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Dark Alliance #0.5

Crave Me Roughly

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For almost twenty years, he’s been watching me in secret. This dark, sensual, dangerous man who steps out of the shadows to help me when I need it the most. He won’t accept any payment other than a kiss. But it’s a kiss that sparks a dark desire in a secret, hidden part of me. And when he touches me, all I crave is the kind of dangerous passion that he offers.

Then I learn the truth—he’s not a man at all. He’s a vampire.

The love that burns between us is forbidden, but now it’s too late for me to turn back. Perhaps it always was. Because no matter how much danger stalks us both, I’ll sacrifice anything to keep him safe.

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Published August 17, 2022

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Kira James

8 books69 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
Profile Image for CoCo 🇬🇭.
200 reviews32 followers
June 18, 2023
3.5⭐️
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this.

This is a prequel novella therefore it serves as only a very quick intro to the Dark Alliance series - a paranormal romance series.

📖 Read this if you love
Paranormal romance
Vampires
Forbidden lovers
Insta-love
(fated mates vampire)
Twists and turns


This is the introductory story focuses mainly on Luke who is a vampire many centuries old and twenty-five year old, attorney/prosecutor Sara.

Everything happened so fast and a felt a bit rushed but its understandable since it's about 90 pages so there is not much room for a lot of development.

Yet its interesting enough and ended in a mouth-dropping cliffhanger and now i can't wait to start the series especially book #1 Embrace Me Darkly.
Profile Image for AJ.
3,252 reviews1,071 followers
August 27, 2022
3 stars

This is a prequel novella to the Dark Alliance series, a paranormal romance series that I discovered by recommendation from than none other Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Sara is a human who has no idea about the supernatural world that surrounds her. She is a workaholic prosecutor who is obsessed with finding the man who killed her father when she was a child, even if her ongoing investigations takes her into danger.

Luke is a centuries-old vampire who has been watching over Sara from the shadows since her father died. Over the years he has fallen deeply in love with her, so when she finds herself in serious trouble, he risks everything to save her, revealing himself and claiming a forbidden kiss.

Sara Constantine belonged to him. She just didn’t know it yet.
That didn’t matter, though. He felt it deeply enough for the both of them. It was as if she was a part of him, and he longed for her with a ferocity beyond any he’d ever known.

Sara’s life is stressful, and she loves burning off all of that stress beneath the sheets. She’s had a string of hook-ups, but no man she’s ever been with has managed to scratch the itch that seems to permanently burn beneath her skin. So when one kiss from Luke has her feeling things she’s never felt before, she’s all too happy to welcome him into her bed.

This is a quick story which provides a bit of background for both Sara and Luke, and shows us the intense connection that exists between them. They are mad with lust for each other, the chemistry and sexy time is sizzling, and Luke is all about claiming the woman he’s always wanted.

“You’re mine, Sara. And I’m yours. And you already know it.”

But he has secrets – more than the fact he’s a vampire, which Sara actually comes to accept pretty well. There is mention of a vast paranormal world inhabited by lots of different supernatural creatures, and there’s clearly some pretty significant supernatural politics going on, but we are given just enough information to be relevant to this novella, which is very convenient and made the story really predictable.

It ends on a cilffhanger, with the next book set three years into the future. I admit I’m intrigued, and will mostly likely pick up the first full-length book, Embrace Me Darkly, when it releases later this year.

It was good, but I’m not feeling it yet. This serves as only a very quick intro and I need to see a whole lot of world building before I become truly invested.

3 stars.


Profile Image for Tammy.
612 reviews15 followers
October 26, 2022
Crave Me Roughly by Kira James is the prequel novella to the Dark Alliance series. It’s a dark fantasy romance revolving around lawyer, Sara, who is on a self-appointed quest to solve the murder of her father from when she was a child. Sara begins noticing someone hidden in the darkness that keeps appearing in her life. She doesn’t, however, know who or what he is. The fairytale stories her father told her as a kid might have been much more truthful than she ever realized. The man in the shadows has been the silent protector & might even mean more than she ever realized. The attraction is overwhelming. The gravitation is immediate & the chemistry is off the charts. But their tale is a very complicated one & not everyone loves a happy ending.

I think if you lean into the fantasy aspect of the romance & suspend perhaps typical notions for relationships, it’s a interesting & attention grabbing romance. It ended in a mouth-dropping cliffhanger that had me immediately searching for the first book in the series. The first book in the series is titled Embrace Me Darkly & it comes out 10/27/2022!

I believe you can get a free ebook copy of this book when you go to the author’s website & sign up for their newsletter! I also found it on Kindle Unlimited!

Massive thanks to Valentine PR for sending me a physical copy of the book, which I voluntarily read & reviewed. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Trigger warnings: This book mentions &/or contains murder & violence.
Profile Image for Dino Queen.
344 reviews92 followers
March 12, 2023
the cover: this series has such gorgeous covers 😍
FMC: Sara- a prosecutor working tirelessly while trying to avenge her father’s death and prove that vampires exist. Looking to let off some steam after work and after an investigation gone sideways- she falls into the arms of Luke 😏
MMC: Luke- a vampire who has been watching Sara from a distance since she was a child (non-sexually), but over the last few years things have shifted and he can no longer deny that he craves her in every way and will stop at nothing to have her
POV: 3rd person, dual POV
HEA: eh no, not really but it’s just a snippet
spice: spicy novella featuring somnophilia, voyeurism, and lots of claiming
TWs: murder, mental manipulation, stalking
standalone: no, while this is technically a prequal in the Dark Alliance series, I recommend reading it after book 1 Embrace Me Darkly so you get to know the character- unless you just want a quick bang
final thoughts: I was nervous when there was something in this novella that was a huge twist int the next book (Embrace Me Darkly) but it was so well done that I can’t be mad about it

read this book if you love
😳 forbidden lovers
💖 insta-love (fated mates vampire edition vibes)
🌀 twists and turns
💖 paranormal romance
🧛 vampires
Profile Image for Sandy S.
8,270 reviews207 followers
October 28, 2022
3.75stars-- CRAVE ME ROUGHLY is the prequel novella in Kira James’ contemporary,adult DARK ALLIANCE paranormal, romance series. This is the introductory story line focusing on vampire Lucius ’Luke’ Drago, and twenty-five year old, attorney/prosecutor Sara Constantine.

Told from first person perspective (Sara), and third person (Luke) CRAVE ME ROUGHLY follows as Sara Constantine continues to search for the person(s) who killed her father. Approximately seventeen years earlier, Sara’s father was murdered, in a vampire-like killing. For as long as she can remember, Sara has search for information about her father’s death, often going in search of her own clues and information. The recent murder of four teens in a similar style to her father’s killing, has Sara searching for more information but our heroine suspects she has a stalker,a stalker who is about to claim Sara as his own. Enter vampire Lucius ‘Luke’ Drago. What ensues is the quick building relationship and proclamation of love, and the fall-out as the past has targeted our heroine for something she knows nothing about.

CRAVE ME ROUGHLY is a fast paced, quick read that reveals some of the background for the author’s upcoming series. We know very little about the main characters, their history or the who, what and why. CRAVE ME ROUGHLY is a tease, just enough to to leave the reader wanting more.

At this point in time, the novella is not available for sale .
Profile Image for Steph (Teacups & Tropes).
870 reviews130 followers
January 16, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

So I went into this one completely blind. I have never come across this author before, nor have I heard of this series, but I was in love with the cover and for once, judging a book by it's cover did not do me dirty!

Crave Me Roughly is a series opener novella that follows Luke (a stalkerish hunky vampire bodyguard [sorta]) and Sara, who is a prosecutor. Sara's father was murdered and her whole life has been about tracking down who killed her dad. Low and behold... someone wants to give her information.

But you know the saying if it's too good to be true, it normally is? Well, ditto here.

So much happened in this novella to set up Sara and Luke's actual novel but it made me instantly get the rest of the series (and request the ones I could on Netgalley). In only a few thousand words I fell in love with Sara's strength and tenacity, and Luke's utter dirty mind. And mouth. Not to mention the other vampires he works with intrigue me a whole lot. (I'm looking at you, Sergius and Tiberius).

This was a great find on Netgalley and I'm so glad I picked it up!
Profile Image for Living My Best Book Life.
987 reviews94 followers
October 11, 2022
Crave Me Roughly is an enticing and seductive paranormal romance. The Dark Alliance series starts off with the perfect bite.

Sara is a prosecutor who even after 20 years is ready to find her father's killer. She is good at her job and uses her pain in going after the bad guys. When she is feeling overwhelmed, she turns to men. A good time and a good way to release pent-up energy, but that's it. That is until she meets Luke.

Luke is a mysterious man. He has been following Sara in the shadows for many years and has fallen in love with her from afar. When he has to save her from trouble, their connection is palpable. Sara isn't used to feeling a connection with anyone, but one kiss makes her feel whole. Sara and Luke are getting hot and heavy and it's steamy! They have amazing chemistry and I want so much more.

I give Crave Me Roughly 4 stars. I love a good paranormal romance and I am hooked. I need more of this series and I can't wait to get my hands on the next books!
Profile Image for Vittoria's Readings.
333 reviews22 followers
May 22, 2024
“Crave Me Roughly” is a prequel novella with the following tropes:
🩸forbidden love
🩸vampire
🩸he falls first
🩸spicy
🩸insta love

It's certainly a promising start to a story that doesn't do much for me (unfortunately I'm not a fan of a trope in this book but which I can't reveal to you to avoid spoilers).

Furthermore, I found some interactions between the two protagonists a bit cringe-worthy..

For these reasons I will not continue the saga.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kira James for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Jean.
490 reviews46 followers
August 22, 2022
I'm intrigued. This story vibes like "The Night Stalker" (Stuart Townsend remake) with its dark and creepy take on LA. There's buckets full of sexual tension - let's see where this goes.
Think BDB but spicy.
Profile Image for Angel Payne.
Author 90 books3,318 followers
September 30, 2022
Wow! This is a layered, lovely, passionate, and powerful start to what is going to be a phenomenal series. I'm in awe of how much story and character nuance that Ms. James has packed into this sensual and fast-paced story. Absolutely in love! Cannot wait for the rest!
Profile Image for Sarah Van acker.
273 reviews17 followers
August 19, 2022
Ohhh wow that was such a great book. It's so steamy, sexy and loved the connection between Luke and Sara. Page Turner 😍
Profile Image for D.
467 reviews7 followers
January 18, 2023
This is just a short introduction to the main story. Maybe not my preferred genre so my opinion may be biased.

The connections between the two main characters was instant (almost unbelievable) and strong. There was so much development in just this short part of the story.

I did enjoy reading it, but as stated, not so much my genre so I don’t know that I will follow through and read the rest of the series.

(My brain can’t not think of Twilight as I read vampire romances!)

*This was read as a Netgalley preview
Profile Image for Jeannie Holmes.
86 reviews6 followers
January 18, 2023
Title: Crave Me Roughly
Author: Kira James
Genre: Paranormal Romance - Vampires
Publisher: Kira James - Copyright 2022
Publication Date: August 17, 2022
ISBN: N/A (Ebook Novella)
Read: January 16, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a digital advanced reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis from Publisher: For almost twenty years, he’s been watching me in secret. This dark, sensual, dangerous man who steps out of the shadows to help me when I need it the most. He won’t accept any payment other than a kiss. But it’s a kiss that sparks a dark desire in a secret, hidden part of me. And when he touches me, all I crave is the kind of dangerous passion that he offers.

Then I learn the truth—he’s not a man at all. He’s a vampire.

The love that burns between us is forbidden, but now it’s too late for me to turn back. Perhaps it always was. Because no matter how much danger stalks us both, I’ll sacrifice anything to keep him safe.

Warning: Contains violence, sex, and references to blood drinking. (What do you expect from vampires? Sunshine and daisies? I think not.)

Review: Crave Me Roughly was my first introduction to Kira James as an author, the characters of Luke and Sara, and the world in which they live. And, wow, what an introduction. From the description of Luke and his buddy, Serge, I'm picturing Jason Momoa sans beard and Chris Hemsworth but both have fangs. Um, oh, hells yeah!

As this is a prequel novella set a few years prior to the events of the first book in the Dark Alliance series, Embrace Me Darkly, I won't go into a lot of detail regarding the plot. Basically, the plot breaks down like this: Assistant District Attorney Sara Constantine has been looking for the person who killed her father nearly twenty years ago. She gets a lead from a sketchy dude. Goes to an even sketchier part of Los Angeles, alone, at night, to meet Sketchy Dude and learn what he knows. Mayhem ensues. Sara is rescued by the mysterious and hunky Dynamic Duo of Luke and Serge. Luke and Sara fall in lust. Cue the hot sex. Things happen. Secrets are revealed. More stuff happens. Questions are raised. Can Serge be even snarkier? Will Luke and Sara work out their issues? Will Luke's state-of-the-art kitchen be used for actual cooking at some point?

I don't know, but I want to know.

Anyone who truly knows me knows just how much I loooooooooove vampires, and just from the short introduction to the Dark Alliance series I got from Crave Me Roughly, I need to read the rest of the series now. But it's not only vampires populating James's world. Other preternatural creatures are hinted at through conversations between Luke and Sara, creatures such as werewolves, demons, fairies, and much more. So, yeah, color me intrigued.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some hot vampire books to download...
12 reviews
January 27, 2023
Crave Me Roughly by Kira James
(A prequel Novella)
⭐️⭐️ (Two Stars)
This review does not include anything about the sneak peek for the first book or any spicy scenes!
I really wanted to give this book 3 stars. But I can’t do that without feeling like I’m lying to myself. I feel like this book had a lot of potential. This Novella is only 96 pages long, I know there is not much room for a lot of development. However, I felt as though the story took off too fast. One of the main characters had a bit of an introduction. But the second main character I felt like I didn’t know anything about until the end. I understand that this is a short fantasy novella and it’s about vampires, so calling unrealistic would be silly. But I feel as though a lot of what I read was unrealistic, even for a fantasy world. I will say that I think this prequel set up a lot of possibilities for the rest of the series. I tend to not read spicy scenes in books, because I feel like it doesn’t add that much to a storyline. But skimming over it, Does make me think That those of you who are looking for a short spicy read involving vampires would like this novella!

SPOILER ALERTS AHEAD!!!!:
I had a hard time with how fast Sara jumped into bed and fell in love with Luke. if I read correctly, this novella only took place over the span of 2 to 3 days. We are introduced to Sarah as somebody who really has no interest in love, and only does one night stands or random hook ups. When she meets Luke, she originally just wants to have a one night stand, but in the matter of ours. They are professing their undying love for each other, and that just confused me.
I wouldn’t necessarily say that I recommend this book if you are into a lot of character development and storyline. But if you just love vampires, and want a short smutty read than this might be for you!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Serena.
324 reviews2 followers
October 20, 2023
Title: "Crave Me Roughly" by Kira James - An Electrifying Prequel to Dark Alliance

Rating: ★★★★☆

I had the pleasure of diving into an advanced reader copy of "Crave Me Roughly" by Kira James, a tantalizing prequel to the Dark Alliance series. This novella plunges readers into a seductive and dangerous world filled with intrigue and forbidden desire, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling series.

The story follows the enigmatic yet alluring Oliver Stark, a man deeply entrenched in the shadows of organized crime. James paints a vivid picture of his character, making it impossible not to be drawn into the darkness that surrounds him. The chemistry between Oliver and Gwen, the woman who captivates him, sizzles off the pages. James excels at crafting tension and sensuality, leaving readers yearning for more.

Despite its shorter length, "Crave Me Roughly" manages to deliver a gripping narrative that introduces the complex characters and the entangled web of the Dark Alliance. James' writing style is engaging, and her ability to blend romance, suspense, and sensuality is commendable. As a prequel, it effectively sets the stage for the upcoming series, leaving readers eager for the next installment. I look forward to delving deeper into this intriguing world.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to both NetGalley and the publisher for granting me the opportunity to read this advanced copy. "Crave Me Roughly" is a four-star novella that teases readers with a compelling glimpse into a world of secrets, power, and forbidden attraction, ensuring that the Dark Alliance series is off to an electrifying start.
Profile Image for Sara Flavo.
Author 3 books31 followers
January 26, 2023
The story of Luke and Sara begins with her fathers violent death.
Luke is the one in charge of looking after her, keeping her safe, but that's not where he stops. Watching over her for years, getting to know her true persona, following her every move, he couldn't help but fall in love with her.
Sara is obsessed with supernatural world, but at the same time she doesn't want to believe it's real. She surges into dangerous situations and is almost looking for trouble. She follows all the dangerous leads if she (just for a moment) thinks it might be connected to her fathers death.
And that's how we ended up here.
Her curiosity got the best of her and almost got her killed. She would've been, if there wasn't for Luke.
He never once failed being her protector and how he proved it to her too. She wanted nothing more than to repay his kindness, but he wanted nothing more that to claim her in a fiery, amazing kiss.
So what happens when both of them want more?
What happens when Sara finds out the truth?
Will their love ever be possible or accepted?

For me, this book was a 3.5 ⭐
I loved Luke's character. I am a sucker for confident men who know what and who they want.
The story was a bit slow at the start, but Inhaled the last 60% of the novella.
My grade might've been affected by the fact that this book is written in third person, since I have a hard time reading and relating to characters when I am "on the outside" of the situation.
I wholeheartedly recommend this novella, since I think it's fun and I can't wait to read the rest of Luke and Sara's story!
Profile Image for Mary Kirkland.
772 reviews33 followers
July 18, 2023
Luke has been looking after Sara since her father was killed when she was a kid. But Sara had no idea that someone was looking out for her. Over the years Luke has gotten to know her really well and has fallen in love with her even though Sara doesn't know him at all. She only knows him as a creepy stalker that she spots in the shadows every once in a while. The fact that she thinks she has a stalker doesn't freak her out the way it should, in fact she kind of likes the fact that she spots him following her around at times.

Luke wasn't supposed to let her see him but he's slipped up a time or two and doesn't realize that she's seen him. One night when she puts herself in danger, Luke has no choice but to save her and they finally come face to face.

From that point forward he can't stay away and she doesn't want him to until she finds out he's a vampire. Then she's not sure what to think but she knows she's not scared of him because she knows he'd never hurt her.

This is the prequel to the Dark Alliance series and so we get a little back story as to what her father was into that got him killed. She had no idea about any of it so some family secrets come to light which I always like. It was a good setup for the next book but it ended a little abruptly, which I didn't like. But I am willing to read the next book and see how I like that because anyone who knows me, knows I love a vampire romance.

Disclosure: I was given an e-book copy of this book via NetGalley but all opinions and thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Kreela.
657 reviews22 followers
August 21, 2022
• Dual POV
• Vampire PNR
• Guardian romance
• M/F
• Prologue
• Heat level: Scorching

“Not this man. He was wild. Practically feral. And damned if he didn’t turn her on.” Considering she was unabashedly proud of her method of destressing after a hard day of legal work (sex), her reaction was expected. Sara craved the rush of endorphins.

Do I agree? No. Aside from amber-colored eyes and speedy movements, I did not get that impression. As a prosecutor, Sara spent motivated to understand her father’s brutal death, leading her to an alley of doom. He saved her. As a dark and mysterious stranger, he was a perfect opportunity for stress relief. But he was not acting wild; rather, Luke was calculated in his approach.

The Plot:
This story is just a preview for the series and is short. It is filled with action and instalove. Luke had been following her for years and fell in love with her. The first time she meets him, there is an instant want, need, to keep him around. Unfortunately, others wanted to prevent their union. We don’t know why. On its own, this is full of plot holes. You should probably get Book 1 at the same time.

What I do like:
The plot had a beginning and an ending with a feeling of rebirth or reincarnation.
The world:
Supernaturals are hidden, and there are vampires, werewolves, and demons mentioned. Her father was killed because he threatened to publicize their existence. I saw nothing special about this idea.
Profile Image for Amber.
1,275 reviews33 followers
October 17, 2022
Crave Me Roughly is a fabulously stunning introduction to what promises to be a highly original, incredibly passionate, and sensuously unforgettable series! The characters were so amazingly rich and wonderfully vibrant that I felt I could reach through the pages and touch them. I was left in awe and completely enthralled by the extraordinarily brilliant plot that whispered of an unfathomable epic love, wickedly stunning secondary characters, and a dark and deadly world that is meant entrap as much as it sets free. This is one series that I would give my last penny to savor and cherish! This story is what dreams are made of!

Kate and Luke as individuals and as a couple stole my heart and the very breath from my lungs. Their connection is electric, undying, and unstoppable. Those who stand in their way only delay the inevitable. They are like hydrogen and oxygen. When they come together, it is life-changing, life-preserving, and world-impacting. This is truly a power couple because they will either break the world around them or remake it into something so much better when they are done.

Don't hesitate to pickup this book! It would be a true crime not to enjoy ever word, every devious plot, and every wondrous character that filled these pages. It is meant to be savored not passed by. I dare you to be brave and enter this seductively dark world full of unspeakable danger, explosive passion, and wicked deceptions.
Profile Image for k_moody_reads.
97 reviews1 follower
January 29, 2023
First, I received this book from Net Galley to give my honest opinion. Grateful always for have the honor to receive this and give my honest feedback.

I’ll give this prequel novella to the Dark Alliance series a 3.5 stars. It’s good and really keeps you wondering what’s going to happen next. Sara have no idea that everything her father tells her as bedtime stories are truth. And she gets involved with those who her father tell her, and those who kill him when she was 8. Not only that Sara is in the middle of investigating, she is very attracted since the beginning to Jake, they fell for each other but is not as easy as it sound. Secrets and decisions are to told and to make, and maybe this change the course of their story. This gave us an introduction of what happened before, but keeps some things that you will have to read on the next one. It finishes on cliffhanger, so if you want to know what’s going to happen to them as a couple you will have to read the next book.

I mostly like it, but I feel like something was missing, or like I don’t felt to convince to keep reading. I’m sure interested in their story, but no so much to go right when I finish here to buy the next one, at least not for now.
Profile Image for Caroline F.
2,402 reviews52 followers
August 29, 2022
I really enjoyed this novella and would love to read the full series when it releases.

Sara Constantine is an up-and-coming young lawyer in the DA's office. She works hard and often plays hard, too. She is haunted by the unsolved murder of her father, a folklore expert, when she was a young child. Her search for answers drives her to the point of endangering herself, until one night, an attractive stranger rescues her from a perilous situation. The stranger turns out to be her mysterious stalker, Lucius AKA Luke Dragos. A stalker with secrets that will make her see the world around her differently.

"It was as if she was a part of him, and he longed for her with a ferocity beyond any he'd ever known."

This was a great take on the vampire genre. I loved the connection between Sara and Luke and my heart broke for how the story ended, but set up my desire to read the first full novel in this series. Sara was tough, gutsy and knew her own mind. Luke was protective and sexy, but Sara was his weakness and he was willing to break all the rules for her, with pretty extreme consequences. Look forward to reading the first full novel.


Profile Image for Charlie Helton.
624 reviews18 followers
October 11, 2022
Sara’s father was brutally murdered when she was 8 years old. As an adult, she has a mysterious man watching over her, arriving in time to help keep her safe from dangerous situations, in exchange for a deep passionate kiss. Her mysterious savior is a vampire, who knows secrets about her father’s death. Not only are they drawn together in a forbidden love, but she is determined to find the truth behind her father’s killer, and he knows.



This is a dark and twisty romance with mystery spinning into a perfect dark read. Add in the paranormal elements of vampires and demons, and I’m hooked. This is a prequel to the Luke and Sara story, and introduces this Dark Alliance world, which continues in her next book Embrace Me Darkly. I immediately went to get the next book and had a mini fit when I realized I have to wait until 10/27! Patience is not my virtue (haha)! This novella leaves you on a cliff hanger begging to know what happens next. I highly recommend this read to anyone that loves a dark paranormal mystery romance!
Profile Image for Melissa McSherry.
Author 18 books673 followers
January 15, 2023
This book had me completely addicted in just the first few pages! A must read for fans of "Twilight" and other Vampire themed romances with added spice!

** POSSIBLE SPOILERS**

I loved having the dual POV, especially so early on. I think being able to see first hand what was going through Luke's mind made it so much easier to warm up to him as well as give us an overall better view on why he was watching her for as long as he has been. All the characters are written great, and I had no problems getting sucked into the world of Sara and Luke.

The intense "craving" or "wanting" leading to the spicy scenes were epic. It left me wanting more and more every time. I can tell there are secrets and plot twists still to come in the story! What exactly happened to her father and why would he risk exposing their world to the public? As well as the whole "abomination" situation.

I'm hopeful in the next book we will get some answers and get to see more of Sara and Luke! Cause I refuse to accept that's just the end for them!
36 reviews3 followers
February 25, 2023
The writing here was good; and there were some creative tweaks on classic tropes.

My quibble here is this was a short-short, to me, rather than a novella as billed. More than a vignette, but not by much. And as such there was very little characterization offered, so I didn’t get a chance to care about either of them. For me, that drives the low rating.

The beginning was slower, then there was a sex scene, then the scary spooky part, then a snapshot of “the new normal”. The End. It was abrupt. And the central mystery (not mentioned in the book blurb so I won’t specify it here) is nowhere near to being resolved. So this was more like a teaser to get us to buy the next book.

Again, what is here was well written, and I’m sure the subsequent related volumes would be also. And the general premise and central mystery were intriguing. From what I can see in the title listings, the subsequent books in this series are complete unto themselves, so I will likely read more by this author.
Profile Image for Sharon.
2,308 reviews22 followers
August 29, 2022
4.6 stars
This is a brand new, upcoming series from this author and it looks to be a tantalizing introduction to the books that are to follow. Sara is an up-and-coming attorney with the DA’s office and is engrossed in her work along with finding out the truth as to what happened to her father who was murdered. Lucius, aka Luke, is taken with Sara and has become somewhat of a stalker under the guise of protecting her. When these two come into contact, the sparks are igniting and secrets that were hidden in the dark may be coming into the light to paint a whole new picture of the world Sara thought she was living in…This is an interesting take on a vampire storyline. The chemistry between the characters is HOT and there are some steamy scenes. Filled with drama and suspense, this will definitely whet one’s appetite for more and I cannot wait to dive into the first book releasing on October 27, 2022.
Profile Image for Lena Duke.
Author 1 book24 followers
January 29, 2023
First off huge thanks to NetGalley and Kira James for the chance to read Crave Me Roughly.

I went into this book blindly. It was one of those "Oh this cover is beautiful. I need to read it!" situations. The cover tells you that it's a Dark Alliance Novella, which gave me some insight into what to expect.

I immediately got a Haunting Adeline meets Twilight vibe from this book and right down to the very end, it fulfilled that vibe.

Sara was smart but did dumb things that put her in troubling situations. She was out to get justice for her father's death and would stop at nothing to do that, even if it meant her being killed.

I loved Serge and Luke. Their protectiveness, banter, brotherly relationship.

I don't want to give anything away, so I'll keep this short and sweet. If you liked Haunting Adeline and Twilight, read this novella!

I've already added the complete series to my TBR!
Profile Image for Paige.
310 reviews10 followers
June 24, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thank you to Valentine PR for the gifted copy of this book!
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Crave Me Roughly is the prequel novella to the Dark Alliance Series and introduces us to the two main characters of book one - Luke and Sara. Sara, a high powered attorney seeking to avenge her father’s mysterious murder, knows that she has a stalker and can’t quite put her finger on why it doesn’t bother her. Luke, the man following her, is obsessed with her and out of his depth. He’s not just a man, he’s a vampire, and everything Sara knows about the world is about to change.
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I wouldn’t say I recommend this book but I also wouldn’t say it turned me off of the Dark Alliance series entirely. I know that Kira James is a pen name and I wish I knew who they actually were - I wasn’t super impressed with the writing here but I know a novella is harder than you’d expect to develop. Jury is still out on my thoughts overall but I’m not sad I read it.
Profile Image for Beth (Romantic_murder).
365 reviews4 followers
March 25, 2023
Ooh this was a spicy lil number!
3.75 stars

I wasn't ready to fall inlove with the main lead so fast. This book has definitely teased enough of the world that I'm so excited to read the series now.

The main character Sara, pissed me off a bit though. Basically no self control, no emotional regulation, and considering she works in law, you'd think she'd have more to who she is. She'd get upset at our male lead, Luke, then rather than give him a peice of her mind, she'd throw herself at his feet basically.

Personally, I like my FMC to have more fight in them.

Otherwise, its great. Theres a few editing errors, the cliche "hes so much bigger than me", and insta love but very enjoyable to read.
Profile Image for Beyond the Pages with Eva K.
3,059 reviews166 followers
January 14, 2023
Quick Summary: Electric and enticing!

My Review: Crave Me Roughly by Kira James was titled to draw the attention of readers. It certainly did that with this reader. This prequel novella whet my appetite for more.

My Final Say: I'm all in! Dark Alliance #0.5 is now on my radar, and I have already ordered book 1. Would I recommend it to others? Yes, indeed.

Rating: 4.5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Series: Yes

Thank you to the author, to the publisher, and to NetGalley, who provided access to a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. The words I have expressed are my own and were voluntarily shared.
Profile Image for Tina.
Author 2 books36 followers
May 13, 2023
3.5 stars.

There was equally a lot of information and zero information going on.
I feel like this could have at least explained why the bad guys were after Sara. I have my own suspicions about what I think is going on.
A lot happened very quickly. Almost too much. If Sara and Luke's longer book is as rushed as this, I might skip it.
I enjoyed the banter between Luke and Serge, I could do with more of that.
I'm suspicious of Sara's friend Petra.
It's an interesting world to say the least, and I'd definitely think about kissing a demon to have the ability to talk to animals.
I received a copy via BookSirens. All opinions are my own.
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