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Tales from the Dark Side #1
Insidious
Dark desires…Deadly secrets…Devious deceptions…Nothing is exactly as it seems in INSIDIOUS, the new erotic thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Aleatha Romig.
When a powerful man is willing to risk everything for his own satisfaction, only one woman can beat him at his own game: his wife. Or so she thinks…
“Let’s start with you calling me Stewart. Formalities seem unnecessary.”
Stewart Harrington is rich, gorgeous, and one of the most powerful men in Miami. He always gets what he wants. Anything is available to him for the right price.
Even me.
Being the wife of a mogul comes with all the perks, but being Mrs. Stewart Harrington comes with a few special requirements. I’ve learned to keep a part of myself locked away as my husband watches me submit to his needs. But the more he demands of me, the more beguiled he becomes and that’s to my advantage. So I keep fulfilling his fantasies and following his rules because he doesn’t know that what he’s playing is really my game. And winning is everything, right?
Insidious is a stand-alone novel and the first Tales from the Dark Side title. Due to the dark and explicit nature of this book, it is recommended for mature audiences only.
When a powerful man is willing to risk everything for his own satisfaction, only one woman can beat him at his own game: his wife. Or so she thinks…
“Let’s start with you calling me Stewart. Formalities seem unnecessary.”
Stewart Harrington is rich, gorgeous, and one of the most powerful men in Miami. He always gets what he wants. Anything is available to him for the right price.
Even me.
Being the wife of a mogul comes with all the perks, but being Mrs. Stewart Harrington comes with a few special requirements. I’ve learned to keep a part of myself locked away as my husband watches me submit to his needs. But the more he demands of me, the more beguiled he becomes and that’s to my advantage. So I keep fulfilling his fantasies and following his rules because he doesn’t know that what he’s playing is really my game. And winning is everything, right?
Insidious is a stand-alone novel and the first Tales from the Dark Side title. Due to the dark and explicit nature of this book, it is recommended for mature audiences only.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2014
463 people are currently reading
7507 people want to read
About the author
Aleatha Romig
122 books13k followersAleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis, USA. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she's not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time with her friends and family, including her beloved grandchildren.
Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than a million e-readers. Her next series, INFIDELITY (not about cheating) hit New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best-seller lists. Aleatha has since released over fifty novels in multiple genres: dark romance, romantic suspense, thriller, and romantic comedy. She went back to her edge of your seat romantic suspense thrillers with her WEB SERIES trilogies, Devil’s Duet, Kingdom Come, and most recently with her suspense series, the Sin series, ready to binge.
The titles keep coming. Be sure to check out her website to stay up to date.
Aleatha is represented by Danielle Sanchez of SBR Media and PR with Wildfire Marketing.
Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than a million e-readers. Her next series, INFIDELITY (not about cheating) hit New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best-seller lists. Aleatha has since released over fifty novels in multiple genres: dark romance, romantic suspense, thriller, and romantic comedy. She went back to her edge of your seat romantic suspense thrillers with her WEB SERIES trilogies, Devil’s Duet, Kingdom Come, and most recently with her suspense series, the Sin series, ready to binge.
The titles keep coming. Be sure to check out her website to stay up to date.
Aleatha is represented by Danielle Sanchez of SBR Media and PR with Wildfire Marketing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 952 reviews
September 18, 2017
Wow! There is nothing I can say that will do this book justice. It is dark, mysterious and full of twists and turns! It kept me guessing right up until the end...OK, I'm still guessing! I think I know...but I don't feel 100% confident in what I think I know, you know? Whose hair is in the damn drain??? I've got to know! You're laughing at me now, but you'll see! This book is a total mindfuck and I loved every minute of it!
Nobody weaves a sordid, twisted tale like Ms. Romig does! I have been looking forward to this release since the moment I saw she was writing another book. She is definitely an author that gets an automatic one-click buy every time. I don't need to read the blurb. I know whatever she writes will blow me away! I swear, this lady could write technical instruction manuals and I bet they'd be so freaking captivating that I'd be unable to put them down!
Coerced into a marriage with an affluent older stranger to settle her stepfather's gambling debts and to secure her sibling's future, Victoria finds that the terms of her contract with her husband require her to submit to his sexual demands, which are far outside of her comfort zone. Soon she finds herself being blindfolded and routinely used by Stewart's friends for their sexual kinks, while he directs her actions and looks on for his pleasure, demanding his release afterwards. Unable to see the men that he shares her with, every social gathering and interaction leaves her uneasy and shamed. Victoria is trapped in a perpetual hell, bound to a man that she despises. When Stewart is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she has hope that she'll soon be able to escape her life of sexual servitude.
However, things have never come to her without a fight and this will be no different. Motives and deceit seems to be everywhere. Some very powerful and entitled men have no intention of giving her up. As secrets come to light, she is left questioning whether or not anyone can be trusted.
Victoria is a strong character and grows more powerful with each passing day. She had reached her breaking point, finally! About halfway through, she becomes a total badass. The second half of the book is filled with mystery and suspense.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat, start to finish. My head is still spinning, hours later. I loved this story!
Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
Nobody weaves a sordid, twisted tale like Ms. Romig does! I have been looking forward to this release since the moment I saw she was writing another book. She is definitely an author that gets an automatic one-click buy every time. I don't need to read the blurb. I know whatever she writes will blow me away! I swear, this lady could write technical instruction manuals and I bet they'd be so freaking captivating that I'd be unable to put them down!
Coerced into a marriage with an affluent older stranger to settle her stepfather's gambling debts and to secure her sibling's future, Victoria finds that the terms of her contract with her husband require her to submit to his sexual demands, which are far outside of her comfort zone. Soon she finds herself being blindfolded and routinely used by Stewart's friends for their sexual kinks, while he directs her actions and looks on for his pleasure, demanding his release afterwards. Unable to see the men that he shares her with, every social gathering and interaction leaves her uneasy and shamed. Victoria is trapped in a perpetual hell, bound to a man that she despises. When Stewart is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she has hope that she'll soon be able to escape her life of sexual servitude.
However, things have never come to her without a fight and this will be no different. Motives and deceit seems to be everywhere. Some very powerful and entitled men have no intention of giving her up. As secrets come to light, she is left questioning whether or not anyone can be trusted.
Victoria is a strong character and grows more powerful with each passing day. She had reached her breaking point, finally! About halfway through, she becomes a total badass. The second half of the book is filled with mystery and suspense.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat, start to finish. My head is still spinning, hours later. I loved this story!
Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
August 10, 2017
5***Corrupting ~ Twisted & Vengeful ~ Stars
Genre: Erotic thriller
Type: Book 1 of Tales From The Dark Side standalone
POV: First person - female
INSIDIOUS is the story of Victoria Conway at only eighteen years of age she was forced to make a decision that would either make her or break her. She was young and naive who gets caught up in a horrible situation. It was truly a really a bad situation to be in and I felt horrible for her to an extent.
Stewart Harrington; at forty years of age, rich and with power offered Victoria or "Tori" a way out to save her family of a big mess they have gotten into. He was handsome for his age and millionaire which was very appealing. He made Victoria the offer of a lifetime. But as usual nothing good comes without a price.
Victoria grew up in a horrible family environment and her sister was who was keeping her together and alive. However nothing is like it seems. So many secrets unravel on this story. I was on the edge of my seat literally couldn't stop reading this book. I was engorged on this story. It was all fills of crazies I was not expecting but I couldn't seem to stop wanting to know how all this was going to play out.
She accepts Mr. Harrington's offer and instantly becomes the woman everyone wants to be however ten years of misery made her cold and the moment she thinks she is finally free she finds herself with more surprises.
Brody works for at the firm as a legal representative for her husband; she finds an allied in him. Oh boy what can I say I fell hard for him even though at some point in this book I just couldn't trust anyone. I was so desperate for answers I was going mad. He was Victoria support and it was just hard not to love him.
Then we get to know Travis much close and personal who worked for Steward for many years. Let's just say I was so conflicted reading this book because I truly enjoy all these characters. I loved him as well; he was strong and straight forward didn't hold back and didn't lie. I still couldn't trust him but I liked him.
Everything about this book was amazing, the suspense, the thrill, and the erotic scenes had me all hot and bothered in so many ways I can't hardly explained. And after reading so many reviews I was what else could possibly shock me? I mean everything Victoria went through was shocking, horrible, and in a way a bit traumatized. I admire her strength and loved her character. But the ending was just genius absolutely unexpected I was in shocked. It leaves the readers with an open window to make up their own ending. This was my very first book by this author and I can assure you it will not be my last.
"AUDIO COPY KINDLY PROVIDED TO ME BY PUBLISHER, IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW."
Book Series Order:
AMAZON PURCHASE LINK
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
Genre: Erotic thriller
Type: Book 1 of Tales From The Dark Side standalone
POV: First person - female
INSIDIOUS is the story of Victoria Conway at only eighteen years of age she was forced to make a decision that would either make her or break her. She was young and naive who gets caught up in a horrible situation. It was truly a really a bad situation to be in and I felt horrible for her to an extent.
Stewart Harrington; at forty years of age, rich and with power offered Victoria or "Tori" a way out to save her family of a big mess they have gotten into. He was handsome for his age and millionaire which was very appealing. He made Victoria the offer of a lifetime. But as usual nothing good comes without a price.
Victoria grew up in a horrible family environment and her sister was who was keeping her together and alive. However nothing is like it seems. So many secrets unravel on this story. I was on the edge of my seat literally couldn't stop reading this book. I was engorged on this story. It was all fills of crazies I was not expecting but I couldn't seem to stop wanting to know how all this was going to play out.
She accepts Mr. Harrington's offer and instantly becomes the woman everyone wants to be however ten years of misery made her cold and the moment she thinks she is finally free she finds herself with more surprises.
"My days as someone's whore were over."Victoria
Brody works for at the firm as a legal representative for her husband; she finds an allied in him. Oh boy what can I say I fell hard for him even though at some point in this book I just couldn't trust anyone. I was so desperate for answers I was going mad. He was Victoria support and it was just hard not to love him.
Then we get to know Travis much close and personal who worked for Steward for many years. Let's just say I was so conflicted reading this book because I truly enjoy all these characters. I loved him as well; he was strong and straight forward didn't hold back and didn't lie. I still couldn't trust him but I liked him.
Everything about this book was amazing, the suspense, the thrill, and the erotic scenes had me all hot and bothered in so many ways I can't hardly explained. And after reading so many reviews I was what else could possibly shock me? I mean everything Victoria went through was shocking, horrible, and in a way a bit traumatized. I admire her strength and loved her character. But the ending was just genius absolutely unexpected I was in shocked. It leaves the readers with an open window to make up their own ending. This was my very first book by this author and I can assure you it will not be my last.
"With each minute, the blackness inside of me grew and illuminated my cold, dead heart." Victoria
"AUDIO COPY KINDLY PROVIDED TO ME BY PUBLISHER, IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW."
Book Series Order:
AMAZON PURCHASE LINK
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
October 22, 2014
3.5 stars!
It’s been a while since I’ve read an Aleatha Romig book as I wanted to read something new and fresh from her that didn’t ride out on the coattails of the Consequences series. Although I didn’t fully love Insidious it is still a very worthy read and is a book that constantly kept me on my toes and had my head spinning with each new reveal and twist thrown at me. My biggest complaint is how things were so hastily wrapped up in the end but it didn’t annoy me to the point where it ruined the rest of my enjoyable reading experience.
There’s not much I can say plot-wise without spoiling the book. This author certainly loves her contracts and it’s through a contract that the female protagonist Victoria Conway signs away her life to the much older, wealthy, and charismatic Stewart Harrington to settle financial debts. Doe-eyed and innocent, Victoria has no clue that the contract she signs also enslaves her in a sexual role she must participate in or risk a cascade of financial setbacks that could hurt her family.
And so as the years pass by, she maintains an outwardly dutiful and doting wifely appearance while submitting to Stewart’s sexual demands. He thinks he has her completely under his thumb, but what he doesn’t know is that he’s underestimated Victoria. This book is partially their story – both past and present – of a silent power struggle between the two and the aftermath when the web of lies, deceit, and betrayal falls.
Romance is a very minor aspect in this book (like all of Aleatha Romig’s books) and is a secondary element to the suspense and mystery Victoria tries to uncover that revolves around Stewart’s company and the contract she signed with him. The romance was very unpredictable and I don’t think I would’ve ever anticipated Victoria ending up with the guy she ends up with. Even in the most lighthearted and romantic moments in the book, there are no pretty words. This book is dirty, filthy, but wickedly hot all at the same time.
Aleatha Romig is an extremely talented writer and though there was never a doubt in my mind that she could pull off a story so suspenseful and erotic, I also felt like it wasn’t her best. I’ve always believed that her strongest skill was her attention to detail and the ability to use that detail and stun and smack twist after turn in her stories that thrill us, excite us, and satisfy us. As this book is a standalone, I got the feeling that all the loose ends (there were many) had to be wrapped up quickly in the last 20% of the book in order to reach that ‘standalone’ status so I was disappointed that the quality I admire most in this author’s writing – her attention to detail – wasn’t present, thus several secondary plotlines that had the potential to become something major in the book were underdeveloped. I know I'm explaining things in very general terms to avoid spoilers of all kind but if you want all the sordid details I'd be happy to chat with you about them.
I still enjoyed this book overall and once I started reading, I didn’t put it down until I finished it 4 hours later. I do believe that if this story was expanded upon in another book I would’ve fully enjoyed each of the twists and turns the author presented.
Insidious is the first book in a series of dark erotic thriller standalones. It is not related to the Consequences series.
It’s been a while since I’ve read an Aleatha Romig book as I wanted to read something new and fresh from her that didn’t ride out on the coattails of the Consequences series. Although I didn’t fully love Insidious it is still a very worthy read and is a book that constantly kept me on my toes and had my head spinning with each new reveal and twist thrown at me. My biggest complaint is how things were so hastily wrapped up in the end but it didn’t annoy me to the point where it ruined the rest of my enjoyable reading experience.
There’s not much I can say plot-wise without spoiling the book. This author certainly loves her contracts and it’s through a contract that the female protagonist Victoria Conway signs away her life to the much older, wealthy, and charismatic Stewart Harrington to settle financial debts. Doe-eyed and innocent, Victoria has no clue that the contract she signs also enslaves her in a sexual role she must participate in or risk a cascade of financial setbacks that could hurt her family.
And so as the years pass by, she maintains an outwardly dutiful and doting wifely appearance while submitting to Stewart’s sexual demands. He thinks he has her completely under his thumb, but what he doesn’t know is that he’s underestimated Victoria. This book is partially their story – both past and present – of a silent power struggle between the two and the aftermath when the web of lies, deceit, and betrayal falls.
Romance is a very minor aspect in this book (like all of Aleatha Romig’s books) and is a secondary element to the suspense and mystery Victoria tries to uncover that revolves around Stewart’s company and the contract she signed with him. The romance was very unpredictable and I don’t think I would’ve ever anticipated Victoria ending up with the guy she ends up with. Even in the most lighthearted and romantic moments in the book, there are no pretty words. This book is dirty, filthy, but wickedly hot all at the same time.
Aleatha Romig is an extremely talented writer and though there was never a doubt in my mind that she could pull off a story so suspenseful and erotic, I also felt like it wasn’t her best. I’ve always believed that her strongest skill was her attention to detail and the ability to use that detail and stun and smack twist after turn in her stories that thrill us, excite us, and satisfy us. As this book is a standalone, I got the feeling that all the loose ends (there were many) had to be wrapped up quickly in the last 20% of the book in order to reach that ‘standalone’ status so I was disappointed that the quality I admire most in this author’s writing – her attention to detail – wasn’t present, thus several secondary plotlines that had the potential to become something major in the book were underdeveloped. I know I'm explaining things in very general terms to avoid spoilers of all kind but if you want all the sordid details I'd be happy to chat with you about them.
I still enjoyed this book overall and once I started reading, I didn’t put it down until I finished it 4 hours later. I do believe that if this story was expanded upon in another book I would’ve fully enjoyed each of the twists and turns the author presented.
Insidious is the first book in a series of dark erotic thriller standalones. It is not related to the Consequences series.
December 20, 2014
4.5 Stars
This story is mind blowing…. I can't stop thinking about it.
Aleatha Romig is a genius writer to twisted proportions! Even so, I’ve spent a lot of time procrastinating over my thoughts and rating. I cannot get away from the fact that I have grievances….. Up until this was a definite 100% 5 star read for me, no questions asked, but directly after the spoiler, I can't deny that I felt a twinge of disappointment... Almost like I'm missing a whole chunk of information. I'd invested time and emotion into the characters and felt, well... shell shocked. Completely at a loss. I needed a full and frank de-brief with my buddy reading friends. On reflection there are multiple ways to look at that spoiler. This author worked it well, I have readjusted my thought process…... I have thought and thought and thought about this story which is testament to the skill of the author, but also made me conclude that I needed more details and answers regarding certain situations, that's as much as I can say but nothing is more certain than this story is gripping and made me think to epic proportions.
Aleatha Romig writes such a fabulously weaved story with intense intrigue, she tells it so well….. I cannot help but LOVE because, ultimately this story has imprinted on my mind… So an incredible book that makes it!
There are so many layered possibilities as to why?
Victoria Conway Harrington is the product of the crap life has dealt her; it's made her insidious which results in far reaching consequences. She made headlines when, at a young age, she married the very wealthy and enigmatic, Stewart Harrington.
She's desirable and underestimated by many.
There are revelations abound but you’ll have to read the story to find out more. All I can say is…. There’s a contract, a warehouse and a blindfold. How would I describe this? A fairy tale gone wrong? Insidious to the core. Victoria has lots of friends interfering but in this situation, I’m not sure they help?
LOVERS of intense, intriguing and twisted darker romances simply have to experience this story. There's so much depth to the writing, to the ending…. I'm still peeling and thinking! I feel the brilliance of Aleatha Romig. How does she come up with it all.... It's mind blowing.
LOVE it!
Br with Deanna, Irene & TeriLyn
This story is mind blowing…. I can't stop thinking about it.
Aleatha Romig is a genius writer to twisted proportions! Even so, I’ve spent a lot of time procrastinating over my thoughts and rating. I cannot get away from the fact that I have grievances….. Up until this was a definite 100% 5 star read for me, no questions asked, but directly after the spoiler, I can't deny that I felt a twinge of disappointment... Almost like I'm missing a whole chunk of information. I'd invested time and emotion into the characters and felt, well... shell shocked. Completely at a loss. I needed a full and frank de-brief with my buddy reading friends. On reflection there are multiple ways to look at that spoiler. This author worked it well, I have readjusted my thought process…... I have thought and thought and thought about this story which is testament to the skill of the author, but also made me conclude that I needed more details and answers regarding certain situations, that's as much as I can say but nothing is more certain than this story is gripping and made me think to epic proportions.
Aleatha Romig writes such a fabulously weaved story with intense intrigue, she tells it so well….. I cannot help but LOVE because, ultimately this story has imprinted on my mind… So an incredible book that makes it!
There are so many layered possibilities as to why?
Victoria Conway Harrington is the product of the crap life has dealt her; it's made her insidious which results in far reaching consequences. She made headlines when, at a young age, she married the very wealthy and enigmatic, Stewart Harrington.
She's desirable and underestimated by many.
There are revelations abound but you’ll have to read the story to find out more. All I can say is…. There’s a contract, a warehouse and a blindfold. How would I describe this? A fairy tale gone wrong? Insidious to the core. Victoria has lots of friends interfering but in this situation, I’m not sure they help?
LOVERS of intense, intriguing and twisted darker romances simply have to experience this story. There's so much depth to the writing, to the ending…. I'm still peeling and thinking! I feel the brilliance of Aleatha Romig. How does she come up with it all.... It's mind blowing.
LOVE it!
Br with Deanna, Irene & TeriLyn
October 23, 2014
4 INSIDIOUS STARS ★★★★
"At one time I was that unwilling participant, dragged into the depths of malevolence. That was years ago. I've learned my lessons well and played my role. No longer to be a victim, today I'm insidious."
Ever since I picked up Aleatha's Consequences series a year ago, I've been eagerly waiting for her to give us another taste of her brilliance. If you've read that series, you will know that this author is capable of some of the most twisted mindfuckery you've had the pleasure of reading.
******
Insidious tells the tale of Victoria Conway. Married to Stewart Harrington at the age of 18 to a then 40-year old Stewart, the innocent yet strong-headed Victoria had no idea what she signed up entirely for when she agreed to marry him under a contract to settle her family debt and protect her siblings.
For 10 years of their marriage; to most people, she's the wife of a successful, mega-rich business tycoon. But to a small handful, Victoria is forced to take upon a role more than just being a doting wife and that is to submit to her husband's darkest desires.
*******
Without spoiling away too much about the book, I will just say that Aleatha Romig still brings out one of the best suspenseful, erotic stories around. Whatever this woman writes, I'd read it in a heartbeat. This one was no exception and I simply could not put down this book once I started the first page.
Insidious will bring you on a thrilling, dark ride that continuously keeps you on the edge as your mind starts to spin theories faster than you realize. Lines will be blurred and nothing is always as it seems, it will leave you guessing from start till end.
Although some people may be put-off by her detailed and lengthy writings, I for one, am a huge fan of it. To simply enjoy her books, one must appreciate that the devil is in the details. After Consequences, I have no doubt in her storytelling skills and with this one, she will suck you into this world of games, seduction, deceit and revenge. Oh and trust me, her erotica scenes will make you wish you're not in public reading it.
As much as I loved her writings, however this read wasn't entirely a winner as I felt that the answers we needed were all crammed up in the last quarter of the book. I was hoping for an expansion on some of the revelations we learnt but alas, this is a standalone novel, so I guessed all loose ends had to be tied up quickly and neatly. Also, the last 10% definitely took me by surprise and I wished I could have understand better why it went in that direction.
********
Overall, Insidious still proves to be a worthy read if you're looking for a dark, edgy thrilling read with a tinge of romance plus a good dose of sinfully erotic scenes. Although with minor hiccups, I can still definitely say that I highly enjoyed it as I couldn't bring myself to put it down. Without a doubt, I'll be eagerly waiting for another book from this author.
Insidious is a standalone novel in a new series of Tales from the Dark Side.
♥ To my ladies; Sandy, Feifei, Karez, Ilze & Kirsten: thanks for the amazing buddy read! {Click on their names to check out their reviews!} ♥
"At one time I was that unwilling participant, dragged into the depths of malevolence. That was years ago. I've learned my lessons well and played my role. No longer to be a victim, today I'm insidious."
Ever since I picked up Aleatha's Consequences series a year ago, I've been eagerly waiting for her to give us another taste of her brilliance. If you've read that series, you will know that this author is capable of some of the most twisted mindfuckery you've had the pleasure of reading.
******
Insidious tells the tale of Victoria Conway. Married to Stewart Harrington at the age of 18 to a then 40-year old Stewart, the innocent yet strong-headed Victoria had no idea what she signed up entirely for when she agreed to marry him under a contract to settle her family debt and protect her siblings.
For 10 years of their marriage; to most people, she's the wife of a successful, mega-rich business tycoon. But to a small handful, Victoria is forced to take upon a role more than just being a doting wife and that is to submit to her husband's darkest desires.
"As Mrs Harrington, your pleasure, as well as your pain, will work together toward my pleasure. You'll be my wife and my whore."
*******
Without spoiling away too much about the book, I will just say that Aleatha Romig still brings out one of the best suspenseful, erotic stories around. Whatever this woman writes, I'd read it in a heartbeat. This one was no exception and I simply could not put down this book once I started the first page.
Insidious will bring you on a thrilling, dark ride that continuously keeps you on the edge as your mind starts to spin theories faster than you realize. Lines will be blurred and nothing is always as it seems, it will leave you guessing from start till end.
Although some people may be put-off by her detailed and lengthy writings, I for one, am a huge fan of it. To simply enjoy her books, one must appreciate that the devil is in the details. After Consequences, I have no doubt in her storytelling skills and with this one, she will suck you into this world of games, seduction, deceit and revenge. Oh and trust me, her erotica scenes will make you wish you're not in public reading it.
As much as I loved her writings, however this read wasn't entirely a winner as I felt that the answers we needed were all crammed up in the last quarter of the book. I was hoping for an expansion on some of the revelations we learnt but alas, this is a standalone novel, so I guessed all loose ends had to be tied up quickly and neatly. Also, the last 10% definitely took me by surprise and I wished I could have understand better why it went in that direction.
********
Overall, Insidious still proves to be a worthy read if you're looking for a dark, edgy thrilling read with a tinge of romance plus a good dose of sinfully erotic scenes. Although with minor hiccups, I can still definitely say that I highly enjoyed it as I couldn't bring myself to put it down. Without a doubt, I'll be eagerly waiting for another book from this author.
Insidious is a standalone novel in a new series of Tales from the Dark Side.
♥ To my ladies; Sandy, Feifei, Karez, Ilze & Kirsten: thanks for the amazing buddy read! {Click on their names to check out their reviews!} ♥
August 16, 2015
~5 Mind Blown Stars~
"I’d lost my body and soul, but I’d secured my sister’s future."
Insidious is the first book in Aleatha Romig's Tales from the Dark Side. After reading her Consequences Series, I became an instant fan of her work. Although I had heard Insidious was dark and mysterious, I assure you nothing could have prepared me for this unforgettable story. Days after reading/listening to this book, I am still in a state of shock and (a bit) in a state of melancholy. I highly recommend entering this read blind. Therefore, I will do my best to analyze the characters, the mood, and writing style of the book without giving anything away. So take my advice and grab a friend and dive into the dark side!
"The memories of him at the end won’t tarnish the other years.” Quite the opposite."
Victoria is a strong woman who is married to a wealthy business man named Stewart. As this tale begins, we learn that Stewart's health is failing. Because Victoria and Stewart signed a contract when they wed, Victoria is insistent on finding a way to ensure her best interests are secured "if or when" Stewart passes. The only problem is she doesn't know who she can trust. Victoria's life is not at all what it seems.
Brody is the handsome young attorney that works in the firm that represents Victoria's ailing husband. Brody is comforting and passionate about his feelings for Victoria. He recognizes that things aren't quite what they seem in Victoria's life. Can he be the one to protect her and keep her safe?
Travis is Stewart's confidant and right hand man. He and Victoria have always shared a disdain for one another. What will happen to Travis if or when Steward passes? Why is Stewart insistent on keeping Travis grounded in Victoria's life?
"I wanted a life: a normal life. A wishful smile came to my face. Could I ever have a normal life?"
Insidious has a complex plot full of twists and turns. It is a yin yang of intense highs and shattering lows. Facts are dispersed faster than can be processed and your mind is scrambling to catch up while your heart is being ripped into shreds. Who can you trust? What is good might not always be what is right. The tempo is fast paced and the sexual elements are (at points) intoxicating and (on other occasions) revolting. The story is told predominantly in the present however, Ms. Romig shifts seamlessly into Victoria's past. These moments are critical to the understanding of the story. Throughout the read one solitary question remains, who can you trust?
"I want to taste that freedom, to drink it."
Overall, I highly recommend Insidious to any reader who relishes a psychological challenge. If you don't mind your boundaries being pressed to the point of breaking, then this is a read for you. Ms. Romig had me on the edge of my seat the entire read. Had it not been for a good friend (that had already read the book) encouraging me throughout the read, I don't know for sure if I would have been able to complete it. Now that it is over, I am so glad that I did. The voice actors featured in the audio read were dramatic and had clear articulation throughout the read. My only warning to a person listening to the audio version of this read is to be cognizant of the facts. There is a lot going on and you won't want to forget anything. This is a unique book where everyone walks away with something different. Whatever differences of opinions this book might transpire, one thing remains~ anyone who reads this book will be changed. When it comes to an insidious tale from the dark side, Ms. Romig is the QUEEN!~
~Special thanks to my good friend CC for being my lifeline while reading this book. Before you dive into this read, make sure you have a trusty friend by your side!~
~Audible ARC graciously provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.~
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
"I’d lost my body and soul, but I’d secured my sister’s future."
Insidious is the first book in Aleatha Romig's Tales from the Dark Side. After reading her Consequences Series, I became an instant fan of her work. Although I had heard Insidious was dark and mysterious, I assure you nothing could have prepared me for this unforgettable story. Days after reading/listening to this book, I am still in a state of shock and (a bit) in a state of melancholy. I highly recommend entering this read blind. Therefore, I will do my best to analyze the characters, the mood, and writing style of the book without giving anything away. So take my advice and grab a friend and dive into the dark side!
"The memories of him at the end won’t tarnish the other years.” Quite the opposite."
Victoria is a strong woman who is married to a wealthy business man named Stewart. As this tale begins, we learn that Stewart's health is failing. Because Victoria and Stewart signed a contract when they wed, Victoria is insistent on finding a way to ensure her best interests are secured "if or when" Stewart passes. The only problem is she doesn't know who she can trust. Victoria's life is not at all what it seems.
Brody is the handsome young attorney that works in the firm that represents Victoria's ailing husband. Brody is comforting and passionate about his feelings for Victoria. He recognizes that things aren't quite what they seem in Victoria's life. Can he be the one to protect her and keep her safe?
Travis is Stewart's confidant and right hand man. He and Victoria have always shared a disdain for one another. What will happen to Travis if or when Steward passes? Why is Stewart insistent on keeping Travis grounded in Victoria's life?
"I wanted a life: a normal life. A wishful smile came to my face. Could I ever have a normal life?"
Insidious has a complex plot full of twists and turns. It is a yin yang of intense highs and shattering lows. Facts are dispersed faster than can be processed and your mind is scrambling to catch up while your heart is being ripped into shreds. Who can you trust? What is good might not always be what is right. The tempo is fast paced and the sexual elements are (at points) intoxicating and (on other occasions) revolting. The story is told predominantly in the present however, Ms. Romig shifts seamlessly into Victoria's past. These moments are critical to the understanding of the story. Throughout the read one solitary question remains, who can you trust?
"I want to taste that freedom, to drink it."
Overall, I highly recommend Insidious to any reader who relishes a psychological challenge. If you don't mind your boundaries being pressed to the point of breaking, then this is a read for you. Ms. Romig had me on the edge of my seat the entire read. Had it not been for a good friend (that had already read the book) encouraging me throughout the read, I don't know for sure if I would have been able to complete it. Now that it is over, I am so glad that I did. The voice actors featured in the audio read were dramatic and had clear articulation throughout the read. My only warning to a person listening to the audio version of this read is to be cognizant of the facts. There is a lot going on and you won't want to forget anything. This is a unique book where everyone walks away with something different. Whatever differences of opinions this book might transpire, one thing remains~ anyone who reads this book will be changed. When it comes to an insidious tale from the dark side, Ms. Romig is the QUEEN!~
~Special thanks to my good friend CC for being my lifeline while reading this book. Before you dive into this read, make sure you have a trusty friend by your side!~
~Audible ARC graciously provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.~
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
October 31, 2014
Well, it’s been a while since I read an Aleatha Romig novel and I’ve forgotten just how shockingly thrilling she can be as an author. Insidious is a worthy successor to the Consequences books as she dishes up a multi-layered, suspenseful novel that cranks up the mystery with fantastic character development and shocking revelations.Victoria is our heroine and she has signed a contract to be the wife of industry mogul Stewart Harrington and has to fulfil certain sexual expectations – Aleatha does like her contracts, right? BUT, even though the highly impressive Mr Harrington may think that he’s in control, and he certainly gives off that air, Victoria it turns out is not to be underestimated and is playing very much the long game and is anyone safe when she has her crosshairs firmly fixed on them? I’m not going to give much more plot details than that as I went into this pretty ‘blind’ and I think you get the most out of this novel when you don’t have a clue what on earth is coming next.
This is one of those books that you just gallop through – as every chapter ended and I intended to put my Kindle down and get on with other things, I found myself saying ‘just one more chapter’ because this is so skilfully written that each chapter end leaves you desperate to know what on earth is coming next!
I had such divided loyalties and conflicted emotions as I read Insidious. It was hard to find someone to really like throughout all of this – even Victoria, our heroine and erstwhile victim of circumstance had definite character traits that put her firmly in the bitch category. I often felt very very sorry for her and then found myself pretty appalled at her actions. Likewise Travis, Stewart’s right hand man – I hated him and I liked him and I even felt sorry for him and actually even found myself pitying Stewart himself. Even people who seem to be so innocent and wholesome are not quite who they seem to be. Everything is cloaked in an air of mystery and nothing and no one is who they appear to be. Pretty much everyone seems to have an agenda as this very clever novel shockingly twists and turns right through to the very end.
The intertwined plots and stories worked so well as I found myself thoroughly engrossed, desperate to know what was coming next. An erotic thriller is a beautiful, sensual thing, but when it's combined with fantastic character development and finely crafted hidden motives, it becomes even more powerful. This is most definitely a smart and absorbing erotic thriller and I think fans of the Consequences books and EK Blair’s Bang will find much to entertain and enthral them in Insidious. All I can say is – expect the unexpected!
4.5 sensual and shocking stars
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October 22, 2014
Insidious : causing harm in a way that is gradual or not easily noticed.
Victoria Harrington’s life is no fairy tale. At 18, Victoria signs a contract that changes her life. She becomes the property of a successful older man, Stewart Harrington.
"You won't be a whore, but you will be my whore."
At first things seem adventurous and exciting, until it's not. Her story is full of lies, revenge, twisted desires and deception. But don't let her fool you. She is no angel. She is insidious.
Honestly, I don't even know where to start. This book certainly kept me on my toes, suspenseful and erotic, I had no idea what to expect, or who to believe. That said, I have a lot of unanswered questions. And I still don't really know how I feel about that ending.
February 8, 2015
"4.5 Piranha stars"
I won’t go into the glorious detail of the this story without spoiling it for fellow readers, but I felt this plot had similar premises as that of Consequences
Huge age difference between the MC’s
Billionaire Alpha male/Anti-hero
Manipulative wedding
Family secrets
Suspicious death
Bodyguard/Chauffer/stalker
Helpless victim
Betrayal
Revenge
Other than that I can just say this story is more dark, deadly and dangerous! The huge difference being Steward is bigger BASTARD than Anthony and Victoria has bigger BALLS than Claire!!
Aleatha Romig has done a great job of delivering an intriguing story with lot of twist and revelations at every turn. Writing was descriptive and essential, it helps you to understand the characters well! and this time there were many lengthy sensual scenes. I loved the character developments over the period of time, it will leave you unsure of how you feel for certain characters.
I loved Victoria♥-even after being a victim of her husband's dark fucked up fantasies for ten years, she stayed strong, never gave up on having a normal life. She has endured unbelievable amount of mental abuse at the very young age of 18 but pretty soon she learns the deceptive ways of surviving.
I highly recommend ‘Insidious’ to everyone wanting to experience gritty, sinful and gut wrenching erotic suspense from the queen of ‘WTF moments’!!
Rating clarification: I believe there were few questions went unanswered and ending was bit rushed but I loved how the story turned out in the end.
Buddy read with lovely – ♥Feifei, Jasmine, Karez, Ilze and Kirsten♥
I won’t go into the glorious detail of the this story without spoiling it for fellow readers, but I felt this plot had similar premises as that of Consequences
Huge age difference between the MC’s Billionaire Alpha male/Anti-hero Manipulative wedding Family secrets Suspicious death Bodyguard/Chauffer/stalker Helpless victim Betrayal RevengeOther than that I can just say this story is more dark, deadly and dangerous! The huge difference being Steward is bigger BASTARD than Anthony and Victoria has bigger BALLS than Claire!!
Aleatha Romig has done a great job of delivering an intriguing story with lot of twist and revelations at every turn. Writing was descriptive and essential, it helps you to understand the characters well! and this time there were many lengthy sensual scenes. I loved the character developments over the period of time, it will leave you unsure of how you feel for certain characters.
I loved Victoria♥-even after being a victim of her husband's dark fucked up fantasies for ten years, she stayed strong, never gave up on having a normal life. She has endured unbelievable amount of mental abuse at the very young age of 18 but pretty soon she learns the deceptive ways of surviving.
I highly recommend ‘Insidious’ to everyone wanting to experience gritty, sinful and gut wrenching erotic suspense from the queen of ‘WTF moments’!!
Rating clarification: I believe there were few questions went unanswered and ending was bit rushed but I loved how the story turned out in the end.
Buddy read with lovely – ♥Feifei, Jasmine, Karez, Ilze and Kirsten♥
October 24, 2014
ARC provided by author in exchange of honest review
☆☆☆☆☆5 +Wickedly Brilliant Stars ☆☆☆☆☆
“I’ve learned my lessons well and played my role. No longer willing to be a victim, today I’m insidious.”
HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!! THIS BOOK IS WICKEDLY BRILLIANT!!
Aleatha Romig is another one of those authors for me that is an automatically a must read and one-click. Without a doubt, there is no hesitation.. I will one-click any book that she writes. Every book that she releases are completely devoured. What can I say but I love all of Aleatha Romig’s books. Ms. Romig will suck you in how captivating, bewitching, and eloquent her writing and storytelling is. Simply, Aleatha Romig owns me and I can’t get enough of her books.. And Insidious was no exception. I’m not even sure I can articulate my love for Insidious. This book was sexy, tantalizing, suspenseful, erotic, thrilling, hot, dark, edgy, raw, devious and a total mind fuck. Nothing is black and white. Lines of what is right and just are blurred. Life is not perfect. Family bonds are tested. The truth hurts. And when love and life are on the line, how far will you go to get it even if it means to kill? And so begins, Aleatha Romig’s fucking brilliant tale of Victoria Harrington in Insidious. Prepare yourself for this hot deadly game of sex, seduction, games, lies, and revenge.
You know what they say the most dangerous lies are the lies you tell to yourself. So Aleatha Romig will take you one erotic-raw suspenseful thrilling roller-coaster ride where layers of lies, wealth, truths, secrets, love, murder and deceit are intertwined and exposed. They say the truth will set you free? Or in this case the truth is one deadly secret of lies, betrayal, and duplicity.
In Insidious, we follow the life of Victoria and Stewart Harrington. Victoria was 18 years old when she married the successful 40 year old business tycoon. She thought Stewart was her fresh start since he made her feel so wanted and desired. He was her ticket to gain financial security for her siblings. Like in all fairy-tales there is always the prince charming or the shining white knight coming to the rescue the damsel in distress. Well for Victoria, the fairy tale ending of the HEA was non existent after a year into her marriage. Say goodbye to the prince charming because Victoria Harrington’s life is not a fairy-tale. It is more like a nightmare. In this tale, her life was nothing but lies, secrets, sex, duplicity and revenge. We all know the saying “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” And behind a woman scorned, is the man who made her like that and this couldn’t be anymore true because Victoria Harrington was INSIDIOUS. Victoria will destroy you in the most beautiful way possible and when she leaves, you will finally understand why storms are named after people. So in this cunning deadly treacherous game, can you ever go back to being the good girl or is too late once you are INSIDIOUS?
Aleatha Romig is one brilliant storyteller and Insidious is another perfect prime example of her spellbinding ways. Aleatha was able to incorporate so much punch and interweave many layers into this book. It will shock, surprise and mind fuck you. Her storytelling will have you glued to your kindle and have you on the edge of your seats guessing on what will Victoria do. Hell, what am I saying, you won’t even know which secondary characters to trust and how important they are. Ms. Romig brought life to all her characters. These are not just fictional characters but characters that felt real. There were times as I was reading this book, it made me think I was watching a movie or a DATELINE exclusive. The storytelling of Insidious was PERFECTION because I didn’t know what to expect. Insidious is one of those books that must be experienced. It was dark, raw, twisted, and deviously sexy. As a big fan of Aleatha Romig, all I can tell you is to GO READ THIS BOOK! Prepare to get your ass owned by Aleatha. She will mind fuck you but at the same time I fucking love every minute of it. This book will shock you, touch you, grip you, rip your heart out, and have you saying WTF! As for the ending, Aleatha Romig you are one wicked evil genius and I fucking love you for that. It’s been four days since I read this book and I’m still amazed how WICKEDLY BRILLIANT this book is!! Expect the unexpected and hold onto the edge of your seats because Aleatha Romig will have you begging for more. Oh and as for the HEA ending, I guess you have to go and read Insidious….let me just tell you the pure brilliance of Aleatha Romig is that she keeps her readers on their toes and guessing. This book is a must read!!!
Aleatha Romig
☆☆☆☆☆5 +Wickedly Brilliant Stars ☆☆☆☆☆
“I’ve learned my lessons well and played my role. No longer willing to be a victim, today I’m insidious.”
HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!! THIS BOOK IS WICKEDLY BRILLIANT!!
Aleatha Romig is another one of those authors for me that is an automatically a must read and one-click. Without a doubt, there is no hesitation.. I will one-click any book that she writes. Every book that she releases are completely devoured. What can I say but I love all of Aleatha Romig’s books. Ms. Romig will suck you in how captivating, bewitching, and eloquent her writing and storytelling is. Simply, Aleatha Romig owns me and I can’t get enough of her books.. And Insidious was no exception. I’m not even sure I can articulate my love for Insidious. This book was sexy, tantalizing, suspenseful, erotic, thrilling, hot, dark, edgy, raw, devious and a total mind fuck. Nothing is black and white. Lines of what is right and just are blurred. Life is not perfect. Family bonds are tested. The truth hurts. And when love and life are on the line, how far will you go to get it even if it means to kill? And so begins, Aleatha Romig’s fucking brilliant tale of Victoria Harrington in Insidious. Prepare yourself for this hot deadly game of sex, seduction, games, lies, and revenge.
You know what they say the most dangerous lies are the lies you tell to yourself. So Aleatha Romig will take you one erotic-raw suspenseful thrilling roller-coaster ride where layers of lies, wealth, truths, secrets, love, murder and deceit are intertwined and exposed. They say the truth will set you free? Or in this case the truth is one deadly secret of lies, betrayal, and duplicity.
In Insidious, we follow the life of Victoria and Stewart Harrington. Victoria was 18 years old when she married the successful 40 year old business tycoon. She thought Stewart was her fresh start since he made her feel so wanted and desired. He was her ticket to gain financial security for her siblings. Like in all fairy-tales there is always the prince charming or the shining white knight coming to the rescue the damsel in distress. Well for Victoria, the fairy tale ending of the HEA was non existent after a year into her marriage. Say goodbye to the prince charming because Victoria Harrington’s life is not a fairy-tale. It is more like a nightmare. In this tale, her life was nothing but lies, secrets, sex, duplicity and revenge. We all know the saying “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” And behind a woman scorned, is the man who made her like that and this couldn’t be anymore true because Victoria Harrington was INSIDIOUS. Victoria will destroy you in the most beautiful way possible and when she leaves, you will finally understand why storms are named after people. So in this cunning deadly treacherous game, can you ever go back to being the good girl or is too late once you are INSIDIOUS?
Aleatha Romig is one brilliant storyteller and Insidious is another perfect prime example of her spellbinding ways. Aleatha was able to incorporate so much punch and interweave many layers into this book. It will shock, surprise and mind fuck you. Her storytelling will have you glued to your kindle and have you on the edge of your seats guessing on what will Victoria do. Hell, what am I saying, you won’t even know which secondary characters to trust and how important they are. Ms. Romig brought life to all her characters. These are not just fictional characters but characters that felt real. There were times as I was reading this book, it made me think I was watching a movie or a DATELINE exclusive. The storytelling of Insidious was PERFECTION because I didn’t know what to expect. Insidious is one of those books that must be experienced. It was dark, raw, twisted, and deviously sexy. As a big fan of Aleatha Romig, all I can tell you is to GO READ THIS BOOK! Prepare to get your ass owned by Aleatha. She will mind fuck you but at the same time I fucking love every minute of it. This book will shock you, touch you, grip you, rip your heart out, and have you saying WTF! As for the ending, Aleatha Romig you are one wicked evil genius and I fucking love you for that. It’s been four days since I read this book and I’m still amazed how WICKEDLY BRILLIANT this book is!! Expect the unexpected and hold onto the edge of your seats because Aleatha Romig will have you begging for more. Oh and as for the HEA ending, I guess you have to go and read Insidious….let me just tell you the pure brilliance of Aleatha Romig is that she keeps her readers on their toes and guessing. This book is a must read!!!
Aleatha Romig
October 27, 2014
5 MindBlowing Stars
This will not be a normal review. There is no way to properly review as anything you say can and will spoil for a non reader. It's a book where you should go in blind, just with the blurb.
I was fortunate to have read this book with my peeps. We all got the last sentence of the book and were like -OMG......REALLY.......NO WAY!!!!! For those of you who haven't read, just get ready to have your mind played exquisitely by a masterful storyteller. As I was saying, we finished the book and spent several hours discussing the who's, what's, how's and why's of Insidious. This is definitely one that you will want to read with a friend. It's great to hear what others think and feel, and for me, it helps to bring your own perspectives into view.
Aleatha Romig is the best at twist and turns and this book is full of them. What was added to the mix in this book was sex. I love her fade to black about sex but this time it was in your face sex.
If you like to think, feel, reread in places, scream, yell, ponder, reread in places again, and most of all love to read a story that will totally mess with your mind, Insidious is the book for you. It has intrigue, suspense, sex, crime, hatred, empathy, drama, it has it ALL and then some. When you think you have it figured out-BAM- you get thrown a curve ball.
Victoria, Stewart, Travis, Brody, Val.......they will infiltrate your mind and stay with you for days. Thinking and trying to justify your thoughts, trying to figure out the conclusion is mind fucking. The brilliance of being able to write characters with so much depth is a trait that Aleatha Romig does magnificently. She writes characters you hate and love, want to kill and want to punch. This book brought forth every emotion under the sun. It is truly a phenomenal book.
I will say that I did want more answers to a lot of things. Of course I would love another book with some answers but I'm left instead to ponder them and make my own answers. While I wasn't happy immediately after I finished, discussing the book with friends helped. So in the end, when you finish a book and have to discuss for hours, whether it has disappointed or elated you, it is a 5 star read for me. Aleatha Romig is an automatic one click author for me.
BR with Jxxx, Irene, and TeriLyn.
PS- get ready cause this was me after I read....
This will not be a normal review. There is no way to properly review as anything you say can and will spoil for a non reader. It's a book where you should go in blind, just with the blurb.
I was fortunate to have read this book with my peeps. We all got the last sentence of the book and were like -OMG......REALLY.......NO WAY!!!!! For those of you who haven't read, just get ready to have your mind played exquisitely by a masterful storyteller. As I was saying, we finished the book and spent several hours discussing the who's, what's, how's and why's of Insidious. This is definitely one that you will want to read with a friend. It's great to hear what others think and feel, and for me, it helps to bring your own perspectives into view.
Aleatha Romig is the best at twist and turns and this book is full of them. What was added to the mix in this book was sex. I love her fade to black about sex but this time it was in your face sex.
If you like to think, feel, reread in places, scream, yell, ponder, reread in places again, and most of all love to read a story that will totally mess with your mind, Insidious is the book for you. It has intrigue, suspense, sex, crime, hatred, empathy, drama, it has it ALL and then some. When you think you have it figured out-BAM- you get thrown a curve ball.
Victoria, Stewart, Travis, Brody, Val.......they will infiltrate your mind and stay with you for days. Thinking and trying to justify your thoughts, trying to figure out the conclusion is mind fucking. The brilliance of being able to write characters with so much depth is a trait that Aleatha Romig does magnificently. She writes characters you hate and love, want to kill and want to punch. This book brought forth every emotion under the sun. It is truly a phenomenal book.
I will say that I did want more answers to a lot of things. Of course I would love another book with some answers but I'm left instead to ponder them and make my own answers. While I wasn't happy immediately after I finished, discussing the book with friends helped. So in the end, when you finish a book and have to discuss for hours, whether it has disappointed or elated you, it is a 5 star read for me. Aleatha Romig is an automatic one click author for me.
BR with Jxxx, Irene, and TeriLyn.
PS- get ready cause this was me after I read....
Want to read
September 17, 2014 OH. MY. GOSH. !!!! This new book by Aleatha Romig sounds absolutely fantastic!!!!! Check it out....
Standalone. Dark, erotic thriller.
Release date: October 21, 2014.
Standalone. Dark, erotic thriller.
Release date: October 21, 2014.
October 23, 2014
3 Stars!..
I have been putting Aleatha Romig's books on hold for a while now.! Since i had the chance to read Insidious, i won't say that i really loved it,
But it's a truly worth reading book. And very well Mind-fucked me to tell you the truth!.
I don't wont to give to much away,Insidious. it's about parents who were lost in deep debts,and the only way to repay their payments. hmm think of it as a old-world marriage. Victoria Conway at the age of 18. married to Stewart Harrington a 40-ish year old. one of the most powerful men in Miami, And very devoted to his lovely wife Victoria..
" One day you'll be able to swim without me, but in the meantime, I'll be glad to help you grow your teeth."....
People from afar. think that Victoria's marriage to a Successful, gorgeous man.
having all the love, and power. is simply every woman's dream. but little do they know what stays behind those closed doors.. In Insidious We're dealing with an exchange of sorts. like a deal is struck..
-> it's only a photo!!!
I really loved Victoria's strong Character. it honestly what got me through the whole book! The way she fought for her freedom was remarkable. regardless of how many times Karma bites her ass.
" I've learned my lessons well and played my role. No longer willing to be a victim, Today i'm Insidious."
Aleatha Romig's writing is truly captivating. loved how she cohesived everything , Yet One can't put the pieces together until he finishes her book... Although everything was perfect in this book. But I felt the story was too much for a Standalone! if she made it as a series. i think i would've enjoyed it much better. With every page turn i had a new pile of Realizations and Facts.. Which it was to much for me to bear..
Nevertheless, Insidious it's still a very much worth reading, and Recommend it to whom who love, Dark, Mind-fuck, Erotic. Reads..
Huge Thankies to my lovelies-> Feifei,Kirsten,Jasmine,Sandy, and Llze. For the wonderful Buddy read..<33
I have been putting Aleatha Romig's books on hold for a while now.! Since i had the chance to read Insidious, i won't say that i really loved it,
But it's a truly worth reading book. And very well Mind-fucked me to tell you the truth!.
I don't wont to give to much away,Insidious. it's about parents who were lost in deep debts,and the only way to repay their payments. hmm think of it as a old-world marriage. Victoria Conway at the age of 18. married to Stewart Harrington a 40-ish year old. one of the most powerful men in Miami, And very devoted to his lovely wife Victoria..
" One day you'll be able to swim without me, but in the meantime, I'll be glad to help you grow your teeth."....
People from afar. think that Victoria's marriage to a Successful, gorgeous man.
having all the love, and power. is simply every woman's dream. but little do they know what stays behind those closed doors.. In Insidious We're dealing with an exchange of sorts. like a deal is struck..
-> it's only a photo!!!
I really loved Victoria's strong Character. it honestly what got me through the whole book! The way she fought for her freedom was remarkable. regardless of how many times Karma bites her ass.
" I've learned my lessons well and played my role. No longer willing to be a victim, Today i'm Insidious."
Aleatha Romig's writing is truly captivating. loved how she cohesived everything , Yet One can't put the pieces together until he finishes her book... Although everything was perfect in this book. But I felt the story was too much for a Standalone! if she made it as a series. i think i would've enjoyed it much better. With every page turn i had a new pile of Realizations and Facts.. Which it was to much for me to bear..
Nevertheless, Insidious it's still a very much worth reading, and Recommend it to whom who love, Dark, Mind-fuck, Erotic. Reads..
Huge Thankies to my lovelies-> Feifei,Kirsten,Jasmine,Sandy, and Llze. For the wonderful Buddy read..<33
October 11, 2015
3.5 Confused Stars!
This one starts out with 18 year old Victoria signing a contract and marrying Stewart who is much older. If she agrees to marry him then her families debt will be paid off. Everything seems to be going well for Victoria. Her families debts have been paid off. Her siblings are in great schools. She is living the life of the rich and famous. Then something surfaces in the contract and Victoria's life is no longer one she wants. She wants revenge and she is practically drooling at the mouth to get it.
After 10 years of marriage Victoria finally is able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But things aren't always the way they seem. Lies are being told. Secrets are being kept. Revenge isn't always pretty.
I couldn't wait to see if my thoughts would be right at the end of this book. Because yes people I pretty much figured it out. lol
When I started this last night I was really not feeling it. I guess the main thing was how fast Victoria took to Stewart. Ugh! I mean their first meeting and she was letting him feel her up. Then of course she stops him only to later get caught masturbating in the tub by him which leads to them screwing. Me...I'm over here rolling my fucking eyes! lol
I'm sorry. I'm just over a book where the woman is so easy to get in bed and Victoria was easy. She was 18 and just found out she has to marry some older guy for a debt she didn't make and she's dripping wet. lol No! No! No! That would not be a normal reaction for any young girl!
I was bored mostly and often felt that I was confused. We jump from past to present. I found myself skimming until around 55% and then it started to pick up for me. The plot was getting good. Who can Victoria trust? Who is going to be our hero of the book. Well....I can honestly say that I was on cloud nine the last 5% of the book!! I wanted it to be him! I knew it was him! I wish we would of gotten more.
I still felt some things were just left unanswered. I also felt the ending was rushed and once again tied in a neat bow.
I wish I could tell you that I will be reading more from this series but I doubt I will. I wasn't a fan of this authors other series. In fact I don't think I finished it either.
3.5 star rating is mostly for the last half of the book.
This one starts out with 18 year old Victoria signing a contract and marrying Stewart who is much older. If she agrees to marry him then her families debt will be paid off. Everything seems to be going well for Victoria. Her families debts have been paid off. Her siblings are in great schools. She is living the life of the rich and famous. Then something surfaces in the contract and Victoria's life is no longer one she wants. She wants revenge and she is practically drooling at the mouth to get it.
After 10 years of marriage Victoria finally is able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But things aren't always the way they seem. Lies are being told. Secrets are being kept. Revenge isn't always pretty.
I couldn't wait to see if my thoughts would be right at the end of this book. Because yes people I pretty much figured it out. lol
When I started this last night I was really not feeling it. I guess the main thing was how fast Victoria took to Stewart. Ugh! I mean their first meeting and she was letting him feel her up. Then of course she stops him only to later get caught masturbating in the tub by him which leads to them screwing. Me...I'm over here rolling my fucking eyes! lol
I'm sorry. I'm just over a book where the woman is so easy to get in bed and Victoria was easy. She was 18 and just found out she has to marry some older guy for a debt she didn't make and she's dripping wet. lol No! No! No! That would not be a normal reaction for any young girl!
I was bored mostly and often felt that I was confused. We jump from past to present. I found myself skimming until around 55% and then it started to pick up for me. The plot was getting good. Who can Victoria trust? Who is going to be our hero of the book. Well....I can honestly say that I was on cloud nine the last 5% of the book!! I wanted it to be him! I knew it was him! I wish we would of gotten more.
I still felt some things were just left unanswered. I also felt the ending was rushed and once again tied in a neat bow.
I wish I could tell you that I will be reading more from this series but I doubt I will. I wasn't a fan of this authors other series. In fact I don't think I finished it either.
3.5 star rating is mostly for the last half of the book.
October 26, 2014
4 Nodding Stars
"I was death, slow and insidious. I killed everything around me."
It’s all about that damn contract!! Our main character Victoria Conway finds herself pushed into a marriage with an uber wealthy older man at the age of eighteen. She agrees to Stewart's conditions for both the marriage and that infamous contract to secure her siblings future and settle her step father’s gambling debts. She now has every luxury a girl could dream of but that darn contract brings a whole slew of ‘friends’that she must service sexually while headphoned and blindfolded all the while her husband watches and instructs.
Years later and she is suffocating under her husband Stewart and the expectations of the contract. Victoria yearns for her freedom. She cleverly uses her charity foundation and her sister’s knowledge to attempt to free herself from the contract and Stewart.
There are many players in this story and her past is presented in chapters which go along with the present chapters. Reveal after reveal is presented towards the end and it’s a crazy erotic ride that leaves you trusting no one.
The story was very well written and exciting. To be honest, I really didn’t like the ending that much and thought Victoria switched teams way too quickly. As for that last that last line…
I wish more will be given for this story. I’m still questioning some things a paragraph or two would suffice. Still, I would recommend this read it was dark and twisted and very well orchestrated dark tale with a great heroine.
September 22, 2014
If you loved the Consequences series, you will double-love INSIDIOUS!
It starts out with a similar, gut-wrenching situation, only different. In this case, we're not dealing with abduction. We're dealing with an exchange of sorts. A deal is struck, and I don't want to give too much away. But the resolution is crazy and unexpected. OMG. Super-twisted and smart.
Victoria is a strong main character, and the choices she makes are incredibly difficult. I couldn't decide if I loved or loathed her husband, and by the end, my feelings were only intensified. As always, the secondary characters are as layered and interesting as the main ones.
I got sucked in and couldn't put it down until I knew the resolution.
And that ending--!!! Classic.
Fans of dark, twisted erotic suspense will be VERY happy. INSIDIOUS is a five-star, must-read winner!
It starts out with a similar, gut-wrenching situation, only different. In this case, we're not dealing with abduction. We're dealing with an exchange of sorts. A deal is struck, and I don't want to give too much away. But the resolution is crazy and unexpected. OMG. Super-twisted and smart.
Victoria is a strong main character, and the choices she makes are incredibly difficult. I couldn't decide if I loved or loathed her husband, and by the end, my feelings were only intensified. As always, the secondary characters are as layered and interesting as the main ones.
I got sucked in and couldn't put it down until I knew the resolution.
And that ending--!!! Classic.
Fans of dark, twisted erotic suspense will be VERY happy. INSIDIOUS is a five-star, must-read winner!
October 28, 2014
I am a HUGE Aleatha Romig's fan. She has become a 'one-click author' for me ever since I read (and LOVED) her 'Consequences' series. Twice.
I really enjoyed 'Insidious' even if that last line almost made me throw my Kindle out the window! However, after discussing it with my fellow BRers and reading answers from Aleatha regarding the ending, I decided to use my imagination (as per Aleatha's suggestion) and that made me feel a lot better.
OK, I am going to make it short and sweet. As I said above, I did enjoy the story. I didn't love it as much as I loved Consequences but I did enjoy it.
What didn't quite work for me in this book was not enough details where it mattered and too many details where it didn't. I also LOVE Aleatha's 'fade to black' sex (the way she did it when she wrote Consequences) so I didn't exactly care for the more explicit sex scenes in this book. Before you go "Girl, stop being a prude!" I'll say that majority of my reads ARE packed with very detailed, dirty sex so prude I am NOT. I just find that 'less is more' approach works for some authors and, to me, Aleatha is one of those authors.
In a way, I kind of wish Ms. Romig did make this into a trilogy (or at least two books) because there are quite a few questions that remained unanswered.
Overall, this WAS a great read. If you are a fan of erotic thrillers and Aleatha's writing, you'll enjoy this story.
Solid 4 stars and I am really looking forward to the next installment in this series.
Cheers!
October 23, 2014
4.5 Suspenseful, Vengeful, Stars!
My response to the last sentence in Insidious....
Consider yourself warned.
What the ever living fuck did I just read? Well, boys and girls, strap on your seatbelts, this book will be a crazy ride.
Eighteen year old Victoria Conway, in order to pay off her stepfather's gambling debts and ensure her sibling's financial future, makes a deal with the devil...Stewart Harrington. Over twenty years her senior, Stewart wants his own personal whore. He's rich, he's powerful, and she needs him to keep her family afloat. Victoria can't turn him down...she signs the contract. But what did she sign up for? Anything that sounds too good to be true usually is...
Insidious is, beyond a doubt, impossible to review without giving away plot so I guess vague will be my mantra. Let's go with the feels....
Do I love him, or hate him? Is she a villain or victim? On off, on off. The whole damn book!
If you've read Althea Romig's Consequences series and enjoyed it, then this will likely be another favorite. The plot starts out fairly straight forward and gets gradually twisted into so many crazy knots, you're clueless as to how things will play out in the end. Ms. Romig didn't fail us here..but, in turn, mind fucked her readers into a sense of "I've got it all figured out" and blowing our minds in the bitter end.
Cast of characters...Stewart, his assistant Travis, Victoria, his attorney Parker Craven, the list goes on and on...
Got one thing to say about Stewart...and his friends.
Insidious has a bit of everything- mystery, suspense, darkness, heat...and it's pretty damn far from any semblance of a love story. If you're looking for a romance, my dear grasshoppers, stop now. You won't get it. But if you want to embrace your inner twisted dark side, I think you'll be pleased with the results. You will, no doubt, be kept guessing thru each and every chapter. Perfectly executed.
So, when you decide to settle in and read this trip to Crazytown, stock up on a little courage...
You'll need it. A friend or buddy read helps too! (Thanks Brandi, for the emotional support!)
Bravo, Ms. Romig, I don't get thoroughly mind-fucked often, but you've succeeded this time.
And what the hell was that ending? ***cue in creepy music***
DO NOT CLICK SPOILER UNLESS YOU'VE READ IT. I REPEAT. DO NOT CLICK. (Unless you're a masochist and want to ruin it for yourself- shame on you.)
August 16, 2016
**** Full review now posted****
I will admit I was scared to go into this. As excited as I was to read it I was not sure how Aleatha was going to top Tony and Claire. I know I should of never doubted it, but I admit I did. Aleatha has BLOWN ME AWAY!!!!! She gripped me within the first few pages and held onto me till the bitter end.
Give me a minute to figure out how to explain this crazy roller coaster ride I went on with this book. If you think you know Aleatha and how she writes well you are mistaken because she has given us a whole new look into crazy and I would love to spend just one day inside her mind with her characters. (Wait no I would not because I would come out crazier than I already am)
“Let’s start with you calling me Stewart. Formalities seem unnecessary.”
I’m not exactly sure how to review this book. I mean I could tell you all kinds of things about the story, but ten to one I would give something away, and well honestly you need to go into this one as blind as I did and you must hang on for the ride… It will be one crazy ride for sure and you will not be disappointed.
When Victoria first meets Stewart she is very young. He is very much older than her, but age does not matter to him at all. He has a goal and he wants Victoria. Victoria’s parents are not the model parents and they do things for themselves and to hell with the consequences. As Victora finds out her step father is in over his head and the debts are piling up high. The way out for him is to offer up his step daughter to Stewart in exchange to clear his debt. Stewart offers Victoria the world and all she has to do is marry him, and she also has to sign his contract. What the details of the contract are we do not find out right away.
As we follow the story in the present and the past. We learn a lot about Stewart and a hell of a lot about his now wife Victoria. Just when you think you might have figured something out, Aleatha throws you off your train of thought and it ends up being something totally different than what you thought was happening. I know it does not make a lot of sense, but trust me once you read this you will understand.
I play the role well.
The grieving widow is new, but I can do it: shaking hands, sad smiles, even a tear or two when necessary.
The acting isn't new. I've been doing it my whole life.
The truth is too painful to reveal, too upsetting for those around me. They don't want to see who I truly am... what I truly am.
They don't want to know I'm a killer.
Stewart at one point you might actually like him, but trust me when I say it won’t last long. Stewart is all for himself, although he may chose his wife, he chose her for his own selfish reasons.
Fans of dark, twisted erotic suspense you will enjoy this crazy roller coaster ride without a doubt.
I will say jump in this roller coaster of crazy and hold on tight. You will be shocked with the outcome for sure.
I can not wait to meet the next set of characters in the next book in this crazy dark series.
I CANNOT WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON THIS LITTLE GEM
I will admit I was scared to go into this. As excited as I was to read it I was not sure how Aleatha was going to top Tony and Claire. I know I should of never doubted it, but I admit I did. Aleatha has BLOWN ME AWAY!!!!! She gripped me within the first few pages and held onto me till the bitter end.
Give me a minute to figure out how to explain this crazy roller coaster ride I went on with this book. If you think you know Aleatha and how she writes well you are mistaken because she has given us a whole new look into crazy and I would love to spend just one day inside her mind with her characters. (Wait no I would not because I would come out crazier than I already am)
“Let’s start with you calling me Stewart. Formalities seem unnecessary.”
I’m not exactly sure how to review this book. I mean I could tell you all kinds of things about the story, but ten to one I would give something away, and well honestly you need to go into this one as blind as I did and you must hang on for the ride… It will be one crazy ride for sure and you will not be disappointed.
When Victoria first meets Stewart she is very young. He is very much older than her, but age does not matter to him at all. He has a goal and he wants Victoria. Victoria’s parents are not the model parents and they do things for themselves and to hell with the consequences. As Victora finds out her step father is in over his head and the debts are piling up high. The way out for him is to offer up his step daughter to Stewart in exchange to clear his debt. Stewart offers Victoria the world and all she has to do is marry him, and she also has to sign his contract. What the details of the contract are we do not find out right away.
As we follow the story in the present and the past. We learn a lot about Stewart and a hell of a lot about his now wife Victoria. Just when you think you might have figured something out, Aleatha throws you off your train of thought and it ends up being something totally different than what you thought was happening. I know it does not make a lot of sense, but trust me once you read this you will understand.
I play the role well.
The grieving widow is new, but I can do it: shaking hands, sad smiles, even a tear or two when necessary.
The acting isn't new. I've been doing it my whole life.
The truth is too painful to reveal, too upsetting for those around me. They don't want to see who I truly am... what I truly am.
They don't want to know I'm a killer.
Stewart at one point you might actually like him, but trust me when I say it won’t last long. Stewart is all for himself, although he may chose his wife, he chose her for his own selfish reasons.
Fans of dark, twisted erotic suspense you will enjoy this crazy roller coaster ride without a doubt.
I will say jump in this roller coaster of crazy and hold on tight. You will be shocked with the outcome for sure.
I can not wait to meet the next set of characters in the next book in this crazy dark series.
I CANNOT WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON THIS LITTLE GEM
January 22, 2015
♥♥♥ 4.5 STARS ♥♥♥
in·sid·i·ous
1. working in a subtle or apparently innocuous way, but nevertheless deadly.
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'The acting wasn't new. I've been doing it my whole life. Only now, the truth...was too painful to reveal, too upsetting for those around me. They didn't want to see who I truly was...what I truly was. They didn't want to know that I'm a killer.'
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It's been...what?...almost two days since I read this book, and I am no closer to knowing how to review this book than I was when I had just finished it. I also really don't want to give much of the story away because finding out while you are reading it is better for this kind of book. It was unique and captivating. I was hooked from pretty much the start of this. I. Could. Not. Put. This. Down.
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"You won't be a whore, but you will be my whore."
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Since I have no idea how to put into words every single thing that I thought and felt, this will probably be a short review. I will say that Victoria was a very interesting anti-heroine. Life--or should I say, parents--have put her in a horrible situation where she ends up signing her life away. As a result, she is forced to do things by her husband Stewart--a successful older man . She is done being the victim. She wants revenge. She longs for freedom and control over her life. And it seems that she might just be able to pull it off.
This book was crazy good and the writing was amazing. The erotic scenes were hot and twisted and just flowed so well with the rest of the story. I loved the suspense and all those twists and turns in this book. I never knew what to expect. I had many guesses and many were wrong. I kept going back and forth about how I felt about Stewart, Brody, and Travis. There were parts I thought I liked them and could be trustworthy, but then I would completely change my mind.
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'The real Victoria Harrington was not a whore. No, I was a fucking widow--a black widow--I wouldn't go back without a fight.'
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I really enjoyed this book. I'm not sure what to think about the ending. It has definitely left me with some questions but it was really good, nonetheless. It was a dark and mind blowing original story. Note, this is not a romance novel, it's far from it. It was enthralling and I enjoyed every moment of the crazy ride. This is definitely something worth checking out for yourself.
September 20, 2015
I loved every page of Insidious. It was not only erotic, thrilling and addictive, but it was twisted and deadly. From the moment I began reading it, I had a trouble putting it down.
Victoria is married to a rich, gorgeous and powerful man, but her life is anything but hearts and flowers. Her husband, Stewart has very special demands of his wife, which leaves Victoria cold and empty. Both of them play a very deadly game with a lot of rules and lot of uncovered secrets.
Aleatha Romig's writing is amazingly brilliant. She really knows how to keep readers sitting on the edge of their seat. All those twists and turns left me gaping. While reading, I went from full on smile to panicked in a second and other way around. I constantly had to ask myself - 'did that just happened?', 'what is that', 'what does it mean' etc.
I loved Victoria, she was so strong and it really felt like nothing can really bring her down, no matter what. That was fascinating. Also, she had to make some tough decisions in her life and I really can't blame her for doing what she did. Having studied contract law, I thought I will have problems with this storyline, I didn't. Although I had to doubt the validity/legality of some of the stuff, I think she handled everything pretty well. Anyway, she was pretty badass!
I love playing the guessing game, and always trying to put the clues together, and this book was perfect for that, even though some of the twists you can't see coming at all. Secrets upon more secrets...
Lastly, I am all up for making up theories, speculating and keeping the suspense going, therefore some of the introduced but unexplained things and unanswered questions at the end of the book did not bother me. I cannot wait for the next book in the series, and there are so many options for next books main characters! Would love to read a book about Doc.
I highly recommend this hot and suspenseful erotic thriller!
Thanks for the BR Jasmine, Kirsten, Sandy, Karez and Feifei ♥
Victoria is married to a rich, gorgeous and powerful man, but her life is anything but hearts and flowers. Her husband, Stewart has very special demands of his wife, which leaves Victoria cold and empty. Both of them play a very deadly game with a lot of rules and lot of uncovered secrets.
"[..] sex was nothing more than a tool, a weapon. It had been used against me, but I'd learned to use it in my favor."
Aleatha Romig's writing is amazingly brilliant. She really knows how to keep readers sitting on the edge of their seat. All those twists and turns left me gaping. While reading, I went from full on smile to panicked in a second and other way around. I constantly had to ask myself - 'did that just happened?', 'what is that', 'what does it mean' etc.
I loved Victoria, she was so strong and it really felt like nothing can really bring her down, no matter what. That was fascinating. Also, she had to make some tough decisions in her life and I really can't blame her for doing what she did. Having studied contract law, I thought I will have problems with this storyline, I didn't. Although I had to doubt the validity/legality of some of the stuff, I think she handled everything pretty well. Anyway, she was pretty badass!
""Stay here. Don't go back into darkness." If he only understood: that was where I was born and where I'd lived. It was who I was."
I love playing the guessing game, and always trying to put the clues together, and this book was perfect for that, even though some of the twists you can't see coming at all. Secrets upon more secrets...
Lastly, I am all up for making up theories, speculating and keeping the suspense going, therefore some of the introduced but unexplained things and unanswered questions at the end of the book did not bother me. I cannot wait for the next book in the series, and there are so many options for next books main characters! Would love to read a book about Doc.
"You fucking smell like freedom, like sunshine and wind on the goddamned beach."
I highly recommend this hot and suspenseful erotic thriller!
Thanks for the BR Jasmine, Kirsten, Sandy, Karez and Feifei ♥
October 28, 2014
what the heck was that? No really...I am confounded! I guess Kudos to Aleatha Romig for making my head hurt! Keeping it simple...
The writing is superb as I would expect nothing less from this author. The story line is completely out of the box and keeps you engaged from page one until the very last period...even after that, I am still sitting here pondering the HUH factor. Was that really an ending!
The characters, Victoria, Stewart, Brody, and Travis. I have no idea how to even begin to discuss them without giving something away. What a tangled web of connections and mystery. Me, I feel like this was a crazy world of inappropriateness and WTF moments. Why, you say? well...18 yr old brides, blindfolded sex with "friends," possible murder and conspiracy abound, questionable ethics and morals are key, and lets not forget the crazy erotic nature of the sex that is hot, yet NOT!
I don't know...I say Read it! Get in the story and go to the "dark side" for yourself. I just don't think I came back from there because I am still sitting here wandering WTF I just read lol!
The writing is superb as I would expect nothing less from this author. The story line is completely out of the box and keeps you engaged from page one until the very last period...even after that, I am still sitting here pondering the HUH factor. Was that really an ending!
The characters, Victoria, Stewart, Brody, and Travis. I have no idea how to even begin to discuss them without giving something away. What a tangled web of connections and mystery. Me, I feel like this was a crazy world of inappropriateness and WTF moments. Why, you say? well...18 yr old brides, blindfolded sex with "friends," possible murder and conspiracy abound, questionable ethics and morals are key, and lets not forget the crazy erotic nature of the sex that is hot, yet NOT!
I don't know...I say Read it! Get in the story and go to the "dark side" for yourself. I just don't think I came back from there because I am still sitting here wandering WTF I just read lol!
September 19, 2015
4.5 stars! Wow! This book had me intrigued from the beginning. Victoria is one strong heroine. Every time I thought a character was good or bad, the opposite happened! I am still reeling a bit from the ending, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book!!
October 28, 2014
4 WTF?!?! Stars
Insidious proved to be painstakingly good. Encouraged by my good gal pals, this was my first Romig mind blower and certainly won't be my last. This story, woven together layer by layer with mystery and thrilling intrigue, left me guessing throughout the pages. The purpose of each character fully realized leaves a lasting impression on the reader. However, there were parts of the story where I found my mind wandering off. It seemed I wanted answers I wasn't getting only to ultimately feel hung out to dry. My overall reading experience, though, was as exciting as the intended thrill of this story and proved to be fun. As I stated above I'm certainly going to read Aleatha Romig's Consequences series. Her writing style exemplifies exquisite darkness through brilliant prose.
Major love and thanks to my girls Deanna, Irene, and Jxxx for pushing me to read Insidious.
Also, these fabulous women wrote reviews as mind blowing as Insidious. Check them out here:
Deanna Pink Lady's Insidious Review
Irene the Trailer Goddess's Insidious Review
Jxxx Pink Lady's Insidious Review
dnf
January 10, 2015This is before;Another book from Aleatha, Dark & Twisted???
Here is the after; DNF @ %8 - This series nothing like Consequences. I love, breath the series but somehow disappointed with this one. I sense from the beginning I wouldn't like somethings in this and my suspicions come true when I learn what happens next from my friend. Really, the chauffeur?
Here is the after; DNF @ %8 - This series nothing like Consequences. I love, breath the series but somehow disappointed with this one. I sense from the beginning I wouldn't like somethings in this and my suspicions come true when I learn what happens next from my friend. Really, the chauffeur?
November 29, 2014
4 stars!
Insidious is a tale about lies, deception, secrets, and revenge. The circumstances involved in the life of the strong heroine, Victoria, will leave you flipping the pages fast to see how it all comes together.
After 10 years of marriage, Victoria is starting to see the light at the end of a tunnel. She may have anything that money can buy, but her life is anything but happy. And so, she has a plan. She is finally going to escape the hell that her life has been. Her plan has a flaw though. Unbeknownst to her, the agenda will set off a series of events and revelations. Is Victoria truly making the right decision?
Yep, pretty vague, but that's all I can really say about the book. This is yet another instance where it is best to just go in blind and enjoy all the twists, turns, and mind fuckery of it all. This story had this in spades.
After reading the prologue, I was totally sucked in. Each chapter after that gave you a little more to the story, and yet a lot more questions to be answered. To me, these are my favorite reads. I think it takes some major talent to give the reader certain snippets here and there, and trying to come to their own conclusions. This definitely gave my brain a workout.
When getting into a book (especially one like this), I am really BIG on trying to put myself if the main characters shoes. This one definitely makes you question what you would chose if you were put in the same situation. I have to admit, I'm not sure I would have taken the same path as Victoria, but after reading the entirety, I don't think she had a choice, and some other plan would have came along. Which then gets you wondering about how things would play out differently. She may have thought that she was living a hard life (and if you've read this, who could blame her, it was pretty fucked up), but her life also could've been far worse.
If you've read the Consequences series, you know what a fabulous writer Aleatha Romig is. And this one was no exception. It was beautifully written, and it had a lot of similarities to her other books. Some examples would be the whole contract deal, the older hero, and a strong (and sometimes badass) heroine. Victoria did remind me of Claire, and Stewart also had Tony-like qualities. The story flowed well, and the revelations were shocking.
The one main difference from her previous work, was the sex. Where in her other books, the sex is glazed over, this one gives you scene after scene of explicit (and pretty hot) detail. I was a little surprised by this, and can simply say, Bravo!
Basically, I love, love, loved this...until the last 5 or so %. Then it took a nosedive, IMO. I THINK it had a HEA... (?) That's one thing I was confused about. Basically the ending was a little rushed and I felt there were a lot of loose ends, and some WTF and REALLY?!?! moments were had. I have a lot of questions!!! Some of the revelations were glazed over. Too many loose ends.
I thought this was going to be a 5 star read, but the ending was a 2-3 star conclusion. It basically left me annoyed and frustrated and started to cancel out some of the awesomeness that I was pulled into. Because there is a kick ass story to be told, and wonderful writing and mind fuckery, I'll go with a solid 4.
Thanks to Jasmine, Sandy, Karéz, Ilze, and Feifei for a great buddy read. I know I was the turtle of the bunch, so I thank you for hanging in with me! xo
Insidious is a tale about lies, deception, secrets, and revenge. The circumstances involved in the life of the strong heroine, Victoria, will leave you flipping the pages fast to see how it all comes together.
After 10 years of marriage, Victoria is starting to see the light at the end of a tunnel. She may have anything that money can buy, but her life is anything but happy. And so, she has a plan. She is finally going to escape the hell that her life has been. Her plan has a flaw though. Unbeknownst to her, the agenda will set off a series of events and revelations. Is Victoria truly making the right decision?
"I loathed his existence, yet he was my savior."
Yep, pretty vague, but that's all I can really say about the book. This is yet another instance where it is best to just go in blind and enjoy all the twists, turns, and mind fuckery of it all. This story had this in spades.
After reading the prologue, I was totally sucked in. Each chapter after that gave you a little more to the story, and yet a lot more questions to be answered. To me, these are my favorite reads. I think it takes some major talent to give the reader certain snippets here and there, and trying to come to their own conclusions. This definitely gave my brain a workout.
When getting into a book (especially one like this), I am really BIG on trying to put myself if the main characters shoes. This one definitely makes you question what you would chose if you were put in the same situation. I have to admit, I'm not sure I would have taken the same path as Victoria, but after reading the entirety, I don't think she had a choice, and some other plan would have came along. Which then gets you wondering about how things would play out differently. She may have thought that she was living a hard life (and if you've read this, who could blame her, it was pretty fucked up), but her life also could've been far worse.
If you've read the Consequences series, you know what a fabulous writer Aleatha Romig is. And this one was no exception. It was beautifully written, and it had a lot of similarities to her other books. Some examples would be the whole contract deal, the older hero, and a strong (and sometimes badass) heroine. Victoria did remind me of Claire, and Stewart also had Tony-like qualities. The story flowed well, and the revelations were shocking.
The one main difference from her previous work, was the sex. Where in her other books, the sex is glazed over, this one gives you scene after scene of explicit (and pretty hot) detail. I was a little surprised by this, and can simply say, Bravo!
Basically, I love, love, loved this...until the last 5 or so %. Then it took a nosedive, IMO. I THINK it had a HEA... (?) That's one thing I was confused about. Basically the ending was a little rushed and I felt there were a lot of loose ends, and some WTF and REALLY?!?! moments were had. I have a lot of questions!!! Some of the revelations were glazed over. Too many loose ends.
I thought this was going to be a 5 star read, but the ending was a 2-3 star conclusion. It basically left me annoyed and frustrated and started to cancel out some of the awesomeness that I was pulled into. Because there is a kick ass story to be told, and wonderful writing and mind fuckery, I'll go with a solid 4.
Thanks to Jasmine, Sandy, Karéz, Ilze, and Feifei for a great buddy read. I know I was the turtle of the bunch, so I thank you for hanging in with me! xo
November 5, 2014
3 Mind – blogging – confusing – really? Stars
I don’t know if I should rate Insidious 2 or 4 stars. I guess I will figure it out once I’m done with my review.
I loved Consequences and I love dark reads. I love Heroes that make you cringe and make you love and hate them at the same time. I wanted that with Insidious. First off, Insidious isn’t a romantic read. Yes, I know Consequences wasn’t a romantic read either, but it had some of that. Anyhow , I think I went into Insidious with Consequences expectations and it kind of messed me up.
Insidious is a dark, psychological thriller with a very strong protagonist. I’m not a fan of psychological thrillers and I’m not a fan of a protagonist with huge character flaws. But, I’m not saying I couldn’t like a book because I didn’t like the main character, it’s just hard for me to get into it.
Victoria is very flawed and has been dealt with crappy cards. At 18 she sells herself to Stewart, 22 years her senior. She basically signed a contract that said she would do anything sexual for him and in return he would pay for her family debts.
This is not a kidnapping, sex and slave book, so get that out of your head. This is about Victoria dealing with what she signed up for.
Insidious is very descriptive, another thing I’m not a fan of. So again, it’s a personal preference style of reading. The beginning for me was a bit slow, but I did find the whole plot interesting. I wanted to know why Victoria has such strong feelings against Stewart and what kind of man Stewart is.
I will tell you, the flow of the book didn’t work for me. Insidious switches from past to present tense and that’s something I can’t stand. Also, not only there is a past tense, but during the present tense, there are flash backs. It’s a bit confusing at times and I don’t think it was needed.
I think I would have enjoyed the past parts more if I felt like it added something to the story. To me, it just made me angry towards Victoria. You see, Victoria isn’t a likable character. Sure she sells herself to save her family, but she keeps on telling me that and it gets to the point where I feel like it wasn’t really worth it.
Towards the middle, a lot is thrown at you and it picks up a bit more. However, like I said a lot is thrown at you and you have no idea who the Hero is. Yeah, there are three contenders and I wasn’t a fan of that.
Is the hero Travis? Brody? Stewart?
Travis – creepy husband’s assistant
Brody – current lover, but kind of a pussy
Stewart – perverted old man / husband
Oh which one do I pick for Victoria?
I don’t like guessing who I want Victoria to end up with (if she does end up with anyone). So I can tell you, the idea of a typical “hero” is not present in Insidious, which was a major disappointment. More secrets are unraveled and my brain starts to hurt a bit. It’s a little difficult to follow along and maybe it’s because I just haven’t gotten into it. I feel like there are too many parts, relationships, ties and strings to make feel like I could connect with the book.
I kind of felt like I should be reading Gone Girl, but I didn’t get the same reaction and I liked Gone Girl (to a certain extent).
I get the positive and negative reviews. I guess I respect the positive ones because it worked for them. I get how you can be consumed and wrapped into the story because it’s multilayered, but I can also agree with the negative ones. A lot goes on, Victoria is bit frustrating and there’s too many leading men.
So I guess I will just have to go in between and pick 3 stars. It was okay, wasn’t bad, but it didn’t work out for me.
Oh and all the reviews that talked about the ending….
AMAZON
I don’t know if I should rate Insidious 2 or 4 stars. I guess I will figure it out once I’m done with my review.
I loved Consequences and I love dark reads. I love Heroes that make you cringe and make you love and hate them at the same time. I wanted that with Insidious. First off, Insidious isn’t a romantic read. Yes, I know Consequences wasn’t a romantic read either, but it had some of that. Anyhow , I think I went into Insidious with Consequences expectations and it kind of messed me up.
Insidious is a dark, psychological thriller with a very strong protagonist. I’m not a fan of psychological thrillers and I’m not a fan of a protagonist with huge character flaws. But, I’m not saying I couldn’t like a book because I didn’t like the main character, it’s just hard for me to get into it.
Victoria is very flawed and has been dealt with crappy cards. At 18 she sells herself to Stewart, 22 years her senior. She basically signed a contract that said she would do anything sexual for him and in return he would pay for her family debts.
This is not a kidnapping, sex and slave book, so get that out of your head. This is about Victoria dealing with what she signed up for.
Insidious is very descriptive, another thing I’m not a fan of. So again, it’s a personal preference style of reading. The beginning for me was a bit slow, but I did find the whole plot interesting. I wanted to know why Victoria has such strong feelings against Stewart and what kind of man Stewart is.
I will tell you, the flow of the book didn’t work for me. Insidious switches from past to present tense and that’s something I can’t stand. Also, not only there is a past tense, but during the present tense, there are flash backs. It’s a bit confusing at times and I don’t think it was needed.
I think I would have enjoyed the past parts more if I felt like it added something to the story. To me, it just made me angry towards Victoria. You see, Victoria isn’t a likable character. Sure she sells herself to save her family, but she keeps on telling me that and it gets to the point where I feel like it wasn’t really worth it.
Towards the middle, a lot is thrown at you and it picks up a bit more. However, like I said a lot is thrown at you and you have no idea who the Hero is. Yeah, there are three contenders and I wasn’t a fan of that.
Is the hero Travis? Brody? Stewart?
Travis – creepy husband’s assistant
Brody – current lover, but kind of a pussy
Stewart – perverted old man / husband
Oh which one do I pick for Victoria?
I don’t like guessing who I want Victoria to end up with (if she does end up with anyone). So I can tell you, the idea of a typical “hero” is not present in Insidious, which was a major disappointment. More secrets are unraveled and my brain starts to hurt a bit. It’s a little difficult to follow along and maybe it’s because I just haven’t gotten into it. I feel like there are too many parts, relationships, ties and strings to make feel like I could connect with the book.
I kind of felt like I should be reading Gone Girl, but I didn’t get the same reaction and I liked Gone Girl (to a certain extent).
I get the positive and negative reviews. I guess I respect the positive ones because it worked for them. I get how you can be consumed and wrapped into the story because it’s multilayered, but I can also agree with the negative ones. A lot goes on, Victoria is bit frustrating and there’s too many leading men.
So I guess I will just have to go in between and pick 3 stars. It was okay, wasn’t bad, but it didn’t work out for me.
Oh and all the reviews that talked about the ending….
AMAZON
October 26, 2014
This book is so confusing and fucked up! Which I'm sure is the point Aleatha Romig wanted from us.
It is indeed takes from the dark side because you don't know what is truth and what isn't anymore.
Mrs Harrington... A prestigious name. Just like her prestigious husband Stewart Harrington.
When Victoria an 18 year old was offered an 'arrangement' she knew her life would change. She just didn't know the depths of it.
Being Mrs Stewart Harrington had perks... A lot of then. But it also had some requirements... Some insane and fucked up wants....
Victoria signed the dotted line- now she would pay the price.
10 years later she is a different person. One that is smart despite not attending school. She still plays her role, the game but what her husband doesn't know is that she is now in control of it...
Honestly I was so rattled by the shit I was reading, I became a book junkie- for the truth. The end of the game.
Soon Victoria's pain will become her pleasure... She is after all Mr Harrington's whore.
Sex, lies, murder, beauty- how will Victoria win the game? Read this fantastic book and find out!
April 29, 2018
"A promise? A contract? A life sentence?"
This read certainly lived up to its billing as a “smart, sexy thriller”. This read is an enjoyable sexy thrill ride with surprises around every corner. It was published in 2014, and now in 2018, I have just become familiar with Ms. Romig. From the few books I read, I naturally assumed, although dark, there would be an element of romance. Ha! Silly me!! One thing this is not…and that is… a romance!!! It’s intoxicating, titillating and I enjoyed sex- oops, I mean – I enjoyed reading about the sex with the three important men in the life of the dark anti-heroine, Victoria (Vikki) Harrington née Conway. Yet…I am left with an “insidious” nagging set of questions at the end of the story. I haven’t quite made up my mind if this is actually brilliant or an intentional and aggravating literary device to spur discussion and buzz around the book?
We hear this entire story through the 1rst person POV of Victoria. She was raised to believe she was “venom” … death itself to anyone who came near to her. She is supposedly bartered away by her parents to cover the debts from their vices incurred by unsavory elements of society. To insure her parent’s financial heath and thereby securing the futures of her younger siblings she signs a marriage contract agreeing to the dark terms of an incredibly sexy, fabulously wealthy older man, Stewart Harrington in exchange for wealth and social standing. She enjoys the sensual attention of this sexual tempter, this predator for about a year. Oh…and is he a deliciously dirty talker! And because he bought her, groomed her and trained her for a specific purpose, after this enjoyable year, Vikki had to honor her contract and submit to Stewart’s desire to watch her have blindfolded and hearing controlled sex with Stewart’s “friends”.
The story jumps back and forth in the timeline of events and I found this to be entertaining. The book actually opens with her husband in the last stages of terminal illness. The author weaves an entirely plausible scenario on how our damaged, used and abused heroine has managed to put her husband on his deathbed.
If there is any relationship that possibly goes beyond obsessive desire then perhaps it is Vikki’s relationship with the junior partner at the law firm that handles her affairs, Brody Phillips. With his “strawberry blond” hair and “aquamarine” eyes, he smells like sunshine to Vikki. Their sexual encounters, while no less hot and intense, are written with an element of sweetness. Vikki expresses her feelings of being unworthy of such healthy loving emotion.
Then again…in this story…nothing is as it seems. After reading the entirety of this book, I am left wondering if Brody is in fact the tragic hero after all? Is he an example of being a victim of his own baser desires? Vikki’s deadly trap could only work if he and anyone else for that matter actually “went there”. Did he even go there?
Lastly, there is Travis Daniels, who was the personal assistant (and perhaps more) to Stewart Harrington. He has watched Vikki even before she became Stewart Harrington’s wife. He becomes her “mountain”. It is this man that Vikki chooses to believe or does she entirely? The sex with him is wild and untamed. He claimed to have been there for every anonymous encounter she had while married to Stewart. He despised Brody Phillips. He was impressed with her handling of underworld business connections. Was Travis her HEA?
We only know what our dark heroine knows and for that matter what she shares with us. Has she become “death” to all her men? What did Travis do to deserve the vial with the red solution? What trap did he befall? Does it have anything to do with Brody? Is it even his hair? Could it be hers?
I have never used so many question marks in a review before. While I did share with you these lingering questions, you really need to read the book to find out their genesis. All these “insidious” questions…it’s enough to keep a girl up at night…that and all the glorious sex! Brilliant?
This read certainly lived up to its billing as a “smart, sexy thriller”. This read is an enjoyable sexy thrill ride with surprises around every corner. It was published in 2014, and now in 2018, I have just become familiar with Ms. Romig. From the few books I read, I naturally assumed, although dark, there would be an element of romance. Ha! Silly me!! One thing this is not…and that is… a romance!!! It’s intoxicating, titillating and I enjoyed sex- oops, I mean – I enjoyed reading about the sex with the three important men in the life of the dark anti-heroine, Victoria (Vikki) Harrington née Conway. Yet…I am left with an “insidious” nagging set of questions at the end of the story. I haven’t quite made up my mind if this is actually brilliant or an intentional and aggravating literary device to spur discussion and buzz around the book?
We hear this entire story through the 1rst person POV of Victoria. She was raised to believe she was “venom” … death itself to anyone who came near to her. She is supposedly bartered away by her parents to cover the debts from their vices incurred by unsavory elements of society. To insure her parent’s financial heath and thereby securing the futures of her younger siblings she signs a marriage contract agreeing to the dark terms of an incredibly sexy, fabulously wealthy older man, Stewart Harrington in exchange for wealth and social standing. She enjoys the sensual attention of this sexual tempter, this predator for about a year. Oh…and is he a deliciously dirty talker! And because he bought her, groomed her and trained her for a specific purpose, after this enjoyable year, Vikki had to honor her contract and submit to Stewart’s desire to watch her have blindfolded and hearing controlled sex with Stewart’s “friends”.
The story jumps back and forth in the timeline of events and I found this to be entertaining. The book actually opens with her husband in the last stages of terminal illness. The author weaves an entirely plausible scenario on how our damaged, used and abused heroine has managed to put her husband on his deathbed.
If there is any relationship that possibly goes beyond obsessive desire then perhaps it is Vikki’s relationship with the junior partner at the law firm that handles her affairs, Brody Phillips. With his “strawberry blond” hair and “aquamarine” eyes, he smells like sunshine to Vikki. Their sexual encounters, while no less hot and intense, are written with an element of sweetness. Vikki expresses her feelings of being unworthy of such healthy loving emotion.
"'What I want more than anything is to make love to you, to hold you, to watch you sleep, and be there when you wake. I want to love you so hard that when those beautiful eyes are closed, I have no doubt that you’re dreaming about me. And when you wake, I want to be the one to make every one of your dreams come true.’”
Then again…in this story…nothing is as it seems. After reading the entirety of this book, I am left wondering if Brody is in fact the tragic hero after all? Is he an example of being a victim of his own baser desires? Vikki’s deadly trap could only work if he and anyone else for that matter actually “went there”. Did he even go there?
"Besides, sex was nothing more than a tool, a weapon. It had been used against me, but I’d learned to use it in my favor. If sex helped me obtain my goal, there was no fucking reason not to use it.”
Lastly, there is Travis Daniels, who was the personal assistant (and perhaps more) to Stewart Harrington. He has watched Vikki even before she became Stewart Harrington’s wife. He becomes her “mountain”. It is this man that Vikki chooses to believe or does she entirely? The sex with him is wild and untamed. He claimed to have been there for every anonymous encounter she had while married to Stewart. He despised Brody Phillips. He was impressed with her handling of underworld business connections. Was Travis her HEA?
“My mountain was right there, both literally and figuratively. I had never realized that Travis was my mountain, my high.”
We only know what our dark heroine knows and for that matter what she shares with us. Has she become “death” to all her men? What did Travis do to deserve the vial with the red solution? What trap did he befall? Does it have anything to do with Brody? Is it even his hair? Could it be hers?
I have never used so many question marks in a review before. While I did share with you these lingering questions, you really need to read the book to find out their genesis. All these “insidious” questions…it’s enough to keep a girl up at night…that and all the glorious sex! Brilliant?
October 23, 2014
3.5 to 4 Stars
I am a huge fan of Aleatha Romig..... Consequences Series. So I was very excited to see what this author could come up with that was different but still had that exciting OMG moments that her previous series had.
This was an erotic dark thriller, I felt she did pull it off.
The plot is basically about a young girl Victoria who to save her family from debt and unsavory characters, signs a contract to agree to marry the rich and older Stewart.
Stewart is looking for not only a beautiful wife but a women to satisfy his own certain sexual needs.
You see Stewart has friends.....
But who is playing who?
I can't really say anymore about the plot than that as it would spoil the enjoyment.
The story is told in past and present and kept my attention with its suspense and tangled web of deception and darkness. I'm looking forward to more from this author with the rest of this series as its definitely something she does well.
Although I pretty much guessed alot of the twists and surprises it didn't hamper my enjoyment of the story at all.
The ending......well lets just say
I am a huge fan of Aleatha Romig..... Consequences Series. So I was very excited to see what this author could come up with that was different but still had that exciting OMG moments that her previous series had.
This was an erotic dark thriller, I felt she did pull it off.
The plot is basically about a young girl Victoria who to save her family from debt and unsavory characters, signs a contract to agree to marry the rich and older Stewart.
Stewart is looking for not only a beautiful wife but a women to satisfy his own certain sexual needs.
You see Stewart has friends.....
But who is playing who?
I can't really say anymore about the plot than that as it would spoil the enjoyment.
The story is told in past and present and kept my attention with its suspense and tangled web of deception and darkness. I'm looking forward to more from this author with the rest of this series as its definitely something she does well.
Although I pretty much guessed alot of the twists and surprises it didn't hamper my enjoyment of the story at all.
The ending......well lets just say
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