Hideaway (Devil's Night)

Penelope Douglas is one of my favorite authors and I have been waiting for ‘Hideaway’ since I finished the first book of the Devil’s Night series ‘Corrupt’. And all I can say is, it was worth the wait. I finished ‘Hideaway’ the day after the release day, which was 11 days ago but I was having a hard time to write this review because firstly I don’t want to spoil the book for the people who still haven’t read and secondly I wasn’t sure if I was able to write something that will make justice to the book. I am still not sure but here I go 🙂 For the people, who haven’t read the first book, let me give you guys a little back-story. Michael, Kai, Will and Damon, who are also known as the Horsemen, ruled Thunder Bay. Every year in Devil’s Night, which is the night before Halloween, the Horsemen pulls different pranks and do whatever they wish. Everyone knows who are behind the masks but no one will do anything to stop them. After they graduated from high school and went to different universities, the Horsemen comes back to Thunder Bay for the Devil’s Night but something goes wrong and Kai, Will and Damon gets arrested. Michael blames Rika for what went down on that night. ‘Corrupt’ tells past and present story about what happened that night and what happens after they are released from prison. Just like ‘Corrupt’, ‘Hideaway’ is written back and forth between the past and the present. As someone who doesn’t really enjoy switching back and forth between past and present, I really enjoyed both stories and I think this is mainly because of Penelope Douglas’s writing style. Every time, you read something related to past you realize the reasons behind the behaviors and the events of present. The best part is you are not lost between past and present. ‘Hideaway’ is written from dual POV, gives us more chance to see depth and inner struggles of the characters. Kai, Michael and Will still trying to get over Damon’s betrayal and also trying to figure out where he is and what will be his next move. With the addition of Rika and Alex to the group, you see how far and how little they moved on. The dynamics and the priorities of the group have changed but they still cannot let go of the past. When they decide to go to Damon’s father in the hopes of finding Damon so that they can move on but instead of finding Damon, after years they meet with Banks once again. Kai Mori is the planner. He is quiet, observant and reserved. Even when he is not wearing his silver mask, he doesn’t allow people to see the real Kai, not even his closest friends. What I loved about Kai the most is how honorable, he is. His inner struggle with shame and disappointment he caused to his father was touching. As for Banks, she is smart, loyal and sassy. The mind games and scheming between Banks and Kai shows that she is the Horsemen’s match but seeing her need to be accepted and loved leading to an unconditional loyalty towards some people might annoy you a little bit until you get to the real reasons behind it. Switching between past and present shows how Kai and Banks’s relationship started and how she turned him down every time because of her loyalty and love to Damon. It was great because you get so many information regarding who really Kai and Banks is and some shocking information about Damon that will change the way you see him. When Damon came back at the end, after everything I learned about him through the book and what he did at the end, OMG! I couldn’t hate the guy as much as I did before. ‘Hideaway’ is dark, sexy, intense and suspenseful, and also emotional. Some parts of the book, I was reading it with a lump in my throat, it was heartbreaking. You will definitely have a love and hate relationship with all the characters throughout the book. Also, thank you Penelope for making this long wait worth it and I am so not thanking her for the little intro of ‘Kill Switch’ she gave at the end of the book because she just started another waiting period LOL! Damon’s story ‘Kill Switch’ will be released in 2018. Cannot wait to get my hands on it 🙂 Would I recommend this book: Yes. Would I re-read this book: Yes. Would I read future books by this author: Yes.

I’ve been riding the Devil’s Night wave for a while now, and while Hideaway didn’t blow me away as completely as Corrupt or Kill Switch, it still delivered on a lot of levels—just with a couple of bumps along the road. Right off the bat, I have to say that Kai’s character shines through in this one. I loved getting a deeper look into his inner world—the mix of vulnerability and that edgy, dark vibe he’s known for is exactly what I needed. There’s something about the way he battles his past and wrestles with his own need for revenge that totally grabbed me. It was raw and real in a way that only Penelope Douglas can nail. Then there’s Banks. Don’t get me wrong—I respect her strength and intelligence, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that she held up her walls a bit too high. There were times I was wishing she’d let Kai in sooner because I was so ready to see more of her softer side. That tension, that push and pull between them, is the slow-burn romance I live for, but sometimes it felt like it stalled instead of building. I won’t lie—the pacing had its moments. There were stretches where I just wanted things to speed up, and while the action eventually picked up, those slower parts held the overall impact back a bit. Still, when the story kicked into gear, the tension between the Devil’s Night crew and the evolving dynamics were enough to keep me hooked. Overall, Hideaway was a solid ride. It may not have reached the explosive heights of some other entries in the series, but it’s a must-read for fans who love complex characters and that slow-burn romance we all crave. I’m left eagerly waiting for what comes next, and if you’re a fan of Penelope Douglas’ style, you’ll probably find yourself right there with me—counting down the days until the next twist in the saga.

Oh my, what a delicious ride Hideaway is. An epic dark romance, filled with surprises and suspense. This much anticipated chapter to the consuming Devil's Night series was so worth the wait. Diving more into Kai's world, and the mystery of Banks, will have you up till late hours of the night, devouring this story, and for me, loving these books and this group of characters even more. Kai Mori never thought the threats from the past were buried, not with Damon still out there. He fears more than the others, that he will be back. And he'll want to make them all pay. Kai, Rika, Michael and Will, need to prepare, and work hard to keep their guard up, they need to make sure they are always one step ahead. Kai is in for a shock when he learns, that the women working against Kai and his friends, and making his life more difficult in finding Damon, is none other than the girl he could never seem to forget. One Devil's Night, long ago, Banks, pushed back, ran from and played Kai's games. And now she's here watching his every move, and getting in his way. He'll have to be faster, smarter, and soon he'll be chasing after her once again. Banks has watched Kai from a far for years now, always wanting what she knew she could never have with him. Banks finds herself confused, pulled in two different directions. Her loyalty to Damon, which is all she knows. Finding him and keeping him safe is what she needs to do. But then there is Kai, who she try's to keep at a distant, and not give into temptation whenever he's near. He could ruin everything she's been working for. The want, the need. All the fighting, the sex, the need of being together, yet their different worlds trying to keep them apart. Makes for one passionate and unforgettable romance. I could not get enough of Banks and Kai's back and forth chase. The mystery of who Banks is, where she came from, had me so intrigued from the moment we first got a hint of her. She is a serious bad-ass, I loved being in her head, and feeling the, all over the place emotions she felt. Her loyalty may confuse Kai and the others, and anger some, but Banks is just fighting for what she knows. All she's ever really know. She's just trying to survive. Banks has had to fight and prove she could hold her own. I loved the dynamic of Banks. She was lost, lonely. But strong. Innocent in a lot of ways, but has seen darkness and pain. Being hidden away most of her life, looked past, Banks is slowly embracing a new side of herself. She's finding who she is, and realizing all the things she could have, want, for her life. Kai. Kai Mori. I knew I was going to love this character, but I didn't know how much. And oh man is he my favorite. I mean favorite. Out of all the wonderful, sexy men, Penelope Douglas has given us in her stories, Kai is in the top spot. I LOVED him. A protective, kinky alpha with a dirty mouth, there's nothing you can't love about Kai. Kai is a bit of a mystery, a good guy, who doesn't see that about himself. Kai feels he has to hide a lot of who he is, the darker parts, his needs and thoughts, things to dark, he feels, for some to handle if they saw the real him. Preferring to be alone, Kai finds he hides a lot of himself from his friends, from his family. He fears disappointing them anymore than he already has. Kai has been working hard to get his life back, so he wont let anything or anyone jeopardize that. Penelope Douglas's writing is addicting. Hideaway was intense, a perfect blend of scary, sexy, and it left me craving so much more in this wild world of the Horsemen. I just want to read it over and over again. With characters you don't want to leave, questions that you need answered, and a craving to stay in the darkness just a little longer, ending this book was bittersweet. But I will be happily, and a bit impatiently, cause I NEED more, waiting for the next book.

Hideaway was a solid follow up in this series, but it didn’t hook me quite as much as I expected. I was really curious to get Kai’s story after the first book, and while there were definitely parts I enjoyed, this one felt a little messy overall. This book focuses on Kai and Banks, and their connection goes all the way back to a Devil’s Night years ago. There’s a lot of tension between them because Banks is tied to Damon, which makes everything complicated right from the start. The whole “can I trust you or are you my enemy?” vibe keeps things interesting for a while. Banks is tough, independent, and doesn’t let the guys push her around. I liked that she could hold her own in their world and wasn’t intimidated by them. Her backstory and her loyalty to Damon added a lot of mystery too. Kai was interesting, especially after everything he went through before this book starts. He’s darker and more intense now, but still protective in his own way. I just didn’t always feel a super strong connection between him and Banks. Their past scenes were actually more interesting to me than the present ones. The plot lost me. There were a lot of different things going on, and sometimes it felt a little confusing or like too much was happening at once. At the end, I still had a few questions.. I still liked the book. It has the dark vibe, drama, and tension that the Devil’s Night books are known for, but it just didn’t hit quite as hard for me as I hoped.

Woah. I was clutching the book towards the end! The plot was very suspenseful and exciting. I loved seeing the development of the characters, and seeing more into Damon's world. I appreciate that there were a lot of layers to this story and the perspective that Banks brought. It makes me excited for Kill Switch. For a FMC, I didn't know if I liked Banks or not because of how too confident she was in the beginning; however, I appreciate how her character brings a whole level of conflict or considerations to the group. Kai was a great MMC and I do like how human he really is underneath. This book gives me a new appreciation for Michael and Rika too!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hideaway (Devil’s Night #2) by Penelope Douglas I don’t even know where to start with this one — Hideaway completely consumed me. It’s dark, twisted, haunting, and somehow still manages to be heartbreakingly beautiful. Kai Mori and Banks… their story is fire and ash, control and surrender, fear and love tangled together until you can’t tell them apart. From the very first chapters, the tone shifts from mystery to obsession. The “rumor about the twelfth floor” sets up this eerie, secretive world where nothing is ever what it seems — a perfect backdrop for a story about masks, hidden identities, and the illusion of control. And that’s what this book is about at its core: control — who has it, who pretends to, and what happens when it finally breaks. “We’re only ever good because there are consequences. Take those away, and everyone shows their true self.” Kai was a mystery in Corrupt, but here, he becomes real. You see his guilt, his restraint, his humanity. The confession scenes — the way he opens up about his past, his family, the shame he carries — absolutely gutted me. His quiet, patient moments with Banks were some of my favorite parts. “He didn’t touch me. He’d just put his arms around me and held me… My mother was probably the last person to hold me like that.” Banks completely stole my heart. She’s strong but doesn’t realize it at first — constantly surviving in a world that keeps trying to break her. She’s sharp, fearless, and refuses to stay a victim. Watching her stand up to Kai, to Damon, to Gabriel… watching her finally choose herself… was so satisfying. “I’m not your little one. You’re right about control. It’s an illusion. Look at yourself. You never had it.” The chemistry between Kai and Banks? Off. The. Charts. Every look, every word, every charged silence was electric. Their connection wasn’t just physical — it was built on understanding, on seeing the darkness in each other and not flinching. “You make me feel driven. You make me hungry and on fire and wanting to slow down time instead of wanting to rush through it. It’s you I look for when I walk in the doors in the morning. Not her. You.” And then there’s Damon. God, what a complicated, broken, beautifully written character. The way he’s both villain and victim, tormentor and lost boy — I felt everything. His pain runs so deep that you can’t fully hate him, even when you want to. “He’d stay in the shower for however long it took to get himself straight again. Sometimes the cuts were on his arms or his chest… depending on the season and what his clothes would cover.” That final stretch of the book — the fire, the confrontation, the heartbreak — it all hit so hard. Kai and Banks’s love feels earned, like they had to crawl through hell to find peace. “It was always for life, kid. Always for life.” And the ending… the chaos, the humor, the nine dogs 🐾 — it was the perfect bittersweet relief after so much darkness. It made me smile through the tears. ⸻ Final Thoughts: Hideaway isn’t just a dark romance — it’s a redemption story, a story about finding peace after trauma and choosing love even when it terrifies you. Penelope Douglas took one of her most mysterious characters and gave him depth, vulnerability, and purpose. Kai and Banks’s story isn’t gentle, but it’s real — and by the end, it feels like healing. 🔥 Favorite Themes: Power vs. control, redemption, loyalty, forbidden love 💔 Emotional Damage Level: 10/10 🐍 Bonus Points For: Nine dogs, a chaotic marriage, and a love that felt inevitable

Can I just say I love this cast of characters and their story? Yes, I may have loved Corrupt (book 1 in the series, which you Must read first, everything makes a lot more sense), but Kai is a character that I was curious about so his story called to me. Especially after him, Michael, and Rika. I mean, Holy H!! But Kai has something to prove and his and Banks' story is theirs. It's not as ugly and beautiful as Michael and Rika's, but it is one filled with secrets and pasts that will eventually collide (and may have already). "Things were more special when they were rare." Their story began in high school but quickly faded out. It was Devil's Night but it was something that never escaped Kai. He's had his friends, but things changed for him that night. He is always the quiet one. The one that hurts and feels by himself. Alone. He holds it in and really doesn't even let his friends in. But with Damon causing so much damage in the previous book, characters will come out and Kai will have to open up. "You make me feel driven. You make me hungry and on fire and wanting to slow down time instead of wanting to rush through it. It's you I look for when I walk in the doors in the morning. Not her. You." With the story being told alternately between Kai and Banks, we get the full story from both POVs. We go back in time to Devil's Night in High School to now. I was definitely more invested in Kai than Banks, but I still really enjoyed their story. All of our "masked devil's" stories connect and all of them are needed. This one may have been more of a 'connect A to B"/bridge type of book, but it was full of clues and answers to other characters. But never have I read a story where a character that isn't really even in the scenes steal so much of the book. Dang Damon! Can we get your story now? I think that one will kill us! Overall, this was the perfect October read and it connected characters and their stories in a totally cohesive way. I loved Kai and his way of quietly winning me over and I enjoyed seeing Banks grow into the strong woman she is. I may have a slight girl crush on Alex and Will still leaves me with questions. But I am really curious what will happen with Damon. He's shown up and we know his place, but what will the gang do? How will everything connect? "Love is pain, Nik. It's never felt good." This is all family and this family is screwed up. It's rich guy's living their lives that aren't so perfect and never were to begin with. With the exception of maybe Kai. That's why I love him. The love he has for his family is deeply rooted in his life and his work and his home. When people mess with that, he changes. And that's why I love this series of books. It's an experience and it's a long arc of getting to the bottom of everything. Are you ready for the journey? If you're prepared to invest in the time it takes to love and understand these characters, then you're ready for Devil's Night. Start with Corrupt and then experience Kai and Hideaway.

I was so exited to start Kai’s story since I absolutely LOVED him in Corrupt! His story took a turn that I did not see coming.. At first I wasn’t so sure about Banks, it took me awhile to actually believe that she actually cared for Kai rather than the thrill of being with him. I wished we got to see more of her and Damon’s childhood. We got glimpse and pieces, but I would’ve really liked to experience more. This book was definitely a slower burn than Corrupt, but the suspense at the end had me on my toes!

As usual Pen didn’t disappoint me. She’s the most talented!! Devil’s Night series became a part of me. The dark romance wouldn’t exist without Pen.

ksiazka sama w sobie super ale przyszła uszkodzona, ze zgnieciona okładka i stronami

Helaas Beschadigde cover, maar wel correct op tijd geleverd en uiteraard een fantastische boek.

A great book. The way the author leads the story keeps you on the edge, enjoying the twists and turns but the suspense part was low compared to first book. I absolutely adored Kai. He was perfect. Banks was a great character, quite different, deep and with many shades. There was unnecessary drag with the contract marriage sequence, which was a waste of ink. Other than that, leaving apart few loose ends (as the book is not really over since the series is open) this is a very satisfying read.

The second book in the Devil’s Night series, Hideaway leaves you guessing with dangerous secrets, twisted loyalties, and intense passion! Each book follows a different character - but they are required to be read in order to fully understand the story. This book follows the story of Kai. He is the perfect anti-hero, whose vulnerability and hidden past is slowly revealed over the course of the story. His love interest, Banks, is a woman who you are left trying to guess her story and figure her out. The chemistry between them is electric from the moment they meet and filled with moments that will make you both swoon and gasp. The pacing of the novel is quick, with a constant flow of high-stakes tension, passionate encounters, and shocking twists. Douglas has a knack for blending romance with suspense, and she expertly builds the world of Devil’s Night, making it dark and thrilling but never overwhelming. You’re left wanting to just straight into the next read as the endings always leave you in suspense! At times, the story can feel a little repetitive, and you might find certain plot elements to be predictable or familiar within the genre. As with all dual POV books you can already guess the love interests and where they end. However, I really enjoyed how Douglas was able to combine a little dark romance with suspense.