Category Archives: Dark Romance

#BookPromo – Hunting Adeline (Cat & Mouse Duet, #2) by H.D. Carlton

AN AMAZON TOP 50 BESTSELLER!

The conclusion to the Cat and Mouse Duet is here…

The Diamond

Death walks alongside me,
But the reaper is no match for me.
I’m trapped in a world full of monsters dressed as men, and those who aren’t as they seem.
They won’t keep me forever.
I no longer recognize the person I’ve become,
And I’m fighting to find my way back to the beast who hunts me in the night.
They call me a diamond,
But they’ve only created an angel of death.

The Hunter

I was born a predator,
With ruthlessness ingrained in my bones.
When what’s mine is stolen from me in the night,
Like a diamond hidden within a fortress,
I find that I can no longer contain the beast.
Blood will paint the ground as I tear apart this world to find her.
And bring her back to where she belongs.
No one will escape my wrath,
Especially not those who have betrayed me.

Warning: This is the second and final installment to the Duet. You must read Haunting Adeline first.

#WOTR24 #Review Defying her Mafioso (The Vitucci Mafiosos Book 1) by Terri Anne Browning

Ciro Donati was many things:

My father’s most valued and trusted soldier.

My brother’s best friend and second in command.

The only man I would give up everything for.

We were still kids when I fell in love with the Mafioso, knowing full well who he was to become.

A beast of a man that made people disappear—and probably enjoyed every second of it.

But with me, he was tender, protective. He treated me like I was the most precious thing in the world to him.

And then he sent me away.

Scarlett Vitucci was many things:

The daughter of the biggest Cosa Nostra boss from New York to Chicago.

The sister of the man I would gladly take a bullet for.

The only woman I would ever love.

Sending her away was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I didn’t deserve her or her love. For years I stayed away. Ignored the gnawing ache that her absence left in my chest.

Seeing her now, I know fighting what I felt for her is impossible. Letting her go had been a huge mistake.

One I would never repeat again.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

I was absolutely hooked from the very first page! I needed the story and just knew that that the cleanup of the beginning was going to be epic. I keep reading and reading and got really invested in these characters. I keep turning the pages like crazy and then bam! I know that it is really going to get good because the beginning is about to be resolved. Justice is futile! This is about the half way point of the book. This is more of the turning point for Scarlet and Ciro as they are done fighting their attraction and love for each other. Ok, so now I know it is game on and the real bad guy is gonna get his. But then the story sort of fell flat for me. We got the love story and overcoming the terrible obstacles but there was no nothing for the bad guy. He just sort of fell off and everyone was just ok with it. It was definitely not what I would have expected in a Mafia book. Terri Anne Browning is a new to me author and I can say that she can definitely get you hooked because boy, did I have it bad! I just wish there was more to the second half of the book.

Author Logo

Terri Anne Browning is a Wall Street Journal and USA TODAY bestselling author. She writes contemporary romance featuring rockers, bikers, and mafiosos–but mostly about the strong female characters who rule what has become known as the Rocker Universe.

Terri Anne lives in Virginia with her husband, their three demons–err, children–and a Frenchie named Ciri.

www.facebook.com/terriannebrowning.author

www.terriannebrowningauthor.com

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hVt269

TAB’s Rocker…Universe Group: https://bit.ly/3HnyIOB

#WOTR24 #Review SLOTH: Seven Deadly Sins Mafia Romance by J.M. Walker

He taught me everything I knew.
Drugs. Weapons. Money. More.
If it became known that we shared a history before he became the Arlo Rossi, it could cost us both of our lives.
Our destinies were quite different. Especially when I wasn’t part of the family.
After an unexpected meeting, I was reluctant to embrace everything I knew.
Everything he taught me.
When all was said and done, I realized that I may not have a choice.

Lust. Gluttony. Greed. Sloth. Wrath. Envy. Pride.
DARE TO BE SINFUL!
Seven amazing authors are bringing the sins to life! Indulge in guilty pleasure with a mafia world full of deceit, romance, betrayal, and more! All books are standalone!

Authors:
J.L. Leslie – Lust – January 2023
Crimson Syn – Gluttony – March 2023
Erin Trejo – Greed – May 2023
JM Walker – Sloth – July 2023
Delaney Foster – Wrath – September 2023
Kathy Coopmans – Envy – November 2023
Daphne Loveling – Pride – January 2024

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Knowing that the worst part of your night happened earlier and also knowing that it really wasn’t the worst part of the night yet can weigh extremely heavy on someone. Reader beware, this story flies! It is intense from the absolute beginning clear to the end. You literally cannot blink! Ginny and Arlo’s relationship is difficult because of the different people they are within the mafia. Arlo was her father’s best friend and is more than that to Ginny. However strained their relationship is, they both know they can count on each other. This entire story is wrapped up in one evening (with an epilogue) but is heavy and intense the entire way. This is a better version of Mr. & Mrs. Smith! Gritty, dirty, and exquisite!

Author Logo

J.M. Walker, a Canadian author, is an Amazon bestseller who also hit USA Today with Wanted: An Outlaw Anthology. She loves all things books, pigs and lip gloss. She is happily married to the man who inspires all of her Heroes and continues to make her weak in the knees every single day.

“Above all, be the HEROINE of your own life…” ~ Nora Ephron

https://www.facebook.com/jm.walker.author/

https://linktr.ee/authorjmwalker

#review #audiobook #seriesstarter Made in Malice (Corrupt Credence 1) by Albany Walker narrated by Corvin King and Brooke Daniels

She thinks we’re devils. I know we are. Feared and revered, we’ve earned our place to shepherd the sheep. Harbor the secrets until she comes along and threatens our foundation. We could ruin her or use her. Either way, she’s ours, whether she knows it or not, even if it’s forbidden. Nova Devlin I thought I knew who I was, where I came from, but my life is turned upside down when a stranger knocks on my door with promises that seem too good to be true. I should have run like hell and never looked back, but it’s too late now. I’m enrolled at Cadieux College where secrets and deception line the walls and the founding family’s rule without question. They all think I’ll be easy to use, to control, but I’m nobody’s puppet. Made in Malice is the first book in the Corrupt Credence series. A dark college romance with mature content for adult readers.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123522253-made-in-malice

Amazon https://amzn.to/3PjV09r

Review by Twinsie Dee

Nova was working her ass off living on her on since both of her parents died. she was all alone no other family until one day a lawyer showed up on her doorstep and let her know that she actually had grandparents and they were not dead like she thought. her whole life was flopped upside down and she was told to pack up what she has and next thing she knew she was on a plane and in a car heading to a plane she never knew existed. with a bodyguard and a quarter in a mansion to wonder how much her parents actually told her was the truth about her family. with one of the bigger families’ males tempting her with his high standards, she’s getting fed up with being the new girl. will Nova be able to just make it through this year at school without getting into much trouble or will she find herself getting tangled with the wrong crowd in more ways than one.

Albany lives in Michigan where she’s happily married to her high school sweetheart. She spends most of her time juggling her four children’s extracurricular activities, with her nose stuck in a book. When not reading you can find her writing her very own book boyfriends. Albany’s passion is writing romance with real characters that are far from perfect, but always seem to find their own happily ever afters.

#WOTR23 #Dark #SerialKiller #BDSM #Audio – Depraved, Pleasure & Prey book 1 by AJ Merlin

Living and working on a campground with her dogs is not where Sloane Walker saw herself at twenty-seven. But then again, not a lot has gone right for her since her step-father kidnapped her at twelve years old and scarred her both physically and mentally for life. Those actions should’ve left him rotting in prison for the rest of his life, not seeing him out on good behavior and giving him free rein to track Sloane down to make ‘amends.’

But that’s not her only problem, as if she needs more than one. Her second problem comes in the form of the masked stalker that slides into her room at night and takes what he pleases, making sure Sloane enjoys every second of it. What starts as a fantasy soon becomes something inescapable for them both, and Sloane might have to face up to a very important fact about her new friend.

He’s unhinged, psychotic, and utterly obsessed with her. And while those should be very bad things, Sloane can’t help thinking that maybe they aren’t so bad at all, no matter what that might mean for her sanity or her safety in the end.

Author’s note: This is a complete standalone set in the Pleasure & Prey universe. It contains consensual kink, unhealthy relationships, and harmful situations. For a full list of content warnings, please look inside.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Angie

I purchased this audiobook.

I met this author at a book signing and thought she was the most amazing person EVAH.  I mean she let me pet her service dog and so of course she is now my best friend.  LOL  But for real, I needed to read a book of hers and had audio credits to use and DING DING.  LAWD When I saw this was a dark romance I legit fell over my own feet running to start listening.

The narration by Lia Holland was good.  She kept the story going well and brought Sloane to life for me the listener.

Ok so I know this book is marketed as DARK romance and the themes are DARK but guys it Sweet dark.  LOL  By that I mean I have read DAAAARK SHEEET and this is not near what I would call DARK.  This is a dark chocolate cupcake instead of a vanilla cupcake with buttercream frosting.  So those of you worried or afraid, Ya’ll go for it.  Virgil and his filthy mouth will keep you enthralled.

So Sloane, has gone through some stuff with her step dad.  She is a trauma survivor and living her ebst life with her service dog and other dog.  They enjoy the simple life working and living at a campground.  Good right?  Well one day a super, uber, hawt man, Virgil, checks in and Sloane takes notice.  So much notice she is thinking about him when she …well ya know…wink wink.  Virgil seems to pop up all the time and is very interested in Sloane. Kinda nice right…oh yeah until he tells her he is a serial killer.  Now granted I jumped the ship a bit but yeah every guys has to have 1 bad habit right??  LOL

The way Virgil starts to spend time with Sloane is another questionable method but hey he was trying to woo her…..and woo her he did…

I know some people had issue with stuff but I enjoyed it for what it was …smut…filthy and raw smut.  LOL Don’t come at me .  I am being honest.  I liked the story and the couple.  This book was not a true dark romance in what most dark romance readers are wanting but I was here for it!!

AJ Merlin would rather write epic love stories than live them. I mean, who wants to limit themselves to only falling in love once? She is obsessed with dark fantasy, true crime, and also dogs. From serial killers to voyeurs all the way down to the devil himself, AJ’s specialty is in writing irredeemable heroes who somehow still manage to captivate their heroines (and her readers).

#Review – A Ship of Bones and Teeth by Karina Halle


A standalone adult dark fantasy pirate romance re-telling of The Little Mermaid from the New York Times Bestselling Author of River of Shadows and Blood Orange.

Princess Maren is a woman with a secret.

Ten years ago she sold her soul to the sea witch Edonia, giving up a life underwater in exchange for the love of Prince Aerik on land. But after a decade of abuse and misery inflicted by the cruel prince, Maren wants nothing more than to leave him and her royal role behind and find Edonia to reverse the spell.

An opportunity for escape presents itself when the prince and princess are traveling overseas and are taken hostage by a band of notorious pirates, led by the fearsome Captain Ramsay “Bones” Battista. Maren has heard the sordid stories about the infamous pirate–not only is his ship supposedly haunted and crewed by the damned, but that no prisoners ever survive.

Fortunately for Maren, she learns that the captain also has a score to settle with the sea witch. With any luck, Maren may be able to get her old life back, even if it’s being held in the captain’s wicked hands.

But Ramsay gets more than he bargained for when he learns who–and what–Maren is, and that her appetite for revenge, freedom, and bloodlust rivals his.

Meanwhile Maren finds herself falling for the pirate’s dark nature, even as she discovers that Ramsay has a secret more deadly than her own.

When it comes to the high seas, not all monsters lurk beneath the surface.

Content Warning: Though this is a fantasy, it is also a dark romance with potential triggers. A full list can be found inside the book or on the pinned cover reveal post on IG (authorhalle)

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Wickedly devilish! Being caught between the devil you know and the devil you don’t, can be a terrifying place. Especially when you exist in a space between worlds with nowhere to belong to.

I needed this story! It is a standalone adult dark fantasy pirate romance re-telling of The Little Mermaid, but I have to say that A Ship of Bones and Teeth is SO. MUCH. BETTER! I mean, Syrens and Pirates? Sign me up!

Be prepared when you open this book because it will consume you. For days, all I could think about were Maren and Bones. What was going to happen next? How would they overcome? Will they really turn on each other? Who else will die? And let’s not forget… OMG, how hawt was that?

Maren and Bones are completely different people, but once together, they are intensely drawn together. It’s one of those intense feelings that actually scares you. However, these two really helped each other throughout the story without really realizing it. This has a bit of everything from friendships, sex, kinks, feuds, betrayal, beauty, death, abuse…you name it, it has it! It will even make you smile and laugh!

There are a tremendous number of twists and turns in this retelling, unlike any other I have read. There is nothing that I can say that will prepare you for the consuming obsessive monster you will become until you reach the end of the story. An absolute must read!

Remember: “There are no mistakes. Just choices that took us on a different path.”

Author Logo

Karina Halle is a screenwriter, a former music & travel journalist, and the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling author of River of Shadows, The Royals Next Door, and Black Sunshine, as well as 70 other wild and romantic reads, ranging from light & sexy rom coms to horror/paranormal romance and dark fantasy. Needless to say, whatever genre you’re into, she’s probably written a romance for it. When she’s not traveling, she and her husband split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their condo in Los Angeles. She seems a bit boring in her bio but I assure you she’s a big ol’ goof in real life. For more information, visit www.authorkarinahalle.com.

#wotr #attendingauthor #seriestarter Made in Malice ( Corrupt Credence 1) by Albany Walker

She thinks we’re devils. I know we are. Feared and revered, we’ve earned our place to shepherd the sheep. Harbor the secrets until she comes along and threatens our foundation. We could ruin her or use her. Either way, she’s ours, whether she knows it or not, even if it’s forbidden. Nova Devlin I thought I knew who I was, where I came from, but my life is turned upside down when a stranger knocks on my door with promises that seem too good to be true. I should have run like hell and never looked back, but it’s too late now. I’m enrolled at Cadieux College where secrets and deception line the walls and the founding family’s rule without question. They all think I’ll be easy to use, to control, but I’m nobody’s puppet. Made in Malice is the first book in the Corrupt Credence series. A dark college romance with mature content for adult readers.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123522253-made-in-malice

Amazon https://amzn.to/43LtZ3w

Review by Twinsie Dee

Nova was working her ass off living on her on since both of her parents died. she was all alone no other family until one day a lawyer showed up on her doorstep and let her know that she actually had grandparents and they were not dead like she thought. her whole life was flopped upside down and she was told to pack up what she has and next thing she knew she was on a plane and in a car heading to a plane she never knew existed. with a bodyguard and a quarter in a mansion to wonder how much her parents actually told her was the truth about her family. with one of the bigger families’ males tempting her with his high standards, she’s getting fed up with being the new girl. will Nova be able to just make it through this year at school without getting into much trouble or will she find herself getting tangled with the wrong crowd in more ways than one.

 

Albany lives in Michigan where she’s happily married to her high school sweetheart. She spends most of her time juggling her four children’s extracurricular activities, with her nose stuck in a book. When not reading you can find her writing her very own book boyfriends. Albany’s passion is writing romance with real characters that are far from perfect, but always seem to find their own happily ever afters.

#BookPromo – Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet, #1) by H.D. Carlton

AN AMAZON TOP 10 BESTSELLER!

The Manipulator

I can manipulate the emotions of anyone who lets me.
I will make you hurt, make you cry, make you laugh and sigh.
But my words don’t affect him. Especially not when I plead for him to leave.
He’s always there, watching and waiting.
And I can never look away.
Not when I want him to come closer.


The Shadow

I didn’t mean to fall in love.
But now that I have, I can’t stay away.
I’m mesmerized by her smile, by her eyes, and the way she moves.
The way she undresses…
I’ll keep watching and waiting. Until I can make her mine.
And once she is, I’ll never let her go.
Not even when she begs me to.

While not required, it is highly suggested to read the novella, Satan’s Affair, first.

Author’s Note: This book ends on a cliffhanger. For CWs, please check the author’s website.

#Dark #ParkOfASeries #TriggerWarnings #Audio #Horror – Satan’s Affair, Cat and Mouse Duet #0.5 by H.D. Carlton

Every Halloween, Satan’s Affair will come to you. We travel the country, offering terrifying haunted houses, thrilling rides and the tastiest food.

And with every passing town, I cleanse this world, one execution at a time.

I hide within the walls, casting my judgement for those that reek of evil, singing lullabies to their rotting souls. Once you’ve been chosen, there’s no escaping my henchmen—they cater to my every desire.

You can run and you can hide, but it only excites me.

Come. Take a walk through my dollhouse, where your screams will blend and your cute little pleas will go unanswered.

But I can’t promise it’ll be over quickly…

Trigger Warning: This is a dark read that contains graphic violence, sex, and triggering situations.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Angie

I purchased this audio book.

I was super excited for this novella.  I know you are supposed to read it first but for me, I read it after the original duet.  For me, it makes more sense.

This book was a great look at Sibby.  We learn about her family and why she is the way she is. We also see her meeting the characters from the main duet.

I do think this could have been part of the Sibby duet but maybe she wasn’t sure  about a Sibby book series??  Anyway, it was a good read if you love Sibby like I loved her.

H. D. Carlton is an International and USA Today Bestselling author. She lives in Ohio with her partner, two dogs, and cat. When she’s not bathing in the tears of her readers, she’s watching paranormal shows and wishing she was a mermaid. Her favorite characters are of the morally gray variety and believes that everyone should check their sanity at the door before diving into her stories.

#review #thriller Slashers and Secrets (Hellcrest Heights 1) by A.R. Breck

From dark romance author who brought the Blackridge Prep Series.

Secrets are meant to be buried, until they aren’t.
And Lakyn Ashford has the biggest secret of all.
She thought she could get away with it.
She should’ve known better.
I’d never allow her to escape so easily.
There is nothing more enjoyable than witnessing her crumble as I taunt her, trick her, and toy with her sanity.
Watching her fall apart is a game I’m destined to win.
I take my time with her, picking her apart, piece by piece, until she’s at my mercy.
The smile behind my mask grows as she fears the slasher in Hellcrest Heights.
She pretends to be afraid of me, but at night, she falls to her knees as she bends to my will.
And I have only just begun.
I know Lakyn Ashford’s biggest secret.
It’s me.

Slashers & Secrets is a full-length novel and book one in a duet. This book contains mature language, themes, and content that may not be suitable for all readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62328091-slashers-secrets

Amazon https://amzn.to/3nFCMUl

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book and here is my honest review

holy poop balls, this book had me on my toes and guessing till the very end well until the to be continued. Lakyn and her friends are always in the spotlight with how all of their parents are in politics, so in hinds’ sight they have to have the perfect life but behind the curtains they all have their secrets and when the boys have a very protective nature over the girls no one is allowed to touch them. Well Lakyn didn’t care and was wanting to hook up with a local bad boy and well that didn’t sit well with her guys. After finding out somethings her fling was now no longer breathing. when they didn’t cover it up very well Lakyn’s parents shipped her off for a year, and didn’t tell anyone where she was. once back in Hellcrest crazy things have happen more murders a crazy masked slasher and he isn’t slowing down. will Lakyn and her friends figure out who is killing people while keeping their secrets in the past or will they all be exposed.

USA Today Bestselling Author A.R. Breck lives in Minnesota with her two children and two dogs. Socially introverted and slightly sarcastic, she enjoys watching horror movies and reading romance novels. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys road tripping with her family around the country. She writes primarily dark and edgy romance books with a touch of suspense.