About the Book:
Title: Arresting Benjamin
Author: Amber Daulton
Series: Arresting Onyx #3
Publication Date: Oct. 11, 2022
Synopsis: A one-night stand, a surprise baby, and a mysterious stalker.
Mechanic Benjamin Starwell can’t stop thinking about Belle Hamlin, the ballsy musician he slept with and skipped out on months earlier. He never meant to get her pregnant, but he’ll do whatever it takes to win back her trust and be a part of his child’s life. His desire for Belle drives him to be a better man, but he’s worn thin with a garage to run and his estranged sister dumping her troubles on him.
Belle’s juggling impending motherhood, her indie rock career, and a stalker who’s determined to see her fail. Even though she’s desperate to get her priorities straight, she pushes aside her past hurt and welcomes Benji back into her bed. She never expects him to slip into her heart.
When the danger escalates, they face the greatest challenge of all—protecting their unborn child.
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My Review:
The third book in the Arresting Onyx series, Arresting Benjamin is a suspenseful romance. It follows Belle and Benji a couple who shared one passionate night together. Months later, Benji sees Belle and realizes his mistake in not pursuing a relationship. He wants to convince her that they have a future together, but Benji hurt Belle deeply when he left without so much as a goodbye. When Belle reveals she’s pregnant with his baby, they decide to give their relationship another chance. But with a stalker threatening Belle, Benji’s unstable sister returning, and a host of other issues standing in their way, the couple’s journey is rife with complications.
I like both Benji and Belle. They are both strong, independent, hard-working people, and they make a great pair. Benji is a mechanic and business owner who has worked hard to establish himself. Belle is an aspiring musician and has gained some recognition in the indie world. Benji is also really caring, and I love that he believes in second chances. He tries to help his sister who struggles with addiction, he wants to protect Belle from a scary stalker, and he is a dedicated uncle to his young nephew. Both are stubborn and impulsive, and they sometimes act and speak without thinking. I like that the author created realistic characters, flaws and all.
Belle and Benji have a lot of chemistry, and it’s pretty clear their feelings for each other aren’t just sexual (though the sexy scenes are steamy!). Benji is very protective of Belle, and he is a definite alpha male. I like that Belle fights her own battles and doesn’t let Benji take over. She is a strong person, which she proves time and again in the story. Something I really liked about their relationship is how hard Benji falls for Belle. She is more hesitant because of how he hurt her in the past, but Benji falls hard and quickly.
Belle has a fantastic group of friends, and I love the role female friendships play in the story. The women are very supportive of each other, and if you read the other books in the series, you’ll recognize some of them. Benji also has connections to the characters in the first two books, and I like that they have secondary roles in this story. It’s always great to see what’s happening in the lives of characters you read about in previous books.
The story also has a lot of suspense as a stalker has targeted Belle, and Benji’s sister has possible connections to a gang that’s plagued other characters in the series. As the stalker’s actions become more violent and frightening, Belle and Benji do everything they can to protect themselves and their unborn baby. It’s intense, especially since they don’t know who is a threat and where danger might lurk. I would recommend checking out the content warning before starting the story, as there are parts that could be triggering for readers.
This is a suspenseful and dramatic addition to the series, and though it’s the third book, it can be read as a standalone. Thanks to Amber Daulton for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance.
- The suspense.
Recommendations:
I would definitely recommend checking out the content warnings before reading the book. There are some aspects of the story that could be triggering for readers.
Want to learn more about the series? Check out my reviews of the first two books!
Ooo that cover! Benji sounds like a great male lead 😍
He’s pretty hunky!
Thank you, PreviouslyUnread! Benji’s a great guy, if I do say so myself. 🙂
Thank you so much for the great review, Julie!!
You’re so welcome, Amber! 🙂