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Black Widow

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INTRODUCTORY PRICE for a few days only

Two years ago Eleanor Dryton lost her husband, her job and her friends.
She lost everything about her old life that ever mattered to her.
All she had left were her will and a burning desire for revenge.

Now, El has served her time for being an unknowing partner in her murdered husband's crimes. Her prison sentence has toughened her up and she's learned that she can be bad.

But when her search for revenge leads her to a man who takes bad to a completely different level just how far is she willing to go? If prison has hardened her, what effect will the man who killed her husband have? And does she even have any control over what happens next?

A dark romantic thriller from the bestselling author of Winner Takes All and The Object Of His Desire.

--Author's Note--
This is a dark romance novel. It contains themes of violence and mature situations that could make readers uncomfortable.

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 1996

8 people are currently reading
574 people want to read

About the author

P.J. Adams

37 books84 followers
Writing under other names, P.J. Adams is a successful novelist, with several novels published by major publishing houses and optioned for movies. As P.J. Adams, she writes in the genre closest to her heart, erotic romance - love stories with that added heat.

Working as Polly J Adams, she writes best-selling erotica, relationship stories crammed full of explicit sex. Among Polly's most popular stories are the Knee-tremblers and Indulgence series about a young woman's relationship with the wealthy owner of a New England sex club.

Find Polly at: www.pollyjadams.com

This author also writes under the name Polly J. Adams.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Michelle.
944 reviews218 followers
September 21, 2014
El was put in prison for trying to cover up the bad things her husband Jeremy did before he died in an accident. I really didn't get all of that...but anyway. While in prison she got roughed up and was made to do things that she didn't want to do. She toughened up, kicked some ass and was moved to a different wing to stop the drama. There she met her new cell mate and they started talking about revenge. El wanted nothing more than to find the man responsible for her husbands "accident."
After serving two years she was finally free to start seeking answers and to go forward to find "the man" who had her husband killed.
El was very brave. Prison forever changed her. She lost everything. She felt she had been living a lie with a husband she didn't really know. He was into some shady shit.

Her first victim was a very close business friend of her husbands. She knew he had some information on "the man." So that's where she started off.

***************SPOILERS BELOW****************
El learned some crazy ass shit from her cell mate in prison!!
She lured Danny (husbands friend) back to his place and acted like she wanted to give him a blow job. While teasing him with her hands and mouth she snapped his dick in half and told him to give her the information she wanted. After she got what she wanted she handed him his phone and told him to call an ambulance. Lmao
She gets a number from Danny's phone for a bar in Spain. That's where she goes. She gets a job there. The owner Rob is decent and let's her stay in the back on the couch. He's pretty shady but seems nice. She has a feeling he is not "the man" she is looking for. She continues to seek answers and gets into some trouble. I was wondering if we were ever going to meet "the man" at like 60% of the book. lol We finally do and I was like "0"!!!!

El does get her revenge and her happily ever after:-)
*******************************************************

The sex in this book sucked. You know...shaft, folds, purple head...bla bla bla:-(
But damn I liked the story so I kept reading.


Will I be reading more by this author? Maybe:-)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Just A Girl With Spirit.
1,404 reviews13.3k followers
November 3, 2020
Dark. Twisted. Gritty. Moments that made me pause, and question myself.

“When disturbed, the black widow spider may bite people or animals, but those most at risk from this spider’s bite are insects – and male black widow spiders, who may be killed and eaten after mating..”

My mind is blown!
Profile Image for Kimberly Talbot.
41 reviews4 followers
July 5, 2014
I received a complimentary copy to review.

What to say about this read?

Ok. I liked it but I didn't like it if that makes any sense. I liked that it caught me off guard a few times. Which is the same thing that I disliked. Every time that I thought something was going to happen, it did, but it was always expanded. This author had my mind every where trying to figure out this story. Eleanor wanted retribution. Her way of going about getting it was out there and full of holes. But she was going to make it work. The things that she did to a certain character had me trying to research if they actually worked. This leads to a trip and a discovery that blows her mind. This is a read that will make you think, what would I do in this situation? I liked Eleanor's character most of the time. But my fave part is the ending. Not because the book was over, but because of the huge twist. I won't give it away, but BRAVA Ms. Adams.
Profile Image for Karma Queen.
321 reviews
October 8, 2014
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Eleanor Dayton (El) has just been released from prison. She's served almost 2 years for being an accessory to crimes committed by her murdered husband, Jeremy. Prison has changed her and now revenge drives her to find her husband's killer. She finds out he was involved in illegal activities shortly before his death but she does not really grasp the extent of his involvement or understand how dangerous it might be to pursue payback.

Jeremy's friend/business associate Danny Taylor is still around so she seeks him out to try to get some answers. She wants to know who the man is and how she can contact him. El uses a few tricks she learned in prison to get a phone number from Danny. The number is for a bar in Spain called La Taberna. El heads off to Spain with little more than the clothes on her back and not much money in her pocket.

She finds the bar and Rob hires her as a waitress. Rob is the guy who runs the place but is he the man? As El gets closer to the ugly truth about her husband and his illegal activities she starts to realize that she has not thought everything through. She is also in way over her head. Did she really know her husband at all?

This story is dark and twisted. I liked it.
Profile Image for Ari Ovalle.
408 reviews48 followers
August 18, 2014
Umm...Black Widow ended very differently than I predicted it would. Yes, I really enjoyed reading this story. It's a dark romance that certainly throws you for a loop with it's big major twist. Of course, it's sexy & thrilling. And since I'm being honest, I truly did not know what it is I wanted from El. To stay and be submissive or leave and have the freedom & revenge she had fought for for so long. This was the first book from this author I have read. I thought the writing was excellent. The characters, El especially, were well developed. The plot was fascinating, given it's a dark romance. I was not expecting it to go in the direction it did. It ended with El getting her HEA. Just not with whom you think. Very twisty is all I can say. It definitely makes me want to read more from this author.
Profile Image for Lisa.
123 reviews13 followers
July 24, 2014
I had a hard time putting this one down. While it was categorized as "dark romance", I wouldn't call it a romance. It was dark, but not a romance. There was a short span early on where it felt like Orange is the New Black fan fic, but that was only for a very short portion of the book. There were also a few minor believability issues where I wondered would that have actually been able to happen, but they were minor enough that, when combined with how well written the story itself was, and how much it held my attention, it only brought my rating down one star.
Profile Image for Shannon.
187 reviews
July 10, 2014
I received an ARC of Black Widow from the author in exchange for an honest review

Wow... Just wow! I am completely intrigued by this book, as well as a bit frightened of things I didn't imagine possible (lol). So unlike what I had perceived the book to be. It was "dark & twisty", kept me hooked and had plot twists that keep you guessing! Kudos to PJ Adams, I loved this book & would definitely recommend!
Profile Image for Ronda Bearden.
354 reviews7 followers
August 7, 2014
Gifted Copy

Black Widow is a book that you have to go in to with a very open mind; it’s a very dark story. Parts did seem to drag for me but not to the point that I didn’t enjoy the book. I think Polly did a great job on keeping you entertained in the book and ever better job at keeping you guessing with the outcome of this one. I didn’t see the outcome of this book coming till the very end which is very surprising for me because I can usually guess what way the author is going to take or at least have a clue. I’m not use to this dark of a romance it was a change for once. This is not your normal romance troubled story it much darker than that, if you can handle that you will enjoy the book.

Happy Reading all!!!
Profile Image for Mary Mooney.
2,542 reviews59 followers
August 2, 2014
This is one of this stories that will pull you in and keep you there until the end. It is a dark, intriguing story that will keep you guessing. After two years in prison, Eleanor Dryton wants to find out who killed her husband and sent her to prison. Now that she is out, she has her will to live and she is ready for revenge. Can she get her revenge and find out who killed her husband? I found this to be a great story and disturbing at times. If you like a good dark read then this one is for you.
**Copy porvided by the author in exchange for my honest review**
Profile Image for AMC.
400 reviews14 followers
March 23, 2018
This is one of the books I’m not sure I liked it or not. There were things I found interesting that kept me glued till the end but at the same time there were other that irritated me a lot. There were something about the main character Jeremy I just did not like he just completely put me off. The storyline I felt had holes and not enough explanation to what exactly happened. The epilogue completely rushed and Rob’s presence and connection to El barely meaningful. As a story idea it was good but it needed more development, more details about characters, thoughts and feelings. It’s good attempt but could be much better.
Profile Image for mia.
771 reviews281 followers
October 3, 2020
I like that the girl is very independent and she had a clear goal in mind. She was determined and she made the right choices. The action scenes were a little too extreme for my liking but I like the plot twist!
Profile Image for Casia Pickering.
Author 21 books63 followers
August 15, 2017
I recieved this First Reads Goodreads Giveaway book for an honest review.

Yes, this book is considered a dark erotic romance, but I didn't see any of that. What I saw was a dark and twisted story that centered on sexual violence, both from the actions of the characters and the crimes the husband was known for. If sexual violence bothers you, this is not a book you should read. I don't know how anyone could see this as erotic, but that's one of the genres it is considered.

Now that I've finished saying that, I did actually enjoy the book. The sexual violence in the book made sense, though it was disturbing and I was cringing through it all. I found the book more about finding your freedom and a revenge story. I wouldn't say that I related to El in that she was like me, but I could understand where she was coming from.

The book is sectioned off with present time and past moments. You see what prison was like for her. You see what brought to her being arrested. You begin to want her to find vengeance. She lost her life and her husband. I'm sorry, but I'd probably be thinking the same things. Now, you may find plot holes (some people did), but I didn't care about that. It was a quick novella that was dark and delved into the twisted world of f-ed up people. I felt bad for everyone involved.

Luckily, with the ending, the book doesn't suggest that we should embrace sexual violence in our lives. Like I said before, it was a tool used to show the twisted workings of people and I felt it spread a form of awareness of what life is for some people. I wouldn't say romance or erotic at all because those would connote that I was "turned on" or had an emotional investment in the relationship of two characters. This is a story about survival and strength. It is a story about revenge. And, I really liked it. Even if it was disturbing.
Profile Image for Cassie Hess-dean.
669 reviews10 followers
January 15, 2016
Enjoyable read. Had me right from the start. Then when I figured out where it was leading, I was excited to see how it ended.
Eleanor and Jeremy have a great life together, or so she thought. One evening he comes to her and tells her he is mixed up in some really bad things and the cops are after him. He begs her to trust him, that he is going to run away and will send for her when it's safe. The cops show up at her door and she thinks they are there to question Jeremy. But they are there to tell her he has been killed in an accident and she is under arrest for being a part of his wrong doings. She ends up spending almost two years in jail. The sweet, spoiled woman that went in emerged as El, a changed woman who was out for revenge.
First on her list was Danny, a guy that Jeremy told her she could trust. She went after him to extract information and break him along the way. But when he was unwilling to give her the information she wanted, she hurt him. He gave her a number that he had, where 'the man' called him from and she tracked it. She was set on getting revenge for the loss of her husband, her happy marriage and easy life. But what she walked into was more then she ever expected.
She got a job at the bar where the calls came from. Rob hired her for a waitress position right away. But when she is found by Danny and taken to a remote home, she is beaten and drugged and told to wait for 'the man'. What she finds shocks her. She isn't sure what she has done to deserve this life. But can she go on like this or will she try and escape? Will 'the man' hurt her, sell her or keep her for himself. Does she want him? Who is he? Will she be the one to escape and find a new start? Or will 'the man' make all the decisions...
12 reviews
February 6, 2015
It's not a romance, so let's get that out the way first!

However as a revenge fueled dark story, it was perfect. The twist at the climax was unexpected (for me), but as soon as I thought the story was going to end a certain way, our heroine shifts to a different path. Nice!

Okay a small summary with trivial spoilers. I promise I won't spoil it all......

Eleanor Dryton (El for short) has just been released from prison after serving 2 years as an accessory to her late husband's underhand operations. She's determined to find the 'Man', the dude who her husband and another of his associates, Danny, reports to as she is convinced he is responsible for his death. Her first task is to find Danny and screw the info out of him, except she fractures his dick instead (she had to go to that level to pry the info out of him). The story then shifts from England to Spain where it heats up......and that's where I'll end.

Prison life has toughened El up and I love how the author shows flashbacks just to underscore how much she's changed. Yes there's sex but it's built into the plot. My only issue is it being marketed as a dark romance. There's no romance in this book. But its damn good regardless.
Profile Image for Debbie.
2,699 reviews49 followers
March 23, 2015
Eleanor was happy with the life she lived and had everything she wanted. Or so she thought. One night Jeremy, her husband comes home and tells her he's in trouble. He explains that he's made money by breaking the law, including human trafficking. She agrees to help hide him - until the police show up, inform her Jeremy died in a car accident and then arrest her for helping him. She spends over a year in prison and it wasn't an easy time. Now she's out and she plans on finding the man responsible for killing Jeremy and getting revenge. Eleanor ends up in a bar working for Rob and soon discovers she shouldn't have been so quick to go looking for revenge against the people Jeremy worked for who had him killed. It's dangerous and not what she thought she'd find.

I liked El, but honestly I couldn't understand why she wanted revenge in the first place. Jeremy lied to her about who he was and what he did for a living. But in order for this story to work, it had to happen. There are surprises and turns you don't see coming. But El does get a happy ending.
945 reviews7 followers
January 26, 2016
definitely dark, but i'm not so sure about the romance or suspense.

Once i start reading a book, I almost always finish it. But this was almost an exception to that.

Between jumping back and forth between the past and present and the plot jumping between revenge and misguided drugged subservience, the author lost me. There were some notable high points, but not enough overall for me to enjoy this one as much as i would have liked.



i received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Leslie.
229 reviews
December 18, 2014
Loved it! This book is full of interesting characters and I loved the storyline. This book will keep your interest until you've read the entire book without realizing it! Put in prison for sins of her dead husband, Eleanor Dryton wants revenge on the person responsible for killing her husband. Thanks to the many twists and turns of PJ Adams mind, Elanor gets more than what she bargained for!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Wanda.
503 reviews
August 20, 2014
It is a very dark story..

It is a very dark story..

I wasn't sure what I had expected; I almost couldn't finish this book. But I am very glad I did. I approve of El's decisions. Difficult decisions, given her circumstances...but ultimately the best she could have made.
Profile Image for Doris.
1,068 reviews
March 12, 2017
Habe auf Dark Erotica a la "Tears of Tess" gehofft, weil mir gerade danach war, wurde aber leider enttäuscht.

Mir haben weder die Charaktere noch die Geschichte zugesagt. Die Sexszenen waren kein bisschen erotisch, sondern einfach meww und auch die große Enthüllung, wer denn "The Man" jetzt ist, war keinesfalls überraschend. Leider nichts für mich.
Profile Image for Maureen Mckenzie.
198 reviews16 followers
August 8, 2014
When I fell in love with the cover and title, I think I was expecting a murderous woman on a rampage of husbands, lol. I enjoyed El's story and her journey.
Profile Image for Maria.
385 reviews
August 16, 2014
3.5. Good story but I thought it would be different. I liked the characters. Lots of twists and turns.
Profile Image for Leisa Prater.
1,513 reviews20 followers
August 18, 2014
I loved how strong El became...... Jeremy got what he deserved.....I hope she has found her HEA!!!!
Profile Image for Gayle.
2 reviews
March 23, 2015
Black Widow a disappointment.

Once I start book I do finish. Black Widow,not my kind of reading . I would not recommend Sorry PJ.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

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