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Carnal Games #1
Cherry Auction
I woke up in a hospital with no memory of my name, my past, or the darkness that haunts my every step.
Then a new friend introduced me to Carnal, an exclusive club where secrets are currency, and fantasies come with a price. When I agreed to auction off my vrginity, it seemed like the perfect solution to rebuild my life. A one-night transaction for the chance to start fresh.
But I didn’t expect him.
Domhnall.
He’s cold, calculating, and commands the room with a dangerous allure. One look and I’m a deer caught in the headlights. One touch, and I’m at his mercy. He bought me for a price no one else dared match, and now he’s dragging me into his shadowed world—where the lines between desire and fear blur into a sinister game I can’t escape.
He says I betrayed him. He swears I’ll pay.
But as his darkness consumes me, I can’t help but wonder if he’s the only one who can uncover the truth of who I really am.
I'm just not sure either of us will survive it.
TWs: Please note this is a dark romance with kidnapping, dub-con, and intense themes of mental illness, abuse and trauma (including references to past childhood abuse). A full list of trigger warnings can be found on the author’s website.
Then a new friend introduced me to Carnal, an exclusive club where secrets are currency, and fantasies come with a price. When I agreed to auction off my vrginity, it seemed like the perfect solution to rebuild my life. A one-night transaction for the chance to start fresh.
But I didn’t expect him.
Domhnall.
He’s cold, calculating, and commands the room with a dangerous allure. One look and I’m a deer caught in the headlights. One touch, and I’m at his mercy. He bought me for a price no one else dared match, and now he’s dragging me into his shadowed world—where the lines between desire and fear blur into a sinister game I can’t escape.
He says I betrayed him. He swears I’ll pay.
But as his darkness consumes me, I can’t help but wonder if he’s the only one who can uncover the truth of who I really am.
I'm just not sure either of us will survive it.
TWs: Please note this is a dark romance with kidnapping, dub-con, and intense themes of mental illness, abuse and trauma (including references to past childhood abuse). A full list of trigger warnings can be found on the author’s website.
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 13, 2025
1701 people are currently reading
8002 people want to read
About the author
Stasia Black
73 books2,092 followersStasia was born in Georgia, grew up in Texas, recently spent a freezing five-year stint in Minnesota, and now is happily planted in sunny California, which she will never, ever leave.
She loves writing, reading, listening to podcasts, and has recently taken up biking after a twenty-year sabbatical (and has the bumps and bruises to prove it). She lives with her own personal cheerleader, aka, her handsome husband, and their teenage son. Wow. Typing that makes her feel old. And writing about herself in the third person makes her feel a little like a nutjob, but ahem! Where were we?
Stasia’s drawn to romantic stories that don’t take the easy way out. She wants to see beneath people’s veneer and poke into their dark places, their twisted motives, and their deepest desires. Basically, she wants to create characters that make readers alternately laugh, cry ugly tears, want to toss their kindles across the room, and then declare they have a new FBB (forever book boyfriend).
She loves writing, reading, listening to podcasts, and has recently taken up biking after a twenty-year sabbatical (and has the bumps and bruises to prove it). She lives with her own personal cheerleader, aka, her handsome husband, and their teenage son. Wow. Typing that makes her feel old. And writing about herself in the third person makes her feel a little like a nutjob, but ahem! Where were we?
Stasia’s drawn to romantic stories that don’t take the easy way out. She wants to see beneath people’s veneer and poke into their dark places, their twisted motives, and their deepest desires. Basically, she wants to create characters that make readers alternately laugh, cry ugly tears, want to toss their kindles across the room, and then declare they have a new FBB (forever book boyfriend).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 576 reviews
January 15, 2025
2.75!
Okay so I sat down and thought about this book and it was just two stars because this was such a weird story and to be honest I enjoyed it, nothing really triggered me that much and I knew what I was going into when I read it but this was so dumb at times that it was funny. Okay so theres like this BDSM club and the main guy and his friend host a "Virgin Auction" 😭 and apparently all the members of the club are veryyyyy trustful and would never harm women.
Okay so Domnhall our main character see's his ex who apparently betrayed him in the worst way possible presenting herself at the auction while playing the role of someone who has amnesia and lmaoo so take revenge he like pays 50 million dollars and gets her and yk how he takes revenge??? by keeping her in his BDSM room and trying stuff with her 😭😭 like come on now!! and the girl (luna 2,0 with the amount of names she has) would act like she didnt like it but of course her body would betray her 🌚 so I would say 2 stars for the laugh.
The twists were there some of them were shocking the others were okayy but I feel like this book took such a long time elaborating and focusing on the characters that I just stopped caring because the first 40% was mainly focused on the sexual stuff and tbh I didn't feel their connection so that was meh as well, this was also very long, like my book was 566 pages and it couldve been chopped up if you removed half of the bdsm scenes like ok I know its a book with that trope but lets move the story as well 😭
Another thing that felt pretty 🤢 to me was how okay the siblings were regarding the subject of sex like the main problem in their family is that they are all addicted to something, so domnhall is addicted to bdsm and addicted to calling himself a masochists while his sister is also addicted to sex🤩 and like the word boundary's and privacy was just very foreign to them because during the auction scene the sister would be having sex with a guy near the stage and dom would literally be in the audience and like she would call him while having sex and like?? get a room please but yeah they were sooo dysfunctional.
Overall, it was just meh, there were scenes that I enjoyed but I know that I mist probably would never read another one of this authors books.
___
Im in mood for some dark romance and since I'm mostly reading Arc's I thinks its worth giving this a shot.
Okay so I sat down and thought about this book and it was just two stars because this was such a weird story and to be honest I enjoyed it, nothing really triggered me that much and I knew what I was going into when I read it but this was so dumb at times that it was funny. Okay so theres like this BDSM club and the main guy and his friend host a "Virgin Auction" 😭 and apparently all the members of the club are veryyyyy trustful and would never harm women.
Okay so Domnhall our main character see's his ex who apparently betrayed him in the worst way possible presenting herself at the auction while playing the role of someone who has amnesia and lmaoo so take revenge he like pays 50 million dollars and gets her and yk how he takes revenge??? by keeping her in his BDSM room and trying stuff with her 😭😭 like come on now!! and the girl (luna 2,0 with the amount of names she has) would act like she didnt like it but of course her body would betray her 🌚 so I would say 2 stars for the laugh.
The twists were there some of them were shocking the others were okayy but I feel like this book took such a long time elaborating and focusing on the characters that I just stopped caring because the first 40% was mainly focused on the sexual stuff and tbh I didn't feel their connection so that was meh as well, this was also very long, like my book was 566 pages and it couldve been chopped up if you removed half of the bdsm scenes like ok I know its a book with that trope but lets move the story as well 😭
Another thing that felt pretty 🤢 to me was how okay the siblings were regarding the subject of sex like the main problem in their family is that they are all addicted to something, so domnhall is addicted to bdsm and addicted to calling himself a masochists while his sister is also addicted to sex🤩 and like the word boundary's and privacy was just very foreign to them because during the auction scene the sister would be having sex with a guy near the stage and dom would literally be in the audience and like she would call him while having sex and like?? get a room please but yeah they were sooo dysfunctional.
Overall, it was just meh, there were scenes that I enjoyed but I know that I mist probably would never read another one of this authors books.
___
Im in mood for some dark romance and since I'm mostly reading Arc's I thinks its worth giving this a shot.
January 12, 2025
I have to give you my own set of TW before I recommend this.
- This is a Dark Psychological Romance (emphasis on psychological)
- Very traumatic and tragic childhoods (both MCs - on page)
- Pet play/kink 😺 (ofc he calls her pet and kitten)
- First 50% is pure smut, Second 50% more plot-smut balance
- Degradation, Humiliation, Ownership, Training
- True BDSM 🪢Locking her up
- Amnesia (but our MMC choose not to believe it), hence, revenge
- Cucumber in the backdoor 🥒🍑
If you are still here, Hi!
You're asking now, "Grace do you recommend this?"
The answer is Maybe.
Here are my thoughts. (rating explained in the end)
1) The MCs:
Unhinged. Dark. Twisted. Complicated. Traumatised.
Perfect for each other.
So toxic to each other.
Each other's lifelines.
Pure mutual obsession.
Deep.
Extremely interesting storylines.
If you read this book for one thing, read it for them.
2) Virgin and 2nd chance tropes:
It is no secret that I am no fan of these 2 tropes, but I have to tell you they are played well in this book.
The virgin aspect is not really the center of this, even if the title (cherry) and the catalyst event for this book are based on it. But that's all there is to it in the plot.
The second chance is a completely justified one. And boy oh boy is it played right.
3) Pace and flow:
I won't lie, the first part was frustrating to me.
I don't enjoy pet play and the way he was exacting his revenge, not reasoning or using logic, yet saying "he is in control" (which ofc he later comes to understand wasn't real control) was too much for me.
I started skimming through.
The second 50% was extremely interesting, and I know we couldn't have gotten there without the first 50%.
It was filled with so much discovery and action that were smartly written, and the real plot twist was mind-boggling.
At that point I found myself torn between wanting every scrap of words, and just dealing with the lingering frustration from the first part.
4) Recommendation and rating:
It is not fair to tell you to read a book just for the second part.
But if you are okay with the TW I listed, then you will totally enjoy this.
If you are interested in deep psychological dark romance, you will totally enjoy this.
It was hard to rate this because the first 50% was offputting and frustrating to me. But it is unfair to rate this as anything less than it deserves.
I am settling on 3, but if pet play and the TW I listed are for you, it will probably be a 4.5 - 5 read to someone else⭐
I have received an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion. And well, you get that.
--
Pre-read:
I'm not usually a Virgin FMC and 2nd chance tropes fan, but something about this book kept calling to me.
I couldn't not sign-up for its ARC, and I hope it will not disappoint. 🤞🏻
- This is a Dark Psychological Romance (emphasis on psychological)
- Very traumatic and tragic childhoods (both MCs - on page)
- Pet play/kink 😺 (ofc he calls her pet and kitten)
- First 50% is pure smut, Second 50% more plot-smut balance
- Degradation, Humiliation, Ownership, Training
- True BDSM 🪢Locking her up
- Amnesia (but our MMC choose not to believe it), hence, revenge
- Cucumber in the backdoor 🥒🍑
If you are still here, Hi!
You're asking now, "Grace do you recommend this?"
The answer is Maybe.
Here are my thoughts. (rating explained in the end)
1) The MCs:
Unhinged. Dark. Twisted. Complicated. Traumatised.
Perfect for each other.
So toxic to each other.
Each other's lifelines.
Pure mutual obsession.
Deep.
Extremely interesting storylines.
If you read this book for one thing, read it for them.
2) Virgin and 2nd chance tropes:
It is no secret that I am no fan of these 2 tropes, but I have to tell you they are played well in this book.
The virgin aspect is not really the center of this, even if the title (cherry) and the catalyst event for this book are based on it. But that's all there is to it in the plot.
The second chance is a completely justified one. And boy oh boy is it played right.
3) Pace and flow:
I won't lie, the first part was frustrating to me.
I don't enjoy pet play and the way he was exacting his revenge, not reasoning or using logic, yet saying "he is in control" (which ofc he later comes to understand wasn't real control) was too much for me.
I started skimming through.
The second 50% was extremely interesting, and I know we couldn't have gotten there without the first 50%.
It was filled with so much discovery and action that were smartly written, and the real plot twist was mind-boggling.
At that point I found myself torn between wanting every scrap of words, and just dealing with the lingering frustration from the first part.
4) Recommendation and rating:
It is not fair to tell you to read a book just for the second part.
But if you are okay with the TW I listed, then you will totally enjoy this.
If you are interested in deep psychological dark romance, you will totally enjoy this.
It was hard to rate this because the first 50% was offputting and frustrating to me. But it is unfair to rate this as anything less than it deserves.
I am settling on 3, but if pet play and the TW I listed are for you, it will probably be a 4.5 - 5 read to someone else⭐
I have received an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion. And well, you get that.
--
Pre-read:
I'm not usually a Virgin FMC and 2nd chance tropes fan, but something about this book kept calling to me.
I couldn't not sign-up for its ARC, and I hope it will not disappoint. 🤞🏻
June 19, 2025
“Every part of my being burns for her, but for now, whatever ounce or speck she gives me, it will be enough. It will always be enough. I’d beg for scraps at her table and be the happiest man alive.”
3.75 stars 🌟
I went into this one blindly and I’m genuinely so glad that I did because I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it. While some of the spice wasn’t entirely for me I still had a really fun time with it. And even though the first half is practically all spice it still intrigued me. I really couldn’t connect to the mmc (for the first half) because this man just refused to believe that the fmc had amnesia? Like sir, why would she lie about that. Anyways, I really enjoyed the second half. I absolutely love when dark romances have a mystery plot strung throughout.
The whole time I was super invested in this story but nearing the ending I can’t even properly explain just how invested I was. Like I was gasping for air and lowkey going a bit crazy.
I really enjoyed the amnesia trope and the topic of mental health in this book. It was my first time (in a romance book) reading about a main character with DID (dissociative identity disorder). And to me it’s always intriguing when there’s the topic of mental health but especially when the book talks about lesser known mental illnesses.
I also really enjoyed reading about these characters' past trauma and their character growth. Even though these are two flawed characters (and are lowkey toxic for each other) I really enjoyed their story. They had so much depth and I felt that this story (for the most part) was well done.
Even though I really liked this book I wished that we had gotten a whole lot more explanation within the ending. In the bonus epilogue it’s a bit uncertain if these characters are going to have another book but trust I’ll definitely be there if it happens. I was also just annoyed with the mmc a majority of the first half. But other than that I heavily enjoyed this one (apart from these issues). And if you are going to read this one I’d recommend you look up the triggers because this story covers a lot.
Other Favorite Quotes:
“I walk around the front of the car to tuck Brooke’s hand in my arm and— f--k. Her beauty slams me full in the chest. She’s so goddamn gorgeous. I don’t f--king deserve her.”
"Hurting on my skin is so much better than when the hurt is on the inside."
“You're going to let me do anything I want to your sweet body because it belongs to me. It always has.”
“My marks are so f--king beauti ful on you.”
“He's the key to unlock me.”
“F--k, if ya only knew how many nights I've dreamed of rammin' ya full. Of wreckin' ya. Of destroyin ya. Of absolutely ruinin' you.”
“He looks back at me. “But I’m not done telling you about us. It’s alright, love. I’ll skip around the bad parts. I know you always wanted to leave the movies before they got to the sad bits.”
pre-review:
holy hell this was a JOURNEY 3.75 stars??? idk rtc
3.75 stars 🌟
I went into this one blindly and I’m genuinely so glad that I did because I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it. While some of the spice wasn’t entirely for me I still had a really fun time with it. And even though the first half is practically all spice it still intrigued me. I really couldn’t connect to the mmc (for the first half) because this man just refused to believe that the fmc had amnesia? Like sir, why would she lie about that. Anyways, I really enjoyed the second half. I absolutely love when dark romances have a mystery plot strung throughout.
The whole time I was super invested in this story but nearing the ending I can’t even properly explain just how invested I was. Like I was gasping for air and lowkey going a bit crazy.
I really enjoyed the amnesia trope and the topic of mental health in this book. It was my first time (in a romance book) reading about a main character with DID (dissociative identity disorder). And to me it’s always intriguing when there’s the topic of mental health but especially when the book talks about lesser known mental illnesses.
I also really enjoyed reading about these characters' past trauma and their character growth. Even though these are two flawed characters (and are lowkey toxic for each other) I really enjoyed their story. They had so much depth and I felt that this story (for the most part) was well done.
Even though I really liked this book I wished that we had gotten a whole lot more explanation within the ending. In the bonus epilogue it’s a bit uncertain if these characters are going to have another book but trust I’ll definitely be there if it happens. I was also just annoyed with the mmc a majority of the first half. But other than that I heavily enjoyed this one (apart from these issues). And if you are going to read this one I’d recommend you look up the triggers because this story covers a lot.
Other Favorite Quotes:
“I walk around the front of the car to tuck Brooke’s hand in my arm and— f--k. Her beauty slams me full in the chest. She’s so goddamn gorgeous. I don’t f--king deserve her.”
"Hurting on my skin is so much better than when the hurt is on the inside."
“You're going to let me do anything I want to your sweet body because it belongs to me. It always has.”
“My marks are so f--king beauti ful on you.”
“He's the key to unlock me.”
“F--k, if ya only knew how many nights I've dreamed of rammin' ya full. Of wreckin' ya. Of destroyin ya. Of absolutely ruinin' you.”
“He looks back at me. “But I’m not done telling you about us. It’s alright, love. I’ll skip around the bad parts. I know you always wanted to leave the movies before they got to the sad bits.”
pre-review:
holy hell this was a JOURNEY 3.75 stars??? idk rtc
January 21, 2025
𝒀𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒅𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒔.
Cherry Auction is a raw, dark, twisted, and heart-wrenching book, but it was so good.
𝑴𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒇--𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖.
Please check the trigger warnings in this book; it deals with many heavy topics that will trigger some.
Cherry Auction was such a wild ride. You will experience so many emotions during this book; it gave me Eyes Wide Shut, Fifty Shades of Grey, Alice & Frankie, and Sybil vibes.
𝑯𝒆'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒆𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌 𝒎𝒆.
The trauma these two characters endured was heartbreaking, and the twists in this book were mind-blowing.
I wanted to reach into the book and give these characters a big freakin hug because they needed it and so much more.
𝑭--𝒌, 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒂 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒏' 𝒚𝒂 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍. 𝑶𝒇 𝒘𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏' 𝒚𝒂. 𝑶𝒇 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒂. 𝑶𝒇 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏' 𝒚𝒐𝒖.
Domhnall and Brooke/Madi loved each other so hard and fought through so much pain and trauma. If anyone deserved a HEA, it was them.
I can't wait to read the next book in this series, Ruined Vows. I hope we see more of Dom and Brooke/Madi because I love these two and would love to read more from them.
Cherry Auction is a raw, dark, twisted, and heart-wrenching book, but it was so good.
𝑴𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒇--𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖.
Please check the trigger warnings in this book; it deals with many heavy topics that will trigger some.
Cherry Auction was such a wild ride. You will experience so many emotions during this book; it gave me Eyes Wide Shut, Fifty Shades of Grey, Alice & Frankie, and Sybil vibes.
𝑯𝒆'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒆𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌 𝒎𝒆.
The trauma these two characters endured was heartbreaking, and the twists in this book were mind-blowing.
I wanted to reach into the book and give these characters a big freakin hug because they needed it and so much more.
𝑭--𝒌, 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒂 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒏' 𝒚𝒂 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍. 𝑶𝒇 𝒘𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏' 𝒚𝒂. 𝑶𝒇 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒂. 𝑶𝒇 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏' 𝒚𝒐𝒖.
Domhnall and Brooke/Madi loved each other so hard and fought through so much pain and trauma. If anyone deserved a HEA, it was them.
I can't wait to read the next book in this series, Ruined Vows. I hope we see more of Dom and Brooke/Madi because I love these two and would love to read more from them.
February 12, 2025
3.75 stars
When I read the blurb, which I usually do very rarely, I said I had to read it! First of all, this intrigue trick from the very beginning was very intriguing and made me read more and more to find out who the main character is and why she has amnesia. In short, there are a lot of questions at the very beginning, which greatly fuels interest in the book.
Then there are mentions of sensitive topics, be careful!
There are elements of BDSM and various endings, so pay attention before reading and be prepared for the fact that this is really dark, even for me it was too much. I really liked how everything related to the traumas of the characters and how they came to all this, that is why they became, what they are now, was revealed a little bit it's really very interesting and fully reveals them to me.
I also can't help but mention the topic of violence and mental disorders, because I absolutely love it when authors mention such difficult topics in books. This is what makes it possible to understand and sympathize with the characters to some extent.
I have no questions about the plot as a whole, but some of the characters' actions were frankly surprising at times and seemed out of character for them, which made the plot twists themselves strange and unrealistic and spoiled the experience a bit. The main characters definitely have incredible chemistry and are made for each other. The epilogue is what makes this book worth reading and re-reading, because it made me think the whole day after reading about the importance of working through your traumas and having someone by your side who is willing to fight with you against your darkness.
Thanks' booksirens for the opportunity to read this book<3
When I read the blurb, which I usually do very rarely, I said I had to read it! First of all, this intrigue trick from the very beginning was very intriguing and made me read more and more to find out who the main character is and why she has amnesia. In short, there are a lot of questions at the very beginning, which greatly fuels interest in the book.
Then there are mentions of sensitive topics, be careful!
There are elements of BDSM and various endings, so pay attention before reading and be prepared for the fact that this is really dark, even for me it was too much. I really liked how everything related to the traumas of the characters and how they came to all this, that is why they became, what they are now, was revealed a little bit it's really very interesting and fully reveals them to me.
I also can't help but mention the topic of violence and mental disorders, because I absolutely love it when authors mention such difficult topics in books. This is what makes it possible to understand and sympathize with the characters to some extent.
I have no questions about the plot as a whole, but some of the characters' actions were frankly surprising at times and seemed out of character for them, which made the plot twists themselves strange and unrealistic and spoiled the experience a bit. The main characters definitely have incredible chemistry and are made for each other. The epilogue is what makes this book worth reading and re-reading, because it made me think the whole day after reading about the importance of working through your traumas and having someone by your side who is willing to fight with you against your darkness.
Thanks' booksirens for the opportunity to read this book<3
February 6, 2025
This was my first time reading a book like this and I absolutely flew through it. Dark romance, virgin auction with a second chance romance twist that really worked. This book kept me on my toes and every time I feel like I knew where it was going it changed again.
This definitely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but I loveddd it. Check trigger warnings because this one gets pretty dark, but there’s also great character development and the spice!!! Wow!!!
This definitely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but I loveddd it. Check trigger warnings because this one gets pretty dark, but there’s also great character development and the spice!!! Wow!!!
January 1, 2025
This book was advertised as dark and twisted.
WOW- accurate, and even a little under emphasized!
This book should be read knowing as little as possible in my opinion- watching this little tale ofe revenge unfold was shocking and worth every gasp that came from me.
Trigger warning city here, NOT for faint of heart, it's dark. Sex is a weapon in this and if manipulation and doing anything needed to get what you want is too morally grey- please dont venture in.
Thank you to Grey's Promotions and to the author and her twisted little brain for this one. I really enjoyed reading it, and look forward to purchasing a physical copy com mid January.
WOW- accurate, and even a little under emphasized!
This book should be read knowing as little as possible in my opinion- watching this little tale ofe revenge unfold was shocking and worth every gasp that came from me.
Trigger warning city here, NOT for faint of heart, it's dark. Sex is a weapon in this and if manipulation and doing anything needed to get what you want is too morally grey- please dont venture in.
Thank you to Grey's Promotions and to the author and her twisted little brain for this one. I really enjoyed reading it, and look forward to purchasing a physical copy com mid January.
May 17, 2025
Wow not sure where to start with this book. PLEASE check your TWs before reading this as it has some pretty f*cked up shit. This was my first book by this author and I’ll definitely be checking out more of her books!!!
January 21, 2025
I absolutely LOVED the beginning of this one, really enjoyed the amnesia aspect of this + the MMC being a complete red flag in terms of his treatment to her after he bought her in the auction. It reminded me of some fun toxic manhwa, which was great!! He had a pretty fun arc, and while there were some twists and turns that I enjoyed, things that happened later on in the book kind of took me out of this plot. My biggest problem was with the MMC's sister and many parts of the third act.
The juxtaposition of the MMC and his sister felt really jarring to me considering his past, and her role in the book in the beginning was fine, but as things went on, it kind of confused the hell out of me why she would be this way, and like... EVERYTHING with the FMC toward the end kind of took me out of it. 😂 I love amnesia trope, but I don't really like how it was explored here. Still, the first half was enjoyable.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy for free via The Authoer Agency, and am voluntarily leaving my honest thoughts. Many thanks to The Author Agency and the author for the opportunity!
The juxtaposition of the MMC and his sister felt really jarring to me considering his past, and her role in the book in the beginning was fine, but as things went on, it kind of confused the hell out of me why she would be this way, and like... EVERYTHING with the FMC toward the end kind of took me out of it. 😂 I love amnesia trope, but I don't really like how it was explored here. Still, the first half was enjoyable.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy for free via The Authoer Agency, and am voluntarily leaving my honest thoughts. Many thanks to The Author Agency and the author for the opportunity!
January 6, 2025
Oh my. I was not prepared for this at all! So the title is pretty self explanatory. This starts off with major Eyes Wide Shut BeeDeeSM vibes. Howeverrr. It turns into SO MUCH more. The backstories, the plot and the emotion in the second half were SO unexpected and I completely fell in love with these characters. HIGHLY recommend. And go in blind.
January 21, 2025
3.75/5 ⭐️ 4/5 🌶️
This was a WILD ride!!!
I absolutely loved these characters and how intense their love is. They have both been through so much and you can really feel how connected they are with each other throughout the book. Dom and Brooke/Mads both have such strong personalities but they fit so perfectly!! ☺️
I had a hard time getting into the book in the beginning but by the middle I was HOOKED! The spicy scenes… OH MY don’t even get me started on how hot they are!!!!🔥🔥
If you love a possessive MMC, Dom is your guy! 🤭
Thank you Stasia and Greys Promotions for the ARC! ❤️
This was a WILD ride!!!
I absolutely loved these characters and how intense their love is. They have both been through so much and you can really feel how connected they are with each other throughout the book. Dom and Brooke/Mads both have such strong personalities but they fit so perfectly!! ☺️
I had a hard time getting into the book in the beginning but by the middle I was HOOKED! The spicy scenes… OH MY don’t even get me started on how hot they are!!!!🔥🔥
If you love a possessive MMC, Dom is your guy! 🤭
Thank you Stasia and Greys Promotions for the ARC! ❤️
January 25, 2025
This was a no for me- which was super disappointing. I desperately wanted to love it! But it dragged on for me & to be honest I continued on with the hopes at some point it would get better or more interesting but it just didn’t happen, imho.
Definitely of the belief that this will be a huge hit for lots of people- as always, I recommend reading and determining on your own if this book is a hit or miss!
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
Definitely of the belief that this will be a huge hit for lots of people- as always, I recommend reading and determining on your own if this book is a hit or miss!
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 9, 2025
4.25 what a rollercoaster of a book! I was intrigued with the plot from the very beginning. I love how well the author explained the Dom/Sub relationship and made sure that consent was clear. Somewhere in the middle I wasn’t sure if it was liking where the story was headed but man am I glad I trusted the process because I did not see that coming!!! I devoured that last half! And the spice and tension 😏 all the vibes were vibing
January 12, 2025
What an intense mind-f*ck of a story.
Brooke doesn't remember who she is after a head injury left her with amnesia. After making friends with Moira and discovering how to make some money to help discover who she is and where she came from, she signs up to sell herself. Little did she know to whom.
Domhnall has done everything in life to protect his younger sister, Moira. When he discovers the friend she has been helping for a while now is the very girl who left him years many earlier, he sees red.
He will make her pay!
This story was heartbreaking. But freaking HOT and so steamy. The twists and turns were literally gripping, and it was so intense I could not put it down.
I would definitely recommend this book 👌
Brooke doesn't remember who she is after a head injury left her with amnesia. After making friends with Moira and discovering how to make some money to help discover who she is and where she came from, she signs up to sell herself. Little did she know to whom.
Domhnall has done everything in life to protect his younger sister, Moira. When he discovers the friend she has been helping for a while now is the very girl who left him years many earlier, he sees red.
He will make her pay!
This story was heartbreaking. But freaking HOT and so steamy. The twists and turns were literally gripping, and it was so intense I could not put it down.
I would definitely recommend this book 👌
October 24, 2025
3.5 🌟
This book is definitely for fans of Caught Up , very kinky and wild as fuck but I was thoroughly entertained from page one so I can’t hate on it too much 🤷🏼♀️
This book is definitely for fans of Caught Up , very kinky and wild as fuck but I was thoroughly entertained from page one so I can’t hate on it too much 🤷🏼♀️
January 21, 2025
Wow, what a dark psychotic little rollercoaster of a tale.
This was the craziest little psychological thriller dark romance I have read in a while. I was even surprised by some of the twists, which is always a good thing. I'm giving nothing away and shame on any reviewers that do.
Now, let me address something. This is a very dark story about two very fucked individuals. I feel like some reviewers didn't read all the way to find out why these characters end up behaving in some of the ways they do. In the beginning even Brooke doesn't understand why she's responding the way she is. So, keep an open mind because this book was like an onion where we kept learning new things as each layer was peeled away. Twice I thought after a reveal I knew how it was going to progress until the HEA and I was wrong lol.
With that said, if you like DARK romance, are into BDSM and aren't really triggered you'll probably like this one. But sidenote, this isn't a normal safe, sane, consensual BDSM, this is more noncon/dubcon revenge torture. And I feel like this is that point in some of my reviews where I have to point out that this is FICTION, not real life, and the author isn't advocating or saying this is how the BDSM life is or should be.
Overall, I really fucking liked this. I mean I felt terrible and horrified for what the MCs went through....but I do love off the chart crazy characters. I inhaled this, reading it in one day because for all the over-the-top ridiculousness in places, it definitely was a page turner. And I recommend making sure you read the extra downloadable epilogue.
This one is dark enough I need to break out the trigger warnings.
Impact heavy BDSM
noncon/dubcon
degradation/humiliation
rape and torture (in flashbacks but in bits and pieces on the page)
physical violence/murder
This was the craziest little psychological thriller dark romance I have read in a while. I was even surprised by some of the twists, which is always a good thing. I'm giving nothing away and shame on any reviewers that do.
Now, let me address something. This is a very dark story about two very fucked individuals. I feel like some reviewers didn't read all the way to find out why these characters end up behaving in some of the ways they do. In the beginning even Brooke doesn't understand why she's responding the way she is. So, keep an open mind because this book was like an onion where we kept learning new things as each layer was peeled away. Twice I thought after a reveal I knew how it was going to progress until the HEA and I was wrong lol.
With that said, if you like DARK romance, are into BDSM and aren't really triggered you'll probably like this one. But sidenote, this isn't a normal safe, sane, consensual BDSM, this is more noncon/dubcon revenge torture. And I feel like this is that point in some of my reviews where I have to point out that this is FICTION, not real life, and the author isn't advocating or saying this is how the BDSM life is or should be.
Overall, I really fucking liked this. I mean I felt terrible and horrified for what the MCs went through....but I do love off the chart crazy characters. I inhaled this, reading it in one day because for all the over-the-top ridiculousness in places, it definitely was a page turner. And I recommend making sure you read the extra downloadable epilogue.
This one is dark enough I need to break out the trigger warnings.
Impact heavy BDSM
noncon/dubcon
degradation/humiliation
rape and torture (in flashbacks but in bits and pieces on the page)
physical violence/murder
April 6, 2025
I’m just going to dive into this review. This was very dark, spicy, and at times, extremely graphic. Don’t get me wrong—I love that combination—but I struggled to connect with the characters and fully grasp the overall storyline.
I felt there was a disconnect and some missing information I couldn’t quite piece together. The whole father storyline was uncomfortable at times. I wanted to understand how he became the way he did, and how Don got involved. Yes, I get that the two characters had a teenage romance, but I just didn’t understand the depth or reasoning behind how it all started. It wasn’t explained clearly enough for me to feel fully invested in their story.
The pattern of abuse one character experienced continued as a form of revenge in the present timeline, and I wish it had been clearer why all of this was happening. The strong dom and degradation scenes were a little much for me.
Lastly, the siblings being in such close proximity and feeling so comfortable talking about sex—especially with one scene happening off to the side where they could see each other—was a big no for me.
As mentioned, it’s quite twisted, and I found it dragged so definitely be mindful of the content and themes. I was still interested in the story, but it ultimately fell a little flat for me.
Genre/Type: Dark Adult Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook ALC
Audiobook Length: 9hrs 55mins
Narrators: James Joseph and Mackenzie Cartwright - Duet
Rating: 🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Series or Standalone: Book One In The Carnal Games Series
Tropes or Themes: Hate To Love, Billionaire, Second Chance, MMC Irish, Sex Club, Auction, Broken MMC and FMC, Kidnapping, Amnesia, Nightmares, Mental Health, Therapy, Self Harm, Death, Murder, Sexual Content, Virgin, Dirty Talk, Praise, Sir, Pet, Impact Play, Dom, Sub, BDSM, Degradation, Toys, Backdoor Play, Breath Play, Squirting, Shower Scene and After Care
Mentions Past: Rape, Torture, and Child Abuse
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Fable | Everand | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
I felt there was a disconnect and some missing information I couldn’t quite piece together. The whole father storyline was uncomfortable at times. I wanted to understand how he became the way he did, and how Don got involved. Yes, I get that the two characters had a teenage romance, but I just didn’t understand the depth or reasoning behind how it all started. It wasn’t explained clearly enough for me to feel fully invested in their story.
The pattern of abuse one character experienced continued as a form of revenge in the present timeline, and I wish it had been clearer why all of this was happening. The strong dom and degradation scenes were a little much for me.
Lastly, the siblings being in such close proximity and feeling so comfortable talking about sex—especially with one scene happening off to the side where they could see each other—was a big no for me.
As mentioned, it’s quite twisted, and I found it dragged so definitely be mindful of the content and themes. I was still interested in the story, but it ultimately fell a little flat for me.
Genre/Type: Dark Adult Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook ALC
Audiobook Length: 9hrs 55mins
Narrators: James Joseph and Mackenzie Cartwright - Duet
Rating: 🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Series or Standalone: Book One In The Carnal Games Series
Tropes or Themes: Hate To Love, Billionaire, Second Chance, MMC Irish, Sex Club, Auction, Broken MMC and FMC, Kidnapping, Amnesia, Nightmares, Mental Health, Therapy, Self Harm, Death, Murder, Sexual Content, Virgin, Dirty Talk, Praise, Sir, Pet, Impact Play, Dom, Sub, BDSM, Degradation, Toys, Backdoor Play, Breath Play, Squirting, Shower Scene and After Care
Mentions Past: Rape, Torture, and Child Abuse
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Fable | Everand | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
January 23, 2025
Rating: 2.50⭐️
I will be honest I don’t think this is the worst spicy book i’ve ever read. However some scenes were actually scaring me LOL. Can’t really complain since I kind of knew what this was about?
I saw someone on here reading it and thought the cover was pretty and then proceeded to go into it blindly 😀. Never again.
I will say if I had read this in like 2013-2016 on wattpad I would have probably given it a higher rating. I can also appreciate the fact that there is not some random people making out in the cover lol you don’t know these days…
I feel like a higher rating wouldn’t be that crazy, but I rarely give overly spicy books high ratings.
🍒
Anyway here I things I liked:
- The pacing
- Some of the twists
- The last couple of chapters
- That this book was not trying to be the next 50 shades of gray
Here are things I did not like:
- The MMC’s name- 😀
- The whole she/her (if you have read it you’ll understand it’s not about pronouns lol) plot line
- The first half of the book
- The **** plug scene (made me ick)
- The last two epilogues 😭
🍒
It also felt like the first half of the book was just sexual bdsm scenes and no plot, while the other half was the author trying to spill all the plot if that makes sense? First half of the book and second half of the book felt like two separate stories.
I will be honest I don’t think this is the worst spicy book i’ve ever read. However some scenes were actually scaring me LOL. Can’t really complain since I kind of knew what this was about?
I saw someone on here reading it and thought the cover was pretty and then proceeded to go into it blindly 😀. Never again.
I will say if I had read this in like 2013-2016 on wattpad I would have probably given it a higher rating. I can also appreciate the fact that there is not some random people making out in the cover lol you don’t know these days…
I feel like a higher rating wouldn’t be that crazy, but I rarely give overly spicy books high ratings.
🍒
Anyway here I things I liked:
- The pacing
- Some of the twists
- The last couple of chapters
- That this book was not trying to be the next 50 shades of gray
Here are things I did not like:
- The MMC’s name- 😀
- The whole she/her (if you have read it you’ll understand it’s not about pronouns lol) plot line
- The first half of the book
- The **** plug scene (made me ick)
- The last two epilogues 😭
🍒
It also felt like the first half of the book was just sexual bdsm scenes and no plot, while the other half was the author trying to spill all the plot if that makes sense? First half of the book and second half of the book felt like two separate stories.
January 2, 2025
Domhnall is hosting a ‘virgin auction’ at his friends BDSM club and he’s adamant that he won’t be bidding. Until Brooke steps foot on the stage. Except Domhnall doesn’t know her as Brooke, he knows her as Mads. The girl who ruined his life when he was 17 and made him flee Ireland. But she claims not to remember him or anything about herself. Is she lying or is it deeper than either of them know?
Oh wow. I absolutely loved this book! The twists and turns kept me gripped. I had no idea what was going to happen next! A revenge romance is another favourite of mine but I was not expecting this!!
Make sure you check the trigger warnings because this books deals with some seriously heavy topics!!
This is an ARC review and all opinions are my own. Thank you to Love Notes PR for the ARC copy of this book and for the opportunity to read and review it
Oh wow. I absolutely loved this book! The twists and turns kept me gripped. I had no idea what was going to happen next! A revenge romance is another favourite of mine but I was not expecting this!!
Make sure you check the trigger warnings because this books deals with some seriously heavy topics!!
This is an ARC review and all opinions are my own. Thank you to Love Notes PR for the ARC copy of this book and for the opportunity to read and review it
July 13, 2025
DNF.
The beginning of this one was great, but then it just kind of lost me a little I don’t know why, it just did. I didn’t have any desire to pick it up and continue reading it when I hit 45%
Virgin Trope and Dom/Sub
The beginning of this one was great, but then it just kind of lost me a little I don’t know why, it just did. I didn’t have any desire to pick it up and continue reading it when I hit 45%
Virgin Trope and Dom/Sub
April 12, 2025
4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Wow! What a wild ride of a book.
This was my first book by Stasia and it definitely won't be my last.
The concept behind this one was crazy to me, which is why I had to pick it up. I enjoyed how everything was played out and loved the suspense/revenge aspect.
I also really enjoyed the character growth between the main characters and how they came together in the end.
You get:
• Dark Romance
• Spicy
• Amnesia
• Revenge
• BDSM
• Past Trauma
• Mental Health Rep
This was a really good, dark read. Available on KU, ebook, paperback, and audiobook.
Wow! What a wild ride of a book.
This was my first book by Stasia and it definitely won't be my last.
The concept behind this one was crazy to me, which is why I had to pick it up. I enjoyed how everything was played out and loved the suspense/revenge aspect.
I also really enjoyed the character growth between the main characters and how they came together in the end.
You get:
• Dark Romance
• Spicy
• Amnesia
• Revenge
• BDSM
• Past Trauma
• Mental Health Rep
This was a really good, dark read. Available on KU, ebook, paperback, and audiobook.
January 21, 2025
Cherry Auction took me on a roller coaster ride—some good, some bad. I will say I am not really ~into~ the dark romance space, but I have a personal goal to find books I am happy to recommend to friends and followers from every genre, so I gave this a shot. I unfortunately ended up quite disappointed with my time reading this book. I went from not caring about the characters, to empathizing with them, to being completely horrified by the way their character development and the plot were handled.
To start, Domnhall is actually disgusting and I didn’t buy for a single second that he actually cared about Brooke. I didn’t care much for Brooke having so many names and I felt like the handling of her mental health/mental illness was not executed well or believably—the mental illness aspect especially because even in the way that’s written, Brooke is a special unicorn who isn’t like the rest and it easily fits into a box that Domnhall would prefer and not the actual lived reality of this diagnosis. The plot stalled then progressed then stalled then progressed, spending a lot of time on the sex/BDSM scenes and not nearly enough time responsibly handling the subject of abuse, sexual abuse, and Brooke’s dynamic with her father. Brooke was very weak, gullible, and not compelling enough of a FMC to root for. Dom’s sister was a truly revolting human being (literally every time she was on page I said “YUCK” out loud) and if the reader was meant to empathize with her, I missed that train as well.
There were way too many taboo subject matters that Black tried to tackle here, and that resulted in none of them being written well, responsibly, or fleshed-out. I overall went back and forth between not minding Black’s writing overall and really disliking how she was handling the topics presented within. I felt like Dom randomly speaking in his Irish accent was oddly placed, and Brooke just acted like a teenager most of the time. I didn’t care for the amnesia trope and thought the way it was written was quite unbelievable.
TLDR: trauma does color our decisions but it does not excuse them.
1 ⭐️
5 🌶️
Thank you to Grey’s Promotions and the author for providing an ARC!
To start, Domnhall is actually disgusting and I didn’t buy for a single second that he actually cared about Brooke. I didn’t care much for Brooke having so many names and I felt like the handling of her mental health/mental illness was not executed well or believably—the mental illness aspect especially because even in the way that’s written, Brooke is a special unicorn who isn’t like the rest and it easily fits into a box that Domnhall would prefer and not the actual lived reality of this diagnosis. The plot stalled then progressed then stalled then progressed, spending a lot of time on the sex/BDSM scenes and not nearly enough time responsibly handling the subject of abuse, sexual abuse, and Brooke’s dynamic with her father. Brooke was very weak, gullible, and not compelling enough of a FMC to root for. Dom’s sister was a truly revolting human being (literally every time she was on page I said “YUCK” out loud) and if the reader was meant to empathize with her, I missed that train as well.
There were way too many taboo subject matters that Black tried to tackle here, and that resulted in none of them being written well, responsibly, or fleshed-out. I overall went back and forth between not minding Black’s writing overall and really disliking how she was handling the topics presented within. I felt like Dom randomly speaking in his Irish accent was oddly placed, and Brooke just acted like a teenager most of the time. I didn’t care for the amnesia trope and thought the way it was written was quite unbelievable.
TLDR: trauma does color our decisions but it does not excuse them.
1 ⭐️
5 🌶️
Thank you to Grey’s Promotions and the author for providing an ARC!
March 9, 2025
The reveal of the dad being “a mentalist” is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read, and had me howling for a good 15 mins.
The wild “Irish” dialogue sent me west too, how are you gonna mention no less then 3 times that he doesn’t have an Irish accent, then him speak in full diddley-eye lingo the majority of the book? Also Donegal and Dublin are two VERY different dialects but that doesn’t matter here, we’ll just vibe.
The wild “Irish” dialogue sent me west too, how are you gonna mention no less then 3 times that he doesn’t have an Irish accent, then him speak in full diddley-eye lingo the majority of the book? Also Donegal and Dublin are two VERY different dialects but that doesn’t matter here, we’ll just vibe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2025
i’m so confused. so so so confused. what the actual fuck did i just read?🧍🏼♀️
January 18, 2025
Well if you like smut, this one might be for you. There was definitely a lot of that. Chapters of detail of smut. And I do like smut, however, this one didn't really do it for me. I did read it, so there's that.
The pace of the story was pretty slow. The situations, such as the virgin auction, were very unbelieveable. The characters never really took hold, and their interactions felt jerky and dysfunctional most of the time. Sterile almost. He's holding her prisoner in his dungeon to get revenge, yet she has a safe word? You had to read through smut to get the next bite of story, and I do mean "had to" because it was pretty boring sometimes.
The plot had a lot of holes, like referring to "so many weeks" when it had only be less than two weeks. The sister never recognized Mads, but she and her brother were supposed to have run off with her six years earlier. After several days in his dungeon he "breaks" her, panics and calls in a doctor...but she's fine the next day. Just holes.
It felt like the author was trying to get in too many taboos:
BDSM
Pet play
Degradation
Humiliation
Ownership
Training
Amnesia
Multiple Personalities
Backdoor play Obsession (both characters)
Virgin
Childhood trama (both characters)
Abuse
Self harm
The problem was none of them really hit home or were fleshed out. If you want dark, write dark. That wasn't done.
Would I recommend this book? Yes if you just want smut. No if you want believable plot and characters you can feel with or for. Will I read this author again? Probably not unless another reader can convince me she has stepped up her writing.
2.5 stars
The pace of the story was pretty slow. The situations, such as the virgin auction, were very unbelieveable. The characters never really took hold, and their interactions felt jerky and dysfunctional most of the time. Sterile almost. He's holding her prisoner in his dungeon to get revenge, yet she has a safe word? You had to read through smut to get the next bite of story, and I do mean "had to" because it was pretty boring sometimes.
The plot had a lot of holes, like referring to "so many weeks" when it had only be less than two weeks. The sister never recognized Mads, but she and her brother were supposed to have run off with her six years earlier. After several days in his dungeon he "breaks" her, panics and calls in a doctor...but she's fine the next day. Just holes.
It felt like the author was trying to get in too many taboos:
BDSM
Pet play
Degradation
Humiliation
Ownership
Training
Amnesia
Multiple Personalities
Backdoor play Obsession (both characters)
Virgin
Childhood trama (both characters)
Abuse
Self harm
The problem was none of them really hit home or were fleshed out. If you want dark, write dark. That wasn't done.
Would I recommend this book? Yes if you just want smut. No if you want believable plot and characters you can feel with or for. Will I read this author again? Probably not unless another reader can convince me she has stepped up her writing.
2.5 stars
January 2, 2025
Domnhall is damaged and shut-off from himself emotionally and uses BDSM to offset his sadistic urges from past trauma. He's perfectly fine with this until a woman from his past appears out of the blue. Now, he'll do everything to keep her and break her, including destroying his carefully constructed walls.
*****
This is a book you absolutely want to go into blind. It's dark, but not in the way you expect. Yes, there are realistic BDSM scenes, aftercare, and impact play. Including light pet play, degradation, and humiliation, with lots of praise and pleasure. However, the dark aspects come in within the form of very twisted and deranged past trauma. If you have issues reading sexual trauma, this isn't going to be the book for you. If you don't, hooooly is this a delightful mental mess. Both of the characters are so broken and ruined, and it's incredibly satisfying to read. Domnhall himself is deranged and obsessed, and this needs to be accepted to understand a lot of his unhinged choices throughout the book.
Overall, there were some issues with consistency in timelines and such. Sometimes, words were duplicated and missed in a sentence, although it doesn't take away from the overall story, it will trip you up. Also, the male lead goes into a deeper irish accent in times of stress or passion, and the author chose to spell it out phonetically instead of just saying he spoke with a thicker accent. This was honestly pretty cringey for me, but I'm sure other's wont mind. Despite that, this was still a great read, and if you can handle the dark themes, I'd definitely read it!
*****
Thank you to The Author Agency for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*****
This is a book you absolutely want to go into blind. It's dark, but not in the way you expect. Yes, there are realistic BDSM scenes, aftercare, and impact play. Including light pet play, degradation, and humiliation, with lots of praise and pleasure. However, the dark aspects come in within the form of very twisted and deranged past trauma. If you have issues reading sexual trauma, this isn't going to be the book for you. If you don't, hooooly is this a delightful mental mess. Both of the characters are so broken and ruined, and it's incredibly satisfying to read. Domnhall himself is deranged and obsessed, and this needs to be accepted to understand a lot of his unhinged choices throughout the book.
Overall, there were some issues with consistency in timelines and such. Sometimes, words were duplicated and missed in a sentence, although it doesn't take away from the overall story, it will trip you up. Also, the male lead goes into a deeper irish accent in times of stress or passion, and the author chose to spell it out phonetically instead of just saying he spoke with a thicker accent. This was honestly pretty cringey for me, but I'm sure other's wont mind. Despite that, this was still a great read, and if you can handle the dark themes, I'd definitely read it!
*****
Thank you to The Author Agency for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 10, 2025
I was so not ready for this book. I had read the TWs, I was convinced it was going one direction but then slam, I was hit with everything that this book really is. And boy was that a ride.
To whomever decides to read this book, be ready to be shocked and to read an incredible journey for both Domhnall and Brooke.
I have enjoyed the first part, when Brooke auctions her virginity off, after she wakes up in the hospital having lost all her memories due to a physical attack. Domhnall purchases her virginity for a huge sum of money, but it's not her virginity that he wants.
And the second part. WOW, just wow, it was incredible to go deep into the psyche of the characters and see the drama and the damage they both suffered.
This book is dark, this book is twisted, this book is hot and sexy, where sex is the third character - or maybe fourth - in this story, used to manipulate other people to get what you want. So again, this book is really not for the faint of heart and you should be open and ready for everything that happens.
Well done Stasia, really well done. Thank you and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read this novel.
To whomever decides to read this book, be ready to be shocked and to read an incredible journey for both Domhnall and Brooke.
I have enjoyed the first part, when Brooke auctions her virginity off, after she wakes up in the hospital having lost all her memories due to a physical attack. Domhnall purchases her virginity for a huge sum of money, but it's not her virginity that he wants.
And the second part. WOW, just wow, it was incredible to go deep into the psyche of the characters and see the drama and the damage they both suffered.
This book is dark, this book is twisted, this book is hot and sexy, where sex is the third character - or maybe fourth - in this story, used to manipulate other people to get what you want. So again, this book is really not for the faint of heart and you should be open and ready for everything that happens.
Well done Stasia, really well done. Thank you and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read this novel.
February 1, 2025
This book has so many layers. It starts off with an auction. A girl with amnesia hidden past binge the girl with a pseudo family trying to look out for her, and as you keep uncovering the layers, you see her past come to life in each layer gets spicier and spicier and spicier. Five out of five chili peppers must read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 21, 2025
This was not my favorite work from Black. It lacked imagination. I don’t love an amnesia plot in the first place, but throw in the fact a miscommunication trope and I’m not having a good time.
I was looking forward to steamy, filthy v-card swiping-at-the-bdsm-club action but they immediately left the site… and he took her… home? Boring!
Honestly what I wanted was to explore the sister getting railed against the wall during the festivities. That was exciting.
Would I recommend this? No really.
Will I read her again? Probably.
I was looking forward to steamy, filthy v-card swiping-at-the-bdsm-club action but they immediately left the site… and he took her… home? Boring!
Honestly what I wanted was to explore the sister getting railed against the wall during the festivities. That was exciting.
Would I recommend this? No really.
Will I read her again? Probably.
January 20, 2025
If you want a good dark , smutty and twisted book definitely pick this one up ! 👀 I did not expect it to be this dark but omgg it was so so good and SPICYYYY!!
5/5 🔥
5/5 🔥
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