GaleMR
Just when you think the Road to Carnage has shown you all the treats and tricks, all the unconventional bondings and relationships and you think you have seen it all, a simple new twist sends you spiralling in a new direction. It's time for Payback! Being in a 1% MC means always living on the edge and far beyond the low lvls of pain, sacrifice, vengeance and risk. But even bikers aren't immune to the trials of love and when they love, it's a love like no other - unleashing untamed beast who won't stop until he claims what he feels its his. Fierce, protective, possessive love is a special stamp of Nicholas Bella's world building. It burns so strong and bright, it obliterates everyone that stays in the way. The way this author builds up the relationships of his characters, often pushes the boundaries of what's conventionally socially acceptable. The characters often make questionable morally grey choices. And every hit means there is a payback, doesn't it?
There are books and then there are The Books - those that leave a lasting imprint on the memory long after the last page is closed.
Our favourite characters are back!!!Knock, knock! Rhodey, Jared and Noah are here to open the door where a glimpse of the Past is waiting to tell you a story! And The Past is definitely not a story full of candies, teddy bears, warm holiday celebrations and a sense of security and calm.
The Past is forged in blood, shattered dreams, shards of pain, illusions of love.
But The Past is also the hands of the people who will dig you out of the pit of sorrow, disappointment and loss and a beginning of a found family who will stay by your side and help you build up the broken pieces.
Don't miss this captivating story!It's worth every second of your time!
Happy reading!
Father and son cest story in fun, entertaining and compact package, surprisingly light and easy to read. There was 0 drama in it because both of the characters were absolutely aware of the forbidden nature of their interactions if they wanted to turn the delightful one time experience in something more permanent. So they had to be creative and careful to avoid disruption of their daily lives.I loved Bailey's personality - so sunny, down to earth and easy going as well as his father's quiet observing demenoar and inherent nurturing tendencies.
It's definitely the “Road to Carnage”, no matter which angle you try to look at it from. People in these stories are just bargaining chips and if there are no additional assets to back up their value, they become the next collateral damage or a dead man walking. This new installment in the series delivers another intense heap of hard truths, risky choices, unexpected revelations, and bitter pills to swallow for some of the main characters. I enjoyed it immensely.
Ajay had a hard decision to make and the future will show if his choice was a good one. But his relationship with TT is going strong for now. The fact they even managed to get some hot steam action in prison environment, deserves cheering for being innovative.
Sadly not all main characters were so lucky - Monty paid a steep price for his father's poor financial decisions. And the name of the price is Ren - the insufferable, bratty youngest son of Da Han/ head honcho of The Jade Dragon Triad/. Like father, like son - the only way they know how to receive something or someone is through blackmail and underhanded hits. So Monty was saddled with unwanted 2 in 1, family addition- husband and sub. I lost the count of times when I wanted to strangle this disaster, named Ren Mujin.I am curious to see the continuation of their turbulent beginning in the next book.
Surprisingly, I enjoyed the most Demir and Wolf's cameo - I loved the way they settled and balanced the dynamic in their relationship even though they also had a rough start. And the spicy undertones where more then welcome.
Nicholas Bella always waves together more than one plot line and together they all make the whole story arc deeper, more intense and the possibilities of new developments and connections are practically endless. And that's the reason I keep coming back for more of these dark pieces of reading delight
When I started reading I didn't expect the pull and the impact of this short sweet story to draw me in but it definitely packs a punch. It's not just a about the kink or the Daddy-Little dynamic. There are a ton like this out there. No, it's about self exploration and finding the strength to be yourself no matter the price. While Dante learns to let go of his fears, insecurities and jealousy and gets acquainted with what being a Little is , Campbell - his initially reluctant Dom - has equally important challenge to face - saying Good bye to his past and the crippling grief after losing his first love - Little Aaron. The storyline follows the tender build up of their bond, the tentative first moments and the turmoil of the all tangled emotions.
I picked this book because the level of supposed dark undertones to the story seemed promising, but the angst and darkness turned out to be of medium intensity. However, the author really surprised me with the depth of the world building, the thrilling twists and turns, the distinct dystopian vibes, and the bottomless pit of conflicted feelings at their rawest. The story revolves around a really big challenge for the human race - the integration of haemophiles/vampires/ and the challenges and unexpected mishaps that process brings in its wake. It was a gritty, violent, dirty clash of 2 species trying to coexist and failing to find the balance.
After a terrifying attack from a haemophile, Tyler's life comes to a screeching halt. For someone who has lived all his life throwing his money and weight around and used to receive what he wants, he is shell-shocked being touched by the new reality where he isn't amongst the biggest, baddest fish in the small pond where he lives. The world is changing and not in a good way - new threats and new status quo are emerging from the deepest recesses of the night, irrevocably shifting the power balance. In the sleepless nights after the attack, Tyler is battling his inner demons - anger, frustration, rage. And not only!!! The fleeting moments of closed proximity with his attacker, Lucien, left him an even less than wanted present - a primal, unexplainable desire towards the monster, desire for something more, something forbidden. So Tyler spends his time obsessed by the overwhelming need to find Lucien again and understand the inferno of feelings, eating him alive. Deep down inside of him, he knows what the need is but just can't accept it. His mind and body are in a vicious conflict.
Lucien, on the other hand, is one of the oldest, probably the last of the oldest vampires in existence. Uncontrollable menace, amongst his kind, he lives by a long forgotten moral code, that was the reason he was turned centuries ago - to be a judge, jury and executioner when the human juridical system fails to protect the innocent. But haemophiles like him are detrimental to the efforts of the majority to blend in, adapt and be accepted as a part of the modern world.
The appeal of the story, from my perspective, is that the author has created not likable but plausible characters - they aren't pretty picture perfect. On the contrary- their decisions are often morally grey, self centered or plainly repulsive, the results - messy and ugly, but the story is so much more intense, unpredictable and out of control fascinating.
When Tyler met Lucien again, the collision was explosive. The world he knew and the world he never known about, merged together creating something unknown and frightening, that he has to learn and embrace as his new reality. The ending of the book was a HFN and I hope the questions will be answered in the next installment.
It would have been a real blast if the blurb of the book was like the real content shifters, hybrids and humans trying to find a balance and co exist while crazy ocultists bring violence and terror !?!Yes, please, sounds great!I don't mind the slow burn vibe as long as the world building and the plot are really engaging. And here the author managed to deliver a really good storyline with great emotional impact. That's why I am leaving the 3 stars - because of the idea and the way the plot was developed. There where 2 main problems that kept me from connecting to the story. First - the weird triangle between Max, Zach and Gabe definitely ruined my enjoyment and I really struggled to finish the book. Miscommunication is really frustrating and here it reached quite a good level from the very beginning/ Max thought, Zach thought, Gabe thought - omg, please, spare us the agony and just talk!/. Being best friends for so long Zach and Gabe should have been able to clear the air talking with each other and staying only friends if their “benefits” arrangement obviously didn't work out. And when in this real emotional mess was added Max, it got even more tangled. Second - I tried to understand Max as a character but I couldn't. He lacked the fire and backbone I expected and I didn't see the personality growth nor the chemistry in Max and Gabe's relationship when it finally started.
I received reviewer's copy of the book from GRR and this is my unbiased opinion.
The domino effect in this gripping but chilling-to-the-bone story is set up in the very first chapter with all the elements of a good thriller - ruthless serial killers who travel across the States and leave bloody trail in their wake, a team of detective/hunter, hot on their heels but always too late to stop the next murder, a barely 20-year-old college boy caught in the crossfire and marked as the next victim. At first glance, everything about this story seems so peaceful and perfect - even after coming out, Kerry has a loving and supportive family, and by starting to work at the local cabaret in drag, he finds many friends and even more support. Incredibly smart, black belt in martial arts, strikingly handsome - this should have been the golden ticket to enjoy his 20s and explore his identity. The tension build up was slow but definitely there. And even though I enjoy a big cast of secondary characters, here it was just a little bit on the overwhelming side of good, because it was taking my attention from the main plot line - Kerry and how the loop of the trap was slowly but surely closing in around him. After so many warnings and red flags, he was so over confident, reckless and full of himself, that it was interesting yet terrifying to watch the fallout. Martin and Zak were helplessly fumbling around trying to prevent the previous repeats of events, but it was more than obvious they were failing with a bang. Typical for Beverly's books, Martin and Zak had a complex history and their darker past was haunting their present and coloring their life choices and decisions. I loved how the story gradually unfolded - piece by little piece a gruesome picture emerged from the darkness with Kerry as the central figure. I would have enjoyed it even more if everything happening on page was a little bit more condensed and the actual peak was reached earlier. But earlier or later, the fact is that the story was a real thrill and the ending, a perfect foundation for the horrors that were in store for Kerry, just waiting to be unleashed.
As a final note, I have to say that this is the kind of twist in a story that I enjoy the most - the kind of darkness that comes quietly and unexpectedly out of a seemingly bright blue sky and leaves destruction and scars in its wake.
For me it's a book with a strong emotional impact. So much sorrow, pain, anguish, grief and finally love in one well written package.
Reading the first time Ashok and Hayden met was like watching a train wreck. The clash of their personalities was inevitable. Both have lost the ability to trust another person and have built walls to hide behind. The book follows the story of the healing of their souls as they learn what love really is and how to navigate a relationship.
The only thing missing was higher heat level.
I received an ARC for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Not 5! Definitely 5+! Hands down this book is in my top 3 for 2023 - thriller, suspense and erotica elements rolled together in a brilliant, twisted and original world building. It's very hard to not just create but balance so many plot lines that compliment and amplify each other's intensity.
The Gentleman's club is a the centerpiece in the main arc of the story - a playground for the rich, influential and corrupted figureheads and key players who want to advance in the city. A place where dark fantasies and deprived games define who is a hunter and who is just prey but while one can be at the top of the power exchange one day, it could slide into nothingness the next. The events in the cabin not only changed the bonds and the dynamics between the 4 friends in the first book, but actually triggered an avalanche in the second one. They weren't the lone players in the game of settling the scores and clearing out old grudges anymore. Chris' incredible ambition and Jay's out of control thirst for revenge opened the doors to even darker world that threatened to suck all 4 of them in without an emergency exit available.
Simply fascinating! I loved how all the these events were fitting so well together like domino pieces and falling down in an terrifying unstoppable domino effect. It was like every twist of the story brought out another twist and the tension was ramping up higher and higher. The feeling of fear and inevitability were so authentic because like in real life there wasn't anyone completely innocent or completely in the wrong. Every single one of them had made a questionable choice somewhere along the path and they were all tangled together in the web of their own decisions, mistakes and miscalculations. The HFN at the end is a promise that darkness is yet to fall, so I can't wait to see what happens next...
Medusa Stone, there is an evil genius living in your imagination. This book, loaded with a deep sense of despair and anguish, almost made me cry. I am following Tony's adventure from the first page of the first book and I still cannot comprehend how his simple wish for touch, belonging, love and support ended in such a helish experience. I was reading and breaking inside while Tony was losing the last pieces of his Innocence and watching his dreams go down the drain. The author says the story is nerve wracking, but I'll add that it's also mind-bending and downright terrifying. It shows how Tony continues to slide into the endless abyss of manipulation, degradation and dehumanization. This is not just a dark book, it is a painting of the hell Tony lives in and the daily horrors he must endure, created from the words of a skilful writer whose imagination knows no limits or boundaries. Each day of survival is a small victory that adds more scars and pain to his body, soul and mind, raising so many questions of whether Alexander is so worthy of this sacrifice; is it a true love or just an illusion he so much wants to be real or is his love just an anchor that keeps his sanity from shattering.
Dominic is yet another example of the fascinating way human mind works, survives trauma and follows goals built on negative life experience. For him people are just the links used for achieving a certain result- easily replaceable, discarded or moved around. And sadly Tony is one them - an unhealthy obsession and a source of something Dominic wants and doesn't spare resources to obtain.
The ending of the story gives no answers, only the foreboding feeling of more fresh horrors to come in the new installment.
First of all, I want to clarify that I haven't read all the stories, included in the Anthology, only the one written by Courtney W.Dixon.
Short or long, Courtney W.Dixon knows how to write an entertaining story that pulls you in from the first page. The plus side of being short is that it skips right through all the pinning, doubts, soul-searching and the slow-burning vibes and hops right into the real hot action. And Myles and Kane delivered a ton of sweetness with all of the hotness. While I love plot heavy books, their story was like a refreshing appetizer before a main meal and I hope the author will decide to expand it in the future/minus the 3y of pinning mentioned on page/. Omg, I was relieved Myles had a real friend who used a game of Truth and Dare to push him into the right direction. Excellent job, Jules, you were fantastic.
Okay, it's settled! I'm packing up and moving!Where? In the highly addictive, utterly irresistible fictional world of Sierra, of course. Her impeccable writing, which creates incredibly vivid fictional worlds that you can live in forever lost and never be bored, is something every reader should experience. Ava's life takes another wild turn, old memories resurface, and a new man, Taron, is added to her polycule. The author weaves layer after layer of unexpected turns and revelations, but it's like a maze without an exit - one answered question is usually followed by a new unknown. I love how Ava's relationships with every one of her men are shaping for now - they have different flavors and dynamics, the same way they have vastly different backgrounds and a past that has formed their personalities. What I really like is that they aren't only connected to Ava but bond together on a different level. The next thing that made an impression to me was how the plot lines were amplifying and complimenting each other and at the end the tension has reached significant level. War is coming and I can't wait to see the outcome.
Two weeks vacation and a small wedding of their kids on a tropical island was what both Reggie and Ben signed up for. Turned out they didn't count how mischievous, resourceful and creative their meddling kids - Jason and Megan- could be while planning not only their wedding but a much needed interference in the life of their lonely, widowed parents. So 2 weeks in paradise actually were anything but what Reggie and Ben expected.
2 weeks of living in forced proximity
2 weeks of revelations, painful confessions and long night conversations
2 weeks of healing and closing old wounds while listening to each other
2 weeks of a steep learning curve - how to live closely to another person again, how to share not only space but feelings
2 weeks of bi awakening/ for Ben/ , slowly finding a way out of his protective shell and experiencing the wonders of consensual physical touch and intimacy
2 weeks of self discovery/ for Reggie/ and learning not be ashamed of his needs.
This fairly short story packed a surprising amount of angst / only discussed, not on page/and heavy emotional topics - domestic abuse, family estrangement, forced marriage, emotional blackmail and abuse, sexual incompatibility and all the mental destruction these events inflicted. I loved the maturity of the characters, the way they analysed and discussed their life experience, the way they embraced and cherished the second chance of relationship. It was not only a kinky exploration but finding and accepting their hidden selves, opening their lives for love, hope and a healthy change.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The vibe of the book is like an embrace of old friend comforting and warm. A myriad intense emotions are hidden between these pages. There is so much to love while reading: wholesome and likeable characters, strong bonds between friends and brothers, well built plot with 2 focal points - the darker one is the abuse Jude was subjected to all his life by his own mother and the second one - the relationship between Jude and Nate. I am not a fan of insta love but the way these 2 clicked together like 2 peas in a pod felt natural and deeply touching. Jude simply flourished and bloomed like a flower seeking the sun under the dotting care of his Dom - Nate. Nate is such a touching example of nurturing dominant. He cocooned Jude in warmth and tender care in the exact time of dire need.
Excellent balance in the story between dark and light, love and betrayal, pain and healing.
I never thought it was possible for a book to simultaneously make you feel like you're drowning in sadness, but also elate you that despite the trauma people can experience, more often than not they choose to fight and not give up.
Levi and Ash had their totally different life battles and challenges that left them emotionally scarred and wary, full of insecurities, fear, abandonment issues and profoundly, painfully lonely.
It was a very interesting reading experience watching the personal growth of both characters - the way they found and honed their own coping mechanisms and how the relationship between them helped them heal and face the deeply rooted trusting issues as well as helping them find a healthy ground for a new beginning.
It's a pure wonder how a boy who was mistreated so badly in his first most important formative childhood years, could have so unbelievably, inherently good-natured, considerate, sensitive and wholesome personality.
But Levi survived all the odds stacked against him - the neglect, the abuse, the prostitution and even kept his inner bright spark.
The way his relationship started with Ash Carter has undeniably unhealthy undertones but considering his harsh upbringing and trauma, it made it that more realistic and authentic.
The book is definitely darker, dealing with heaps of triggering, life altering events and turns, not the typical romance which is that more intriguing and captivating.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Mona Black, you,sly fox, did you just cliffhanger me? Yes, you totally did. You not only left me hanging in such a key moment of the story, but you left me breathless after laughing so much with your characters. And the warm feeling of reading a book not only entertaining but thought provoking and unforgettable is still lingering. For being alphas, your male characters surely are stumbling around like unexperienced foals, doubting themselves, blindly guessing their decisions and learning how to build the fated bond marks. Ariadne is blossoming and coming into her strengths, led more by the instincts of her nature, than any knowledge, slowly turning into the anchor, her packmates need. Our unlikely ragtag bunch of alphas are surprisingly well adapting to the all changes they face, all the challenges they have to tackle and all the unknowns that constantly pop up. As wanted fugitives, danger is their constant shadow and fighting for their lives is a daily occurrence. Ariadne has already added 3 alphas to her harem - Fin, Taj and the last one Kiearan, while following the path to leave the borders of the Empire, keeping tight lid on the hope that they will one day find allies and some safety. Dear, confused Kiaran has wormed a cosy place in my heart amongst my favourite characters and his patent : “Permission to touch” often left me gasping and snorting through a fit of laugher. Finnan is desperately clinging to his past as a priest using it as a pillar in a sea of uncertainty and shocking changes that follow in rapid succession. He shows admirable resilience and willingness to adapt. And then there is Taj - the so precious balance and guidance their whole group needs.
I enjoyed the whole story and the way the plot unfolds but hope to see more bonding time in the next book and more of the effect the return of the fae will have on the world building. So Ariadne, see you on the other side and farewell!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Merged review:
Mona Black, you,sly fox, did you just cliffhanger me? Yes, you totally did. You not only left me hanging in such a key moment of the story, but you left me breathless after laughing so much with your characters. And the warm feeling of reading a book not only entertaining but thought provoking and unforgettable is still lingering. For being alphas, your male characters surely are stumbling around like unexperienced foals, doubting themselves, blindly guessing their decisions and learning how to build the fated bond marks. Ariadne is blossoming and coming into her strengths, led more by the instincts of her nature, than any knowledge, slowly turning into the anchor, her packmates need. Our unlikely ragtag bunch of alphas are surprisingly well adapting to the all changes they face, all the challenges they have to tackle and all the unknowns that constantly pop up. As wanted fugitives, danger is their constant shadow and fighting for their lives is a daily occurrence. Ariadne has already added 3 alphas to her harem - Fin, Taj and the last one Kiearan, while following the path to leave the borders of the Empire, keeping tight lid on the hope that they will one day find allies and some safety. Dear, confused Kiaran has wormed a cosy place in my heart amongst my favourite characters and his patent : “Permission to touch” often left me gasping and snorting through a fit of laugher. Finnan is desperately clinging to his past as a priest using it as a pillar in a sea of uncertainty and shocking changes that follow in rapid succession. He shows admirable resilience and willingness to adapt. And then there is Taj - the so precious balance and guidance their whole group needs.
I enjoyed the whole story and the way the plot unfolds but hope to see more bonding time in the next book and more of the effect the return of the fae will have on the world building. So Ariadne, see you on the other side and farewell!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The choices we make are the harvest we gain. Three hearts on the line is a beautiful thrilling new story in the fictional world of Dremest. We already met Dexen, Greer and JJ Altair in the previous book but now is their time to shine. What will always stay with me after the last page is closed, is the memory of the loving way this author describes the details in her story - vivid, bright, emotional descriptions full of humour, sarcasm and sharp realism, they are drumming, humming and pulsing with the bitter sweet flow of so many emotions.
The past and the present meet again and this is one unforgettable date.
Dexen, the owner of Untouchable, has turned the name of his club in the motto of his life - Untouchable, aloof, closed off! Running his business is what keeps his sanity intact and the painful memories of his lost love at bay. The only ray of sunshine in his loneliness were the rare moments he allowed himself to truly live in a casual affair with Greer Lynx. Until feelings started to creep in and he shut it down, terrified of repeating the history again.
Enter JJ Altair - the painful history itself, the bane of his existence, the fire of love that never entirely died down. As a heir of a mafia boss, JJ was born in a world of blood, violence and death. A life he didn't want for himself so he fought hard to stay away of its toxicity as much as possible. But no matter how much he tried, there was never an option to sever the bonds of his heritage entirely.
Here comes - Greer - the unexpected special link between Dexen and JJ. His calmness, kindness, gentle nature and open heart provided the balance in the emotional storm raging between JJ and Dexen, the so needed salve which helped healing old wounds. But no matter how magical Greer presence was, the most important for this triad to work out was the personal growth of all the characters - no matter how difficult it was, they were willing to talk, leave the mistakes in the past and give their love a chance again.
Following the life of these 3 men - we see the struggles, the regrets, the doubts, the sacrifices, the difficult choices and the despair. All of them mixed together turn into the foundation of something new and a lot stronger.
And as if the story wasn't dramatically powerful enough, the author added an unexpected touch at the end, that is further proof of how multifaceted love really is.
I received a complimentary ARC and this is my honest opinion.
I consider finishing this book as an accomplishment by itself. What always draws my attention is heavy plot and character development. Yes, there is a plot here but it needs more work on the storyline, smoothing over the edges and editing. A lot of times I was pulled out of the story just to be able to figure out what the author wanted to write. I read an ARC so probably it will be clean after release. Second - I couldn't connect to the characters either- they had a habit to think over their mutual attraction and how to get down and dirty in really odd moments from the start, always when there was an intense turn in the plot itself or something important for the story was happening.
And when you see : “THE END
If you enjoyed Gideon and John's story check out the next book in the series, Nico and Tristan's story, TRUST IN TRUTH”..., don't freak out - it was Sawyer and Hayden's story, not Gideon and John. I actually had to turn some pages back in reassurance which story was i actually reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Finally! Ariadne really deserved her hardly won HEA after 3 books of perils, adventures and overcoming obstacles. This book was about strengthening and nurturing the already created bonds in Ariadne's pack and learning curve for all of them how to live together. But finding home also meant protecting it in time of need and danger. For Ariadne this was the time for the greatest risk and the biggest sacrifice but once again she was so tough and brave, took the new challenge in stride, locked her fears and uncertainty deep inside. I loved watching her personal growth through all the books but here it really shined brightly. And even though she was the beating heart of this little family of misfits, it was a pleasure to see that all the men in her life had equally strong bonds between each other.
“We deserve it, all of us. Going through sorrow and misery and fear, through pain and agony, fighting all the way, we've found each other and made it to the end of the uphill path.” - yes, they really deserved their piece of happiness!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Merged review:
Finally! Ariadne really deserved her hardly won HEA after 3 books of perils, adventures and overcoming obstacles. This book was about strengthening and nurturing the already created bonds in Ariadne's pack and learning curve for all of them how to live together. But finding home also meant protecting it in time of need and danger. For Ariadne this was the time for the greatest risk and the biggest sacrifice but once again she was so tough and brave, took the new challenge in stride, locked her fears and uncertainty deep inside. I loved watching her personal growth through all the books but here it really shined brightly. And even though she was the beating heart of this little family of misfits, it was a pleasure to see that all the men in her life had equally strong bonds between each other.
“We deserve it, all of us. Going through sorrow and misery and fear, through pain and agony, fighting all the way, we've found each other and made it to the end of the uphill path.” - yes, they really deserved their piece of happiness!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I am really sad to say Good bye to this series but here we are at the end of Collin's ARC.
This is a special story that leaves behind a lingering warm feeling of satisfaction and accomplished goals. Because for Collin it was a learning curve and incredible personal growth and for me - it was the pleasure to follow his steps in all the stories that led to a thrilling finale. This is also a story with intense emotional charge about the family you choose and they choose you; where loyalty, respect, care and love aren't empty words. And when the past comes crashing,unexpected and unwanted, in Collin's life and in the lives of the people, he loves so deeply and unconditionally, it is a test for strength, resilience and above everything else - Trust! Because when you fall, is the time when you learn, if you have put your Trust in the right hands. Beautifully written conclusion of a book about love with a dash of kink and a journey of self discovery.
Thank you, Ciara Darren
for the wonderful chance to get to know Collin and the amazing men who changed his life and made it full with love, acceptance and care; the men who banished the loneliness and helped him heal while giving him the gift to experiment, grow and embrace the submissive part of himself.
If you are looking for well written, plot heavy, dark mafia romance - look no further. Lola has found the key to the Gates of Hell and freed the monsters. Their unhinged minds have come out to play and NY is their new playground. This story is the grand final of a deadly game that expanded and developed through all the books of the series we followed till now. And what a bloody fascinating final it was - in the all consuming darkness of violence, greed, treachery and fierce loyalty, where nothing is what it seems to be, a little mouse is scurrying around trying to find safety. A little mouse we saw in Obsessed, which Kai - the future leader of The Void - is very interested to catch. Is there a chance for the mouse to survive if all the predators have set their eyes on it?
Phoenix aka the mouse or No one knows his time is running out, his actions and choices has turned the attention of all the big players in the area to him. He is desperate, lonely, drowning in guilt, self loathing and sorrow while trying to protect the last crumbs of what's left of his family. A family that never gave him love and affection. But he's clinging to the illusion that this time, if he does everything right, it will be different. If there is one thing in common between Kai and Phoenix, one thing that Kai understands and respects - this is the unconditional love to the family, the importance of the blood and the chosen bonds, the sacrifices that sometimes need to be made. But in Phoenix' case this is only a sham, a cruelly crafted illusion that shatters in a heartbreaking, gut wrenching way. And while the last light in the little mouse's lonely heart flickers out and hope dies, Kai is there to catch him, protect him, shield him and finally solve the puzzle of this hide and seek game they both played for so long.
Gangs, cults, mafia families were all tied up and tangled in so many thrilling and unexpected ways in these books. It was a matter of intense pleasure to see the spectacular end of this labyrinth and finally take a breath of relief...
I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
First of all I haven't read the previous version of the book so I really started reading Anchored in stone as a white board - no idea what kind of series this is, no expectations, not a hint of what's ahead of me. But I love The Cubi - another series of this author so I am familiar with the author's writing style and I am in love with his keen eye for details and the fascinating way his mind works. And I wasn't disappointed yet again with the massive, carefullly well crafted, original world building. If you are a reader like me who enjoys new, compelling interpretation of old religions, some ancient history and mythology thrown into the mix and if that's not enough paranormal elements are an added bonus. And while I was still trying to figure out how all the pieces fit together - Sumerian pantheon of Gods, Templars, Christianity dogmas, witches on the run, ancient belief systems, secret race of mankind's defenders - the Earned, the pages were flying by and I was getting to know the colourful variety of characters, their backgrounds and roles - Kaleb, Alex, Edward, Dominic, Pritchard, Mr. Henry and many, many more. The focus of the story is definitely not on the romance angle/it's slow burn/ which is normal for a first book in an urban fantasy series. It's intense, breathtaking, thrilling adventure with a lot of surprising twists.
There are also some darker aspects woven into the story because the author never shies away from difficult, triggering, darker topics like child abuse, torture, imprisonment of underage person, minor sold and bought on page, some homophobia and violence. I am definitely waiting the next books in the series and the further development of the world building.
Sweet but very angsty, the core of this slow burn Omegaverse story is overcoming serious trust issues, building meaningful relationships and learning the hard way that sometimes you have to take the risk and hope that you will be able to fly before you crash. It can be read as a standalone but the previous books are an interesting introduction to this particular fictional world and the side characters, who are Sawyer's friends. Archer, Roman and Kyeran - one almost established pack - thought they have found the recipe for contentment and happiness until their world collides with Sawyer and Brin and every aspect of their life turns upside down. A big part of the story felt like one very long and absolutely spectacular game of Hide, seek and chase and I wasn't sure the pages will be enough for a HEA. A pack that thinks they don't need an Omega or Delta; One Omega and one Delta who thought they aren't worth to be in one - seems like an impossible equation. Or may be not? I found it quite entertaining, just a teeny-tiny bit dragging while waiting for Brin and Sawyer to stop running and start fighting for their happiness because nothing good in life comes on a silver platter.
I was really intrigued reading the blurb for the story, and it definitely exceeded my expectations. Unrivalled in originality, this fantasy world-building delivers a fascinating smorgasbord of colourful characters and gripping adventures in the skies - pirates, flying galleons, women who aren't content to quietly follow family expectations, secrets, prophets and a mysterious vial - all woven into a truly exciting story with plenty of twists and turns. I liked not only the world building, but also the presentation of the characters - their driving force and motivation not fitting into the mold of the times they live in. Mirella the runaway bride, Gammy the pirate queen, Alura the pirate captain, Kristen and the dangerous atmosphere around him, Rinn an example of the harsh and startlingly different world of the pirates who spend more time sailing than living off the land, are all multi-faceted and interesting to read. The best part, though? The unpredictability - as I read this unusual fantasy, there was always something new and unexpected waiting for me at the next crossroad.