• Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Contact Me
  • Review Policy
  • About This Blog
  • Request a Review
  • Author Spotlight Request
  • Privacy Policy

Nautical Star Books

Gay Romance Book Reviews, Book Giveaways, Author Tours and New Releases

  • Reviews
  • Giveaways
  • Book Tours
  • Authors
  • Free Reads
  • Excerpts
  • New Releases
  • Cover Reveals
  • Book Series
  • LGBTQ Publishers

Dark & Dazzling (Sassy Boyz) by Elizabeth Varlet

September 22, 2016 by Devan Huff Leave a Comment

In Dark & Dazzling by Elizabeth Varlet, Azariah is a beautiful combination of fierce and fabulous. He doesn’t need a hero.  But Connelly is a white knight with a badge who can’t stay away.  I received one copy of this book at no charge in exchange for my honest reviews but all opinions expressed here are my own.  This post contains affiliate links.

Posts feature books that may have been provided at no charge & may be sponsored. Post contains affiliate links & I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on links.

 Dark & Dazzling by Elizabeth Varlet

Purchase Links: Amazon

Dark & Dazzling by Elizabeth VarletTitle:   Dark & Dazzling

Series:   Sassy Boyz Book 2

Author:      Elizabeth Varlet

Publisher:  November 7th 2016 by Carina Press

ASIN:  B01HXT6XTC

Genre:     M/M , Contemporary

Length/Format:  Kindle Edition, 262 pages

Heat Rating:  

Star Rating:  

 

About the Author:  Learn more about Elizabeth Varlet by checking out the author’s website or following along on  Twitter.

 

Book Blurb:  

Z doesn’t need a hero… 

Azariah “Z” Hayes is a diamond. Equal parts strength and sparkle, he’s more than capable of standing on his own stilettos. So if waiting tables and stripping at The Vibe are what it takes to keep a roof over his head, well, there are worse ways to earn a living.

Connelly is a white knight with a badge… 

For NYPD detective Connelly Reid, to serve and protect is just another day at the office—even if that means protecting himself from his own true desires. He’s been curious about Z, his waiter, for months, but it’s not until he sees him in his makeup and heels that the curiosity becomes a fierce attraction. Z, despite all his over-the-top dazzle, might just be the man Connelly has been waiting for his entire life.

But when Connelly investigates underground porn and drug activity with ties to The Vibe, one thing becomes very clear—acting on what he knows is going to hurt Z, financially and emotionally. And though Connelly would love nothing more than to fix all of Z’s problems, no amount of mind-blowing sex can make Z comfortable becoming dependent on his lover. Yet if there’s one thing Connelly knows from his years on the force, it’s this: when things go bad, you need a trusted partner to have your back.

My Review:

In Dark & Dazzling by Elizabeth Varlet, Z is truly fierce and fabulous.  He has had a hard past but is working hard to keep a roof over his head.  Waiting tables during the day pays the bills but his true passion is dancing at the Vibe.  In stilettos and glitter, he and the rest of the Sassy Boyz have a dancing/stripping routine that is truly breathtaking and sensual.

Connelly is curious about his waiter but when he accidentally comes across Z in his all his fierce and fabulous glory, he is truly captivated.  Unfortunately, an underground porn and drug ring at the Vibe puts Z in danger and Connelly has to find a way to break the case while still protecting the guy who has captured his heart.

So, the biggest conflict in Dark & Dazzling by Elizabeth Varlet is that Connelly is a white knight and Z does NOT want to be rescued.  He is so strong and independent but Connelly really has a hard time not fixing all of his problems.  Z really has a bit of an attitude about it, though, which makes even the smallest attempt at rescue from Connelly really a huge deal.

The author created such a unique character in Z.  So determined and scrappy but the glitz and glamor makes a nice counter balance.  I must admit, the book took a turn a didn’t really care for.  Z goes to some pretty harsh extremes to try and make it on his own and the author doesn’t gloss over any of it.  Maybe I am more of a ‘rose colored glasses’ kind of person but the story line I think would have been fine without that particular plot twist.

The story turns dark for a while….Z loses his sparkle and goes from ‘fierce chihuahua’ with a sparkly side to someone who is desperate and angry.  Definitely a bit of a downer there.

Connelly was basically the white knight of the story.  Always trying to rescue Z, without regard to how he might feel about it.  He definitely could have handled things better but when he really screws up, he was so heartbroken I practically cried right along with him.

There are layers built upon layers in this story that I really enjoyed.  The relationship with Connelly and Z, the cases that Connelly and his partner are trying to solve, the drug issue at the club, the interactions between all the Sassy Boyz….it is really a well developed and well written story.

This was a rather intense story with plenty of drama and a romance that isn’t all hearts and flowers but that does (eventually) end in a HEA.  There are just a few dark parts along the way there.

Devan Huff

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Carina Press, Contemporary, Elizabeth Varlet, Male/Male

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

STAY CONNECTED

Affiliate Link Disclosure

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Devan's books

A Vampire's Heart
really liked it
A Vampire's Heart
by Kayleigh Sky
Review first posted on Nautical Star Books . I can honestly say that A Vampire's Heart by Kayleigh Sky has got to be one of the best vampire romances I have read in quite some time.  This is the first book of the  Ellowyn Found trilogy ...
Robbie
it was amazing
Robbie
by Ella Frank
Review first posted on Nautical Star Books . If you are looking for a scorching hot MMM romance with fabulous characters, Confessions: Robbie by Ella Frank was incredible. This is book one of the Confessions series and includes several...
Where Death Meets the Devil
it was amazing
Where Death Meets the Devil
by L.J. Hayward
Review first posted on Nautical Star Books . This is the first book by L.J. Hayward that I have read. I can honestly say that it was a fabulous story that had my nose stuck in the book for the entire weekend. If you love good suspense...
Throwing Stones
really liked it
Throwing Stones
by Avery Cockburn
Review first posted on Nautical Star Books . Throwing Stones is the first in a spinoff series related to the Glasgow Lads football/soccer books, but may be read as a stand-alone novel. I have read several of the previous romance books b...
Trick Roller
it was amazing
Trick Roller
by Cordelia Kingsbridge

goodreads.com

Follow Us on Pinterest!

Visit Nautical Star Books's profile on Pinterest.

Commonly Used Tags

A.M. Arthur Amish Annabeth Albert Anthology Author BDSM Bisexual Blog Tour Carina Press Christmas Contemporary Crime Dreamspinner Press Eli Easton fantasy Female/Female Free Read Giveaway Historical Interlude Press Keira Andrews L.A. Witt Less Than Three Press Leta Blake Loose ID M/M/M Male/Male Menage Morticia Knight mystery New Releases Nic Starr Paranormal Riptide Publishing RJ Scott Samhain Publishing Science Fiction Sean Michael Shifters Siren Publishing Suspense Tara Lain Torquere Press V.L. Locey Young Adult

© 2010–2021 · Nautical Star Books ·

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok