Tag Archives: abuse

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**ARC REVIEW** ~ Mother, by Alistair Cross and Tamara Thorne

Psychological Thriller

Mother

Book Blurb

A Girl’s Worst Nightmare is Her Mother …
Priscilla Martin. She’s the diva of Morning Glory Circle and a driving force in the quaint California town of Snapdragon. Overseer of garage sales and neighborhood Christmas decorations, she is widely admired. But few people know the real woman behind the perfectly coiffed hair and Opium perfume.

Family is Forever. And Ever and Ever …
No one escapes Prissy’s watchful eye. No one that is, except her son, who committed suicide many years ago, and her daughter, Claire, who left home more than a decade past and hasn’t spoken to her since. But now, Priscilla’s daughter and son-in-law have fallen on hard times. Expecting their first child, the couple is forced to move back … And Prissy is there to welcome them home with open arms … and to reclaim her broken family.

The Past Isn’t Always as Bad as You Remember.
Sometimes it’s Worse …
Claire has terrible memories of her mother, but now it seems Priscilla has mended her ways. When a cache of vile family secrets is uncovered, Claire struggles to determine fact from fiction, and her husband, Jason, begins to wonder who the monster really is. Lives are in danger – and Claire and Jason must face a horrifying truth … a truth that may destroy them … and will forever change their definition of “Mother.”

My Review (Five stars *****)

Dark and Enthralling

Mother is a superbly crafted and enthralling psychological thriller which has emerged from the writing partnership of Tamara Thorne and Alistair Cross. For me, the novel has strong echoes of David Lynch and Stephen King: there are a myriad of secrets and dark deeds which go on behind the immediate visual landscape, complemented by a host of quirky yet intense characterisations and a devilishly twisted plot. The read also contains some very dark humour.

The words sociopath, narcissist and even monster fail to adequately describe Prissy Martin, the ‘Mother’ of the title. She is one evil package of destructive, controlling, self-serving and remorseless desires who will let no one get in her way. Indeed, this monster’s tentacles reach far and wide…..

It is into this that Claire, her estranged daughter, pregnant with her first child, reluctantly returns, accompanied by her husband Jason, the couple having fallen on hard times. Surely Mother is not as bad as Claire’s memories indicate? Indeed, at first Prissy appears to do all she can to make them feel welcome, but it is not long before they too become prey to her nefarious designs and her need to control all around her. Their marriage, health and Claire’s sanity is soon under threat as Mother reverts to form.

Mother has her own special plans (exactly what we are not made privy to until the novel reaches its conclusion) and will not be thwarted….. Family secrets, lies and the past intertwine to create a read where, with each turn of the page, my heart beat ever faster as the evil intent reveals itself as we approach the novel’s shocking denouement. Madness threatens to consume Claire and her mother Prissy and it is uncertain who will be the victor.

The novel contains some truly superb characterisations, not just Prissy herself but also the unfortunate Claire, the unsuspecting Jason, Barb, Prissy’s long-suffering neighbour and friend and Fathers Pike and Flanagan, the current and former local priests. The residents of Morning Glory Circle each have their own secrets and there are many surprises in store as they are slowly revealed.

I was open mouthed as the plot unfolded. This deeply psychological novel contains truly appalling revelations, and is certainly not for the faint of heart. If you are looking for an unforgettable and heart stopping read that explores the depths of human depravity then this is the book for you. An unforgettable read by a writing duo that are at he top of their game.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, an ARC of this book was given to me for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Connect with the Authors

http://www.tamarathorne.com/

http://alistaircross.com/

Purchase Links

Amazon US  Amazon UK

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29866355-mother

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**Review** ~ 30 Days, by J A Heron

Erotic Thriller

Adult/18+ Read

Dariana

Book Blurb

Dariana Walsh is the daughter of a ruthless gangster and heir to his empire. Not only does she feel trapped, but she has many questions about numerous incidents that have happened in her life so far. Particularly, what happened to her mother? Her father sees her as his little girl, but she longs to be treated like an adult. He wants to shape her, to become more like him, but she resists, the only way she knows how…

One of Wilson Walsh’s men – Chas – is not who he seems. He was sent to infiltrate, earn trust and walk away with Wilson’s most treasured possession, his daughter. He has a plan to take down the most unrelenting man to walk the streets of East London.
Over the next thirty days, blood is shed, friendships are formed and amongst all of the pain and suffering, surprisingly, love blossoms.

In a sea of betrayal and violence… time and love know no bounds.

***Contains strong sexual and violent scenes ~ over 18’s only. There are strong, dark scenes in this book if you do not wish to read about violence, sexual violence or child abuse, then please do not buy this book***

My Review: 4.5 stars

Gripping, emotional and raw!

It’s not often that my emotions are put through the wringer to the extent that they were in J A Heron’s 30 Days! The experience left me with a sense of what the f*** have I just read! This erotic thriller contained greed, lust, murder, violence (including sexual violence) and torture which was sometimes difficult to read. The darkness was tempered by the love of Dariana for Chas, the man who was contracted to bring down her heartless and borderline sociopathic gangland father, Walsh.

Dariana is a young woman who, since the death of her mother, has been brought up by her father, a man without pity, love or morals, whose only aim in life is to rise to the top and maintain his position amongst the gangs of London’s East End. Dariana despises her father as she knows full well where his wealth comes from and suspects that he had a role in her mother’s death. We feel her sense of anger and hopelessness in the early chapters of the book as she chafes against her father’s control and I rejoiced when she escaped into the arms of Chas and commits to working with him to bring her father down.

Chas is a real hottie and it is easy to see why Dariana would fall for him. It was always his plan to get her on his side and he never expected to find his soul mate. Their growing relationship is beautiful to witness and is passionate and intense. Dariana enjoys Chas’ dominant nature, although she is spunky and gives as good as she gets! I enjoyed their verbal sparring and their sizzling lovemaking scenes. The metamorphisis of Dariana as the novel unfolds is profound and I especially liked how Chas gave her confidence in her self.

Yet secrets and lies abound in this dark read which unfolds through both Dariana’s and Chas’ POV. I will not reveal much about the plot, but suffice to say it has many twists and turns and I had no way of guessing where it was going to end. I will say that you will need a box of Kleenex handy as the author certainly knows how to play with the reader’s emotions.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of the book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon US  Amazon UK

Connect with the Author

https://www.facebook.com/JAHeronAuthor/

http://janeheron1.wix.com/jaheronauthor

https://twitter.com/janeyh35

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8073755.J_A_Heron

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**Review** ~ The Point of Evil, Point Vamp: Book 4, by Victoria Blisse

Erotic Paranormal Romance

Adult/18+ Read

Point vmp

Book Blurb

Blood and sex were all he ever wanted until love gave him something worth living an eternity for.

Steve—who had been a womanizer in life and was even more so in death—prowls the Point using his vampiric wiles to get the blood and sex he craves. He’s always looking for his next meal and when he sees a tall, curvy beauty with a red scarf around her neck, he thinks he’s found it.

Eloise is different—she’s shy and needs encouragement, and Steve just can’t get her out of his mind. He has to take his time, get to know her and slowly seduce her. When she disappears, leaving only a note begging him not to pursue her further, he can’t help himself and ends up in the service of George Aquino, a vampire crime boss with a penchant for twisted and cruel torture and a dungeon full of prisoners.

A daring rescue, a difficult choice and love against the odds. Do you dare visit the point of evil?

The Point Vamp series

What is The Point? It is the hottest club in town for both Vampires and humans alike. It has a large dance floor and a bar like any other club but once you disappear behind the VIP only door you find out what makes The Point so unique. Sex, blood and lust all behind closed doors and only accessed by the chosen ones.

Now, you become a chosen one and get to see the sexy world behind that door.

Welcome to The Point.

My Review

  A Tale of Lust, Love and Sacrifice

**** Four Fangtastic Stars!

This is the first book that I have read by the author and I must say that I loved the vampires at The Point from the off. They are not monsters like many amongst their kind as they rein in their need for blood, only taking what they need. They do require some blood however (not to mention the hot sex that goes with it!) and the club is therefore the ‘go to’ place for humans who want the steamiest of vampire liaisons without putting their lives on the line!

The character Steve undergoes some character growth in the course of the story. As a human he was very much a man whore and is even more so since he has become a vamp, addicted to blood and sex. When he meets the mysterious and vulnerable Eloise at the club, his insta lust filled attraction soon grows into something more. So much so that when he receives her note imporing him not to pursue her he decides to go after her regardless of the consequences……..

And boy what consequences! The read takes us into the lair of a notorious vampire crime boss, who represents all that Steve and those at The Point oppose. There are scenes of blood, violence and torture as Steve enters the world in which Eloise is forced to endure and it is touch and go whether they will survive.

Recommended for readers who love sizzling vampire reads!

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note that a copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon US  Amazon UK

Author Links

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1941449.Victoria_Blisse

http://victoriablisse.co.uk/

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**REVIEW** Three Rules by Marie Drake

I have been wanting to reading Marie Drake’s ‘Three Rules’ for quite some time. It is a remarkable read that will reach out to most readers either because of the mystery, the emotional and physical effects of abuse and the beautiful romance/love story. During this past year, Three Rules made it as a semi-finalist for The Kindle Book Review’s Best Kindle Book Awards 2014! Definitely not one to be missed!!

Extremely powerful narrative, beautifully written – will have you reduced to tears!

Three Rules Marie DrakeTitle: Three Rules

Author: Marie Drake

Genre: Dark fiction, mystery, romance

Release date: September 24, 2013

Released by: Marie Drake

Length: 296 pages

Blurb: Hope Wellman has a childhood full of horrific memories, a bone chilling recurring nightmare, and a persistent paranoid sense of being followed that she would rather keep repressed. Is evil reaching from beyond the grave to capture the tattered remnants of her soul once and for all, is it only a machination of her disturbed mind, or is there something happening more sinister than even she can imagine?

Attending the funeral of her abuser is the first step in putting her life back together. She struggles with the fact she never told anyone what happened to her, and that the grave they are mourning over is empty. She’d find it a lot easier to move on and believe in the future if he were in the box, ready to be covered with dirt. She fears the last thread of her sanity has snapped when she sees Lucas everywhere she turns, and can’t escape a recurring nightmare. Is her tormentor alive, or is she imagining it? Is her dream triggered by past fears or is it a prediction of the future?

Quoted from Three Rules:

“I have learned three rules in my life: 1.) The most dangerous people in the world are not always strangers. 2.) The scariest things imaginable are not those that can kill you, but those you can live through. And probably the most prominent: 3.) The most horrible possibility is not what could happen to you, but what you could become – I became a killer.”
~Hope Wellman

REVIEW

Three Rules is an extremely powerful narrative and beautifully written, with a great deal of emotion running through it, that will reduce you to tears. Despite the dark subject matter of abuse, and the mystery of the storyline, it also holds one of the most romantic stories I have ever read!

Hope Wellman (20) having lived through sexual abuse as a young girl, by her step-uncle, Lucas, has never said a word about her ordeal to anyone. And now at Lucas’ funeral she feels an inner-relief that he cannot harm her again. The only doubt that she does have is that his body is not in the coffin as it was never recovered from his boat accident. Without his body, there is a fraction of her that wonders if he is still alive, and when she has moments of feeling that somebody is watching her, she instantly thinks it could be him.

There are a string of events that come to light early in the story that keep reminding Hope of her past and begin to create the mystery for the remainder of the story. One of the main questions you’ll be asking is whether or not Lucas is still alive?

Hope is having terrible nightmares about being chased by someone, and then when she is out she feels like someone is following her, watching her at times. This makes her question her own sanity – she may be paranoid, unless she does have a stalker, or maybe it really is Lucas?  There are some brilliant twists in the story to keep the reader wondering and guessing.

The reader is aware of how Hope feels about Lucas’ death as it opens her mind up to those moments of abuse again. She puts on a brave face for her parents, to offer support and to keep her ordeals to herself. However, remaining strong and trying to forget is becoming increasingly difficult when she finds out that one of her childhood friends, Karen Bishop, is pregnant with Lucas’ child. Not only does it hurt to know that he had his hands on her, but it also creates some guilt within Hope that maybe if she had spoken about what had happened to her, then Karen wouldn’t have gotten herself into this situation.

As if dealing with all of this wasn’t enough, there is also the very lovely Joey Bishop to face. Joey is Karen’s brother who was always Hope’s best friend growing up. They did everything together during their childhood and he always had time for her. He was the only boy she ever felt close to. But, after what should have been Hope’s magical and memorable first kiss, her parents encouraged her and Joey to keep their distance after Lucas had seen their innocent moment and reported it back.

A few years on and the attraction is still clearly there. And yet, Hope struggles with her feelings. Anything physical is out of the question, leaving Joey believing that they are just friends.  After certain events take place, Hope spends more time with Joey and this really brings them closer together on many levels. But every time she feels she can tell him, something prevents her from doing so. And, will he change his opinion of her if he knew her secret?

The further into the story we go the more Hope’s feelings and past are brought to the fore. Hope’s character is very strong, despite all that she has been through. She still feels like she can’t tell anyone and when her family notice something isn’t right they assume she is depressed (just as she tended to be when she was younger). She begins to feel trapped – she wants to tell Joey on many occasions (and sometimes her mum) but she just can’t face it. At this point the reader feels trapped with her – wanting to encourage her to speak and finally let it out, but at the same time realising it is a delicate subject for her. The fact that she is thinking about telling someone is a step in the right direction.

Three Rules is a work of fiction and yet based on the abuse suffered by the author, making it a very real read but written without lengthy graphic details – it is more focused on the state of mind, the emotions, as it is written with the intent to help others in similar situations. Marie Drake has written the story with so much care that it is a sensitive read but with some powerful heart-warming moments – two of which had me in tears.

This is a story of inner-strength, of coming through abuse and it’s effects, and then reaching the other side. It is a story of courage, will-power and love that carries it’s own message to all those in need – don’t push those feelings down, don’t ignore them. The power to speak to someone, anyone, can be all that you need to begin your journey to the light, where you can find security, love and be at peace with yourself and your loved ones.

A copy of Three Rules was provided by the author in return for an honest and fair review.

Three Rules by Marie Drake is available at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

To read the prologue and first chapter, along with info on the author, Marie Drake, please check out our spotlight.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

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Review of ~*CRIMSON SINS*~ by Madeline Pryce

Deliciously Dark and Decadent – A MUST READ!

Erotic Paranormal Romance – 18+ read – contains violence, gore, mention of rape, torture, images of past abuse, spanking.

Book Blurb

21947832Created in Darkness and born of Death, three brothers carry a deadly secret.

One lethal enough to have the dead outnumber the living. Necromancer. Biohazard. Zombie. The abomination inside Bastian Hale demanded constant payment—fresh blood. Without it, he’d rot from the inside out and become little more than a mindless monster. Some called him a living vampire, others considered him contaminated. One woman would call him hers.

Morgan Cross never understood the innate necromancer power running through her veins or why ghosts and zombies sought to ruin her life. When someone’s deadly obsession throws her into Bastian’s arms, their pasts come back to haunt them and she must avoid the one thing she was born to do—claim him as hers.

WARNINGS: violence, gore, mention of rape, torture, images of past abuse, spanking.

My Review

Deliciously Dark and Decadent

Erotic Paranormal Romance 18+read

Crimson Sins is a deliciously dark and decadent erotic paranormal read – utterly compelling and original. It introduces us to a world of magic, necromancers, zombies, ghosts, and more and contains a heady and combustible mix of smokin’ hot romance and scenes of horror. It is without doubt one of my top reads of 2014.

I ADORED the hero Bastian, a tortured alpha hottie who is immediately drawn to Morgan, the heroine. He wants to protect her, not only from his father Ronan, but also from himself as he believes that he is not worthy of a woman’s love. Morgan’s own life has not been easy as she has struggled to cope with her ability to see spirits and has been grossly misunderstood. She is shocked to realise that she is a powerful necromancer and despite her independence welcomes Bastian’s help in protecting her from his father, who desires her for his own evil ends. I LOVED how Morgan’s powers grew throughout the novel and how the couple united in battling Ronan.

Ronan is a formidable adversary and will stop at nothing to achieve his ends, including his evil sorcerer’s magic. Can Bastian open his heart to trust a female necromancer whose own magic could enslave him just as his father’s had?

The lovemaking scenes between Bastian and Morgan are sublime – graphic, scorching hot and emotionally intense and left me in no doubt that the couple are destined to be together. These scenes contrast with the bloody and visceral scenes of horror and violence which illustrate the evil that is Ronan, Bastian’s father.

The enduring bond between the three brothers, Bastian, Rory and Nathan, who had shared so much pain and abuse in the past was also a feature of the read which I enjoyed.  Although this book focuses on Bastian we are afforded an insight into what makes his equally tortured and hot siblings tick and I seriously hope that Madeline Pryce will be penning their own books soon!

The pacing of the book and the balance between the scenes of magic and action and horror with the romance and lovemaking scenes were perfect. If you like erotic paranormal romances, with strong references to horror you will love this book too. Go forth and buy Cimson Sins now! You will not be disappointed!

A copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon US   Amazon UK   B&N

Connect with the Author

Blog   Facebook Page   Facebook    Facebook Fan Group    Twitter

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*REVIEW* ~ 30 Days to Syn, by Charlotte Boyett-Compo ~

30DaystoSyn_3Sizzling and Emotional!

Contemporary Erotic Romance

The ad reads: Young woman (American only) willing to engage in domination roleplay. No BDSM. Salary: $1,000,000 upon completion of contract. Length of employment: 30 consecutive nights.

Drowning in debt, Melina Wynth is going under for the third time. With a dead-end job and a disabled brother dependent on her, the ad in the paper could be the lifeline to keep her from sinking. Reeling in her courage, she casts her line.  Synjyn McGregor is a shark—a very wealthy shark from Down Under—and his bite could prove to be her undoing. But Lina is determined she isn’t going to allow him to get away. The length of employment might read thirty nights, but she suspects he is fishing for something more.

Synjyn needs a woman who will love him—mentally and physically—as never before. A woman whose touch will not only put the billionaire in his place but keep him there…begging for more. He will quickly realize Lina is made for Syn.

A Romantica® contemporary erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave.

My Review

Do yourself a favour and download this now! This erotic contemporary romance is by far one of my Top Reads for 2014. It packs one helluva punch: a tortured alpha male; a sassy and selfless heroine; panty drenching sexual tension and sizzling love making scenes; drama; emotion and humour; and super supporting characters.

Synjyn McGregor is now on my list of favourite book boyfriends alongside the likes of Karen Marie Moning’s Barrons and JR Ward’s Wrath. He has one of THE most heart breaking back stories imaginable, explaining his take on life and relationships. An out and out dominant on the surface and a seemingly impossible man to work for, underneath he is all heart to those whom he cares for. His actions towards Lina at the start of the novel were far from endearing, but I quickly warmed to him as I began to understand this scarred man who so badly needs the one thing he has rejected – love. Not only that but I ADORED his special brand of dominance!

Lina is a selfless, sassy and adorable heroine. I admired her reasons for entering into the contract with Syn and loved that she was no pushover. She stands up to him and as she spends more time with him she realises that there is more to him than meets the eye. There are many fireworks between the pair, but they are so well matched, physically and emotionally and are just wonderful for each other. The love making scenes are sublime and had me glued to my Kindle! As the 30 days came to a close I was on the edge of my seat wondering if Syn would let Lina go and if Lina would take the money and run. Their relationship is not only complicated by the contract and Syn’s backstory, but also by characters from Syn’s past and present, who do not have his best interests at heart. There were a number of times when I was literally reduced to tears as I felt the intensity of their emotions.

The supporting characters have their own distinct personalities and quirks and play key roles in the development of the plot. Indeed, the banter between the American Lina and Syn, a New Zealander, had me in stitches as did the repartee between Syn and his trusted employees, fellow New Zealanders, who are also his lifelong friends. Please note that the book does contain scenes of violence and references to past abuse, which contrast with the world of wealth and decadence in which Syn moves.

30 Days to Syn is a sizzling dramatic read with great plot twists and turns, involving passion, violence and heart rending scenes. I recommend it to lovers of erotic contemporary romance who love alpha males, strong heroines and unforgettable sexy and intense scenes of power play.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

A copy of this novel was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Publisher Ellora’s Cave http://www.ellorascave.com/30-days-to-syn.html

Purchase Links Amazon US   Amazon UK

About the Author

Charlotte Boyett-Compo is the author of over 80 books. She writes novels that encompass science-fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal, Supernatural, Romantica, Horror, Mystery, Thriler and Post –Apocalyptic Western novels. She is the creator of the Reaper, handome and deadly Alpha male shapeshifters with tortured souls that can only be tamed by the female destined to be their mate.

http://www.windlegends.com

https://www.facebook.com/windlegends

 

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*COVER REVEAL* Enduring Everything, by M. Sembera

Today we are delighted to be hosting the cover reveal for M. Sembera’s forthcoming release, ENDURING EVERYTHING, a novel which examines friendship and love and how it is not always easy to let go of secrets and hurt from the past. Read on for the  book blurb and the truly gorgeous cover!

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Time doesn’t always heal old wounds.

Often time makes them worse.

Especially when you push those wounds to the back of your mind and focus on the life you want to lead.

Then the day comes when you finally have everything.

It is then, you realize that nothing ever goes away.

GoodReads

In order to put years of heartache and abuse behind her, Ren learned to bury the past deep down inside herself and focus on one thing; raising her daughter Sophia. As the years passed, she found peace in the daily routine of her job and becomes content with being a mom. 

On the night of her daughter’s wedding, Ren takes a risk and strays from the predictable world she has set up for herself when her longtime friend Jackson rekindles a loving promise he made to her long ago.

Ren cannot keep her past buried, and the two struggle when old problems start to creep back into their lives. She cannot get her world back in order and her instinct is to shut everyone out.  

In the midst of it all Ren is coerced into helping Charlotte, an adopted teenager of her close friends the Roberts’. Reluctantly agreeing, Ren finds Charlotte is in dire need of self control and direction. Upon discovering they share a similar upbringing Ren feels she can advise Charlotte and keep her from repeating her own mistakes. Taking steps to ensure Charlotte’s recovery, her new found purpose causes a rift in the family she has come to know and love as her own.  

Battling issues, both new and old, will Ren & Jacks be able to endure everything life has thrown at them or will Ren give up everything and isolate herself from the inevitable pain that will follow when all her secrets are revealed? 

  

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20657380-enduring-everything

  

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Connected by the Sea and Breaking through the Waves, Hawaiian Crush Series, by E. L. Todd

CBTS-2

 Sexy, Gripping and Intense Read!

New Adult Contemporary Romance

This hot and sexy New Adult romance, set in the beautiful island of Hawaii is way more than it first seems. It not only examines love and lust and the importance of trust and friendship, but also delves into the darker issues of loss, guilt, jealousy, violence and abuse.

Book Blurb: Sydney is attending University of Hawaii on Oahu where she’s majoring in Marine Biology. She loves her friends, her job, and her school. Since her ex-boyfriend cheated on her six months ago, she hasn’t moved on to anybody new yet. When Coen catches her eye, she’s immediately attracted to him in a very carnal way. She refuses to let herself feel that way because he’s a heartbreaker just like her ex was. But when she’s called to her professor’s office because she’s asked to tutor someone, she doesn’t realize it’s Coen. Will he convince her that he really is boyfriend material or will he turn out just as she suspects?

Well, this series is one sexy read! The chemistry between Sydney and Coen just sizzles off the page. Early on in20552833 the first novel we see how Sydney is attracted to Coen, who has the reputation of being a player. When they are unexpectedly brought together in the role of tutor and pupil their mutual attraction ignites and they are drawn together in some scorching and  passionate scenes. Coen wants to make their relationship official, but the situation is complicated due to Sydney finally realising that her best friend Henry is deeply  in love with her and she fears that knowing she is with another will destroy him. Added to this complication is Coen’s ex-girlfriend, who is convinced that Coen is hers and wants him back. The first book also hints at issues from Sydney’s past which haunt her and resurface in the second instalment. Can she accept Coen as her one and only before it is too late and can she trust him with her secrets? The road to Sydney and Coen’s HEA is certainly fraught with difficulties.

Sydney is a role model for all young women. She is a star pupil, good at her job and loves the island, the sea and its wildlife. She also values the ties of friendship and is especially concerned about how Henry will react when he finds out about her relationship with Coen. Although she appears strong she has a hidden vulnerability due to events in the past, which we come to comprehend more fully as the series progresses.

Coen is simply drop dead gorgeous! He is an alpha male with a big heart and falls deeply for Sydney, attracted to her beauty inside and out. I really felt his frustration with how Sydney dealt with Henry’s feelings for her and the fact that she concealed their relationship, although I came to understand her own personal reasons for it as the plot unfolded. The love making scenes between Sydney and Coen were super hot, sensual and descriptive (very little being left to the imagination) and make this series definitely for readers over 18. At times the sex fest was such that I had to pause and take a break and catch a breath to calm my racing heart!

The way the author described the characters and their behaviour was realistic overall. The pacing was good as was the story arc and romance. I also liked the element of suspense – what was Sydney afraid of from her past and would it come back to haunt her and would she finally get together with Coen? The secondary characters were also well defined and I enjoyed the descriptions of the island and its wildlife, especially the scenes on the beach and in the sea. The series is a great read any time of the year to bring some sunshine and romance into your life and I recommend it to adult readers, particularly those who love New Adult reads.

PS – Henry gets his own book too in Connected by the Tide. 🙂

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Copies of these books were given to me by the author for he purpose of a fair and honest review.

Connect with the Author:

https://www.facebook.com/ELTodd42

http://eltodd42.blogspot.co.uk/

Purchase Links:

Amazon US

http://www.amazon.com/Connected-Sea-Hawaiian-Crush-1-ebook/dp/B00I4JXQXC/ref=la_B00EO8FWYS_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393436195&sr=1-4 

http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Through-Waves-Hawaiian-Crush-ebook/dp/B00I4FZR56/ref=la_B00EO8FWYS_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393436195&sr=1-3

Amazon UK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Connected-Sea-Hawaiian-Crush-1-ebook/dp/B00I4JXQXC/ref=la_B00EO8FWYS_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393436511&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Breaking-Through-Waves-Hawaiian-Crush-ebook/dp/B00I4FZR56/ref=la_B00EO8FWYS_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393436511&sr=1-4

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Obsessed with Me – When She Rejected Him He Set Out To Destroy Her, Books #1 and #2, by Eve Rabi

17927637[1]-001Passionate and Heartrending Love Story  Adult Content

This tale has so many twists and turns that it kept me on the edge of my seat, with my heart in my throat and my head in my hands at what the heroine was going through! It is yet another stellar work by author Eve Rabi which plays with your emotions and comments on social issues and power within relationships. The tale is set in 1993, in Cape Town, in a South Africa a year before Nelson Mandela became President, and apartheid officially ended,  a time ripe for change, when racism and corruption such as we see in the tale was rife. The tale contains violence, strong language, racial slurs, sex scenes and sexual violence.

Obsessed with Me is a tale about Tanin, a young Indian woman living in South Africa and Tarago Jackobus, a wealthy, white Africaan. It tells of what happens after Tanin turns Tarago down, after he invites her to share a drink with him. No one, but no one refuses Tarago! Thus begins a very unorthodox seduction, which introduces a series of harrowing events, where Tanin loses her job, has no  prospect of employment and her family is threatened with losing their home. She even finds herself in jail. There is however no knight in shining armour to save her, her boyfriend having deserted her. Instead to keep a roof over her family, pay her mum’s medical bills and support them financially, she is compelled to make a deal with the very Devil himself, Tarago.

Tanin finds herself living at Tarango’s mansion, where day after day Tarago and his inner circle of hangers on, women and men, subject her to racist taunts and Tarago uses her body to satisfy his lusts. Tarago is a real brute and a hateful figure, but such is the skill of the author that somehow, part way through the tale, the real Tarago is forced to reveal himself, faced with Tanin’s strong spirit, resilience and inner strength. I actually found myself beginning to empathize with him and like him. Not only that but he appears to genuinely care for Tanin, who begins to reciprocate his feelings.  There are some truly romantic, very sexy  and humorous scenes between the couple. Has beauty charmed the beast for real? It all seems too good to be true, especially when there are some amongst Tarago’s inner circle who are dead set against their union and will go to any lengths to destroy it. Will Tanin and Tarago’s love prevail or will it be destroyed by the whims of others?

I enjoyed the character of Tanin. She is immediately likeable young woman when we first meet her, studying hard for her future and working part time to support her family, paying for her mother’s medical bills and her siblings’ education. Due to the situation Tarago puts her in and the shocking events which follow, Tanin has to seriously toughen up and I shed more than a few tears over what she had to go through as the tale progresses and what she suffers is not all at Tarago’s hands. If any heroine deserves a HEA it is Tanin. 17927636[1]-001

Tarago started off as an out and out read b******, with no redeeming features. A giant of a man, he is not only a womaniser and a drunk but arrogant, racist and as sexist as they come. However, as the story progresses and I learned of his background and need for real affection I began to empathize with him. His brash exterior masks his true self, which is more sympathetic than is at first evident. Indeed, he too becomes very much a victim of events as the tale unfolds.

The cast of supporting characters is varied and they all have their role to play. They include Tanin’s boyfriend Ashwin and her best friend Rheema, who play pivotal roles. Tanin’s mother is a tour de force when Tanin needs her. Tanin even finds support amongst some of Tarago’s hangers on, who at first reviled her for her colour and/or being a rival for Tarago’s affections. However, there are certain characters – I will not reveal their names, who have only their own interests at heart. As usual the author does not shy away from including controversial issues in her storytelling and we are compelled to examine our own feelings towards them and the complex characters she creates.

Obsessed With Me is another must read for Eve Rabi fans and those who like to be entertained by a wild and totally thought provoking romance, told in her trademark indomitable style.

A copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Eve Rabi’s website http://everabi.wordpress.com/

Eve Rabi Facebook https://www.facebook.com/eve.rabi

Obsessed With Me Amazon UK

Obsessed With Me  Amazon US

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The Club by Sharon Page

theclub-201Racy Regency Romance

 I enjoy Regency romances and have wanted to read a Sharon Page novel for some time. This one intrigued me as it has a gentleman’s club at the centre of the plot and promised to be a sensuous read!

In The Club Widow Jane Beaumont, Lady Sherringham enters a notorious private club, posing as a patron, in search of her friend Delphinia. Del disappeared after she was seen attending the club with her debauched husband. Jane, intent on finding out what happened to her friend, immediately encounters Christian Sutcliffe, Lord Wickham, Del’s brother, a well-known libertine. Christian went into self-imposed exile abroad after he killed a man in a duel over a woman, but has returned to search for his sister, who had written to him telling him how unhappy she was, prior to her disappearance. Neither Jane nor Christian believes the claim made by Del’s husband, that Del has ran off with a lover to the Continent.

Christian warns Jane to stay out of the club before she compromises her safety. However, Jane and ignores his wishes and they spend more time together in and out of the club, as they try and find out what has happened to Del. Jane, abused by her deceased husband, is skittish around men and it takes all of her courage to venture into the club, posing as Christian’s lover.

Mrs Broughton’s club is a place where married couples of the ton go in search of sexual fulfilment and adventure – not always with each other! The author describes a number of consensual scenes, between a range of partners, which include bondage and the use of other paraphernalia one would expect in a sex club.  It becomes clear that some women, including Del were not wholly willing participants in the activities there. Whilst investigating the club, Jane and Christian also uncover some other nefarious activities taking place at an establishment linked to it.

Christian and Jane knew each other when they were younger and often clashed.  Christian found Jane to be rather serious and forthright, always willing to criticise him, whereas Jane believed Christian to be a wastrel and a womaniser. Jane fears male contact and is adamant that she will not marry again and put herself at the mercy of another man. However, she slowly finds herself drawn to Christian romantically. She is torn between what she knows of Christian’s past behaviour and the actions he takes now, where she sees him care deeply for those around him and act with honour. Indeed, she thinks his considerate behaviour towards her is prompted by his desire to rescue her and not out of love. All this is at odds with the rumours about his sexual conquests and liking for violent sex.  She also fears that he will face trial for his sin of shooting the man in the duel.

I immediately liked Christian. He was reckless in his youth and got up to all sorts of adventures abroad, although Jane learns that his actions were not just about self-gratification but also about rescuing those less fortunate than himself. He is not afraid of using violence or the threat of violence against those who threaten those he loves. He recognises Jane’s fear of men early in the novel and it is to his credit that he strives to protect her from the sexual advances of a number of debauched men in and out of the club. When they eventually become lovers he is patient and attentive, realising that she has never known physical pleasure only abuse. There are nevertheless a number of sensual lovemaking scenes between them in some inventive locations!

There a number of secondary characters who naturally resent the couple investigating Del’s disappearance and other matters that come to light in their search for her. The plot develops swiftly and involves scenes at the club, blackmail, violence and murder. There are also a number of unexpected plot twists. With all of these obstacles, we are left wondering whether Jane and Christian can ever find their happy ever after.

I  recommend this novel if you enjoy Regency romances with added spice. I liked the fact that the plot revolved around the club and the underbelly of London and I enjoyed the interaction between the hero and heroine. The plot was complex and engaging and acted as an excellent counterpoint to the sex scenes. Due to the lovemaking scenes, I would class the novel as sensual in content and therefore suitable for those aged 18 and above.

Author’s website www.sharonpage.com

Published by Ebury Publishing, part of the Random House Group www.randomhouse.co.uk