Review: Dark Reign by Amelia Wilde

November 10, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

DARK REIGN
Series: Trilogy
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Amelia Wilde
Release Date: November 9, 2021

“Dark Reign is sinful, deliciously complex and naughty, with an anti-hero who’s hauntingly addicting.” – Marni Mann, USA Today bestselling author

Wealthy.
Reclusive.
Dangerous.

Emerson LeBlanc doesn’t enter society much.

He only ventures out in pursuit of new art for his collection.

It starts with a haunting painting.

Then he meets the artist…

Innocent Daphne Morelli is more exquisite than anything he’s ever seen. He becomes obsessed with her.

It doesn’t matter that she’s a living, breathing person with her own hopes and dreams.

She’ll be the perfect addition to his collection..

AMAZON | iBOOKS | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY

Stop me,” he mutters. “What?” He takes my face in his hand and tilts it up. Those blue-green eyes are all shadows now. “Stop me,” he says again.

Do I love toxic fictional men? Absolutely.
Do I love dangerous toxic fictional men? Hell yes, I do.
Do I love Amelia Wilde’s particular brand of toxic alphas? GOD YES.

Now the woman upped her level of dangerous to stalker level, and I am SO HERE FOR IT.

Emerson is an enigma. He’s known in the art world as The Collector. He’s a connoisseur of fine art. He’s obsessed with the acquisition of it almost as much as his ownership. But his current obsession is a female whose name he doesn’t yet known. He’s fixated on her, and on a scale of 1 to 10, he’s at You level.
So basically somewhere at 175.

Daphne is the younger Morelli sibling and the sister of Leo from Secret Beast. She’s highly protected, sheltered, but not entirely naive. SHe’s also an up and coming artist. And when Emerson discovers that the woman behind the art he’s been admiring is also the beautiful stranger that captivated him when he saw her on the street? Well, all bets are off. He will do anything to get her away from her overprotective brother and have her in every sense.

These two were such dynamic characters. Emerson with his secret demons and stalker ways, and Daphne with her sheltered ingenue vibes. Admittedly this is not the sort of heroine I gravitate towards. She’s a bit too innocent, but you see her rose colored glasses come off with time. And slowly but surely she began to grow on me.

In typical Amelia fashion she closes on a killer cliff that leaves you desperate for the next book and I cannot FREAKING wait.

Amelia Wilde is a USA TODAY bestselling author of dangerous contemporary romance and loves it a little too much. She lives in Michigan with her husband and daughters. She spends most of her time typing furiously on an iPad and appreciating the natural splendor of her home state from where she likes it best: inside.

Connect with Amelia

Website: https://awilderomance.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14671616.Amelia_Wilde

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Amelia-Wilde/e/B01C38CNJ2

Facebook: facebook.com/awilderomance

Instagram: https://instagram.com/awilderomance

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ameliawildeauthoress?

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amelia-wilde

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Review: Kingdom Fall by A. Zavarelli

November 9, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

KINGDOM FALL
Genre: Dark Mafia Romance
Author: A Zavarelli
Release Date: November 9, 2021

Kingdom Fall is part of the Underworld Kings Universe. A multi-author series of standalone books filled with mafia families waging war, danger and violence, arranged and forced marriages, angst, love, and everything in-between.

Light or dark, twisted or sweet, the Underworld Kings has something for every reader.

I was a nanny in need of a job.

He was darkness personified.

I had little to call my own.

He was filthy rich, powerful, and dangerous.

The assignment was simple, and my goal was too.

Take care of his son. Keep my head down. When he least expects it, destroy him.

It should have been easy. I thought it would be until I looked into his stark blue eyes.

Kissing the enemy is a bad idea, but so is falling in love with him.

He doesn’t know my crumbling foundation is built on lies.

When he discovers the truth, I’ll find out if he’s as brutal as I believe.

I came here to steal his life.

I didn’t count on him stealing my heart.

AVAILABLE NOW!! FREE IN KU!!

AMAZON

I don’t know what the fuck she’s doing to me, but I know it’s going to be a problem.

It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with everything that A Zavarelli writes. When I finished Resurrection of the Heart, I became completely obsessed with the IVI world. I kept hoping for more, and this book delivered.

Alessio and Natalia’s story is everything I want in a dark romance. It’s gritty, dark, twisted, and unpredictable.

They call Alessio a Debt Collector for good reason. Not only is he a member of The Society, but he’s a Sovereign Son. His position comes with power, and his ability to turn his humanity off makes him one hell of a debt collector. He’s a man with no emotion, married to his duty, and no desire for the messy complexities of anything beyond gratifying his baser urges. While his lack of emotion and ruthless nature make him a name that’s feared within the criminal underground, it doesn’t particularly endear him to his son. And with the loss of his last nanny, he’s interviewing for a new one.

Natalia is a woman on a mission. She arrives to interview for the nanny job, but you already see that her waters run deep. This is a woman harboring some dark secrets, and a nanny job is her in for something much darker. She’s looking for revenge and for answers, and Alessio holds the key to both.

I was immediately sucked into the story. The pacing was immaculate. The character development was intricate. And the romance? Deliciously dark. It’s an enemies to lovers with enough push and pull to have you desperate for them to give into the obvious chemistry between them. A woman harboring dark secrets and a man that doesn’t have entailments or emotions? Delicious! What kept me glued to the pages was the continuous twists and turns. This story caught me completely unaware. I never saw the twists coming and it kept me at the edge of my seat until the very last page. There are some secondary characters introduced who I’m desperately needing a book for. But as for this one? I couldn’t get enough!

It’s everything I’ve come to expect from this talented author and so much more. Alessio was dangerous and tortured. You get just enough of a glimpse into his light side to get you hooked on him and then he sucks you deep into his darkness. Natalia is a subtle sort of fierce. This is a woman who has been through hell and back and has come out swinging. She’s not an in your face sort of fierce. It’s subtle in a silent strength way, and I absolutely loved her.

If you like secret society, dark romance, bad men with good hearts, and fierce heroines, you need this book.

A. Zavarelli is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of dark and contemporary romance.

When she’s not putting her characters through hell, she can usually be found watching bizarre and twisted documentaries in the name of research.

She currently lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.

Connect w/A. Zavarelli: 

Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram | Twitter | Mailing List | Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Bookbub 

Check out more information on the books and authors coming this fall HERE—> https://under-world-kings.com

Keep up-to-date with all things Underworld Kings in the Reader Group HERE—> https://bit.ly/3ArB5vx

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Review: In Silence She Screams by Amo Jones

November 6, 2021 by · Leave a Comment
IN SILENCE SHE SCREAMS
Series: Midnight Mayhem #3
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: Amo Jones
Release Date: November 4, 2021

 

Love will never die if it exists on the lips of death. I often thought about this while I was locked inside my Doll House in Patience. Groomed every second of every day, they made sure to cover all of the darkness lurking in my soul with the false guise of perfection. The soul is fickle.

Naked to the public eye and only visible to the owner, a soul bleeds every time it’s put through pain. But when that’s hidden, it spreads.

The trick is to protect it from reaching your brain.

It was too late for me.

Until I met them.

One was an Elite King.

One was a Brother of Kiznitch.

Both were liars.

I’m Lilith Patience, The Sorcerer of Death and daughter of one of the most feared organizations known to man. After being thrust into the notorious world of Midnight Mayhem, I found myself coiled around a past that I want to forget and a future that could destroy me.

I love two men, and they love me as much as they love each other, but when the demons of my past tighten their grip around my throat, will I finally let them strip away the layers of perfection to get to my rotten, withered soul? Maybe.

Or maybe they’ll die trying.

Our love wasn’t the kind of love that was written in the cards… It was the kind of love that burned them.

There are two things that are on my mind days after I finished this book…

1. I can’t stop thinking about it
2. I can’t settle on a rating to save my life.

What I do know is that this story f*cked with my mind and my heart. But that’s not exactly news when it comes to a book of Amo’s. I’m truly terrified of the things that go through this woman’s mind, but damn am I grateful for them.

Every time I finish a book in this series, I’m desperate for the next one. But my feelings after finishing this one are all over the place. But we’ll get to that in a second. First let’s talk about the story.

I’ve heard of how people talk about Kyrin Nero. His interest is always a zero, but his body count is high. He fucks hard enough to leave the taste of himself burned in the back of your throat for years, so crisp that you’ll be whispering his name every time you think you aren’t.

The second I saw that this would be an MMF book, I was desperate to get my hands on it. I was also desperately anticipating Lilith and Kyrin because they both bring their version of crazy, and I do so love me those crazy ones.

Now if you love a good cross over and you’ve read Amo’s Elite Kings series, you’ll definitely appreciate this story. I haven’t read that series yet and I plan on changing that immediately.

Lilith, Eli and Kyrin’s story was many things. It was f*cked up, erotic, crazy, infuriating, and mind blowing. There were so many twists, that I could barely keep up. Now understand that my mind is already struggling just keeping up with all the different K names, because, well, puny brain and all. But I digress. What I’m trying to say is this story, much like the rest of this series, was twisted AF. Though surprisingly, where it couldn’t have been seriously dark, it only grazed the surface. I’m not sure if I’m grateful and disappointed about this, oddly enough. Why? Well because Lilith’s history is seriously f*cking f*cked. Like CRAZY. And it was uncomfy enough reading the mentions of it, though I couldn’t help but also want the gritty dark details. But I’m seriously f*cked up when it comes to dark books, soooo yeah. There is that.

One quibble, and this may have very well have been entirely purposeful was the chaotic way it was written. The flashbacks, the scene suddenly cutting off. If I was watching it as a movie, it would have been great. But with the book, it felt a bit jumbled. At least to my puny brain it did. I also can’t help but feel that I would have loved more fleshing out of these characters. I wanted to keep peeling away their layers, but I never really felt we get to the core of them. But did this take away from my enjoyment? Nope! I was still glued to the pages.

What seriously f*cked with me was that ending. GOD THAT ENDING. WHAT THE F*CK EVEN WAS THAT? I have a lot of feelings dammit!

Now if you’re looking for a seriously f*cked up, gritty and dark poly romance, this is it friends. It’s delicious and it’s addictive. Prepare to suspend your disbelief and enjoy the ride. And oh what a ride it is!

Amo Jones is a USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author whose books have been translated in multiple countries.

She resides in the tropics of Australia with her family, though she’s a born and bred Kiwi who more often than not, misses New Zealand.

Website | Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | Bookbub 

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Review: Sinning Like Hell by Trilina Pucci

November 5, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

SINNING LIKE HELL
Series: The St. Simeon Prep Series #2
Genre: New Adult Romance
Author: Trilina Pucci
Release Date: November 3, 2021

USA TODAY bestselling author, Trilina Pucci brings you the finale of Sutton and Calder’s heart wrenching love story.

We’ll never run away.

There won’t be stars or a blue sky filled with heaven staring down on us.

All we have is death and destruction.

A life sentence, forced to survive within the absence of our love.

Until five years later.

 


“Death isn’t waiting for Calder—it’s listening for his instruction.”

 


Sinning like Hell is the continuation of book one, Just like Heaven. Book one must be read to understand book two

AMAZON

Catch up with the duet and grab Just Like Heaven!

AMAZON

Death isn’t waiting for Calder. It’s listening for his instruction.”

Wow.
Talk about your all consuming unforgettable reads. This duet was ALL OF THE THINGS. I have no words. I’m actually stunned speechless after sobbing my way through that ending and all I know I that I am NOT OKAY!

This is heaven. And she’s the only version I’ll ever want.

Romeo and Juliet could never! This book was star crossed lovers on crack, with all of the drama, action, grit, and a romance that burrows under your skin and just stays there. I thought I loved Calder in book one, but it was nothing compared to what I felt for him in this one.

Admittedly, the first book was a bit insta for my tastes, but dang, this one more than made up for it with the grit, angst, and the emotion. It was a fiery conclusion with twists that I never saw coming. And damn, it was not afraid to go there. It hurt. It hurt so good.

We’ll never run away. There won’t be stars or blue skies filled with heavens staring down on us. All we have is death and destruction. A life sentence, forced to survive within the absence of our love.

I loved watching Sutton grow into her own. She aged beyond her years with everything she’s been through. And as much as I wished I saw her kick some ass and take names herself, seeing her fiery spirit come through was also enough. This woman goes through hell and back and my heart hurt for her.

Imagine loving someone so much that you’d be willing to stand in the middle of hell and take on the devil just for a chance to be with them again. You’d do unimaginable things…

I binge read this story. I was already rabid for this conclusion when I finished book one. But nothing prepared me for the experience that was this book. Talk about your ending with a bang! SO GOOD!


Trilina is a former professional dancer (you may have even seen her on the MTV Music Awards) and a USA Today Bestselling author who loves cupcakes and bourbon.

When she isn’t writing steamy love stories, she can be found devouring Netflix with her husband, Anthony, and their three kiddos. Pucci’s journey into writing started impulsively. She wanted to check off a box on her bucket list, but what began as wish-fulfillment has become incredibly fulfilling. Now she can’t see her life without her characters, her readers, and this community.

She’s known for being a trope defier, writing outside of the box and creating fictional worlds her readers never want to leave.

AUTHOR LINKS

Newsletter | Website | Amazon Author | Facebook |  Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads |  BookBub | FB Readers Group | Pinterest | Book+Main | TikTok

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Review: Nightshade by Keri Lake

October 29, 2021 by · 3 Comments

NIGHTSHADE
Genre: Gothic Romance
Author: Keri Lake
Release Date: October 29, 2021

A love so forbidden, it would shake the heavens

My father called them messengers.
He once told me they walked among us, and that somewhere in this dark and godless city, there shined a faint sliver of hope. I had only to look for the signs.

Well, I’ve spent my whole life investigating the inexplicable, and all I’ve found are the unsettling vestiges of iniquity – the evidence of another world shrouded by the obscure. Purgatory to some, where depravity hides in shadows, and girls like me are little more than delicious bites of temptation.

Others call it Nightshade.

This peculiar place is where I first met the cold and callous recluse living in a decaying cliffside cathedral. Jericho Van Croix is the epitome of everything I’ve been told to fear. A raven-winged harbinger who wears intrigue like a warm black cloak. An enigma that I’m determined to unravel – even if it means getting closer than I should.

One touch is forbidden. Even so much as a kiss would be my demise. But the sin on his lips burns me up like a wild flame, and his growing infatuation weakens my resolve.

Giving him what he wants, though, will mean no chance for redemption, or escape. What’s worse is, the signs I’ve followed yet failed to see all these years begin to unmask a terrifying reality:

That falling may be my only saving grace.

AMAZON

You are a mystifying enigma, Mister Van Croix.”
His gaze swung back to me, devouring me in one sweep. “And you are a frustrating distraction, Miss Ravenshaw.”

I don’t know how the woman does it, but her books just get thicker with each release. And this book? Well she REALLY THICK. So set aside some time, brace yourself and prepare for one hell of a ride. Literally.

You belong to me, Farryn. Should another man dare to lay so much as a finger on you, I will flay his hand and shine my boots with his skin.”

I’ve seriously missed Keri’s unique brand of world building. I loved her PNR series. But this world? Well it’s just something entirely different.

Nightshade was unlike any book I’ve ever read. It was full of captivating and gritty world building. It had Keri’s signature dark layers, but it was also incredibly unique. And the romance? One that defies everything, including time. My suggestion? Go into this completely blind. I will also say that if you’ve read Master of Salt & Bones, you’ll appreciate this one even more.

Now about this book, what can I tell you? It had a bit of everything; angels, demons, monsters, and sinners. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned about Keri’s writing, she’s not afraid to give you the very depths of human depravity. And this book takes you into the very pits of that darkness, but with a twist.

Van Croix is an enigma that I couldn’t get enough of. He’s captivating, cold, tortured, and something just…other. When each new layer of his gets peeled back, you get sucked in even deeper into this world. And let me tell you, there’s a lot of it. The romance is a slow burn. The pacing was deliciously torturous but also perfect for the story.

Nightshade brought a dark and captivating world that I never wanted to leave. Full of vivid characters, spine tingling setting, and a romance unlike any I’ve ever read. In one word, I’m hooked. TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY HOOKED. SO GOOD

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Review: Indigo Ridge by Devney Perry

October 26, 2021 by · 2 Comments

INDIGO RIDGE
Series: The Edens #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Devney Perry
Release Date: October 26, 2021

 

Winslow Covington believes in life, liberty and the letter of the law.

As Quincy, Montana’s new chief of police, she’s determined to prove herself to the community and show them she didn’t earn her position because her grandfather is the mayor.

According to her pops, all she has to do is earn favor with the Edens.

But winning over the town’s founding family might have been easier if not for her one-night stand with their oldest son.

In her defense, it was her first night in town and she didn’t realize that the rugged and charming man who wooed her into bed was Quincy royalty.

Sleeping with Griffin Eden was a huge mistake, one she’s trying to forget. He’s insufferable, arrogant and keeps reminding everyone that she’s an outsider. Winslow does her best to avoid Griffin, but when a woman is found dead on Eden property, the two of them have no choice but to cross paths.

As clues to the murderer lead to one of Quincy’s own, Griffin realizes Winslow is more than he gave her credit for. Beautiful and intelligent, she proves hard to resist. For him. And the killer.


AMAZON | iBOOKS | NOOK | KOBO | AUDIBLE | Narrated by: Vanessa Edwin & Jason Clarke

Griffin Eden was tantalizing. Magnetic. Rugged and bold. And naked in my bed.

Devney Perry books are my happy place. There’s just something about them that always feel like a warm blanket on a cold day. Comforting and satisfying. When I need a hit of small town romance with all of the feels and a splash of spice, she’s my go to. So I’m so excited to have this new series from her and if book one is anything to go by, we’re in for a real treat.

This series introduces the Eden family, a founding family of sorts in Quincy, Montana. I will say that I didn’t really get full enemies to lovers vibe here. Generally, I expect a bit more push and pull with that trope, but this one still hit the spot.

Winslow or Winnie comes to Quincy as the new chief of police. She’s got years of experience under her belt, but finds that when her grandfather is the mayor, nepotism assumptions run wild. Plus the town isn’t too keen on outsiders. When she meets a handsome man at a bar, she’s glad to find out he’s not a local before sharing an incendiary night in his truck. Only to later find out that he’s not exactly who she thought. This is where the enemies to lovers bit hits.

Griff is not one for entanglements of the heart himself. He’s certainly not a relationship guy and he doesn’t mess with the locals. So when he finds out that the beauty he shared one night with is the town’s new chief of police, he’s not exactly thrilled. He’s also not entirely thrilled that she is doggedly investigating what is an apparent suicide in a long stream of suicides in the small town.

I loved the mystery element of the story. I love that it’s not predictable and really kept you guessing until the final revelations. I also loved the relationship between Winn and Griff. Winnie is no push over and she doesn’t take any of Griff’s attitude. But it also doesn’t take long for their chemistry to push past all of their boundaries and man was it satisfying to see Griff’s possessive side show through.

I don’t know who you are or what you’re doing, but I’m having a conversation with Winnie,” Skyler said, standing taller.
“And I’m here to give her an orgasm before dinner. Let’s find out which one of us she’d rather have stick around.”

The romance, the mystery, the small town and their charismatic residents, all of it just hit the spot just right for me. We also get a sneak peek into the rest of the Eden siblings, and I can’t wait to learn more about them in their books.

Devney is a USA Today bestselling author who lives in Washington with her husband and two sons. Born and raised in Montana, she loves writing books set in her treasured home state. After working in the technology industry for nearly a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to enjoy a slower pace at home with her family. Writing one book, let alone many, was not something she ever expected to do. But now that she’s discovered her true passion for writing romance, she has no plans to ever stop.

Connect with Devney

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram | Twitter | Bookbub | Pinterest 

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Review: Dangerous Temptation by Giana Darling

October 26, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

DANGEROUS TEMPTATION
Series: Dark Dream #1
Genre: Mafia Romance
Author: Giana Darling
Release Date: October 26, 2021

He arrives all dressed in black.

 

Diamond cufflinks.

A watch on his tanned wrist that cost more than we would ever see in a lifetime of work.

He carries a single red rose for my mother.

Months later, Tiernan Morelli lays red roses on my mother’s grave.

That same day, he tells me that he is my new guardian.

I should have known from the very start that he had more in common with the thorns than the rose.

Now I know the truth: I’m a pawn in his dangerous game of revenge.

I was too young and naive.

Now it’s too late to save myself from his clutches.

 

Now I belong to him.

AMAZON

Poor little thing thought I was her salvation when all I intended to offer her was ruination.

Oh.
My.
GOD.

All of the ways that I loved this book. But I can summarize why in just two words. Ready? Tiernan Morelli. Need more words? OK, I got you.

I’m the kind of man that finds pleasure in pain. I’m the kind of man who makes a woman scream and cry because she doesn’t know how to take the intensity of the things I do to her body. I’m the kind of man that would make a woman crawl and beg for me before I deigned to put her out of her misery by setting her on my dick.”

This book was my trope crack for me. TROPE CRACK. Age gap. Mafia. Guardian/ward. Revenge. Enemies to lovers. ALL OF THE THINGS. And it was simply finger licking good.
Now I will say that any age gap has to have a strong heroine. If she’s too naive or too sheltered, there’s an ick factor in it for me. But Bianca was a heroine that I instantly connected with. She’s a young woman who was forced to grow up too quick because of her flighty mother who’s been hopping from one man to another since the loss of her father. But when her mother’s new man shows up at the door and spares no niceties, she’s not exactly thrilled. Tiernan is rude, crude, and seems to hate the sight of her. He’s also harboring a dark secret and a revenge plot years in the making.

Now at first I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about a hero that dates the mom first. But those concerns were quickly wiped. It just worked here. Don’t ask me how or why. It just did.

When Bianca’s mother passes, they have no one. She has her sick younger brother to think about and she’s months shy of 18. So when Tiernan shows up and says he’s their new guardian, it’s the devil you know. Doesn’t mean she doesn’t defy him and doesn’t fight him at every turn. But Tiernan is not exactly nurturing himself. He has inserted himself into their life with a dark agenda and his secrets can cost Bianca everything. The chemistry between them is also downright incendiary.

This. This was what I wanted. Rough-edged, teeth-bitten love. A body against mine like a weapon, inside me like an invasion. I wanted to be filled up and used because he couldn’t get enough. Couldn’t help himself. Couldn’t be a gentleman. Now, I understood that love wasn’t soft and warm. It was fire and brimstone and if I wasn’t careful, it would burn me alive.

This story was pure book crack. I devoured it in one sitting. I couldn’t bear to put it down for even a second. It was addicting AF and I couldn’t get enough. And the wait for book two? TORTUROUS.

Giana slayed me with this story and I cannot wait for the conclusion.

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Review: There Are No Saints by Sophie Lark

October 23, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

THERE ARE NO SAINTS
Series: Sinners Duet #1
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: Sophie Lark
Release Date: October 20, 2021

 

I loathe Alastor Shaw.

The city of San Francisco thinks we’re rival artists.

In truth, we’re predators battling for hunting ground.

We never chased the same prey. Until the night we both laid eyes on Mara Eldritch.

Shaw wants to use her as a pawn in his twisted game.

I’m fixated on her for a different reason…

She makes me feel things I never thought I could feel. Want things I never wanted.

Only she can make me lose control.

I don’t know if I should protect her at all costs… or destroy her before she ruins me.

Mara knows I’m no saint. But she has no idea she’s dancing with the devil…

The Lark Notes:
I have always been fascinated by true crime, as well as by villains and anti-heroes. A serial killer is, of course, the ultimate anti-hero — the baddest of the bad boys. Redeeming a character who starts so evil was a challenge that inspired me to entirely new heights and entirely new depths. Come on this darkly sensual and utterly brain-bending ride with me! — Sophie

“There Are No Saints” is the first book in the Sinners Duet. Reader be warned: this is a dark and steamy serial killer romance that will take you on a journey through the twisted mind of an artist on the brink of madness

AMAZON

There Are No Saints (Sinners Duet, #1)There Are No Saints by Sophie Lark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 STARS


She has me wondering what it would take to break her. To shatter her into so many pieces that she could never put them together again.

Well…hell. Where did this book come from, Sophie Lark? Because we need to talk.

A little fun fact about me, I’m fascinated by psychology. I love criminology and criminal psychology. I can binge watch true crime documentaries and podcasts and never grow tired of it. I also love Criminal Minds and Dexter. Now I want to make something clear also. I also get grossed out by people who sexualize serial killers. Like I’m not in the Ted Bundy or Richard Ramirez fan club. But in the same breath, there’s just something about a fictional killer that’s entirely too fascinating. Which is exactly what had me binge watching episodes of Dexter back in the day. I remember feeling completely out of my comfort zone reading Take Me with You. But some years have passed, and my limits, seems they’re mostly non existent when it comes to fictional bad guys.

Why are you so combative?” he says. “Have you ever tried cooperating?”
“In my experience, when men say ‘cooperative,’ they mean ‘obedient.’ ”
He grins. “Then have you ever tried being obedient?”
“Never.”

One thing I will tell you, is because of my obsession with psychology, I’m super picky on the whole sociopath descriptions. Because a lot of books will tell you that the character is one, but they don’t act like one. Or they have them start out as one, but then change into something else. Not in this book, my friends. Cole Blackwell is a textbook sociopath and his moral compass is completely broken. There is nothing good or redeeming about this man. So if that’s not your cuppa, and you want at least some redeeming qualities, this ain’t the book for you.

The more she rebels against me, the more I want to crush her.
And the more she clings to her convictions, the further I intend to drag her down dark and twisted pathways .

It’s interesting, my one missing piece with Sophie’s books has always been the quickness of the connection of the MCs. Like I always found it to be too quick in the books of hers I’ve read. And this book? Made me eat my words with some crow pie. Because DAMN. The pacing in this story is flawless. It takes the time to build it up, to set the scene, to lay the foundation. Any connection between the characters doesn’t come until much much later, and man, I loved that.

I also loved these characters. Cole and his narcissistic and sociopath tendencies. And Mara, well this girl caught me completely unaware. She may be the definition of a starving artist and very young. But this is a girl that’s seen some shit and has certainly lived it. She’s a survivor and she also harbors her own brand of fucked up.

This book had me riveted to the pages. I gobbled it up in one sitting and it left me absolutely crazed for my next fix. If you like your antiheroes not just morally gray, but completely fucking black? Welcome to your next addiction, friends.

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Review: Broken Playboy by Laura Lee

October 22, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

BROKEN PLAYBOY
Series: Windsor Academy #4
Genre: New Adult Romance
Author: Laura Lee
Release Date: October 22, 2021

They call me a player.

A joker.

The guy always down for a good time.

But if they knew the secrets I’ve been keeping, they’d call me something else entirely.

For the last two years, I’ve been buried in shame, numbing the pain with various vices. Drowning in self-hatred and concealing it with a smile.

I had a system in place, a surety that no one would learn the truth. Then Sydney Carrington came waltzing back into my life.

She’s the new headmaster’s daughter.
The most beautiful girl I’ve ever met.
The one person on Earth who can expose what I’ve worked so tirelessly to hide:

That I’m the fucking villain in this story.

BROKEN PLAYBOY is the fourth book in the Windsor Academy world. While it may be read as a standalone, as it focuses on a new couple, your reading experience may be enhanced if you read the entire series in order.
Wicked Liars
Ruthless Kings
Fallen Heirs

AMAZON

Enter the release giveaway for Broken Playboy!
​​https://bit.ly/BROKENPLAYBOYRELEASEGIVEAWAY

There’s madness in our kiss. Complete chaos swirled with desperation.

Who read a series backasswards again and started with book 4?
Do I have regrets? Not. A. One.

Well, actually I do have one. And that’s the fact that I haven’t read this author sooner. Clearly I’ve been sleeping on Laura Lee, but I plan on changing this immediately.

But let’s talk about this book. What do we a have? Well, there’s a broody, tortured, and I mean SERIOUSLY tortured bad boy who drowns his demons in drugs, alcohol, and sex. Me? GIDDY. Give me more.

What else we have? A spitfire heroine who is sassy and tough, but not impeccable to our hero’s raw sexuality, no matter how much of an ass he’s being. Me? Slightly annoyed but really intrigued.

But in all seriousness, I actually really liked the dynamic. Bentley is a king of his high school. He’s the bad boy every guy wants to be, and every girl wants to be with. He’s also hiding secrets that are slowly eating away at him that not even his best friends know. I really loved the growth his character goes through. There’s so many layers to this guy. So many, that I didn’t even care that he used words like “dawg”. Sydney is the new girl on campus. She’s not the cliche poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks, but she’s not exactly stupid rich like the rest of the school. When she runs into Bentley, he looks familiar and she doesn’t know why. And Bentley? Well he hates her on the spot for reasons unknown to her.

There’s definitely some delicious tension and the enemies to lovers vibes are strong here and I gobbled them right up. I liked how Sydney takes no sh*t, even if she does give in too easily when Bentley turns the charm on and lets him get away too easy for his crap. But did I care? Not even a little. I was to invested.

The story has quite a bit of depth, and I loved how the author peels back the layers there as well. She doesn’t graze over the addiction element, which I appreciated. There’s plenty of background given that I didn’t feel lost having read this without the first three books. There’s definitely some story arc cross over and I greedily grabbed the first three books to learn more.

If you’re looking for a steamy enemies to lovers romance set in high school, this one was a clear winner for me. No cap. Did I use that right? I had to ask my daughter about that phrase. God I’m old.

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Review: Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey

October 19, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

WINDOW SHOPPING
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Tessa Bailey
Release Date: October 19, 2021

A sizzling, standalone, feel-good holiday romance from Tessa Bailey, New York Times bestselling author of It Happened One Summer.

Two weeks before Christmas and all through Manhattan, shop windows are decorated in red and green satin.

I’m standing alone in front of the famous Vivant department store, when a charming man named

Aiden asks my opinion of the décor.

It’s a tragedy in tinsel, I say, unable to lie.
He asks for a better idea with a twinkle in his eye.
Did I know he owned the place? No. He put me on the spot.

Now I’m working for that man, trying to ignore that he’s hot.
But as a down on her luck girl with a difficult past, I know an opportunity when I see one—and I have to make it last.

I’ll put my heart and soul into dressing his holiday windows.

I’ll work without stopping. And when we lose the battle with temptation, I’ll try and remember I’m just window shopping.

AMAZON

I’m not what one would refer to as approachable. In fact, I’m fluent in Fuck Off. Hopefully he speaks it, too. Or at least knows how to read body language.

This is the story I never knew I needed but now I have no idea how I lived without it.

A reverse sunshine/grump trope with a grumpy with an ex convict heroine and a sunshine, Christmas loving and bow tie wearing hero? I. Am. PUTTEH.

I really thought I had a read on this man. He’s a wholesome rule follower who believes the best in people. A man who has a few demons lurking but is innately good at his core. Now we’re throwing a dirty streak into the mix? Good grief.

Oh did I forget to mention that he still has Tessa’s signature dirty talking side? Because holy ovaries, batman! I’m obsessed!

This was one of the cutest holiday romances I’ve read and the perfect book to cuddle up on the couch with on a cold and snowy night. But we’re still in fall, and I made due with a nice cup of tea and a blanket that I enjoyed with a giant goofy grin on my face, because THIS BOOK.

Stella nods, letting her head tip back and hit the wall. “Yes. Anything. Yes.”
Anything.
Permission granted, I reach down and yank up her skirt.

Stella recently moved to NY after serving her sentence and stumbles upon an atrocious holiday window display. Naturally, she tells the bow tie wearing handsome stranger making idle small talk with her on the street how she feels. And naturally he invites her to interview for the window design job. Oh and he may have forgotten to mention that he happens to be the namesake and owner of the store. Whoopsy.

Aiden is the quintessential nice guy I never knew I wanted. I am not generally a reader that likes nice guys. Wow, that sounds bad. What I mean is I want a nice guy in real life, and I love them toxic in fiction. But Aiden? He was just impossible not to love. He’s a sweet man with a dirty streak who is already picking out china patterns in his head the minute he and Stella get together. It takes Stella a hot minute to come to terms of her feelings for her boss, but once she does, it’s all in.

This was one of those feel good type of romances that will put a smile on your face and keep it there. It wasn’t angsty. It wasn’t full of drama. It was opposites attract in the perfectly cute holiday romance with plenty of dirty talk thrown in and all of the warm and fuzzies. The warm blanket of romances that is cozy, comforting, and heart warming.

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