Showing posts with label Dark Romance Must-Read. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dark Romance Must-Read. Show all posts
I read these books a long time ago so they're not exactly new, but it was about time I shared them.
Have you read any of these?
Have you read any of these?
Stain by Francette Phal
A dual POV dark YA story about abuse and addiction
"You're like the sun...and I'm the stupid moon. Always chasing after you."
I didn't know it was possible to fall so deeply into someone. To drown so strongly into their bottomless depths coming up for air was unfathomable. Until he comes along, with his sun-hot radiance, and eclipses the candle that is me. He's Lucifer before the fall, beautiful but the devil is in the way he looks at me. In the way his touch brands his name across every inch of my skin. His kisses possess my soul in the most sinful of ways.
Maddox Moore is my beginning and my end. Protector, friend, and lover—he's become my sole religion. At his side I become fearless, in his arms I burn to cinders, and in worshiping him I lose myself and discover the person he sees in me. But nothing is forever. Moments are ephemeral. No matter how much you want something life inevitably reminds you that you can't have it.
I'm damaged. He's broken. We're both covered in stains. Stains that make it impossible for us to hold onto each other.
My Rating - ★★★★★
WOW!! Now I understand the hype behind YA books because if they're anything like this, then they are definitely worth a read.
This story packed so much of an emotional punch that I'm still feeling its effect. My mind is still trying to wrap its way around what the heck just happened. It had my heart racing and I was feeling those palpitations.
This author's skill with the written word is simply incredible. Each scene was phrased so eloquently, so passionately, that I couldn't help but FEEL each and every emotion it was trying to evoke from me.
Aylee and Maddox (Max). Why two such young people had to suffer so much is beyond me. What bothered me was the fact that this is what many children are suffering through in reality and it's friggin horrific. Makes me understand vigilante justice, even if I don't sanction it.
I am not going to spell out the plot because I really, really, really want people to read this book. I will say that I was a bit disappointed by the unfinished ending until I saw that these two beautiful characters will be getting a novella. Can't wait for that to be released!
Deliverance for Amelia by Bonny Capps
Multiple POV covering tropes such as abuse, captor/captive, and a killer
Amelia
My entire life I've lived in my father's shadow. As the Mayor's daughter, I'm expected to maintain a pristine reputation. Everything must be perfect. My days of tutors and piano lessons may be behind me, but the need to be my father's perfect daughter still rings true.
However, I'm in college now - so why not have a little fun? It started out that way, anyway. When I decided to go to a party with my new friend Meg, I thought my college days were just beginning. My boring little life was finally getting the shakeup that it desperately needed. Little did I know, I would become the captive of the devil himself.
He says that I'm his. He calls himself my master.
Gabe
Well, well - Mr. Mayor couldn't pay up. I can't say that I'm surprised. The greedy bastard is more concerned about pocketing all that money masked as charity rather than paying his debts.
I'm not a debt that you want to forget. I did, after all, kill that poor journalist that was putting his nose where it didn't belong. Not saying that I minded - no, not one bit. It's a high. Watching them writhe in pain, their bodies seizing up as every last drop of hope is drained from their wide eyes. I live for it - the thrill of killing. Not to mention it keeps my wallet nice and plump. My clients know when they say they'll pay - they better pay. Otherwise, I take what I want from them. In most cases, the result is their own blood on my hands. Not this time though.
This time I wanted her, and I always get what I want.
My Rating - ★★★★
HOLY CRAP!! WTF did I just read?! I love dark, please don't get me wrong, but this was freaking out-in-the-country-no-streetlights kind of dark. There was no light. Can someone please turn on a damn light????!!!! A flashlight, a lighter even!
If you're looking for something dark, gritty, dirty, sexy, with lots of torture, killing and mayhem, then this is definitely the book for you.
Bonny Capps is freaking warped and I freaking love it!! Honestly, not many authors can pull of the depths of depravity found in this book, but she freaking nailed it. You know this book got me freaking good because I can't freaking stop using the freaking word "freaking"!
Gabriel/Gabe is one twisted mofo. He is only happy when he is torturing and killing. Sadistic isn't even a good enough word to describe his evil wants and needs. Amelia is his poor innocent captive, taken as collateral until Gabe became too obsessed with her to let her go. Able is her knight in shining armour. He is willing to do any and everything in his power to save her from Gabe.
This book is not for the faint of heart. This is not a love story per se. Gabriel is absolutely NOT a hero in this book, though he is featured predominantly in it. Be afraid. Be very afraid!!
Dirty Ugly Toy by K. Webster
Dark, dual POV
Her time is over.
Things are looking up.
She’s dirty and ugly.
He’s wicked but handsome.
Six months to toy with her.
Six months of vacation and a ton of money.
I’ll hurt her beyond repair.
I’ve been through much worse.
She's difficult to control and doesn't obey.
I'm done submitting to anyone or anything in this life.
I should hate her.
I should hate him.
The game has changed.
I will win.
My Rating - ★★★★1/2
I'm not even sure how to write this review because I'm still trying to absorb what I've read. My mind is blown with this piece of work! Thank you K. Webster for your amazing writing skills!! It takes real talent to get the reader into the mind of a truly dark, corrupted, warped, and tortured soul but that's just what she did with Braxton and Jessica.
Every time Jess gave some lip I was like 'you go girl!' I was also tempted to jump up and down in anticipation of how Brax would react because he was so unpredictable. I loved it. Throwing in flashbacks of Brax's past absolutely humanized him for me. Jessica's flashbacks were painful to read. I kept waiting for her to tell Brax her truth, which made me frustrated to say the least.
It was beautiful when their feelings started to get deeper, especially Brax's. I must say I was a bit annoyed with how rushed the climax was. I would have loved to see the frantic behind the scenes to set up James for his downfall. Regardless, this was a wonderful read and I'm glad I gave this author a chance!
Today's flashback is the Decadence After Dark series by M. Never. This is a dark erotic romance book so pay attention to the warning! It has intense sexual situations, a Master/slave relationship, mild abuse, and some violence. Reader discretion is advised.
Have you ever read this series? Interested in trying it?
Ellie Stevens has lusted over Kayne Roberts since he first walked into the import/export company she works for a little over a year ago. As Expo’s most important client, Ellie has always kept a safe distance from the man with the majestic blue eyes — until temptation finally gets the better of her. Impulsively, Ellie invites Kayne to one of Expo's infamous company parties her flamboyant boss is notorious for throwing. Unbeknownst to Ellie, the god in the Armani suit isn’t just the suave entrepreneur he portrays himself to be. Underneath the professional exterior is a man with a secret life, dark desires, and nefarious contacts.
In a hidden corner of a trendy New York City lounge, the spark kindling between the two of them ignites. Unable to resist the sinful attraction, Ellie agrees to leave with Kayne, believing she is finally bedding the man of her dreams. Little does she know when she walks out the door, she’s about to be Owned.
With one look he consumed me.
With one touch he marked me.
With one kiss he owned me.
With one whisper he claimed me.
"No matter where you go or who you're with, you'll always be mine."
Ellie Stevens thought she had moved on from the domineering man who abducted her. Now living in Hawaii and following her dreams, no one is going to keep her down. But things aren't always as they seem.
Kayne Rivers reluctantly let Ellie go, but just because she's gone now, doesn't mean she'll be gone forever. She is his, and he won't stop until he's reclaimed her as his own.
Kayne Roberts.
Kayne Rivers.
Kayne Stevens.
No matter his name, one fact remains the same. He's the man who enslaved me, ensnared me, claimed me and ruined me... For all other men that is.
My life.
My love.
My happiness.
All belong to him.
I belong to no one but him.
He owns me.
And I own him.
Have you ever read this series? Interested in trying it?
Owned (book #1)
Ellie Stevens has lusted over Kayne Roberts since he first walked into the import/export company she works for a little over a year ago. As Expo’s most important client, Ellie has always kept a safe distance from the man with the majestic blue eyes — until temptation finally gets the better of her. Impulsively, Ellie invites Kayne to one of Expo's infamous company parties her flamboyant boss is notorious for throwing. Unbeknownst to Ellie, the god in the Armani suit isn’t just the suave entrepreneur he portrays himself to be. Underneath the professional exterior is a man with a secret life, dark desires, and nefarious contacts.
In a hidden corner of a trendy New York City lounge, the spark kindling between the two of them ignites. Unable to resist the sinful attraction, Ellie agrees to leave with Kayne, believing she is finally bedding the man of her dreams. Little does she know when she walks out the door, she’s about to be Owned.
My Rating: ★★★★★ ~ This book was exceptionally good. I love when the characters are described in a way in which I can actually picture them. Each scene was detailed enough that I felt like a voyeur. I was a little bit bothered by Ellie's defiance. I guess it confused me because she kept denying that she was submissive but that's exactly how she was described. Nothing about her behaviour prior to or during her interactions with Kayne hinted at a dominant personality. I understand not accepting or wanting the hand that was dealt to her, I just believe she could have fought against it in another way.
I knew it!! I knew Kayne was hiding something. I had a strong inkling that he was an undercover good guy. I appreciate getting his POV because I would fail to realize how wonderful he truly was if his character had to rely solely on how Ellie perceived him. I feel really bad for him in the end. I hope Ellie quickly realizes how unappreciative she has been in the next book.
Anyway, these two love each other so I hope book 2 has more romance.
I knew it!! I knew Kayne was hiding something. I had a strong inkling that he was an undercover good guy. I appreciate getting his POV because I would fail to realize how wonderful he truly was if his character had to rely solely on how Ellie perceived him. I feel really bad for him in the end. I hope Ellie quickly realizes how unappreciative she has been in the next book.
Anyway, these two love each other so I hope book 2 has more romance.
Claimed (book #2)
With one look he consumed me.
With one touch he marked me.
With one kiss he owned me.
With one whisper he claimed me.
"No matter where you go or who you're with, you'll always be mine."
Ellie Stevens thought she had moved on from the domineering man who abducted her. Now living in Hawaii and following her dreams, no one is going to keep her down. But things aren't always as they seem.
Kayne Rivers reluctantly let Ellie go, but just because she's gone now, doesn't mean she'll be gone forever. She is his, and he won't stop until he's reclaimed her as his own.
My Rating: ★★★★★ ~ This book was a little bit different from the first one. I personally found it more enjoyable. I'm just glad that Ellie didn't let what happened to her ruin her. We really get to see her strength and fighting spirit in this one. I appreciate the lengths that Kayne was willing to go to in order to protect her. And the fact that he stayed by her side while they both healed from the wounds that life inflicted upon them.
Side note: how great were Jett, London and CJ? A great support system.
Fave quote: “You fill a piece of me I never knew existed, never thought I deserved. You’re the best part of all my sides, all my faces. You’re the glue. Thank you for being everything. My strength, my light, my hope, my warmth.”
Side note: how great were Jett, London and CJ? A great support system.
Fave quote: “You fill a piece of me I never knew existed, never thought I deserved. You’re the best part of all my sides, all my faces. You’re the glue. Thank you for being everything. My strength, my light, my hope, my warmth.”
Ruined (book #3)
Kayne Roberts.
Kayne Rivers.
Kayne Stevens.
No matter his name, one fact remains the same. He's the man who enslaved me, ensnared me, claimed me and ruined me... For all other men that is.
My life.
My love.
My happiness.
All belong to him.
I belong to no one but him.
He owns me.
And I own him.
My Rating: ★★★★ ~ Damn. Although this book was short it was extremely HOT!! I'm glad the story of what happened with Kayne's mom was resolved. The ending was sweet and it was wonderful to see Ellie and Kayne living the life they wanted. Kayne absolutely deserved it!
Today's flashback is the Monster in His Eyes series by J.M. Darhower. One of my first ever dark romance reads, these books let me know just how much I would love this subgenre. Dark romance quickly became my go-to.
Ignazio Vitale is not a good man.
I suspect it, the first time I see him, sense the air of danger that surrounds the man. He has a way of commanding attention, of taking control, of knowing what I'm thinking before I even do.
It's alarming and alluring. It's dark and deadly. It's everything I've ever wanted but the last thing I truly need. Obsession.
It doesn't take him long to draw me into his web, charming me into his bed and trapping me in his life, a life I know nothing about until it's too late. He has secrets, secrets I can't fathom, secrets that make it so I can't walk away, no matter how much I beg him to let me go. I see it sometimes in his eyes, a darkness that's both terrifying and thrilling. He's a monster, wrapped up in a pretty package, and what I find when I unmask him changes everything.
I want to hate him.
Sometimes, I do.
But it doesn't stop me from loving him, too.
Don't say it unless you mean it…
It's a simple concept, one I've said time and again, but something people don't seem to comprehend. You should choose every syllable carefully, because you never know when somebody will hold you to your word.
Somebody like me.
I'm not a good man. I'm not. I know. I have enough darkness inside of me to rid the world of every stitch of light. But there's one I could never harm, one light I couldn't bring myself to snuff out.
Karissa.
She thinks I'm a monster, and maybe I am. I taunt her with my touch, get a thrill out of torturing her soul. But I'm not the only one. The world is full of monsters, and I'm not the most dangerous one out there.
Not even close…
God help me, I love her.
I do.
And God help anyone who tries to take her from me.
The best way to keep your word is never to give it. Not long ago, in a chapel in Vegas, I swore to love Karissa for the rest of my days. But nobody's promised an infinite number of tomorrows. Nobody's promised forever. Sometimes, all we have left is today.
Carpe Diem. Seize the day.
It should've been over, we should've been happy, but people are making it hard for me to live in peace. I've got so much blood on my hands they'll never be clean, and somebody out there seems to want me to pay for it. Happily Ever After always comes at a cost, one any real man would be willing to pay. But that doesn't mean I'm just going to roll over and accept these consequences. Because when it comes to the woman I love? The life I've fought for? Nobody is safe.
Monster in His Eyes
Ignazio Vitale is not a good man.
I suspect it, the first time I see him, sense the air of danger that surrounds the man. He has a way of commanding attention, of taking control, of knowing what I'm thinking before I even do.
It's alarming and alluring. It's dark and deadly. It's everything I've ever wanted but the last thing I truly need. Obsession.
It doesn't take him long to draw me into his web, charming me into his bed and trapping me in his life, a life I know nothing about until it's too late. He has secrets, secrets I can't fathom, secrets that make it so I can't walk away, no matter how much I beg him to let me go. I see it sometimes in his eyes, a darkness that's both terrifying and thrilling. He's a monster, wrapped up in a pretty package, and what I find when I unmask him changes everything.
I want to hate him.
Sometimes, I do.
But it doesn't stop me from loving him, too.
My Rating: ★★★★ ~ I love my twisted dark books. I cannot get enough of the anti-hero and Ignazio Vitale is definitely an anti-hero. But he's so sexy with it. He's dominant, hot, older, scary, secretive, charming, rich, etc. There wasn't a time in this book that I wasn't interested in what he would do next. I wasn't a huge fan of Karissa unless she was interacting with him. She wasn't interesting but his intriguing shadow made her seem likable.
The history between these two characters was heartbreaking and I honestly thought once everything was revealed that that would be the end. I'm so excited that there's another book to read. I can't wait to find out more about Naz. I want to see how they earn back each other's trust. I want to see them win their hard won HEA or at least a HFN.
The history between these two characters was heartbreaking and I honestly thought once everything was revealed that that would be the end. I'm so excited that there's another book to read. I can't wait to find out more about Naz. I want to see how they earn back each other's trust. I want to see them win their hard won HEA or at least a HFN.
Torture to Her Soul
Don't say it unless you mean it…
It's a simple concept, one I've said time and again, but something people don't seem to comprehend. You should choose every syllable carefully, because you never know when somebody will hold you to your word.
Somebody like me.
I'm not a good man. I'm not. I know. I have enough darkness inside of me to rid the world of every stitch of light. But there's one I could never harm, one light I couldn't bring myself to snuff out.
Karissa.
She thinks I'm a monster, and maybe I am. I taunt her with my touch, get a thrill out of torturing her soul. But I'm not the only one. The world is full of monsters, and I'm not the most dangerous one out there.
Not even close…
God help me, I love her.
I do.
And God help anyone who tries to take her from me.
My Rating: ★★★★ ~ First, I would like to thank the author for writing this book from Ignazio Vitale's pov. I am sooooooo grateful for it!!
Second, please tell me I'm not the only one head over heels for Naz????!!!! He's amazing! Getting to see everything through his eyes gave me a chance to try to understand what motivated him. To get why he made the choices he did. There were parts of this story that were absolutely gut-wrenching such as when he told what happened the night Johnny came to kill him and his wife and parts that made me laugh. I liked seeing that Naz really had a sense of humour despite his cold appearance. His inner thoughts around people was hilarious! Especially with Paul. And I loved how OCD he was with his things, such as his kitchen and his "trunk".
I'm not sure how I felt about the visiting Maria's grave scene. I couldn't figure out if it was to underline how much he still loved her or if it was to show that through his grief he was able to find love again. He said he felt guilty for what he had with Karissa and it kind of pissed me off. I completely understood it, don't get me wrong, but it still annoyed me.
I'm glad that it didn't take too long for Naz to see Ray's true colours. It's just sad all around. But I am happy that everyone got their just desserts lol.
So after some ups and many downs, Naz and Karissa got their HFN. I wonder how long it really lasts considering there is a third book! Can't wait to read that one and I hope it's in Naz's pov again. I cannot get enough of this character!!
Second, please tell me I'm not the only one head over heels for Naz????!!!! He's amazing! Getting to see everything through his eyes gave me a chance to try to understand what motivated him. To get why he made the choices he did. There were parts of this story that were absolutely gut-wrenching such as when he told what happened the night Johnny came to kill him and his wife and parts that made me laugh. I liked seeing that Naz really had a sense of humour despite his cold appearance. His inner thoughts around people was hilarious! Especially with Paul. And I loved how OCD he was with his things, such as his kitchen and his "trunk".
I'm not sure how I felt about the visiting Maria's grave scene. I couldn't figure out if it was to underline how much he still loved her or if it was to show that through his grief he was able to find love again. He said he felt guilty for what he had with Karissa and it kind of pissed me off. I completely understood it, don't get me wrong, but it still annoyed me.
I'm glad that it didn't take too long for Naz to see Ray's true colours. It's just sad all around. But I am happy that everyone got their just desserts lol.
So after some ups and many downs, Naz and Karissa got their HFN. I wonder how long it really lasts considering there is a third book! Can't wait to read that one and I hope it's in Naz's pov again. I cannot get enough of this character!!
Target on Our Backs
The best way to keep your word is never to give it. Not long ago, in a chapel in Vegas, I swore to love Karissa for the rest of my days. But nobody's promised an infinite number of tomorrows. Nobody's promised forever. Sometimes, all we have left is today.
Carpe Diem. Seize the day.
It should've been over, we should've been happy, but people are making it hard for me to live in peace. I've got so much blood on my hands they'll never be clean, and somebody out there seems to want me to pay for it. Happily Ever After always comes at a cost, one any real man would be willing to pay. But that doesn't mean I'm just going to roll over and accept these consequences. Because when it comes to the woman I love? The life I've fought for? Nobody is safe.
My Rating: ★★★★ ~ I originally thought the series ended at book 2. And I would have been fine with the HFN that Naz and Karissa got. But I am so happy that there was this third book!! It was phenomenal!!
I've said it before and I'll say it again... I love love love Naz! He's cruel, vindictive, merciless, ruthless... but the way he loves Karissa is utterly beautiful. Everything he does is to protect her and their future together. And he does a lot to ensure that future in this book. His pov was so amazing that it made me enjoy her's a lot better. I was actually surprised to find her pov palatable. I honestly liked Karissa in this book. She's growing up *tear*
Karissa's friend Melody was wonderful comic relief. I'm not completely sure that was the intention but this character sure gave me a lot of laughs. Her music references were killer and she reminded me a lot of Melody from Josie and the Pussycats. She had a hard time stringing words in a sentence to make sense. Those quotes that were almost there but not quite lol.
Lorenzo... holy crap this character was deadly. But he charmed me and I liked him. I would like to know more about his NY takeover. It would definitely make for an interesting story. Anyway, I found his character to be exactly what I envisioned Naz to be pre-Karissa. Maybe Darhower will give Lorenzo his own version of Karissa. Maybe that story will also include Melody and her beau, Lorenzo's brother Leo. Maybe we could also get to see Naz again??? (*wink wink*)
In the end, I was sorry to say goodbye. But Naz and Karissa have officially gotten their HEA (I think/hope) and I thoroughly enjoyed their story.
I've said it before and I'll say it again... I love love love Naz! He's cruel, vindictive, merciless, ruthless... but the way he loves Karissa is utterly beautiful. Everything he does is to protect her and their future together. And he does a lot to ensure that future in this book. His pov was so amazing that it made me enjoy her's a lot better. I was actually surprised to find her pov palatable. I honestly liked Karissa in this book. She's growing up *tear*
Karissa's friend Melody was wonderful comic relief. I'm not completely sure that was the intention but this character sure gave me a lot of laughs. Her music references were killer and she reminded me a lot of Melody from Josie and the Pussycats. She had a hard time stringing words in a sentence to make sense. Those quotes that were almost there but not quite lol.
Lorenzo... holy crap this character was deadly. But he charmed me and I liked him. I would like to know more about his NY takeover. It would definitely make for an interesting story. Anyway, I found his character to be exactly what I envisioned Naz to be pre-Karissa. Maybe Darhower will give Lorenzo his own version of Karissa. Maybe that story will also include Melody and her beau, Lorenzo's brother Leo. Maybe we could also get to see Naz again??? (*wink wink*)
In the end, I was sorry to say goodbye. But Naz and Karissa have officially gotten their HEA (I think/hope) and I thoroughly enjoyed their story.
I could never match the strength and bravery of Mercy Madness.
No one ever could, and no one ever will.
No one ever could, and no one ever will.
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Spark of Madness by Brynn Ford
Ember Glen #1
Release - July 21, 2022
Genre - Dark Romance / dystopian, forbidden
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 320 pages
Release - July 21, 2022
Genre - Dark Romance / dystopian, forbidden
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 320 pages
Mercy is a sinner, and Arlo is no saint…
MERCY - For years, I've served the men of Ember Glen. I've endured their depravity because it's required. But when the most vicious man in our village decides to target me during a purge, I have to make a choice…
I can kneel and serve…
or I can run and become a sinner.
I choose sin…
I choose to run.
Only, I didn't expect another man to chase me…
I didn't expect the harrowing punishments he'd make me endure once I was caught…
And I certainly didn't expect to find passion for him.
The man who calls me a sinner sets my soul on fire.
REVIEW ~ 4 stars
Let me start off by saying THANK YOU to Jessica @Chatterbooks Book Blog, From her rave review of the series, I knew I had to give it a try. Dark romance, dystopian society, strong heroine, horrific experiences, sinners and servants… Spark of Madness has all of that and more.
I admired the heck out of Mercy. She seemed to be the only one who questioned her place in life. She was the only one who spoke up for how wrong things were. Why were men allowed to subjugate, abuse, and generally mistreat women with no consequences? Why were women punished for questioning or refusing the status quo? She was a warrior for her people, even if they couldn’t see or acknowledge it.
After recently watching The Handmaid’s Tale, I couldn’t help drawing parallels, but at the same time, this story is so different. The construct of this society is also mired in twisted religion, women are oppressed, meant to be seen and to serve, not to have thoughts or feelings or to be heard. Select men are chosen to rule over everyone and each caste has a certain set of rules they must follow. In that vein, Arlo reminded me of Nick, in that he lives in the society and, until meeting Mercy, he believed in the principles of that society. However, he starts to question himself and those around him. While he first tries to rationalize it, it seems he’s coming to accept that something’s wrong with what he was forced to believe.
Arlo isn't a hero in my eyes... yet. But with the way this author writes, I can easily see her convincing me to like him.
My thoughts for the rest of this series:
- Killian must die. The elders must die.
- I think that the idea of no world beyond Ember’s Glen is a lie. I think normal society exists and this cultish environment exists outside of accepted society. I hope Mercy burns down this place and finds a new home in the real world. That would be my hope for her happy ending. I’m not sold on that ending being with Arlo, but I’m guessing the next two books will work to change my mind.
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Blaze of Misery by Brynn Ford
Ember Glen #2
Release - October 20, 2022
Genre - Dark Romance / dystopian, forbidden
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 404 pages
Release - October 20, 2022
Genre - Dark Romance / dystopian, forbidden
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 404 pages
ARLO
She's destined to die, yet she consumes my every waking thought.
I'm struggling against everything I've been taught to believe.
I'm falling for a sinner, and my passion for her is destroying my world.
As Mercy endures untold torment at the hands of my brothers, my soul splinters, breaking in ways I didn't know were possible. I want her so much it consumes me. I need her so much that I'd burn for eternity in exchange for a single moment with her...if only I could sell my soul to spare her life.
The fear of her looming death begs my mind to open, and all I want is a world where she lives.
MERCY
Absolution. They could etch the word into my skin, and still, it would never find me.
The trials for my soul begin, but they aren't truly meant to save me.
Nothing can save me from the way I've been broken by the men of Ember Glen.
The man who hurt me the most is also the man whose touch sets me on fire. Arlo Rainn hasn’t earned my thoughts, my attention, or my desire, yet he possesses me entirely. My feelings for him strengthen as we explore our forbidden passion, and as he comes to know me better, he begins to see the world through my eyes.
My warden's perspective is shifting, and I fall deeper into the madness of my need for him.
REVIEW ~ 5 stars
I couldn’t sleep from reading and wanting to continue reading this book. I’m freaking hooked and can’t wait to see the next hurdle Mercy must pass. This woman is so strong, full of compassion, with a certain sweetness and softness I find so endearing. The warrior within her is blazing through and I can’t wait to continue to see her fight.
I still think Killian has to die. This dude is cruel and deserves punishment that meets his crimes and actions. Death is the only solution.
I’m not sure how I feel about the other members of The Control. Owen seems to be reasonable (if a lot delusional), Wesley seems to take pleasure in being cruel (and yet try to appear kind), Ryker seems to be a determined Killian follower (like that guy needs anyone to encourage his wickedness), and the other member I don’t even remember. I hope Theo is a help rather than a hindrance in the rebellion to come.
I wonder where the missing pages of Mercy’s mother’s journal are. Who made sure she found the journal in the first place? And what do those pages have to say?
I’m curious about what exists outside of Ember Glen. I’m sure it’s a futuristic version of our society and I hope I get a chance to see Mercy thrive in the freedom of it.
──────────── ♔ ────────────
Embers of Mercy by Brynn Ford
Ember Glen #3
Release - March 31, 2023
Genre - Dark Romance / dystopian, forbidden
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 356 pages
Release - March 31, 2023
Genre - Dark Romance / dystopian, forbidden
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 356 pages
MERCY
Death has always been chasing me, and I fear it's finally caught up.
If this trial doesn't end my life, it will surely take my mind.
And nothing could have prepared me for the despair yet to come.
Though everything seems hopeless, my love for Arlo remains constant. A part of me wants to give up and fade away with him. But secrets are being kept, and though I never expected to live long enough to learn the truth, a brewing rebellion might be the end of it all.
If Arlo and I are going down in flames, at least we can burn Ember Glen down with us.
ARLO
The end of everything approaches, and I've never felt so lost.
I'm sickened by the trial Mercy is forced to endure.
If I could complete it in her stead, I would trade places with her in a heartbeat.
I can't do anything for her, and it wrecks my soul. My sanity is shattered, and I lose all control. And though my actions draw death nearer, its imminence inspires boldness. When we finally discover the truth, we have nothing left to lose.
One way or another, Mercy and I will end this—either everything will change, or we'll leave this place burning in our wake.
REVIEW ~ 4.5 stars
It's the last book of the trilogy and it gave me almost everything I could have wanted in an ending.
❥ bring on the rebellion
❥ let all castes unite
❥ Kill all those who NEED to die
❥ a happy ending for those who definitely deserve it
I'm being intentionally vague, but my only issue with this final book was that I wanted more. I wanted to spend time with Mercy and Arlo as they enjoyed their freedom. I wanted to really know what life was like for them away from Ember Glen and I wanted more justice to be found.
You know me... I'm a greedy goose.
If you love dark romance with horrific elements, situations that really push your boundaries, and love that shines a bright light through the darkness, then you NEED this series on your to-read list.
"You are, without a doubt, the only good I've ever known." - Hook
────── ♔ ──────
Hooked by Emily McIntire
Standalone - Never After #1
Genre - Dark Romance / retelling / vengeance
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 4 out of 5
Format - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 312 pages
Genre - Dark Romance / retelling / vengeance
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 4 out of 5
Format - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 312 pages
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
He wants revenge, but he wants her more…
James has always had one agenda: destroy his enemy, Peter Michaels. When Peter’s twenty-year-old daughter Wendy shows up in James’s bar, he sees his way in. Seduce the girl and use her for his revenge. It’s the perfect plan, until things in James’s organization begin to crumble. Suddenly, he has to find the traitor in his midst, and his plan for revenge gets murkier as James starts to see Wendy as more than just a pawn in his game.
Wendy has been cloistered away most of her life by her wealthy cold father, but a spontaneous night out with friends turns into an intense and addictive love affair with the dark and brooding James. As much as she knows James is dangerous, Wendy can’t seem to shake her desire for him. But as their relationship grows more heated and she learns more about the world he moves in, she finds herself unsure if she’s falling for the man known as James or the monster known as Hook.
Hooked is a dark contemporary romance and the first complete standalone in the Never After Series: A collection of fractured fairy tales where the villains get the happy ever after. It is not a literal retelling and not fantasy. Hooked features mature themes and content that may not be suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised. For all content warnings, check the author's website.
My Two Cents
4 "Even a villain deserves to be loved" stars
I absolutely love retellings and this one is loosely based on Peter Pan. I really enjoyed experiencing the nostalgia for one of my childhood classics.
James "Hook" Barrie was driven by the dark deeds that happened in his past. His family was assassinated. He was terrorized by his hateful uncle. He was surrounded by the criminal underworld and flourished. He had the makings of an intriguing and mysterious villain and with his British accent... let's just say that I had no trouble liking this character.
Wendy was another story. Incredibly naive and sheltered, she lived a life of privilege, blissfully unaware of where her wealth and influence actually came from. All she knew was that her loving father was suddenly distant. He was hardly around and all she wanted was to draw him closer. She wasn't prepared for a man like Hook and who she became when she was with him.
It all started with a little bit of faith.
Misplaced trust.
Missing pixie dust.
And a villain who just needed to steal a little love.
Misplaced trust.
Missing pixie dust.
And a villain who just needed to steal a little love.
Betrayal was everywhere, but together, these two found a freedom neither had ever known. For the first time, Hook found himself caring about something more than his thirst for revenge. And Wendy was becoming the woman she always dreamed of being. Someone who's thoughts and concerns mattered to someone. With Hook prepared to give her everything she wanted and needed, she only had to sacrifice one thing... her father.
Could she do it?
Read the book and find out!
The Author
Emily McIntire is an Amazon Top 15 and Publishers Weekly best selling author known for her Never After Series, where she gives our favorite villains their happily ever afters. With books that range from small town to dark romance, she doesn’t like to box herself into one type of story, but at the core of all her novels is soul deep love. When she’s not writing you can find her enjoying her family, or lost between the pages of a good book.Find more information at https://www.emilymcintire.com
She's the marrow.
She's my marrow.
Kyrie didn't start as a killer—she was made.
And I helped make her.
She's my marrow.
Kyrie didn't start as a killer—she was made.
And I helped make her.
────── ♔ ──────
Marrow by Trisha Wolfe & Brynne Weaver
Standalone
Release - March 23, 2023
Genre - Dark Romance / enemies to lovers
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 4 out of 5
Format - eARC provided by the author
Length - approx. 300 pages
Release - March 23, 2023
Genre - Dark Romance / enemies to lovers
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 4 out of 5
Format - eARC provided by the author
Length - approx. 300 pages
Two rival serial killers. One common enemy.
Forensic anthropologist Dr. Jack Sorensen is the perfect serial killer. In the bright lights of his public persona he’s a respected scientist, a leader in the field of human decomposition. But in his shadowed secret life he’s a ruthless and elusive killer, unseen by the authorities who have failed to follow his faint trail of destruction. Beautifully cold, brilliant and cruel, Jack wants nothing more than to keep his life captured in his vise-like grip of control. And Jack Sorensen never makes mistakes…
…until he underestimates Dr. Kyrie Roth.
Wildlife biologist Kyrie is the enemy Jack never noticed, another murderer in his midst. A killer with equal cunning and stealth as the great Jack Sorensen, she knows all his darkest secrets, even the pieces of a past he might have forgotten. Kyrie has created the perfect habitat for her favorite research subject, but she’s finally had enough of being bitten by the beast that lives at Jack’s core. Pushed past her breaking point, Kyrie has decided to do whatever it takes to make Jack suffer. But when Kyrie’s traumatic past descends on her broken oasis, the only person who can help Kyrie banish her painful shadows might just be her greatest enemy.
History can’t always be left to decay in a cold grave. Time has a way of thawing secrets, leaving them to shine as bright as bleached bones in the sun. Can Jack and Kyrie set aside their battle and survive a world built to hunt them?
Or will they kill each other first?
***Marrow is a dark romance intended for an adult audience. For complete CWs, see Brynne's website***
My Two Cents
5 "Welcome to Thunderdome" stars
🎵She's a very kinky girl
The kind you don't take home to mother...🎵
Don't even ask me why Super Freak enters my mind when it comes to Kyrie, but it does.
Surviving a serial killer made her change. She saw the world in a whole new light and had to adapt.
There were bad people out there, she had first-hand knowledge of them, and she chose to take them out.
Jack was a seemingly different kind of monster and he liked things a certain way.
He was a dominant hunter who didn't like someone else in his territory.
But nothing he did would make her leave.
Let the games begin!
He pushed her away. She found new ways to torment him.
She was broken. He was emotionless.
Together... they were magical!
These authors delivered a story that gripped me from the start, had me laughing and cringing my way merrily through, and left me with a huge smile on my face at the end.
The Author
USA Today bestselling romantic thriller author. From an early age, Trisha Wolfe dreamed up imaginary worlds and characters and was accused of talking to herself. Today, she lives in South Carolina with her family and writes full time, using her imaginary worlds as an excuse to continue talking to herself.
and
Brynne is a fan of velociraptors, the Alien movies (well, most of them), red wine, and wild adventures.She can relate nearly anything you say to a line from the movie Hot Fuzz. She has been trying unsuccessfully for years to convince her husband that they should acquire a pet mink to add to their menagerie of animals (what could possibly go wrong with that plan?!).
Brynne has been everything from an archaeologist to a waitress, a deep-sea core analyst to an advertising account executive. For the last several years, she has been working in the field of neuroscience clinical research. Brynne has been writing since childhood and has published a non-fiction book under her real name, but she won’t tell you what it is unless you provide a live, fully trained velociraptor.
When not busy at her day job or writing, Brynne can be found working with her husband and their son on their family farm in Nova Scotia, Canada, or enjoying her other passions which include riding horses, reading, and spending time with family and friends around a raclette and a bottle of wine.
My heart, if it exists, is no longer my own, as it cares about her well-being more than my revenge, common sense, and the vow to my mother.
It belongs to her.
And I will do anything to protect her.
Even if it means letting her go so she won't be caught in the crossfire between me and her father.
────── ♔ ──────
It belongs to her.
And I will do anything to protect her.
Even if it means letting her go so she won't be caught in the crossfire between me and her father.
────── ♔ ──────
The Heart of a Villain by V.F. Mason
Beauty and the Villain Duet #2
Release - September 23, 2022
Genre - Dark Romance / captive / age gap / vengeance
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat - 4 out of 5 / several descriptive scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by Give Me Books PR
Length - 419 pages
Publisher - Indie
Release - September 23, 2022
Genre - Dark Romance / captive / age gap / vengeance
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat - 4 out of 5 / several descriptive scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by Give Me Books PR
Length - 419 pages
Publisher - Indie
What happens when a Villain falls for the one woman he shouldn't...
Does love break the curse and change everything?
Or will it destroy them both?
My Two Cents
4 "More than they bargained for" stars
The Heart of a Villain gave me so much of what I was looking forward to in the conclusion of this duet!
➤ Rush and his backstory will break your heart
➤ redemption arc
➤ a HUGE twist that I DID NOT expect
➤ swimming in the darkness and depravity of vengeance
Finding out the truth was a painful journey for everyone in this book. I really enjoyed actually getting to know these characters and what made them tick. I even started to see Rush in a whole new light. This man deserved every bit of happiness he could get!
I still didn't like Aileen. I'm sorry, but she drove me nuts. Finally admitting how much she cared for Rush, even allowing herself to understand she loved him, she still had him jumping through hoops to prove his own love and devotion to her.
Is it wrong that I derived great satisfaction when her delusions of superiority were crushed?
"You might be smart, but you're eighteen and have zero experience in life."
Our gazes clash, and I shrink inwardly at the complete hollowness and coldness of his green orbs.
"So, no offense, darling, but if I needed a professional opinion, I'd go to the best of the best."
Our gazes clash, and I shrink inwardly at the complete hollowness and coldness of his green orbs.
"So, no offense, darling, but if I needed a professional opinion, I'd go to the best of the best."
She was just so silly. She would wax on about her 'professional knowledge'. What professional knowledge? Where do you practice? Who are your clients/patients? Stop. This.
The true villain of this story got what he deserved, there were new beginnings and healing happening for the people that mattered, and love truly did conquer all.
My review of book 1, Beauty and the Villain
About the Author
V.F. Mason always loved reading books and had quite a few fights with her mama over the genre she liked (romance, duh!) She studied filmmaking and thought that would feed her desire for stories, but that didn't happen.Finally, when she was tired of all those voices in her head, she sat down and wrote a book. It was a huge decision to make and she thanks her friends and family for supporting her in it.
When she is not writing, she can be found with her friends doing all sorts of crazy things or reading recent romance books that were written by her favorite authors.
Visit http://www.vfmason.com for more information
I am Snow White and he is the poisoned apple and despite this knowledge, right here, right now, I would die for just one bite of flesh.
────── ♔ ──────
Feyness by E.S. Carter
Standalone - Red Order #1
Release - August 23, 2016
Genre - Dark Romance / arranged marriage
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5 / no sex until the end
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 258 pages
Publisher - Indie
Release - August 23, 2016
Genre - Dark Romance / arranged marriage
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5 / no sex until the end
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 258 pages
Publisher - Indie
I don't see dead people.
I see you.
I see every incarnation of you.
I see the history of your soul.
I can see your aura soaked in the blood of your previous lives.
Most people are inherently good or evil.
Some flit between darkness and light.
Few can change the fabric of their essence; it's a fight that most are too weak to win.
He was once darkness.
An evil so pure that his very soul is black and yet I am drawn to him like a moth to a flame.
Some days, I feel like I am drowning, the waves of my feelings stealing the very air from my lungs.
Other days, I feel nothing at all.
I'm unsure which is worse; gasping for air or dying from this thirst.
Can you learn to breathe underwater when you find someone worth drowning for?
My Two Cents
4 "Nothing like I expected and yet it gave me just what I needed" stars
Faye always knew that she was worth no more than a pawn in her father's dangerous game of human trafficking, torture and enslavement. A decades-long feud lands her in the hands of the man who should be her enemy. Could her new captor also be her savior?
Tonight, I will no longer be me. I will be owned. I will lose the moniker of Faye Craven and become a Hunter. A more fitting name would be prey.
I wasn't sure what to think of Cole. Aside from participating in tons of brutality, there was a kernel of a heart buried deep inside of him. His darkness and hints of light made him a delicious character to read.
This man slays me with desire. Sick, twisted, dirty desire.
I don't really care about the side characters (I'm looking at you, Luke and Grim), however, I think the author could change my mind. It's just that I don't feel like Cole's story is over. The ending wasn't much of an end and I would like to see some sort of conclusive resolution.
Ah well. Cole conquered Faye, she conquered him in return, and the story seems to continue. I'm still not sure what to make of Faye's ESP. I guess it was added to make Cole's history and his reasons for being the way he is part of the story. To make sense. Hopefully it continues to make some sort of sense. We'll see.
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author, ES Carter, lives in Cardiff, South Wales—the home of castles, dragons, and folklore.Her family joke that she was born with a book in her hand, and the urge to write stories soon followed.
At eleven, she won her school's literary prize. At ages fourteen to sixteen - her poetry phase after falling in love with Dylan Thomas and e.e. cummings - she had a few poems published, but life, love, and family overtook her dreams, and she was in her thirties when she began the scary journey of self-publishing.
Her debut and internationally best-selling series, 'Love by Numbers', are a set of interconnected stand-alone romances, all with varying themes of love. From second-chance to romantic comedy and M/M romance. These stories do not need to be read in order (apart from the opening duet Nineteen/Twenty One), in fact, she is often guilty of advising readers to start at the last book and work their way back through.
Contemporary romance is not the only genre she writes, her second series, 'The Red Order', is as dark and twisted as you can get, but there is beauty there too if you can open your eyes and look.
Visit https://www.escarter.com for more information
Something about her is as inescapable as an imploding star. The more I try to avoid thinking of her, the more she's there in my head, and the more I'm convinced she'll destroy me if I get any closer. And maybe that makes the lure of her even stronger. Maybe I want to be shredded down to the last atom.
────── ♔ ──────
Black Sheep by Alexa Harlowe & Brynne Weaver
Standalone
Release - June 27, 2022
Genre - Dark Romance
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 5 out of 5 / several explicit scenes / BDSM elements
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - about 250 pages
Publisher - Indie
Release - June 27, 2022
Genre - Dark Romance
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 5 out of 5 / several explicit scenes / BDSM elements
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - about 250 pages
Publisher - Indie
Serial killer.
That’s not the first thing you’d think when you meet Bria Brooks.
She’s reserved. Polite. Charming, when she wants to be. But delve a little deeper. She’s cunning. Brilliant. Ruthless. Bria Brooks is not just a black sheep. She’s a wolf. And she has her heart set on a very elusive prize.
Caron Berger.
Trouble is, she’s not the only one.
Dr. Elijah Kaplan is also on the hunt for the enigmatic leader of the Legio Agni cult. Caron Berger is a phantom, and Eli is keen on catching the ghost. What he doesn’t need is a beautiful and brutal doctoral student haunting his steps. Especially not one who seems so breakable, or who tempts him to bend every rule until it snaps, or who calls to each of his darkest desires. No. He does not need that. At all.
When the pursuit of their elusive prey pulls these two hunters together, they find that their demons might not be so different after all. But just like bodies in a bog, secrets have a way of surfacing, and the ones that Bria and Eli keep are the deadliest kind.
As they draw closer to capturing their prize, can Bria and Eli harness their beasts before they destroy one another? Or will they learn that it’s not what you’ll do to win that matters, it’s what you’re willing to leave behind?
TWs: physical and emotional abuse, graphic violence, torture, swearing; explicit sexual content (consensual), BDSM, breath play
My Two Cents
4.5 "Killing never looked so good" stars
Slumps are the worst, amiright?! But when you come across a book that slaps you right out of it... I can't even explain how happy I am right now.
He's the man who follows all of the rules.
She's the woman who loves to break them...
The End.
There was obviously more to this story. Bria had survived something horrific and had made it her life's work to carefully construct mayhem, whittling down evil one person at a time. She was cool and calculating. Loyal and lethal. Girl was sexy AF.
There is strength in her beauty with her defined yet feminine jaw and her high cheekbones and her sharp stare that follows movement outside as though she might break through the glass to take her prey down.
Eli happened to be on her path to wreaking devastation and they connected in ways beyond anything I could have expected. And they were so sexy together. I'm talking combustible, scorching hot!
I've never been so feverishly consumed. I've never devoured like this in return, molding my lips to his, pressing my body to his, desperate to be closer. Desperate to burn.
This book had me quickly turning the pages, enjoying the heck out of its darkness.
➼ pseudo-revenge theme
➼ entertaining and engaging plot
➼ incredibly hot sex
➼ great chemistry between the characters
➼ I had no idea how it was going to end and I loved the surprise of it
Seriously... what more do you need to pick this one up?!
About the Author
Alexa Harlowe seems to be a new author and I haven't been able to find any details about them. However, if this is what they have to offer, I'll be staying tuned!
Brynne is a fan of velociraptors, the Alien movies (well, most of them), red wine, and wild adventures.She can relate nearly anything you say to a line from the movie Hot Fuzz. She has been trying unsuccessfully for years to convince her husband that they should acquire a pet mink to add to their menagerie of animals (what could possibly go wrong with that plan?!).
Brynne has been everything from an archaeologist to a waitress, a deep-sea core analyst to an advertising account executive. For the last several years, she has been working in the field of neuroscience clinical research. Brynne has been writing since childhood and has published a non-fiction book under her real name, but she won’t tell you what it is unless you provide a live, fully trained velociraptor.
When not busy at her day job or writing, Brynne can be found working with her husband and their son on their family farm in Nova Scotia, Canada, or enjoying her other passions which include riding horses, reading, and spending time with family and friends around a raclette and a bottle of wine.
Find Brynne Weaver here:
Goodreads * Facebook * Instagram * Amazon
What am I, that I can love Cassie?
────── ♔ ──────
Gluttony by Marissa Honeycutt
Standalone - Seven Sins #4
Release - April 14, 2022
Genre - Paranormal Horror
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 5 out of 5 / several explicit scenes of sex, torture, noncon/dubcon
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 281 pages
Publisher - Indie
Release - April 14, 2022
Genre - Paranormal Horror
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 5 out of 5 / several explicit scenes of sex, torture, noncon/dubcon
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 281 pages
Publisher - Indie
Can the most damaged of sins embrace redemption?
By night, fallen angel Triel Ekron is a successful nightclub and restaurant owner in Las Vegas. By day, he enjoys assassinating humans in the most creative of ways.
When his latest mark turns out to be highly gifted in the kitchen, Triel gives her a choice: become his new imprisoned chef, or watch her family be murdered in front of her before she’s killed too. After all, his last chef just met an untimely death—at his hand—and Triel is looking for some new flavors to indulge in.
Cassie Fleming has dreamed her whole life of owning her own restaurant, following in her beloved mother’s footsteps. But when her mother’s murderer finds her in Witness Protection, she’s left with an ultimatum—and saving what’s left of her family is the only option. She’ll do anything for them, including signing away her freedom.
Triel’s brutal demonic side will wage war against Cassie’s kind and forgiving nature, but it’ll take a lot more than the cruelness of a fallen angel to kill her spirit. And no matter how much Triel tries to avoid it, Cassie gets under his skin in a way that makes him question everything he’s believed for so long. Will he put aside his prejudices and admit he’s been wrong about humans all along, or will he destroy the precious gift his father has offered him?
WARNING
There are no heroes in this dark PNR series, only villains. It consists of explicit content, dubious, and graphic situations that some readers might find offensive.
My Two Cents
4 "I can't look away" stars
Okay. Okay.
Still trying to catch my breath here.
I thought I was ready.
I was NOT ready!!
Can you ever really be ready for the disgusting and depraved and delicious imaginings of Marissa Honeycutt?
Triel followed Lucifer and was cast from Heaven. As second-in-command, he had built his own hell on Earth in Las Vegas. Every human was something to be toyed with. They were there for his amusement, his pleasure, his punishment. And oh, were his 'punishments' a tale of their own.
Cassie was a sweet girl who only wanted to be a chef and testify against her mother's murderer. Too bad her quest for justice put her in Triel's crosshairs. This kind and forgiving girl ends up at his mercy and quickly finds out he has none.
He brutalizes her. He hurts her. He disrespects her. He punishes her. He unleashes the beast and shows her how cruel he can be. Those scenes, as terrible as they were... that was some fine writing right there. Seriously, Triel's imaginative torture scenes were as beautiful as they were depraved. (Now I'm also thinking of Cole. Dang.)
My thoughts during certain scenes:
* omg
* can humans take that much?
* oh gosh, thankfully it's over
* wait, it's not over???
* after all that, Triel still found it within himself to make things so much worse?
* crashing and clanking noises in my head. Does not compute.
* I can't unsee any of this!
And honestly, I couldn't see how this fallen angel could ever be redeemed. The things he did were beyond compare and how do you even walk back from that? I still don't think he made up for anything, but in order for there to be a somewhat happy ending, I had to let my disbelief go. I had to go with the flow. And Cassie did spark something within Triel. She reminded him of who he used to be. Of who he could be once again. And I guess that has to count for something.
For all dark lovers out there, this is definitely right up your alley. There are no shades of grey. It's all black and inky, full of deadly shadows. It's a horrific paradise!
About the Author
I'm an indie author that likes to write books that will make you feel! Dark is my primary genre with touches of romance, paranormal, political conspiracy, suspense, and thriller. I love meeting new readers, so feel free to touch base with me and introduce yourself!I write for myself, but always keep my reader's hearts in mind. I follow my characters' lead and sometimes they lead me into the darkness, but there's always light somewhere, if you look hard enough. There's always hope.
Check out https://www.marissahoneycutt.com/ for more on Marissa
He was the kind of guy any girl would have been delighted to find, but Lena knew he wasn't meant for her.
────── ♔ ──────
Dirty Gambit by Airicka Phoenix
Standalone
Release - October 8, 2021
Genre - Dark Romance / enemies-to-lovers
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 3.5 out of 5 / slow burnish / a few scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Page Count - 294
Publisher - Indie
Release - October 8, 2021
Genre - Dark Romance / enemies-to-lovers
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 3.5 out of 5 / slow burnish / a few scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Page Count - 294
Publisher - Indie
For a girl with no family, no job and a rap sheet as long as her arm, eighteen-year-old Angelina Ramos never stood a chance at happiness. So, when her blood is found at the scene of a robbery that ends with three dead, Lena does the only thing a foster kid knows how to do — she runs. But she’s not going alone.
Jaxon Westwick has never met anyone as fierce, beautiful, or haunted as Lena . . . or as crazy. No one else has ever seduced him into handcuffs just to kidnap him, hold him hostage, and drag him clear across the country.
But Lena’s on a mission to find peace and nothing is going to stop her, not the cops, not the mob boss out for her blood, and definitely not her gorgeous hostage, no matter how he tempted her. After all, how could someone like her ever belong in a world as untainted as his?
Purchase Links
Amazon CA * Amazon US
(Free to read with Kindle Unlimited)
My Two Cents
I knew right from the start that I was going to enjoy this book. It's not very often that I come across a story where the hero is at someone else's mercy. However, make no mistake... Jaxon was no pushover. The dynamic between these two was intense to say the least.
Dirty Gambit gave me drama, comedy, thrills, and tons of sex appeal! The love/hate relationship that was brewing between Jaxon and Lena was at once toxic and irresistible. He's being held hostage, she's being held hostage, and a madman is out to get them all. Through it all, Jaxon had to learn why he was in the predicament he was in, find a way to get through to Lena, figure out how he could be of help, and fight his growing affection for his captor.
This story was fresh and explosive and I had a blast reading it. I wasn't Lena's biggest fan, which I think was the point, but I loved her fire. Feminine and bold and rough around the edges... this woman gave as good as she got.
About the Author
International Bestselling Author Airicka Phoenix has written over twenty-five novels, seven of which have hit the #1 spot on Amazon & Barnes & Noble.
Her first novel, Touching Smoke opened the doors into the publishing world. Its prequel went on to win Best Novella 2014 by Young Adult & Teen Readers. Her paranormal thriller, Betraying Innocence won Best Horror Book 2013 by The Writing World, and Best Horror Novel 2014 by IABB Awards. Her Sons of Judgment series, and Crime Lord series went on to sit at #1 for two consecutive weeks, including being nominated for the 2016 Summer Indie Book Awards in Contemporary by Metamorph Publishing.
Raised a little bit country and a little bit city, she blends both into her writing. She finds inspiration through music, photography, long walks, and her family. In her downtime, she loves binge watching horror movies, reading, and lives off chocolate, coffee, and souls. She’s currently having a deep and passionate love affair with Pinterest and can’t walk out of a store without buying a new notebook.
For more information visit https://airickaphoenix.com/
“My name is Tess Mercer. I’m no longer weak or afraid or broken. I’ve taken control of my fate. I no longer need a tower or dark angels or help. I am fear. And I take your soul in penance for everything that was done to me. I take it for the women you’ve raped. I take it for the women you’ve sold. I take it for my master, soul-mate, and husband. I take you for me.”
Twisted Together by Pepper Winters
Monsters in the Dark #3
Release - June 1, 2014
Genre - Dark Romance
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 5 out of 5/a few scenes
Format/Source - owned paperback
Length - 572 pages
“After battling through hell, I brought my esclave back from the brink of ruin. I sacrificed everything—my heart, my mind, my very desires to bring her back to life. And for a while, I thought it broke me, that I’d never be the same. But slowly the beast is growing bolder, and it’s finally time to show Tess how beautiful the dark can be.”
Q gave everything to bring Tess back. In return, he expects nothing less. Tess may have leashed and tamed him, but he’s still a monster inside.
After surviving the darkness, a new dawn has begun. Twisted Together wades through black to grey, chasing the light of true love to banish the shadows forever.
Pain is a requirement, connection a necessity. But ultimately Q and Tess must face their demons, before they can embrace their future.
I can't begin to explain how much I enjoyed taking the time to re-read the Monsters in the Dark series after all this time. It's given me the chance to fall in love with Q all over again. What I found so intriguing was the fact that I read this story like it was new. I forgot so many of the details that it really was like reading this series for the first time.
So here's what happened...
Tess was blissfully happy with Brax. Or so she thought. Away on vacation in Mexico, she was kidnapped, brutalized, tormented and trafficked. Destined to be a slave, she lucked out when her new owner turned out to be Q. Not only was he unlike all the monsters she'd already met, he was unlike any man she'd ever known. He was a monster in his own right, but his beast called to her in a way that answered all of her unasked questions. He sent her home. She came back. And they should have lived in happiness. But she was taken again, Q rescued her, but she was broken to a point where no one knew how to heal her. Then Q made the ultimate sacrifice and she was back. However, their happiness was stilted because all of the bad guys wanted to take out the hero to slaves everywhere. Too bad the bad guys didn't realize the monster Tess had become.
While this book wasn't as neat or as fluid as the books that came before, it was necessary. How else would we get to see Tess come into her own? I'm still not her biggest fan and I don't understand why Q had to come off so psychotic and abusive, but aside from that, I needed this book. It tied everything up into a nice little bow and gave me a glimpse into the true happiness this couple deserved.
https://amzn.to/3bbNHgp ➤ FREE to read with Kindle Unlimited
I needed to be touched. I needed to be kissed.
Kiss him. Let him know.
Launching upright, I splashed a wave over the tub. Q jerked back, but wasn’t fast enough. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I dragged him down toward me. His hand slipped on the rim, plunging his arms into the water, landing on either side of my body.
His mouth opened to curse, but I swallowed whatever he said. My lips stole his, and the moment I tasted him, I went a little mad.
My core squeezed with delirium, demanding to be filled. My eyes rolled back at the sheer bliss of kissing.
He tasted like freedom and violence and pain.
“Esclave…wait…” Q tried to speak, but he only gave me the opportunity to slink my tongue into his mouth. Joy bounced and fizzed in my heart, demanding more.
I moaned, dragging him closer. My hands dug into his hair, tugging with sharp-laced desire. His mouth opened, either in shock or passion—I didn’t hesitate. I thrust my tongue deeper into his mouth, willingly drowning myself in all things Q.
After chasing her dreams to become a full-time writer, Pepper has earned recognition with awards for best Dark Romance, best BDSM Series, and best Hero. She’s an #1 iBooks bestseller, along with #1 in Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Erotica Thriller. She’s also honoured to wear the IndieReader Badge for being a Top 10 Indie Bestseller.
After releasing two books with Grand Central, Hachette (Ruin & Rule and Sin & Suffer) Pepper is a Hybrid Author of both Traditional and Self-published work.
Find all of her books and contact info on her website: https://pepperwinters.com/
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