Tag Archives: tortured-hero

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**REVIEW** ~ Trapped in His World (Dark Romance, book 1), by Roxy Sinclaire

Dark Romance

Adult/18+ Read

Trapped

Book Blurb

There is no escape…

I was only supposed to be his replacement secretary for one week. Now he has me trapped in his world of twisted and dark desires. I try to get away and I can’t – but the question is – do I really want to?

Navia Watson is struggling to survive. She has just left school and can’t hold a steady job. Just when she feels that there is no hope, her best friend makes her an offer that she can’t refuse. All she has to do is be a temporary stand in secretary for her friend’s position as the secretary for some billionaire for only a week. One week for some quick cash – how hard can it be? She is in for the surprise of her life when she walks into Jason Black’s office. The dark, sexy billionaire quickly pulls her into his web, one that she can’t unravel herself from. His piercing eyes call to her very soul and the darkness lurking in their depths entices her.

She suspects that the man is dangerous, but she could never have imagined the depth of the mysteries surrounding him. By the time Navia discovers his true nature, it’s too late for her salvation. Even if is she could leave him, there’s no way he will let her go. She is his and she is not sure she really wants to get away.

This is a dark romance novella with NO cliffhanger. Intended for audiences 18+ and not for the fainthearted. Contains situations some readers might find objectionable. 

My Review

**** (4 Stars)

Wickedly hot and dark erotic read!

Trapped in his World is a hard-hitting dark novella which pushes the boundaries of non-consent and contains scenes which some readers may find disturbing. It ticks all the boxes for fans of dark romances, such as myself!

When Natvia agreed to step in and cover her friend’s job for a week she did not expect to catch the eye of her boss  Jason Black and to be drawn into his dark and dominant desires. Once snared in this web, which combines mind-blowing sex and bdsm bordering on abuse, can she muster up the courage to escape? Does she want to? And even if she does, will Jason permit it?

The novella is told from Natvia’s point of view and we are therefore kept in the dark as to what Jason is thinking, which is effective in creating drama and suspense. When his past is revealed towards the end of the read it therefore comes as a complete surprise and I was left as perplexed as the heroine in how to react.

I found the heroine Natvia to be sympathetic. Although she is shy and retiring by nature, she does exhibit some degree of backbone when dealing with Jason. She is a tad naïve, but given her background this is understandable. She takes all that he wants to give her yet can she cope with his violent desires?

Jason is a hero whom I warmed to as the book progressed. It is clear from the outset that he has issues and is conflicted when it comes to how to conduct himself sexually and emotionally. I did not like some of the experiences he made Natvia endure and the fact that he blows hot and cold with her. I did however enjoy reading how he breaks all the rules when it comes to employer and employee relationships! There are many scorching bdsm scenes where he demonstrates his dominant personality. Their relationship has echoes of beauty and the beast, but it remained to be seen whether this particular beast could be tamed.

All in all a sexy and satisfying dark read, which pushed my emotional boundaries!

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

Purchase Links

Amazon UK  Amazon US

Author Links

http://roxysinclaire.com/

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**BLOG TOUR & REVIEW** ~ Dark and Stormy Knight (The Knights of Avalon, #2) by Nina Mason (includes giveaway)

Paranormal/Urban Fantasy/Erotic

Adult/18+ read

StormyKnight

Title: Dark and Stormy Knight

Author: Nina Mason

Series and Order: The Knights of Avalon, #2

Other books in the series: Starry Knight, #1 (released in August 2015), and Knight of Enchantment, #3 (releasing Aug. 30, 2016)

Genres: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy/Erotic

Release Date: January 5, 2016

Publisher: Lyrical Press

Heat Level: Very steamy with light BDSM

Formats: E-book and paperback

Online Retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo & Google Play

Book Blurb

She’ll risk everything for their love—even her life.

Aspiring screenwriter Gwyn Morland is ready for her big break. That means securing the film rights to elusive author Lady Ruthven’s acclaimed novel—which means traveling to Scotland. It’s a trip timid Gwyn isn’t prepared for, and her fears seem justified when her tour bus careens over a cliff outside of Castle Glenarvon. But the plot thickens when Gwyn is rescued from the brink of death by a handsome and mysterious stranger…

Leith MacQuill is not only the writer behind Lady Ruthven’s novel, but a shape-shifting faery knight bearing a tragic curse: the woman he gives his heart to will die. Saving Gwyn proves to be a dangerous choice when he finds himself falling for her the longer she stays in the castle. Not even his usual BDSM role-playing games are enough to thwart the intense desire they feel for each other. But to stay together, Gwyn and Leith must embark on a dangerous mission into Avalon, the realm of the faeries. Will their love be strong enough to conquer the curse? Or will Gwyn’s new life be stolen from her before it’s even begun?

DarkTeaser

Here’s a little bit about The Knights of Avalon series in Nina’s own words:

The Knights of Avalon, the four-part erotic PNR/UF series, was born of a simple idea: to write a series incorporating different forms of divination. From that kernel grew the far more complex world of the series. The “knights” of Avalon, the enchanted otherworld isle featured in Arthurian and Celtic legend, were Scottish noblemen who, after falling in battle, were taken by the fairies to serve as breeding drones to their queen. Each of the four books in the series tells the story of a particular knight and the heroine whose love saves him from his unhappy existence.

Each knight in the series grapples with a different relationship with Morgan Le Fay, the cruel and selfish queen of Avalon. Callum Lyon, the hero of STARRY KNIGHT (book one), is free of Morgan’s influence, having escaped enslavement by faking his own death. Leith MacQuill, the hero of DARK AND STORMY KNIGHT (book two), was expelled from Avalon after the queen discovered his affair with one of her scouts. In book three, KNIGHT OF ENCHANTMENT, Axel Lochlann, a Scottish runemaster of Viking descent, guards the portal between Hitherworld (our realm) and Thitherworld (the otherworldly realm). The fourth knight, Finn MacKnight, doesn’t know what he is or that he’s destined to fulfill an ancient prophecy telling of the queen’s overthrow by a “natural-born” drone. Because of this prophecy, Morgan kills all the male children she bears and punishes the knights who father them.

Avalonian knights are vampire-like, but not vampires per se. Members of the Unseelie Fae, they drink blood and can assume the form of any creature they choose, but generally take the form of a particular animal to hunt. Callum’s preferred form is a lion, Leith’s is a Kellas Cat (a cross between a wild cat and a domestic cat found only in Scotland), Axel’s is a gyrfalcon, and Finn’s will be a jaguar.

My Review ~Five Stars

Wickedly Sexy BDSM themed Erotic Paranormal Romance

This is the second book in the author’s The Knights of Avalon series and it is one wild and sexy ride as Nina Mason blends historical fact and ancient mythology to produce another deliciously erotic paranormal romance. The tale contains a sassy heroine who grows in strength as the novel progresses and a handsome but tortured hero, with a penchant for BDSM, a combination which ticked all of my boxes!

In Dark and Stormy Knight, Gwyn has travelled from the States to Scotland to secure the film rights to a novel written by the elusive author Lady Ruthven. Gwyn’s tour bus is involved in a terrible accident and Gwyn alone survives, thanks to the intervention of none other than Leith MacQuill. Gwyn is surprised when she discovers that Leith is in fact the real author hiding behind the pseudonym! This discovery is nothing compared to her realisation that Leith is in reality a shape-shifting faery Knight with a tragic curse that any woman he gives his heart to will die.

I loved the character of Gwyn. She starts off regarding herself as meek, but boy does she grow in strength of character as the book progresses! She not only steps up to the challenge of the deliciously naughty BDSM roleplaying games her saviour and host invites her to partake in, but also undertakes to enter the faery realm and do all in her power to break the curse. What a girl!

The handsome and tortured Leith also comes into his own once he meets Gwyn, after bearing the weight of his curse for centuries. Desperate to sell the film rights to secure funds for his beloved castle, he needs to keep Gwyn sweet whilst avoiding falling for her at all costs, to ensure that she does not succumb to his curse. I loved that however much he tries to resist her that it is a losing battle (they are just so right together!) and when he realises that she will risk all to break his curse, he becomes determined to free himself and secure a future with the woman he loves. All hell breaks loose once the couple descend into the Faery realm and the scenes which are set there are hugely entertaining. The love-making scenes between Gwyn and Leith are divinely done, combining sizzling eroticism with witty banter.

As I stated, I haven’t read the first book in the series, Starry Knight, (although the hero of this novel, Callum Lyon, does make a brief appearance in this one). Needless to say, Callum’s story and any future instalments are now on my reading list!

Recommended for fans of paranormal romance who like a sizzling read!

Reviewed by Tina Williams

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

About the author

Nina Mason, author_small

Nina Mason is a hopeful romantic with strong affinities for history, mythology, and the metaphysical. She strives to write the same kind of books she loves to read: those that entertain, edify, educate, and enlighten. When not writing, Nina works as a communications consultant, doll maker, and home stager. Born and raised in Southern California, she now lives in Woodstock, Georgia, with her husband, teenage daughter, two rescue cats, and a Westie named Robert.

In addition to Dark and Stormy Knight, she is the author of the following books: Starry Knight (Knights of Avalon #1), Devil in Duke’s Clothing (Royal Pains #1), The Duke’s Bedeviled Bride (Royal Pains #2), The Devil’s Masquerade (Royal Pains #3), The Queen of Swords, and The Tin Man.

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 Join Nina’s mailing list and be the first to hear about specials and releases:

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Here are some of the places you can find Nina Mason online:

Author Website: http://ninamasonauthor.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/ninamasonromance

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ninamasonauthor

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/ninamasonauthor

YouTube: http://youtube.com/ninamasonauthor

Amazon Author’s Page: http://www.amazon.com/Nina-Mason/e/B00J5N2PX8

Kensington Author’s Page: http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/author.aspx/31680

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Giveaway

Enter for a chance to win an e-copy of Dark and Stormy Knight!

a Rafflecopter giveaway: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/3b1680a89/

Check out Starry Knight, Knights of Avalon #1

StarryKnight_Revision_v2

 

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**RELEASE BLITZ & ARC REVIEW** for Hold Me Until Forever and Author Interview with Christina Phillips

Erotic Contemporary Romance

Adult/18+ read

Today it’s a huge welcome to Christina Phillips from Down Under! Christina will be releasing Hold Me Until Forever, the third and final instalment in her sizzling contemporary erotic romance series, the Grayson Brothers on January 4th. I was fortunate to be offered an ARC of this book and if you’d like to read my review, scroll down after our interview with Christina in which we quiz her about the series and her writing process.

I have been a fan of Christina’s work for years, whether she is writing historical, paranormal or contemporary romances. For me what distinguishes her work from that of others are how she writes her deliciously dominant alpha males who are always a perfect fit for the women who are destined to be theirs. If you’d like to read my reviews of some of Christina’s other books, I’ve included the links at the end of the post. Tina ❤

HMF

Blurb

She’s the only one he wants…and the one he can never have

Ella Clark has been in love with Alex Grayson forever. She’s tired of being invisible—or worse, being treated like his kid sister. If she can just get him to drop his iron-fisted control for two seconds, she’ll prove she knows exactly how to blow his mind.

Alex has been fighting his attraction to Ella since her should-have-been-innocent sweet sixteen kiss burned down his world. He’s damaged, and there’s no way he’ll ever drag her into his screwed up life. Until she offers him something he’s always craved—steamy, no-strings sex inside his exclusive BDSM club. Where she’ll be safe from the darkness that haunts him.

Except there’s nothing safe about being with Ella, and the more she gives, the harder it is to let her go. If he stays, he risks everything, but how can he walk away from the only woman he’s ever needed?

Author Interview

1. What inspired you to write the Grayson Brothers series? 

I’d wanted to write a connected series about brothers for some time, but it wasn’t until mid 2014 that the Grayson brothers suddenly appeared in my mind. They were hot, tough and had survived a brutal childhood and I was instantly hooked and had to find out more about them!

2. Did you base any elements of your heroes or heroines on anyone you know?  

Well, it’s a closely guarded secret that I have a slight crush on Henry Cavill and I’ve based a few heroes on him in the past (not only is that man beautiful he’s so versatile when it comes to heroes!) However, strangely enough, he wasn’t the inspiration behind any of my Grayson brothers.

3. In the three novels which make up the series, Hold Me Until Midnight, Hold Me Until Morning and now Hold Me Forever, the three Grayson brothers and the women they are destined to love are all very different. Have you a favourite couple, brother or heroine? 

Oh this is a hard question because I love each couple for different reasons. But if you’re really going to push me for an answer, then I’ll have to say Alex and Ella, in Hold Me Until Forever. They’ve known each other all their lives and Ella is literally the girl next door, who’s been secretly in love with Alex for years. As for Alex, he’s so consumed with guilt at what happened in the past that he’s convinced he doesn’t deserve her. I just love these two and desperately wanted them to have their happily-ever-after.

4. Whose book was the most challenging to write and why? 

Each book had their own challenges, but I always knew Alex’s book would be hard, because of his past and the barriers he’d erected around his heart. Unfortunately I was right! It took a long time to unravel the layers and reach the core of the man, but when I did I fell in love with him all over again. 🙂

5. What do you think makes a good hero and heroine?

I like a heroine who isn’t afraid to go for what she wants, in her own way, and who is the hero’s match in every way that counts. As for the hero, I do love a man with a sense of humour. It doesn’t matter how powerful, wealthy or bad boy hot he is, I just love it when he has that moment of not taking himself seriously. And I have to admit I do like it when the hero needs to do a bit of a grovel at the end of the book!

6. Why do you think most romance readers have such an appetite for alpha males and are they fulfilling to write?  

There are several degrees of alpha male, but I think what makes them so fascinating is their air of danger, their conviction that they’ll never fall in love and then of course their utter devotion and loyalty to the woman who finally captures their heart. I love writing about them, and have a special sense of glee when their heroine ends up bringing them to their knees. 🙂

7. The hero in your latest Grayson novel, Alex, has a penchant for BDSM. Did you (cough, cough) have to carry out any research into this world before writing the novel? 😉 

Heh 🙂 Well, I do have a vivid imagination which helps, but I also did some online research. Also an author friend did a series of interviews with Doms on her blog last year, which was very enlightening.

8. Have you any writing/publishing projects in the pipeline that you are able to share? 

I have a few things in the pipeline that I’m very excited about! I’m in a second TAKEN boxed set with Cathleen Ross and Mel Teshco which will be out very soon, and I also have a release with Tule Publishing for their new erotic romance line, Eros, in January – Every Breath You Take. The hero is a tattooed bad boy, who after five years meets up again with the one girl he can never have. I also have a super-secret project in the works that I can’t wait to share!

9. Have you a message to readers? 

Thank you for reading and enjoying my books! And thank you for taking the time to let me know. It really does mean so much! Yes, authors are a needy bunch!!!

Forever 1

My Review ~ ***** FIVE stars

Steamy and Heartfelt!

Hold Me Until Forever is a combustible mix of one damaged alpha male with a penchant for BDSM and a long-time female friend he has forbidden himself to lust after but who desires him like no other! I just LOVED this read from the off and although all of the books in Christina Phillips’ Grayson Brothers series are fab reads this is my favourite: I like my heroes to be alpha, brooding and tortured and Alex fits the bill perfectly, and Ella is a perfect foil for him: understanding his dark past and being spunky enough to stand up to him.

Alex has had an unbelievably tragic childhood, fearing his emotional responses to situations and likes to keep people at a distance. This is especially so when it comes to relationships with the opposite sex, where he is careful to keep his emotional barriers well and truly up, lest he loses control. Excalibur, the BDSM club which he part owns, is where he goes to have his sexual needs fulfilled, knowing that he can, through a combination of control and safe words, ensure the safety of his submissives.

Despite his attraction to Ella he has treated her like a younger sister for years to protect her from his dark nature. Alex has been hoping that Ella, who works at his security firm, will hook up with his brother Cooper. However, when Cooper, as well as his brother Jackson show that they have found their own soulmates, things are about to change. Alex’s icy façade that he has maintained when it comes to Ella begins to crack and when she offers him total submission at his BDSM club, he cannot resist. Yet rather than this being a one off experience for them, both crave more.

I felt so much for both characters. Ella understands Alex’s issues, having witnessed his past, and is very giving emotionally. However, there is a limit to even what she can endure. Maybe Alex is just too broken to ever want a normal relationship? For his part Alex begins to unravel and is forced to face his demons from the past. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to cope with what Ella really wants, a relationship with all of him, not just the part confined to his club, however much she adores the ecstasy he brings her to (and the scenes between them are damn hot)!

The characters, plot, dialogue and the pacing in this book all came together perfectly for me and Christina Phillips once again excels in writing the most delightfully erotic and heartfelt love-making scenes. The book works very well as a standalone, but if you enjoy steamy contemporary romances why stop at one Grayson brother when you can enjoy reading about all three? You can find out about Cooper and Jackson’s romances in the first two novels in the series, Hold Me Until Midnight and Hold Me Until Morning.

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 UK   Amazon US

About the Author

Christina Phillips is an ex-pat Brit who now lives in sunny Western Australia with her high school sweetheart and their family. She enjoys writing paranormal, historical and contemporary romance where the stories sizzle and the heroine brings her hero to his knees.

She is a triple finalist in the 2013 ARRA Awards for Favorite Erotic Romance, and finalist in the 2012 ARRA Awards for Favorite Paranormal Romance. She is published by Entangled, Ellora’s Cave and Berkley Heat and has dipped her toe in the indie pubbed waters. She is a member of the Romance Writers of Australia, Romance Writers of America, the Dark Side Down Under Group blog and Historical Hearts Group blog. She helped establish the inaugural Professional Development for Authors program and has been a member of the editorial team for the RWA’s monthly newsletter, Hearts Talk. She loves hearing from her readers!

Christina is addicted to good coffee, expensive chocolate and bad boy heroes. She is also owned by three gorgeous cats who are convinced the universe revolves around their needs. They are not wrong.

Connect with Christina

Website

Facebook

Twitter

For our reviews of some of Christina’s other books click on the links:

Hold Me Until Midnight

Hold Me Until Morning

Bloodlust Denied

Willow (Secret Confessions: Sydney Housewives #9)

Taken by the Sheikh* (Boxed Set), by Christina Phillips, Mel Treshco and Cathleen Ross

Her Savage Scot, Highland Warrior Chronicles #1

Her Vengeful Scot (Highland Warrior Chronicles #2)

 

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**REVIEW** ~ Miranda’s Dilemma (Fashionably Impure, book 1), by Natasha Blackthorne

Erotic Regency Historical Romance ~ Courtesan/Non-virginal Heroine
Adult/18+ read

Miranda

Book Blurb

Poised to become Mayfair’s most expensive and exclusive courtesan, Miss Miranda Jones finds her rise inexplicably blocked by a socially powerful nobleman. Scorned by her ducal father and determined to attain everything that life has denied her due to an accident of birth, she’s not about to let this arrogant earl stop her.

Adrian Sutherland, the Earl of Danvers, saw his father destroyed by a heartless, predatory courtesan. He has no time or patience for such exotic, expensive ladybirds. He’s far too busy restoring his family’s wealth and reputation whilst doing what he can to protect his friends from the clutches of all the scheming courtesans of London.

Then a moment of compassion turns intense dislike to breathless passion, and these two strong-willed, fiercely proud people are compelled to indulge in a brief affair. Each is convinced that they can satisfy their craving for the other without emotional risk.

But neither realizes that a little dalliance can be a dangerous thing.

Reader Advisory: This is an erotic historical romance and it contains frank sexual language and period appropriate sexual slang, frequent sexual scenes and descriptions and general bedchamber naughtiness. The characters discuss abuse issues from their backstories during the course of their developing relationship. For Adults 18 & Over Only.

My Review

Tantalizing and angst-ridden, a Five Star read!

Miranda’s Dilemma is another tantalizing and angst-ridden erotic historical romance from the pen of Natasha Blackthorne. I just love how this author delves deeply into the minds of her tortured heroes and heroines and Adrian and Miranda, the hero and the heroine of this novel are really put through the mill!

Adrian Sutherland, an earl, is seeking revenge, determined to prevent the young courtesan Miranda from securing a lucrative deal with a new protector from amongst his fellow aristocrats. Adrian has good reason to despise courtesans, attributing the ruination of his own father to one of their kind. This handsome and dominant man therefore goes all out to embarrass, belittle and shame Miranda at every opportunity, despising the fact that he somehow feels attracted to one of her kind. There are some extremely emotional scenes between the couple, full of sexual tension and mutual disrespect as they do battle.

My sympathies were very soon with Miranda, an illegitimate daughter of a ducal father, for despite her veneer of a consummate courtesan, is extremely vulnerable. The strong image she projects to others, especially prospective protectors, is clearly under threat by Adrian’s actions. It is only when shocking circumstances conspire to reveal to Adrian exactly how vulnerable Miranda’s lifestyle choice makes her, that he begins to see the real woman beneath the artifice. I will not give the plot away but suffice to say that I just LOVED how the author weaved this particular scene into the narrative, coming at just the right point to bring these two strong-willed characters together in some emotional and revealing scenes. Both Miranda and Adrian have demons to slay from their past and as they embark on a passionate affair, they begin to confide in each other.

Yet the couple have no future together as Miranda is under pressure to swiftly secure lucrative funds to protect someone she holds most dear. In her desperate need to meet her goals she needs to curtail her affair with Adrian, who can ill afford her, and secure a protector who can satisfy her financial needs, even if doing so will open deep psychological scars from her past that threaten to destroy her.

The novel is an addictive read. I enjoyed the initial sexual tension between Miranda and Adrian and adored the erotic love-making scenes between them and their growing mutual respect and attraction. Adrian is all alpha male and very dominant. Tortured by events in his own past he is torn as to what to do with Miranda. His need to protect wars with his need to restore and maintain his family fortunes and his inner conflict is immense. Once more Natasha Blackthorne has delivered a passionate and  emotional erotic love story that both tantalizes and pulls at the heart strings.

I was pleased with the conclusion to Miranda’s Dilemma and I’m looking forward to reading more about Adrian and Miranda’s relationship. The sequel of their story, A Most Demanding Mistress is scheduled for release early in 2016. I recommend the read to historical romance fans who are partial to tortured and damaged characters who find true love, passion and solace in each other.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

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

Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon US   Amazon UK

Connect with the Author

 

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**BLOG TOUR/REVIEW** for Third Debt (#4 in the Indebted Series), by Pepper Winters (includes excerpts and giveaway)

Dark Erotic Romance

Adult/18+ Read

third debt blog tour

I am totally in awe of this author. This series has utterly floored and hypnotised me with its brilliant characters and plot. Scroll down to read the blurb, some excerpts and my review. If you are amongst those uninitiated into the world of Pepper Winters’ Debt Inheritance series and like dark erotic romances, please note that the first instalment is currently FREE. There is also a giveaway where you can win a $50 Amazon gift card. Enjoy! Tina ❤

third debt now availalbe

More Jethro & Nila? Yes Please!

IT’S LIVE!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1DZbZEV

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1ufkO3z

Nook: http://bit.ly/1DZctL0

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1xgCSvb

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1DglADL

cover

Blurb

“She healed me. She broke me. I set her free. But we are in this together. We will end this together. The rules of this ancient game can’t be broken.” 

Nila Weaver no longer recognises herself. She’s left her lover, her courage, and her promise. Two debts down. Too many to go. 

Jethro Hawk no longer recognises himself. He’s embraced what he always ran from, and now faces punishment far greater than he feared. 

It’s almost time. It’s demanding to be paid. 

The Third Debt will be the ultimate test… 

third debt teaser 4

nilaHOW HAD THIS happened?

Where did it all go so wrong?

Jethro was supposed to love me. I was supposed to love him.

Yet he’d given me over to his family. He’d bound the ropes, blindfolded my eyes, and gifted me to his kin.

“Know what time it is, Nila Weaver?” Daniel breathed in my ear.

I jerked away. The restraints around my body meant I couldn’t run, couldn’t fight; I couldn’t even see.

Oh, God.

Please don’t let them do this.

I wanted to scream for Jethro to save me. I wanted him to put an end to this and claim me once and for all. Didn’t our connection mean anything?

You know it’s all different now.

Ever since I’d returned to Hawksridge Hall, things had been different—horribly, horribly different.

The fire crackled in the billiards room where the Hawk men had been playing poker. The air was hot and muggy and laced with cognac fumes.

Tonight, I’d had plans to end whatever changed between Jethro and me forever.

But now…those plans had changed.

Kestrel ran his fingers over my collar. “Relax, little Weaver. It will all be over soon.”

Cut chuckled. “Yes, soon you can go to sleep and pretend none of this happened.”

My ears strained for one other voice. The voice of the man who controlled my heart even though he’d thrown it back in my face.

But only silence greeted me.

Daniel snickered, licking my cheek. “Time to pay, Weaver.”

Someone clapped and in a voice full of darkness and doom said, “It’s time for the Third Debt.”

Two months

 

nila

I shook my head, my heart smarting with pain. “What happened to you?” I reached for him, wanting to clutch his forearm and reassure myself that our bond was still there.

With a sneer, he sidestepped, staying out of reach. “What happened to me?” Smiling coldly, he made me seem as if I were some idiot child asking for the universe’s secrets. “I got better. That’s what happened to me.”

“I don’t—I don’t understand. You weren’t ill.”

“You wouldn’t understand. No one can understand another’s problems. All you need to know is that I’m cured and I won’t make the same mistakes again.”

I took a step back, goosebumps scattering over my body. “Don’t say that. I’m in love with you. Something like that cannot be undone—”

“Love is a chemical imbalance, Ms. Weaver. I am no longer imbalanced.” He came closer. “Don’t get cold feet on your invitation. You promised you would come, and you don’t want to give me a reason to punish you so soon…do you?”

My skin pinpricked with panic. That sentence should’ve dripped with eroticism. But it wasn’t. It was cold…lifeless…like him.

Snapping his fingers, Jethro held out his hand. He kept his digits curled slightly so I couldn’t see the tattoo marks on the tips. “Come. I want to be back at Hawksridge before sunrise.”

 

Jethro

Nila dropped the jumper onto the desk, cupping her breasts. “Does this count as acceptable to you?”

I couldn’t breathe.

Everything I’d been running from made my head pound, my cock beg, and the drugs in my system to fucking disintegrate.

What was it about her? Why did she have this control over me? And why was I utterly, ridiculously helpless around her?

God fucking help me.

Didn’t she know the more she antagonised me and made me slip, the more likely Cut would give her to Daniel and fucking slaughter me in my sleep? I wanted to strike her—hammer the precariousness of our situation home.

“Why did you bring me here?” she murmured, skirting the desk.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the hard pinpricks on her chest. She couldn’t be cold—not in this furnace. That meant she was turned on.

My mind instantly went to one question. Is she wet?

“Kes told you. Our secrets are now yours.”

“I don’t think that’s the only reason.” Closing the distance, she licked her bottom lip. “I think you wanted me off the estate, so you could have me without anyone seeing.” Her voice layered with sex and invitation. “You wanted me away from the cameras, so you could drop the act and show me the truth.”

Fuck.

I cleared my throat. “What truth?”

“That all of this is a lie. That you’re still the man I fell for—playing the same game you said you were sick of before I left.”

Shaking my head, I tried to clear my thoughts. “You’re once again delusional.” Swallowing hard, I ordered, “Go down to the sorting floor. I have a meeting to take care of—”

“No,” she breathed. “I’m not going anywhere until you stop being an asshole and show me the real you.” Closing the final distance, she stood beside me, crackling with mischief and lust.

Locking eyes, she undid the button and zipper of her jeans. “Don’t hide from me, Jethro. I can’t stay strong if you cut me out.”

My legs bunched to push the swivel chair backward. One heave and I could launch myself free and run from her web. But somehow, I couldn’t. I remained tethered in place; breathing fast, fear swamping my lungs.

She grabbed my wrist. “Don’t fight it. You can’t fight the inevitable.” Without a word, she pressed my hand into her trousers.

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Series Reading Order

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 First Debt (Indebted #2)

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Second Debt (Indebted #3)

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Third Debt (Indebted #4)

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PREORDER Fourth Debt (Indebted #5) NOW

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About the Author:

Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex… her books have sex.

She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends.

Her Dark Erotica books include:

Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark #1)

Quintessentially Q (Monsters in the Dark #2)

Her Grey Romance books include:

Destroyed

STALK Pepper: Website | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

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My Review

This Series is Killing me! FIVE GLORIOUS STARS!!!

The latest instalment in the Indebted Series has totally and utterly slain me – mind, body and soul. The brilliance of this author to delight, entertain and yes torture her readers and characters is unparalleled. I could not willingly put this book down and, when other commitments demanded I should, the characters and plot bounced around in my head, hope warring with despair. Now, cast adrift in a morass of uncertainty and suspense, I am already counting the days until the release of the next instalment.

I will not reveal the intricacies of this book. To do so would spoil the journey fellow travellers have embarked on. I will say that it is once again devastatingly dark, yet the light of love pierces the gloom and offers the reader hope and there are some truly beautiful and heartrending scenes between Nila and Jethro. This read contains love, passion and hope, but also mind numbing loss, deep hatred and utter horror and despair. I nevertheless put my faith in the author to deliver us all.

For me, of all the books in the series this was by far the darkest, and that was even before the cliff hanger at the end. The stakes are increasing with each instalment and with each payment of debt. I felt as broken as Nila when the reality of paying the debt in this book sunk in. I was nevertheless compelled to read in the hope that her body and mind would prevail. My heart bled for her and for Jethro. Her pain became mine, yet she remained a beacon of light in the darkness.

Indeed, Nila goes through hell in this book. We know that her reprieve from the madness that is the Hawk household is only temporary. I shuddered with apprehension knowing what awaited her on her return. The characters of Cut and the matriarch Bonnie are pure unadulterated evil and I sincerely hope that they and Daniel will suffer a slow, tortuous, painful and degrading demise.

As for Jethro. I cried buckets for what he has endured. Jethro is a character I have loved even since the first instalment, despite his flaws. He is complex and tortured and his love and loyalties are tested to the very limit in this read. Can he escape the web his family has woven or is it already too late? Can Nila rescue Jethro from the abyss and save both him and herself? And what of the other characters who have pivotal roles to play, notably Jasmine, Kes and Nila’s twin Vaughn.

The cliff hanger ending, is a real sucker punch from which I am struggling to recover as my mind replays the scene in my head. Roll on the next instalment, Fourth Debt! If you love dark romances or twisted tales full of suspense and are not already on board with this series then seriously you have a real treat in store!

Reviewed by Tina Williams

A copy of this novel was given to be as part of the blog tour for a fair and honest review.

 

TRSOR

 

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~BLOG TOUR~ **To Avenge Her Highland Warrior** by Samantha Holt (includes excerpt and giveaway)

A big welcome today to Samantha Holt’s recent Highland Romance, To Avenge Her Highland Warrior. Scroll down to read the book blurb, an excerpt and enter the giveaway where a medieval inspired necklace is up for grabs!

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BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – To Avenge Her Highland Warrior
SERIES – Highland Fae Chronicles #3
AUTHOR – Samantha Holt
GENRE – Historical Romance
PUBLICATION DATE – 18th October
LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 60000

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Lorna lost everything to war. Her home, her wealth… her lover. And now she wants revenge.

When her hasty plan throws her at the mercy of her enemy’s men, she holds little hope of returning to her kin and fears death is around the corner. But could her salvation lie in the arms of her dark captor?

Logan has little time to be dealing with a stubborn noble woman. His orders are to prepare for war. His laird—the man he owes his life to—intends to join forces with the Norse and bring a battle to Scotland that will see the fate of the country forever changed. Scarred, and with no memory of his past, Logan is determined to forge a new future for himself as well as prove his loyalty to the laird.

But the beautiful lass has him questioning his previous life and his goals. When she starts claiming he once loved her, he knows he’s being manipulated and she’s taking advantage of his memory loss. So why is it so hard to resist the idea of having once been her lover?

With the threat of impending war—a battle that promises to bring slaughter to her family—can Lorna persuade Logan to believe her, and is the bitter man he’s become even worth saving?

Whatever the outcome of the battle, a certain interfering faery is resolved to see fate back on its correct path. And that means forcing Lorna and Logan together—no matter their differences.

To Avenge - Book Cover

 

BUY & TBR LINKS

AMAZON KINDLE US – AMAZON KINDLE CA – AMAZON KINDLE UK 

EXCERPT

Logan clenched his jaw and the roar of the storm sounded closer. He had to leave yet his feet refused to move. Why stay? Why torture himself further? His heart pounded against his chest. In the next flash, he was close once more. Within touching distance. He saw her features more clearly now. The distress in her eyes, the golden strands of hair curling around her pointed chin. The fan of her lashes lowered and lifted in one slow sweep until her gaze locked onto his.

“Logan,” she whispered, voice tremulous, but he did not know if that was a plea for him to leave or come closer.
“Logan,” she tried again.

The shaky quality of her voice pulled at his gut. His gaze traced the curl that flowed over one shoulder and down, caressing her gentle curves like a lover—like he once had apparently. His palms tingled with the need to feel the soft give of her flesh beneath him.

The next flash highlighted her trembling form. The fragile hollow of her neck fluttered with her pulse and his mouth grew dry with the need to press his lips to it.

Damn her. Like a siren, she lured him in.

He almost backed away. How long they had been standing like that he knew not. It may have been moments—a mere few flashes of lightening—but the thickening of the air between them seemed to slow time.

The tremble of her lips gripped his heart, squeezed it hard and painfully. An aggravating need to take care of her ate into him, softened him to her.

Logan closed the gap. The next rumble lined up with him gripping her upper arms and pushing her back against the wall. She gasped, the sound clear to him even as the skies crashed about them. Hot anger mingled with need. It burned through him and set his nerve endings alight. How dare she have such a hold over him, how dare she make him want her?

Soft, delicate breasts pressed against him. Slim thighs quaked against his. With a hiss of breath, he lowered his mouth to hers as she stared up at him. Before his lips met hers, her eyes flashed with a plea, but was she begging him to kiss her or leave her be? He couldn’t decide what he wanted either, but she left him with little choice.
The first touch made him wonder if he had not indeed been struck by lightning. Frissons shot through him, curled into his blood and fired his fury and lust. Lorna released a tiny sound and he pressed his lips hard to hers this time. She whimpered. Her lips felt hot beneath his. Her taste threatened to drown him.

Satisfaction settled in his gut when she arched into him. He kept hold of her arms, allowing little movement but that up thrust of breasts and hips into him made him hiss and press harder. He coaxed her lips apart, and she gasped when he invaded the heated recesses of her mouth. Logan kissed her deeply, with little apology. He needed this, needed her.

For our recent review, click on the link:

http://areadersreviewblog.com/2014/11/18/review-to-avenge-her-highland-warrior-3-in-the-highland-fae-chronicles-by-samantha-holt/

AUTHOR BIO

Samantha lives in a small village in England with her gorgeous twin girls and husband who is a trained bodyguard and ex-soldier. She enjoys writing historical romance involving chivalrous knights, hot highlanders and cravatted men, but sometimes gets lured away by bad boy bikers, soldiers and other heroic modern men.

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – WEBSITE / BLOG – FACEBOOK

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**REVIEW** ~ Afraid to Hope, #3 in the Secrets and Seducution series by M. J. Nightingale

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 Sexy and Heartrending Read

Erotic Contemporary Romance 18+

22436820

 Book Blurb

Louisa Sears is ready to start over. Escaping her small town where prejudice, long memories, and old fashioned values haunt her, Louisa embarks on her dream of finding love, and a man who can warm up her bed at night. Pregnant at sixteen, divorced from an abusive husband at twenty, and raising a daughter alone, Louisa is now ready to live. She wants what every woman wants. A rock hard man, who knows how to love. Will Florida be the place where her dreams come true?

Jay Russell is battle scarred. A past filled with horrors from childhood, the war in Iraq, and the most devastating event of his life that occurred when he returned home, he is definitely not looking for love. When he first meets Louisa Sears, the bombshell with the fantastic body, he wants one thing, and one thing only, her body underneath him. The hot little ticket that walks by his t-shirt shop, meets all his requirements for a night of passion.

The scars in them run deep though, and they both have secrets. Can two people so deeply wounded by the past learn to trust each other enough to share those secrets? And if they do, will they be able to get past them and learn to hope again?

My Review

Sexy and Heartrending Read

Afraid to Hope is #3 in MJ Nightingale’s Secrets and Seduction series, but can easily be read as a standalone. Let me say from the off that it is a sexy and heartrending read which digs deep into the psyche of both the hero and the heroine. It contains some smoking hot scenes yet both Louisa and Jay need to overcome secrets from their past to find the HEA they both hanker after and deserve.

I loved Louisa. She is a strong and sassy woman who has dedicated her adult life to bringing up her daughter. I admired her for this and for her gumption in taking charge of her destiny and moving to Florida to open a new chapter in her life. When she meets the motorcycle riding hottie called Jay, she is literally swept off her feet. He is just what she needs, introducing her to fun and carefree times and to pleasures she only dreamt about. Despite their growing connection, she senses that Jay is pulling back from her and one episode in particular makes her question their whole relationship and whether she can trust him.

Jay is a drop dead gorgeous tortured alpha hero and I adored his single mindedness in his pursuit and seduction of Louisa. The dialogue between them is a real scream as Jay always says exactly what he thinks, which although often inappropriate is often highly amusing! Jay wants to enjoy Louisa’s body and give her a good time, but they become ever closer and Jay gets drawn into Louisa’s circle of friends and her life. Yet Jay bears many emotional scars from his past, including profound guilt he harbours from an event that her blames himself for and this means he finds it almost impossible to move on with the relationship. When an incident compels him to reveal his scarred emotions to Louisa, he fears he may lose her for good. Will she forgive him and give him a second chance, especially given her own haunted past?

This novel is an erotic romance which gets right to the heart of what good strong relationships are about – mutual trust and sharing and coming to terms with each other’s past and above all our own demons. It is also an in depth examination of the causes and possible effects of PTSD. I strongly recommend it to romance readers.

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

Amazon UK     Amazon US

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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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Sins of the Reaper, #10 in the WesternWind series, by Charlotte Boyett-Compo

17257961Epic and Erotic Dark Fantasy Adventure!!!

Erotic Post Apocalyptic/Sci-Fi/Dark Fantasy Romance – Graphic Sexual content/language 18+/Adult Read

Charlotte Boyett-Compo pulls no punches in this tale which oozes big time with adventure, suspense and passion in an elemental battle between good and evil. I am still reeling after the read, which continues her WesternWind series and contains her signature Reapers, handsome and deadly Alpha Werewolf shape shifters, whose bloodlust can only be controlled by withholding or providing sustenance, and who can only be tamed and saved from themselves by the female destined to be their mate. Sins of the Reaper follows on seamlessly from the last instalment, Dark Reaper, but it can be read as a standalone.

Book Blurb (scroll down for review)

Brothers reunited. Lovers claimed. Warriors from all over the mega-verse coming together in pursuit of a single goal—to combat an evil that would enslave and destroy them all. Amazeen warrioress Penthe will allow no man to best her in battle. She slakes her lust with a succession of lovers, but has vowed she will never mate. Yet when she meets the Panthera cat shifter Bane, she may have met her match between the sheets. Bane is riddled with scars, of both the body and the soul, but Penthe vows that her warrior spirit and womanly body will help to make him whole again.

Inside Scoop: This book contains graphic scenes of sexual torture, references to child abuse and the extensive violence that is part and parcel of the Reapers’ harsh world, as well as erotic male/male flirtation.

My Review

This is a dark and stirring tale, at the heart of which is the romance between Amazeen warrioress Penthe and the Panthera cat shifter leader Bane, a man with a tortured past and who has experienced the evil of the enemy first hand. Others too find their fated mates and brothers are reunited, as the Reapers and their allies strive to destroy the Ceannus base on Terra. However, not all reunions are welcomed and one in particular causes tension in the warrior ranks and another threatens the life and sanity of Bane himself in some harrowing scenes.

The story follows on from the events which occurred at the end of the previous novel, where a band of Panthera warriors appear, sent by the Father God to help the Reapers based on Terra to destroy the Ceannus. The Panthera are also Reapers but are cat shifters and differ in some fundamental ways not least the fact that it was the Father God who created them not the Triune Goddess. The inevitable tension between two groups of male warriors is both amusing and eventful! Although, the warriors know that they have to join together to accomplish their task and there is many a strained and humorous moment as they learn to work together as a credible fighting unit. The homoerotic scenes as one of the Reapers meets his Panthera mate are particularly entertaining.

I liked the instant attraction between Penthe and Bane, who waste no time in becoming intimately acquainted – cue for the first of many hot scenes! Bane, a fearsome warrior, has had a past more tortured than most and bears scars inside and out and is a fascinating character as he is both strong but vulnerable. The heroine Penthe brings the term kick-ass heroine to a new level – at times even some of the Reapers are in awe of her actions! Bane is just the mate she needs to complement her strong nature yet at the same time make her feel more womanly than any other man has done in the past. There are some scorching and inventive love-making scenes between the couple and some touching moments.

In terms of its content, the novel is a dark read at times, reflecting the nature of the evil that the Reapers and their allies are out to destroy. The battle scenes are bloody, visceral and heart stopping as one would expect and I loved them! This is balanced with plenty of romance, humour, hot erotic love making scenes and adventure that kept me glued to my Kindle. The bad guys and gals in this novel, the Ceannus, are truly evil, with a grotesque appearance, a sadistic nature and an evil agenda to subjugate other life forms throughout the mega-verse and bend them to their will. Tears came to my eyes towards the end as I felt so connected to the emotions of the characters.

There are many characters and sub plots in this novel, picking up on past events and they are cleverly woven into the narrative. I particularly liked the one concerning the Reaper Cynyr Cree, his Lady Aingeal and Lord Kheelan, with whom I am developing a major crush on!!!

Sins of the Reaper is a must read for fans of Charlotte Boyett-Compo and highly recommended to lovers of Dark Fantasy and Science Fiction who like tortured alpha warriors, erotic love making scenes and the elemental battle between good and evil.

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/sins-of-the-reaper.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