Confessions Collection Vol. 1 (London Brown) by Leila DeSint

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Summary:

"Descend into a world of deception, depravity, decadence, desire and desperation…

In the opulent setting of London's aristocracy, lives a young woman fractured into two distinct individuals, one face with multiple facets.

One façade, a whore, London Brown, who will confess unfathomable truths, the other, a loving daughter, Desniah Williams will pull back the curtain to reveal what lurks in the shadows.

Caden Jacob Carrington V, a politician will do anything to reclaim the woman he lost, including dredging up pains of the past.

Rhys Christos Edward Stowell, a philanthropist will fight to win the woman he loves while baring the darkness of his soul.

Warning: Depending on the episode London Brown falls under the following: Erotica, BDSM/Kinky, and Dark Erotica/Taboo (dubious/non-consent). Also contains the theme of coping with survival of childhood sexual abuse/assault.

Includes episodes 1 through 9"

Rating:

All the stars in the sky!!

Review:

So if I would show you my reaction after reading this book, it would look exacly like this guy on the gif:

Notice the smile after? Yes, that too. It's just that this book was so DAMN messed up but it was amazing and I'm:

When I read the description of the book, it kind of sounded a little too dramatic. And here were these four people and it doesn't look like they have things in common. And I thought: Okay, we'll probably have two couples: the whore and the politician, the philanthropist and the daughter. Looks like it might be interesting. But why two couples? What is their connection?

And then I opened this book...

Forget the summary! Don't even read it.
And scratch the two couples thing. This shit is ten times much better!

 This book deals with split personality. London Brown and Desniah Williams are a dangerous fire and they are between two men who are trying to get their girl.

London Brown:

"This was what my body had been made for—pain and pleasure.
I loved what I did. I was a dirty whore. Two men whose faces I'd never seen were using me and every inch responded to them. My pussy dripped from the pleasure."

Ok, lets be as frank as our London here. She's a whore. She works for The Agency(dumb name btw) and they send her cards with instruction what to wear and where to go for an assignment. She's not the type of whore that does it for survival. She's expensive, very professional and likes her job. She has 35 clients and fulfills their every desire.

"I'd been educated about men and their true nature through the acts they asked me to perform."

"Men liked that I was wet for them. It made them feel like I wanted them. I didn't really care who was fucking me as long as someone did."

"I was bad and deserved to pay. I fucked strange men and got off on it. That couldn't possibly be normal."

So I can't say that I liked her since it's sick that she likes doing those things. But it got me really intrigued why, why does she do it and why does she enjoy it? What made her such a masochist? Especially - why the fuck does she have a split personality? Later on, we learn that London didn't create Desniah, it's the other way around.

In the beginning of the book, London gets an invitation and the man that requested her is:

Caden Jacob Carrington V

Caden is a man that I was very wary about through the whole book. He's been in Hong Kong for five years and he's back now to get his best friend back - Desniah. But he finds the once quiet, nice girl is now an escort.

"Whomever I'd left behind was undetectable in the eyes evaluating me. But she was still my Des--the little girl from across the street"

Sorry Caden, but she's not. She's changed. And it's all because you made that happen. Desniah was in love with Caden, but she had some problems and couldn't let Caden in even though he loved her too.

"I loved a young woman once.".. "She and I fell in love. Not the childhood affection we once had. Our souls were linked. We travelled to Athens, Greece together. We’d shared a connection. I thought she’d be my wife. But she could never stand to let me touch her when my passion was evident." "She always recoiled at my touch as though I’d harm her," he said. "I tried to hold my desires at bay, when near her. Afraid and insecure, I questioned if she wanted me. An opportunity for me to work abroad came up I had hoped time apart would help her figure out what she wanted. That decision was an error in strength and judgment.

Now, he's back.

But he has a rival.

Rhys Christos Edward Stowell

"She was the only woman I could be close to. I might never find another. Yet, she was beyond my reach."

Rhys is Desniah's friend and the son of an elder in the Church of Christ, but he's rebellious. He hates the world of East Finchley and its rich pretending bastards.
At first, I liked him very much. He seemed like the really nice guy that lives by his own rules and is trying to get the only woman that understands him.
But then:

 Rhys is a true sadist.

"As long as I remembered having an interest in the opposite sex, visions of hurting women and penetrating them against their will had turned me on. I'd prayed for the urges to stop. But my dark fascination only grew."

"The thought of her slender neck beneath my fingers as I squeezed, restricting the flow of air, fed my dark need."

As you can see, Rhys has some.. pretty dark urges. My first reaction was: 'aw hell, this gets even more sick' and 'this makes little sense'. But what intrigued me with Rhys is that whole personality and his fight with his darkness. Rhys never acted on his wants, he always resists them, hating how horrible it makes him. He hates the monster in him and the fights him strong.

"I'd always feared any sexual experiences with women would be twisted and depraved. After all, I am a monster. Sex with her had been near normal. As ordinary as we could be."

But there came along...

Desniah Williams

... with her own set of demons and surprisingly she accepted it. Actually she understood it all, understood him.

Rhys:"I wouldn't lie to her. Even if learning the truth about me risked her being repulsed by me. I'd carried the shame alone so long. I wanted her to help me understand."

Desniah:"When we had been together it had been nice…unlike the other times where I'd either been made to feel dirty or frigid. Not objectified—desired, cared for--but not on a pedestal. Our encounter was part me relinquishing control and him accepting the commanding role."

"Rhys made me feel good, and for once, someone wasn't trying to control me. I’d yet to know what I wanted."

Desniah is your classic case of abused person and I guess in all that she made a split personality - someone strong enough to take it all and take over when things got too difficult. She was a weak person, but now with Rhys' help she starts to resist London. I don't really get how those two change between each-other and I hope author explores it more later.

She once loved Caden, but was broken when he left. I can't even believe how she could love him for certain reasons but she did. And now she's just scared. She found safety in Rhys' arms as much as he found it in hers.

The thing is: These people are fucked up beyond belief. And their fucked-up-ness is so fascinating. The book is an exploration of human mind AND human sexuality. That's the whole point. And I love it! I love these types of books. It's not one of those: "lets write about messed-up people that fall in love". No, this book is about the effects of abuse, about the people who experience abuse and how they cope(or don't cope) with it and how is affects the people they love. It's about friendship and how it can lead to love with mutual trust and acceptance. Acceptance being the key word. Because it's hard to love a person like these are. Furthermore, it's a book about how family and how those you trust can hurt you and scar you, about secrets and their burden. And finally it's a study about split personality. And THAT shit is no simple thing.

Oh, and the hot parts were really amazing. I dare say that I liked it with Caden too even though he acted like a crazed man. Rhys and Des were *fans herslef* wow! It was the first time I encountered breath play. It sounds exciting but I don't like it. Anyway, the hotness was pretty much secondary to me.

As much as I love this book, there are things I didn't understand besides things that are not yet explained because this is just the beginning: how the hell aren't Rhys and Caden so shocked about Desniah developing another personality. They act like it's the most normal thing, they're not doing anything about it! They just accepted it without asking any questions! It really bothers me.

Also, I wonder how Caden never got a clue about the things that were done to Desniah, it's just too much to believe.

The second episode. I felt pure disgust. But I get it that the author wrote it to show us just who is London.

And how come Desniah accepted Rhys and his sadistic side so easily? Especially since she was abused. I don't really buy it how suddenly she liked breath play and wasn't scared of the BDSM stuff.

The fact that this book is so short and is divided in 9 parts of 15 pages may look too complicated and unreasonable but it didn't bother me. It was written in first person and that too didn't bother me. These are confessions - like a diary. And it should be in the first person.

Lastly, I want to say:
I am in love with this author. Because this book is not just about how fucked-up people can be. It's a book that drips with intelligence. Not everyone can write about people with split personalities AND about two men with a complex life of their own who are so different from each other too. AND make all of this FIT together this perfectly.

 Seriously, I can't even imagine how difficult it was to pull this off. Most of authors write about two people but Leila DeSint dared to write about 4. Because it could have been too much, especially for a book of episodes that are so short, but it's all balanced and it makes me admire the author so much.

All in all, London was a whore that now suddenly began to develop feeling for Caden. At least I think. And Caden is desperate to have London/Desniah. I think he now wants London more. But boy, oh boy, when he finds out about the abuse. Rhys and Desniah find comfort and satisfaction in them self and I hope they end up together.

But I feel there is still much to come...

I can't wait for moreeeeeee!!!! And I really recommend this book to all those of you that find everything I talked about interesting, and even if you don't, give this book a chance because it's different and definitely not your ordinary book.

A copy of this book was kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.


Last but not least, look out for an interesting treat soon on our blog and a little something you don't want to miss!! ;)



Until next time,

The Stranger I Married by Sylvia Day

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Author's:

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Summary:

"Lady Pelham could not have designed a husband more suited to her needs. The Marquess of Grayson is a dear and enchanting friend and an unrepentant ladies man. Their union is solid; their hearts safe from one another. But every marriage has its surprises...

They Were Together For All The Wrong Reasons

They are London's most scandalous couple. Isabel, Lady Pelham, and Gerard Faulkner, Marquess of Grayson, are well matched in all things - their lusty appetites, constant paramours, wicked wits, provocative reputations, and their absolute refusal ever to ruin their marriage of convenience by falling in love with one another. Isabel knows such a charming rake will never appeal to her guarded heart, nor will she sway his philandering one. It is a most agreeable sham - until a shocking turn of events sends Gerard from her side.

Now, four years later, Gerard has come home to Isabel. But the carefree, boyish rogue who left has been replaced by a brooding, powerful, irresistible man who is determined to seduce his way into her affections. Gone is the devil-may-care companion who shared her friendship and nothing more, and in his place is temptation itself - a husband who desires Isabel body and soul and who will stop at nothing to win her love. No, this is not at all the man she had married. But he is the man who might finally steal her heart...."

Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPBPR3fewzI&feature=player_embedded

Rating:

My review:

  "Every touch, caress, and murmur was a promise made. To forsake all others. To love one another, trust one another, and leave the past behind. Theirs was a union made for all the wrong reasons, but in the end it was one that could not have been more right."

 A marriage of wicked compromise turned into a beautiful, true love.

And not only that: We have two stories in one book! The main one being the story of Lord Grayson and Lady Isabel, and the second minor one, of Lord Rhys Trenton, Isabel's brother and the very honest and smart Abigail Stewart.

The story starts four years before when the young and wild Gerard Faulkner suggested a marriage to the widowed Lady Pelham. What he gained from it: his mother will stop bothering him with requests of marriage. What she gains: Isabel's lovers will stop proposing to her when they fall in love with her. What they both gain: they can continue having their affairs with whomever they want without the unnecessary problems. Oh, the scandal!

But then Grayson's love, Emily died at his childbirth and he escaped feeling broken.

"After Emily died, I despised myself, Isabel. You’ve no notion of how I wronged her—so many ways, so many times. I couldn’t help but see what a waste it was for a woman like her to die over a man like me. It took me a long time to come to terms with the self-loathing, and realize that while I could not change the past, I could honor her by changing who I was in the future." 

 But after 4 years he's back and very much changed. And determined to be a true husband to his wife.

"I don’t require your help to find sex. I require you.” He licked and nipped at the tender skin of her throat, and then he breathed her in, his arms tightening around her with a low groan. “I want messy. And sweaty and dirty. God give me strength, for I have been cursed with wanting that from my wife." 

At first it was a little confusing and didn't make sense how Gray was suddenly seeing a lot of good things about Isabel that make him attracted to her. But I learned that now, after 4 years of working on his properties and fields, he had time to think about his life and.. He matured and finally saw all the mistakes he made before and the things he neglected.

But the problem lies with Lady Pelham.
She married to man she loved when she was 17 but then realized that she was just a trophy wife while her husband changes lovers. After Pelham died, Isabel vowed to never fall into another man's trap. So she went about her life, just enjoying good men and their company. She married Gray but never expected that he would want her.

"We were nothing to each other, nothing. And I wanted it that way. I liked it that way." 

It's Gray's turn to win her over.

Gerard Faulkner, Marquess of Grayson

"I pledge my troth to you, my wife. Not for my needs, as I did before, but for yours. You have given me so much— friendship, laughter, acceptance. You have never judged me or chastised. When I did not know who I was, you cared for me anyway. When I make love to you, I am content and I wish for nothing else."

The new Gray is a man who experienced life and learned to cherish the simplest things and everything he had that he was careless about before. Starting with his wife. I liked that he was still the charming and humorous man he was before.

"You won’t chase me away with your ill-humor, Isabel. I waited all day for this meal, and I intend to enjoy it. If you’ve nothing charming to say to me, put one of these pheasant sandwiches in your mouth, and just let me look at you."

"Perhaps once or twice it has crossed my mind that I should manage my c*ck, instead of allowing it to lead me. But then I remember the feel of your c*nt in orgasm, the way it clutches me, the way you arch up and cry out my name. And I tell my brain to shut up and leave me alone." 

He transformed into a handsome romantic man and I LOVE a possessive, passionate but also a romantic man. The combination totally made me swoon.
There were enough hot scenes they shared and they were of the charts! Grayson is wild in bed and Isabel likes to get a little dirty too. I just have to mention the ass-bite scene again... I think I was in "Have Mercy!" mode the entire time.

"You and I and no one else, Isabel. If it drives me into the grave, I will find a way to be what you need."
"I want to be what you need, as well. Desperately." She made the admission without fear.
"You are." He pressed his sweat dampened face against hers. "For God’s sake, you are everything."

He was so wonderful and considerate and thoughtful and he just made me melt into a pile of goo!

Lady Isabel Pelham

At first I didn't like her because I'm just tired of those types of heroines when they decide to never fall in love again after being disappointed by ONE man. He's dead, woman. Move on! Life is still young and learn that you can never generalize with people, men included.
 

"Even as Gray emptied himself onto the counterpane, she knew she was ruined. She wanted this, longed for this depth of feeling during sex.
She hated him for reminding her of what it could be like, of what she was missing, of what she’d avoided for the last several years. He’d given her an addicting taste of what he would soon take away.
Already she missed it, and ached for its loss."

But she really is a good person and I was just okay with her the whole time… Oh hell, I ADMIT, all my thoughts were on Grayson! Moving onnn…

The whole plot was .. weeeell – I had a little problem with it. It just didn’t make up the whole story quite right. There were many scenes and many events and I liked all of them, but I felt that some parts weren’t connected. The subplot, although it might have been unnecessary and confusing to a lot of readers(I see many negative points about this in some reviews), it actually made the book better for me.

The subplot is a smaller, but not less wonderful story. Lord Trenton and Abby make a little too cliché couple, but I still enjoyed it immensely. Rhys, a man quite like young Gray, find a woman hiding on a party and reading a book. He was interested and attracted to the unusual woman who surprised him with her to-the-bone honesty. I too instantly liked her blunt manner. Add a little mystery to the girl and the boy was hooked.

“Just kiss me and say goodbye, Lord Trenton. Be content that you have given me the fantasy of a handsome, dashing suitor.”

Would the woman ever cease confounding his wits?
“You have this scent about you, my lord. Your cologne and soap and starch. It’s quite delicious and when your skin heats up, the smell sometimes makes me feel as if I could swoon. I can only imagine how much more pronounced the effect will be after the physical exertions of lovemaking. I don’t believe I would be able to sleep a wink with that scent all over my bed linens

Reading this book, I felt like a little girl reading her first romance story. It's beautiful, it's charming. Sweet but also scorching hot with passion. Just what I like. It was amazing but it wasn't Amaze-balls! And it didn't end with her pregnant after so many misunderstandings. So 4 stars from me even though I wanted to give it 5.

Until next time,

 

Undeniable by Madeline Sheehan

Book summary

"Eva Fox is the princess of the Silver Demons Motorcycle Club. Growing up with bikers in the club lifestyle is all that she knows. When she’s a young girl, Eva meets the reason for her existence. Deuce West is the sexy, biker bad-ass of the Hell’s Horsemen Motorcycle Club. Like Eva, he was born and raised in the club—but that’s where the similarities end. Their first meeting is innocent, but as Eva matures into a woman, their chance reunions evolve into a fit of lust and love. Fate continues to bring them together time and time again, but their twisted journey is filled with pain, betrayal, and bloodshed that could tear them apart. Eva sees in Deuce what he cannot see in himself—a man worthy of love—and Eva spends her lifetime proving to him that her undeniable love is the one thing he can’t live without.  
This is Eva and Deuce’s story.  
It wasn’t easy.
Nothing worth doing ever is.
And love is worth everything."

Glass is confused...

      I have this problem - I read one good book about certain subject, get obsessed, devour everything I find and realize it is not that special or good as first thought it would be. So, I did get my hopes too high. Last year it was kink, this year bikers. I loved Reaper's Property - it was different from anything I've read so far. But, now, I'm not so sure if that's 100% because of book itself or all the fun I had while reading and chatting with friends. I saw that lot of them gave Undeniable five or four stars and that they loved it. I picked it up and after first page I wanted to wash my eyes and scrub my brain.( I'll have to put some spoilers in this review, so if you're planning to read this book, consider yourself warned.) First time Eva and Deuce met, he was 23 and she was... five years old. Yes, five! I wanted to scream. And then even worse: five year old girl, just out of dippers for fuck sake, thinks how big and strong and pretty he is. And she's mesmerized with his blue eyes. Again, I wanted to scream and kick someone. But it didn't make me stop reading, I'm ashamed to admit. What it thought was:

       So, I said "fuck it". And it wasn't just me - that word and its variations could be found at least twice in every line. I think that someone even counted how many times it was mentioned. Lot of cussing, but I didn't mind it - it's just the way it is when it comes to any circles, subcultures involving image of big bad guys. I used to teach that type of boys, so I know it's nothing fabricated or unusual. Other thing - woman being called names and humiliated, again, nothing unusual. Do I find that kind of things offensive? Yes, but I understand it to some extent.
      What annoyed me the most was this typical "train wreck" love story - everything is messed up, they are "beautiful disaster", it's ugly and hurtful most of the time, but when they are together everything comes on the right place. Actually, that is the whole plot of Undeniable. Twenty five years of Eva and Deuce's relationship.
      But don't get me wrong. I didn't hate this book. If I did, I wouldn't have finished it. It got really interesting after  40% and I couldn't put it down until I finished it. That's why I slept late this morning and I still haven't even started grading two hundred quizzes.
      One thing is sure - Madeline Sheehan knows how to write. She sucked me in her book completely  and made me feel something while I read it. I know that book is really bad if it doesn't make any difference for me if I read it or not, and I just had to finish Undeniable. I'm not big fan of virgins in my books, so you can guess which parts annoyed me the most, I was mad, I wanted beat the shit out of their asses, some part made me panting and others just left me speechless.
       I will probably read other books in this series. Sometimes you can't help yourself and I can't help myself when it comes to dark, twisted stories.

Until next time, 

xo

Cover Lusting - Wicked Beat by Olivia Cunning

      OMG, OMG, OMG....

       I can not wait for new book in Sinners on Tour series. I absolutely love Eric and this cover.... just let me breathe for few seconds. Is it hot in here or it's just me?

      Book will be published in August.

Book summary

"From the moment he lays eyes on Sinners’ new front of house soundboard operator, drummer Eric Sticks knows he has to make Rebekah his. Unfortunately, she’s too busy trying to seduce guitarist Trey Mills to pay him much attention. Rebekah never planned to fall for the tall, goofy drummer with the weird sense of humor and a heart the size of the galaxy. But Eric makes her laugh and his constant attention makes her feel sexy and irresistible–exactly what she needs after the things her last lover said to her. A woman who gives as much as she takes, Rebekah makes Eric feel like a total stud–exactly what he needs after surviving a decade of watching the incredibly talented members of Sinners from the wings."

 Until next time,

(Blog Tour & Giveaway) Enslaved in Shadows by Tigris Eden

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Heat Level: Erotic

Publisher: Kat's Kreative Ideas

Publishing Date:  January 29th

Series, #: The Shadow Unit

Format: Print and E book

Words: 87K

Book summary

"A man's Past leads to his Future......

Agent Stone of the Shadow Unit's job is simple, most days. Work in the Shadows, police his own Kind. 

When an unwanted assignment turns out to be his darkest fantasy from the past, Draven can't help but be conflicted by the memories of the past and his responsibilities in the future. But his decision has been made.

The Heart of a woman is Tested........

Jes can't let the tall dark agent back into her life. 

How can she trust any man after what she's endured. Years of abuse have broken her down and she doesn't have room for more. The man she turns to for help hasn't abused her physically but he's tormented her emotionally. A past betrayal left her scarred, but also brought her life. 

Can she accept him into her heart and trust him again? 

One will survive and adapt, the other will realize hearts can be mended even if it’s a bit too late. 

The road to forgiveness sometimes only brings more pain. Unexpected events set their lives on two separate tracks leading to one outcome. Lives will be changed and an emotional battle to save their souls will leave them both trapped and enslaved in their need for one another."

Purchase Links:

Print @ Amazon

Digital @ Amazon

Excerpt:

"The men in the conference room settled back in their seats and Gabe led her over to a chair while Oliver put his head in his hands and plopped down in a chair to his right. She couldn’t tell if he was exhausted or not, he looked perfect. But vampires always did. A man at the very end of the table stood and approached her. His long strides ate up the distance until he stood inches in front of her. He was taller than even Gabe, a giant. Long mahogany dreads fell to the middle of his back. He wasn’t dressed like the others. He wore a Valentino suit without the jacket and a white linen button-up shirt rolled at the sleeves. Strong masculine arms were roped with thickly veined muscles. He had a silver torque around his neck. It gleamed bright against his bronze skin and his face was aristocratic- hard edges and a straight nose; but it was his eyes that were the most alarming. A shade of violet like she’d never seen, dark amethyst, fathomless and arrogant. Immortals always had that extra flare humans didn’t and this immortal received an extra helping.

His grin was telling. One that said he knew he was every woman's fantasy come to life. If she hadn’t sworn men off, he would surely be the object of her desire. Hot dirty sex was pouring off this man in waves. If she weren’t careful, she’d get sucked under.

“I’m Captain Dravaggio,” his hand warm and strong gripped hers. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with me and my team.”

He quickly introduced her to the men in the room. There were a set of twins that sat across from her. One was smiling as he lit a red cigarette, blowing the smoke in her direction and the other glared. She didn’t actually take in their looks because stupid her was still eye fucking the captain. What was it about him? He made her want to jump out of her seat and onto him. There were some other names tossed about; some guy she think she heard him called Adam and another guy he referred to as Hawke. Then there was Gabe and Oliver. Dravaggio was saying something about missing team members and apologizing for their absence when the guy with the red smoke was sitting directly next to her now. How the hell did he get so close without her noticing?

“And because you are so enamored with our captain,” he held out his hand and grabbed hers, breaking her out of the trance. “I’m Royce. Resident badass, all around swell motherfucker and every woman's dream come true. Very nice to meet you.”

Author Bio:

 There is really not much to say... I love to write, read, and listen to music. My attempt at a music career sadly ended at the Apollo one warm night in May! LOL (Side note: I was not booed just outdone by two munchkins rapping to Biggy Smalls but they were good!)

Military brat extraordinaire; have traveled to a lot of interesting places. 

The very first time I put pen to paper in story fashion, was in 6th grade. It was called The Case of the Missing Pepperoni. 

It was a cute mystery where all the ingredients and shop appliances came to life when the store owner closed up for the evening.

Website  Goodreads   Twitter  Facebook  Pinteest

Giveaway Details:

Tigris is generously gifting five signed copies (US ONLY) and five digital copies (mobi format only) of Enslaved in Shadows to individual commenters along the tour. Additionally, Tigris is offering one fabulous US ONLY Grand Prize of a signature Enslaved bottle of perfume and lotion to one lucky person from the tour! The contest is open both internationally and US only, so please make sure you leave a comment with your broken up email addy and geographic location=US or Int. Entrants must be at least 18 years of age. It will run from 12:00am EST 2/4/13 - 11:59pm EST 2/11/13. Please follow the Rafflecopter directions below on how to enter as well as gain extra entries. Full terms and conditions to the contest can be found on the Rafflecopter widget.

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Cut & Run by Abigail Roux, Madeleine Urban

Buy the book:

Amazon 

Authors:

Madeleine Urban: GoodReads | Livejournal

Abigail Roux: GoodReads | Web Site | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr

 Summary:

"A series of murders in New York City has stymied the police and FBI alike, and they suspect the culprit is a single killer sending an indecipherable message. But when the two federal agents assigned to the investigation are taken out, the FBI takes a more personal interest in the case.

Special Agent Ty Grady is pulled out of undercover work after his case blows up in his face. He's cocky, abrasive, and indisputably the best at what he does. But when he's paired with Special Agent Zane Garrett, it's hate at first sight. Garrett is the perfect image of an agent: serious, sober, and focused, which makes their partnership a classic clich: total opposites, good cop-bad cop, the odd couple. They both know immediately that their partnership will pose more of an obstacle than the lack of evidence left by the murderer.

Practically before their special assignment starts, the murderer strikes again this time at them. Now on the run, trying to track down a man who has focused on killing his pursuers, Grady and Garrett will have to figure out how to work together before they become two more notches in the murderer's knife."

Rating:

Review:

When I began to read m/m romance not too long ago I got a list of must-read books and series and Cut & Run was one of them. Even before, I heard awfully lot about these Ty and Zane rocking the world of lady readers. At first the fact that it was 6 books about one couple and a crime and mystery story which are not my first genre choices in books, was keeping me from reading it but damn, friends could be very convincing. And thank God they are

So we meet the very different Special Agents Tyler Grady, a 34 year-old ex-Marine now in FBI who is as big as a bastard can someone be, and Zane Garrett, a 42 year-old perfect image of an Agent – at least on the outside. As the blurb says: a real cliché. They get an assignment – a serial killer is doing a good job of not getting himself caught and now that he messed with FBI, these two are here to change it.

I really love books where two characters slowly develop a relationship through the pages. Ty and Zane started going down a rocky road with a goal to piss each other off but do a job and then went on to becoming real partners and then finally, in a sort of unexpected way – lovers. It was amazing.

Ty was an asshole. But a real fun one. Zane shed that stupid goodie-two-shoes image and became himself, someone similar to Ty and their interaction and arguments, the sarcastic back-and-forth fighting with words was what made this book really enjoyable.

It took some time to get into the crime stuff since I don't read it much but soon I began to pick up on some details and even had my own suspition right at the beginning of who the killer is. I'm totally pleased to say that I guessed right!

And later the clues piled up, some even pretty obvious and then it was confirmed.
Don't you just love when you guess right?

Also, the Poe copy murders was a little cliché. Well, maybe it became cliché now with the movie The Raven which came out last year where there's a killer copying murders from Poe's books.

Anyway, the story was pretty exciting – I do love a great action even though much more in movies. It was intense and it had a good defined pattern. The events weren't flying all over the place so I loved the pace of the plot.

Now the romance.. that was just WOW! The first hot scene was mind-blowing. I thought it was going to be a little tricky, it turned out hotter than Hades. First I was both shocked and jumping from happiness, then when it looked like it wasn't going to happen I was really frustrated but Ty being Ty made me a satisfied reader.

Later I thought they would avoid each other or try to forget about this like it never happened but I was surprised how they began to show their attraction slowly more and more, how, with the circumstances, things became even tender.. It was so beautiful, watching these two. By the way, that car scene practically killed me and then the situation with Ty? That pretty much destroyed me. Ty and Zane are one of my favorite couples, 100 percent! I can't wait to read about them more!

It came to me that this book would be a great movie or better yet a TV series – if done right off course. Just imagine all those scenes played live.. Oh my God! *faints* I'll stop right here, no need to torture myself any longer.

So, I strongly(!) recommend this book to any of you that read m/m romance even if suspense and crime aren't your thing. But here's one warning: You'll fall in love so easily.

Until next time, 

Dark Light by S. L. Jennings

Buy The Book:

AMAZON

Author's Web-Page:

Goodreads/ Facebook/ Dark Light series on Facebook

Genre:

Paranormal Romance/ (New)Adult

Summary on GOODREADS:

Love. Sex. Magic.

Before her 20th birthday, Gabriella was pretty much clueless about all three. In love with her best guy friend since the age of 14 and too crass and intimidating for most of the male population of Colorado Springs, love and good sex were virtually a myth.

And then there’s magic. Freakin’ magic. There’s no way that legend could have a place in her less than exciting life. So why after twenty years of utter obscurity do her adopted parents hit her with the ton of bricks that is her true identity? And how the heck is she supposed to accept all this and become what she was truly created to be?

Lucky for Gabs, sexy as sin Dorian is more than equipped to help her embrace these new revelations. And while everything about him feels oh so good, she soon learns that there’s more behind his crystal blue eyes, chiseled body and exotic beauty. Something dark, menacing and downright unnatural. Yet Gabs is in way too deep to even try to turn away from him now.

Dark Light, Book 1 of the Dark Light Series, is the raw, emotional story of a young woman’s journey of self-discovery in a world that was not meant for her. And her scorching hot, lip-biting addiction for the man she can’t deny, no matter the cost.

*Contains strong adult content.

***My Review***

"Oh, what a difference a year makes.

A year ago, I was the embodiment of a reckless nineteen year old girl, hell-bent on drinking my way through community college until I couldn't function and not giving a damn how it made me look. A year ago, I was madly in love with my best friend, Jared, but couldn't find the courage to tell him. A year ago, the only family I knew of was Chris and Donna, my adopted parents since the day I was born. A year ago, I was content with mediocrity and my love life was non-existent exactly what I thought it should be. A year ago, I was human. At least I thought I was."

The first thing that caught my attention was the beautiful cover, then the intriguing title and after I read the summary I knew that this will be the next book I was going to read. I usually avoid love triangles, but it was high time to step out of my routine and try smth new, but fortunately for me this time the supposed love triangle wasn't so melodramatic as it usually turns out to be, because the minute one of these guys comes into the picture, it was quite obvious that the other doesn't stand a chance and I was more than o.k. with that.

To tell you the truth this book didn't blow my mind like it promised it would, but on some strange level I did quite enjoy it. Sounds weird, I know. My first disappointment was when I realized that the book wasn't going to be so dark as the summary describes it. Books with darker themes became lately kind of my guilty pleasure and I read quite a lot of them and sorry- this book has some dark content, but still not enough to label it as a dark read.

It's a mixture of new adult, erotica & paranormal romance. Yes, it contains some S&M scenes, but those were very light (spanking, choking etc.) from the ones I read and that's why in my dictionary I would never define this book as dark erotica. The main character of the story is a 20 year old girl Gabriella. At the begging she seems like your ordinary, small town girl spending her time with friends & partying her way through life. While all her friends have their future all planned out, Gabriella is still in the dark about who she wants to be or who she is to begin with. All her life she feels mediocre, like she can't find herself in anything she does, especially when it comes to love. She had a few boyfriends, but nothing serious. She was never in love with them. The only boy she was in love with her whole life is her best friend Jared, but she was never brave enough to tell him how she felt.

“I never was one of those girls that wanted to be a princess or aballerina. A while ago, I really wanted to enlist in the Marine Corps. Then ultimately, try to join the CIA. But it was just a crazy dream.” I chuckle nervously, shaking my head at my absurdity. “It’s just…I never wanted to be some dainty damsel in distress. I never wanted to be rescued. I've never been that girl. I wanted to be the one kickin’ ass and taking names. I wanted to be the hero, you know.”

Be careful what you wish for is the most suitable to the describe the events ahead, because everything changes on her 20th birthday, when she learns the real truth about herself and where she comes from and that she is far from ordinary. The lies on which her whole life was built start to slowly crumbling down, especially after the arrival of the tall, dark, & handsome Dorian with the stress on dark.

"What he is…enthralls me. Captivates me. Utterly disarms and beguiles me. And if I hadn’t felt his soft, warm lips on mine, had never tasted the delectable sweetness of his tongue or his tingling, moan-inducing caress, I probably wouldn’t be here, ready to strip away my clothes and inhibitions. I would have wised up and gone back home with Morgan. I probably would have even drunk dialed Jared and professed my undying love for him. But it’s too late; I have felt all those things. I know what it feels like to be under Dorian’s spell."

I have mixed feelings about Gabriella, probably because she was full of contradictions through the whole book. At times she was really fun and seemed like a strong and brave young woman, but on others she  behaved very immature and naive. She was in denial trough the whole book- in denial about herself, especially about Dorian in spite of all the evidences she had in front of herself and her irrational behavior really started to annoy me in the second half of the book, because once again she wanted to build her life on lies, but this time was worse, because she did it willingly. It made her weak in my eyes and I don't like weak characters, especially if they are the main characters of the book .

"I could ask him. I could ask what he was. I could ask if he knows who and what I am. I could ask him why someone is out to kill me. And he would answer every one of my questions. But then what? This would all end. Dorian would no longer be mine. Though he’s far from being mine now. Shit. How did we even get to this?"

"We sit facing each other, suds enrapturing us in white froth. So many unspoken words between us, yet neither of us can articulate what is on our minds. The questions are rhetorical; we know the answers in our hearts. But this dream, where we are just an ordinary couple in an ordinary world is so much better than our reality. We’re not ready to wake up. Though we know this dream will eventually manifest into a nightmare."

The minute I read the description of Dorian Skotos I knew immediately whom the author had in mind and later after seeing the Facebook profile of these series it was affirmed that it was this guy--->

Yes, Dorian Skotos is the "replica" of Damon Salvatore Ian Somerhalder. Do I think that Ian Somerhalder is hot? - YES!!! But do I want his face in every damn book I read? - NO!!! It's truly getting a bit boring for me, because lately his "clones" show up in almost every book I read.

I know Ian, but even eternal studs need a break. In your case make it a year or two :P.
But back to the book- so the mysterious, hot & rich Dorian shows up and with just one look at each other sparks starts to fly, there's immediate chemistry, an undeniable pull between them and just like that everything in her life, including Jared is put in the second plan. Dorian brings up a totally new side in Gabriella, she never thought she had it in her, especially in the bedroom and the bedroom scenes were, well- SCORCHING HOT and while the writing style does need a bit improvement, these scenes were definitely the best written parts of the book and earned this book one star more.

"All I know is that my body is craving him. I need release and no one can deliver that better than Dorian. He knows what he’s doing. This was no accident. I told him I couldn’t see him and he somehow awakened a beast within me, making it so I can’t not stay away. I can’t let him win. If I give in this time, he’ll know he can manipulate me whenever he wants. But would that be the worst thing in the world? Being manipulated by Dorian when the payoff is so damn good? I can live with beingused for sex by him, can’t I? No. This is what he wants. He wants me to crave him. He wants to constantly be on my mind so I give into my carnal desires. This is all part of his game; unraveling me to the point where I need him to stay sane."
“I don’t believe in luck.” Dorian turns his body towards me, revealing his chiseled chest. “But you believe in magic?” I ask with an arch of my eyebrow. I know I am in dangerous territory but it’s just playful banter. Dorian smirks and his eyes suddenly darken. “Don’t you?” We stare at each other, both with a question on our lips. What is he trying to tell me? That he knows my secret? He couldn’t. No sane human being would believe that even if they read Natalia’s journal for themselves. I don’t know if even I can entirely believe it. “I know there’s magic in you. I've felt it. Right here,” Dorian murmurs, reaching down to stir my swollen, damp sex. And with that, there’s no more talking, just moaning, gasping and heavy breathing.

Yeah, what Ian said ;). 

Both Dorian and Gabriella have secrets which prevent them from taking their relationship to the next level. They are both confused by their intense attraction and feelings and afraid to open up, but still they are in too deep to let go. At the beginning they both try to deny their feelings and to keep their relationship casual as possible, but it soon becomes obvious that there's more between them than just the never ending lust and the only solution for them is to finally stop running and give a chance to each other.

“Look, I’m not good with this.” I know what he means- feelings, relationships…love.
“Neither am I,” I say quietly. It’s the truth. My longest relationship was two months and it only lasted that long because I was too lazy to break it off.
“I don’t know what you expect of me. I don’t want to sell you this dream then you realize it’s really a nightmare. That I’m a nightmare.” He exhales loudly and looks at me for a reaction. I give him nothing, my face stoic and unreadable. “You’ve made me… happy. I didn’t expect you to, but you did.”

“No one has ever moved me like you, Gabriella. I’ve never been so affected.”
“I could say the same about you,” I whisper.
“That’s why I want you around at all times. I like the way you make me feel. I need it.” His words are desperate yet I understand that type of desperation. I feel it too- the magnetic pull to him. It’s so much more than sexual attraction. It is what sustains us.

The paranormal part of the book was interesting, but it wasn't anything that I haven't already read before.It lacked originality and I wish the author had focused and developed a little bit more that part of the story. The author has potential, but considering that this book is labeled as dark paranormal erotica I wish it was actually more dark, that the characters were more mature and that there was less teen drama. I think that this book will appeal more to the readers who are new to this genre. I read a lot of great book in this genre and that's why I can't give it more than 3 stars, but the book did keep my interest enough to give it one more chance and read the next one called The Dark Prince (The Dark Light Series #2) coming out March 15th 2013. Hope it doesn't disappoint.

"Piece by piece we pick up the shards, trying to recover just a fragment of who we once were. But what is broken can never be as it was; it will never be the same. So we create a new portrait of ourselves and let our secrets become the glue that holds us together. Because if we admit the depths of our depravity, we can never turn back. We won’t be able to pretend anymore. He will know me, and I will know him. And that’s just a risk neither of us are willing to take."

My rating:

xoxo