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!

Embrace of Dragons by Aja James

Arthur Pendragon, the Once and Future King of an ancient Isle, finally recovered his heart and awoke from his witch queen’s spell. But he sustained mortal wounds before he was spirited away to “Avalon,” a Celestial Realm beyond human ken. In order to restore him, his life force was bound to another—his First Knight, Lancelot.

There was a time when Arthur loved and admired Lancelot above all men, before the Betrayal. Since the destruction of their shared tormentor, he realized that he’d accused his friend wrongly. But so much time, distance and regret have accumulated between them. So much sadness and pain. A trip to their homeland with Arthur’s newly discovered family reopens old wounds, but also reminds them of how they used to be.

Along the way, they are tasked with the search for the Everlasting Embrace by a mysterious being who speaks to them in dreams.

The end of the world may be just around the corner. Along the way, enemies may become lovers, reluctant friendships may form, and lots of hot, desperate, this-may-be-the-last-time-we-have-sex sex will definitely be had.

And who knows, you too may help discover the…

EMBRACE OF DRAGONS.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon

I can honestly tell you that no one writes romance quite like Aja James. I don't know how this author keeps track of all of details, even the little ones, but I'm down to keep enjoying this journey. Finding out more bits and pieces, discovering and re-discovering how everything fits together... it's a mystery lovers dream!

In Embrace of Dragons, we are given the whole story of characters we've already met—Arthur and Lancelot. And let me tell you, this story is nothing like any of the stories of Camelot I've ever seen, heard or read before.


Don't even get me started on the imagery and the almost lyrical tone the author uses when telling a story. In the end, Arthur and Lancelot's story is full of hope, wonder, pain, magic, and so much love. Love that transcends time, distance, and any obstacle thrown in their way.


Here are some of the things I loved about this book (can't share it all because... spoilers):

★ the sex (obvs)
★ the hesitation between Arthur and Lancelot, despite all that they shared. They went to hell and back together and had a hard time adjusting to 'normal'.
★ the almost enemies-to-lovers vibe this book gives off at the start. Arthur and Lancelot are forced together, but they don't talk. Communication doesn't exist. Yet their thoughts, their feelings, their everything is tied to the other. All of that angst gave me life!
★ the absolute cuteness these manly males exhibited when they finally got their ish together.

Honestly, there was so much to love about this story. Arthur and Lancelot were these strong, lethal, virile males and yet there was a softness to them, a vulnerability that they only shared with each other. It made what they had all the more beautiful and the author did an incredible job capturing all of that beauty, their warmth, their perseverance when it came to their love, and their inevitability.

With the added hint of what's to come, especially for my sweet, not-so-little Ben, I'm excited to see what's next!



Best-selling author, Aja James, just completed the Pure/ Dark Ones paranormal-fantasy romance series in 2020. If you want your heart battered, bruised, shattered and skewered, then put back together in the most glorious ways, check out the series below. Every couple gets an HEA, but they fight like hell for it on the way.

Aja is now working on her new series, Dragon Tails, because dragons are her favorite shifters of all!

Check out Aja's expanded distribution of the Pure/ Dark Ones series on Google, Apple, Kobo and Barnes & Noble Books.

Visit https://aja-james.blog for more information!