Like a Moth to a Flame

A Dark, Stalker Romance

De: Lillith Abendroth

Narrado por: Lauren Hilary, David McClain

Returning to the town of my childhood abduction to settle my late father's estate proves more challenging than expected.

On my first day, a chilling note labeled "Little Moth" sparks unsettling events. The notes soon lead to ominous phone calls and a lurking presence outside my windows. I suspect the stalker could be Sheriff Banner, tangled in my father's past, fire chief Dale Watchman, or even the firefighter who saved me years ago. Someone watches me sleep, lurks outside my darkened windows, yet vanishes without a trace when confronted. Despite warnings to leave, I, Vanessa Elizabeth Harper, am determined to confront my fears.

In a town where shadows hold secrets, my past threatens to become my future.

©2024 Lillith Abendroth (P)2025 Lillith Abendroth

Emotional, layered, and just the right amount of spice

Like a Moth to a Flame pulled me in with its thoughtful character development and emotional depth. I really connected with Vanessa and the way her past shaped her. The story had a quiet intensity that stayed with me—and yes, the spice was definitely there, but it felt natural and added to the story rather than distracting from it. A beautifully written and well-balanced read.

Love the Twists and Turns

Story was well written and I definitely did not see so much of this coming. Loved the surprises here. Performance was great and just overall a fun story to listen to.

Well written, excellent detail & backdrop. Lackluster Ending

I really enjoyed the first half/two thirds of the plot. Unfortunately it meandered a bit toward the end almost like the author wrote herself into a corner. Plot was exciting and sexy and dark but to wrap it all up and get the HEA I guess the author was kinda stuck. I will say she wrapped up all lose ends and answered all mysteries/ questions so that was good. The spice in the first part of the book is pretty exciting and hot. Sex scenes could use a bit more detail . Ending was pretty wah,wah and anticlimactic but you get the HEA so 🤷🏼‍♀️. I will say the author absolutely NAILED the small town aesthetic and characters. Normally small town America isn’t anywhere close to my preferred story setting, but this author made it a joy to read about. I’m on the fence about recommending this story. I’m glad I listened to it( duet narration was well done- would have liked more make POV) but I’m not sure I’d buy it again. I doubt this will make it onto my listen again list but I will definitely be checking out other titles by this author.

Ashes, Echoes, and Unfinished Business

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💜🩷
Spice/Steam: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋😀😎😁
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration

🎧 Audiobook Review: Like a Moth to a Flame

Author: Lillith Abendroth
Genre: Dark Stalker Romance
Narrator(s): Lauren Hilary and David McClain

📚 Character Background & Plot Dynamics

The story opens with a chilling prologue: Vanessa, drugged, terrified, and barely conscious, awakens in darkness. Her memories flicker in and out, but the pain is unmistakable. She knows she’s been held for days. She knows a man is hurting her. And she knows she has almost nothing left to fight with. When he forces her legs apart and ignores her desperate pleas, the scene sets the tone for the trauma that will shape her entire life.

Fourteen years later, Vanessa Harper—known as Moth—returns to Cottonwood Falls in her little red convertible, a place she swore she’d never see again. This is where her childhood ended, where she spent thirteen days tied up in a basement, and where her innocence was stolen. But her father has died of a heart attack, and she must come home to settle his affairs, attend the funeral, and sell the farmhouse. She tells herself it will be quick. She tells herself she can avoid Main Street. She tells herself she’s strong enough.

But the moment she arrives, the past begins pressing in.

Barrett, an old high‑school friend, greets her with the keys. Her father—beloved police chief for nearly three decades—has the entire town mourning him. At the funeral, she sees Tommy, the firefighter who saved her life, Fire Chief Dale Watchman, and Sheriff Banner, her father’s longtime friend who delivers the eulogy.

Then the first note appears.

Pinned to her door with a silver moth‑shaped hair clip, the message addresses her as “Little Moth” and claims it was good to see her again. The door she knows she locked is now unlocked.

And someone is watching.

Firefly—an arsonist the media has named and the town fears—observes her from the shadows. He slips into her home through an unlocked window, furious at how easy it is for anyone to get inside. He watches her sleep, studies her belongings, and vows to teach her how to be safer. He admits he’s a monster. He admits he’s in love with her. And he’s been alone a very long time.

As Vanessa tries to navigate her grief, her fear, and the ghosts of her past, she uncovers secrets about her father, the sheriff, and Firefly himself—truths that shift everything she thought she knew.

🌟 Highlights

• Vanessa realizes early on that she has a stalker, and the tension builds as she narrows her suspects to three men: the sheriff, the fire chief, and the firefighter who once saved her.
• The presence of an active arsonist—“The Firefly”—adds a layer of danger and unpredictability.
• The secrets Vanessa uncovers about her father and the men around her deepen the mystery and raise the stakes.
• Firefly’s self‑awareness—his admission that he’s a monster and his early confession of love—adds a dark, compelling complexity.
• Just when the story seems to settle, the plot surges forward with new twists and heightened suspense.

⤵️ Low Points

• While I enjoy stalker romance, this stalker’s deliberate cruelty—especially given Vanessa’s past—felt harsher than expected and sometimes difficult to reconcile with the romantic angle.
• Vanessa’s dread about returning to Cottonwood Falls felt inconsistent, considering she lived there throughout high school and had happy, popular years after her kidnapping.
• Her emotional swings—fear, surrender, tears, longing—sometimes felt repetitive, making her reactions harder to connect with.

🎙️ Narration

Told in dual POV with duet narration, the audiobook shines through its performers.
Lauren Hilary brings a soft, youthful, intelligent tone to Vanessa, making her vulnerability and strength feel authentic.
David McClain excels at shifting accents and vocal textures, giving each male character a distinct presence and adding tension to Firefly’s darker moments.

The narration elevates the story, making the emotional beats sharper and the suspense more immersive.

💬 Final Thoughts & Assessment

This audiobook blends trauma, obsession, and small‑town secrets into a dark, atmospheric stalker romance that keeps tightening its grip as the story unfolds. The mystery surrounding Vanessa’s past and her father’s hidden truths adds depth, and the pacing ramps up beautifully in the second half. Firefly’s morally twisted devotion is both unsettling and strangely compelling, creating a dynamic that will appeal to readers who enjoy romance on the darker end of the spectrum.

However, Vanessa’s emotional back‑and‑forth and the stalker’s intentional cruelty may challenge readers who prefer a softer or more psychologically grounded approach to this trope.

Overall, this is a gripping, shadow‑drenched romance with strong suspense elements, standout narration, and a villain‑lover who fully embraces his monstrous nature. If you enjoy dark obsession, secrets, and a heroine forced to confront the past she tried to outrun, this audiobook delivers a tense and memorable ride.

Dark and twisty on so many levels

The story takes twists and turns I didn’t see coming. It keeps you on your toes. And hands and knees 😉. Wonderful job by the duo narrating. The character voices were distinct from each other and I love that. I hope they do more books together!