Don't let the cover fool you - this is such a good read! I listened to the audiobook and the duet narration with aussie accents was sooooo good!

Gavin is wrongfully imprisoned for murdering Jamie's mother. After 16 years behind bars the real murderer confesses and it's earth shattering. The story brings Jamie and Gavin together to deal with their traumas, and they have a tension filled slow burn while living in forced proximity to one another.

There weren't too many side characters introduced, and I loved Benny and Anika.

I definitely had misty eyes at one bit, and a whole lot of feels throughout. The end had my jaw on the floor - loved it!

Thank you to the Author, Publisher, and NetGalley for the ALC!

After listening to the brilliant These Hands and Deceivious I’ll try anything that Darcy Daniel writes, even a Romance…

Gavin Lake is the ex-con determined to prove his innocence, Jamie Evans is the daughter of the woman Gavin was convicted of k*lling. Gavin is freshly out on parole after sixteen years.

It’s a captivating love story and so much more, it’s tightly plotted, there are twists and secrets and an unsolved crime. For me it crosses over between Romance and Thriller, with a liberal measure of spice. I could see readers of Liane Moriarty and Gillian McAllister lapping this up and asking for more.

The audiobook is superb, Duet narration, with both narrators interacting. It works brilliantly, especially in dialogue. Shout outs to Sofia Lette and Vincent Shabah who are perfect for the characters. It’s seventeen hours long but never drags, I could have listened to this forever.

I’ve listened to three of her books so far, all very different, Darcy Daniel is fast becoming one of my favourite multi-genre authors.

I loved it! Definitely highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for choosing me.

I deliberately took my time with Gavin and Jamie's story, from the very first page I felt that their story- their journey deserved it. I was right about it. Their story started with a tragedy shrouded in so much darkness that I was wholeheartedly certain there was no way for either of them to find the light in their lives again. I am so happy I was wrong about that. The vulnerability that shined through, the authenticity from each of the characters as they both walked their paths was absolutely stunning. This wasn't just a love story, it was so much more than that. It was two souls coming together to consume each other in the best of ways. It was two hearts coming together as one. It was an awful nightmare turning into a wonderful, bright dream. ❤️

Sixteen years is a long time to wait for justice. It should have never happened. Gavin should've been cold and closed off, instead he was kind, caring and so, so open to life. It was absolutely refreshing. His way of looking at life taught me not to take some things for granted. Jamie is probably the most selfless character I have ever encountered. She could've remained quiet, instead she did the right thing and thanks to that one decision she changed the course of so many people's lives - hers, Gavin's, Lach's, Anika's and Benny's. I loved their banter, I loved the angst, and when they finally got together their chemistry was utterly explosive and I ate it up from beginning to end.

I cried tears of sadness and rage and also cried tears of happiness throughout this book. It tore my soul to pieces and broke my heart repeatedly and somehow it managed to heal me by the end. There was agonizing pain and immense relief. Above everything there was love for these characters. So much of it in fact that I know I will carry them in my heart for the rest of my life.

Benny was an AMAZING character. The fact that he was there for Gavin and later for Jamie without ever doubting him (and later her) was beautiful. His love and loyalty was spectacular. I will always love him for what he represented for Gavin in those sixteen years and then of course for who was to him afterwards. Anika was brilliant. She's rough around the edges and a little crude and I loved every piece of her.

Jarrod Reid 🤢 you can rot in Hell. Seriously. As for Brian Evans there is simply NO EXCUSE for what he did to his family, to Gavin and to Lach. I don't think I've ever read a more despicable character. I hated this man with every fiber of my being. 😡

Shawshank and J will forever be some of the sweetest, cutest nicknames ever simply because of the reasoning behind both. 🥰

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Let me start this second review by stating I received the free audiobook from the author and NetGalley. This was top-tier narration. Reading it the first time around was a profoundly moving experience, but now that I've had the opportunity to hear these characters being brought to life by expert narrators its a completely new experience. Still moving and heartfelt, and yet so much deeper than that. The emotion it provokes was incredible. My infinite start rating from my first read in June still stands. Nothing I write, nothing I say will do this stunning masterpiece justice. This book, these characters and their journey was beautiful in every way. The emotional rollercoaster was absolutely worth it both times. I will carry them with me always. Both in my heart and soul. ❤️

5⭐️
(audiobook)

Thank you to Netgalley and everyone involved for this ALC. Being so lucky to not only get an ARC but also the ALC made me beyond happy!

Just like the first time, I loved every second of this book!
The narrators were PERFECT! Somehow, they sounded exactly how I imagined their voices when I read it the first time. Absolutely amazing work from both of them and as it's a dual narration it was an equally amazing listening experience.
If you're looking for a story full of emotion, twists and tragic backstories, look no further! This is definitely not my only time rereading "Into These Eyes"!

Reading Into These Eyes by Darcy Daniel, I have definitely stepped outside my usual crime fiction genre. I would describe the style as being steamy romance, with a hint of thriller thrown in for good measure.

To say that Jamie Evans hasn’t had an easy life is an understatement. At just 16, she became the de facto mother of a two year old, after their mum met a violent unnatural end. Despite the Herculean effort that this has taken, she has managed to qualify as a lawyer, but she has no time in her life for anything else. The man responsible was caught red-handed, his conviction a mere formality.

This a slow burn, 534 pages/17 hours long, but an no point was I bored. The longer format allowed the author to develop the characters incredibly well. I genuinely felt that I knew them, and knew how they would behave before the words told me.

The chemistry between two of the characters is palpable. The voices of Sofia Lette and Vincent Shabah channel their emotions perfectly. The duet narration wonderfully suits Into These Eyes, it feels so natural. I wish that more audiobook productions would use this style.

As their attraction deepens, the open door bedroom scenes become more intense. If reading graphic scenes makes you feel uncomfortable, then I would suggest this book is not for you. As these moments are frequent, and described leaving nothing to the imagination. There is also strong language occasionally in the dialogue, which is used to convey the strong emotions being felt.

Darcy Daniel writes with great intensity, taking the reader on a rollercoaster, and gripping the attention tightly.

~Alc Review~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶.75

~Into These Eyes~Darcy Daniel~

~Duet Narration~Sofia Lette & Vincent Shabah~

~Production~Two Birds Audio~

“You’re my happiness, my life, my breath. When you stop breathing, so will I.”

♡Have you ever had a book make you second guess yourself so much that you didn't know if you were coming or going? Then when you finally thought you had it all figured out BAM you were only half right...because SAME! Into These Eyes was my first read by Darcy Daniel & immediately after finishing it I was on the hunt for the rest Darcy's backlist!

The duet narration for this audiobook was everything I wanted & more! Both Sofia & Vincent are new to me narrators & their performance left my jaw on the ground in the best way possible! They both did phenomenal bringing Jamie & Gavin to life along with multiple side characters. The chemistry, attention to detail, & perfected emotions in this performance gave me chills & they truly made it feel like you were a fly in the room watching this story play out!

If you love romantic suspense books with a story like no other, slow-burn spice that is worth the wait, & jaw dropping suspense look no further!♡

~As Always Happy Reading~

~Thank you Netgalley & Victory Editing for this Alc!~

Duet narration - Sofia Lette & Vincent Shabah
Both are new to me narrators and holy moly they are fabulous. Their performance blew me away.

What an emotional roller coaster. This book had me down, up, down, then up again. These characters have been through so much.

This romantic suspense is a slow burn that will have you on the edge of your seat! Gavin gets wrongly convicted of a crime and during the trial he finds he is attracted to the victims daughter. Jamie hates him for what she believes he did to her family.

Years later fate brings them into each others orbit. The development of their relationship beyond the trauma is sweet but a little heartbreaking. Set in Australia these narrators accents were perfection.

If you’re a fan of romantic suspense that has a slow burn plot that will grip you from the beginning to end this one is for you. Such a great story.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Story 5 stars Narration 5 stars
Into These Eyes is a beautiful romantic suspense. The two main characters, Jamie and Gavin, have a very unconventional but epic, heart wrenching love story. This fantastic audiobook has it all-mystery, suspense, intrigue, betrayal, injustice, found family, redemption, love. The duet narration by Sofia Lette and Vincent Shabah was phenomenal. Sofia Lette was brilliant as smart, determined, sweet Jamie. Vincent Shabah was divine as sweet, shy, besotted Gavin. These two extraordinarily talented narrators brought this Australian story to life wonderfully. They portrayed each and every character perfectly. I highly recommend listening to this amazing audiobook.
Thanks to Darcy Daniel and NetGalley for this ALC.