Fabulous continuation story of this group of loveable and realistic characters - although this could easily be read as a stand alone book. The usual exciting and gripping (much as I loathe to use that word!) tale we have come to expect from Karen Rose. Couldn't put this one down, a must buy.

I've been waiting for Dani and Diesel's story for a while now so I'm not sure why this fell a little flat for me. Perhaps it was the slightly predictable plot. More likely I simply read this at a time when I didn't appreciate what it offered.

The Cincinnati series continues, and seeing as I have read them back to back I feel like I am practically a neighbour to this group of characters. Each of the previous 4 books features all of the same characters but the main focus picks up on two of them and this book is the turn of Diesel Kennedy and Dani Novak (FINALLY!).

This particular book features Michael Rowland and his younger brother Joshua. Michael is deaf and has always made it his mission to ensure Joshua is kept safe. The opening of the book makes it clear that Michael is on his own, and the threat to both his and his brother life is very real.

This storyline was heart wrenching to say the least, however it was as always done with class and style and when you realise that Dani and Diesel are doing everything they can to keep the kids safe you know they are on to a winner.

There are many issues that aren’t brought up in other books, especially the fact that Dani Novak is diagnosed with HIV. I think it was amazing the way that the book not only incorporates this type of storyline in but educates the reader as well. As well as the usual host of characters there is plenty of action, and as with all the other books a lot of danger. I finished this in record time and once again just LOVED it. I don’t know whether this is the last book in the series, although I am crossing my fingers and hoping that Quincy and Troy may get a shot in another book. A hugely enjoyable series that I would highly recommend.

'Into the Dark' is the fifth instalment in the Karen Rose Cincinnati Series and without a doubt my favourite to date! It follows the story of deaf teenager Michael Rowland who sadly has a fairly awful life with his drug-addicted mother and abusive stepfather. The only bright spot in his life is his younger brother Joshua who Michael is desperate to protect from the clutches of their stepfather. One night Michael sees his stepfather drug Joshua in order to abuse him and decides to run for their lives and, while hiding from their abuser in the woods Michael watches as another man confronts his stepfather before seemingly killing him and taking his body away in the boot of his car. It is not long before Michael realises that being the only witness to this has put his and Joshua's lives in grave danger and they desperately need help.
Joshua's soccer coach, recurring character Diesel Kennedy, knows only too well the horrors of abuse and is desperate to help the brothers and his first port of call is Dr Dani Novak, another character who has previously appeared in the Cincinnati series. Diesel is hopelessly in love with Dani and although Dani has feelings in return she is adamant that there can be no relationship between them for reasons that are gradually revealed.
There are several different story arcs running through this book - all of which are tied up expertly and neatly by the ending. Regular KR readers will also be delighted to see the return of previous characters such as Marcus & Stone O'Bannion, Scarlett, Deacon, Adam and Meredith to name a few.
The story is fast-paced and thrill-a-minute as Diesel & Dani race against time to find a killer before he finds the Rowland boys and I sped through the book despite it being a substantially sized book.
Karen Rose does it again! A 5 star read and massive thanks to Netgalley UK and publishers for the ARC - I loved it!!

When it comes to romantic suspense this author is definitely in my top five so I always know that I'm going to get a well written story with a twisting plot that keeps me holding my breath. This particular book not only has a vigilante killer who is almost like the Angel of death but also the romance that regular readers have been waiting for because it's Dani and Diesel !
It all begins with a teenage boy struggling to save his brother from their brutal, sadistic stepfather. Michael sees a murder take place but who would believe him ? He's deaf, he's a bit of a loner and his mother who should protect him just doesn't care about anyone but herself. So when Michael meets his brothers football coach Diesel he has no idea that he's finally found the one person who not only believes him but understands everything Michael has gone through.
Diesel knows the only woman for him is Dani but the hiv positive doctor just keeps pushing him away. Things come crashing to a head though when Diesel needs Dani to help him communicate with the damaged and very scared Michael. Dani cannot conceive how anyone could hurt either of the two adorable brothers and agrees to temporarily foster them whilst the police investigate the murder but none of them have any idea just how many the killer has targeted and in his twisted mind he sees Michael as his newest target !
This series always takes me aback with the sheer horror and depravity that the author imbues it with. The idea of trafficking and paedophilia isn't new but the twist with not just one murderer but actually two certainly took me on a journey. There is a character briefly introduced at the beginning who actually is much more involved in the conclusion to this story than I realised. I did enjoy that because I was constantly trying to work out connections and then bam just before the end it all made horrible and tragic sense.
Sadly as much as I enjoy catching up with old favourite characters I did occasionally feel there were just too many here to sort out and trying to remember what had happened previously took me out of the story at times. Plus I didn't actually like Dani as much here as I didn't completely buy her reasoning. She had so much angst and worry about her brothers in previous stories and yet this time softened completely with Diesel so her no no we can't quickly became oh ok then and I was just bewildered by her. Still I did enjoy this book and hadn't completely guessed the reveal about the missing persons so I do recommend reading this as it's obviously setting up for different characters to get their happy ending.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

We finally have our Dani and Diesel story! I’ve been wanting this story since Diesel first laid eyes on Dr Dani and I’m not disappointed!

If you’re unfamiliar with Karen Rose she writes romantic suspense (which I always find to be a rather sneering descriptor of books that tend to be quite heavy on violence and terror, but because they also include love stories and sex they’re shuffled into ‘romantic suspense’) books which all take place in the same universe. If this is your first dive into Rose’s world you won’t be lost, the story can be read alone, but for a deeper understanding and love of the characters it’s well worth reading others, at least the rest of the ‘Cincinnati’ series. There are a few series dotted around the US, and they do interact, so it’s an enjoyable world to get lost in if it’s up your alley.

As mentioned, this is the latest instalment of The Cincinnati Series, and tells the story of Dani and Diesel. These characters have featured in previous Cincinnati books and are beloved by most readers, who have been asking for their story for a while now! Karen Rose is a master of psychological thrillers, the kills tend to be gory and disturbing, the motivations clear. Now, as we’re in romantic suspense territory, obviously we know that any danger our heroes are in (and there always tends to be some, shot or kidnapped etc) will be resolved and we’ll get our happy ending. That’s not to say that everyone survives or has a fun time, because there are a fair few deaths in these books, but there will always be a happy ending for the main characters, which is a large part of why I enjoy them, as it’s nice to have that certainty to retreat to when life gets tough. Adult fairy tales could be a good descriptor!

The storyline here revolves around some deeply disturbing issues. Human trafficking, child sex abuse, parental abuse and neglect, disability and chronic illnesses. Dr Dani Novak is a woman who has quite a chunk of stuff to deal with, that I won’t go into here for fear of spoiling this and previous books, which means she’s been keeping Diesel at arms length for quite a while. That gets blown out of the water when Diesel brings two brothers to her clinic, that he knows through his job of coaching football (I’m British, it’s NOT soccer!) for children. The elder sibling has apparently taken on the majority of the responsibilities for caring for his baby brother, but is apparently injured and very scared. There are some very harrowing moments where the truth of what has happened to this poor child are revealed, but luckily for him he has been taken in by the family that has been created over previous books, encompassing police, FBI, journalists and doctors, and they set to work unravelling the crimes that this child has witnessed and experienced.

It’s not always an easy read. I’d imagine it would be quite triggering (in the true psychological term) for some people, as there are some very unpleasant, yet very realistic, topics tackled. If you want true realism though Karen Rose may not be for you, as the characters are all so very GOOD. They really are the sort of people you’d find in a fairy tale, where the heroes are just and true, and good always prevails in the end. It’s wonderful to lose yourself in that world, but if you have enough experience with the real world you’ll know how sadly unrealistic it is to find so many genuinely good people, who are all connected. That doesn’t detract from what Rose creates, just suspend your disbelief for a while and read about people who always do the right thing and always get their happy ending eventually!

(There is some sex, but it’s in no way excessive and doesn’t approach some other books in this genre. There’s just enough to get the point across, but not enough to make you want to tap out of the book entirely!)

Happy Sunday! On the blog today, we have a very special treat. I bring to you my spot on the blog tour for Into the Dark by Karen Rose. Thank you to Anne Cater and the publisher for my spot on the tour and a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own and completely unbiased.

I absolutely adore everything Karen Rose writes. She always encapsulates me into a bubble of frenetic energy and doesn’t let go until the very last page. Shivers ran down my spine with her dark and compelling narrative. If you haven’t read the rest of the books in the series then have no fear it is easy to read this on its own, Karen gives more than enough information to fill in the gaps.

The opening scene is typical Karen Rose, I was gripped, and I was loving it. Karen has built a wonderful collection of loveable characters in this series, including Police Officers, Counsellors, FBI etc. The characters are strong and captivating, and I have loved them all. She truly displays what is good and right with human nature and restores my faith in humanity time and time again. She’s juggling a complex universe with a core of taut tension. I cared deeply for all the characters, the true sign of an author with immense talent.

Enter Diesel and Dani, this is a book that has been long awaited and boy did it not disappoint. The love and affection that is obvious from Diesel is so utter endearing. He doesn’t need many words to make that obvious, his actions are everything. Their relationship is heart wrenching and I ached for them. They have been through the proverbial wringer. Life can be perfect and then it can be turned upside down. Dani has struggled through a dark and painful past so much, so she now pushes away the best thing that has happened to her in a long time. The author has captured the melancholic essence of the character so perfectly, nothing is forced or put on. It is exactly as it should be. She is such a genuine and caring soul. Never one to put herself first, she is always concerned and worried about the wellbeing of others. She runs a free clinic for people that otherwise couldn’t afford her help. She’s a gem in the rough.

Dani has her reasons for trying to push Diesel away. In a lot of ways, she’s going through a period of immense grief. She is grieving for the life that she had pictured for herself that now won’t happen. It won’t get better in time. Her HIV positive status is going to stay with her. She doesn’t want to stop Diesel having the life that he deserves. But, she also deserves to have a good life. Diesel loves her more than anything and would do anything to make her happy if only she would let him. So much is going on with her that she is struggling to see what is in front of her face.

The thriller part of this story completes the magnificence of this novel. I hope you enjoy a good helping of murder and gore galore. Buckle in your in for a hellish ride. This novel in my opinion is one of her best yet. Karen Rose is back in a complete white-knuckle ride and I’m happy to be here experiencing it. I didn’t want this book to end but at the same time I couldn’t stop reading, it was 3am before I knew it. A dark and dangerously addictive read.

ally’s reading corner
#BlogTour Into the dark
Allys_reading_corner Book Review November 18, 2019 2 Minutes

Thank you to Anne cater and Hachette uk for my spot on the blog tour and a copy of the ebook.
AUTHOR – Karen Rose
PUBLISHER – Hachette UK
PAGES – 480
SUBJECTS – #crime, #fiction, #thriller

When Micheal Rowland saves his younger brother Joshua from the clutches of his step-father, he runs for his life with his brother in his arms. From his hiding place he see’s the man who has made their lives a misery taken away in the trunk of a strangers car, never to be seen again.

Doctor Dani Novak has been keeping soccer coach Diesel Kennedy at arms length to protect him from her dark secrets, when they are brought together by the two young brothers who desperately need their help, it seems they might finally be able to leave their damaged past behind them.

But as the only witness to the man who kidnapped and murdered his step-father, Michael is in danger. As Diesel and Dani do all that they can to protect him, their own investigation into the murder uncovers a much darker web of secrets than they could of imagined. As more bodies disappear it’s clear this killer wants vengeance. And will wipe out anything that gets in his way.


This is book #5 in the Cincinnati series but can also be read as a stand-alone. Which is how I read it and it was incredibly easy to follow. The story follows two characters Dani and Diesel, who are drawn to each other but Dani has been holding back and pushing Diesel away, but after everything that is about to happen, that is all about to change.

I found Micheal to be extremely likeable from the offset, I really felt for him when I found out he was deaf while trying to get away from his step-dad, and carrying his sedated brother and instantly found myself hooked by the story.

There really was not many characters in the book that I liked aside from Michael, Joshua, Dani and Diesel. These main characters were extremely likeable and can we just take a moment to point out the connection between Dani and Diesel was INTENSE!!!

The other characters in the story were horrible … incredibly written but horrible human beings .. the worst being the kids mum, sure Brewer was despicable but as the kids mother you are supposed to protect your children, not ignore cries for help and believe your brute of a new husband over your children.

This book was jam packed with a huge budding romance and murder galore, soooo if you like tour thrillers but love a good love story this book is definitely for you.


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#5 in the Cincinnati series but can easily be read as a stand-alone.

Young Michael saves his little brother from an abduction by his stepfather, only then to witness a murder.

Micheal has been injured, not only during the rescue of his brother, but by the abuse by his stepdad and his mother’s violence.

The killer is on a mission to stop abusers, to make them suffer before they die, but he knows Michael can identify him.

When Michael’s mother ‘forgets’ to pick up Joshua from soccer, Michael ruses to pick him up and meets Diesel, the coach, who sees his injuries and so takes the boys to Dani, a doctor at the local free clinic. Here the abuse is seen and the authorities get involved. As Michael is deaf, Dani, who is also hearing impaired, can sign with him and a close bond forms.

There’s also a bit of romance between Dani and Diesel, one of the most endearing, yet tough couples. I love their interactions and the gradually growing feelings they have for each other.

This is an emotional, yet dark and compelling thriller. The heartbreaking abuse alongside a murder mystery is so gripping, it made me angry, tearful and tense over and over. An astounding, thoroughly entertaining read.

Thank you to The publishers and NetGalley for a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.

This is a story I’ve been waiting for a long time from the Karen Rose series, Doctor Dani Novak has been present in her last books but never as the main character. I loved her story, a doctor ready to help anyone but that the circumstances never helped her. She has VHI so doesn’t want any partner for fear to transmit him the virus, but she has been secretly in love with the coach Diesel Kennedy. Diesel has tried so many times to take Dani on a date, but always having the same answer, no. Maybe this case will be their chance to surpass their fears and trust each other?
Because this will not be an easy case, Michael Rowland and his younger brother Joshua haven’t had an easy life, a mother that doesn’t seem to love them and an abusive step father is their day to day, but everything will get worst when Michael will see his step father being killed. Dani and Diesel will be involved in the case and will try to keep these two little brothers together and safe, but it would not be easy when danger is surrounding them at every step.
Into the Dark has been a deep story, so many emotions involved with the characters; none of them had an easy past and will make the reader want a happy ending for all of them! Really, how many suffer can a person resist?
This had been a fast action thriller; with a killer with feelings, brave characters and a little bit of love, of course!
This is the 5th book of the series Cincinnati, I would highly recommend you to read all the series, there are so many characters and stories between them that you’ll loose half of the story without knowing their background and the connection between them. I’ll admit that I am a big fan of Karen Rose stories so I know all of their characters, but I’ll have this story in a special place!
Into The Dark is the nail bitting story you’ll need for the weekend, just one advice, once I start reading one of Karen Rose books I can never stop… good luck!

Having never read a book by this author, initially I found it a tough going. Soon the story emerged and I found myself right in the middle of the plot.

A witness to a kidnapping and probably murder Michael, while protecting his brother Joshua, the two turned to Dani a doctor and Diesel a hacker for help and protection. Soon murders occurred and the duo started investigating.

Karen Rose is a proficient writer whose play of words soon caught my interest. This book was part of a series, and I knew nobody, hence I concentrated solely on the murders. Dani and Diesel were highly complexed characters. It was nice to see Diesel accept Dani even with her medical situation. I enjoyed their conversations as baggage of the past was soon unloaded.

The murders were compelling, made more suspenseful, thanks to the style of writing. Twists and turns and trying to outrun the murderer made it a fast read. I soon realized that even though this book worked as a standalone in its murders, I needed to go back and get to the others in the series in order to love the characters.

A murder mystery made more interesting due to the characterization of the witness and the style of writing, I would call it an afternoon well spent. A fun romantic suspense.

Firstly I would like to thank Anne Cater and Headline publishing for inviting me to take part in this blog tour.

I have to admit that when I saw the e-mail about this blog tour, I did a little dance and a scream, as I am a massive fan of Karen Rose, all of her books are sitting nicely together on one shelf and I feel a comfort with her books that I don’t necessarily get with others.

We are back once again and this time it is book 5 in the Cincinnati Series and it’s one we have been waiting for……Dani and Diesel however before we get to that part, there’s the plot to discuss.

The beginning of the book grips you straight away and we find ourselves meeting Michael and Joshua, Michael is deaf and looks after his 5 year old brother Joshua whilst their Mom is chasing her next fix. Straight away I felt protective of both Michael and Joshua as they are running from there step dad who we late find out was planning to do something horrific with Joshua and Michael will do everything in his power to save him. However, it is not the step dad they end up running from in the end but his killer who is trying to tie up loose ends when he realises that Michael saw his face.

Dani is working away at her free clinic where she is helping disadvantaged and under privileged people who need her help when Diesel brings in Michael and Joshua after his Mom doesn’t pick them up. This is where we start to see their relationship develop which we know is what they both want but it’s been building up to this. However they put that aside to focus on helping Michael and Joshua and Dani does just that by having them live with her in an emergency placement until the situation is resolved, however this comes at cost….having Diesel there 24/7 – not bad eh :’)

Running along side the main story is another story which focuses on Grant Masterson who has a missing sister and now a missing brother as he went in search of his sister, however this would not be a Karen Rose book if it didn’t all tie up near the end.

I liked how the topic of HIV was covered and how informative it was also, and not just glossed over as I think it’s important that these topics are talked about and how it can affect you and your loved ones.

This book had it all, apart from being quite chunky like all her books every page was filled with fantastic writing that kept you guessing and not wanting to put the book down – I have to admit I struggled to put it down when I got to work but was so pleased when I could pick it up again. All the old family favorites were included such as Stone, Scarlett, Deacon, Marcus and Adam plus many more which I think just added to the family dynamic and we wouldn’t have it any other way. There was defiantly some saucy scenes between Dani and Diesel (sorry to the people behind me on the bus who could probably read it).

I have once again loved reading this Karen Rose novel, she can do no wrong and her novels never disappoint – now to find this book a home on my Karen Rose Shelf.

I bow down to the Queen of Crime

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Karen Rose has done it again - another fantastic un-put-downable book full of romance, suspense, action and twists.
I love all her books and they just get better and better.
This installment is focussed on Dani and Diesel and their budding romance.
I love every character and story in this series.
Thank you for another amazing page turner Karen Rose!

With Into the Dark Karen Rose delivers a strong addition to her Cincinnati series. I love Diesel och Dani and reading how their relationship developed in a storming mix of romance and thrilling suspense was pure joy. Of course there is the bad guy who has to be caught fast before getting the chance to do more harm. But as always, the story held up to my expectations and is a must read.

Into the Dark is the fifth instalment in the Cincinnati series and is the most gripping and absorbing so far. There is no problem with jumping into the series in this book although you will probably not want to miss the preceding book as this is romantic suspense at its best. The plot follows two brothers, Michael and Joseph, who happen to be there to witness a man being bundled into the boot of a car never to be seen again; they then find themselves in grave danger by the very same person as they have seen the face of a dangerous vigilante who does not intend to be disturbed from his disturbing "duty". Away from the primary plotline, the developing will they-won't they relationship between Diesel Kennedy and our feisty heroine Dr Dani Novak continues. Following a criminal carrying out his own system of vigilante justice, we see just how warped different people viewing the exact same event can become.

This is a complex and fantastic thriller and the way in which Ms Rose takes various different but interlinked plot threads and weaves them all together into a patchwork quilt that is not only easy to follow and understand but utterly gripping too, is amazing. It has been done so exceptionally that I was astounded. This sprawling intricate, interconnected web makes for a multidimensional story and one with plenty of pep and pizazz and a superb balance between the main case and the personal lives of Dani and Diesel as well as the rest of the cast. I would say that this is up there with the authors most absorbing, accomplished and entertaining books to date, if not the most outstanding by far and my favourite for it's grit, thrills, twisty surprises and moral dilemmas. It is bound to be a huge hit with ardent long-term fans and newcomers alike. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley, Karen Rose and Headline for my arc of Into the Dark in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Michael Rowland, a young deaf boy, feels that his life's purpose is to take care of his little brother Joshua. So when he sees his stepfather plotting something bad against Joshua, he takes him and runs for his life. But while hiding he sees his stepfather taken away by a man in the trunk of his car, never to be seen again. Dr Dani Novak has been keeping Diesel Kennedy at arms length and just as it seems they might be getting closer, Michael and Joshua enter their lives, desperately needing their help. As the only witness to the man who kidnapped and murdered his stepfather Michael is in terrible danger. As bodies start to appear it's clear this killer will stop at nothing to silence Michael.

As always Karen Rose has smashed it with her mix of romance and crime thriller. I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately and I knew picking this one up would get me back into reading again and I was right. The storylines Karen creates pull you in left right and centre and you root for the couple and revel in their budding relationship (not to mention the steamy scenes) as well as desperately hoping for the criminal to be caught and being caught up yourself in the suspense of it all! Into the Dark is no different. I love Diesel and Dani and can't wait for the next book!

Another installment in the sprawling spiderweb of interconnected stories, I really like the balance of romance and thriller. The characters have depth and texture, there's always a couple of dark secrets, and some fascinating bad guys. I also love the sense of family and inclusivity.

I’m a huge fan of Karen Rose and have been desperately waiting for Diesel & Dani’s story. It did not disappoint! Just wished it could’ve been longer!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for a copy of this book.

The one in the series that I've been waiting for is finally here and it really doesn't disappoint - do any of her books ever?!

Anyway, twists and turn aplenty and yeah, I cried again. Thanks for that!!

I’m a big Karen Rose fan and have read all her novels. I love the series as you get to see what happens to back characters in one novel who come to the forefront of the next.
Dr Dani Novak is the local paediatrician who treats Michael Rolland a traumatised young man who has seen a killer. All Michael wants to do is protect his little brother Joshua and football coach Diesel Kennedy wants to help him. Dani and Diesel come together to protect the boys. The book was great and I can’t wait for book six. Karen has you rooting for the characters but all of them have their own issues and no one is perfect. By making the characters human you like them even more.
Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#IntoTheDarkTheCincinnatiSeriesBook5 #NetGalley