Stalkers by Various Authors

Over thirty of your favorite USA Today and bestselling authors have come together to create an epic collection of forbidden, dark romance stories.

Get lost in this unputdownable mixture of short stories. From heroes to bad guys, there’s something for everyone.

stalk·er

A person who stalks: a person who pursues someone obsessively.

Stalkers is a taboo romance collection jam-packed with captivating stories.

Authors Included:

Abigail Davies · Yolanda Olson · Ally Vance · Jessica Ames · N. Isabelle Blanco · D.S. Wrights · Faith Ryan · Sam Destiny · S. Firecox · Cole Denton · Ker Dukey · Petra J. Knox · Kara Dawson · Brianna Hale · Alice La Roux · Emery LeeAnn · Raven Amor · Claire C. Riley · Shannon Youngblood · Kat T.Masen · Logan Fox · Cassia Brightmore · Leaona Luxx · A.K. MacBride · Ryleigh Sloan · Erin Trejo · C. Firecox · Michelle Pace · M.A. Foster · Cora Kenborn · Catherine Wiltcher

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This collection was full of all kinds of darkness. From heroes to anti-heroes, from 'romantic' stalkers to full-fledged run-for-your-freaking-life stalkers, it literally had it all. Some were winners, some not so much. I have to say that quite a few new-to-me authors surprised the heck out of me and I will DEFINITELY be giving them a second look in the future. All in all, if you like your romance on the dark side, then come take a walk with this anthology!

Okay... so here's where I break down what I thought of each story...

Infatuation by Jessica Ames (new-to-me author) — 3 stars

Fury is sick and he knows it. There's just something about sliding his knife into someone that really speaks to him. He doesn't like to be touched and he finds it hard to fight the impulse to hurt people. Then Amalia enters his life and what he feels for her is something he's never felt before. It's not love, it's obsession. While I didn't really get the chance to know these characters in this short, I'm interested enough to find out more about them in Fury's upcoming book.

Devious Obsession by Erin Trejo — 3 stars

Devious is the president of his MC. Harley is the daughter of the president of a rival club. Whatever they want to happen, can't happen. Or can it? After stalking each other, they both know that nothing that grows between them can go anywhere, but when her life is in danger, how far will Devious go to claim his girl? This ended up being entertaining and I only wish it could have been longer. I have no idea who these characters are, but I would like to.

Always Second Best by S. Firecox (new-to-me author) — 3.5 stars

Camilla married the wrong brother. Warren and Kaiden were twins and couldn't be more different. While Warren would brutalize her, Kaiden would be the one to make her flourish. Unfortunately, Warren was older and, in their dystopian society, he was the one to get the marriage contract. But Kaiden isn't content to watch from the sidelines and this story takes on a life of its own. I really enjoyed this story and I was thrilled to see that it will be a full-length story in the future. I will keeping my eye out for it :)

I Can See You by D.S. Wrights (new-to-me author) — 2.5 stars

This story actually had a lot of potential. Kate was a woman who was often ignored and unwanted. At least she felt that way. When the opportunity comes to get noticed, she's the one doing the noticing. She's inexplicably drawn to Hiroshi Tanaka and starts stalking him. Or is she? Who's really doing the stalking around here? The game these two played was a lot of confusing fun and I think this would have been a winning story if it had the chance to be fleshed out more.

Ensnared by Ryleigh Sloan (new-to-me author) — DNF

Raine was a hot mess of epic proportions and for the most part, she was allowed to be. For what she had lived through as a young girl, she had every right to be messed up. However, it all proved to be too much for me to wrap my brain around and I wasn't willing to suffer through it.

Karolina by Yolanda Olson (new-to-me author) — DNF

Nope. No. Not gonna. This story wasn't written in a way that I would want to read it. Which sucks because the premise seemed interesting.

Take You by Brianna Hale — 3.5 stars

I'm still trying to figure out why I thought this story was hilarious! The author keeps you guessing as to who is taunting her heroine, Alaina. Someone is obsessed with her and is scaring her out of her wits. She ends up turning to the one man who always makes her feel safe - Rhys. Now a homicide detective, he's just the man to catch a stalker and get the girl. Definitely worth the read.

Veil by M.A. Foster — DNF

It starts out with the hero being blown away at his first sight of the heroine. Cannon wants Makayla, but she's already got a man. This wouldn't be a problem for me if the author didn't then go ahead and give us a descriptive sexual scene between Makayla and her man. And then what? Cannon is supposed to... what? I'll pass.

Daisy Chains by Petra J. Knox (new-to-me author) — 3 stars

Historical tone, hippies, flower children, free love and cults. This story was a mixed bag and I quite enjoyed it. After serving in the Vietnam War, Sonny decides to honor a dying soldiers wish that he watch out for his daughter. And watch her he does. Across the country into some questionable situations. It all works out, but wow!

Venor by Emery LeeAnn (new-to-me author) — 2 stars

I really liked the concept of this story. It is not a romance. It's about a killer, a hunter, a depraved human being. There are no happy endings, but yet I still enjoyed it for the most part.

Needs by Cole Denton (new-to-me author) — 2 stars

Well, this story didn't turn out as I expected. Or did it? Again, not a romance. At. All. Riley is emulating his hero and has built up an obsession. I mean, seriously obsessed here. And by the end, things turn upside down and sideways and I think I'd be more interested in what happens next than what I just read.

Claimed by C. Firecox (new-to-me author) — 3 stars

Another story that was all sorts of messed up. I'm just figuring out that this author is linked to the one above, S. Firecox because the world their characters live in is the same. While the earlier book covered the Elite Brides program, this one covers the Elite Maidens. What happens when Hawk, the best tracker for the Elite, falls for one of his intended targets? Women are being kidnapped left and right, forced into sexual servitude, left broken. Ouch! The author did a great job of bringing this depravity to life.

For His Eyes Only by Abigail Davies (new-to-me author) — 2 stars

While this story had some potential - an MMA champion obsessed with the poor girl working at the burger joint - it fell flat for me. I think it had more to do with the length, stunting the story's growth, than the writing itself. The writing was actually good!

Monomaniac by Faith Ryan (new-to-me author) — 3 stars

Tate is looking for love. A true romantic, he keeps putting himself out there, hoping to find the one. However, he's also got a stalker who doesn't mind getting their hands dirty if it means one less guy to worry about. Lucky for Tate, he's got a best friend in Corvin, a man who would protect him with everything he's got. A man who is desperately in love with him. With a shocking twist, this M/M story was a delight to read!

Blossom in the Dark by Ally Vance (new-to-me author) — 3 stars

This was a non-romance that left chills down my spine. The more I read from Zach (a real sicko), the more I was captivated. I have no idea where this story is going, but as it serves as a prequel to something new, I'm sure I'll find out. Bravo to the author for giving me the creeps!

Dearly Departed by Michelle Pace (new-to-me author) — 3 stars

I've gotta say, I wasn't expecting that ending. I thought it was all about Murray getting his groove on funeral-style. I'm glad I was surprised. And I enjoyed the way the author did it!

Sinful Addiction by Kara Dawson (new-to-me author) — DNF

It led me to believe that it was a forbidden student-teacher romance. But I was in the guys head for way too long as he repeated himself over and over again about how what he felt was wrong and he needs to stop. Five pages of that and him pointing out the many ways he noticed things about 'her' and I was done.

I Got You by Sam Destiny (new-to-me author) — 3 stars

I really shouldn't find this story hilarious, considering it's about a girl being stalked and violated, but I couldn't help it. It was funny! Okay, so Maddie has a best friend, Dim, who she's in love with. He's coming home on leave (military), staying with her, and she's ready to take the leap. Luckily he catches her because he's in love with her too. But there's this intense stalker situation that needs to be dealt with. I'm still laughing!

Peek-a-boo by Shannon Youngblood (new-to-me author) — 3 stars

This story was so gross it was ridiculous. It had me laughing so freaking hard! Annie is insane. Seriously. She got murderously mad when she thought her best friend, Leon, had turned on her. She ended up killing her parents because they just didn't understand her and she killed Leon by lighting her house on fire with him tied up in it. And then the story got strange. I mean, really strange. So strange that I had to pause and ask myself 'Are you still gonna keep reading this?' Which I did. So maybe I'm a bit strange. There is something so twisted when the girl getting screwed by her victim's chopped off leg (which she chopped off) is the most mundane of all the craziness.

Playing with Fyre by Logan Fox (new-to-me author) — DNF

I'm always down for a forbidden love story, and at first, I was intrigued by what was developing between Charlotte and Gideon. But then I wasn't. I couldn't stand being in either of their heads for a minute longer. Repetitive and droning... Nope.

Limerence by Alice La Roux (new-to-me author) — 2.5 stars

This story was a bit basic, but still entertaining. Rebecca/Ruby is a cam girl. She gets off for a live audience. Carter is the camera guy. There are sparks between them, but he keeps fighting it. When he finally gave in, the story had a neat little (bloody) twist, which I liked.

What He Doesn't Know by Kat T. Masen — DNF

I was disappointed with this story. I've read and enjoyed this author before, but this didn't live up to my expectations. Dominic is stuck in a marriage of convenience and is obsessed with his mistress. When he decides he wants more with his girl on the side, she quits and finds a new man who becomes her husband. That doesn't stop Dominic's obsession or the pointless tripe that was his internal monologue. Yawn!

Born Sinner by Cora Kenborn & Catherine Wiltcher (new-to-me author) — 3 stars

Sam and Lola were two kids caught up in the middle of cartel war. They were playing at grown ups, but were in over their head. That didn't stop them from making whatever mistakes were necessary to be together. This story was super short so things happened quickly and then it was done. It was sorta cute. It also serves as a prequel to something so I might dive back in for more.

Sacrilege by N. Isabelle Blanco (an old favorite) — 4 stars

I won't even lie, this story was one of two reasons why I even wanted to read this anthology. There is just something about Blanco's writing that grabs me by the guts and I enjoy myself every time. This read was no exception. I couldn't help feeling sorry for Father Logan and his impossible dilemma. Here he is, a man of God, being tempted in the worst way. What sane man could resist Thali? I'm still unsure what happened (because so much happened - all of it good), but I know that I need more!! Seriously, you need to read this author's Ryze series.

Make Me Yours by Claire C. Riley — DNF

I couldn't get into this one. I've decided (after a couple of tries of her other work) that this author's writing might be for a lot of people, but it isn't for me. And that's okay.

Prey by Raven Amor (new-to-me author) — DNF

I couldn't get into this one either. Which sucked because it did seem to have a good premise.

Right Side of Wrong by A.K. Macbride (new-to-me author) — 3 stars

This one had a decent revenge plot and I think if it had a bit more length, it would have made for a solid story. Santiago lost his sister to a man with no scruples. Bent on revenge, he decided the best way to hurt this man would be to take his sister from him too. He didn't count on the connection he would feel with Becca, but his thirst for revenge couldn't be forgotten. It would just have to come by other means instead. I liked the writing and would probably read from this author again.

Deviant by Cassia Brightmore (new-to-me author) — DNF

I simply couldn't get into this story. Try as a might, I struggled to make it through the first chapter.

Scent by Ker Dukey (an old favorite) — 4 stars

Dukey gives the darkness with her unique flair and I am hungry for more. Lola was a survivor of extreme horror and Detective Nick Adams is the man who helps her dispel all of her demons. Their bond is unorthodox and hot and everything a lover of depravity would enjoy!

From New York Times Bestselling Author Sawyer Bennett comes the Chronicles of the Stone Veil, a five book urban fantasy/paranormal romance series. A departure from contemporary romance, the Chronicles of the Stone Veil is a return to fantasy/paranormal romance, where Sawyer started her fiction publishing journey. Readers can expect to find all the elements they love from Sawyer’s books—strong heroines, alpha heroes, and an epic romance—with a fantastical element to add to their reading experience. You can get the first book in the series, The Revelation of Light and Dark, now!

Details for the Chronicles of the Stone Veil series are below:

 

Go to Sawyer's website for details: Click here to learn more about The Chronicles of the Stone Veil series

The Revelation of Light and Dark is available now:

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---------------

The Revelation of Light and Dark

Chronicles of the Stone Veil, book #1

An Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance Series | AVAILABLE NOW

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Book Blurb:

I always knew I was different.

From a young age, my mind has been plagued with things only I could see. Some hauntingly beautiful, others completely terrifying. Never knowing if these visions were real or just hallucinations, I learned how to lock them down and ignore them. I learned to take solace in the relative anonymity of city life and find peace in the rainy days my city of Seattle is known for.

But just when I think my life is getting on track and my dreams are achievable, a moment of weakness causes me to learn a hard and fast lesson.

My entire existence has been a lie.

Now I’m faced with a new reality that’s as implausible as it is fantastical. Filled with realms and veils, light and dark, fae and daemons, gods and angels—things I don’t understand but am forced to acknowledge. It doesn’t help that the man teaching me about my unique gifts is the gorgeously handsome Carrick Byrne, one of Seattle’s richest and most powerful men. He intimidates, annoys, and intrigues me all at the same time. I don’t trust him and yet there’s no one else to help me.

No longer certain who to put my faith in, what to believe, or how I fit into it all, one revelation is clear…

The world as I know it will never be the same again.

  The Revelation of Light and Dark is book one of the Chronicles of the Stone Veil series and is best enjoyed if read in series order.  

"There won't be anyone else. You're..."
"You're it for me, too," I interrupted her thoughts. "There won't be anyone else."
How could there be, when I was so in love with Beckham Spurlock that I couldn't even think about being with anyone else?

Conjugal Visits by Lani Lynn Vale

Standalone - Souls Chapel Revenants MC #2
Release - February 23, 2021
Genre - Contemporary Romance/second chance
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5/frequent
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 236 pages
Publisher - Indie

Don’t ever, ever, ever go near that boy. Not unless you want to be a single mother at seventeen. That boy is Bad with a capital B.

The words that my father spoke to me when it came to Trouper Aoki didn’t scare me like they probably should.

In fact, they only made me intrigued all the more.

When it came to Troup, there was just no resisting fate when it came to the two of us.

Even at eighteen, when we went our separate ways with the promise to come back to each other once we were done pursuing our careers, I knew he would always be it for me.

And color me surprised when eight years after making that pact with Trouper, we were once again reunited. Only this time in an undercover FBI investigation—me, the FBI officer, and Troup call sign ‘State’ as a military liaison.

Trouble always finds him. You’d do better to run far, far away.

Truer words had never been spoken.

From the time Troup was a young boy, he’d been in some kind of trouble.

So it only goes to show when he winds up in the FBI investigation with none other than Beckham Spurlock, his high school sweetheart, things are bound to go wrong.

Only, he has no idea how wrong until things go bad. Really, really bad.

All it takes is saving her by hurting another for him to see the wrong side of a jail cell.

To make matters worse, he has to live the next fifteen years in prison knowing that his son will grow up without him. And the woman he loves will likely move on to a man that isn’t so much trouble.

Trouper Aoki and Beckham Spurlock are endgame! They know it, I know it, and pretty soon, you'll all know it. Why? Because no matter the distance, the obstacles, the interfering, or the years, they belonged together. It was so obvious to anyone who reads about them and the author did an incredible job of showcasing their bond.

She was it for me, and I was it for her.

Troup was literally the bad boy next door. The one Beckham's father (Foster) wanted her to have nothing to do with. The one who didn't quite fit in but fit so well with her. From high school and beyond, what they had is what everyone should aspire to have. Shoot, not even prison could keep these two apart. They needed each other like one needs air, food and water. What they had was so freaking beautiful and their love, their story, deserves all of the stars!!

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Lani Lynn Vale is married to the love of her life that she met in high school. She fell in love with him because he was wearing baseball pants. Ten years later they have three perfectly crazy children and a cat named Demon who likes to wake her up at ungodly times in the night. They live in the greatest state in the world, Texas. She writes contemporary and romantic suspense, and has a love for all things romance. You can find Lani in front of her computer writing away in her fictional characters world...that is until her husband and kids demand sustenance in the form of food and drink.

When they were together, they could be themselves.

The Cyborg's Secret Baby by Cynthia Sax

Standalone - In the Stars Romance
Release - September 25, 2018
Genre - SciFi Romance/secret baby/cyborg/second chance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5
Format/Source - Kindle purchase
Length - 177 pages
Publisher - Indie

A fierce cyborg warrior and his curvy human female share a no-longer-so-little secret.

Stealth, a K Model cyborg, knows his passion for Zebrina, the commander’s human daughter, is forbidden, yet he can’t resist the curvy female. He craves her touch, cherishes her sounds of pleasure, would do anything to keep her safe.

When he’s faced with the choice of protecting his fragile human or living to see the next sunrise, he chooses her, always her, sending Zebrina halfway across the universe to safety. He doesn’t realize their stolen moments had consequences neither of them believed possible.

After hearing her warrior died in battle, Zebrina focuses on the last gift he gave her. Doing what is right for their child is her sole priority. She will put their son’s happiness first, even if that means choosing another male over the love of her life.

The Cyborg’s Secret Baby is a STAND-ALONE story loosely connected to the Cyborg Sizzle series.
It is also a Second Chance Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, often-violent universe.

Stealth is a cyborg, destined to die in battle, and Zebrina was the commander's daughter, a human, someone he wasn't even supposed to look at, much less touch. But touch he did... and so much more. When their planet is no longer safe, they make the decision to leave and finally live together openly. However, Stealth is a soldier and when it comes to protecting his mate, he's always willing to lay his life on the line.

A couple of years later, Zebrina is raising their son alone, separated from the other colonists due to heavy amounts of discrimination, and desperately clinging to the hope that Stealth is still alive. When he finally reaches her, they not only get the chance to rejoice in their reunion, but they have to learn each other again and figure out how to work as a family.

I enjoyed the fact that this story explored speciesism and didn't shy away from how ugly it could be. I loved how fierce these characters were in the face of such ignorance and irrational hate, how compassionate they were despite the negativity, and how their love grew so strong in the midst of it.

This was such an easy read. There is just something about Cynthia Sax's writing and the cyborgs she creates that I can't get enough of! Her stories are special, her characters are a wonder, and she's definitely earned her place on my must-read list.

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The battle for the thirty strides of terrain had been fierce. Stealth’s form was riddled with projectiles. Hunks of flesh hung off his face and chest. His back had been blasted bare by explosions, his body armor long gone. The pain was excruciating.

He had a smile on his face.

Being a K Model cyborg, he loved to fight. His brutal masters, the Humanoid Alliance, had manufactured him for that purpose. He and his brethren remained enslaved to them and couldn’t choose their opponents, but they could defeat them with zeal.

That wasn’t the reason for his joy.

After ten planet rotations of separation, he would finally return to the Humanoid Alliance base with his brethren. He would see his female, the one being genetically compatible with him.

From the moment, Zebrina, the commander’s daughter, had arrived on Ahki, he had been hers. He’d been standing outside with his fighting batch, being inspected for damage. She’d skipped down the ramp, her generous curves jiggling, her black curls bouncing against her brown cheeks.

His female had been a vibrant beam of hope in a gray and dismal world. Everyone, including himself, had been drawn to her.

Then her delectable scent filled his nostrils and that attraction multiplied exponentially. His circuits surged. His heart pounded. A part of him that had been deactivated came online. It had taken all of his willpower to keep his expression blank.

She said hi to everyone, her light, bubbly tone belying the keen intelligence in her big blue eyes. Stealth and his fellow cyborgs had been included in her greeting, much to their delight.

The commander, a harsh human she referred to irreverently as Daddy, told her not to talk to the machines. Zebrina giggled and said they looked like her dollies.

She then brushed her fingers across Stealth’s right shoulder, a light touch he felt to his metal frame, and he knew the attraction was mutual. Their relationship was doomed. She was human, the daughter of his tormenter, and he was a cyborg, designed to die fighting.

Every moment with her was a gift, a reward for having survived as long as he had.

USA Today bestselling author Cynthia Sax writes contemporary, SciFi and paranormal erotic romances. Her stories have been featured in Star Magazine, Real Time With Bill Maher, and numerous best of erotic romance top ten lists.

She lives in a world filled with magic and romance. Although her heroes may not always say, “I love you,” they will do anything for the women they adore. They live passionately. They play hard. They love the same women forever.

Cynthia has loved the same wonderful man forever. Her supportive hubby offers himself up to the joys and pains of research, while they travel the world together, meeting fascinating people and finding inspiration in exotic places such as Istanbul, Bali, and Chicago.

When he'd intercepted that package, he'd been searching for revenge.
He'd been delivered salvation instead.

Forbidden Flame by Alison Aimes

Standalone - Ruthless Warlords #1.5
Release - February 8, 2021
Genre - SciFi Omegaverse Romance/revenge plot
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 4.5 out of 5
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 138 pages
Publisher - Indie

He's out for revenge. She's out to escape. Neither intends to fall in love.

His instructions are simple: do not open the bag. To escape exile and enact revenge, crime boss Magnus Avitus agrees to play the part of errand boy. But when the volatile package he’s been tasked with delivering begins to squirm, he has to take a peek. He never expects to come face-to-face with her. Or to have everything inside him roar "mine."

Her plans are simple: escape the bag and those intent on using her. But when omega Amora Rose's prison is unpacked before she can free herself, she is claimed by ferocious, scarred warlord who makes her heart whisper "mine."

Except she has a secret that’s about to send all their simple plans up in flames.

I know I'm not the only one who loves a good revenge plot. When it's paired with an irresistible couple, set in an omegaverse, I'm gobbling it up! In Forbidden Flame, both Magnus and Amora have experienced their share of pain and betrayal. With each other, they found the unexpected - compassion, understanding, and fated love. He was determined to exact his vengeance on the traitors who exiled him and she was the perfect weapon. Together, they were fierce and powerful. Together, they could finally have it all.

I'm seriously in love with everything I've come across from this author. And again, Alison Aimes has delivered a must-read romance I have to recommend! I was in a huge book slump and this story was not only unputdownable, but easy and fun to read... oh and it was very, very hot!

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Alison Aimes is the award-winning author of the sexy sci-fi romance series the Condemned as well as the sizzling contemporary romance Billionaire Bad Boys collection. A sci-fi fanatic with a PhD in Modern history, she’s an all-over-the-map kind of woman with a love for dramatic stories and great books, no matter the era. Now, she’s creating her own stories full of intrigue and passion, but always with a happy-ever-after ending. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two kids, and dog. When not in front of the computer, she can be found hanging with family and friends, hiking, trying to turn herself into a pretzel through yoga, listening to a fabulous TED talk, or, last but not least, sitting on the couch imagining her characters’ next great adventures.

"Pain and pleasure." His voice was a dark rasp against her ear. "That's how you know you're alive, fighter girl. That's how you know you've got something left to give."

Trapped by Alison Aimes

Standalone - The Condemned #1
Release - March 1, 2016
Genre - Dystopian SciFi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook purchase
Length - 236 pages
Publisher - Orchid Publishing

“Convicts don’t ask. They take.”

Marooned on a primitive prison planet , Bella West has one chance for survival until rescue arrives: trade her body for protection.

The ripped hulk who claims her is more beast than man. Convicted of a crime he didn’t commit, ex-soldier Caine Anders has lost his humanity after eight grueling years on a hazardous planet of dirt, rock, and treacherous inhabitants.

He looks out for himself and never grows attached. So, when the bold female offers him pleasure in return for protection, he takes the deal without hesitation. He never expects her touch to alter him. Or to feel something beyond lust.

But caring for someone on Dragath25 may be the greatest hazard of all. And, as the dangers multiply, it’s no longer certain whether she’ll be the key to his salvation or his destruction....

The first book in the Condemned Series, TRAPPED is a stand alone, action-packed, sexy sci-fi romance with a HEA, a strong heroine willing to do what it takes to survive, and a scorching hot, broken alpha hero you can’t help but fall in love with.


It's the year 9015 and Earth is destroyed. Desperate to find new resources to replenish all that has been lost, Earth has sent scientists and soldiers to their prison planet to see if there's anything there that can help. After their ship crashed, killing most of the crew, Bella makes the sacrifice that enables their survival - anything Convict wants, he can have. And oh how quickly obligation turns to love!

"I don't know what the future holds, but I do know nothing has ever felt as right as your hand in mine."

Her body to preserve the lives of her friends seems like a noble sacrifice. Dragath25 is a danger zone and she needs someone who knows the terrain to keep them going until rescue can come. However, surviving soon turns into thriving and Convict may just be the most honorable, most kind, and most amazing male she has ever met.

He liked her spirit. Her courage and the way she looked out for her colleagues and her siblings. He liked her toughness and her tenacity. Her resilience and her sense of fairness. Even her fierceness when he was being an ass.

Okay, so this story was steamily interesting and reaffirmed my love for all things Alison Aimes. I'm still new to reading from the scifi romance genre, but she has quickly earned a spot on my must-read list!

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A splash sounded. Powerful ripples washed against her back like a surging tide. He was coming for her.

She whirled and discovered small bubbles on the surface of the water. An inky cloud of red and brown streamed in all directions followed by foamy white. Then a dark head broke the surface and he was standing before her, waist high in the water, a mud man no more.

Her mouth opened on a tiny o.

Without the dirt, dark, thick hair, shorn close to his scalp, was now visible. Along with olive skin, a wide forehead, low brows, firm lips, and a square jaw. Tiny droplets left his long lashes spikey while rivulets of water tracked over chiseled cheekbones down his sculpted chest and abdomen to a small trail of dark hair that snaked from his belly button to disappear into the water. Scars of various length and width tracked across miles of pure, hard muscle.

My God, mud man was a flesh and blood man—an incredibly masculine one. If she’d met him at the Academy or the barracks on Earth, she would have been unable to stop staring. He was that beautiful.

Then his hand shot out and her daze shattered.

With a hiss, she stumbled back.

One dark eyebrow rose. “Here.”

She looked down to see a small white bar in his hand.

“It’s soap.” His tone was brusque. “The drones dump trash from Earth. Use it.”

“Thank you.” It took all her courage to reach out and take the bar from his hand. “I—I’ve never used it before. The Academy only allows lasers for cleaning. The use of water was banned a long time ago.” She stopped short.

Of course, he knew that. He wasn’t from some distant galaxy. He was from Earth. He just wasn’t welcome there anymore.

His lips flat lined. “I’ve been here a while, but not as long as that.”

Was that a joke? His expression offered no clue.

“Of course.” Hands shaking, she took the soap and rubbed it against her arm. The blood stayed put. She rubbed harder.

She hadn’t expected this…this talking. Or the kindness of a bath—with soap. It was confusing.

“You need the water to make it work.” Rough hands reached out and took the soap, dunking it under the water, making that same foamy circle she’d seen before.

“Turn around.” His voice had gone husky again.

That overworked heart of hers started up double time once again. Her feet remained planted where they were.

He waited for longer than she would have expected before he spoke again, his jaw locked tight. “Anything?” It was a reminder. A reproach. A challenge.

And her last chance to change her mind.

Her eyes sunk shut. I can do this. I need to do this.

She whirled around, bracing for a grab. A strike. But the deliberate slow glide of a calloused fingertip down the bumps of her spine slammed through her with more force than any blow.

Alison Aimes is the award-winning author of the sexy sci-fi romance series the Condemned as well as the sizzling contemporary romance Billionaire Bad Boys collection. A sci-fi fanatic with a PhD in Modern history, she’s an all-over-the-map kind of woman with a love for dramatic stories and great books, no matter the era. Now, she’s creating her own stories full of intrigue and passion, but always with a happy-ever-after ending. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two kids, and dog. When not in front of the computer, she can be found hanging with family and friends, hiking, trying to turn herself into a pretzel through yoga, listening to a fabulous TED talk, or, last but not least, sitting on the couch imagining her characters’ next great adventures.

The Young & the Sinner by V.T. Do

Standalone - The Entangled Past series
Release - February 15, 2021
Genre - Contemporary Romance/age gap
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat - extremely slow build/4 out of 5
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 469 pages
Publisher - Indie

Mason:
Olivia Williams is everything I’m not supposed to want. Pure. Sweet. Young.
I know better than to seduce an innocent. I know better than to fall for my brother’s ward. There is just something about her that I can’t get enough of. Something I can’t stay away from.
I tried to resist her in the beginning. Tried to leave her alone—let her heal from her family’s mistake. Let her grow up in that happy existence she is trying so hard to build with my brother.
Then tragedy strikes, and I find I can no longer stay away from her. I want to protect her from every hurt in this world, protect that innocence in those deep, brown eyes. But can I protect her from myself? What happens when you’re the reason the girl you love is hurting? What happens when you are the villain in her fairy tale? Can she ever forgive me for my past sins? And more importantly, would she want to when all of my hideous secrets come to light?

Olivia:
Mason Kade is everything I’m not. Dominant. Confident. Beautiful…
Sinner.
I know better than to fall for that enigmatic smile of his. I know better than to fall for my guardian’s brother. There is just something about him that makes me want to sink in a little deeper each time. He is the one temptation I can’t abstain from. Even when he tries to resist us, I see the truth in those bottomless blue eyes of his. He wants me. And I will do whatever it takes to keep him.
I should have listened to his warning instead. I know better than to build my hopes and dreams on a fairy tale. Yet, I naively thought he would be my happily ever after.
That’s my mistake.
I think a great age gap romance might be one of my not-so-secret secret pleasures. In The Young & the Sinner, Olivia is a young woman who has had to deal with her fair share of heartbreak. From abandonment to secrets, she's had a rough go at growing up. Fortunately for her, she's got two beautiful, supportive, understanding, and protective men in her life - Max and Mason Kade. One is the father figure she's always wanted. The other is her chance at love. And while Mason had his own painful past and a huge secret to share, there was no denying their inevitable connection and the emotions that would bond them.

This read more like a coming-of-age romance than anything else. It took a long while for the relationship to build and to be. I think my biggest issue with this story was that it was too long. There was so much time spent on Olivia's repetitive thoughts and emotions that it felt like it took forever to get to the meat of the story. Slow build would be an understatement, however, when it finally came, it was hot and sweet and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked the writing, the main characters, and even the side characters proved to be interesting. I loved Max the most though. I know, I was surprised too. With someone like him in your corner, you can't help but be the best you can be. He was awesome!!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3tr8SSr

V.T. Do grew up in beautiful Colorado with words on her mind and dreams in her eyes. Writing is the best way for her to express herself, and she has been doing that for as long as she can remember. When she's not writing, you can find her talking to herself, daydreaming, hunting magical creatures, and obsessively reading. The Mess You Left Behind is her first book, and with many more coming soon!