I have admired this book cover and synopsis the whole summer so I grabbed it when I had an Audible credit. This is a juicy, dark-ish, fast-pa3.5 STARS
I have admired this book cover and synopsis the whole summer so I grabbed it when I had an Audible credit. This is a juicy, dark-ish, fast-paced thriller that has some overwrought moments in my opinion but overall is an edgy story that will definitely hold your interest.
The narration was actually not my favorite - I felt like Oliver sounded more frightened and distraught than he really was - but the story was just my cup of tea. Oliver has fought his way up from the hard life he led in Indiana, to being the partner of a trauma surgeon living in Georgetown. He has always felt like somewhat of a fraud since he is a recovering addict, who comes from poverty and a dysfunctional family, who now moves among the upper class in Washington D.C.
The opening scene is really the only one that takes place in the Bath Haus of the title, but it is the catalyst for the rest of the book. Oliver goes there for anonymous encounter but ends up the victim of a violent assault. He reports the attack to the police but also lies to the detective because he is afraid of telling the truth to his partner Nathan.
Oliver begins to spin a web of lies - even though they are unintentional - to save his relationship with Nathan. Told in alternating points of view, Nathan is also insecure in his relationship with Oliver, and both have secrets to hide. I love watching other people make bad decisions and this book is full of them! If you could call a book a gay Gothic thriller, this would be it.
P.J. Vernon has a very sly sense of humor and a very vivid and colorful imagination. Credit to the author for creating a likeable main character even though Oliver makes extremely poor choices over and over. This is a very fast paced and suspenseful thriller that will keep you engaged from the beginning to end. Nothing too deep, but a fabulous escape for a few hours. What could be bad?
The author of ‘Comfort Food� writes dark romance like no other! I was desperate for more Angel and Astrid after reading this dark short story. Angel iThe author of ‘Comfort Food� writes dark romance like no other! I was desperate for more Angel and Astrid after reading this dark short story. Angel is a cold-blooded killer but he wants to keep the beautiful and innocent Astrid as his own. Will his twisted scheme work? ‘Trust Game� is a sexy and tantalizing peek into the world of dark romance with a hint of BDSM. I need more!!! ...more
I adore CD Reiss and I need to think about this audiobook before I write a review! I think I loved it. This is very dark, but marriage books are my jaI adore CD Reiss and I need to think about this audiobook before I write a review! I think I loved it. This is very dark, but marriage books are my jam so this was right up my alley. Full review to come soon. ...more
“Medicine is in his blood. Like illness is in mine. My blood is tainted with poison and his is laced with the antidote.�
Saffron Kent writes some o“Medicine is in his blood. Like illness is in mine. My blood is tainted with poison and his is laced with the antidote.�
Saffron Kent writes some of the very best emotional, sexy, forbidden romances and 'Medicine Man' is no exception. I read an early copy of this story and was completely taken in by the vulnerability and raw emotion of the story. There is nothing quite so taboo to me than a doctor-patient romance and while I was angry at first with Simon for taking advantage of his patient, I still could not put this book down.
Willow is a young psychiatric patient suffering from depression. She is tough and battles her demons every single day. The author balances out the heavy subject matter with just the right touch of humor and humanity and the supporting characters are all vibrant and provide a wonderful balance.
"We don’t give up when our inner demons overpower the demons on the outside. We don’t give up. Period. We choose to be more than our illness...And it’s fucking unfair. But when is life ever fair? You make the most of what you’ve been dealt with.�
Willow has been involuntarily committed and counts down the days until her release. She merely goes through the motions of therapy and group sessions until she meets Dr. Simon Blackwood who has been sent to Hearthstone temporarily. He is battling his own demons and is far from perfect. Yet he is the only one who can get though to Willow. The age difference was not an issue for me but once you get past the taboo, their chemistry is absolutely incredible!
Remember that this is fiction and might not be for everyone. The story tackles tough themes such as depression, mental illness and suicide but the writing is wonderful and the pacing is perfect. If you love slow-burn romances and are not afraid of edgy themes, then you will love 'Medicine Man.' The author has written a dark, emotional and edgy romance with a brave heroine. Saffron Kent's writing just keeps getting better and better!
“Stop being a hero. Stop being so afraid of failing. You’re just a man. You make mistakes. Own them. Don’t run from them. Don’t run from yourself. Give yourself a chance to fall. Don’t fight failure. Fight to rise from them. Fight for your future...Fight. For once, fight for yourself. Save yourself.�...more
"We got here, baby, through fire and blades, demons and curses, blood and plagues."
Just WOW. I had high hopes for 'Fury' and Cat Porter exceeded e"We got here, baby, through fire and blades, demons and curses, blood and plagues."
Just WOW. I had high hopes for 'Fury' and Cat Porter exceeded every single one of my expectations and then some!! A gritty, incredibly sensual and emotional thrill ride. Put this one on your must-read list!
"Why did we have to sacrifice love for love?"
This is a story that spans decades and offers up the very best in the MC romance genre. There are many biker books out there but Cat Porter is one of the most talented writers in this genre. From the minute we first meet Lenore, she is tortured, anguished an abused. Finger is a young prospect being held prisoner and their bonds are forged in fire.
Finger never forgets Lenore. She is branded onto his soul. There's is a love story that literally spans many years but cannot be denied. Once again, Ms. Porter writes characters that are devastatingly honest and real and their emotions are raw and brutal. The MC life is not an easy one. Many scenes in this book are raw and graphic. But through it all, Finger and Lenore rise above their savage pasts.
“Hell and heaven. Beautiful and horrible. We found each other first in the dark and then in the light and in all the shadows in between. No matter how I tried convincing myself that I should forget, the scars never allowed it.�
'Fury' is a total roller-coaster ride of emotions. It takes a lot for me to cry but this book brought me to my knees! Never in a million years did I expect the twist to this book. AND, as if there wasn't enough to love about this story, I fell in love with Tania! HELLO.
My favorite books involve couples who are older and have lived and experienced life. 'Fury' delivers that and then some. Finger and Lenore have suffered and triumphed through so much, I was hoping against hope that they would find their happy ending. Loyalty, brotherhood, love, devotion, revenge and friendship...'Fury' has it all. Don't miss this one!!
"She is at the crux. She is the flame. My fever, my fury. Let it roar."...more
I don't even know what to say about this book, other than I kinda enjoyed it! Look away now if dubious consent, violence and mind games turn you off. I don't even know what to say about this book, other than I kinda enjoyed it! Look away now if dubious consent, violence and mind games turn you off. This oddly appealing story of a therapist's rapid fall from grace was recommended by one of my favorite writers, Varian Krylov. So I just knew I had to read this!
Dr. Crane begins treating Max, who very early on establishes himself as at the very least, amoral, and at the worst, a sociopath. But Crane, who is an inexperienced therapist just out of school, falls quickly under his patient Max's spell.
“Are you afraid of me, Dennis? You shouldn’t be. I’m trying my very best to make you understand that I like you. And I’m offering you the very thing you desire the most: me. You know I’m a fine specimen of amorality. I’m giving you the opportunity to look behind the curtain. No holding back.�
The levels of depravity this story sinks to are quite extreme. But I found the book to be surprisingly engaging and very well-written. Dr. Crane knew he was addicted to Max, yet he simply could not stop his increasingly twisted behavior.
He felt strangely light and calm, as if he’d used up all of his fear and trepidation and was left with nothing but serene acceptance. Maybe this was what Max felt like all the time.
This book is dark to the nth degree. But if you're in the mood for a bizarre and perverted story with some very black humor, then 'Max' might be just what you're looking for. You have been warned! ...more
"Open your shirt for me, little one. Let’s see if I like what I’m getting for my trouble.�
She's baaaaack!! Penelope Douglas has written another d"Open your shirt for me, little one. Let’s see if I like what I’m getting for my trouble.�
She's baaaaack!! Penelope Douglas has written another dark and delicious and riveting story in the Devil's Night series. I could not WAIT for Kai's story and it was everything I hoped for! Secrets are revealed, inner desires unleashed with a heart-pounding romance at the heart of to all.
Kai's story was incredible. Ms. Douglas is one of the most talented romance writers around and I just knew that she would create another romantic suspense story like no other. 'Hideaway' is just as dark os 'Corrupt' and will satisfy your every craving. Kai is an alpha like no other - dark, dangerous and SMART.
"We're only ever good, because there are consequences," I told her. "Take those away, and everyone shows their true self. Kind of like taking off a mask."
This book alternates back and forth between the present and Devil's Night six years before. Kai has finally met his match in Banks, a mysterious figure who may or may not have some connection to him. The chemistry between them is perfect, as I would expect with a Penelope Douglas book, but not instant. They have an intense and sexy connection but to say more would ruin the experience of reading this story. I am glad I did not know too much about the plot. It was INSANE!!
"Happy to hear it, because I'm the only man whose attention you should be trying to get, and baby, you got it years ago while wearing another man's clothes." He kissed my temple, his hot breath sending chills down my spine. "So you can imagine how fucking beautiful you are to me right now wearing mine."
There are tons of twists and turns and part of the enjoyment of reading this yummy tale was the ending. This book is definitely for fans of dark romance: this is not a hearts-and-flowers kind of book. But if you are a fan of the Four Horsemen from 'Corrupt', then you will devour 'Hideaway'! It is raw and gritty and WILD. And there is a fabulous sneak peek from 'Kill Switch', Devil's Night #3. I can't wait to see how Ms. Douglas tells Damon's story!!
“This is what I wanted. What I always wanted, since the first time I’d seen her. Someone who knew me and wanted to dive with me…�
ARC provided by the author in return for an honest review. ...more
Giving this one 5 stars because of the outstanding writing and the fact that I laughed many times at THE most inappropriate places. The subject matterGiving this one 5 stars because of the outstanding writing and the fact that I laughed many times at THE most inappropriate places. The subject matter is truly vile but the writing really pops. A must-read.
"Ford, like the husbands of most women who marry for money, is far too old. Since I’m twenty-six myself, it’s true that he and I are close peers. But thirty-one is roughly seventeen years past my window of sexual interest."
Yes, this is the voice of Celeste, the main protagonist of this fascinating novel. She is a teacher and a predator. She is also possibly a sociopath. She lives for each new school year, with a new crop of young boys, not quite even matured to late teenage-hood. She is a hebephiliac - she is sexually interested in pubescent (early adolescent) boys.
However vile I found Celeste, I still loved this book. Be warned: there are graphic scenes between Celeste and her victims. But the dialogue and the social observations are crisp, sharp, unwavering and spot-on.
"There was something repulsive (and revealing) about talking on a cell phone while handling garbage. Why did anyone pretend human relationships had value?"
I knew that this story would not end well but I just could to look away! 'Tampa' is a commentary on societal norms, the value of superficial beauty in our society and the inability of out of us to accept the truth even when it slaps us in the face.
Celeste focuses her stalking skills on a young named Jack Patrick. She grooms his carefully: would he be likely to keep a secret? Living with his dad, he seems the perfect target.
"With a dull roar, the buses began rolling by and my eyes followed them like I was watching a shell game at a carnival: all of them looked identical, but one had a prize inside. Which bus was Jack’s?"
'Tampa' has been on my TBR list forever and I am so glad I read it. Alissa Nutting is a brilliant and insightful writer. I loved her very depraved sense of humor. While the ending was a little too rushed for my tastes, this book is still unforgettable....more
� Ellen’s Reviews �
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