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Toxic
The Joker meets Haunting Adeline in this dark, forbidden romance where a prison nurse is caught in a dangerous web of obsession with her ruthless psychopath patient.
My life has been a series of bad decisions.
Marrying an abusive man was the first... but falling for a dangerous inmate where I’m a nurse may be the worst.
He’s brutal, heartless, and twisted.
But he’s also the only one to notice the bruises on my skin.
His forbidden touch becomes my addiction.
His drugging kisses my obsession.
After I learn the truth about why he’s in prison, I try to escape, but he finds me.
Now I'm his prisoner.
Toxic is a standalone dark romance featuring a pierced, morally gray antihero with Joker energy, obsessive “Touch Her & Die” protectiveness, and a dangerous cat-and-mouse dynamic with the prison nurse he refuses to let go. It contains explicit sexual content and a full list of trigger warnings can be found at the beginning of the book.
"Intense, filthy, suspenseful--Nicole Blanchard delivers all the goods in this addictive forbidden love story! I absolutely loved this book!" - USA Today bestselling author K Webster
My life has been a series of bad decisions.
Marrying an abusive man was the first... but falling for a dangerous inmate where I’m a nurse may be the worst.
He’s brutal, heartless, and twisted.
But he’s also the only one to notice the bruises on my skin.
His forbidden touch becomes my addiction.
His drugging kisses my obsession.
After I learn the truth about why he’s in prison, I try to escape, but he finds me.
Now I'm his prisoner.
Toxic is a standalone dark romance featuring a pierced, morally gray antihero with Joker energy, obsessive “Touch Her & Die” protectiveness, and a dangerous cat-and-mouse dynamic with the prison nurse he refuses to let go. It contains explicit sexual content and a full list of trigger warnings can be found at the beginning of the book.
"Intense, filthy, suspenseful--Nicole Blanchard delivers all the goods in this addictive forbidden love story! I absolutely loved this book!" - USA Today bestselling author K Webster
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2023
12503 people are currently reading
54538 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Blanchard
58 books1,923 followersNicole Blanchard is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the TikTok-viral dark romance Toxic, a wildly addictive bestseller that has sold over 90,000 copies worldwide. Known for her morally gray antiheroes, off-the-charts heat, and jaw-dropping twists, Nicole’s stories drag readers deep into love’s darkest corners—where no one escapes unscarred.
When she’s not crafting twisted love stories that break your heart and then heal it, you can find her soaking up beach sun with a glass of sweet tea, getting inked, or running a farm full of lovable misfit animals.
You may learn more about Nicole and her work at www.authornicoleblanchard.com. Join her mailing list for updates at http://www.authornicoleblanchard.com/...
When she’s not crafting twisted love stories that break your heart and then heal it, you can find her soaking up beach sun with a glass of sweet tea, getting inked, or running a farm full of lovable misfit animals.
You may learn more about Nicole and her work at www.authornicoleblanchard.com. Join her mailing list for updates at http://www.authornicoleblanchard.com/...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,175 reviews
February 14, 2023
WTF did I just read? This was a booktok recommendation and from the reviews it caught the attention of a few of my friends and myself. It was terrible.
This book had no transitions or character development. It literally felt like the author wrote 5 different books and just kept the character names the same. Tessa went from a fragile, never left home, battered wife to someone easily accessing fake identities, to full blown assassin with absolutely no explanation. I've seen this character arch before, but there was actually a storyline to support this change.
Also, there was zero relationship development with Gracin. Even in these toxic relationships, there needs to be some evidence of a budding relationship or inner dialogue about attraction versus fear, etc.. Nope. She was either running away from him or throwing herself at him with nothing in between.
Finally, what elite, loaded assassin uses his real freaking name to get thrown in jail with every intention of escaping? Even I know better than that.
1.25⭐️ because I just barely finished the book, but I did
This book had no transitions or character development. It literally felt like the author wrote 5 different books and just kept the character names the same. Tessa went from a fragile, never left home, battered wife to someone easily accessing fake identities, to full blown assassin with absolutely no explanation. I've seen this character arch before, but there was actually a storyline to support this change.
Also, there was zero relationship development with Gracin. Even in these toxic relationships, there needs to be some evidence of a budding relationship or inner dialogue about attraction versus fear, etc.. Nope. She was either running away from him or throwing herself at him with nothing in between.
Finally, what elite, loaded assassin uses his real freaking name to get thrown in jail with every intention of escaping? Even I know better than that.
1.25⭐️ because I just barely finished the book, but I did
July 4, 2022
4 A Black Hole of Heat and Want Stars ⭐
I was in search of a prison inmate romance when I stumbled across this beauty. And frankly I appreciate the author not romanticizing it. Instead Toxic was a confronting portrayal of the ugly side of love and the long winding path to happiness.
Is this the result of years of abuse—this dark, dirty yearning—or is it just him?
It makes you realize how fortunate you are if you're happily married. No walking on eggshells, losing oneself, or wondering when next you’ll be struck. We get a very graphic insight to our heroine's everyday reality married to a narcissist. It gets worse because Tessa also works together with her husband at a Prison. He as a warden and she as a nurse. There's nowhere to hide.
What is broken inside me that I look for love in the worst places? Am I just so fucked up that I’ll take affection wherever I can get it, even if it’s from the worst possible source?
Life is very routine, until Tessa meets the new inmate King. In fact, they've been paired together in the infirmary and it soon starts unravelling. For the first time Tessa is being seen, and by a person that shouldn’t. King sees all, even the hidden bruises. He gives her courage that has long been dormant and somehow a forbidden romance blossoms. However, is Tessa exchanging one monster for another?
"C’mon," he coaxes as his lips grow bolder. "Let me give you this. One kiss. I promise you'll enjoy it. Let me show you a little something sweet to take away from the sour. One kiss, and if you want me to walk away after, I will."
You don't fuck with Gracin Kingsley in or out of prison. He has every intention of keeping Tessa, but everything comes at a price with blowback. Let me say, this love story was unpredictable and not sugar-coated as expected. Toxic was action packed, gritty and don't worry, steamy! Tragic in parts, it shows you how resilient people must be. There is definitely a HEA but it wasn’t easy. Certainly a great example of an unorthodox romance.
I was in search of a prison inmate romance when I stumbled across this beauty. And frankly I appreciate the author not romanticizing it. Instead Toxic was a confronting portrayal of the ugly side of love and the long winding path to happiness.
Is this the result of years of abuse—this dark, dirty yearning—or is it just him?
It makes you realize how fortunate you are if you're happily married. No walking on eggshells, losing oneself, or wondering when next you’ll be struck. We get a very graphic insight to our heroine's everyday reality married to a narcissist. It gets worse because Tessa also works together with her husband at a Prison. He as a warden and she as a nurse. There's nowhere to hide.
What is broken inside me that I look for love in the worst places? Am I just so fucked up that I’ll take affection wherever I can get it, even if it’s from the worst possible source?
Life is very routine, until Tessa meets the new inmate King. In fact, they've been paired together in the infirmary and it soon starts unravelling. For the first time Tessa is being seen, and by a person that shouldn’t. King sees all, even the hidden bruises. He gives her courage that has long been dormant and somehow a forbidden romance blossoms. However, is Tessa exchanging one monster for another?
"C’mon," he coaxes as his lips grow bolder. "Let me give you this. One kiss. I promise you'll enjoy it. Let me show you a little something sweet to take away from the sour. One kiss, and if you want me to walk away after, I will."
You don't fuck with Gracin Kingsley in or out of prison. He has every intention of keeping Tessa, but everything comes at a price with blowback. Let me say, this love story was unpredictable and not sugar-coated as expected. Toxic was action packed, gritty and don't worry, steamy! Tragic in parts, it shows you how resilient people must be. There is definitely a HEA but it wasn’t easy. Certainly a great example of an unorthodox romance.
August 17, 2017
TOXIC: A standalone dark romance novel Nicole Blanchard.
Twenty-seven year old Tessa Emmerson RN, knew the rules, as a prison nurse she knew not to overstep the boundaries with the inmates at Blackthorne Correctional Institute that held high risk prisoners.
Do my job, don’t get involved, and never let a prisoner get under my skin.
Things aren’t the greatest in her personal life, where she’s suffocating on a daily basis, a husband that rules the roost with an iron fist, instead of showering her with love and devotion, he showers her with cruelty and bruises. What makes her situation more precarious is he has eyes everywhere, being the warden where she works, she’s on tenterhooks not just at work but at home too.
So when a prisoner (John Doe) aka thirty-five year old Gracin Kingsley shows her some form of affection that she craves all the above three rules are smashed to smithereens.
He’s the devil incarnate, the snake that tempted Eve.
When he’s signed to help her in the ward things get heated up between them fast.
My passion, my obsession, my addiction. I risked my entire life so we could be together.
Now fugitives on the run from the law..Both with blood on their hands.
It turns out when your life falls to pieces right before your eyes, it isn't with a bang. It's with a whisper.
Just a word of warning for some this book may cause triggers, spouse abuse, and is very much in your face, it's not glossed over.
This took me a while to get into, Tessa was a victim of domestic violence, no children so really there was nothing keeping her there within the relationship, no ties binding her to him so I found it hard connecting with her in the beginning and couldn't comprehend why she didn't get out of that situation sooner. It's not until she meets Gracin that she grows a backbone and we see her going from a wall flower to a spitfire with a tough inner bitch that doesn't take any more shit, and it was at this stage that I started connecting with her more.
dnf
August 24, 2017
Sigh... I had high hopes for this one, but I am over 50%, and there is NO romance or even a spark between the HERO/HEROINE, and now we got a full on torture scene with the heroine being beat and tortured
Nothing is going to save this one for me after that...
August 23, 2017
Triggers: Domestic abuse / violence, gore, r*pe
This book was a solid four star, I swear. The writing's good. I literally couldn't put it down.
......At least until I got to the last few chapters when the heroine suddenly announced that she's in love with the Hero.
LOL. She went from being angry towards the Hero to suddenly.... in love? A few fucks don't make a romance, sister. Especially after what the Hero made her go through and didn't apologize for it.
It's sad that someone who started out strong, ended up to be a freaking doormat. I truly did not expect that.
Overall, the book's okay, enjoyable. I'm just disappointed with the lackluster and rushed ending.
P.S. I said this one and I'll say this again: I'm tired of overexaggerated sexual /tension/ in books. Heroines who get wet over the sight of a hot man...? Please wear a diaper.
This book was a solid four star, I swear. The writing's good. I literally couldn't put it down.
......At least until I got to the last few chapters when the heroine suddenly announced that she's in love with the Hero.
LOL. She went from being angry towards the Hero to suddenly.... in love? A few fucks don't make a romance, sister. Especially after what the Hero made her go through and didn't apologize for it.
It's sad that someone who started out strong, ended up to be a freaking doormat. I truly did not expect that.
Overall, the book's okay, enjoyable. I'm just disappointed with the lackluster and rushed ending.
P.S. I said this one and I'll say this again: I'm tired of overexaggerated sexual /tension/ in books. Heroines who get wet over the sight of a hot man...? Please wear a diaper.
February 7, 2023
okay yeah, booktok got me here with one good scene. the idea was there, the execution, not as much.
August 6, 2017
This book is full of action! It has a very good suspense plot and a lot of romance. It kept my interest!
Suspenseful and sexy, this book tells the action-packed story of Tessa, a prison nurse, as she is thrust into the arms of inmate Gracin. Tessa is a good heroine. Strong, patient and knows what she wants. Gracin is dangerous, ruggedly handsome and reads her so well. Tessa and Gracin are fighting to resist their immense attraction under increasing danger but they seem like a perfect match. I really found myself enjoying their secret moments together.
This is not a book for people who like light romances so if that is what you want this is not for you but if you can take some heat this book was very good. The sexual tension between the characters and the love scenes were hot enough to burn the pages of the book. Overall this is a great story with fully realized characters and a tight narrative.
In short:
Hero 4/5 | Heroine 4/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 4/5 | Writing Style 4/5 | Steam 4/5 | Romance 4/5 | Angst-Suspense 4/5 | Darkness 3/5 | Humor 0/5 | Secondary Characters 3/5 | Drama-Conflict 4/5 | Mystery 2/5 | Twists 4/5 | Pacing Fast | Action 4/5
Suspenseful and sexy, this book tells the action-packed story of Tessa, a prison nurse, as she is thrust into the arms of inmate Gracin. Tessa is a good heroine. Strong, patient and knows what she wants. Gracin is dangerous, ruggedly handsome and reads her so well. Tessa and Gracin are fighting to resist their immense attraction under increasing danger but they seem like a perfect match. I really found myself enjoying their secret moments together.
This is not a book for people who like light romances so if that is what you want this is not for you but if you can take some heat this book was very good. The sexual tension between the characters and the love scenes were hot enough to burn the pages of the book. Overall this is a great story with fully realized characters and a tight narrative.
In short:
Hero 4/5 | Heroine 4/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 4/5 | Writing Style 4/5 | Steam 4/5 | Romance 4/5 | Angst-Suspense 4/5 | Darkness 3/5 | Humor 0/5 | Secondary Characters 3/5 | Drama-Conflict 4/5 | Mystery 2/5 | Twists 4/5 | Pacing Fast | Action 4/5
June 25, 2024
Overall Rating: 3.25 ☆
Meh. I was so excited to read this, but it wasn’t what I was hoping for. I was initially drawn to it for the Harley Quinn vibes and maybe some Bonnie and Clyde vibes (though they were both very much NOT present).
What I got was indeed a toxic mess of a story but one that failed to captivate me in the toxic ways I was actually hoping for.
The FMC Tessa is a nurse at Blackthorne Prison and married to the warden. Her husband is extremely abusive. (That’s actually one thing the book did right. It did not shy away from depicting those sensitive scenes. It also did not underestimate or overexaggerate them!) When a new prison inmate develops an unhealthy attraction to Tessa, the game begins. Will he kiss away her wounds or create more?
“I’m not too closed off that I don’t acknowledge the rush of tenderness I felt the moment I realized he’d paid such attention to me, but that’s a dangerous emotion.”
“What is broken inside me that I look for love in the worst places? Was it programmed inside me from birth or is it a product of my parent’s neglect? Am I just so fucked up that I’ll take affection wherever I can get it, even if it’s from the worst possible source?”
The first half was mostly engaging, and I found I could even relate to Tessa’s life as a nurse and with her living in an abusive marriage. I, myself am a nurse who has also been in an abusive relationship, and can attest that even the field of nursing itself is very abusive! But the second half really lost me and failed to make any sense. I never even identified a real plot. The FMC did have some interesting character development, but it felt very exaggerated and questionable. Though I’ll admit that her survival skills were pretty impressive and intelligent.
“I think crossing the professional line, realizing I’m capable of terrible things, has done something to my brain.”
“There’s less chance of my having the hope of a better life if all the nothingness blurs together.”
What to Expect:
• Prison Inmate Dark Romance**
• Piercings (special ones…I considered this part educational for me)
• HEA
• Trigger Warnings (Big one that even triggered me: domestic violence/spousal abuse – I had a couple of nightmares while reading this!)
• Standalone
• Some good spicy scenes
** So, this was my first prison inmate romance read! Though the idea is exciting, I appreciate how the author didn’t romanticize it. There were some highly manipulative moments and it made me wonder if Tessa ever felt any sense of freedom at all. It almost felt like she just moved from one prison to another. Bleh.
Time for my little venting session:
Some have stated they do not understand why the FMC did not just up and leave her abusive husband since they didn’t have any kids. Coming from personal experience (as a victim in an abusive relationship WITHOUT kids that stayed in it for 11 years), this type of mentality triggers me to no avail. Let me enlighten those that do not have enough brain cells or empathy to understand such a toxic situation. Some common reasons a victim stays in such a relationship (even without kids!!) are as follows:
~ Victim is in fear for their life. Often times, the abuser threatens to kill the victim and/or their loved ones if they try to leave them.
~ Victim may be financially dependent on the abuser and have no support system or safe place to escape to.
~ Victim may suffer from depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses that impede them from recognizing and leaving the situation.
~ Many victims live in a state of shock and survival often times with a false sense of hope the abuse will stop or the abuser will change.
~ Victim may be trapped in a state of denial and not see what’s happening to them and/or accept that this is their reality.
~ Many victims develop a low self worth and feelings of deep shame about being in the abusive situation. They may even hold on solely due to the fear of hearing, “I told you so.”
~ Victim may feel sorry for the abuser and make excuses to justify their behaviors and even blame themselves for the abuser’s actions.
~ Victims may come from backgrounds of previous forms of abuse and be stuck in a repeat cycle of trauma.
The reasons could go on and on…..
All this has brought up a lot about my own past. As sensitive as it is to talk about it, I feel obligated to write about all my thoughts and feelings related to this story.
The first time I was physically abused in my previous relationship (kicked in my stomach repeatedly to be exact) was on my one year anniversary, and to say I was shocked is an understatement. All sense of myself ceased to exist in that very moment. I was broken. It was the beginning of an end of who I was and of who I would become. 10 long years after and many abusive encounters later, I continued down that same path alone, lost, and afraid. I was robbed of my happiness and lost my sense of trust in everyone. Some days, I still relive that abuse. I suffer from PTSD, and more often than not I am full of unresolved rage.
Fortunately, unlike so many other victims (which breaks and saddens my heart), I now rest in peace and am trying to regain the many years I lost (wasted) as I am now happily married and in a safe relationship where my current husband feeds me with constant reassurance, unconditional love and acceptance of who I am, and emotionally supports me in all the ways I had cried for during my entire previous life. He has worked with me through all my constant apologies, my low self worth, my depression, my lingering and irrational fears. He was and still is my savior. I never would have had the courage to get out of my situation had it not been for my husband today.
I know all victims will someday know peace and safety…even unconditional love whether it happens in this life or the next one.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks, sounding drowsy.
“Why good things happen to some people and not to others.”
Meh. I was so excited to read this, but it wasn’t what I was hoping for. I was initially drawn to it for the Harley Quinn vibes and maybe some Bonnie and Clyde vibes (though they were both very much NOT present).
What I got was indeed a toxic mess of a story but one that failed to captivate me in the toxic ways I was actually hoping for.
The FMC Tessa is a nurse at Blackthorne Prison and married to the warden. Her husband is extremely abusive. (That’s actually one thing the book did right. It did not shy away from depicting those sensitive scenes. It also did not underestimate or overexaggerate them!) When a new prison inmate develops an unhealthy attraction to Tessa, the game begins. Will he kiss away her wounds or create more?
“I’m not too closed off that I don’t acknowledge the rush of tenderness I felt the moment I realized he’d paid such attention to me, but that’s a dangerous emotion.”
“What is broken inside me that I look for love in the worst places? Was it programmed inside me from birth or is it a product of my parent’s neglect? Am I just so fucked up that I’ll take affection wherever I can get it, even if it’s from the worst possible source?”
The first half was mostly engaging, and I found I could even relate to Tessa’s life as a nurse and with her living in an abusive marriage. I, myself am a nurse who has also been in an abusive relationship, and can attest that even the field of nursing itself is very abusive! But the second half really lost me and failed to make any sense. I never even identified a real plot. The FMC did have some interesting character development, but it felt very exaggerated and questionable. Though I’ll admit that her survival skills were pretty impressive and intelligent.
“I think crossing the professional line, realizing I’m capable of terrible things, has done something to my brain.”
“There’s less chance of my having the hope of a better life if all the nothingness blurs together.”
What to Expect:
• Prison Inmate Dark Romance**
• Piercings (special ones…I considered this part educational for me)
• HEA
• Trigger Warnings (Big one that even triggered me: domestic violence/spousal abuse – I had a couple of nightmares while reading this!)
• Standalone
• Some good spicy scenes
** So, this was my first prison inmate romance read! Though the idea is exciting, I appreciate how the author didn’t romanticize it. There were some highly manipulative moments and it made me wonder if Tessa ever felt any sense of freedom at all. It almost felt like she just moved from one prison to another. Bleh.
Time for my little venting session:
Some have stated they do not understand why the FMC did not just up and leave her abusive husband since they didn’t have any kids. Coming from personal experience (as a victim in an abusive relationship WITHOUT kids that stayed in it for 11 years), this type of mentality triggers me to no avail. Let me enlighten those that do not have enough brain cells or empathy to understand such a toxic situation. Some common reasons a victim stays in such a relationship (even without kids!!) are as follows:
~ Victim is in fear for their life. Often times, the abuser threatens to kill the victim and/or their loved ones if they try to leave them.
~ Victim may be financially dependent on the abuser and have no support system or safe place to escape to.
~ Victim may suffer from depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses that impede them from recognizing and leaving the situation.
~ Many victims live in a state of shock and survival often times with a false sense of hope the abuse will stop or the abuser will change.
~ Victim may be trapped in a state of denial and not see what’s happening to them and/or accept that this is their reality.
~ Many victims develop a low self worth and feelings of deep shame about being in the abusive situation. They may even hold on solely due to the fear of hearing, “I told you so.”
~ Victim may feel sorry for the abuser and make excuses to justify their behaviors and even blame themselves for the abuser’s actions.
~ Victims may come from backgrounds of previous forms of abuse and be stuck in a repeat cycle of trauma.
The reasons could go on and on…..
All this has brought up a lot about my own past. As sensitive as it is to talk about it, I feel obligated to write about all my thoughts and feelings related to this story.
The first time I was physically abused in my previous relationship (kicked in my stomach repeatedly to be exact) was on my one year anniversary, and to say I was shocked is an understatement. All sense of myself ceased to exist in that very moment. I was broken. It was the beginning of an end of who I was and of who I would become. 10 long years after and many abusive encounters later, I continued down that same path alone, lost, and afraid. I was robbed of my happiness and lost my sense of trust in everyone. Some days, I still relive that abuse. I suffer from PTSD, and more often than not I am full of unresolved rage.
Fortunately, unlike so many other victims (which breaks and saddens my heart), I now rest in peace and am trying to regain the many years I lost (wasted) as I am now happily married and in a safe relationship where my current husband feeds me with constant reassurance, unconditional love and acceptance of who I am, and emotionally supports me in all the ways I had cried for during my entire previous life. He has worked with me through all my constant apologies, my low self worth, my depression, my lingering and irrational fears. He was and still is my savior. I never would have had the courage to get out of my situation had it not been for my husband today.
I know all victims will someday know peace and safety…even unconditional love whether it happens in this life or the next one.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks, sounding drowsy.
“Why good things happen to some people and not to others.”
May 12, 2024
The author was CONFUSED.
My safest assumption for this major fuck up of a book is that she had multiple plots for this MMC and she couldn't choose one so she ended up combining them all ? That's the only plausible reason for such a major cluster fuck.
In the beginning everything was good. A troubled FMC who comes from an abusive relationship falling for the inmate she's treating. Amazing really. Then he betrays her ? Okay ..... Maybe he had a good reason for it right ? Nope he did not. He used her to get out of the prison. Did she forgive him too easily ? Yes ofcourse.
Then comes ani entirely different plot. This man is a Hitman in a nutshell who kills people for money. Just a hound that the rich bastards hire when they wanna kill someone. Nothing special but he's no longer the attractive inmate we wanted him to be.
The FMC was beaten up till she miscarried by men who were after the MMC and this guy ? He didn't really seem guilty when he found her and he's like "well hey there move in with me now" what the fuck ?
They weren't even in love. It was lust all along and they had to make this book more miserable by adding another pregnancy in the end ? And he's suddenly calling her his "sweetheart" .... Sweetheart who ? First confirm if you even like her ??
This overall just gave me the ICK.
Like I said earlier the author tried to mix
Over obsessed, But not enough in love MMC with a dark past that really didn't effect him coz he keeps shrugging when his dead parents are talked about but he acts like it made him the way he is, no ... He's just a basic psycho and the FMC ? Miserable she keeps saying she searches for love in the wrong man all the time and she does it again with the MMC ?
I really wanted to like this book because I do have a thing for inmate romance but he wasn't even an inmate for half the book like ???????
My safest assumption for this major fuck up of a book is that she had multiple plots for this MMC and she couldn't choose one so she ended up combining them all ? That's the only plausible reason for such a major cluster fuck.
In the beginning everything was good. A troubled FMC who comes from an abusive relationship falling for the inmate she's treating. Amazing really. Then he betrays her ? Okay ..... Maybe he had a good reason for it right ? Nope he did not. He used her to get out of the prison. Did she forgive him too easily ? Yes ofcourse.
Then comes ani entirely different plot. This man is a Hitman in a nutshell who kills people for money. Just a hound that the rich bastards hire when they wanna kill someone. Nothing special but he's no longer the attractive inmate we wanted him to be.
The FMC was beaten up till she miscarried by men who were after the MMC and this guy ? He didn't really seem guilty when he found her and he's like "well hey there move in with me now" what the fuck ?
They weren't even in love. It was lust all along and they had to make this book more miserable by adding another pregnancy in the end ? And he's suddenly calling her his "sweetheart" .... Sweetheart who ? First confirm if you even like her ??
This overall just gave me the ICK.
Like I said earlier the author tried to mix
Over obsessed, But not enough in love MMC with a dark past that really didn't effect him coz he keeps shrugging when his dead parents are talked about but he acts like it made him the way he is, no ... He's just a basic psycho and the FMC ? Miserable she keeps saying she searches for love in the wrong man all the time and she does it again with the MMC ?
I really wanted to like this book because I do have a thing for inmate romance but he wasn't even an inmate for half the book like ???????
August 27, 2017
I feel like the summary of this book was misleading! I'm sorry but this wasn't a love story and things didn't happen as describe in the blurb, it wasn't what i was expecting AT ALL!
March 11, 2024
I had high hopes, and wished I would have DNF this book when it originally crossed my mind.
The FMC was allllll over the place. I have whiplash from her mood swings. It just didn’t make sense to me and was frustrating 🤷🏼♀️
The FMC was allllll over the place. I have whiplash from her mood swings. It just didn’t make sense to me and was frustrating 🤷🏼♀️
July 30, 2024
Welp I devoured this one in literal hours! I read this book as a part of a group buddy read and the moment I picked it up, I couldn't put it down.
Before I start this review, I think it is important for you to look up the triggers before you decide to read this one because there is a lot of physical spousal abuse to the FMC. Tess grew up with abusive parents to only marry an abusive man. But like most stories, her husband Vic didn't start off as abusive. He treated her well until her hit her for the first time. And Tess feels like she is trapped. She can't escape the abuse at home or at work. Tess works as a RN at a prison, where her husband is the Warden who keeps a close eye on her. But things really take a turn when she meets an inmate named Gracin. Gracin immediately knows that Tess is hiding a deep dark secret and he becomes obsessed.
This plot was sooooo good! I was fully invested. There were a few surprising plot twists which I don't want to discuss because it will give away the plot. For example you are question why Gracin is in jail, and this is one of plot twists because nothing is as it seems.
All I am going to say is I loved this toxic couple. Because let's face it, if you are a RN hooking up with a dangerous inmate and then that inmate becomes obsessed with you where he follows you once you try to escape your life, then yeah that's toxic in real life, but in a book it's delicious! And as you keep reading, you realize these two are actually a match made in heaven.
Gracin, he's a walking red flag. I mean he has to if he is in prison right? But this man becomes so obsessive and possessive over Tess. He knows he should leave her alone, but of course he can't. And he is just so was delicious. Now Tess, she is such a mess. But she has a lot of character growth. She becomes this strong woman who won't put but with her husband's abuse. And I loved seeing her fight Gracin. In the end I loved how strong willed she became. At the end of the day what doesn’t kill you (literally) makes you stronger.
My ONLY problem with this book is the ending. I feel like it was kind of rushed. I felt like there could have been a couple more chapters to give us more of the story. I wanted more. But at the end of the day that just might be me being selfish.
Before I start this review, I think it is important for you to look up the triggers before you decide to read this one because there is a lot of physical spousal abuse to the FMC. Tess grew up with abusive parents to only marry an abusive man. But like most stories, her husband Vic didn't start off as abusive. He treated her well until her hit her for the first time. And Tess feels like she is trapped. She can't escape the abuse at home or at work. Tess works as a RN at a prison, where her husband is the Warden who keeps a close eye on her. But things really take a turn when she meets an inmate named Gracin. Gracin immediately knows that Tess is hiding a deep dark secret and he becomes obsessed.
This plot was sooooo good! I was fully invested. There were a few surprising plot twists which I don't want to discuss because it will give away the plot. For example you are question why Gracin is in jail, and this is one of plot twists because nothing is as it seems.
All I am going to say is I loved this toxic couple. Because let's face it, if you are a RN hooking up with a dangerous inmate and then that inmate becomes obsessed with you where he follows you once you try to escape your life, then yeah that's toxic in real life, but in a book it's delicious! And as you keep reading, you realize these two are actually a match made in heaven.
Gracin, he's a walking red flag. I mean he has to if he is in prison right? But this man becomes so obsessive and possessive over Tess. He knows he should leave her alone, but of course he can't. And he is just so was delicious. Now Tess, she is such a mess. But she has a lot of character growth. She becomes this strong woman who won't put but with her husband's abuse. And I loved seeing her fight Gracin. In the end I loved how strong willed she became. At the end of the day what doesn’t kill you (literally) makes you stronger.
My ONLY problem with this book is the ending. I feel like it was kind of rushed. I felt like there could have been a couple more chapters to give us more of the story. I wanted more. But at the end of the day that just might be me being selfish.
April 30, 2024
I hated this. Will avoid this author in the future.
April 3, 2025
Dark romance audiobook with a morally grey Hero in duet narration
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💜🩷💙💚
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: ☹️😄😍😮🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration
The heroine: Tessa - she was born addicted to drugs, abused by her father from a young age, she is now a nurse at a male prison facility where her husband Vic is the warden. Her husband abuses her and regularly forces her to have sex against her will. Though she acts like she enjoys it to keep him from getting angry because she has learned what happens when she doesn’t keep him happy. She is very skilled at blending into the background at both home and work, so she doesn’t draw anyone’s attention. Her husband controls almost every aspect of her life, she has to be home and have dinner ready by a specific time every night to keep her husband from getting angry.
The Hero: King (a.k.a. Gracin) - He just arrives at Blackthorn prison. His reputation proceeds him, he is considered a high-risk prisoner. When he gets sent to the infirmary right after arriving, he finds he is attracted to the pretty nurse that takes care of him, and he ends up cornering her and asking about the bruises he sees on her wrists. He ends up with a job in that same infirmary and sees her daily, getting more bruised and beaten and he draws pictures of her.
The Story: Tessa had gone to the police in the past and pressed charges against her husband, who had been abusing her since their honeymoon, but the judge dismissed the case making her look like a crazy woman. She learned to do her best to keep Vic happy since then. On the day that King arrived at the prison, Vic is told what happened by some of the guards and beats her violently for flirting with the new inmate, even though she did nothing of the sort. She had to call in sick the following day. After the beatings get worse, and she isn’t eating or sleeping, she realizes if she doesn’t do something soon, she will fade away.
I have to admit, this story took me by surprise more than once. There quite a long part that took place before Gracin escapes prison and both he and Tessa surprised me quite a bit. The blurb on Amazon said the Hero was morally grey, but I was still expecting him to turn out to be a good guy, I almost expected him to for some reason be some kind of undercover agent in the prison to look into the warden, with the way he was so interested in Tessa and what her husband did to her. Plus, there was a scene where the warden was upset because someone with more power than him, got Gracin assigned work duty in the infirmary. So, when he does something really unexpected, I was actually very surprised.
One thing I hate about romantic suspense is when the two main characters get intimate in a time when they should be getting out of dodge. That happens in this one, and it is just stupid.
This audiobook was told in dual points of view via duet narration and was narrated by Aiden Snow and Michelle Sparks. The are two of my favorite narrators. Aiden has a deep, gruff voice that is super sexy, and Michelle has a clear, feminine voice that is very expressive and natural sounding. Aiden’s parts are short and to the point in keeping with the character of Gracin, but he does a perfect job.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💜🩷💙💚
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: ☹️😄😍😮🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration
The heroine: Tessa - she was born addicted to drugs, abused by her father from a young age, she is now a nurse at a male prison facility where her husband Vic is the warden. Her husband abuses her and regularly forces her to have sex against her will. Though she acts like she enjoys it to keep him from getting angry because she has learned what happens when she doesn’t keep him happy. She is very skilled at blending into the background at both home and work, so she doesn’t draw anyone’s attention. Her husband controls almost every aspect of her life, she has to be home and have dinner ready by a specific time every night to keep her husband from getting angry.
The Hero: King (a.k.a. Gracin) - He just arrives at Blackthorn prison. His reputation proceeds him, he is considered a high-risk prisoner. When he gets sent to the infirmary right after arriving, he finds he is attracted to the pretty nurse that takes care of him, and he ends up cornering her and asking about the bruises he sees on her wrists. He ends up with a job in that same infirmary and sees her daily, getting more bruised and beaten and he draws pictures of her.
The Story: Tessa had gone to the police in the past and pressed charges against her husband, who had been abusing her since their honeymoon, but the judge dismissed the case making her look like a crazy woman. She learned to do her best to keep Vic happy since then. On the day that King arrived at the prison, Vic is told what happened by some of the guards and beats her violently for flirting with the new inmate, even though she did nothing of the sort. She had to call in sick the following day. After the beatings get worse, and she isn’t eating or sleeping, she realizes if she doesn’t do something soon, she will fade away.
“How is it possible that one man, someone who is supposed to uphold the law can tear me down, and another who is supposed to be the scum of the earth, build me up.”
I have to admit, this story took me by surprise more than once. There quite a long part that took place before Gracin escapes prison and both he and Tessa surprised me quite a bit. The blurb on Amazon said the Hero was morally grey, but I was still expecting him to turn out to be a good guy, I almost expected him to for some reason be some kind of undercover agent in the prison to look into the warden, with the way he was so interested in Tessa and what her husband did to her. Plus, there was a scene where the warden was upset because someone with more power than him, got Gracin assigned work duty in the infirmary. So, when he does something really unexpected, I was actually very surprised.
One thing I hate about romantic suspense is when the two main characters get intimate in a time when they should be getting out of dodge. That happens in this one, and it is just stupid.
This audiobook was told in dual points of view via duet narration and was narrated by Aiden Snow and Michelle Sparks. The are two of my favorite narrators. Aiden has a deep, gruff voice that is super sexy, and Michelle has a clear, feminine voice that is very expressive and natural sounding. Aiden’s parts are short and to the point in keeping with the character of Gracin, but he does a perfect job.
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August 27, 2017
2,5 stars!!!
Eu sinto que fui enganada pela sinopse hahahahaha. Achei que seria sobre uma enfermeira que se apaixona por um preso... um romance meio que tabu...
Temos aqui um livro dark cheio gatilhos... de violência, abusos e brutalidades. O que não me incomoda em nada, porque adoro esse tipo de leitura... o que me incomodou mesmo foi a falta de romance... E na minha opinião, não teve nenhum!
O começo da história foi arrastada e demorei pra engatar na leitura. Até cheguei a dar uma pausa e voltei a ler depois de um tempo.
Alguns acontecimentos meio incrédulos... do tipo, é realmente tão fácil assim escapar de uma prisão? :O
E pra fechar tudo, achei o final corrido.
Humm... levando em consideração que meu humor para leitura está péssimo ultimamente, não sei se minha opinião seria essa em dias "normais".
Eu sinto que fui enganada pela sinopse hahahahaha. Achei que seria sobre uma enfermeira que se apaixona por um preso... um romance meio que tabu...
Temos aqui um livro dark cheio gatilhos... de violência, abusos e brutalidades. O que não me incomoda em nada, porque adoro esse tipo de leitura... o que me incomodou mesmo foi a falta de romance... E na minha opinião, não teve nenhum!
O começo da história foi arrastada e demorei pra engatar na leitura. Até cheguei a dar uma pausa e voltei a ler depois de um tempo.
Alguns acontecimentos meio incrédulos... do tipo, é realmente tão fácil assim escapar de uma prisão? :O
E pra fechar tudo, achei o final corrido.
Humm... levando em consideração que meu humor para leitura está péssimo ultimamente, não sei se minha opinião seria essa em dias "normais".
June 22, 2024
Writing a review only so i can specify that it's a 0/5 since Goodreads hasn't come with a zero rating yet!
November 16, 2024
This entire book was nothing but a mess tbh.
July 31, 2025
I enjoyed this way too much. 🙈
The audiobook version narrated by Michelle Sparks and Aiden Snow (chef’s kiss) is fantastic!
The audiobook version narrated by Michelle Sparks and Aiden Snow (chef’s kiss) is fantastic!
Read
July 25, 2022Dnf @24%
August 16, 2017
“It turns out when you fall in love with a villain, you also turn into one.”
3.5 stars!
This is my first read by this author, and the blurb of this book really grabbed me. I am a fan of dark romance, but this book completely took me by surprise with its intensity and twisty storyline. I was glued to my kindle from start to finish.
First of all, I need to warn that this is a dark book that is full of violence, brutality, torture and abuse (both physical and sexual). It’s full of triggers and definitely not a book for people who struggle with such subject matter. It’s actually quite disturbing to read in some places, but it sets the mood and certainly drags you into the dark and dangerous lives of these characters inhabit.
Tessa is a nurse in a high security prison. She is married to the warden, who is a cruel, sadistic and violent, but despite her attempts at escape, she remains trapped in her life with little hope of anything better. But an encounter with a new inmate changes everything. Gracin sees her – truly sees her, and his interest in her takes her completely by surprise.
Their encounters may be brief, but they are profound, and Tessa soon finds herself completely captivated with the enigmatic, dangerous criminal, powerless to stop her attraction to him. And when all of that sexual tension explodes, it’s hot, dirty and dangerous, and absolutely addictive.
Things becomes complicated when Tessa helps Gracin escape, but that is just the beginning of this dark and twisted story. I’m not going to ruin it for you because you just need to dive in and experience this book, but holy damn, it’s intense! It’s violent and brutal with lots of surprises, and you’re never really sure what’s going on or what’s going to happen, and I love the sense of mystery as it all unfolds.
This is a really fast-moving book. There’s so much happening, and with a lot of it unexpected, I struggled to put this book down. Tessa’s journey is exciting and liberating, and at times horrifying and tragic, and I loved the development of her character. Her strength and bravery really shine as she endures the unimaginable, and I was really impressed with her courage.
And Gracin… whoa. He’s a mysterious one, for sure. Like Tessa, I was never really sure what was going on with him, but I really like the way his character is written, and his complexities add to the mystery and intrigue of the story.
I enjoyed this book. Like I said, it’s not always a comfortable read, but it’s definitely a story that grips you, and I felt like I was a part of the wild adventure with these characters. The love story is there, but remember that this is a dark romance so there is that unexpected and slightly deviant edge to it, but it fits in with the story and I thought it was really well done.
3.5 stars.
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars!
This is my first read by this author, and the blurb of this book really grabbed me. I am a fan of dark romance, but this book completely took me by surprise with its intensity and twisty storyline. I was glued to my kindle from start to finish.
First of all, I need to warn that this is a dark book that is full of violence, brutality, torture and abuse (both physical and sexual). It’s full of triggers and definitely not a book for people who struggle with such subject matter. It’s actually quite disturbing to read in some places, but it sets the mood and certainly drags you into the dark and dangerous lives of these characters inhabit.
Tessa is a nurse in a high security prison. She is married to the warden, who is a cruel, sadistic and violent, but despite her attempts at escape, she remains trapped in her life with little hope of anything better. But an encounter with a new inmate changes everything. Gracin sees her – truly sees her, and his interest in her takes her completely by surprise.
“I’m not sure what makes you think you have the right to interfere, but I don’t need to be saved. I don’t need anything from you.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I think I’m exactly what you need.”
Their encounters may be brief, but they are profound, and Tessa soon finds herself completely captivated with the enigmatic, dangerous criminal, powerless to stop her attraction to him. And when all of that sexual tension explodes, it’s hot, dirty and dangerous, and absolutely addictive.
“You think you don’t want this?” he asks, and I know he doesn’t mean what he’s doing to me, because I can’t deny that I do. Not when I’m screaming for him to do it harder, faster. “You shouldn’t.” His teeth bite into my shoulder. “You shouldn’t want me. I am not a nice man. I am not a good man. I do bad things for bad people.” He licks the bite, and his mouth skims up my throat. “I want to do bad things to you.”
Things becomes complicated when Tessa helps Gracin escape, but that is just the beginning of this dark and twisted story. I’m not going to ruin it for you because you just need to dive in and experience this book, but holy damn, it’s intense! It’s violent and brutal with lots of surprises, and you’re never really sure what’s going on or what’s going to happen, and I love the sense of mystery as it all unfolds.
This is a really fast-moving book. There’s so much happening, and with a lot of it unexpected, I struggled to put this book down. Tessa’s journey is exciting and liberating, and at times horrifying and tragic, and I loved the development of her character. Her strength and bravery really shine as she endures the unimaginable, and I was really impressed with her courage.
He’s all the things I know I should run from. All I care about is he makes me feel more alive than I’ve ever felt in my life. With him, I feel like I truly live, like I can breathe.
And Gracin… whoa. He’s a mysterious one, for sure. Like Tessa, I was never really sure what was going on with him, but I really like the way his character is written, and his complexities add to the mystery and intrigue of the story.
I enjoyed this book. Like I said, it’s not always a comfortable read, but it’s definitely a story that grips you, and I felt like I was a part of the wild adventure with these characters. The love story is there, but remember that this is a dark romance so there is that unexpected and slightly deviant edge to it, but it fits in with the story and I thought it was really well done.
What we have is dangerous and volatile, but it’s also inevitable.
3.5 stars.
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2025
“I wouldn't let you go, but I'd spend every day convincing you to stay.”
ৎ⋆｡‧📖‧ 3★
↬ In the beginning I loveddddd this book. It was pretty damn sad but I was so invested in the story and I was eating it up. But after he escaped and the other stuff, it got so boring. Like okay alpha man you want to keep her in your mansion forever WE GET IT. So this book was good until like the last 80 pages.
↬ Just saying if they remained nurse and prisoner this book would've been a lot better, but that's just my opinion.
↬ I do have some quotes I want to share with you😜
What kind of person wants more from a man like him?
What kind of woman aches for another kiss from a criminal?
Me.
“You're not upset because you didn't like it. You're angry because you loved it.”
“This doesn’t mean I don’t want to kill you,’
“I know, I'll let you kill me later, just let me hold you.”
“You can't keep me here forever.’
“I can, and I will.”
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
જ⁀➴ ♡ pre read ♡ - 24.03.2025
nimi said this book was about a nurse & prisoner and that was enough to convince me to read this book. Let's hope it's good. 🤞🏻🤞🏻
January 21, 2021
"When you fall in love with a villain, you also turn into one"
Io adoro i dark ambientati in prigione, dopo Slammer della Vargo sono diventati un mio guilty pleasure che purtroppo non riesco mai a trovare (se sapete qualche titolo, let me know!) - così quando mi è capitato di trovare la trama di Toxic, ero in fibrillazione, sembravo una pentola a pressione pronta ad esplodere. Ho detto "finalmente! era ora!", e Nicole è stata gentilissima ad inviarmi anche un ARC infatti mi dispiace non poter dare più di tre stelline.
Tessa fa l'infermiera alla Blackthorne, una prigione. Suo marito, Vic, è il direttore ed è un violento che la picchia tutti i santi giorni. Tessa quindi vive le suo giornate nel terrore, finchè un giorno portano un nuovo detenuto che inizia subito a provarci con lei, vede tutte le ferite che ha sul corpo e sul viso, le lascia dei disegni che la raffigurano, e si firma King.
King è Gracin, un uomo attraente e burbero, non si sa inizialmente perchè sia in prigione, e Tessa sente che non deve provare nulla per quest'uomo, perchè la sua relazione con Vic le ha fatto capire che uomini di questo genere sono violenti e squilibrati.
Il motivo delle poche stelle è che l'ambientazione è la prigione per i primi dieci capitoli circa, dove oltre ad un bacio appassionatissimo (da svenire, proprio) contro alla parete dell'infermeria, non succede granchè. Lei torna a casa, le prende, e torna al lavoro. Fino a quando Gracin organizza una specie di rivolta e di conseguenza una fuga, dove Tessa deve prendere parte perchè l'ha aiutato a scappare, anche se sotto minaccia. Il resto del libro è ambientato fuori, dove Tessa cerca di nascondersi ma che ovviamente viene trovata, dove ovviamente si scopre che è rimasta incinta, e insomma il mio interesse è andato scemando, purtroppo.
*ARC provided in exchange of an honest review*
Io adoro i dark ambientati in prigione, dopo Slammer della Vargo sono diventati un mio guilty pleasure che purtroppo non riesco mai a trovare (se sapete qualche titolo, let me know!) - così quando mi è capitato di trovare la trama di Toxic, ero in fibrillazione, sembravo una pentola a pressione pronta ad esplodere. Ho detto "finalmente! era ora!", e Nicole è stata gentilissima ad inviarmi anche un ARC infatti mi dispiace non poter dare più di tre stelline.
Tessa fa l'infermiera alla Blackthorne, una prigione. Suo marito, Vic, è il direttore ed è un violento che la picchia tutti i santi giorni. Tessa quindi vive le suo giornate nel terrore, finchè un giorno portano un nuovo detenuto che inizia subito a provarci con lei, vede tutte le ferite che ha sul corpo e sul viso, le lascia dei disegni che la raffigurano, e si firma King.
King è Gracin, un uomo attraente e burbero, non si sa inizialmente perchè sia in prigione, e Tessa sente che non deve provare nulla per quest'uomo, perchè la sua relazione con Vic le ha fatto capire che uomini di questo genere sono violenti e squilibrati.
Il motivo delle poche stelle è che l'ambientazione è la prigione per i primi dieci capitoli circa, dove oltre ad un bacio appassionatissimo (da svenire, proprio) contro alla parete dell'infermeria, non succede granchè. Lei torna a casa, le prende, e torna al lavoro. Fino a quando Gracin organizza una specie di rivolta e di conseguenza una fuga, dove Tessa deve prendere parte perchè l'ha aiutato a scappare, anche se sotto minaccia. Il resto del libro è ambientato fuori, dove Tessa cerca di nascondersi ma che ovviamente viene trovata, dove ovviamente si scopre che è rimasta incinta, e insomma il mio interesse è andato scemando, purtroppo.
*ARC provided in exchange of an honest review*
September 3, 2025
Co to było xD
Serio nie staram się tutaj szukać sensu i analizować wszystkiego, ale książka to było tak absurdalna, ze zabrało mi frajdę z czytania.
Spojlery…
Jej małżeństwo to piekło. Jej mąż używa wobec niej przemocy i obydwoje pracują w więzieniu. Ona jest pielęgniarką, a on naczelnikiem czy dyrektorem… aż nagle pojawia się ten jeden więzień.
Oczywscie dostał „pracę” jako jej pomoc, ale ja nie czepiam się tutaj jak wszystko easy i gładko idzie. Też jak ona sobie do niego do celi idzie. Jeszcze do połowy było ok, ale później to co się wydarzyło to hit.
Oczywscie pomaga mu się wydostać z więzienia i jadą do jej domu. Tam jej mąż zostaje przez nią postrzelony i to co się dzieje później to seks bez zgody. Mówiła mu nie - kilka razy, on i tak zrobił swoje tuż obok leżą zwłoki jej byłego męża.
Ona ucieka, włamuje się do siadów, kradnie im ciężarówkę i jedzie do LA. Mega łatwo załatwia dokumenty i pracę czy mieszkanie, ale okej powiedziałam że się nie czepiam.
Porywają ją jakieś typy i tam jest torturowana. Przy okazji poroniła, ale zero jakikolwiek emocji. Czy uczucia są z nami w pokoju?! Ona jest jak szyba, od której się wszystko odbija i wiem, że każdy przechodzi traumatyczne rzeczy inaczej, ale przysięgam że dzieją się straszne rzeczy, a ona zachowuje się jak nigdy nic. Przysięgam xd jak mam się zaangażować w historie skoro nasza bohaterka ich nie przeżywa.
Słuchałam tylko dlatego żeby sprawdzić co tu się odwali jeszcze. Później ona zmienia w się rambo, pojawia się też nagle miłość xd . Chociaż chemii czy pożądania to ja tu nie czuję. Czułam tylko słabą książka. Przepraszam, ale to jest tak złe i jak w środku akcja toczy się ślimaczym tempem to na koniec jakiś zygzak mcqueen. Mrugasz i są w łóżku, w sądzie i w aucie i koniec. Traumatyczne to było
Serio nie staram się tutaj szukać sensu i analizować wszystkiego, ale książka to było tak absurdalna, ze zabrało mi frajdę z czytania.
Spojlery…
Jej małżeństwo to piekło. Jej mąż używa wobec niej przemocy i obydwoje pracują w więzieniu. Ona jest pielęgniarką, a on naczelnikiem czy dyrektorem… aż nagle pojawia się ten jeden więzień.
Oczywscie dostał „pracę” jako jej pomoc, ale ja nie czepiam się tutaj jak wszystko easy i gładko idzie. Też jak ona sobie do niego do celi idzie. Jeszcze do połowy było ok, ale później to co się wydarzyło to hit.
Oczywscie pomaga mu się wydostać z więzienia i jadą do jej domu. Tam jej mąż zostaje przez nią postrzelony i to co się dzieje później to seks bez zgody. Mówiła mu nie - kilka razy, on i tak zrobił swoje tuż obok leżą zwłoki jej byłego męża.
Ona ucieka, włamuje się do siadów, kradnie im ciężarówkę i jedzie do LA. Mega łatwo załatwia dokumenty i pracę czy mieszkanie, ale okej powiedziałam że się nie czepiam.
Porywają ją jakieś typy i tam jest torturowana. Przy okazji poroniła, ale zero jakikolwiek emocji. Czy uczucia są z nami w pokoju?! Ona jest jak szyba, od której się wszystko odbija i wiem, że każdy przechodzi traumatyczne rzeczy inaczej, ale przysięgam że dzieją się straszne rzeczy, a ona zachowuje się jak nigdy nic. Przysięgam xd jak mam się zaangażować w historie skoro nasza bohaterka ich nie przeżywa.
Słuchałam tylko dlatego żeby sprawdzić co tu się odwali jeszcze. Później ona zmienia w się rambo, pojawia się też nagle miłość xd . Chociaż chemii czy pożądania to ja tu nie czuję. Czułam tylko słabą książka. Przepraszam, ale to jest tak złe i jak w środku akcja toczy się ślimaczym tempem to na koniec jakiś zygzak mcqueen. Mrugasz i są w łóżku, w sądzie i w aucie i koniec. Traumatyczne to było
September 28, 2025
3⭐️ 5🌶️
A prison nurse trapped in an abusive marriage who finds herself in a dangerous web of obsession with a ruthless, morally gray inmate.
Read if you like:
• nurse x inmate
• forced proximity
• stalker (M)
• so unhinged (M)
• forbidden romance
• check triggers ⚠️
• he's pierced
• touch her and ☠️
• cat and mouse
• abusive trauma
A prison nurse trapped in an abusive marriage who finds herself in a dangerous web of obsession with a ruthless, morally gray inmate.
Read if you like:
• nurse x inmate
• forced proximity
• stalker (M)
• so unhinged (M)
• forbidden romance
• check triggers ⚠️
• he's pierced
• touch her and ☠️
• cat and mouse
• abusive trauma
April 20, 2024
This was an absolute miss for me. I don't know if it's the book itself or maybe the timing I chose to read it, but I just didn't enjoy it, and the only reason I finished it was because I was already halfway through when I realized it wasn't for me.
April 24, 2024
Loved it!
July 27, 2025
You’re all invited to the funeral of my wasted audible credit😭 RTC
October 9, 2025
2-2.5⭐️
2.5🌶️
To be truthful, I was so underwhelmed. The first part of this was interesting and I thought I would really enjoy it, but as it went on I got bored and uninterested. The whole thing just kind of fell flat for me including the characters. I felt no connection with them. They also both kind of annoyed me. I’m not sure why, but they did nonetheless.
I feel like this story had all the makings of a great read for me, but it just fell so flat. I normally rate on how a book makes me feel and my enjoyment and honestly, I just felt very underwhelmed and just very bleh.
2.5🌶️
To be truthful, I was so underwhelmed. The first part of this was interesting and I thought I would really enjoy it, but as it went on I got bored and uninterested. The whole thing just kind of fell flat for me including the characters. I felt no connection with them. They also both kind of annoyed me. I’m not sure why, but they did nonetheless.
I feel like this story had all the makings of a great read for me, but it just fell so flat. I normally rate on how a book makes me feel and my enjoyment and honestly, I just felt very underwhelmed and just very bleh.
September 3, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
It wasn’t what I was expecting. It wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t good. It was right there in the middle.
I was expecting more of a romance, you actually get more upset about how things go than anything.
I was expecting a super strong romance between an “inmate and nurse” but was not at all like that.
The poor nurse, Tessa, is abused by her husband who beats her black and blue on the daily, he controls every aspect of her life and she has no way out since he is also the warden in the prison she works as a nurse. She is young and have no family, friends or support. As it really is a reality for most women, her husband isolated her in a way that she feels like she can’t count on anyone.
Gracin is a new inmate in the prison she works and he makes his mission to make her believe him and trust that he understands what she is going through just to turn around and use her as accessory to murder and make her help in his escape from prison. HER LIFE IS OVER after this, so many things happen that I can’t spoil, and Gracin is not even close to try to help, he does a pretty good job making her feel stupid and unwanted. She is smart and tried her best. She is captured and tortured and throughout she’s alone. She’s alone 90% of the book. Gracin only appears and saves her towards the end and even than he does a pretty damn good job making her AND US believe he doesn’t give a flying fuck about her, and since this book is only through her POV, we actually don’t know what he is doing or feeling. So the lack of romance made me not like. If you want a GOOD GOOD prison type of a book I would suggest OBSESSION instead.
It wasn’t what I was expecting. It wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t good. It was right there in the middle.
I was expecting more of a romance, you actually get more upset about how things go than anything.
I was expecting a super strong romance between an “inmate and nurse” but was not at all like that.
The poor nurse, Tessa, is abused by her husband who beats her black and blue on the daily, he controls every aspect of her life and she has no way out since he is also the warden in the prison she works as a nurse. She is young and have no family, friends or support. As it really is a reality for most women, her husband isolated her in a way that she feels like she can’t count on anyone.
Gracin is a new inmate in the prison she works and he makes his mission to make her believe him and trust that he understands what she is going through just to turn around and use her as accessory to murder and make her help in his escape from prison. HER LIFE IS OVER after this, so many things happen that I can’t spoil, and Gracin is not even close to try to help, he does a pretty good job making her feel stupid and unwanted. She is smart and tried her best. She is captured and tortured and throughout she’s alone. She’s alone 90% of the book. Gracin only appears and saves her towards the end and even than he does a pretty damn good job making her AND US believe he doesn’t give a flying fuck about her, and since this book is only through her POV, we actually don’t know what he is doing or feeling. So the lack of romance made me not like. If you want a GOOD GOOD prison type of a book I would suggest OBSESSION instead.
August 21, 2017
Book Review For: 'Toxic' by Nicole Blanchard 'Toxic' by Nicole Blanchard is the story of Tessa Emmerson and Gracin Kingsley. Tessa is a RN at the Blackthorne Correctional Insitute and her husband Vic is the warden there. Vic is an abusive husband who constantly beats or forces her to have sex. When a new inmate named Gracin comes to the Correctional Institute he starts to giver her courage to become stronger and not the victim her husband has made her into. Gracin has some of his own issue but neither one can't fight their growing attraction. This book does have some trigger issue so please know that when thinking about reading it. Overall I liked the book with its the twist and turns. "My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2H... https://twitter.com/soapsrus68 https://www.facebook.com/RomanceBookR... http://booklikes.com/bloghttps://roma... https://www.tumblr.com/blog/romancebo...
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