My Dark Desire

Dark Prince Road, Book 2

By: L.J. Shen, Parker S. Huntington

Narrated by: Desmond Cloverdale, Callie Dalton

She’s his sweetest desire...and his darkest secret.

From Wall Street Journal best sellers Parker S. Huntington and L.J. Shen comes a tantalizing forbidden romance between a broken Prince Charming and a disgraced Cinderella.

The task was simple. Sneak into Potomac's most heavily guarded manor. Steal back my pendant. Slip out.

Problem number one? America’s most unattainable bachelor caught me.

Problem number two? He decided to keep me. As the help.

Zachary Sun’s winter may be the coldest I’ve ever felt, but he makes my skin burn.

Reserved, calculated, and savagely cruel, he thrives on the weaknesses of others.

Little does he know, he just met his match.

He may be American royalty. But this peasant will rise to become queen.

Authors’ notes: My Dark Desire is a stand-alone double-grump romance between a broken billionaire and a feisty maid unafraid to fight back. It is set in the decadent Dark Prince Road world.

©2024 L.J. Shen & Parker S. Huntington (P)2024 Audible, Inc.

Fun and chaotic!

This is a modern retelling of Cinderella in which the grumpy billionaire falls for an endearing thief. After falling head over heels for the first book in the series, I was excited to read/listen to this second installment.

✨ Thoughts ✨
In simple terms, this novel is fun and chaotic. The unpredictable actions of Farrow and Zack kept me on the edge of my seat, unsure of what would happen next. While their romance was fascinating, there were moments when it spun out of control, leaving me emotionally whiplashed.

I must admit, it was difficult for me to fully connect with the main characters as their immaturity seemed to overshadow their age. I longed for the smooth banter delivered in "My Dark Romeo." The chemistry between the main characters felt somewhat contrived. Both Farrow and Zack were in desperate need of serious therapy. However, I did love the side characters who brought an enjoyable dynamic to the story, and I'm eagerly anticipating Ollie and Frankie's story!

🎧The narration was decent. I adore Callie Dalton's performance, but the male narrator didn't quite capture Zack's essence. Nevertheless, they both put in admirable effort. Overall, if you have a fondness for Cinderella retellings, this audiobook holds great potential and is well worth the experience.

Funny, Ridiculous, Sexy

I love these books. I don’t love the male narrator on this one. He sounds like Donald Trump sometimes lol. But the story is funny and sexy. I will def read/listen to the next one.

🖤🖤🖤

Zach's mom turned into a cupid, nudging him to find love and break free from his work cocoon. Reluctant as he was, Zach got swept up in the whirlwind. Meanwhile, Farrow set off on a wild adventure to retrieve a family treasure, only to stumble upon Zach cradling the precious heirloom. As secrets unraveled and schemes were uncovered, Zach flipped the script and offered Farrow a gig, sparking a fiery dynamic between them. After some witty banter, the duo struck a hilarious deal that had me giggling along with their witty exchanges. Those group text messages were comedy gold!

I totally devoured this book 🥰

I literally lost a whole night of sleeping reading this book. I read it on and off the entire day, then completely dove into it that night, and finished it at 6am the next morning 😂 I love the first book in this series so I guess no surprise that I utterly loved the second book. L.J. Shen and Parker S. Huntington are a match made in my personal heaven and I never want to leave the world they create. I need more now please lol 🥰

All the characters stood out. Well done

This is my favorite book so far. I enjoyed it and couldn’t wait to listen to it every chance I got. In my way to work on my way home and doing my walks and house work. Thank you.

Love adult fairy tales!

This clever retelling of Cinderella came to me at the best time! I needed something that would not only fill my romance craving but add laughter with a bit of darkness. LJ Shen and Parker S Huntington teaming up gave me just what I needed. Zach finds Farrow crashing a party in his home, only she was there to retrieve a pendant, priceless to her. Instant attraction, she gets away, but after a little sleuthing, Zach finds her, gives her an offer she can't refuse and they are off and running. The collaboration of Shen and Huntington gives each chapter that flavor of darkness, but the light is brought by both adding that bit of humor that just made me laugh. Zach's mom, though frustrating was such a great character, adding the love only a son could have for his mom along with the frustration! Plus I love hearing broken characters finding their healing glue with each other. These two have witty banter galore and chemistry that explodes in the earbuds! A great addition to the Dark Prince Road series!

Desmond Cloverdale and Callie Dalton narrate this story with amazing voices and emotion. Cloverdale is Zach, a bit broken, a bit of an alpha and a total mama's boy! Each part easily flows in the story and adds that flare that Zach has. Dalton is Farrow, full of snark and determination but with a heart that is warm and breakable for the right people. She gives her all the feels when needed! Loved the performance!

Emotional, and sizzling romance!

I was totally captivated by this steamy, dark modern day Cinderella retelling! I fell so hard for Zach and Farrow in their emotional, and sizzling romance! They meet when Zach found Farrow in his home and their banter caught them by surprise, started the fiery attraction between them. Farrow escaped but Zach found her easily, convincing her to work for him, and he would help her in return. Zachary Sun has a heartbreaking past that has kept him from living. He is cold, calculating, and deliciously demanding. He met his match in Farrow, who doesn't cower to his demands, and makes him crave her touch. Farrow lost everything and is fighting to get back what was stollen from her. Unfortunately she needs Zach's help, and she is afraid their temporary arrangement will end up breaking her heart. I loved these wonderfully broken characters who challenge each other. I loved the push/pull between them, their banter is their foreplay, and their chemistry is explosive! The twists and turns in their story was so riveting as it took my breath away.
Desmond Cloverdale and Callie Dalton did a great job bringing this story to life. They not only build the tension of the story, but the fiery attraction between Zach and Farrow as well. Their banter was brilliant, and they conveyed the depth and complexity of all their emotions beautifully. I always love Dalton's work but this is my first time listening to Cloverdale. I'm not sure his voice/accent was convincing for Zachary Sun but I did enjoy his dynamic performance.
I really loved this eloquent twist on a favorite story and can't wait for more collaborations from these talented authors!

So Much Character Developments

So much character development and spicy and emotionally charged. This book is a new favorite... an I liked it so much I just Pre-Ordered the hard cover of this book. I'm in Love and I can't Decide who I loved more Romeo Or Zack. I highly recommend this and I won't stop recommend it ... as soon as I am able I'm gonna order My Dark Prince in Hard cover as well. I'm blown away definitely an new favorite trilogy!!!

4/5 because It ended
3/5 spice
5/5 over all

Beautiful dark Cinderella retelling

Story Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (0-5)
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 (0-5)
Overall: 4.75/5
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (0-5) I bump up for public places.

What I’m Starry-eyed Over:
🤩 The narrators are perfectly cast and intensified all the feels.
🤩 Captivating and exciting, not a dull moment.
🤩 Cinderella retellings are usually my favorite. I was nervous to see how I’d do with a dark Cinderella retelling, but it worked on me!
🤩 I love my dark, morally gray reads in a happy bubble of scrumptious adoration and protection, with a guaranteed HEA—this book totally does it for me!
🤩 All the feels in so much written beauty.
🤩 The unwanted physical attraction between Farrow and Zach, the enemies-to-lovers plus opposites attract banter and vibes—all so fabulous and delicious.
🤩 A love triangle I couldn’t get enough of, even though it made me bawl.
🤩 The characterization and trauma representation are so well written, clever, and build to the intimacy. It’s beautiful the way they learn to communicate with and love on each other.
🤩 And, yeah, they are smokin’ hot. Chapter 30 in the sauna—Callie Dalton, you rock my world!
🤩 The moment between Zach and his mom, where she asks if she can hold his hand. Oh, my heart.
🤩 The grand gesture and when the title comes into play.
🤩 The guy friend group and text chats are laugh-out-loud funny! I need that comedic relief in my darker romance.
🤩 Beautiful friendships/found family.

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 Does Ollie get a story? I’m intrigued by him, except for maybe the loving cryochamber prank. And I think I can be brave enough for Romeo’s story. Dallas and Romeo are everything!
💫 I would have loved one spicy scene after the 30 days instead of an at a glance. At her apartment would have been so good. Yeah, I’m greedy.

Cinderella Retelling with a twist

"I may be Cinderella, but Zachary Sun is not my Prince Charming."

“I figured out why I love you.”
“And why is that?"
“You’re my home.”
“I figured out why I love you,” I countered.
“And why is that?”
“You make my soul breathe fire, my beautiful dark desire.”

Pretty decent retelling of Cinderella and you pick up on it pretty early in the story that is the premise to the story line. Just like with the fairytale Farrow is at her families beckon call, after losing her father to tragedy her Stepmom and Stepsisters have her doing everything. Farrow meets Zach after she crashes his party but not partake in the festivities of the eligible billionaire bachelor looking for a wife, she attended to retrieve something that belonged to her father that was sold in auction by her Stepmother. When she is caught in a room she had no business being in by Zachary they engage in a game of Go (kind of like Chess). Zach knows she wasn't on the guess list but Farrow tries to convince him she was, she escapes the party and of course leaves behind a shoe. Zachary searches for her and tells her she has to come work for him or face going to jail for breaking into his house and trying to steal from him.
Zach doesn't like to be touched by anyone due to the tragic loss of his father when he was a boy.
Both Farrow and Zachary are broken and have a lot of emotional trauma/baggage but from the moment they met they have challenged each other, have great banter and start to like each other. Zachary realizes that if he is going to be touched, Farrow is the only person that he would allow to do it. She helps him overcome his fear of touch and just feeling anything at all and becomes consumed with just wanting to be in her presence, he is of course a virgin but again doesn't like touch but is willing and wants her touch and he asks her to teach him to feel. They get into some pretty spicy moments. Then there is the mystery of Farrow's dads death, his Will, business and Stepmom. As well as Zachary being forced into an engagement to someone "suitable" for him set up by his overbearing mother.
There are also the characters from My Dark Romeo that are Zachary's friends, I am guessing that Oliver will be the next book.