Kathleen's Reviews > Dark & Dazzling

Story Rating ~ 5 STARS!
Hero Rating, Azariah ~ 4.5 Dark & Dazzling STARS!
Hero Rating, Connelly ~ 5 Hot Fudge STARS!
Heat Level ~ 4.5 DRENCHING PANTY STARS!
Ending ~ 5 Huge Grinning STARS!
Overall Rating ~ 5 Rainbow, Unicorn & Picket Fences STARS!

Dark & Dazzling is the second book in the Sassy Boyz series and once again I was blown away! Elizabeth Varlet sure knows how to write M/M romances unlike ANY other’s that I have previously read. I can HONESTLY say SHE IS MY FAVORITE M/M romance author! Why you ask? Because her characters are SO fleshed out, so much so that I can’t help but get emotionally attached to them during the course of reading her books.

Azariah has had a rough life, losing his mother at an early age and then tossed into living with an Aunt and Uncle who basically ignored him. He ends up running and living on the streets doing unthinkable acts just get by. Azariah is the dark character of this book. He does not believe in love and does not feel he deserves it. He does not trust easily and has a hard time asking for help when needed.

Connelly was my favorite character of this read. He’s a homicide detective and is best friends with his partner Raoul. Connelly is strong, protective, caring and always wanting to help the people he loves most, even if they aren’t asking for help.

They met at a diner that Azariah was working at as a waiter. One day while Connelly was on his way to the diner for lunch, he sees Azariah in full makeup and heels. He is so stunned by what he sees that they actually run right into each other. And then it happened, they kissed right then and there. A kiss neither one of them could easily forget about.

On Connelly’s birthday, Raoul take’s Connelly out to The Vibe, a gay bar where Azariah also works at dancing on stage with his best friends The Sassy Boyz. Once Connelly sets his eyes on Azariah, he can’t look away. It does not take these two long before they hook up and let me tell you that when they do, it’s SMOKING HOT and EXPLOSIVE! Connelly is very much wanting to see where things could go between them but time and time again, Azariah pushes him away which drove me bat shit crazy!

Part of this story revolves around Connelly and Raoul investigating drug sales that are going down at The Vibe. There is also some extra drama that has to do with Connelly’s sister and her X-husband. These two things figured into the story-line nicely and kept me turning the pages.

It’s not until near the end that Azariah realizes just how much Connelly means to him. This was a very exciting part of the story. I LOVED that Azariah was there for Connelly just when he really needed him the most.

In the end I find myself wondering where The Sassy Boyz will be performing at since The Vibe is currently shut down. I’m so looking forwards to finding that out and also what Sassy Boyz member’s story we will get next.