Ruby Tears

The Jewelry Box #1

by Pepper Winters

“I met a man I hoped could be the one. But he turned out to be the beast who ruins me…”

I’m the illegitimate son of a monster.
I truly have the devil inside.
I try to be good.
To ignore the deep, dark, despicable urges.
But every day, it gets harder.
To prove to myself that I’m not completely damned, I attempt to infiltrate a trafficking ring to save all those trapped within it.
Only problem is, I meet her on the night of my initiation.
I’m given a task to take her, steal her, train her.
She sparkles like diamonds, bleeds like rubies, and bruises as deep as emeralds.
She’s mine to break.
I can’t refuse.
I beg her to play along with me.
To help me stay human.
To act with me in a performance where we both might survive.
Yet the more we pretend, the more real it becomes, and I have a horrible feeling the only one who will be breaking…is me.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Romance, BDSM, Abuse, Audiobook, Contemporary

450 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 12, 2024

About the author

Pepper Winters is a multiple New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today International Bestseller.

She currently has thirty books released in nine languages. She’s hit best-seller lists (USA Today, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal) thirty-three times. She dabbles in multiple genres, ranging from Dark Romance to Coming of Age.

After chasing her dreams to become a full-time writer, Pepper has earned recognition with awards for best Dark Romance, best BDSM Series, and best Hero. She’s an multiple #1 iBooks bestseller, along with #1 in Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Erotica Thriller. With 20 books currently published, she has hit the bestseller charts twenty-nine times in three years.

Pepper is a Hybrid Author of both Traditional and Self-published work. Her Pure Corruption Series was released by Grand Central, Hachette.

Her books have garnered foreign interest and are currently being translated into numerous languages, including already released titles in Italian, French, Hebrew, German, and Turkish.

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Reviews

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY REVIEW AND OTHERS can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS

❀ 𝐑𝐔𝐁𝐘 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒 ❀ Is the first full length dark romance book within (The Jewelry Box) series by Pepper Winters. Spoken in dual perspectives ❥ Henri & Ily ❥

I don't know wether to be frightened or excited, either way I'm jumping into this tonight, I've been eagerly anticipating this one, I'm hoping to be greeted by the darkness that I know this author can reign on me..

For Henri to infiltrate the trafficking ing he has to become one of them, ten thousand dollars was all it took to snatch Ily out of a nightclub and place her in the most sadistic dangerous place on earth, he's drawn to her, wants her for himself but to do that he's going to have to go to great lengths to prove that he's one of them.

Pepper Winters has done it again as she throws us readers down a gritty tunnel of darkness. Get ready to have your triggers smashed to smithereens as you plummet into depravity within the minds of trafficking sadists.

Can Henri fight his demons or will it feel like he’s coming home when he’s tasked to kidnap and break his conquest?

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[Pepper Winters]

Now available!

Download today on read FREE in #kindleunlimited
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Audio: https://bit.ly/3V6svPG
Narrated by Luke William Bromley & Lucy Jessica

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Start reading The Mercer Curse now for FREE!
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The Mercer Curse is a 13,000 word prequel and is recommended to be read before Ruby Tears.

[Faiza Daudo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like it has been ages since I indulged in a Pepper Winters Dark Romance and being thrust back into her world of darkness and depravity is what I have been craving for a long while.
This is a classic Pepper's dark tale. One where you will feel a myriad of emotions. Shock, Fear, Dread.
This story has a twisted start and as you read each word, flip each page the angst keeps building until it reaches a crescendo and by the time you read the last word you will be left wanting more.

You will have a hard time trying to come to terms with what is unfolding. You will most likely question if you are strong enough to endure what is to come all the while not wanting to stop even when sleep is claiming you. And when you finally decide to hit the bed, your mind will be restless with all of the possibilities and theories.

Disclaimer: This series is connected to Monsters in the Dark series and for a more comprehensive read I would recommend reading it followed by a very short novella The Mercer Curse.
Monsters in the Dark is the story of Tess and Q and throughout Ruby Tears, Q will be mentioned a lot and it might not hold much important if you are not familiar with who he is and why he holds so much importance.
The Mercer Curse is a little introduction to Henri’s character and what his story will possibly be about.

I’d give anything to just... be me. Unapologetically, authentically me. And if that meant I was the villain, then...

I have this kindling sensation that Henri will top Q. He is off to a great start already. A morally dark character battling the fine line of morality and nature. Henri is a man that has been fighting his dark and perverted nature. He seeks belonging and acceptance and in order for him to get that he takes the bait from his half brother Q to infiltrate The Jewelry Box, a sex trafficking ring where only the most debased creatures can join. (reminds me a lot of Epstein island)

Henri Ward has only known solitude. All his life he has lacked companionship and his wants and needs made it impossible to create roots. So when he lands in Joyero, fighting his debased nature proves to be the hardest task of his life. Joyero presents to him the perfect canvas to explore his artistic streak.

She’d be stunning when she broke.

Ily is on a trip with her boyfriend to celebrate his birthday and possibly rekindle the fire that was never there in their relationship. She unfortunately was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“I won’t hurt her,” the guy muttered. “Not unless she asks me to.”

Catching the eye of Henri is her downfall. She soon finds herself unwillingly on a plane to a place that proves to be the stuff of what nightmares are made of. Forced to obey and kneel for her master. Being inside such a brave and intelligent soul made me dread every page I flipped. And things have only began, I believe the next few books will prove to be even more painful and hard on sweet Ily. And I cannot wait.

I could not write this review and not mention two very important secondary characters.
Victor, the master villain, the one I will probably be imagining a thousand ways of killing. Victor is the Lord of the castle. He is responsible for every Jewel that was mined. He is a mastermind and he made his mission to oversee both Ily and Henri's breaking journey.

Peter is the light in all of this darkness. His loyalty to all of the jewels makes me root for his soul to be free in any way possible. He is gentle and cares for his uncharacteristic family. I wonder what is in store for him in the next few books.
I have theories that I am praying won't come to fruition but I guess I can only wait and read.

There are two authors that have the ability to render my brain mush with anxiety, dread and ultimately a large amount of intrigue. And Pepper is one of them. The way she laid the foundation for what I know will be my next favorite dark romance tale just proves how talented she is.

Thank you pepper for the early ARC and for being there while I went on this journey. I will be inconveniencing more in the future tho.

Also, as an Hindi speaker it was absolutely amazing to find it used in this book.

Warning: This book, this whole series is not for the faint hearts. If you expect a sexy book with a lot of spicy scenes, this is not it. I mentioned at the beginning of this review how depraved it is, so heed my warning.

[Anastasia ｼ · Rating 3 out of 5]

╭ ✦ •
│ ⊹ 𝟹.𝟻 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜 ⊹
╰ ✦ •

hmm, I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I enjoyed parts of it, but also, wtf did I just read?

This was basically as if Jeffery Epstein's Sex Trafficking Island was a Mansion in Europe.

Our main MC, Henri, is a psycho rapist who "tries" to control his urges but fails in the end..
His brother, Q, sends him on a mission to infiltrate a Sex Trafficking ring, things take a turn when he sees the most beautiful gem at the club, Ily.
Victor (the man in charge) instructs Henri to traffic Ily in order to join his Club.

Both main characters' inner dialogue was very repetitive and, by the end, infuriating.

Also, why would she swallow the drugs if she knows she's allergic? 🤪

I feel like it was a little too long.. but anyway, I might pick up book 2, since it just came out, curious about what happens.

I'm so sad I'm not able to upload Kindle notes and highlights :(
_________________________________
The Mercer Curse | Review
Ruby Tears | Review
Emerald Bruises | Review
Sapphire Scars | Review
Diamond Kisses | Review

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[Annica ⚡️ annica_reads_books ⚡️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pepper has blessed us with another dark romance, and I will be one of the first to say that this might be Pepper's darkest series to date. The jury is still out because I have not read the subsequent books in the series as they have not been released for me to read yet, but it's a hunch that I have. If her other dark romances were right at your limit, this one might be too much for you. If you have ANY triggers, please heed the trigger warnings in this book.

Before you start this series, I also highly recommend reading Monsters in the Dark and then The Mercer Curse. If you've already read "Monsters in the Dark," just dive into "The Mercer Curse." It's two chapters and an epilogue, and bridges the gap between the end of "Monsters in the Dark" and the beginning of "Ruby Tears" quite well. I would also recommend NOT reading my review (below) if you have not read that series and that short novella.

************
Review
************

This book had my attention from the moment I opened it until the moment I put it down. Honestly, I'm still thinking about it.

The MMC "Henri" is introduced in "The Mercer Curse," and we discover that he is Q's (unwanted) half-brother, who admits that he suffers from the same affliction as Q. Q wants nothing to do with him unless he can control the urges "cursing" both of them by their father. Q gives Henri an ultimatum to prove that he can rise above their curse by going undercover to infiltrate a massive sex-trafficking ring owned by the elusive "Master Jeweler."

Henri is alone in this world, and I really felt for him reading this story. He's trying his best to do the right thing, but with no one to turn to in this world, his resolve is crumbling piece by piece. His strength is admirable and his naivete understandable, given his backstory.

"Live or die. Love or loneliness. My fate was decided the moment my mother gave birth to a monster. One of these days, someone would put me down. And when that day came, I wouldn't have to struggle anymore. I could rest. Alone. Always Alone. Forever."

The FMC "Ily" is strong and kind, and someone that wants to see the good in people. I'd also call her a little naive, but honestly, what normal person wouldn't be? Until you live in a situation where you cannot trust people, trust is naturally given. I thoroughly appreciated her character, and want to know more about her as the series continues. Ily also has this somewhat lost sense of self given her history, and upbringing, and I think that her and Henri work well together as two souls searching for themselves with tons of passion and spirit.

"With her, I wasn't lonely. With her, I wasn't unwanted. With her, I burned and ached and came apart at the motherfucking seams. She looked at me as if I was worth something."

Ruby Tears was everything I had hoped it would be, and honestly, more. It is one of the easiest 5 stars I've ever given. I would not change a single thing about it, and I am on the edge of my seat to get my hands on Emerald Bruises! Ruby Tears is my new standard for captive/captor romance. It's brilliant, jaw-droppingly dark, and written elegantly.

[Kealyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby Tears by Pepper Winters

5/5 enormous stars!

My lord, heavens, where to begin! Pepper Winters just did it again. She stole my heart, she stomped on it and healed it all at the same time. This book has a lot of trigger warnings. But I didn't mind them at all. I absolutely loved it. Loved it with everything I have. It's such an all consuming book. I just couldn't stop reading and completely devoured it. 

The book starts with Henri. He is trying to infiltrate a French trafficking organization. He recently met his half brother Q and has to prove to him he isn't a rotten beast with damning urches. And while Henri longs for family. Longs to belong and longs to not be alone anymore, he has to battle his urges every single second of every single day. 

Meanwhile Ily is in Paris with her boyfriend Sam. He forced her to give him a blowjob she didn't want to give. And she is wondering why they are even together anymore. She realizes the relationship must end and tells him the truth. He makes an enormous scene. Which makes her notice a dark and alluring man across the bar. 

That man is Henri. And he is trying to get inside the trafficking organization of the Master Jeweler, Victor. 
But the second Henri and Ily's eyes meet they are bound together in every single way. Their souls, minds and bodies gravitate towards each other. 

Victor notices the bond and he forces Henri to buy Ily from her screaming boyfriend and make her a jewel in his empire. And that is what kickstarts the story. 
Ily is hesitant at first and when she does agree to see where the night will bring them and she realizes she is captive everything in her body protests. She does everything she can to escape the hellhole she just got dragged into. 

I don't want to spoil too much about what happens next. But the thing is, they both don't want to be there. Henri's urge to prove himself to Q and to belong overrides a lot. But that bond that binds him so tightly to Ily tugs even harder. 

I know this book is not for everyone. And I know that the line between it being consensual is very thin. But it just works in this story. I love how fierce they both are. I love how all consuming their scenes together are. I love how far they both are willing to go. And how much they cannot deny that bond. 

The word together just got a whole different meaning in this fierce book. I felt it in my bones every time it was whispered. It made me ache, and long and scream and hope all at the same time. They are so strong. So brave. So connected. It is one of the most powerful bonds Pepper has ever written about! 

5 huge, humongous, billion stars from me for this epic love story.

And is it April already???? I NEED book 2 and see what happens!!

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I've read a book this dark. A book that has me riveted but scared to turn each page, to listen to each new chapter. It's not for the faint of heart, but if you're ready to look evil in the eyes... jump on in.

The world of the Mercers is dark and dangerous. Sometimes it takes the most danger of men to go where others feel to tread. I know Henri is fighting so much but I was rooting for him and Ily to come together and work through this situation. My heart was beating in my throat multiple times.

However, this is only the first in the series, and we have a lot of story to go. I have no idea how they will get out of the situation they are in, but I am trusting Pepper Winters for the HEA at the end of the tunnel.

I devoured this story via audio book and the brilliant duet performance of Luke William Bromley & Lucy Jessica was haunting and powerful.

4 stars
3 on the spice scale (though a lot is under duress, per the situation)

*thank you to the Author for an ALC of this title.*

[Vanessa Booked Up · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS!

OMG, what the hell did I just read?

"If you knew how badly I want to let go...you wouldn't stand there looking at me as if I'm going to be the one to save you."

My God, it's been WAY TOO LONG since I had some of this woman's brilliant words!

Where to start! To say that I was excited to return to a world where Q Mercer exists is the understatement of the century!



So Q has a half brother, and his name is Henri Ward. We meet Henri in The Mercer Curse when he comes to Q's house to meet him and speaks of some um....personality traits of his that he is hugely struggling with that sound all too familiar to Q. Q is skeptical but ultimately agrees to join forces with Henri to take down yet another human trafficking operation.

From the very beginning of this book, my heart was in my throat. Henri needs bait. Enter Ily. Ily just had a pretty public breakup with her significant other, immediately catching Henri's attention, while out at a bar. And, OMG, did their chemistry jump off the freaking pages!

A deal is struck.

What follows is a wild ride of temptation, intrigue, evil, and depravity.



This story is a total waltz between Henri and the internal war he's fighting within himself between good and bad, right and wrong. He wants to stick to the plan he hatched with Q, but he cannot deny the appeal of the dark world around around him.

"Somehow, in an unknown country in a fortress surrounded by enemies, I found the one thing I’d been searching for.
Contact.
Connection.
Her.

And y'all...the writing here is pure poetry. Like a fine wine. This story is beautifully heartbreaking and will pull you down into its dark clutches. I was terrified most of the time I read it butit was the most delicious torture.

I cannot wait for more!



And the audio was perfection!

[Kindle Crack Book Reviews Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pepper Winters is back with one of her darkest books to date. If you read Tears of Tess or any of Pepper's books in the Monsters in the Dark series, you will devour Ruby Tears (The Jewelry Box Book 1). Ruby Tears is unputdownable and utterly addictive. I couldn't put this book down if I tried. This dark and twisted captive suspense laid the foundation for a dysfunctional romance between Henri (Q's half-brother from Monsters in the Dark) and Ily, his captive. Will Henri save her, or will she become collateral damage in Henri's depraved mission of mercy? You never know what will happen in Pepper's books, and I love that unpredictability.

I knew going into this book that it would end with a cliffhanger. Pepper left us with a jaw-dropping banger of an ending. I understand that some readers like to wait until all the books are out to start a new series. Don't wait to start this one. You'll need some recovery time after reading this book. I can't wait to read Emerald Bruises (The Jewelry Box Book 2) when it releases.

Ruby Tears is not for everyone. I highly suggest you check out Peppers's author notes if you have triggers.

[lady d ⚡️ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Biggest fan of her dark romance Dollars series, but this was terrible 😳! Most tedious repetitive inner monologues that span paragraphs and accomplish nothing. There’s no chemistry between these annoying characters whatsoever. And Henri is the most obvious incompetent person ever.. it infuriated me. I will not be reading the rest of this series. I’m so sad because characters like Q, Tess, Elder, Pim were so dimensional and interesting but these main characters cannot retain my attention before their annoying endless monologues of nonsense start up again every other page. This book just dragged on for so long without anything actually happening. I was expecting the Dollars series level of quality 🫣🫣🫣🫠🫠🫠

[Melanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS!!

For the first time in my life, I felt something deeper than darkness, lighter than sin, and a thousand times better than shame.

Classic Pepper Winters!!

The hero inside me wanted to do absolutely everything he could to deserve and protect her. But the villain? Fuck, he wanted to break her, ruin her, and keep her chained in the very same hell she'd forced me to rule.

If you're familiar with this author's classics, you will not be disappointed! Henri and Ilyana were combustible and heartbreaking all at once. I'm just about to start book 4😁

[Stephanie (Bookfever) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The queen of dark romance has once again left her mark on the genre and I was definitely not left disappointed. I've been highly anticipating Ruby Tears ever since it was announced it would be about Q's half brother Henri. Q will forever be one of my all time favorite male characters in the dark romance genre but Henri is on his heels, giving him a run for his money. I love this first book in the new series and I absolutely can't wait for the next one.

We had already met Henri in the novella The Mercer Curse (definitely read that one before you read this book!) but in Ruby Tears we meet Ily who's in Paris to give her relationship with her boyfriend Sam one more go. When she's at a club with him she realizes how badly he treats her and breaks up with him. In the meanwhile Henri is at the same club trying to talk himself into the good graces of the boss of a sex trafficking ring, named Victor, so he can prove himself to his brother Q (this all makes sense if you've read The Mercer Curse). And that's when Henri and Ily catch each other gazes and make their first connection, one of many. When Victor notices Henri noticing Ily, he makes Henri buy Ily from her boyfriend and essentially talks Ily into coming with them which leads to Ily being kidnapped to Victor's island of jewels. Henri didn't want Ily to get involved into everything but now that she's a captive he wants to keep her safe until Q can get to them. The only problem is Henri doesn't know how long he can keep the darkness inside him at bay and both he and Ily will have to act like master and slave.

That's pretty much the premise and gist of the story but of course there's so much more that happens. If you hadn't guessed already it's a very dark book but very Pepper Winters. I'm even tempted to say that Henri may be darker than Q? I'm gonna keep my final verdict of that until the next books but that's my first kinda feeling and I'm definitely here for it. Henri very much tries to keep the beast that loves the tears of women and gets off on their pain behind lock and key but that was before he met Ily and before the connection they made. It's like he can see inside of her and vice versa. They both want each other so badly but this gets very complicated with everything that's happening and both of them are not sure what the other is feeling is real.

My first perception of Ily is that I really like her and she didn't deserve what happened to her. I love her and Henri together, though. Henri doesn't want to hurt her but to sell the idea of him being interested in having a membership on the island he has to do things to her and it kills him that he loves it. Like I said, it's a dark book with very explicit acts of sex (the TW's are above). I wouldn't recommend it to a newbie of the genre and I'd even recommend to read Pepper's Monsters in the Dark series first so you can get to know Q and Tess first. But oh the sex scenes were scorching hot and the chemistry between Ily and Henri was the chef's kiss. Perfectly written!

The book ended in a expect cliffhanger as per usual with this author's books so I was ready for it. But that doesn't mean I don't want to next book like right now. I can't wait to see where Ily and Henri's story is going next. What is Henri going to have to do to her next? Will he be able to send Q his tracking information? Will he kill Victor like I want him to do? I guess I'll have to wait and see but Ruby Tears was one hell of a start and it was sexy as fuck!

[Flo₂₂]

pass. in the next books she is raped multiple times by OM .
he slept with OW too in the ''games''

🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

a lot of other TW happened in this series

[Morlas Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I need book 2 right now. NOW!!!

Did I read the book in one day? Hell yeah. Pepper Winters is my Dark Romance Queen and I love the story.

Thank you Peppers for the ARC 🫶🏻 and The Audiobook.

I inhaled the book in one day because ... yes because .... I love it !!! Reading and listening to the audiobook is my new obsession. I have to say Pepper Winter’s has the best audiobooks. The narrators were perfect for this. 👌🏼

The angst in this book is really heavy and I had to calm my pulse and control my breathing again and again. This baby gets under your skin. So pls do me a favor and read the TW of you need them and take it serious because this shit gets dark.
The Mercer Curse has already prepared you for Henri but the last pages of Ruby Tears. I’m scared. 😬
Henri, oh Henri... the monster in you will kill Ily. You will kill her… I need book 2 immediately. NOW!!!

Do I have a smile on my face while writing the review? Oh yes, I have. I was so looking forward to this book and I was not disappointed. LOVE THIS BOOK!!!

Thank you Peppers for not forgetting about me 😚😉

If you loved Tears of Tess you will love Ruby Tears ♥️
For dark romance readers I highly recommend this book. 📖

xoxo Morla

[K]

on hold at 20%, but will continue. rtc.

[Tina H · Rating 4 out of 5]

💔

I hate cliffhangers but Henri is worth it!

Pepper my dark queen what have you done to me!! I want more, I need more!! Patiently waiting for the next book!

[Hopelessly Addicted To Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby Tears brings Pepper well and truly back into her dark world. This is the first in The Jewelry Box series and brings Henri into our lives. Henri is Q from Monsters in the Dark's half brother and Ily is his captive. This is a very dark suspense story and I would take note of any trigger warnings given by the author. I found it hard to put down, waiting and sometimes dreading what was going to happen next. Henri has something to prove to his brother but most importantly to himself. He is waging a war with the darkness within himself and his desire for Ily. As he gets drawn further into the organisation will he be her saviour or her downfall ? I knew going in that it was going to end on a cliffhanger but the end came too soon, I just wasn't ready. So now I wait anxiously on the next part of this tantalising story.

[JenniiTheBookAddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can I articulate how much I loved this book? I don’t think I can find words to do it justice. Beneath all the rawness, dark aspects and suffering, this story is captivating, overwhelming and hauntingly beautiful.

This book is 𝗡𝗢𝗧 for everyone, so please be mindful of the TWs.

As the tale unfolds and Pepper brings you back to her dark romance origins from the Monsters in the Dark series, you’d think you’ve seen it all. Yeah, well… You haven’t. This wasn’t like anything I’ve ever read before. I never thought there could come a MMC that’d top Q and Elder but, fucking hell… 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗶 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗿 completely obliterated all my senses and made it all about him. With his complex personality, he’s possessive and protective at his core. The fact he’s been alone for as long as he can remember, My heart broke for him. Unlike Q who after many years, has tamed and accepted his demons, or like Pepper said “he’s seasoned” 🥹😂, Henri’s just starting this journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Trying to fit in without completely loosing himself in the process.
And 𝗜𝗹𝘆, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or was she? I believe she was destined to find Henri. She’s strong willed, smart and a fighter. I adore her! 🥹❤️

I know, I know. It sounds confusing and it is. It’s a roller coaster ride of emotions. One minute you want to heal Henri, you start to feel anguish for all he’s had to endure and the next, you want to strangle him for what he does to Ily. Although this can be read as it is, I’d strongly advise to read the Monsters in the Dark series first to get a better understanding of this world and who Q is and his role in Henri’s life.

It’s so funny because I initially planned to take a break from reading up until mid January BUT! Pepper sent me this early ARC and you all know that as soon as she even mentions releasing a new book I’m all eyes 😂❤️. I devoured this book knowing the cliffhanger was going to kill me. 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗜𝗧 𝗗𝗜𝗗, but I’m so excited for what’s to come next! If there’s an author that will have me glued to my seat, have my heart going a million beats per minute with the angst and overall emotions, it’s Pepper and god, each and every book is worth it all. Thank you, Pepper, for this early copy! Another spectacular, mind blowing book!

[Zahida Sayed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shoutout to my girl Pepper for hooking me up with "Ruby Tears." I gotta admit, she warned me about that cliffhanger, and damn, it messed with my sanity. I'm not the same person after that ending, but you know what? This book went above and beyond what I expected.

Let's talk about Henri, that tortured soul. Why the heck do I love him so much? We haven't even seen his true self yet, and that's exactly why I'm begging for Book 2 right now. I want the real deal—the raw Henri. Pepper's got me all intrigued about him, and I'm ready for it.

The setting and premise of "Ruby Tears" will plunge readers into a darkness that surpasses even the realms explored in "Monsters in the Dark." With each page, Pepper peels back the layers, exposing a refined ugliness that both captivates and repels. I'm pumped for that journey.

Pepper Winters, my friends, is a genius at making you feel two things to the core: anger and pain. Her storytelling game is on another level, and she's got this crazy versatility that blows my mind. Now, Henri and our girl Ilys—she's strong and smart, and those golden eyes of hers can make Henri snap. I'm keeping my hopes high for their story because, in true Pepper Winters style, she's gonna make me suffer, but you know what? It's gonna be the best kind of suffering, just like this one.

And speaking of Henri again, that quote he dropped at the end, "I told you what exists inside me. I told you, and now... I am finally free." I am ready to bathe in his true, dark form.That's some heavy stuff right there. It's got me all kinds of curious about what's next for our man, Henri. Pepper, you've got me hooked. And you better not make me cry again, but deep down, I know you're going to make my heart do all kinds of gymnastics. "Ruby Tears" is a wild ride, and I'm strapping in for whatever emotional rollercoaster you throw our way next. You rock, girl—literally, a brain-rocking maestro!

P.S. I don't usually have dreams, but last night I dreamt about this book, and it wasn't fun. Can't shake off the intensity!
P.P.S. I think our Henri won't be needing his brother, even though I'm dying to see him. Our Henri's got this."

[Nadine Bookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I said it when I read the prequel, The Mercer Curse, and I'll say it again, "I love being back in Tess and Q's world".

In this first full length book of The Jewelry Box Series we find that Henri is trying to get into the dark world of trafficking and he finds himself in a bit of a predicament, either he gets in kills the Master Jeweler and frees the all of the Jewels, or he dies at his half brother's hands. Q is on a mission to rid the world of these types and Henri having a bit of a monster inside himself is the perfect person to help him get in The Jewelry Box, a world he has found is almost impenetrable. But what will it cost Henri if he does get in? I can tell you, this book is not for the faint of heart so be sure to read all of the trigger warnings.

𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 ➡ https://bit.ly/NBReviewRT



**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books
You can find me here:  https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic

[Amy Hallford · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚖𝚎.
𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚕.
𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚗𝚒𝚌𝚎.
𝚆𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚖𝚎, 𝚒𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢.
𝙱𝚞𝚝……. 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚞𝚐 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞….. 𝙸 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚝𝚑 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚢.”

📖 : Ruby Tears
👩🏻‍💻 : Pepper Winters
⭐️: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🗓️ : 12th March 2024

Just finished the ARC of Ruby Tears and to say I absolutely freaking LOVED it wouldn’t be conveying just how much I enjoyed.

Whenever I see Pepper is releasing a new book I get super excited and they get preordered the moment the link goes live. And the moment I heard the news about this new series that excitement was tenfold. Because finally Pepper was getting back to the genre that I first fell in love with. Dark, gritty with a ton of angst.

The jewelry box series is connected to another one of Pepper’s amazing series, Monsters in The Dark (Q and Tess) - so you can bet that this will being out so many emotions within you whilst reading!

First of all, do yourself a favour and read The Mercer Curse, it’s a short novella but you will meet the MMC Henri for the first time. He is a dark character who just like Q is trying his darnest to ignore all the dark thoughts and wants his whole body is telling him to act upon.

Q seeing this darkness so similar to his own ends up getting into Henri’s head and ends up agreeing to join The Jewelry Box, an incredibly terrible Sex Trafficking Ring where the worst of the worst get together.

The MFC, Ily, like Tess gets taken whilst on a trip with her boyfriend, that isn’t really going that well to begin with.

Once Henri spots Ily, that’s it. Shortly thereafter, they leave Joyero and are at the location of even more darkness. She is a smart character and sweet, not meant for the darkness.

✔️ Dark Romance
✔️ Morally Gray Character
✔️ Connection to Monsters In The Dark
✔️ Sex Trafficking
✔️ Slavery

This is an ongoing series, and like I mentioned above, there are some dark themes in this book, and not for the faint of heart.

#bookrecomendation #books #booklover #happy #reader #romancebooks #love #Shelfie #bookstagram #ilovereading #romance #BookObsessed #Bookdragon #bookboyfriend #bookboyfriendsdoitbetter #Spicy #ARCReader #DarkRomance #pepperwinters #RubyTears #Jewelrybox

[teya ⋆˖⁺‧₊☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I am not this body. I am not this skin or form. I’m merely the watcher within it. They can touch my shell, but they will never touch me.”
3,7🌟

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞]

kindle freebie 8/29/24

https://www.amazon.com/Ruby-Tears-Rom...

[MissPetiteBrunetteBookBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome To The Jewelry Box….Where dark desires become reality for a hefty price. Henri Mercer is a damaged man. He comes from a long line of evil within his family. His half brother Q finally found his peace but can Henri be redeemed too? He will have to embrace his darker side to infiltrate the Jewelry Box if he wants to become like Q and be redeemed from his dark thoughts. Ily was “acquired” for a price by The Master Jeweler. Now Henri must become his worst fear to keep her “safe.” Will they both be freed or be taken prisoner of this corrupt world. This is only book one and just the beginning of Henri and Ily’s journey into this dark society but I can’t wait to see where it goes. By the end I was so intrigued and ready for more! Please check TW’s as this has very dark topics throughout. This ends in quite the cliffhanger and is in first person/dual POV.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so happy to be reading Pepper Winters again, there's just something so special about her writing. I say it every single time I talk about her but she's my absolute favorite author.

Ruby Tears is once again Pepper Winters at her best. I loved Henri. He was so tortured and sad and just wanted to prove he wasn't the horrible person he himself thinks he is.

This book is a different take on the captor/captive trope. Neither Henri og Ily wanted to be there. The were both caught in an awful situation but for two very different reasons.

I really enjoyed this and I can't wait for the next book. This was a great start to a new series.

[Joy Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

Angst: 💔💔💔💔

Cliffhanger? ✔️

Do I recommend it? ✔️

Trigger Warnings: ☠️☠️☠️/3

Tropes: dark romance, billionaire, boy falls first, close proximity, fake relationship, romantic suspense, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, tortured lead

Henri's the bastard son of a monster. His other half-blooded siblings have their own demons...but Henri? He truly has the devil inside. He tries to be good. To do his best to ignore the deep, dark, despicable urges. But every day, it gets harder. He thought his family could help. He reached out to his infamous half-brother, Q, begging for his secrets to stay tamed. Instead, he gave Henri an ultimatum to prove he’s not like their father. Infiltrate The Jewelry Box: a trafficking ring of poor unfortunate souls, kill the Master Jeweler, free the Jewels, and don't lose his rotten soul while trying. Only problem is... his initiation into this exclusive club is earning a Jewel all of his own. Ily sparkles like diamonds, bleeds like rubies, and bruises as deep as emeralds. She's Henri's to break. He can't refuse. If he wants to prove to his half-brother that he's not like their sire, he will have to sink into urges he's always fought, plunge into madness, and lose himself so deeply into sin that the only one who will be breaking is himself.

Pepper Winters' brilliance in crafting utterly addicting tales truly shines in Ruby Tears. It was dark, depraved decadence that captured my attention and absolutely refused to let go. I haven't read any of Mrs. Winters other really dark romances, and I see now how much I missed out on. Henri represented everything to love in an antihero with Ily being someone I'd never see paired up with him. To say this is trigger heavy would be a huge understatement, so beware. This is my honest opinion, freely given.

[PP's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mastermind who introduced me to true dark romance is back. Ruby Tears is Pepper Winters in her full twisted filthy uninhibited perfection. Get ready for a devilish deprived world where evil rules but the antihero is on way to change everything. Henry and Ily's jaw dropping heart stopping tale will consume you completely.

Henri Ward aka Mercer just has come to know about his evil father who was infamous for sex slavery business and his powerful half brother Q Mercer who has conquered the evil inside and is working to take down all the other criminals. And Q has given him a task to prove that the Mercer curse doesn't run in him. He has to infiltrate the most elusive sex slave ringmaster around. And for that..he had to kidnap Ily from a night club on order of Victor, the Master Jewel and then travel with them to the secret island. But the sickness in inside him too and Ily is so different. This ends in a massive cliffy.

I was over the top excited to be back in Pepper Winter's dark universe but you need to enter with caution as she doesn't hold the darkness back. You will be sickened by the atrocious tastes and torture of the sick deviant rich evil people who buys and abuses other humans like own toys. There are multiple trigger warnings so pay attention. True dark romance by Pepper Winters is not for faint hearted. Henri reminds me so much of his half brother and one of my all time favorite antihero Q Mercer. He has a constant battle. He knows he has this hidden depravity..this filthy part that is aroused and excited by the idea of owning, demeaning, punishing and hurting a woman. And he is constantly trying to reign the monster. Now he has been thrown into this dark world where his fantasies and desires are more than normal..more than welcome. He is hanging by a thread. Ily isn't making it easier. She is so strong and stubborn. She has been trapped and seduced and taken away by the devil and she is in so much pain but she doesn't stop fighting. The author has created a decadent world of the jewels and it's equally enticing and terrifying. Ily's fight only makes Henri more obsessed and he cannot afford to let the leashes go. It's a very dangerous and unpredictable world. He has to play along the master to get all the information and he is so shattered and horrified. He wants to protect Ily deeply but he has to hurt her to avoid suspicion. Ily is torn but something about Henri makes her feel safe. As safe she can feel in this despicable world. Pepper Winter makes it so easy to fall hard for her antiheroes but the ending has left me heartbroken and scared. Henri and Ily are at a crossroad and I am so excited to see where it's going.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

[Chay Charita Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know what to do with myself. Once again Pepper Winters has grabbed my mind, heart and soul and taken me to the pinnacle of amazement!

After reading Ruby Tears, book one of The Jewelry Series, I’m certain it’s to be Pepper’s darkest jaw dropping series to date!

Henri and Ily are compelling characters, written in dual points of view giving insight into their thoughts and feelings, if only they could express themselves to each other about what they think!

Henri is truly a fascinating and complex character. His backstory is heart rendering and his inner turmoil palpable. His trepidation in questioning his very existence and proclivities has him reach out to his half brother Q to search for answers on his new found true identity as a Mercer. He’s lonely and searching for connection he also wants to know how to tame and contain the beast within. (read the novella The Mercer Curse) Thus, this is how he finds himself in the midst of the vile depravity that is The Jewelry Box.

Ily is a likable character although somewhat a little naïve at times, I liked the way she finally wanted to move on from a stagnant relationship. Her unknown background is something I look forward to reading more about in future books. She’s an adopted daughter searching to know more about her origins. She has an adopted brother with special needs with whom she has a very close relationship. She is empathetic and loving toward her adoptive family and it seems vice versa. She finds herself in an unfulfilling relationship with a not so good boyfriend who ends up selling her to Henri, and thus begins her unexpected journey into unbelievably dark debauched circumstances.

Will Ily ultimately leash the beast in Henri? I can’t wait to find out as their story continues in Emerald Bruises.

Please check the the author’s website for possible triggers.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you loved tears of Tess then you’re gonna love this. This story picks up with Qs half brother-Henri. Henri also struggles with the depravity and darkness of the “Mercer curse”. But where Q has spent majority of his life counter acting his curse by saving those being trafficked. Henri has been alone, fighting it daily and now he’s got every opportunity to let go and dive into his darkness. Will he come out of the jewelry box with the small thread of decentcy he went in with or emerge with only the darkness he dove into??This is his story and BUCKLE UP BABYYYYY!

I was so excited when I heard this was coming and when I got a copy. I danced a dancy dance lol. Make sure you read the warnings and know this is DARK. Themes of trafficking, 🍇, and master/slave, on top of many others. All of the things are present and you need to know what you can handle before reading.

There is a small prequel (you don’t have to read but it’s quick and I think it’s worth it) called mercers curse that shows the moment Q meets Henri, gives his what seems like an inactivate task and kinda kicks off the jewelry box series but again it’s not necessary. I’ll update my review with more deetz a little after release to not spoil to much to soon.

This is a series so although you can read this without reading any other series, it’s not a standalone and there will be other books to complete this story.

Happy reading babes!!

[Tatianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruby Tears by Pepper Winters in the first book in the Jewelry Box series, a spin-off to her beloved Monsters in the Dark series. You don't have to read Monsters in the Dark first, but please beware that Ruby Tears will spoil some aspects of that story. I also think MITD provides great context for the male lead's internal struggle in this story.

There is a prequel novella, The Mercer Curse, which I believe bridges the two series... however, I did not read it before diving into this one.

Ruby Tears is a dark romance that dives into the world of human trafficking and sexual slavery. If you are sensitive to reading about abuse of any kind, I definitely encourage you to read the content warnings.

Henri Ward believes himself a monster, carrying inside him an inherited sexual deviancy and darkness that prevents him from living a normal life. He wants to be a good person, but he cannot shake his inky black desires. In a challenge of sorts from his half-brother Q, Henri has been tasked with infiltrating an elusive trafficking ring called the Jewelry Box. His depravity is his ticket inside, which becomes a dangerous game as temptation provokes his monster within. Our female lead, Ily, is in the wrong place at the wrong time and gets wrapped up in Henri's scheme. A miserable trip with her boyfriend to Paris turns into a complete nightmare. And the electric chemistry that undeniably sparks between her and Henri? It's complicated, confusing and sinfully sweet.

"The unwilling Master slowly breaking and the unbroken slave slowly wanting."

This story started off so strong for me! I instantly liked both Henri and Ily as characters and their meet-cute was so well done. The world of the Jewelry Box is horrifying and darkly enchanting, sure to captivate dark romance lovers and fans of Monsters in the Dark. Same dark and gritty world, but different.

Unfortunately, I did have some frustration while reading this story. Both Henri and Ily kept cycling through the same thoughts over and over, and this mental warring made up the bulk of the plot. Ironically, this makes them incredibly human characters and made sense for the situation they were in... I just found it a bit repetitive.

I also thought the setting and characters were somewhat contradictory, promising violence without much follow-through. And perhaps I am desensitized because there is definitely dark content in this book, including non-con and dub-con between love interests, but these incidents seemed restrained to me. It was as if Winters pulled back at the last second each time, before the characters could demonstrate the brutality that was promised.

And I know I probably sound like a complete psychopath but this was my honest reading experience.

Having said all that, I know Pepper Winters' writing well enough to know that she can write a captivating and entertaining story across multiple books, exploring deep into the psyche of her characters — deeper than I can usually anticipate. So I'm hopeful that the subsequent books in this series will be strong and deliver the promised darkness. This book ends on a cliffhanger that hints at what I was waiting for through most of the book ... so I am eager to get my hands on Emerald Bruises!

I am incredibly grateful to Pepper Winters for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.