Review: Church. by Stylo Fantôme (Church #1)

Note: An advanced reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author via Give Me Books Promotions.

"Jesus," he breathed, and his forehead fell to hers. "It's like I invented you. Where have you been all my life?" 

"In the deepest parts of hell, waiting for you." 

"Thank you, Emma. Thank you for being perfect."

It's been a few hours since I finished Church. and I'm still struggling to put into words what I thought of this first in a duet by Stylo Fantôme. This was a dark stepbrother romance that was also very much a psychological suspense thriller. There are no hearts and flowers to be found in this story, but if you're in the market for sharp hunting knives and gorgeous sociopaths as main characters, this book could fit the bill. We've got ourselves Emma Hartley, who at twenty-two finds herself with a new stepfather and a scholarship to college. She also unexpectedly discovers that the package comes with stepbrother a couple of years older than her. Paul Logan has made his way back home while on break from grad school and his reputation precedes him. Nicknamed "Church", he's as quiet as a church mouse, but something about him speaks to Emma...and she appears to be the only person he willingly speaks to. When he breaks his silence, however, Emma gets more than a peek into the dark thoughts that linger behind that intense gaze of his. Will what she find send her running or have her worshiping at the altar of Church?

There were so many great things about this book. I loved that it was as intense as it was. The story wasn't your run-of-the-mill dark romance. It lulls you into a sense of complacency before you're lured back into the darkness of Church's and Emma's minds. I liked that both main characters keep you guessing, especially when you think you've got them figured out. You know there's something about them that's broken and most probably unfixable, but they're such enigmatic people that you want to put all the puzzle pieces together even though you're pretty sure you'll never have all the pieces. But maybe mixing his and her pieces will give you a better picture, but the picture changes when you least expect it. Okay, so my review may sound really weird and it may or may not make sense to only those who've already read the book. See, this is why it was difficult for me to come up with the right words. Basically, all I'm trying to say is that Church. wasn't what I was expecting and I mean that in the best possible way. It left me needing to know what happens next and if Church and Emma actually survive each other. Five-plus stars. ♥

Release Date: 20 July 2018

Date Read: 20 July 2018

Learn more about Stylo Fantôme.

Purchase Church. on Amazon.