Hi lovely readers,
I hope you survived Valentine’s Day—whether you spent it romancing someone else, romancing fictional men, or aggressively ignoring the entire concept like a champion.
Let’s dive into the next installment of What feral things is Olivia doing?
I finished the first draft of The Obsession Between Us… and then promptly realised it wasn’t actually finished, because I’d left myself helpful little notes like “ADD SCENES HERE.” Outstanding work, past me.
Thankfully, I’ve been able to bridge those gaps, and now I’m deep in edits—shaping the story into the strongest version it can be.
Right now, though, I’m taking a small break while my beta readers work their magic. Instead, I’ve been pouring my energy into my why choose romance. I’m not someone who can outline before I write, but think:
girl on the run,
swords crossing,
a mute MMC,
very hurt/comfort vibes
Current relationship tropes between the MMCs and my FMC:
Ash — hate to love. Spite. Sarcasm. Eye contact that could start wars.
Caleb — instant love paired with quiet mistrust. He falls first, and harder, and he’s just waiting for her to catch up.
Jude — silent guardian. Says nothing. Does everything. Would absolutely kill for her without hesitation.
(Yes, this absolutely says everything about my taste in fictional men and I will not be taking questions at this time.)
I don’t know yet if this will be a standalone or a series—we’ll have to wait and see.
The Book’s Beginning (subject to change)
You know you’ve made it in life when the highlight of your day is finding an unwrapped plain cheese sandwich lying at the top of a bin.
My stomach rumbles painfully as I tear off the packaging and stuff the bready goodness into my gob. My eyes roll back and I moan, savouring the feeling of eating actual food.
It’s been three days since I ate anything more than the few measly crackers I managed to nick from the corner shop.
I fear my “Britishness” is already showing in this one, and I’m leaning hard into it. I read a lot of American books, which means that while my stories are generally set in the UK (though not all are), I often find myself using more Americanised humour and pulling back from overly English-specific wording so I don’t confuse readers. But not this time.
The Obsession Between Us — The Blurb
Emily:
Go to work. Come home. Repeat.
My life is a quiet, controlled routine—safe, predictable… until he walks in.
A new patient with secrets behind his smile and a predatory hunger in his eyes. He is the wrecking ball aimed at the walls I’ve spent years building.
And then there’s my stalker.
He watches me from the shadows. He follows my every move. He leaves “gifts” that prove he sees the parts of me I keep hidden from the world.
I should be afraid. I should run.
But for the first time in my life, I feel wanted. Desired. Seen.
He’s the only one who makes me feel safe. And for him, I’m willing to pick up the knife and become a monster, too.
Eli:
I was seventeen when I realised I wasn’t normal.
The first girl I ever watched disappeared, and I’ve been chasing that high ever since. Until I found her.
I thought I wanted to stop this dangerous game of obsession. Then I met Dr. Emily Morgan.
Smart. Beautiful. Untouchable.
Until I touched her world.
Now I can’t stay away. She belongs to me—she just doesn’t know it yet.
But when the ghosts of the past come clawing back, she might be the only one who can save me from myself.
One of the hardest parts of writing The Obsession Between Us has been preserving Emily’s professionalism. She crosses boundaries she absolutely shouldn’t, so I’ve gone back through to layer in much more internal conflict.
At its core, this book is about her descent into darkness, which makes the ethical dilemmas essential. More than anything, I want readers to feel her struggle every step of the way.
I think I’m finally starting to capture that—and it’s been equal parts challenging and exciting.
Real talk: my alpha reader didn’t like my original ending… so I changed the entire end of the book.
BUT FUCK. It works so much better.
Sometimes it’s genuinely sad to let go of words you’ve written, especially when you’ve built a version of the story so clearly in your head. But that’s just part of the process—and the story is better for it.
And that beginning I shared from my why choose romance? That spark of genius struck while I was on holiday in Berlin last Easter, watching a woman rifling through bins. (I don’t think she was looking for food—Berlin has fantastic recycling schemes where you get paid for returning recyclables.)
But I digress.
Something about that moment had me freezing on the spot, yanking open my notes app, and spending the entire bus ride back to the hotel writing chapter one.
Now that’s dedication.
Soulful Seas Duet by Blake Black — Whisper Waves & Ocean Echoes
This duet had me in an absolute chokehold. I was severely ill and off work—which, obviously, meant I spent hours reading nonstop. I could not put this down. I never thought I’d be rooting so hard for a ghost, but here we are.
I cried. I laughed. I felt everything right alongside these characters. The storytelling was so immersive and believable (despite the paranormal aspect) that it genuinely felt like I was living the story with them. Beautiful, emotional, and unforgettable.
One of my favourite quotes:
“We make each other feel alive and less lonely. Doesn’t that make us friends?”
Saylor turns to me, his translucent eyes meeting mine. There’s a hint of a smile on his lips as he nods. “Yes, Slo, I suppose it does.”
“Can I keep you?” I ask, my soft voice cracking with emotion as my eyes well up too.
“As long as I can keep you.”
Coded Connections Duet by Blake Black - Soul Code & Mind Code
You might be noticing a pattern here—once I discovered Blake Black’s writing, I immediately needed more. This is another why choose romance, this time featuring three hot, nerdy tech-genius MMCs and a nerdy, British, tech-genius FMC (yes, it’s as good as it sounds).
Once again, I was completely pulled into this world and genuinely didn’t want to leave. Smart, addictive, and utterly binge-worthy.
The quote:
You’re my favorite laugh, the sound that fills our home with joy and makes the darkest days bearable. You’re my favorite scent that lingers on my pillow long after you’ve left for the day. You’re my favorite face, the one I could look at forever and never tire of, the one that still makes my heart race every time you smile at me. You’re my favorite person, the one I trust with every part of me, the one who knows me better than anyone else.
Other Blake Black books I’d give a million stars to:
Rogue Riders Duet — literal perfection
Glitter & Gleam Duet — no words
Very Important Disclaimer:
I am not affiliated with Blake Black in any way. I am simply a reader who accidentally fell headfirst into obsession. If she ever noticed me, I would almost certainly keel over on the spot. This is purely unhinged reader enthusiasm and nothing more.
You can find her Amazon storefront here, in case anyone wants to join me in my obsession: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Blake-Black/author/B0C577XSPG?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1770584753&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
P.S. If you’re curious what else I’m reading, check out my Fable here:
Until next time,
