Tag Archives: Dark

Review: Aftermath by Clara Kensie

Posted on November 18, 2016 by Amy-OUABB

Charlotte survived four long years as a prisoner in the attic of her kidnapper, sustained only by dreams of her loving family. The chance to escape suddenly arrives, and Charlotte fights her way to freedom. But an answered prayer turns into heartbreak. Losing her has torn her family apart. Her parents have divorced: Dad’s a glutton for fame, Mom drinks too much, and Charlotte’s twin is a zoned-out druggie. Her father wants Charlotte write a book and go on a lecture tour, and her mom wants to keep her safe, a virtual prisoner in her own home. But Charlotte is obsessed with the other girl who was kidnapped, who never got a second chance at life–the girl who nobody but Charlotte believes really existed. Until she can get justice for that girl, even if she has to do it on her own, whatever the danger, Charlotte will never be free.

My Review

Brilliant and utterly unexpected

I fell in love with Clara Kensie’s writing a few years ago when she wrote her Run To You Series. So, when I heard that she was writing something new, of course, I had to get my hands on it. And let me tell you, I was not in any way disappointed.

Aftermath is refreshing, unique and so unexpected. Aftermath is well written and utterly captivating. It is a story that is not only intense, but will grip you the entire time. This is a story about survival and what happens next. How do you move on when you’ve experienced something horrific and terrifying? Is it possible for life to return to normal and if so, what is normal?

Aftermath is raw, captivating and is a story that will take you one incredible journey. It is a story of hope, survival, and healing. That being said, this story does deal with some pretty tough subject matter, and I applaud the author for how real she was with it.

Once I picked up Aftermath, I could not put it down. I was not prepared for what I was reading or for the journey that I was about to go on, but I had to continue. I had to keep going. I had to know what would happen next. As I’ve said throughout this review, this is not an easy story, but it the end, it will leave you with one very important thing….Hope…

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*

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Posted in Amy, Contemporary Fiction, Reviews, YA and tagged Dark. Bookmark the permalink.

Review: Wicked Little Words by Stevie J Cole & BT Urruela

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Amy-OUABB

Edwin Allen Mercer
I want them all to read my words. And they do. Every last blood-stained sentence, they’ve read and praised me for. They love the gore and violence, the realness. And I get a sense of power with it all because I know a secret: the victims in my books—they’re real and have all died on my table. And maybe that’s why the last book had such awful reviews. Murder is, after all, a dirty little thing. Some can stomach it. Others can’t. My answer to those reviews: find a woman to co-author with. To be the next pathetic character in my book. Pity she’s so pretty.

Miranda Cross
All I’ve ever wanted was to be successful as a writer so when I was offered the opportunity to co-author a book with my idol, EA Mercer, I jumped at the chance. He’s beautiful and a literary genius, but something about him makes my stomach knot. And maybe it’s my overactive imagination making my hairs stand on end when he walks up behind me.

After all, these wicked little words we’re typing are only fiction.
They’re only fiction…

My Review

“Once you’re inside my car, not a soul on this planet can save you. Your life is mine to take.”

“This is my hour. This is my calling. I am the God of fuck and I do the devil’s dirty work, and tonight, my wrath will be felt.”

As a lover of dark reads, I could not wait to get my greedy little hands on this book. Now, I’m gonna warn you, this book is definitely and I mean definitely not for the faint of heart. So, if you’re not a fan of dark reads or books that you have to read with the lights on then run, look the other way because this book is not for you.

Now, there is not much I am going to tell you because there is no way in hell I am going to spoil this book. All I’m going to say is get ready. Get ready for one intense, crazy, mind fuck of a ride. This book is going to shock you and surprise you. It is going to push your limits and take you way out of your comfort zone. This story is going to suck you in and hold your mind captive. It is going to intrigue you. There are going to be moments where you’re going to want to put this book down and walk away, but you won’t be able to make yourself do it because you’re going to want to see it through. You’re going to have to see how the story will end.

Wicked Little Words is a fantastic compilation between Stevie J. Cole and BT Urruela. The writing is flawless and did not feel like it was written by two different people. And while this book certainly pushed my limits, I have to tell you, I’m glad I picked it up. I think these two authors make an excellent team and I’m scared and excited to see what they will come up with next.

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*

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Posted in 4 Stars, Adult, Amy, Contemporary Fiction, Reviews and tagged Dark. Bookmark the permalink.

Release Blitz with Review: Dirty (RAW Family #2) by Belle Aurora

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Amy-OUABB

Title: Dirty

Series: RAW Family #2

Author: Belle Aurora

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: October 31, 2016

Blurb

My marriage seemed perfect from the outside looking in.
People envied me. They wanted my life, wanted to be me.

Mrs Alejandra Gambino.
Wife of Dino Gambino. Daughter of Eduardo Castillo.
Respected. Loved. Mob royalty.

They had no idea of the horrors that lurked behind closed doors.
They didn’t know I was at the lowest point a person could reach.

Enter Julius Carter.
Aloof, handsome, blue-eyed Julius Carter.

He saved me.
I screwed him over.

Now everybody was after me. My life was forfeit.
It was only a matter of time. I was a dead woman walking.

The question was, who would get to me first?

ADD TO GOODREADS

My Review

“His words are like a decree, a pledge, a vow. These are the things he would do for me. These are the things he would do to keep me safe.”

“There will be no other for me, only him, and I will make him happy. He will never regret his decision to keep me. I swear it. I am his. From this moment on, I belong to him.”

“It’s then that I know everything is going to be okay. I didn’t even realize I was looking for the reassurance. Not until I found it.”

Holy Freakin’ Wow!! What a great read!! I just can even right now!!! When I think of Dark Mafia Style books, this is exactly what I have in mind….A story that consumes me. A story that keeps me guessing. A story that has unexpected twists and turns…

In order to keep this review as spoiler free as possible, I am gonna try and keep this review short and sweet. This book….Wow, it was like the perfect storm. It was captivating, all-consuming and impossible to put down. Dirty is dark and will take you on one intense, thrilling ride. Now, I’m gonna warn you, this story is not for the faint of heart. This story is raw. It is intense. It is gritty and deals with some tough subject matter….

Dirty is fast paced and incredibly well written. You will find yourself devouring all the words, impatiently turning the pages to see what will happen next. Yes, there is a lot of darkness and intensity, but like any good book, there is light in all the darkness. There is hope. There is love and scorching hot romance. And there is an ending that while it is wrapped up, it will leave you waiting with baited breath to get your hands on the final book in this series…

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

AUTHOR BIO

Belle Aurora is twenty seven years old and was born in the land down under.

At an early age she fell in love with reading. Boredom one summer had her scouring the bookshelves at home. She stumbled across Sandra Brown’s Breath of Scandal and fell in love with romance.

Having been brought up in a loud and boisterous family of Croatian descent, she developed a natural love for dramatics and humor. Only some years ago had she discovered a new love.

Humorous romance novels.

Kristen Ashley and R.L. Mathewson had opened a brand new world where she could lose herself yet feel safe and at home in their stories. Belle has been known to become a screeching banshee while anxiously awaiting their newest titles.

Belle never thought she would write. It had never interested her until recently. Friend-Zoned began to form and in February 2013 Belle typed the words Chapter One. And she fell in love.

With words.

With writing.

With a creative imagination she never knew she harbored.

Friend-Zoned is the first in the Friend-Zoned series. Keep an eye out for this cheeky author.

AUTHOR LINKS

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

GOODREADS

GIVEAWAY

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Posted in 4.5 Stars, Adult, Amy, Reviews and tagged Dark, Mafia. Bookmark the permalink.

Release Day Blitz: Preppy:The Life & Death of Samuel Clearwater, Part One (King #5)

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Amy-OUABB

Love. Never. Dies.

Find out why in Preppy by T.M. Frazier

Order your copy NOW at the following retailers:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2cTDLel

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2dLPjxf

iBooks: http://apple.co/2dTC9Pe

Nook: http://bit.ly/2dvflpI

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2dyWedL

Blurb

Samuel Clearwater, A.K.A Preppy, likes bowties, pancakes, suspenders, good friends, good times, good drugs, and a good f*ck.

He’s worked his way out from beneath a hellish childhood and is living the life he’s always imagined for himself. When he meets a girl, a junkie on the verge of ending it all, he’s torn between his feelings for her and the crippling fear that she could be the one to end the life he loves.

Andrea ‘Dre’ Capulet is strung out and tired.

Tired of living for her next fix. Tired of doing things that make her stomach turn. Tired of looking in the mirror at the reflection of the person she’s become. Just when she decides to end it all, she meets a man who will change the course of both their lives forever.

And their deaths.

For most people, death is the end of their story.

For Preppy and Dre, death was only the beginning.

This is the fifth book in the King Series and it’s meant to be read after Soulless.

About the Author:

T.M. Frazier is a USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR best known for her KING SERIES. She was born on Long Island, NY. When she was eight years old she moved with her mom, dad, and older sister to sunny Southwest Florida where she still lives today with her husband and daughter.

When she was in middle school she was in a club called AUTHORS CLUB with a group of other young girls interested in creative writing. Little did she know that years later life would come full circle.

After graduating high school, she attended Florida Gulf Coast University and had every intention of becoming a news reporter when she got sucked into real estate where she worked in sales for over ten years.

Throughout the years T.M. never gave up the dream of writing and with her husband’s encouragement, and a lot of sleepless nights, she realized her dream and released her first novel, The Dark Light of Day, in 2013.

She’s never looked back.

Visit her at www.tmfrazierbooks.com for news, information, and appearances.

Stalk Her: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Goodreads.

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Posted in Adult, Amy and tagged Dark. Bookmark the permalink.

Cover Reveal: Wicked Little Words by Stevie J. Cole & BT Urruela

Posted on October 1, 2016 by Amy-OUABB

FacebookBannerTemplate

The chilling cover to Wicked Little Words is FINALLY here!

Release Day: October 31st

Cover Model: Alfie Gordillo

Cover Design: Cover Me Darling

Genre: Erotic Thriller

WickedLittleWords

Sign up to get an alert when preorder links are available!
http://eepurl.com/bD_7NH

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Synopsis:

Edwin Allen Mercer

I want them all to read my words. And they do. Every last blood-stained sentence, they’ve read and praised me for. They love the gore and violence, the realness. And I get a sense of power with it all because I know a secret: the victims in my books—they’re real and have all died on my table. And maybe that’s why the last book had such awful reviews. Murder is, after all, a dirty little thing. Some can stomach it. Others can’t. My answer to those reviews: find a woman to co-author with. To be the next pathetic character in my book. Pity she’s so pretty.

Miranda Cross

All I’ve ever wanted was to be successful as a writer so when I was offered the opportunity to co-author a book with my idol, EA Mercer, I jumped at the chance. He’s beautiful and a literary genius, but something about him makes my stomach knot. And maybe it’s my overactive imagination making my hairs stand on end when he walks up behind me.

After all, these wicked little words we’re typing are only fiction. They’re only fiction…

ADD TO GOODREADS: http://bit.ly/2dEqGqf

WickedLittleWords

About the Authors:

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Stevie J. Cole lives deep in the woods of Alabama with her two precious daughters. She studied Epidemiology concentrating on cancer research but has always had a passion for writing. Some of her stories will strip you bare, some will give you nightmares, but the one thing she can promise is that she will always give you stories that make you feel.

Raw. Gritty. Love.
Because sometimes characters need to be flawed.

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

bt2

BT Urruela was an infantryman in the US Army from August 2004 until February 2011. At the end of a year long tour to Baghdad, Iraq, his vehicle was hit by two roadside bombs, which took his right leg below the knee and the life of his commander. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his wounds, an Army Commendation Medal, and Combat Infantryman’s Badge. He medically retired from the Army in 2011 and moved to Tampa, FL where he currently works as a Director and Brand Ambassador for VETSports, a veteran community sports nonprofit he co-founded in 2012. He also conducts motivational speeches, works as a cover and fitness model and he’s a personal performance trainer. He co-wrote the military romance novel A Lover’s Lament and will be releasing his debut solo novel, Into the Nothing, on June 21st, 2016.

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads

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Posted in Adult, Amy, Coming Soon, Cover Reveal and tagged Dark. Bookmark the permalink.

Review: Ravage (Scarred Souls #3) by Tillie Cole

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Amy-OUABB

Taken by the Jakhua Clan as a teen, 194 was stripped of his name, his identity, and his freewill, meticulously honed to be a ruthless, soulless killing machine, trained solely to spill blood and stop hearts. This is a role he resents with every fiber of his being, but one he embraces to gain back the precious leverage the Georgians wield as their weapon of control: his younger sister, 152.

Mzia Kostava is in shock. After fleeing her mafia family’s massacre in Georgia as a child, Mzia lives in secret, hiding from her enemies in the dark shadows of Manhattan. At age twenty-five, believing all her family is dead, word reaches Mzia that her brother Zaal is very much alive… and living with their family’s greatest enemy: the Volkov Bratva in Brooklyn.

Yearning to be reunited with her beloved Zaal, Mzia risks her safety and anonymity for the brother she had mourned since childhood. But just as she reaches Zaal’s apartment, Mzia is seized and taken captive by a strange man, who is strong, dark, and brutal… Unyielding, he demands her utter obedience as he locks her away in darkness. He is highly skilled in torture and inflicting pain, and demands to know everything about her brother Zaal and everything about her. He is a man that’ll do anything to get what he wants.

Sometimes love requires the sacrifice and betrayal of those held most dear. But is finding one’s true love worth committing the greatest sacrifice of all?

My Review

“I realized the torturer had a weakness after all–a need for someone to see the him trapped underneath the monster on the outside. And yearning to be touched.”

“We are different. Me weak and you strong. Me a Georgian and you Russian, but our broken hearts are tired and old. Our spirits are low, though not broken. But our souls, though thoroughly tested and hardened through pain, are resilient.”

Just when I think that Tillie Cole could not possibly blow me away more, she has to go and prove me wrong. The Scarred Souls Series is probably my favorite series by this author, so going in to Ravage, I had the bar set high. And I have to tell you, Tillie Cole took my expectations and totally blew them out of the water.

Ravage is fast paced, intense and is told from multiple points of view. This book will captivate you from the very first page and will keep you on the edge of your seat. Ravage is not an easy story. It will shock and surprise you. It will break your heart and leave you clenching your jaw as you are reading the pages. This is a story of surviving the absolute worst situations and finding light in a sea of darkness. This story is not easy, but the journey and outcome are so worth the ride your emotions will take.

Ravage is an intense, but truly amazing read. I loved every dark and intense moment. My emotions were all over the place and taken on the most crazy ride. The characters are complex and damaged. The writing and world that this author has created is so easy to get lost in and consumed by. I think Ravage is a fantastic addition to The Scarred Souls Series and I can not wait to see what Tillie Cole has in store for us next.

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*

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Posted in 5 Stars, Adult, Amy, Reviews and tagged Dark, NetGalley. Bookmark the permalink.

Teaser & Sneak Peek Alert: Pennies by Pepper Winters

Posted on June 29, 2016 by Amy-OUABB

New Teaser Alert!

Pennies is the highly anticipated July 20th release from Pepper Winters.

“She was poor. He was rich. Together…they were bankrupt.”

Pre-order your copy here:

iBooks: http://apple.co/1PofXwO

Nook: http://bit.ly/1TXN1uq

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

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

Add Pennie$ to your TBR at: http://bit.ly/1X2jy4I

Amazon will be available at a later date.

To be notified when available: http://eepurl.com/120b5

Read the prologue and Chapter One here: http://bit.ly/2929WEg

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Posted in Adult, Amy and tagged Coming Soon, Dark, First Look, Teaser. Bookmark the permalink.

Review: Into The Light by Aleatha Romig

Posted on June 17, 2016 by Amy-OUABB

Sara Adams awakes blind, unable to remember the most basic details of her life, but her darkness seems a blessing when she discovers the terrors of The Light.

Stella Montgomery investigates the news from the mean streets of Detroit, where she’s noticed a disturbing trend: young women are vanishing. When her best friend disappears, Stella digs for answers—despite warnings from her police detective boyfriend—following a twisted trail that leads her through the city’s most dangerous and forsaken precincts. There she uncovers something more sinister than she could have imagined: a shadowy organization known as The Light, led by the enigmatic Father Gabriel.

As Sara struggles to understand her place in the strange world she’s awakened to—an oppressive cult demanding unquestioning obedience—and her feelings for Jacob, the husband she can’t recall and whose harsh and tender attentions confuse and beguile her, Stella risks all to discover the truth. But enlightenment always comes with a price.…

My Review

When I picked up Into the Light, I went into it not knowing anything about it, other than the synopsis. All I knew was that I was going to go for one crazy ride. And true to Aleatha Romig fashion, she did not disappoint. What I got with Into the Light was a story unlike anything I’ve read before.

Into the Light is well written and intriguing with complex characters that are demanding their story be told. This story is told from dual points of view and is the total package. It has everything from mystery to suspense to romance and shocking twists and turns. This story will have you glued to the pages as you try to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. And in the end, you will be left with one crazy, shocking, give me the next book now cliffhanger.

All I can say is, Be ready! This story is going to take you for one heck of a ride!

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*

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Posted in 4 Stars, Adult, Amy, Reviews and tagged Dark, mystery, Romantic Suspense. Bookmark the permalink.

Review: Sugar Daddy (Sugar Bowl #1) by Sawyer Bennett

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Amy-OUABB

Sela Halstead lost her innocence in a way that no sixteen-year-old should ever have to endure. She’s spent years trying to forget that night even while wondering about the identities of the monsters who brutalized her—until a telltale tattoo flashes across Sela’s TV screen. The incriminating ink belongs to Jonathon Townsend, the millionaire founder of The Sugar Bowl, a website that matches rich older men with impressionable young women. Obsessed with revenge, Sela infiltrates Townsend’s world, only to come face-to-face with a tantalizing complication: Beckett North, his charismatic business partner.

The tech mastermind behind The Sugar Bowl, Beck always gets what he wants, in business and in bed. And yet, for a man who’s done every dirty thing imaginable, there’s something about the naïve, fresh-faced Sela that sparks his hottest fantasies. Because with her, it’s not just about sex. Beck opens up to her in ways he never has with other girls. So why does he get the feeling that she’s hiding something? In a world of pleasure and power, the shocking truth could turn them against each other—or bind them forever.

Note: Sugar Daddy ends on a cliffhanger. Sela and Beck’s story continues in Sugar Rush and Sugar Free!

My Review

“Whatever the connection…for whatever reason that I’ve given her something that others haven’t, I have a deep gut instinct that it’s something that almost defies reason or logic. I almost get the sense it’s mystical in nature and I’m intrigued beyond measure. And so for the first time in my life, I’m doing something unlike anything Beck North has ever done before. I’m exploring something deeper with a woman.”

“I want to crawl inside of you, Sela, and feel every inch of you against me. I don’t want any barriers and I don’t want any fucking walls between us. Just you and me, touching…you melding into me, me into you. I want to know what that feels like with you.”

What an exciting start to this new series by author Sawyer Bennett. Sawyer Bennett is one of those authors that is an automatic one click for me. So, when I heard about this new series, I could not wait to get my hands on it. And let me tell you, Sugar Daddy does not disappoint. Sugar Daddy is refreshing and so different from what we normally get with this author. It’s smart, well-written with dark tones. The story-line is intriguing and deals with some tough issues. This story will hook you and captivate you. It will have you on the edge of your seat. You will wonder how will all play out. You will wonder if there is a chance for a happy ending.

Sugar Daddy has all the elements I needed for a good read. It’s smart. It’s sexy. It’s intriguing. It’s got romance and dark elements. It has some shocking moments and a fantastic cliffhanger. OMG!! That cliffhanger!! All I can say is when is the next book coming out?? I desperately need to know what’s going to happen next. Fans of Sawyer Bennett, you’re going to want to check this one out!

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*

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Posted in Adult, Amy, Reviews and tagged Dark, NetGalley, Romantic Suspense. Bookmark the permalink.

Review: Never Let You Go (Never Tear Us Apart) by Monica Murphy

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Amy-OUABB

Darkly sexy, emotional and forbidden, a woman unwittingly falls in love with the son of her abductor. The conclusion of a two-book contemporary romance series by New York Timesbestselling author Monica Murphy.

Lies hurt. Lies destroy. I tried my best to understand why Ethan kept his secrets but it was so hard. Until I realized that I couldn’t deny myself any longer — I needed to be with him. We needed each other. Despite my family’s wariness, the media’s fascination with us, the fact that his father still has a stranglehold on our lives, we belong together. No matter what. I will never let Ethan go. But sometimes love destroys us too, and we’re too weak to banish the demons. Especially when our demons are determined to ruin us…

My Review

“I need to remember that I get to choose. Only I have the power to find inner fulfillment. If I choose to be unhappy, I’m unhappy. If I choose to be angry and let my anger push me, then that’s my choice too. For once in my life..I choose me.”

“I suddenly feel shy, which is ridiculous because he’s seen me naked. Vulnerable. At my worst times and at my best. He’s seen me in every way possible, he knows me better than anyone else and I realize in this single, heart-stopping moment that he is the only person in this entire world that understands me, who knows me inside and out. And I can’t deny it any longer. I’m in love with him.”

Never Let You Go is the heart-pounding, thrilling sequel to Never Tear Us Apart. Never Let You Go is told from multiple points of view and picks up right where the last book left off. When we last left Ethan (Will) and Katie, Katie just found out about the huge secret that Ethan has been keeping from her. Now these two must navigate through all the secrets and lies to see if their relationship can be saved. The road to HEA for these two is not an easy one. It’s one that they really have to keep fighting for, especially when a part of their past just won’t go away.

Never Let You Go is a fantastic follow up to the first book. It pulls you in from the first page. You will not be able to put it down. This book will have you on the edge of your seat wondering how things will play out. And just when you think things are on their way and the HEA is in sight, a mind blowing twist is thrown your way and will have you wondering, ‘Will Ethan and Katie ever get their HEA’??

I loved everything about this book; from start to finish. All my questions were answered and I gotta tell you, the extra points of view, really added to the story. Never Let You Go is filled with suspense, romance, and drama. And of course with any good suspense novel, you can expect their to be danger lurking when you least expect it…..

Never Let You Go takes you on one thrilling ride and was a great ending to Ethan and Katie’s story.

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*

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Posted in 4.5 Stars, Amy, NA, Reviews and tagged Dark, NetGalley. Bookmark the permalink.