Tag Archives: dark-read

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*ARC GIVEAWAY* – Blood Money: A Dark Cartel Romance (Dinero de Sangre Book 1), by Lana Sky

💸 Hot New Series and ARC Giveaway 💸

Blood Money by Lana Sky!

A New Dark Cartel Romance!

Releases June 28th!

# 1-click today!

Blurb

In this twisted dark cartel romance, revenge and hate collide with the past…

Ten years after a devastating betrayal, revenge has come back to bite Ada Pavalos.

Literally.

Once her family’s trusted bodyguard, Domino Valenciaga is out for blood.

Or her heart.

Whichever goal takes more violence to achieve…

#Preorder #DarkCartelRomance #NewSeries #LanaSky #TwistedRomance #RevengeAndHate #NeedToReadItNow #ReadMoreRomance #Bookstagram

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Author Info

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Lana Sky is a reclusive writer in the United States who spends most of her time daydreaming about complex male characters and legless cats. She writes mostly paranormal romance, in between watching reruns of Ab Fab and drinking iced tea. Only iced tea. 

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*NEW RELEASE* ~ Surrender, A Club XXX Novel Maxim Book 3, by Lana Sky

#DarkRomance #DarkRead

Adult/18+ Read

Release Info:
Title: Surrender: XXX Maxim Book 3
Release Date: April 14th, 2020

Blurb

In the final round of their twisted game, Francesca and Maxim have the ultimate choice to make: surrender to their dangerous attraction, or succumb to the many dangers driving them apart.

With her heart at stake, Francesca must weigh her family’s safety over her own, and trust that Maxim can truly triumph over his past trauma…

Or it will be game over for them both.

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Teaser

If I were a normal lover, he would hurt me, there is no question. But his voice drips into my ear, an awed growl, revealing the difference that makes me just as deranged as he is. “So wet for me.” He inhales sharply and then groans with another brutal thrust. “Always so wet for me.”

His mouth finds my ear, nipping at the lobe as his mangled, grunted words punctuate the movement of our bodies. “You know what I need, don’t you? You give it to me. You take me… Fuck! You aim to tame me…”

I close my eyes, savoring the violent contrast of gnashing teeth, and broken groans, and sweat as his body ruthlessly claims mine. The sex isn’t about pleasure—I know that. I’m climaxing anyway, biting a mouthful of sheets to silence my cries as every muscle goes taut. I see stars, speckling my vision as he grunts, slamming inside me one final time.

Author Info: Lana Sky

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*ARC REVIEW* ~ Branches for Cover (Legends of Kake), by Kate Kelley

#darkfantasy #paranormal #eroticromance #shifters

Adult/18+ read


Book Blurb

Kinna is trapped in hiding in a remote village in the Mouth of Daylight, aka Kake, Alaska. She catches fish for money in the daylight and hunts for food by moonlight, all the while praying the Alpha of her ex-pack doesn’t find her. Because if he does, she won’t survive the encounter. That is, if the mysterious creatures in her own backyard don’t get to her first.

Ren is a lone bear, separated from his pack by choice–he isn’t interested in being a part of a feral, non-shifting society that lives only for seeking blood instead of a way to prevent the worst of their curse. Ren seeks a cure, a cure that can only be found in a particular coven of witches–a coven that just happens to be long-dead.
Or so he thinks.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42904104-branches-for-cover?from_search=true

My Review – Engaging dark erotic paranormal read ~5 stars

Branches for Cover is a thoroughly engaging read with a memorable hero and heroine, plus it has the most gorgeous cover, which perfectly sums up the character of the heroine! It is the first book that I have read by the author Kate Kelley and I would most definitely read more of her work. The plot ticks so many of the boxes I love – a smexy and dark erotic paranormal read; an enemies to lovers romance, a mystery and creatures of myths and legends.

Indeed, I adored the relationship between the two central characters, Kinna and Ren. Both Ren, a bear shifter, and Kinna, a wolf-witch, are alphas and the sizzling attraction they have for each other is clear from the off. However, it is complicated in that it is based on mutual loathing and mistrust and they both fight their feelings: Ren hates Kinna as he believes her kind is responsible for a great ill that has befallen his pack and Kinna despises Ren as, although she is innocent, Ren is hard on her as he is not so easily convinced. The read contains scenes of violence, sexual situations and possible triggers and is intended for mature readers.

The sexual tension between them ratchets up as the story progresses and there are a number of sizzling scenes … Ren is one sexy and dominant bear shifter who has met his match in Kinna and Kinna, despite her unwillingness to commit to another, especially another alpha, finds him increasingly hard to resist.

There are a number of complications which hinder the development of their relationship, not solely the mystery behind what has afflicted Ren’s pack. A lot is at stake and their are some startling revelations. Trust does not come easily to Kinna nor Ren – they are both very stubborn individuals and  I found their relationship extremely entertaining as they fight their feelings for each other all the way.

The author does an excellent job of drawing on folklore to create the world Ren and Kinna inhabit: a world of creatures from myth and legends who live undetected amongst humans. The book ends on a cliffhanger and I am itching to find out what happens next.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

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

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*REVIEW* ~ Commodity, by Shay Savage

#postapocalyptic #scifi #romance #romanticsuspense

Blurb

A woman hunted by human traffickers.
A hot and dangerous bodyguard.
Complete destruction.
The end of civilization.
The beginning of a new form of currency.
Women are now the highest COMMODITY.

My Review ~ 5 stars

Brutal and Love Affirming Post-Apocalyptic Romantic Suspense

Commodity is another phenomenal read from Shay Savage. It’s a brutal yet love affirming romantic suspense set in a post-apocalyptic world. I was previously blown away by her novel Transcendence (click on title for review). I love the author’s voice and one clicked this as soon as I saw it! I’m partial to post-apocalyptic reads – I find it fascinating how they explore what happens to society’s mores once law and order and technology break down. In Commodity only a few women have survived (you will need to read the book to find out why) and as such have become little more than a commodity used in the worst possible way by those who covet power and influence.

Prior to the apocalypse Hannah, the heroine of the tale, was en route to give evidence in a major people trafficking trial, one in which she was the main prosecution witness.  She had been assigned her own protector, Falk, a bodyguard. Falk has his own code of honour and even though circumstances have changed and the world is no longer what it was, he is going to protect this woman come hell or high water. I just LOVED his badass alpha character! Quite how far he will go to protect her and why becomes evident as the story unfolds, Suffice to say I was utterly captivated by the read, their growing relationship and the unfolding danger and suspense. I particularly enjoyed how the author tells the story through the points of view of both the hero and heroine at various points in the narrative.

Their romance is far from instantaneous. Both characters have complex back stories which are revealed to the reader and to each other as. Given Hannah’s past, trust is a major issue and it needs to be earned as the two are thrown ever closer in the inevitable roles of protector and protected. There is a great deal of sexual tension and  some very passionate and heartfelt scenes.  Their relationship is fragile and under constant threat given the situation they find themselves in. Be warned – there are some horrific scenes of violence in the book (some of it sexual) and a number of twists in the tale, including one huge curveball – Shay Savage style!

A super post-apocalyptic read to lose yourself in.

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*REVIEW* ~ Dirty Ugly Toy, by K Webster

#dark #romance #darkread #suspense

Adult/18+ read

dirty

Blurb

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.

Dirty Ugly Toy is a novel that blurs the lines of right and wrong, deals with abuse, contains dubious consent, and adult subject matter. If you are sensitive to violent sexual situations, the book may not be suitable for you. Some parts of this book are not easy to read and are not intended for everyone. However, those that keep an open mind and stick with it will not be disappointed.

My Review ~ 5 stars

Down and Dirty Dark Read

Dirty, Ugly Toy is the second book that I have read by K Webster, the first was Apartment 28. This read is a lot darker but again I really loved the author’s voice, not to mention how her writing made me really connect with the characters. I was drawn into the plot from the off and entertained throughout. The read is sexy, dirty and heartfelt. Brax is a dangerous and tortured hero I just loved, and Jessica is just perfect for him.

Brax, a wealthy billionaire, has a twisted side – taking girls from the street and transforming them into his ‘toy’ for 6 months before disposing of them – the opening scene leaves the reader with a real insight into his modus operandi and it is brutal. Yet when Brax rescues Jessica, the latest in a long line of ‘toys’, it soon becomes apparent that she is like no other. She is not just the dirty, drug addicted whore she first appears to be. Not only does she have hidden depths and intelligence, that over time reveal themselves to Brax and his loyal staff, but she also stands up to her tormentor, playing Brax at his own game.

I just LOVED how the relationship between these two strong individuals  grew and how the author reveals Jessica’s past. Brax is knocked for six by his new acquisition and is torn, constantly at war with himself as to how to train her. Will he break his addiction to his ‘toys’ or will Jessica meet the same fate as the others as he refuses to allow a woman to rule his emotions?

Brax is definitely a tortured character with dark needs. As the plot unfolds we learn about the traumatic events which shaped his psychology. He likes to dominate his ‘toys’, training them to fulfil his base desires, and there are numerous down and dirty scenes in the book – scenes in which Jessica shows him what she is made of. Jessica is a diamond in the rough and her own back story is revealed where we learn that she has had to cope with monsters far worse than Brax.

I loved how the couple connected emotionally and physically. Yet can Brax break the habits of a lifetime? Also what happens when the six months are up? Neither characters can escape their pasts, or can they?

The book also contains some super secondary characters in Dubois and Cartier. I will definitely be reading more of this author’s books!

Highly recommended for dark romance fans.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28195608-dirty-ugly-toy?ac=1&from_search=true

http://www.authorkwebster.com/

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*REVIEW* ~ The Found: A Crow City Novel #2, by Cole McCade

#dark #erotica #darkread #noncon

the-found

Blurb

Witness to a murder. Kidnapped by a monster. Life hanging on a whim. Willow Armitage’s world was already falling apart; between getting fired and caring for her chronically ill father, she’s had little room for anything but survival. But that survival hangs in the balance the night she stumbles into a back alley – and watches a stranger die at the hands of the most beautiful man she’s ever seen.

Lethal. Powerful. Unstable. Terrifying. The contract killer known only as Priest is a dangerous unknown, and when Willow wakes tied to a chair in his hideout, the only thing she sees in his fox-gold eyes is death. Yet for Priest, Willow is a dilemma: an innocent, a saint among the sinners he cuts down in the streets of Crow City. His code of honor forbids shedding innocent blood. Releasing her will send her straight to the police. The only answer is a warped game, and his promise: that he will find the darkness inside her, expose it, and prove that deep down, everyone is just as monstrous as he…and just as worthy of death.

Yet he unearths not a monster, but a smoldering and secret desire – one that has always terrified Willow, and may be her undoing. His touch sets her alight. His strength burns through her like flame. And his control melts her each time he binds her virgin body, possesses her, teaches her the strength in weakness and the passion in submission. But that passion may be her damnation, and in the end Willow must choose: Priest’s love, or her own life.

When his every kiss is pure sin…can she resist damnation long enough for Priest to find his way to redemption?

TRIGGER WARNING 18+: This story contains content centered around non-consent, bodily autonomy, sexual assault, bodily functions, and violence. Please focus on self-care above all, and don’t be afraid to put the book down if you need to in order to protect yourself. You come first, always.

My Review ~ 5 stars

Dark and Deliciously Twisted!

The Found, #2 in The Crow City Series,  is a thoroughly intense and addictive read. I was captivated by the unfolding story of the contract killer Priest and Willow his captive, a story which examines dark and disturbing themes including non consent, violence and sexual assault. If you are at all likely to be distressed by any of these issues you may wish to give this book a miss – and I do not say this lightly.  Cole McCade is a new author for me and I will most definitely be reading more of his book! The book can be read as a standalone, although the main character of Priest, the hero (or should I say anti-hero) does feature in the other books in the series.

The book is one of the darkest novels that I have read and boy was it one hell of an amazing ride! Both the hero and the heroine are broken before they meet: Willow, a long time carer to her father has been scarred on account of traumatic childhood relationships, and Priest due to his horrific experiences as a prisoner of war (experiences which we gain a glimpse of in this book).

I do not want to reveal more about their respective pasts, as finding out about what makes the main characters tick is part of the joy of reading – suffice to say that Willow believes that sexual contact is dirty and that prior to her abduction by Priest she felt that her life was at an all time low. The book contains some accounts of Willow as she is growing up and we are given an insight into her psyche and what has made her what she is today. As to Priest, his coping mechanism is to dedicate his life to killing those who he views as scourges on society – the paedophiles, drug dealers and abusers. A hired killer he prides himself on ensuring that his targets are deserving of his attention before he takes on the hit.

The book contains violent and graphic scenes, any of them sexual and as I said is not for the faint hearted. When Willow inadvertently witnesses Priest’s latest kill, he kidnaps her and takes her to his hideout. He is in a quandary as self preservation dictates that he should he kill her to avoid leaving loose ends. However, his personal code baulks at destroying an innocent – yet just how innocent is Willow? Priest decides to find out as such as he can about his captive, probing into her life and psychology to decide whether or not she deserves to die. Much of the read is chilling. Willow’s terror at being abducted by Priest is palpable and I really felt for her.

Slowly Willow, the captive and Priest, the killer, form a connection, a connection that becomes more and more intense, physical and sexual. Ironically Willow finds that her captivity allows her to find inner strength that she did not know she had, facing up to her past and what she is capable of. Her captivity and the fact that Priest could decide to extinguish her life at any point gives her the freedom to act as never before – after all what does she have to lose?

The sex scenes between Willow and Priest sizzle and undoubtedly had me questioning the boundaries between non consent, dubious consent and consensual sex. Priest is a dark and tortured anti-hero and throughout the read I was unsure if he could ever redeem himself as he is so damaged. Willow’s fate certainly hung in the balance. Yet slowly Willow, who he comes to refers to as Firefly, comes to represent light in his darkness. It remained to be seen whether this will be enough to secure either Willow or even Priest’s own salvation…

The read really is a tour de force for fans of dark reads and dark romance. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

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http://blackmagicblues.com/faq/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8432536.Cole_McCade

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**REVIEW** DEMON (Kassidy Bell #3) by Lynda O’Rourke

Lynda O’Rourke’s début series, Kassidy Bell, is one of the most thrilling experiences you’ll have, if you can cope with psychological, paranormal horrors! I am ecstatic to discover that although originally planned as a trilogy, there are now going to be more books! Lynda has a special talent, for this genre in particular, to be able to darken real life situations and stretch them into a great fantasy as admitted in a recent interview. She is most certainly an author on the top of my list!

“…. I….feel like I’m in a bad dream…. like I’ve stepped out of reality and into hell.” (Drug, book 1)

Demon Kassidy Bell 3Title: Demon (Kassidy Bell #3)

Author: Lynda O’Rourke

Genre: Psychological thriller, horror

Date released: February 24th, 2016

Released by: Ravenwoodgreys

Length: 170 pages

Blurb: After escaping the Bishop’s house with Ben Fletcher, Kassidy soon learns that there’s more to Ben than the eye can see.

Still running from the demons and police, her journey takes her north in a frantic pursuit to find Doctor Langstone, in the hope that Kassidy and her friends can remove the ever-spreading drug – VA20.

But will Kassidy get there before it takes over her mind and body, before she is snatched back to Cruor Pharma? Can she really make it, now that the demon, Doshia, seems to be travelling amongst her and her friends?

“Demon” – Book 3 in the #1 bestselling paranormal thriller series, by Lynda O’Rourke.

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON UK

AMAZON US

Review ***** (5* rating)

Demon is the third instalment of the Kassidy Bell series, following Drug and Dwell. What begun as a small group of young, healthy volunteers taking part in a drugs test (VA20) has now become a full-on psychological and paranormal adventure of terror and horror; as the survivors of the group try to head towards the sister company of Cruor Pharma they hope they will meet with Dr. Langstone, a demon himself but one who chose to leave the original experiment due to differences of opinion.

The group hope that he may have the answer to prevent the VA20 from coursing through their veins and from them turning into demons themselves!  In the meantime they are being chased by the police, demons and ‘cleaners’ who are quite excited to take over their body, and it’s also possible that demon ‘Doshia’ is possibly travelling amongst them too. But which one of them, if any, has Doshia been lurking in?

Placing doubts in Kassidy’s mind, Raven shares her suspicions with Kassidy in regard to Max and Jude. But, Doshia can’t be in both. I find Raven to be quite irritating and constantly on Kassidy’s back, pointing out everything she finds odd with Jude or Max. This makes you wonder if she is in fact Doshia and trying to throw Kassidy off the scent. However, she could also have a point due to the behaviour of the others at times. I love the to-ing and fro-ing to keep the reader on their toes.

Despite Dr. Ben Fletcher having the demon Quint within him, both seem to be protective of Kassidy, even if she fears him at times. The electricity between these two characters is powerful, and I can’t help but be attracted to Ben, just as Kassidy is, regardless of his attentions! However, Kassidy’s friends are quite peeved when she defends him a little. From their point of view he has a demon inside of him, and he was the one to inject them with VA20! Why Kassidy listens to him they don’t know and this causes tensions between the group.

I feel the author displays a great deal of empathy towards Ben from Kassidy’s point of view, despite how the other characters feel about him. This not only makes you feel more kindly towards him and understand what he lives with on a daily basis, with Quint always ready to burst out and take over, but it also shows how considerate and thoughtful Kassidy is by recognising this.

It is this side to Kassidy which helps her try to reason with Quint early on in the story. When Quint takes over Ben and threatens Jude and Max quite strongly, Kassidy manages to talk him down when asking him to let go of them. I love the fact that Kassidy has this tiny hold over Quint, even if just in this instance. It shows the ability that Quint has to listen to her. This particular scene reminded me of John Connor talking down the ‘good’ terminator in Terminator 2: Judgment Day when the terminator tries to kill a couple of big, innocent guys that were just checking if John is okay after being grabbed by the terminator. John is able to order the terminator to leave them alone and he miraculously listens to John. Here, we find demon Quint listen to Kassidy. But, will this happen moreso as Kassidy gets closer to him/Ben, or is it a one-time occurrence?

This exciting, thrilling read will barely give you time to catch your breath as you find yourself in a very fast-paced read that is electrifying at every turn, whether it be the thrill of the chase or the powerful, intensifying moments between Kassidy and Dr. Ben Fletcher/Demon Quint.

Demon is great into picking up where we left off in Dwell (book 2) and reminding readers where Kassidy is at and what she has been through. Due to the author’s clarity, great description and some of the dialog it is clear what is happening with the story. That said, if you really want to feel every little bit of what Kassidy and the gang have gone through I would strongly recommend that you read Drug and Dwell too.

Demon is chilling to the bone – a raw blend of gritty horror and gore. All the strong feelings that make you feel alive are present within the first two chapters alone! You’re heart will be racing and you’ll put anything else off in order to finish the book. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart, but it will leave you craving for the next adventure. An unforgettable experience!

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

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**REVIEW** ~ The Con Artist, by Kitty Thomas

Dark Literary Erotica

Adult/18+ Read

This book is intended for an emotionally mature adult audience and contains dark themes. This title is a stand alone (not part of a series.)

The Con Artist

Book Blurb

Art. Obsession. Twisted possession.

When starving artist Saskia Roth meets Lachlan Niche, a local art collector and tech tycoon, she has no idea how her life is about to change. One act of desperation, one con gone wrong, and she finds herself at the mercy of a powerful man she fears and despises–or so she thinks at first. As lines begin to blur, her life as his captive becomes something more… something that will both transform her and destroy her.

My Review ***** (5 Stars)

Dark, Brutal and Obsessive 

The Con Artist is classic Kitty Thomas – dark, brutal and obsessive mind- f****** at its best!

The read is an intense portrayal of the relationship between Lachlan, a tortured artist and Saskia, his muse, who he is determined to debase, own and control in his quest for their respective inspiration. The lines of consent are blurred, love in the traditional sense is absent, and the erotic scenes are deliciously dark and also deeply psychological as they explore the evolving relationships inherent in the plot.

The world Lachlan inhabits is one of untold wealth and depravity, into which the unsuspecting Saskia becomes trapped, on account of her own actions and Lachlan’s duplicity. She is totally at his mercy and becomes his captive in every sense of the word. Hatred soon morphs into a need and attraction so strong that she struggles to reject her own twisted desires as well as those of her captor, despite knowing that her acceptance and submission can only result in her ultimate destruction of self.

I will not reveal much of the plot, as it would  ruin the reading experience – suffice to say that once I downloaded his book and started to read, I was compelled to finish it! There are harsh and unforgiving scenes of BDSM and consent is used as a method by which Lachlan, incapable of the love Saskia craves, constantly tests and controls her.

Kitty Thomas’ writing is flawless, contrasting with the savage beauty of the tale and the darkness of its protagonists. There is no traditional HEA, although the ending definitely befits the complex relationships in the story. If you are familiar with Kitty Thomas’ work you will love it. Recommended for dark romance junkies everywhere!

Reviewed by Tina Williams

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