Audrey Rush writes kinky dark romance and erotic horror. She celebrates spooky season every day, and she is obsessed with Disney. You can find her in the South, drowning in coffee.
4 1/2 stars ⭐️. This is an intense story, a dark mystery. I enjoyed the plot and the characters, but sometimes I thought Teagen needed to grow a backbone and open her eyes up. It is a story with more twists than a roller coaster, but in the end love conquers all.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This had all the right elements to be a great story, but unfortunately it fell flat for me. There were lots of things that just didn't work. The MFC has just accepted her lot in life, has no aspirations to be anything but a sex worker and to be honest came across as simple minded, the way she loved and protected her Dad given what he had done to her life was just beyond me!! Actually I would go as far to say she annoyed the hell out of me throughout the book! As for the MMC he was quite mysterious, dominating and sexy to begin with, which gave me high hopes...but it was short lived, by the end he was so besotted by such a clingy girl who craved his love that i just gave up! On the positive side the story was well written and the plot itself was good, everything flowed and i was able to finish the story. It was most definitely the characters that let the overall book down! (Except Iris....i loved that girl!) Overall my thoughts are that this is not a dark mafia/captive type romance. The author didn't commit to the dark themes....spankings as punishment, handcuffs and restraints alone are NOT dark themes, yes we get some violence which is expected but it's not dark by any means! Sorry Audrey this wasn't for me this time!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a very intriguing, somewhat dark mafia romance with a unique love story that is definitely worth reading. The storyline has quite good world-building & flowed smoothly throughout a well-written, interesting plot but please note that there are some heart-wrenching moments that tug at the reader’s heart. The two main characters (a rather ruthless man determined to prove his loyalty, Ethan) & (a talented harp-player & slave, Teagen) are well-defined individuals with personal wants, needs & desires & these two people develop good chemistry between them. There is good support from the secondary characters. There is: a crime syndicate (Adler family), a despicable father, human trafficking, slavery, twists & turns, intrigue, drama, suspense, family issues, abduction, threats, danger, violence, torture, discipline, spankings, domination/submission, restraints, non-consensual & consensual scenes, obsession, ultimatums, longings, compromises & strangely enough there is love, happiness, contentment with a well-deserved, satisfying conclusion.
I enjoyed Ethan and Teagan's story. Ethan was so conflicted throughout the book. He's fighting who he thinks he wants to be in order to take his place within the family and who is naturally is which is a protector. Teagan is just a breath of fresh air. Even though she was sold by her father into the Dahlia District, she still always tries to find the good in situations and people. Ethan and Teagan have really good chemistry. It was a good, quick read.
This is the 4th book in the series and it can be read as a stand-alone. Teagan is taken in hopes that her father will pay off a debt to Ethan’s mafia family. What will happen when they fall for each other? Fast-paced dark read with intense chemistry, drama and steam. Great characters and the story really draws you in. I loved it.
Characters of colour? None explicit, more’s the pity!
GLITTFAB/Queer characters? None are explicitly so, no Queer-baiting.
Disabled characters? We have one secondary character with a gambling addiction that is possible to argue as disabling, though this addiction has affected his daughter, our MC, significantly more than the person with the addiction. Everyone else is entirely Abled.
Worth my time? Clocking in around 3 1/2 hours for me, this read was a whirlwind! Good pacing, strong plot drivers, strong relationship growth, though precious little character growth on the part of our femme MC. She’s a bit of a “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” trope, with her musical talent & her unwavering optimism. Our Masc MC gets the lion’s share of the character growth, learning about his own values & what he can live with. There was no real reason for the plot to resolve in quite the way it did, which left a slightly sour note.
Re-read? Possibly. Physical intimacy didn’t strike me as prominently here as it did in the first book, & there was less learning of bodies & experimenting. What’s there is, undeniably, glorious, I’m just always wanting More in this regard.
Recommend? To anyone who enjoys a good captive fantasy; to people who liked the first book. I would not give this to someone as an introduction to Dark Romance - make sure you’ve got a little experience under your belt.
Read the trigger warnings. Gird your loins. Then enjoy the h*ck out of this!
I received this book in exchange for my honest views - thanks BookSirens!
Ravaged is the fourth book in the Dahlia Series from the talented dark erotica author, Audrey Rush. As with the other books in the series, I feel this could easily be read as a standalone, (truth is I still haven’t read the first - and I’ve lived!). Our latest instalment takes us from the Dahlia District to the home of the ever present local criminal family, the Adlers.
As the newly revealed brother and a stranger to the club, Ethan is chosen to spirit Teagen away, for her to be used as a bargaining chip in the machinations of the Adler empire. Ethan needs to prove his mettle in this brutal family if he is ever to stand a chance of challenging for a place at the head of the family.
Teagen is the Dahlia District girl with the ever hopeful heart. Eternally optimistic, despite being betrayed by the person who should love and protect her most. Sold into what has basically amounted to sexual slavery since she was of age, she still manages to see hope and beauty in everything, and more importantly, everybody.
Attracted to Teagen from the beginning, the book follows Ethan’s inner battle between proving himself to be a true Adler, and proving to Teagen that he can never be what she deserves. The relationship between them was tense, and as with all Audrey’s books, pretty hot. I loved seeing our female character sexually pursue Ethan, that girl doesn’t want to take no for an answer!
Not quite as dark as some of her other work, still make sure you check your triggers. A reasonable amount of hot and steamy sex to keep the happiest of smut readers coming back to her books for more, and the happy ever after we all expect, this is a great follow-up to Crushed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
🕸️🕸️ONE DECADENT THRILL RIDE🕸️🕸️ Untouchable! Audrey hit the ground running bringing out the big guns, heavy artillery and ammo aplenty, laying out some twisted facts, horrendous deeds and dangerous decisions, hooking you from the first sentence until the last word, launching this bad boy to a whole new level. Cunning maneuvers and ruthless tactics expose the broken perimeters and dissolved limitations solidify as blurred barriers are amplified and tested, exhibiting the thrilling quirks and defying bents, bursting this baby to life brilliantly. One action packed, hard hitting, heart pounding, pulse racing, nailbiting, block busting rollercoaster, kicking this gem into a tailspin with life-altering impacts, merging this jewel together seamlessly. The attraction and chemistry collides with such intensity and ardor, exposing boundless emotions and infinite affections, drawing our characters closer, binding them to one another perfectly. The characters, dialogue, interactions and electrified atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits adding depth and diversity, transforming into genuine outstanding personalities. The scenes are abundantly descriptive with colorful details that blend and flow, creating a majestic backdrop that's so rich and lively it feels as though you're part of the story instead of on the sidelines. Remarkable job Audrey, thanks for sharing this little jewel with us.
I wasn't sure what to make of Teagan at first, she is sold by her father, taken prisoner by the Adler family, caged beaten and forced to be a sex worker. She is caged, beaten, constantly chained ankles and hands and she just accepts it. As I continued reading the book my heart broke for a young woman who learned early in life starting age 10, that she could not fight what was dished out and that her life is easier if she sees hope in everything. She knows she will die young being a captive first at the Dahlia house and now the Adler's and lives life to fullest each day and she knows that hated will make her remaining days bitter and lonely so she accepts and forgives. I admit I teared up and hated the Adler's, her father for the horrible things she has been subjected too. Teagan has an inner strength as a super power and she never let the love and enjoyment die, refusing to let the darkness around her pull her in and break her spirit, truly an amazing character.
Ethan was cruel and ruthless, but he felt an attraction to Teagan and the author does a wonderful job portraying the turmoil that Ethan experiences between his growing feelings for his captive and his family loyalty. Very emotional read with a HEA - highly recommended if you don't have triggers.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ethan Adler, is the eldest son of Gerard Adler, Don of the most powerful mafia family in Sage City. But he is also a bastard who has been raised apart from his brothers. He only has been with them for a short time and he is still trying to win his place in the family. That’s why when his father entrusts him with the mission of seducing a worker in the Dahlia District and then kidnap her to use her as bait, he accepts without hesitation. Teagan has been working at Dahlia District for years, after her father offered her as payment for his debts. And despite this, she continues to help him financially to get him out of all the troubles he gets into. When Teagan meets Ethan, sparks quickly emerge between them, and even when he holds her hostage, she is immensely attracted to him. Teagan is a girl who always try to see the bright side of things even in the worst situations, something that confuses and attracts Ethan at the same time. But the day comes when Ethan faces the hardest decision of his life: save Teagan’s life or stay loyal to his family. Another great book of these series.
Ethan’s love might not have been roses, or rainbows above the trees, or an orchestra in a pit. But this was his love, every dark, decrepit, fucked up thing he could offer me. I wanted it all. I wanted him to bite me. To capture me. To hold me. To break me. To ravage me. To love me.
Seven years ago Teagens dad had "sold" her to Dahlia to work in the district to pay off his debt. Now her father has gotten I to more debt but this time with the Adler Family. Ethan needs protection and ends up working for his father Gerald Adler head of the crime family and his younger half brothers, who had just found out about his existence. When Teagens father cant pay his debt the Adlers decide to take her as payment but Dahlia will only let her go of her own will, a silent retrieval. With the Adlers being known in the district the task falls to Ethan to secure her. Ethan needed to prove to Gerald that he could take over the family business instead of his second eldest Derek so taking charge of their new captive was a start. Only he didnt expect to start to feel for her. Whilst Teagen had accepted her fate in life a long time ago she remained true to her self in her positive outlook and caring nature, but Ethan struggled with the concept of accepting her fate and the path he had I front of him with his new family. This is a great addition to the Dahlia district series! A well written mafia captive romance with suspense, violence, twists desires, acceptance and more!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Teagan was a very special woman who always looked for the good in the people she met. by sewsummore
This was a story that was painful to read. A young woman named Teagan had been sold into sexual slavery by her father in payment for his gambling debts. Teagan forgave him and cared for him till the day he died. She would have died as well, except one of the men who had taken her prisoner fell in love with her, unable to resist the beauty of her soul. She was an extraordinary woman who always looked for the good in the people she met, never allowing bitterness to destroy her happiness at the moment. She accepted that she would die young at the hands of mafia monsters, and yet, she never hated them or anybody else. She loved music and was incredibly talented, and when she fell in love with Ethan, she loved him unreservedly despite the terrible things he had done in the past. This book is one I will remember for a long time for the tears that came to my eyes as I read her story. This book had a happy ending that rejoiced in the beauty of the human spirit. This is a must-read book for everyone who believes in love!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I am an avid reader of mafia dark romance novels, it’s a genre I really enjoy and I have read a lot of different takes on the theme. However, I did feel like this a premise I have read quite a few times before, so if your looking for something new and fresh this isn’t the novel for you. However, there’s a reason why the trope of the bad boy falling in love with his prisoner is so overused, it’s a good plot for dark romance.
This novel does feel in parts very rushed and the heroine lacks a lot of agency, for me this is the novels downfall. The main heroine seems to be very two dimensional compared to her love interest and it makes the relationship between the two protagonists not very believable. It just seems like Stockholm syndrome to me. I feel like her whole personality is based on the men in the novel, either her love interest or her father. I didn't find myself rooting for the couple at all.
However, The sex scenes are very well written, very raw and passionate, so if you’re looking for a bit of good smut, you’ve come to the right place. I think this novel had a lot of potential and I would definitely read more from the author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of "RAVAGED" OMG!!!! WOW!!! What an emotional rollercoaster ride such a dark intense storyline with abuse, intrigue, suspense, angst, emotional turmoil, sexual slavery, anger, danger, twists that made a very addicting read. Teagan was sold first sold by her father 7yrs ago to Dahlia District to pay off a debt then he got into trouble with this time with the Alder Syndicate Family & tries sell Teagan to them as a sex slave. Ethan's new to the Alder Family & needs their protection to prove his loyalty he'll secure Teagan for them because Dahlia won't let her go unless it's her free will. Ethan's half brothers just found out about him, he needed to prove to Gerald Alder head of Syndicate he can take over the family business instead of second eldest Derek this was how he could do it by securing Teagan. Ethan started to have feelings for Teagan & she was falling for him he had a difficult time dealing with what was going to happen to her will he stay loyal to the Family or will he Teagan get a HEA. I definitely recommend to get this very well-written book just know there are triggers in this dark intense violent Mafia Romance story the last book in this amazing series.
Read 11.11.21 3☆ I liked this book, but not as much as I hoped to. It was a Medium paced book for me 》TW: Sex, Violence, Language
•This book was good, I liked the idea and the direction this was going in but I really was a little disappointed. One of our main characters, Teagan, was a relatively likeable character, however, she seemed to give in to her dilemma too quickly. Ethan, a member of the Alder (mafia) family ended up being nicer than I had expected and that part I didn’t mind. •The book is written from 2 POVs, Teagan and Ethan. The writing has now remained consistent from the previous book, if you read my reviews on the previous books you’ll find that I found the first book to be a bit awkward, this has gotten better though. •Overall this book kept me intrigued, I was expecting a bit more but I was still pleased with how the story ended as I have been with the previous books in this series. All of these books can be read separately, I am reading them all back to back and in order.
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Read 11.11.21 3☆ I liked this book, but not as much as I hoped to. It was a Medium paced book for me 》TW: Sex, Violence, Language
•This book was good, I liked the idea and the direction this was going in but I really was a little disappointed. One of our main characters, Teagan, was a relatively likable character, however, she seemed to give in to her dilemma too quickly. Ethan, a member of the Alder (mafia) family ended up being nicer than I had expected and that part I didn’t mind. •The book is written from 2 POVs, Teagan and Ethan. The writing has now remained consistent from the previous book, if you read my reviews on the previous books you’ll find that I found the first book to be a bit awkward, this has gotten better though. •Overall this book kept me intrigued, I was expecting a bit more but I was still pleased with how the story ended as I have been with the previous books in this series. All of these books can be read separately, I am reading them all back to back and in order.
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
“You like being ravaged, don’t you, little one?” “Yes,” I cried. “By you. Destroy me. Ruin me. Ravage me.”
This is by far my favorite in the series. You may not like that Teagan is so vulnerable and that people keep taking advantage of her. But she was so very well developed that it makes sense. She was groomed from an early age to accept her fate in life. Sold into a sex slavery club so young by her own father leaves her emotionally fragile. Sex was a transaction and she needed to be needed in order to feel fulfilled which was horrible for her. She learned to accept who and what she was and that her life would be short. To cope, she learns to value even the smallest details as she knows she's not going anywhere. Enter Ethan, who tries hard not to fall for her yet can't help it. And yet he's the only one that sees her for who she really is, the only one that cares about what she wants and what she desires. But he can't love her, she's a captive with an expiration date.
I received a free copy of this book and I voluntarily reviewed it.
This is the fourth book in the Dahlia District series. You can read them as standalones. Ravaged is a dark Mafia romance. The author has revealed how bad the conditions actually are in the Dahlia District. Teagan, a harp-playing slave, is grateful for every bit of experience outside of the Dahlia District. Fresh air. Pounding rain. She lives in the present, even knowing what her future holds. Ethan has his own issues—raised by a solo mother and longing for family. But his family are Mafia, and for them, family is everything. Family first. He has a place & yet is an outsider at the same time. The story was brutal & dark and the light that is Teagan shines through, showing her people love & forgiveness. My favourite part: Teagan's best friend Iris, whose loyalty, bravery, and stupidity were outstanding.
I received a copy of this book. My honest opinion is voluntarily provided.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy and am voluntarily writing an honest review.
3.5 stars
This one is quite a bit different than the previous books, but it felt fresh because of that and I enjoyed it.
I found it a wee bit strange that our MC feels the way she does, and I would think that a 21 year old would know better (as a 21 year old myself) but alas! I was wrong!
I thought that the complicated relationship between our two MCs was excellent!
I feel as if this book was a bit fast for my liking, however. There wasn’t a whole lot going on, just our two MCs’ relationship developing.
Guide to my ratings: 5 stars: flawless, hard to put down 4 stars: it was really good and memorable 3 stars: it was good/okay 2 stars: no redeeming qualities and forgettable 1 star: horrible, had no idea what was going on, boring!!!
This series has been so hot and this book certainly had its moments as well. The storyline was intense and I definitely could hot relate to this woman's optimism, but as I'm hot an optimist that makes sense. Ethan was certainly sexy but seems very angry and hard to connect with. While I enjoyed the ending and was glad with how things turned out, I had a difficult time understanding the chemistry between the couple. Why would she leave the safety of the Dahlia District for a stranger? Why did she continue to find him so appealing at first? Later on I could understand better. Overall I really enjoyed the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Our heroine is just a pawn in a larger game. Will our hero sacrifice his pawn, or does he want to elevate her to queen?
This is a dark romance with strong elements of D/S. The story is well written and easy to read with a strong sense of intrigue throughout the story. Both the setting and characters are well developed and easy to visualize. I rather liked that both our hero and heroine have depth to them, with more under the surface then the stereotype you first see. I also enjoyed watching the way the relationship developed. We also got nice bit of steam along the way, which is always a plus. Overall, a very enjoyable read and I look forward to more in the series.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
After a narrow escape from the laws for murder Ethan heads to his father's home for protection. Being the illegitmate son and oldest he's determined to try to take his place next in line to become the new mob boss. Taegan's unconditional love for her father is the only bond she has with her family. No matter how many times he visits and ask for money she provides it. He even sold her to the Dahlia District years ago. Now he's done the unthinkable putting both of their lives in danger with two crime families. Even though family comes first Ethan tries his best to protect Taegan. She always tries to see bright side of every situation which attracts Ethan. Now he has to make the biggest decision of his life. Loyalty to his family or protect Teagan.
Wow! I loved it! Part four of the Dahlia district! Each story distinct and Teagen was OTP optimistic despite being put in a dog crate. Ethan tried everything to stay away from her but her stalwart nature just got through to him.
What did I like? I really enjoyed Teagans stoic nature not to let herself worry or get down about her lot in life. Despite all the negativity she chose to enjoy life to the fullest. It made sense why Ethan fell for her. Nothing fazed her…. Nothing.
Would I recommend or buy? I’m sure some people might not like Teagan for her outlook but I found her a pure joy. It made sense why Iris was so drawn to her! I’d recommend to dark romance lovers! Five stars!
I received the box set to read and voluntarily left a review!
Loved the book it was great, the story was well written and the characters were intriguing. The story of Teagan was terrible the darkness that hung over her head, but she had always forgiven people for there indiscretion. Teagan was sold to the Dalhia District, to the succumbed to being kidnapped by the Adler mafia by the son. She was taken to pay for her father's debt, Ethan is the illegitament child to Gerard Adler and was told to kidnapped Teagan. Ethan caged her mistreated her but also cared for her, the chemistry between them was so intense that he had to choose family or his love for her.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Living a life most would already be broken by, Teagan finds pieces of light in the darkened rooms of the Dahlia District until she's forced into an even darker life as a captive, bait for her gambling addict father. Ethan lived most of his life under the harsh light of the desert until he let his anger lead him into the dark. His need for protection and to forget was he has done lead him to seek out a place amongst the ranks of his half-brothers in a powerful mafia family. Will Ethan let Teagan get to him while she is his captive or will he hand her over to the wolves in order to be the next leader of the mafia. Hot dirty sex with some kink spiced in. Not for the faint of heart.
This book was really good. It is a Dark Romance with mafia bad boys. So if you love your stories to be twisted, dark and full of steamy dark scenes than you will love this book. I did feel that the ending was rushed and cut short and left me with a couple questions but it is still good. It has amazing details and emotions written with every word that make this story come to life. Tea and Ethan have a strong connection that is hard to not root for. Their passion for life and eachother is offthe charts hot. I recommend everyone read this if they like Dark, Mafia, Alpha male, Romances. I received an ARC of this book free for an honest, voluntary review.
Teagen has a horrible father that sold her to the Dahlia Club and still continues to suck money from her. Due to her father Teagen is taken as collateral for more of her fathers debts. Ethan is trying to find his way in this bio-father’s family. His bio-dad being a mob boss, so it hasn’t been easy to fit in with his other 1/2 brothers. Even kidnapped Teagen has hot AF steamy scenes. This book is written so well with tonnes of detail, I enjoyed the storyline - it’s quite different to what I usually read. Great twists and turns throughout the book. Overall I throughly enjoyed this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love this series of books about the Dahlia District each girl having their own unique story. Is this the end? Is the Dahlia District to be sold? Something to think about! Ethan came across as a cold character and had aspirations to take over the protection at some point from Gerald and be in charge of the Adler family. Teagan came across as a girl who loved her father even though he had sold her to the Dahlia District, she still bailed him out. This was a violent story but very intriguing. A very good connection between Ethan and Teagan and I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book has all the dark, twisted, evil, things that make this book a must read. This is part of a series, and it is a very entertaining series. This is not your typical love story, in fact a love story is stretching it a little. There are feelings and it could be love but not the candlelight and roses type. The story was wonderful as are the other books in the series. I enjoyed this book very much. I totally enjoyed the ride. Ethan and Teagan are great characters and I hope there are more books like this in Audrey Rush to write...
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is my first read by this author. I wish I had known that there were three books before this book in the series. I know you can read it as standalone but I'm someone who likes to know everything. I felt like I didn't know Ethan enough, and the reason why he ended up where he is now. I feel the same about Teagan, there's so much information missing because I haven't read the other books I'm guessing. Other than that I did really like this book. I would definitely recommend it but read the other books first. I can imagine this is a great series.
Ruined, Shattered and Crushed are on my TBR. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.