Empire by Lili St. Germain

Empire by Lili St. Germain

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Writing: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★

Overall rating: 5.0


OMG! What a ride! Lili hits another one out of the park!

5 star series start to finish!

View all my reviews

Kingpin by LIli St. Germain

Kingpin by Lili St. Germain

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Writing: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★

Overall rating: 5.0

The second book in the Cartel Series was even better than the first! I could not put this book down, I'm not sure why I haven't read this book before now, but damn sure happy that I have!

Kingpin picks up 9 years later and we find Mariana is now the "Accountant" for the Gypsy Brothers/El Sangue Cartel. For 9 years she's lived on the knife's edge of life, never knowing when or if Emilio is going to snap and kill her or worse... because with Emilio, there is always worse.

Emilio's son Dornon is still able to keep his relationship with Mariana a secret.

But Dornon is starting to get suspicious of Mariana. Is she telling him the truth? Is she hiding something from him? Is there someone else? It's easier for Dornan to not think too much on these things.

Dornan's character, in my opinion, has firmly planted both of his feet on the dark path of his life.

I'm loving this series!

View all my reviews

Six Brothers by Lili St. Germain

Six Brothers by Lili St. Germain

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Writing: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★

Overall rating: 5.0


The second book in the Gypsy Brothers' Series was even better than the first!

"'To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it.' -- Confucius

'I would never forget. And so, for me, being wronged was everything.'--Juliette/Sammi"

   

In the first book, Seven Sons, we saw Juliette get started on her revenge when she killed Chad.. and in this book we see her stalk another one of the brothers while Dornan is in mourning.

We also find out what Dornan did to Mariana 6 years ago for her "betrayal" of him. And true to Dornan's form, he whispers the deed into Juliette's ear during sex.

My one problem with Juliette is that she seems to get off on sex with Dornan. As much as she says she is only doing it to get close enough to him, the club, and the cartel to take them all down, the majority of the time she enjoys it. *pondering look*

But I did enjoy this book, just as much, if not more, than the first in the series. I have a feeling it's only going to continue to get better. That's my hope at least!

View all my reviews

24690 by A.A. Dark

24690 by A.A. Dark

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


More reviews at Li'l Kit's Reviews.

Writing: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★

Overall rating: 5.0

*****5 "Gory & Sadistic" Stars*****

"Everyone here was either slave, master, medical, or guard. Even the Attendants were slaves."

"Slave twenty-four-six-ninety was going to be mine. I had made sure of it."

I happened onto this book quite by accident and I'm so glad I did. This book puts me in the mind of Pepper Winters' Indebted series with the no holds barred darkness. This author holds nothing back in how black she paints the picture around these characters. The twists and turns just in the first half of the book kept my mind reeling. Just when I thought I knew something, I was wrong, every single time. That is probably the thing I loved most about this book, all the mind-fuckery.

Alaska Angelini writing under the pen name of A.A. Dark, is currently right up there with my favorite "Queens of Dark and Taboo". If you like true darkness, then this book is totally for you.

"I wasn't Everleigh anymore. I was no one but a dead slave, alive."

The main male characters, Bram and West, are the stuff nightmares are made of! Bram is the "Main Master" of Whitlock, a dark and sinister place where the rich and famous come to play. Anything goes between the Master's and the slaves. From purchasing one at an auction until they die either naturally or at the hand of their owner, the slaves can be subjected to all manner of deviant behavior from a simple slap to rape to flaying. There are no consequences, the slaves are nothing but toys to be played with, then discarded by death once they are broken.

Slave 24690 has been at Whitlock since she was kidnapped at 10 years old. When she came "of age" she was auctioned off and purchased by her first master. Outside of beatings, she was treated very well... until her master is murdered and she is blamed.

Bram took care of slave 24690 from the time she was 10 until she went to auction. He didn't touch her. He kept her safe, and in the dark recesses of his mind, he knew he held affection for her. But it was something Bram would never act on. Bram had sworn to never take a slave.

When Bram's father died Bram became the new Main Master of Whitlock. It was his, and everyone there worked for him. Period.

West was Bram's best friend from childhood. Where Bram was raised with a silver spoon lodged firmly in his mouth, West was not. Bram's father, seeing how close the boys were as children, as close as brothers, paid for West's education, and he became, pretty much, Bram's right hand man once Bram took over Whitlock.

West harbored a jealousy, however. No matter how good he was, Bram was always one step better. He kept the jealousy hidden, Bram was his brother, and the Main Master. Bram deserved West's respect.

As the story moves on, the darkness becomes a black hole that just sucked me in. Chapter by chapter. Page by page. At times the next frightening twist was almost too much, and I had to put my Kindle down, wrap it in a blanket, and put it under the bed or couch... afraid that what I was reading could jump off the screen and play itself out in front of me. That's how well A.A. Dark/Alaska Angelini writes. It's more than a movie playing in my head, it feels as if I'm right *there*>

From the blurb:

"***WARNING***
This book contains EXTREMELY disturbing situations, explicit sexual content, and very graphic language. This book EXCEEDS the dark genre and has been classified as PITCH BLACK. May contain triggers for some. Read at your own risk!!"

Consider yourself warned. But even *that* warning isn't enough to express how "Pitch Black" this book is.

There were times, towards the end that my mind drifted a bit.. there were a couple of parts that were unbelievable for me, and a bit redundant. But, they didn't last long and I was back in the house of horrors again. There were many editing and grammar mistakes in this book, but not enough to detract to much from the experience.

I was going to deduct one star from this 5 star read, but I couldn't do it! The book is too good! My gripe: The author makes no mention about this being the first in a series, not even a hint at that fact. So the major cliffhanger ending did not amuse me in the least. But I got over it! There is hope on the horizon with book 2, "White Out" being written. Keep up with the Author's Facebook page (and look for the YouTube trailer on her closed group page for White Out. It's amazing!).

Stay busy writing Alaska! You don't have any time for breaks, I need White Out! (oh and a blurb here on Goodreads would be nice so we can mark it as "To Read" and keep up with a release date!)

View all my reviews

Snuffed: Part One by Bonnie Capps

Writing: ★★★★★

Story: ★★★★★

Characters: ★★★★

Overall rating: 4.6

*****5 "Fuckin' Awesome" Stars!*****

"WARNING: This book is not just dark - it’s horrific, depraved and disturbing. If you do not enjoy books containing blood, guts, taboo and more – this book is not for you."

Best thing to do is to believe every word of that warning! But if that warning just makes your spine tingle with anticipation, like it did mine, and you love "Dark taboo", and I do mean dark taboo, then run, don't walk, and Get. This. Book.

We are two beings seemingly attempting to fit into a mold in which we do not belong. His being normalcy and mine being the deadly world that I have no business being a part of.
--Sophia

After reading [book:Snuff|28416348], I could hardly wait for this one to come out! I was like a kid at Christmas.. a very dark and depraved Christmas.. when I woke up to this on my Kindle! I devoured it in one sitting. Couldn't put it down, couldn't look away, no matter how much my mind screamed that I should.

Snuffed: Part One picks up where Snuff leaves off with Sofia and baby Eve right back "home" with Dimitri. Sofia has been there done that, so she knows what to expect when she sees Dimitri, but she also knows that this time is going to be much, much worse.

I am to never question or deny him. I am to dress as he wants me to dress, eat how he wants me to eat, say what he wants me to say, seduce who he wants me to seduce, torment who he wants me to orment ... and kill who he wants me to kill.
--Sophia

I can't go into too much detail in this review, as I don't want to spoil even a second of this book.

As a lover of Dark Taboo, this one ranks right up there at the very tip top in "fucked-uped-ness"! Can't wait to read the next book, due out this fall, and it can't come a second too soon!

Dark Notes by Pam Godwin

Dark Notes by Pam Godwin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Writing: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★

Overall rating: 5.0

  ****5 "Wild and frantic crescendo" Stars****

Oh the emotions this book wrung out of me! It grabbed me in the first few pages and didn't turn me loose until it had completely drained me.

 

I wanted to turn away... Ivory is only 17, and her *teacher* is 10 years her senior. I wanted to be appalled... but it was written so well, and it was mentioned that 17 was the "age of consent", and Ivory isn't your everyday 17 year old. I found her to be so much older, she'd seen so much, been through so much, and lost so much.

So I settled in and enjoyed the ride and Pam Godwin didn't disappoint. She wrote this book with the perfect elements of BDSM, erotica, and (lightly) dark, and dark erotica is one of my favorite genres.

Ivory

 

    "She's a dark portrait of soft curves and chestnut hair with deep golden skin that seems to absorb shadows in the room..."
 
Ivory lost her dad a few years earlier, she was very close to him and with his death came physical abuse from her drugged up brother, her brother's best friend, Lorenzo, (who is a real douchebag, by the way), rapes and sodomizes her, and her mother neglects her chasing her next high. At school she's the "odd girl out"... the girls don't like her, they look at her like she's white trash because of where she comes from, and the boys only want one thing from her.

She tutors... actually she *does* homework for some of the boys... and they take her body for the privilege... and then pay her. Don't be quick to judge though, it's the only way she can "keep the lights on" at home, buy food for her cat, and maybe a little food for herself. She has one friend, Stogie, who owns a run down music store where he lets her work in the summer time for a little money and allows her to practice her piano each night. In turn Ivory cares for him the best way she can.

Even though Ivory and her family are quite poor, her father sacrificed everything before he died to make sure she got into the prestigious and expensive, Le Moyne, a preforming arts high school.

It's there, walking in late to her class on the first day of her senior year that she finds that her beloved teacher has been removed and the devil stands in her place.

Emeric Marceaux

 

    "In the depraved innards of my soul, I thrill at being the thing she fears. I want to claim her apprehension, dread, and uncertainty. I want to take ownership of all of her emotions and be the sole reason she trembles and cries."

Mr. Marceaux is to be not only Ivory's new music teacher, be her private tutor in classical piano. Ivory wants to go to Leopold, but that isn't really why he's there.

His Dominant side is immediately drawn to Ivory, he must possess her, no matter the risks to himself, but he is concerned with the risks to her and her future if he makes a mistake.

Emeric has three rules for Ivory. "Don't question me. Don't lie to me. And never look away from me."

And she won't. She may... "omit" a few things, but that's okay, right?

Emeric & Ivory

 

    "All my disgusting secrets have finally caught up with me. But for the first time in my life, I don't have to face them alone."

Together Emeric and Ivory are a symphony of sexual heat, lust, desire, discipline, caring, trust, want and need, that practically burned right through my Kindle. This author writes a story about 2 people, and intertwines some of the most beautiful sex around them. The sexual scenes in this book are perfectly placed, realistic, and damn hot!

 

    "This brutal man is my home. His hell is my heaven. I'm his Ivory, and he's my darkest note."

View all my reviews

Taint by Tara Dawn

TAINT by Tara Dawn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Writing: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★

Overall rating: 5.0


*I was given this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

*****5 "I want more!" Stars*****

This book picks up where Cash, Hazel, Phil, Cady, and Erick left off in Snap. And Author, Tara Dawn, wastes no time getting right to it!

"Phil doesn't deserve a quick death. He deserves what he's done to everyone else and more."

Hazel ends up back in the clutches of Phil.. and one thing about Phil, he lives up to his reputation of being over the top batshit crazy! His form of "love" is some of the most fucked up I've seen. He's not happy unless he is bringing Hazel to the brink of death. He wants to break her body as well as her mind, to completely control her. But, most of all, he wants to keep her away from Cash.

Cash will do anything to get her back. Whatever it takes. I love this character, He's strong, alpha, and isn't afraid to show a little vulnerability. He and Hazel are soulmates that keep getting ripped apart by the most tragic of circumstances.

Cash has told Hazel the worst thing about himself, and even though she's angry, she can't deny that she loves, and craves, him.

There are a lot of characters in this series to keep up with. But each are well placed and have a purpose in the story. I haven't found a single one that made me think, "Hmmm, what's the point?" It's like a finely choreographed chess game with all the pieces moving in sync for a common goal. To get Cash and Hazel back to each other, where they belong.

Taint, like Snap, is dark. I love dark. I crave dark. And Author, Tara Dawn, feeds my craving. She took me, as a reader, right into the book. I felt like I was standing there in the same room with these characters, feeling the pain of loss, and hoping for survival.

It's hard to say much about the story line in this book without giving away any major spoilers.

I want book three. I want it right now. So write fast Tara! I'll be waiting!

Like Snap, Taint ends in a cliffy. I knew this going in but... damn it... it still took my breath away... literally! At the end. I was screaming "NOOOOOO!" at my Kindle... okay and yes, at Tara Dawn too...

I can't even put into words how much I loved this second book in the Snap series. I didn't want it to end, I didn't want to put the book down, I wanted the entire story to keep going until I find out who does what!

But noooo.... Tara has to tease us! Again!

View all my reviews

Relentless by Bonny Capps

Relentless by Bonny Capps

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Writing: ★★★★
Story: ★★★★
Characters: ★★★★

Overall rating: 4.0

****4 "Walk on the dark side" stars****

The final book in the Killer series by Bonny Capps tells the story of Gabe's grandson, Milo, the last of the Thibault line.

It's been a long journey from Gabe and Amelia to Gabriel and Dani and now to Milo, a.k.a. "M", and Adriana. This book begins twenty-five years after Gabriel ended, twenty-five years after Milo was stolen from Gabriel and Dani.

Milo is deep and dark. He looks like his father, Gabriel, with blonde hair and green eyes and the Thibault gene pool is at it's strongest in Milo. He is a killer with over 900 kills, he's got a lot of blood on his hands and makes no apologies for it.

"She understands my darkness, because now she's such a huge part of it. She's not an angel. She's a devil, just like me. She's the epitome of my affections, and I don't go giving that shit to nobody."

He's happy living his life without the ties of any relationship. Women are meant to be used, abused, fucked, and then just move on. Don't look back, don't get involved. That was his motto.

Until Adriana.

"'I'm your whore...your little kitten,' I whisper."

"I hate to love him, and I love to hate him. Our relationship is a double edged sword."

Adriana works at a club that her father owns called "Beau". She's a dancer and it's not by choice. Her father has total control over her. And he's a totally asshat. He uses her beauty to pull in the customers night after night into the Beau. She has black hair and very pale skin, earning her the nickname, "Living Dead Girl", and once her gray eyes clash with Milo's green ones, it's over for both of them.

Their "non-relationship relationship" is tumultuous at best and it's hard to say too much as I don't want to give anything away. This is one of those "end of series" books that you must experience for yourself to get the full value of the ride.

And the ending... damn, what an ending. I didn't see any of it coming, it actually made me choke up.

Bonny, you did to me again..

But seriously, that was.......

Loved it!

View all my reviews

Snap by Tara Dawn

SNAP by Tara Dawn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Writing: ★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★

Overall rating: 4.3

****4 "Crazy As Hell" Stars****

*This book contains scenes of drug use, rape, and brutality. It is intended for readers over 18. Reader discretion is advised.*

Okay I need to...

 

WOW! What a read! What a ride! Tara Dawn is a new to me author, and she can write dark and fucked up with the best of them. The warning above... and on the blurb? Heed it. Because the book has it all. In spades.

Hazel is a single woman who works at Maggie's, a bar/restaurant establishment. She works hard and rarely has any time off. But, she loves her job, and wouldn't trade it for all the days off in the world.

 

She is looking for a relationship, or someone to just spend some time with, and she meets Phil, goes on a few dates and realizes that he's not for her. She tells her best friend, Cady, that she is going to break off the budding relationship and on the forth and, in her mind, final date, things go horribly wrong.

 

She is beaten and raped, and wakes up with the blood, bruises, and scars to prove it, but has barely a memory of it; just snippets of what happened, but she knows it was Phil.

When Phil shows up at her job, and again becomes abusive, in steps Cash, the handsome stranger that was in the bar earlier watching her. Cash is her (dark) Knight in a sexy body armor, and looks delicious.

 

Cash is there for a reason, but we don't really know *what* that reason is. But we know it's not something good. Or is it?

This man is sexy, and even though he isn't there for a relationship, he can't seem to stay away from this damsel in distress. There is an instant connection between them. Like 2 halves of a whole that have finally snapped together, and he feels the need to protect her.

 

Cash knows something has happened to Hazel. Something bad. Something painful. And for some reason, he wants to help heal that pain for her. He wants to replace the bad memories with good ones, even if it's only for one night.

 

But that darkness remains, Phil is watching and lurking around. Cash and her friends Cady and Erick, no matter how much they try to keep her safe, that darkness just leaches it's way into Hazel's life.

 

And then there's the ending. Major cliffhanger. I hate major cliffhangers. Majorly. Hate. Them.

 

But I won't have too long too wait, since TAINT comes out next month (March 2016).

View all my reviews

Gwendolyn vs. the Band of Barren Hearts by Mary E. Palmerin

Gwendolyn vs. the Band of Barren Hearts by Mary E. Palmerin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Writing: ★★★★
Story: ★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★

Overall rating: 4.3

**** 4 "Stop the madness!" Stars ****

What I was reminded of while reading Gwendolyn vs. the Band of Barren Hearts, was that no matter how good a person is, no matter how well they were raised and how much love they had, that life shouldn't be taken for granted. It can change in an instant, in just one split second.

"A girl who has lost a lot. I lost who I was. My life. My parents. My memories. My hopes and dreams."


That is how Gwendolyn's life was. She had parents who were proud of her and loved her above all things. Then they were killed in a car accident, throwing Gwen into the foster care system where she slips through the cracks, and is afraid to speak up to her caseworker about all the horrendous things that are going on in the small trailer she shares with her foster parents and another foster child.

"The demons will soon come out to dance with the devil and I have front row seats to the show."


She tries to keep to herself, not wanting to be "friends" with the Welch, her foster brother. School is terrible, not only is she "the new girl", but she is singled out by Conner. A bully that takes great pleasure in making Gwen and Welch his daily targets, much to the delight of other classmates that don't want to get on his bad side. And there is Welch, constantly trying to talk to her, protect her, get her to trust him.

"Dysfunctional love at its finest, but it is us; true, real, always and forever. Nothing but death will change that."


Life at home is brutal. And I don't use that term lightly. Claude and Helen are the foster parents from hell. The terrible life they heap on Welch and Gwen is beyond abusive. When things reach the moment of truth for Gwen and Welch, they run from the inevitable result of their actions.

"I am his monster and he is mine. This is a flawless recipe for disaster that will equal deadly results."


Life on the run is dark and scary for Welch and Gwen. They have no idea where to go, and only a few dollars to get them there. They don't know if anyone is following them or if they were able to just slip away. The only thing they are sure of is their love for each other.

I enjoyed this book for the most part, except for the repetitive, constant, inner monologue in Gwen's head. Which is what brings this book down from a 4.6 to a 4.3 rating. I would have enjoyed being in Welch's head a bit more.

View all my reviews