bit rushed towards the end for me. I also found myself wondering—how the heck old is anyone in this book? Eventually, we learn Aria is 18, but how old is Ledger? I do think clarifying ages is important when we’re looking at an age-gap story.

And not a spoiler because this happens right off the bat, but I did have to suspend my disbelief for the setup of the story because like, she didn’t even know he was in the house, he definitely could’ve left without her knowing a thing. I think it probably would’ve worked better if she did witness the crime. But we can pretend, okay, I know it’s fiction lol.

Also I have to say, even though I haven’t found myself being kidnapped by a hot man, witness to a murder, or in really any of the situations Aria finds herself in throughout the book, she was certainly relatable (and not just because she falls for the broody older guy with tattoos who is kind of a jerk). Before being taken, she’s just trying to survive her day-to-day between a neglectful mother, bullying peers, and striving to be perfect so she doesn’t cause trouble. That last part is where I think many will be able to see themselves in her.

“I’ve spent my whole life being too careful. It’s exhausting. To live that way… closed off, always anxious, anticipating the worst. Like if I could just intercede before the inevitable pain, I’d be better off for it.”


Overall I really enjoyed this and will happily read more from this author! There was angst, drama, action, spice, and enough tension to keep your blood pumping. I would definitely recommend reading if you like your heroes morally gray, with a soft spot big enough only for his heroine.


“This right here… This is all we get. It’s either a cataclysmic, life-altering change, or we play it safe and live pretending the ache of what could’ve been doesn’t bother us. That we don’t regret not taking the risk.”

[Rae Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW ✨

Bound to a Killer by Elora Reed

Spice Level: 🌶️

Rae’s Rating: 💀💀💀

This is my honest opinion without being too critical. Of course I recommend to everyone to read these books themselves and form their own opinions but for anyone here for Rae's rambles... Here ya go~

Man, I love vigilante killers who are obsessed with just one girl. After Aria accidentally stumbles upon one of Ledger's kills, she finds herself his unwilling captive, putting Ledger in a very messy situation, risking everything he's trying so hard to protect.

The characters were the best part of this story.

Ledger is not like the normal unhinged killer characters.. Ledger is actually extremely intelligent. He has a plan, he's calculating, he's cold and ruthless except when it comes to Aria. You can tell he cares about her, he's protective and very sweet to her. I was squealing every time he crawled into bed with her while she was having her nightmares just to try and calm her down. That is such a sweet thing for him to do and even when he was angry at her for trying to escape... He still cared.

Now Aria? I am known for not liking FMC's. But she was okay. She wasn't just going to lie down and cry and just be his willing little captive. She was smart and planned her escape attempts and she actually got fairly close... Ledger was just a little smarter.

There was very little spice and honestly that was okay. This relationship didn't need a lot of spice to develop. Their relationship developed through actions. Ledger risking himself over and over again to protect her. Aria trusting Ledger to keep her safe.

Here's where the book lost me a little. The pacing was a bit weird. It felt backwards. The main conflict was resolved about halfway through the book and the second half just felt like it dragged on to develop the relationship? Like, I feel like the main conflict with Ledger and his boss should've been how the story ended instead of just dropping that scene in the middle of the book and leaving the second half for slow burn development?

I still had a really fun time reading this. I read it extremely quickly and it wasn't too dark at all. Definitely not really a dark romance in my opinion. It was just a slow burn romance with darker elements. It could feel a little insta-lovey at times with Ledger immediately being drawn to Aria and Aria torn between her hatred for him kidnapping her and her immediate attraction to him but it was done well. Aria didn't immediately trust him and Ledger definitely didn't trust her right away as well.

Thank you so much to Love Notes PR and the lovely Elora Reed for trusting me with your story ♥️✨

[Rebecca Bushell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay so this was an ARC read for me. And i was so happy when I got accepted to be an ARC reader.

The concept and storyline of this book really captured my attention. However I am rating this one 3 stars.

I am really torn with my rating for this one, because I did like this book, don't get me wrong, I didn't want to put it down when I started reading this one. The characters really intrigued me.

The characters were all great individually, however, for me personally, I just didn't really get the connection between the main character's. I kind of did feel a bit forced and rushed maybe. Which disappointed me a little bit because I did really like the characters. Their back stories were interesting and really vibed with the character development, but again it kind of felt rushed, especially for the FMC.

I didnt feel like the ending really went with storyline and the characters.

But hats off to the author because she did a great job and again I am torn with my review because I really did like the book, but I think some things maybe could have been written a little bit differently maybe (im no author so dont really have a clue lol)

PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE READING BECAUSE THIS EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A ROM-COM IT IS STILL A DARK ROMANCE AND WILL NOT BE FOR EVERYONE... SO KNOW YOUR LIMITS AND HAPPY READING!! 

[Camis.little.library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d rate this 3.75-4 stars! For a debut dark romance, I really enjoyed this one- and read it in a day!

-Captor/Captive
-Age gap (she’s 18)
-Dual POV
-Morally Grey MMC
-Spice
-Check TW’s

Overall I enjoyed this one- and it had me hooked literally from page 1, I barely put it down! It’s fast paced, a lot happens, there’s some spice, and slow burn between our MC’s.

I enjoyed Ledger, his possessiveness, and his stalking tendencies over Aria! Who doesn’t love a touch her and you’ll 💀 moment!

For a debut dark romance I thought it was done well, I enjoyed the writing and pacing, and loved the ending (even though I was there was more)!

However, also overall- I wish there was more, in that we had more detail, more plot, more time to develop connections to our MC’s and even supporting characters. I’d love to have seen a deeper dive into our MC’s life personally before the story started, and also known better time frames of how long this story was taken place over.

As a whole, I enjoyed this story and would love to see a second book for Frankie!

[Alexandra Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one completely pulled me in from the first chapter. It’s one of those dark romances that keeps you on edge — equal parts danger, emotion, and undeniable chemistry. The main characters had that type of push-and-pull dynamic that makes every scene feel intense. You can feel the tension even if they are trying to fight it

I liked how the story balanced the darker, grittier moments with real emotional depth. You learn more about their past and the reason behind their choices. The pacing was fast but not rushed, and every twist had me wanting to read just one more chapter.

If you love dark romance with a protective antihero, a strong heroine, and a plot that keeps you guessing, Bound to a Killer definitely delivers. It’s steamy, suspenseful, and full of that addictive energy that makes it hard to put down.

[urarchive · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3 stars for me

The story is divided into two parts. Part one feels like riding a roller coaster, while part two feels more like riding a carousel on a bumpy road. Bad analogy, I know lollll. But if you read it, maybe it’ll make sense hahaha.

I like Aria in the early part of the book because her reactions felt so realistic. Also, the fact that she’s 18 didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. However, I just imagined her 20 or older.

I have a lot of questions and some things just don’t sit right with me. But overall, it was an okay read.

[Angie Brennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bound to a Killer pulled me in and kept a hold on me till the end. I read the whole book in just 2 sittings, I couldn't put it down. Very well written, easy to follow, and very relatable characters. Even though there is an age gap and the FMC is in high school, it didn't give ick vibes. I was rooting for Aria and Ledger all the way. There's just enough spice to keep you tingling and hoping for more. Plenty of surprising little twists and turns throughout. Be sure to check trigger warnings if you have any triggers.

[Egi Karafili · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

OMG this book. Rollercoaster of emotions and screaming for the MCs to get together! Lol. I don’t want to give anything away, but if you like a morally-grey MMC, age gap, “touch her and d**” vibes…this is the book for you.
.5 off because I (selfishly) wanted more time between the two main characters alone and less time/dialogue with the side characters. What a debut novel this was and a joy to read.❤️

[Karla Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a debut, I genuinely think this was really solid — I can see this author growing into something fierce in the dark romance space, and I’m already curious what she does next.

I took one star off for a personal preference thing: this is marketed as an age gap, which I’m normally fine with, but I would’ve preferred the FMC to be out of high school. Even if she’d been early college age, I think it would’ve made the dynamic feel a little more believable and grounded. That might just be me reading this at 35, but I like my FMCs with a bit more life experience when the romance is this intense.

Still — the writing pulled me along, the dark tension worked, and the chemistry had its moments that truly hit. Great debut!

[Farrahlea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author's portrayal of the MFC's struggles is so raw and relatable, isn't it? It's like, yeah, some days just get the better of you, and it's nice to see that kind of realism in a story. Made the character feel so real and likeable, despite all the chaos around her.

[DreamingInPages · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5
A rollercoaster. That is how I would describe this book. It felt like every single time I turned a page, it was the equivalent to a drop or a swerve.
I was utterly consumed by this book. The plot. The suspense. The characters. Aria and Ledger!
I couldn’t stop reading about them. The fear. The yearning. The tension. The spice! I loved all of it.
The yearning was so consuming—on both ends. The way the two of them just kept being pulled together.
What I really liked was that half of the story was focused in Ledger’s world and the other half in Aria’s. It felt satisfying to read of their circumstances in both their world.
I am so thankful that I was able to receive an advanced copy of this book. I just wish I could read more about Ledger and Aria after they get together. But overall, i really enjoyed this book.

[Bree ♡︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC 🖤

[Natacha Silva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, eu dei dnf, mas sendo que li a grande maioria, sinto que posso escrever a review (isto vai contabilizar para os lidos do ano, no entanto, no meu registo não vou contar com ele).
Este livro está all over the place, honestamente.
Senti 0 conexão com os personagens e, para além disso, o facto que ela é menor de idade é um turn off para mim.
Tudo o que acontece é muito aleatório para mim. Acho que a personagem que é melhorzinha é a Frankie. De resto? Todos têm cenas muito aleatórias (Nem me façam falar no Tanner, esse teve a cena que eu fiquei mais "que raio?" do livro todo).
Não terminei porque, a cada capítulo, metiam mais alguma coisa no plot que eu ficava "mas porquê?", e porque honestamente não quero o casal junto.

[Lily G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Love Notes PR for the ARC. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. I struggled to connect with the characters, and the pacing felt a bit too fast for my taste. The dynamic between the FMC and MMC never fully clicked for me, and their connection came across as flat. I often found myself trying to piece together the plot, and some motivations such as the MMC’s decision to kidnap her remained unclear.

While I typically enjoy an age gap romance, the FMC being in high school while the MMC was significantly older made the relationship feel uncomfortable in this context. Overall, this book simply wasn’t the right fit for me, though I appreciate the opportunity to read and review it.

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m grateful for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this debut novel by Elora Reed. Before diving in, I’d recommend checking trigger warnings, as the story includes instances of SA and DV. When I realized our FMC, Aria, was only 18 and still in high school, it honestly pulled me out of the story. While she’s technically of age, she’s still very young when she meets our MMC, Ledger, which made certain dynamics feel uncomfortable.

It also felt like Aria ran back to Ledger too quickly after part one, and the sudden attempt to patch things up with her mom felt squeezed in at the last minute. I went into this one with high hopes, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite meet my expectations.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bound to a Killer contains triggers such as age gap, sexual content, violence, sexual assault, parental neglect, captivity, rape, blackmail, alcoholism, drug use, murder, guns, knives, stalking, kidnapping.

Bound to a Killer, a gripping dark romance that delves into morally gray areas, forbidden love, and the blurring of lines. Expect a standalone story packed with intense themes like forced proximity, kidnapping, and obsession, all set against the backdrop of a high school setting. Told in dual POV and 1st person, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat!

I rated this book 5* the gripping plot twists had me hooked from start to finish, especially the shocking reveals certaincharacters. Aria's ending is incredibly satisfying, a true testament to her strength after everything she's been through. This book is an emotional rollercoaster as I found myself giggling one moment and fuming at the men in the next.

The chemistry between Ledger and Aria is undeniable - it's addictive and emotionally charged, making their tumultuous journey all the more captivating. Aria's final year of high school is marred by her unstable home life, but her life takes a drastic turn when she meets Ledger in a chaotic encounter. Despite the complicated circumstances, her feelings for him become increasingly entangled. As her captor, he's turned her world upside down, leaving her torn between her thoughts, heart, and body.

Aria's morning quickly spirals out of control when her mother's actions leave her stranded, jeopardizing her crucial presentation. As she fights to salvage her day, a hidden secret from her past puts her in the crosshairs of a deadly killer.

Ledger, a hardened contract killer with a rugged exterior, breaks his own rules when Aria stumbles upon one of his hits. Instead of eliminating her, he decides to protect her from the dangers that lurk in every corner - and keep her for himself. Initially, Ledger's mission was clear, but his encounter with Aria adds a complex layer to his plan. He unexpectedly spares her life after their chance meeting.

This book is a must-read for those who aren't easily triggered and are looking a dark romance with an age gap and a twist on the classic stalker theme.