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Alpha #2
Dark Alpha
This full length novel is the second story in USA Today Bestselling author Carole Mortimer’s HOT new ALPHA series. Sizzling contemporary romance with an added dash of danger.
Stories of dark and compelling ALPHA men, who are used to taking what they want when they want it, and the strong and determined women who have no intention of being taken. Unless it’s on their own terms...
Lucien Wynter made a decision 15 years ago to distance himself from his violent past. He has spent those intervening years quietly and ruthlessly building his own business empire and amassing his own private fortune, while at the same time remaining aloof from all emotional entanglements. If he physically wants a woman, then he takes one. Beautiful sensuous women, who never mean anything more to him than that fleeting physical release.
Until Nicky McKenzie...Beautiful. Fiery. Elusive Nicky McKenzie.
Lucien had never calculated on meeting and desiring a woman like Nicky McKenzie. The woman he now wants in his bed, no holds barred. The woman he can’t seem to forget. But also, he discovers too late, the one woman capable of bringing his violent past crashing down about his ears...
Nicky McKenzie just wants to live her life in quiet obscurity. Unnoticed. Invisible. And for five years she had succeeded in doing exactly that.
Until Lucien Wynter...Cold. Compelling. Ruthless Lucien Wynter.
Was it chance the two of them had met, or just the cruelty of fate? Whichever it was, the desire between Lucien and Nicky is instant. Explosive. Unforgettable. A desire that becomes as necessary to both of them as breathing, as they indulge and lose themselves in each and every one of their desires for each other.
But both of them are hiding secrets. Secrets that, once told, could destroy each other.
Author’s Note: The novellas and full-length novels in the ALPHA series have sexier situations and more adult language that my other books.
Stories of dark and compelling ALPHA men, who are used to taking what they want when they want it, and the strong and determined women who have no intention of being taken. Unless it’s on their own terms...
Lucien Wynter made a decision 15 years ago to distance himself from his violent past. He has spent those intervening years quietly and ruthlessly building his own business empire and amassing his own private fortune, while at the same time remaining aloof from all emotional entanglements. If he physically wants a woman, then he takes one. Beautiful sensuous women, who never mean anything more to him than that fleeting physical release.
Until Nicky McKenzie...Beautiful. Fiery. Elusive Nicky McKenzie.
Lucien had never calculated on meeting and desiring a woman like Nicky McKenzie. The woman he now wants in his bed, no holds barred. The woman he can’t seem to forget. But also, he discovers too late, the one woman capable of bringing his violent past crashing down about his ears...
Nicky McKenzie just wants to live her life in quiet obscurity. Unnoticed. Invisible. And for five years she had succeeded in doing exactly that.
Until Lucien Wynter...Cold. Compelling. Ruthless Lucien Wynter.
Was it chance the two of them had met, or just the cruelty of fate? Whichever it was, the desire between Lucien and Nicky is instant. Explosive. Unforgettable. A desire that becomes as necessary to both of them as breathing, as they indulge and lose themselves in each and every one of their desires for each other.
But both of them are hiding secrets. Secrets that, once told, could destroy each other.
Author’s Note: The novellas and full-length novels in the ALPHA series have sexier situations and more adult language that my other books.
ebook
First published January 17, 2015
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138 people want to read
About the author
Carole Mortimer
1,296 books907 followersI have written almost 250 romance novels in contemporary and Regency.
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 8, 2017
(Review in Swedish)
Handling: En gnista uppstår mellan den vackra Nicky McKenzie och den rike arroganta affärsmannen Lucien Wynter när deras blickar möts,och fördjupas i en beroendeframkallande passion ingen av de kan ignorera.
Och Lucien vill ha henne mer än han någonsin velat ha någon annan.Men han är en man som har svurit att aldrig tappa kontrollen,och inte låta sig själv kontrolleras.
Men innan han vet ordet av,har han redan förälskat sig i henne.
Omdöme:Den här boken blev bara bättre ju längre jag läste,och jag totalt bara älskar den nu.Som man ser på titeln är detta en riktig Alpha-romance-med en uppkäftig hjältinna...och jag bara älskar det.Huvudkaraktärerna från första boken i serien nämns också i den här boken,vet inte om jag ska läsa deras bok efteråt...Men den här boken stal andan ur mig.Jag älskar känslorna som uppstår,angstyn,och hur roligt det är varje gång de bråkar (skrattar ihjäl mig) och när deras mörka förflutna väl kommer förbi de,och de får reda på varandras mörkaste hemligheter...den scenen var den mest intressanta för mig.Den innehåll sådana intensiva känslor att jag nästan fick gåshud på armarna.Jag älskar främst (som vanligt) Lucien,eftersom han är vad jag älskar i en Alpha-karaktär.Iskall med sin machoaktighet,stark som fan,och älskar en så passionerat att den kärleken kan förgöra...
För er som älskar romantik lika mycket som jag "blink".
Handling: En gnista uppstår mellan den vackra Nicky McKenzie och den rike arroganta affärsmannen Lucien Wynter när deras blickar möts,och fördjupas i en beroendeframkallande passion ingen av de kan ignorera.
Och Lucien vill ha henne mer än han någonsin velat ha någon annan.Men han är en man som har svurit att aldrig tappa kontrollen,och inte låta sig själv kontrolleras.
Men innan han vet ordet av,har han redan förälskat sig i henne.
Omdöme:Den här boken blev bara bättre ju längre jag läste,och jag totalt bara älskar den nu.Som man ser på titeln är detta en riktig Alpha-romance-med en uppkäftig hjältinna...och jag bara älskar det.Huvudkaraktärerna från första boken i serien nämns också i den här boken,vet inte om jag ska läsa deras bok efteråt...Men den här boken stal andan ur mig.Jag älskar känslorna som uppstår,angstyn,och hur roligt det är varje gång de bråkar (skrattar ihjäl mig) och när deras mörka förflutna väl kommer förbi de,och de får reda på varandras mörkaste hemligheter...den scenen var den mest intressanta för mig.Den innehåll sådana intensiva känslor att jag nästan fick gåshud på armarna.Jag älskar främst (som vanligt) Lucien,eftersom han är vad jag älskar i en Alpha-karaktär.Iskall med sin machoaktighet,stark som fan,och älskar en så passionerat att den kärleken kan förgöra...
För er som älskar romantik lika mycket som jag "blink".
January 7, 2015
Lucien Wynter
Lucien Wynter is sex on legs, the perfect example of what makes a sensible woman lose all her inhibitions! But he's dangerous and therefore definitely not the kind of man any sensible woman wants or needs to get involved with. Anyone and everyone who gets in contact with him is always at risk.
And it's for that very reason he has been distancing himself from his violent past for the last 15 years. He has built his own honest business empire and has amassed his own private fortune, but he always makes sure to never get emotionally entangled. Like any other man he still has needs and when he wants a woman in his bed, he takes her, to the heights of heaven and then tosses her out the door !
It;s a physical release nothing more, until the beautiful, fiery and elusive Nicky McKenzie steps into his world. He wants her and he will have her, no holds barred. But as the saying goes, " Every man has his weakness", and soon Lucien discovers that Nicky is the one woman he can't forget, if only she wasn't the one woman capable of bringing his violent past to a earth shattering crash. Does he protect the woman he's come to love or does he protect his past?
Nicky McKensie
Nicky McKensie has to under all circumstances stay unnoticed, hidden from the world it's best for everyone involved. And for the last five years she has managed to do it perfectly. Then she meets Lucien Wynter , cold, heartless, all about use and abuse , rock my world then send me falling from a cliff Lucien , and Nicky loses touch with reality and forgets what she's been running from. Meeting Lucien is either a cruel twist of fate or just life's way of letting her know there's something else she wants but can't have. She wants him every bit as bad as he wants her , and a girl is allowed to indulge and then get the heck out, it's as easy as the multiple orgasms he guarantees she will experience in his arms. But soon Nicky knows she's in too deep, she wants to protect this man against the dangers he's hiding from, but does she offer up her own freedom in order to protect he man she has come to love or get out while she still can?
I have long been a fan of this author's books, of course her other reads are wonderful but not anywhere near as hot as this read. I am taking dirty talk like you've never read before, sex that sets the pages on fire and a mystery with so much dark reality it will leave you in awe of this author's amazing writing skills. In this read the author has proven she can go from sweet and sexy to full blown rock my world in mere seconds.
Both the main characters were simply put, brilliant ! The author let me into their minds with stunning clarity, and created so many emotions pouring from my soul , I cried , I laughed, I felt the fear,m anger, hurt, betrayal and afterwards I was a big old mess of bubble walking around with the various emotions still wreaking havoc on my senses.
I adored Lucien, yes he's a cold, unfeeling , heartless bastard, but with good reason, and it's that very reason , protective instinct, that made me fall for him harder than I have ever fallen for any of this author's characters. And if I had to be Nicky I for darn sure would have also lost all train of thought should Lucien have appeared in front of me. He was written with such intensity that he simply cannot be ignored. I have come across some hero's in reads that have it all happening but there is not really anything there that draws me to them and at the end of the day it's just a nice hero with some dark tendencies and that's where it ends. Not Lucien, he was all that I wanted and more!
Nicky was a really fabulous character, always trying to push for that ultimate freedom , we regular people take for granted. I admired her determination most of all. I don't think just any author can take a running away from the past and danger heroine and let her determination shine through with utter perfection, the way this author did. It was marvelous and so , so , so thrilling! I adored how the author let her shift from running from danger to running right at it , all in the name of love.
I am taking away a message of life is full of wonder but also danger lurking around every corner. When danger comes knocking it is only natural that you will want to run as fast as you can, but always running will only cause danger to always hunt you. There comes a time to run and a time to stand your ground and fight back even if it causes you to lose it all, in the end your courage is what will set you apart from the rest.
I recommend this read for all fans of action packed, adventure filled romantic suspense reads. Passionate off the charts sex, a mystery better than Sherlock Holmes ever faced and a journey of romance overcoming the dangers of the past . A thrilling , dangerous romance Carole bring us more!
5/5 star review
" He's hot, sexy ,thrilling dark and dangerous, she's meant to run, right? "
** Note: If you you prefer your reads with clean language, non too sexy situations and a story more on the down low side of ( sweet with just a little spice) romance this is not the read for you. Instead pick up one of this author's fabulous Harlequin Presents books.
Lucien Wynter is sex on legs, the perfect example of what makes a sensible woman lose all her inhibitions! But he's dangerous and therefore definitely not the kind of man any sensible woman wants or needs to get involved with. Anyone and everyone who gets in contact with him is always at risk.
And it's for that very reason he has been distancing himself from his violent past for the last 15 years. He has built his own honest business empire and has amassed his own private fortune, but he always makes sure to never get emotionally entangled. Like any other man he still has needs and when he wants a woman in his bed, he takes her, to the heights of heaven and then tosses her out the door !
It;s a physical release nothing more, until the beautiful, fiery and elusive Nicky McKenzie steps into his world. He wants her and he will have her, no holds barred. But as the saying goes, " Every man has his weakness", and soon Lucien discovers that Nicky is the one woman he can't forget, if only she wasn't the one woman capable of bringing his violent past to a earth shattering crash. Does he protect the woman he's come to love or does he protect his past?
Nicky McKensie
Nicky McKensie has to under all circumstances stay unnoticed, hidden from the world it's best for everyone involved. And for the last five years she has managed to do it perfectly. Then she meets Lucien Wynter , cold, heartless, all about use and abuse , rock my world then send me falling from a cliff Lucien , and Nicky loses touch with reality and forgets what she's been running from. Meeting Lucien is either a cruel twist of fate or just life's way of letting her know there's something else she wants but can't have. She wants him every bit as bad as he wants her , and a girl is allowed to indulge and then get the heck out, it's as easy as the multiple orgasms he guarantees she will experience in his arms. But soon Nicky knows she's in too deep, she wants to protect this man against the dangers he's hiding from, but does she offer up her own freedom in order to protect he man she has come to love or get out while she still can?
I have long been a fan of this author's books, of course her other reads are wonderful but not anywhere near as hot as this read. I am taking dirty talk like you've never read before, sex that sets the pages on fire and a mystery with so much dark reality it will leave you in awe of this author's amazing writing skills. In this read the author has proven she can go from sweet and sexy to full blown rock my world in mere seconds.
Both the main characters were simply put, brilliant ! The author let me into their minds with stunning clarity, and created so many emotions pouring from my soul , I cried , I laughed, I felt the fear,m anger, hurt, betrayal and afterwards I was a big old mess of bubble walking around with the various emotions still wreaking havoc on my senses.
I adored Lucien, yes he's a cold, unfeeling , heartless bastard, but with good reason, and it's that very reason , protective instinct, that made me fall for him harder than I have ever fallen for any of this author's characters. And if I had to be Nicky I for darn sure would have also lost all train of thought should Lucien have appeared in front of me. He was written with such intensity that he simply cannot be ignored. I have come across some hero's in reads that have it all happening but there is not really anything there that draws me to them and at the end of the day it's just a nice hero with some dark tendencies and that's where it ends. Not Lucien, he was all that I wanted and more!
Nicky was a really fabulous character, always trying to push for that ultimate freedom , we regular people take for granted. I admired her determination most of all. I don't think just any author can take a running away from the past and danger heroine and let her determination shine through with utter perfection, the way this author did. It was marvelous and so , so , so thrilling! I adored how the author let her shift from running from danger to running right at it , all in the name of love.
I am taking away a message of life is full of wonder but also danger lurking around every corner. When danger comes knocking it is only natural that you will want to run as fast as you can, but always running will only cause danger to always hunt you. There comes a time to run and a time to stand your ground and fight back even if it causes you to lose it all, in the end your courage is what will set you apart from the rest.
I recommend this read for all fans of action packed, adventure filled romantic suspense reads. Passionate off the charts sex, a mystery better than Sherlock Holmes ever faced and a journey of romance overcoming the dangers of the past . A thrilling , dangerous romance Carole bring us more!
5/5 star review
" He's hot, sexy ,thrilling dark and dangerous, she's meant to run, right? "
** Note: If you you prefer your reads with clean language, non too sexy situations and a story more on the down low side of ( sweet with just a little spice) romance this is not the read for you. Instead pick up one of this author's fabulous Harlequin Presents books.
October 11, 2015
I absolutely loved this story!
After her father is called by the mob for stealing money. Nicky is forced to change her and her brothers name and flee London. She returns years later and takes up two jobs to support her brother and herself as she finishes her last year in college.
It is at the coffee shop that she first sees Lucien. A hot, business man.
Lucien is a billionaire, with hidden secrets of his own. When he sees Nicky for the first time he is instantly attracted to her and his determined to get her in bed, no matter what it takes. But Nicky is a strong and stubborn women and Lucien finds the more he demands of her the more she fights him. But surprisingly, this only deepens his need for her. But is is love that they feel or is it list? And will they be able to live with the hidden secrets they both have or will the secrets tear them apart?
After her father is called by the mob for stealing money. Nicky is forced to change her and her brothers name and flee London. She returns years later and takes up two jobs to support her brother and herself as she finishes her last year in college.
It is at the coffee shop that she first sees Lucien. A hot, business man.
Lucien is a billionaire, with hidden secrets of his own. When he sees Nicky for the first time he is instantly attracted to her and his determined to get her in bed, no matter what it takes. But Nicky is a strong and stubborn women and Lucien finds the more he demands of her the more she fights him. But surprisingly, this only deepens his need for her. But is is love that they feel or is it list? And will they be able to live with the hidden secrets they both have or will the secrets tear them apart?
July 21, 2020
4.5 🌟. Masceraid
What happens when 2 people change their names in order to stay hidden? They meet, learn to trust and....... you must read to see how they have a happy ever after. Enjoy steamy intimacy scenes, with no cheating or cliffhanger. Overall quality of writing was really good. Ms. Mortimer writes a moving story with well rounded characters and storyline. Enjoy 🤓
What happens when 2 people change their names in order to stay hidden? They meet, learn to trust and....... you must read to see how they have a happy ever after. Enjoy steamy intimacy scenes, with no cheating or cliffhanger. Overall quality of writing was really good. Ms. Mortimer writes a moving story with well rounded characters and storyline. Enjoy 🤓
May 13, 2017
Lucien Wynter made a decision 15 years ago to distance himself from his violent past. Nicky McKenzie just wants to live her life in quiet obscurity. Unnoticed. Invisible. And for five years she had succeeded in doing exactly that.
April 20, 2018
Great book
I,m so glad I found this author...Carol Mortimer....intestine story line and she leads you on a love story with a lot of hidden secrets,
Luciano and Nikki story held me on every page...
I,m so glad I found this author...Carol Mortimer....intestine story line and she leads you on a love story with a lot of hidden secrets,
Luciano and Nikki story held me on every page...
March 2, 2019
Alpha Yum
Love Nickys sexy feistiness, mystery and her passion not to surrender to her deep attraction but there's an issue if battling against the compellingly dark, persuasively seductive hotness of Lucien Winter...alpha manic!
Love Nickys sexy feistiness, mystery and her passion not to surrender to her deep attraction but there's an issue if battling against the compellingly dark, persuasively seductive hotness of Lucien Winter...alpha manic!
October 11, 2020
Good read
I seem to have read the Alpha series in the wrong order but that isn't an issue although the character's are all intertwined . Classic Carole Mortimer although this one not quite as sexually graphic as some of her books
I seem to have read the Alpha series in the wrong order but that isn't an issue although the character's are all intertwined . Classic Carole Mortimer although this one not quite as sexually graphic as some of her books
August 30, 2021
I don't read that much of present day books, but I'm into this series. This was a nice change. I really enjoyed this entertaining story with a good twist at the end too.
Definitely loved this story. 5☆
Definitely loved this story. 5☆
March 11, 2023
Couldn’t put it down
This was by far one of Carole Mortimer’s best books! The characters were great and the twists and turns of the story kept me riveted to see what was going to happen next. Loved it!
This was by far one of Carole Mortimer’s best books! The characters were great and the twists and turns of the story kept me riveted to see what was going to happen next. Loved it!
January 22, 2020
Read these awhile ago. Comments and review to follow.
You can find me over on Facebook at My Open Book at the Dragonfly. Come over and say hello.
You can find me over on Facebook at My Open Book at the Dragonfly. Come over and say hello.
December 15, 2015
Much Better Than the First Book
THE STORY: Nicky McKenzie is a business student and immediately notices a sexy man who enters the college cafe. While she is staring at him, her friend suggests that Nicky solve her money problems by becoming mistress to a rich man. Nicky is mortified when she realizes sexy man overheard and even more so when she realizes that the sexy man is Lucian Wynter who is speaking as a guest lecturer in one of her classes. A very sexy encounter in a restaurant ends their association until Nicky comes looking for a job eight months later. While Lucian is interested in acquiring Nicky as a mistress, she has deep secrets she is hiding that are dangerous to herself and anyone around her.
OPINION: I really enjoyed this book. Lucian was enough of a jerk to keep me interested, but not too much to annoy me. There was a definite Fifty Shades of Grey vibe with the reclusive rich guy and the younger, less experienced woman thing, but there was no kinky sex and Nicky is not the total innocent and has secrets of her own. I liked how Nicky stood up to this man who is used to people doing exactly what he wants and how Lucian knows he should resist her but is unable to do so. There is also a variety of secondary characters that might have interesting stories themselves. After the first book in the series, I wasn't sure how exciting the series would be, but this one makes me anxious for the next book in the series.
WORTH MENTIONING: I'm really interested in Lucian's cousin Dair who is the hero of book three of the series.
FINAL DECISION: I enjoyed this book, it has a little bit of a Fifty Shades feel without the kinky sex.
CONNECTED BOOKS: This is the second book in the ALPHA series. This book can be read completely independent of the first book without missing anything.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4.25 stars.
THE STORY: Nicky McKenzie is a business student and immediately notices a sexy man who enters the college cafe. While she is staring at him, her friend suggests that Nicky solve her money problems by becoming mistress to a rich man. Nicky is mortified when she realizes sexy man overheard and even more so when she realizes that the sexy man is Lucian Wynter who is speaking as a guest lecturer in one of her classes. A very sexy encounter in a restaurant ends their association until Nicky comes looking for a job eight months later. While Lucian is interested in acquiring Nicky as a mistress, she has deep secrets she is hiding that are dangerous to herself and anyone around her.
OPINION: I really enjoyed this book. Lucian was enough of a jerk to keep me interested, but not too much to annoy me. There was a definite Fifty Shades of Grey vibe with the reclusive rich guy and the younger, less experienced woman thing, but there was no kinky sex and Nicky is not the total innocent and has secrets of her own. I liked how Nicky stood up to this man who is used to people doing exactly what he wants and how Lucian knows he should resist her but is unable to do so. There is also a variety of secondary characters that might have interesting stories themselves. After the first book in the series, I wasn't sure how exciting the series would be, but this one makes me anxious for the next book in the series.
WORTH MENTIONING: I'm really interested in Lucian's cousin Dair who is the hero of book three of the series.
FINAL DECISION: I enjoyed this book, it has a little bit of a Fifty Shades feel without the kinky sex.
CONNECTED BOOKS: This is the second book in the ALPHA series. This book can be read completely independent of the first book without missing anything.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4.25 stars.
February 27, 2016
Lucien meets Nicky at the University Canteen and overhears the girlish talks between her friend and herself . Nicky has financials problems and is working hard to finish her degree . Afterwards the lecture he makes his seductive approach . Nicky is totally shocked by his brutal seduction and runs away. Later Nicky calls upon him as he had promised her a job . However he is still bossy and she finds him attractive . The raw attraction becomes stronger and Lucien wants her forever . He realizes that his feelings are developing into obsessive behavior . He is willing to forgo his privacy and includes Nicky in his life . Nicky discovers the truth about Lucien and she is shocked but Lucien is not willing to sacrifice his newly found partner and now loves her . The author style is something to be reckoned . The steamy scenes and the witty heroine adds more spice to the love story . Nicky gives Lucien a hard time and is the right match for him.
April 27, 2015
The H was a supreme jerk. The h was an absolute embarrassment. She had no problem sleeping the H even though he just hired her to work for his company. There was no description of her actually going to work, instead once she is hired, the H comes onto her and she gives in. There was no real chemistry or relationship btw them either. And worst of all, there is a slutty BF. I HATE that this kind of character keeps being written into stories. Don't bother with this one.
April 9, 2016
Oh I do love these alpha males! Lucien is tall, dark. handsome, rich - everything smart, strong, independent Nicky needs. But the two of them are equally unable to trust, and both are hiding serious secrets... Their love story is a battle of wits, hearts, and self-protective habits, and I enjoyed every skirmish. This book is second in a series, but it works perfectly as a stand-alone. In fact, it works perfectly, period.
February 1, 2015
DARK ALPHA by Carole Mortimer sucks you in from page one! Be warned, it is far steamier a read when compared to this author’s Modern/Presents books. Lucien is the ‘perfect’ alpha and Nicky is gorgeous! Reeking of intense drama, both in and out the bedroom, this book is a MUST-READ if you are looking for a long, spicy read.
Steamy. Sizzling. Delicious.
Highly Recommended.
Steamy. Sizzling. Delicious.
Highly Recommended.
January 7, 2017
While I have enjoyed this author for some time, this has wonderful reading elements that make her such an established 'Go To' romance writer.
I did find in however some parts cliche and forced as well as echos of another bestselling novel.
I did find in however some parts cliche and forced as well as echos of another bestselling novel.
January 28, 2015
I'm a sucker for CM's heroes. 4.5 for this one for me. Uber possessive hero.
June 23, 2016
Darkness comes light
I liked how the author recaps events after a turning point. I didn't see the Lucien Jack relationship coming. Great sex depicted between Nicky and Lucien.
I liked how the author recaps events after a turning point. I didn't see the Lucien Jack relationship coming. Great sex depicted between Nicky and Lucien.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews