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Deviant
Julien
I'm a hit man, an assassin. A deviant by all accounts. I never pretended to be the good guy.
She was the opposite.
But the minute she pulled the curtains back and saw my face, watched me screwing the blonde who happened to be my next mark, she sealed her own fate.
There could be no witnesses, ever.
Imagine my surprise when I turned up to take care of her only to find two goons breaking down her door, weapons in hand.
Turned out she had a price on her head. Her stepbrother wanted her and he wanted her alive. I'd never been one to pass up an opportunity to collect the kind of money he was offering, especially if I could have some fun while I was at it.
It just never occurred to me she’d be anything more than my next mark.
Mia
“Curiosity killed the kitten.”
I'll never forget the look in his eyes when he said those words.
When I watched them from the window, I didn't suspect for a moment that he'd seen me, that he was watching me back. Not while he was doing what he was doing to the woman on her knees before him.
But then she turned up dead, and he turned up in my hotel room, waiting for me in the dark.
I didn't think for one second him being there that night would save my life. I'd been on the run for two years, but my stepbrother had finally caught up with me. Or his two thugs had.
Finding out I had a quarter-of-a-million dollar bounty on my head convinced Julien I was more valuable alive than dead. But to collect it would mean returning me to my stepbrother, who had sworn to make me pay for what I'd done.
Julien was cruel. He was merciless. He scared the crap out of me. But there was something else, something he never wanted me to see. Inside, he was broken, like me.
My stepbrother was wrong if he thought I'd ever let him get his hands on me again. I had no intention of allowing that to happen, even if it meant I'd have to sleep with the devil to survive.
And I had no doubt Julien was the devil.
I'm a hit man, an assassin. A deviant by all accounts. I never pretended to be the good guy.
She was the opposite.
But the minute she pulled the curtains back and saw my face, watched me screwing the blonde who happened to be my next mark, she sealed her own fate.
There could be no witnesses, ever.
Imagine my surprise when I turned up to take care of her only to find two goons breaking down her door, weapons in hand.
Turned out she had a price on her head. Her stepbrother wanted her and he wanted her alive. I'd never been one to pass up an opportunity to collect the kind of money he was offering, especially if I could have some fun while I was at it.
It just never occurred to me she’d be anything more than my next mark.
Mia
“Curiosity killed the kitten.”
I'll never forget the look in his eyes when he said those words.
When I watched them from the window, I didn't suspect for a moment that he'd seen me, that he was watching me back. Not while he was doing what he was doing to the woman on her knees before him.
But then she turned up dead, and he turned up in my hotel room, waiting for me in the dark.
I didn't think for one second him being there that night would save my life. I'd been on the run for two years, but my stepbrother had finally caught up with me. Or his two thugs had.
Finding out I had a quarter-of-a-million dollar bounty on my head convinced Julien I was more valuable alive than dead. But to collect it would mean returning me to my stepbrother, who had sworn to make me pay for what I'd done.
Julien was cruel. He was merciless. He scared the crap out of me. But there was something else, something he never wanted me to see. Inside, he was broken, like me.
My stepbrother was wrong if he thought I'd ever let him get his hands on me again. I had no intention of allowing that to happen, even if it meant I'd have to sleep with the devil to survive.
And I had no doubt Julien was the devil.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 7, 2015
227 people are currently reading
1756 people want to read
About the author
Natasha Knight
103 books5,309 followersNatasha Knight is the USA Today Bestselling author of Romantic Suspense and Dark Romance Novels. She has sold over a million books and is translated into six languages. She currently lives in The Netherlands with her husband and two daughters and when she’s not writing, she’s walking in the woods listening to a book, sitting in a corner reading or off exploring the world as often as she can get away.
Write Natasha here:
natasha@natasha-knight.com
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Write Natasha here:
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Check out her books here:
https://natasha-knight.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
February 13, 2016
I listened to the Audible version of this book and it was well-narrated. However, this was definitely an audiobook that will keep you blushing in traffic. Julien is one dirty-talking, dominant guy! The things that came out of his mouth had me equal parts shocked and turned on.
Mia is on the run from her step-brother and his criminal family. Responsible for putting him in jail, she knows that he will kill her if he ever gets his hands on her again. When he is released from prison early, that's exactly what he sets out to do.
Julien is not a nice guy. He's a mercenary, killing for money. He doesn't get attached to others and he doesn't have any qualms about seducing his marks before he kills them.
When Mia sees the couple staying across from her at the hotel having sex, she can't resist the temptation to watch. She's especially drawn to the man. Yet, when the lady turns up dead several days later, she finds that she may have caught the attention of the very kind of dangerous man she's trying to escape.
By chance, Julien saves Mia from some thugs that her stepbrother sent to retrieve her. When he receives his latest job, he is surprised to see that it is the very same girl that he's been fantasizing about. Things get even more interesting when Mia offers to double the offer if he'll help her clam the inheritance left for her by her sister.
This book had lots of danger and suspense. The sex was hot, albeit gratuitous at times. I enjoyed it, but didn't feel the supposed strong connection between Mia and Julien. I think that if a little more time had been spent on character development, and a little less on sex, their connection might have been more believable.
As it is, that lack of connection kept this story from being great for me. I liked it. It was okay, but didn't rise to the level of others in this genre for me. I just wanted to feel more and it didn't happen this time.
Mia is on the run from her step-brother and his criminal family. Responsible for putting him in jail, she knows that he will kill her if he ever gets his hands on her again. When he is released from prison early, that's exactly what he sets out to do.
Julien is not a nice guy. He's a mercenary, killing for money. He doesn't get attached to others and he doesn't have any qualms about seducing his marks before he kills them.
When Mia sees the couple staying across from her at the hotel having sex, she can't resist the temptation to watch. She's especially drawn to the man. Yet, when the lady turns up dead several days later, she finds that she may have caught the attention of the very kind of dangerous man she's trying to escape.
By chance, Julien saves Mia from some thugs that her stepbrother sent to retrieve her. When he receives his latest job, he is surprised to see that it is the very same girl that he's been fantasizing about. Things get even more interesting when Mia offers to double the offer if he'll help her clam the inheritance left for her by her sister.
This book had lots of danger and suspense. The sex was hot, albeit gratuitous at times. I enjoyed it, but didn't feel the supposed strong connection between Mia and Julien. I think that if a little more time had been spent on character development, and a little less on sex, their connection might have been more believable.
As it is, that lack of connection kept this story from being great for me. I liked it. It was okay, but didn't rise to the level of others in this genre for me. I just wanted to feel more and it didn't happen this time.
August 5, 2015
Your intuition will lead the way;
You don’t need to ask for directions.
5 Curiosity Killed the Kitten STARS
Julien and Mia .. ♥
OH MY! Natasha Knight .. WELL HELLO YOU UNDERCOVER AMAZING AUTHOR YOU! I'msurprised this book doesn't have higher ratings or isn't hyped. Regardless, it still was pretty freaking AH-MAZ-ING if you ask me. It isn't exactly a conventional love story but that's what I LOVED about it because it's always good to spice it up once in a while. I became quite bored with the typical book boyfriend whose flawless and always knew what to do or say. Julien on the other hand .. isn't this typical type! Natasha Knight has created unique characters along with a unique plot. It had me on cringing, crying, and wanting NEEDING more. Was Julien offensive? HELL YEAH. Would I want him any other way? HELL NO. Mia was so perfect for him and this is one of those cases where opposites truly do attract.
Deviant Natasha Knight
You don’t need to ask for directions.
5 Curiosity Killed the Kitten STARS
Julien and Mia .. ♥
I had to remember that he wasn't the good guy.
Hewasn'tthe hero. In fact, he was the villain.
I only fuck you when it's half past five
The only time I'd ever call you mine ..►♫
Even though I tried to push her away,
even though I knew that was the right thing to do,
some part of me hoped she'd chose me anyway.
OH MY! Natasha Knight .. WELL HELLO YOU UNDERCOVER AMAZING AUTHOR YOU! I'm
Because I would have her.
I would change everything for her.
I only love it when you touch me, not feel me
When I'm fucked up, that's the real me ..►♫
Somehow, someway,
you've managed to work your
way under my skin, Mia St. Rose.
Deviant Natasha Knight
January 25, 2016
I've had this book on my TBR for some time now but unfortunately that list has somehow transformed into my "where books go to die" list (not for all but for most) because I never seem to get to them and new and exciting books always appear. So when Natasha Knight offered me an arc for one of her books (that I had to turn down because of the genre) I asked her if I could have an arc for Deviant and so my journey with Julien and Mia began.
If you're expecting dark romance then you'll be disappointed because this books is not very dark. There is no or ...there is just very very very dirty sex :P
The blurb pretty much sums up the action of the book but it no where near prepares you for the kind of kink this book holds. There where some things that I would have normally been offended by but the author made them seem so hot that I felt like I needed a fire extinguisher for my panties :P
Normally the main male character screwing other woman in front of the MFC would be a totally big NONO for me but in this case it set the tone of the whole book and the scene where was so freaking hot I didn't know whether to be sick or aroused by it...but finally...
So if you, my smut loving friends, are wondering if I'm recommending this book or not my answers is:
*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
February 5, 2016
0 stars
Zo, honey, I'm not reading your book choices anymore. No offense, you're my fave sis-in-law...shhh...don't tell BB or Lex...but you and I, we've come to an impasse over the amount of bullshit I'll put up with in my reads.
This book is a prime fucking example.
This started out great and I really wanted to like it. The writing was excellent, so I'll read this author again. But in the end, the H was just too big of a manipulative prick for my taste.
One of my biggest no-no's happened. It's OK to have an OTT alpha, all cocky, sexy and sure of himself, but sometimes (always), I like my h not to just jump the fuck right in, sopping panties and all. Sometimes it'd be nice just to make the H's work for it. Just a moment of insecurity and effort. Because if the h just drops her panties immediately, it makes her no different than any OW who came before her. No pun intended.
And honestly, what the fuck happened to The Chase???
Am I the only one that finds that shit sexy as fuck???
OK, safety gang, I just have to say upfront this is forced seduction and the H fucks 2 OW at different times and the h sees him doing both. One OW is his target (who he will later kill) and the h doesn't think ANYTHING about it other than it is hot. It's just voyeuristic sex to her. It didn't bother me. The second one though, that was utter bullshit. We learned with the first OW what he was capable of. The second OW was just a fucking clichéd plot device. There were other ways for him to learn guilt...which he had for one line, then never again when the h mentions it.
My biggest problem with the H is that he knows that the h was repeatedly raped by her stepbrother, and that she feels great shame over it. So he forces her into sex acts that make her feel shame or are frankly, skirting the edge of rape, and where he doesn't listen to her begging him to stop but instead uses her body against her. I don't care what thoughts the author puts in the h's head to justify that shit....THAT shit bothers me. That's my hard limit. The h's acceptance gives her no room for self-respect. The whole grossness of the second OW sex scene and the h's inner processing and fucking the H twice within the same 12hr period is a perfect example. Then she finally has a mental breakdown over her stepbrother's rape because of the H's physical treatment. Then the H later ties her up, beats her, and fucks her anally w/o lube as a punishment. And THIS is how they bond?!?! And she's just dripping horny all the time. Stockholm Syndrome does not a romance make. It makes the BDSM feel abusive and nonconsensual. Liking it and wanting it are two very different things and the h did not want this in the beginning. Her wanting it in the end just feels like abusive sexual and mental conditioning.
So why the 0 stars?
First off, I loved "Wrong" by LP Lovell. That h rocked. Taboo Unchained" By CM Stunich, loved that fucked up man. As I did the H in "Vanquish" by Pam Goodwin. So this trope can be my bitch. But, I didn't really like this book and I wouldn't recommend it. If I'm honest, and I put my issues aside, this was a three-star read. It could've even been a four-star for me, with the exact same plot, if the H hadn't been such a sadistic asshole, if the h had any backbone, OR if any part of this entire novel even hovered in the realm of possibility.
Zo, honey, I'm not reading your book choices anymore. No offense, you're my fave sis-in-law...shhh...don't tell BB or Lex...but you and I, we've come to an impasse over the amount of bullshit I'll put up with in my reads.
This book is a prime fucking example.
This started out great and I really wanted to like it. The writing was excellent, so I'll read this author again. But in the end, the H was just too big of a manipulative prick for my taste.
One of my biggest no-no's happened. It's OK to have an OTT alpha, all cocky, sexy and sure of himself, but sometimes (always), I like my h not to just jump the fuck right in, sopping panties and all. Sometimes it'd be nice just to make the H's work for it. Just a moment of insecurity and effort. Because if the h just drops her panties immediately, it makes her no different than any OW who came before her. No pun intended.
And honestly, what the fuck happened to The Chase???
Am I the only one that finds that shit sexy as fuck???
OK, safety gang, I just have to say upfront this is forced seduction and the H fucks 2 OW at different times and the h sees him doing both. One OW is his target (who he will later kill) and the h doesn't think ANYTHING about it other than it is hot. It's just voyeuristic sex to her. It didn't bother me. The second one though, that was utter bullshit. We learned with the first OW what he was capable of. The second OW was just a fucking clichéd plot device. There were other ways for him to learn guilt...which he had for one line, then never again when the h mentions it.
My biggest problem with the H is that he knows that the h was repeatedly raped by her stepbrother, and that she feels great shame over it. So he forces her into sex acts that make her feel shame or are frankly, skirting the edge of rape, and where he doesn't listen to her begging him to stop but instead uses her body against her. I don't care what thoughts the author puts in the h's head to justify that shit....THAT shit bothers me. That's my hard limit. The h's acceptance gives her no room for self-respect. The whole grossness of the second OW sex scene and the h's inner processing and fucking the H twice within the same 12hr period is a perfect example. Then she finally has a mental breakdown over her stepbrother's rape because of the H's physical treatment. Then the H later ties her up, beats her, and fucks her anally w/o lube as a punishment. And THIS is how they bond?!?! And she's just dripping horny all the time. Stockholm Syndrome does not a romance make. It makes the BDSM feel abusive and nonconsensual. Liking it and wanting it are two very different things and the h did not want this in the beginning. Her wanting it in the end just feels like abusive sexual and mental conditioning.
So why the 0 stars?
First off, I loved "Wrong" by LP Lovell. That h rocked. Taboo Unchained" By CM Stunich, loved that fucked up man. As I did the H in "Vanquish" by Pam Goodwin. So this trope can be my bitch. But, I didn't really like this book and I wouldn't recommend it. If I'm honest, and I put my issues aside, this was a three-star read. It could've even been a four-star for me, with the exact same plot, if the H hadn't been such a sadistic asshole, if the h had any backbone, OR if any part of this entire novel even hovered in the realm of possibility.
March 5, 2016
5+++ STARS
What a unique book this was! It was intense, deliciously dark, extremely erotic and highly suspenseful. If you're looking for a dirty d/s read, you'll probably love this book as much as I did. I fell in love with Julien. He does not disappoint. He is not a romantic hero by any means yet he does have his own morals. This story is all sexiness and kick ass action.
Julien is a lethal and justly awesome bad-ass assassin as he glides through various hits and mind-blowing action. He is a sexy, callous and highly dangerous killer that no one should mess with. The author has created a truly sensual and hard-nosed unforgettable character.
Mia is as sweet as pie, but also strong and persistent. She carries evidence that can incriminate her stepbrother and his family for various crimes, and she had been the victim herself of abuse by her stepbrother. For this reason, she run away from home in order to protect herself, and she now is in hiding.
Their first meeting is sexually charged and Mia realizes that, next to him, she’s flirting with deep dark danger. Julien takes control and decides to help her against those who threaten her. He demands though not only her agreement to his plans against her stepbrother but also her complete surrender to his sexual needs. Mia puts her trust on him and totally submits to his dark desires. They dive into a smoking hot D/S relationship and, oh-my-god- those sex scenes make your blood boil!
This I think is one of the best books by Natasha Knight I have read yet! The inner turmoil in both of the main character was amazingly written and the read for me was engaging and captivating. What I really liked was the unique combination of dirty, kinky sex and an imaginative, suspenseful plot! It was a fascinating story of lust and lasciviousness. Lots of sexual tension builds to a spicy spanking session and smoking hot sex! Seriously, turn on a fan and make sure you are alone while reading. Loved it.
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
What a unique book this was! It was intense, deliciously dark, extremely erotic and highly suspenseful. If you're looking for a dirty d/s read, you'll probably love this book as much as I did. I fell in love with Julien. He does not disappoint. He is not a romantic hero by any means yet he does have his own morals. This story is all sexiness and kick ass action.
Julien is a lethal and justly awesome bad-ass assassin as he glides through various hits and mind-blowing action. He is a sexy, callous and highly dangerous killer that no one should mess with. The author has created a truly sensual and hard-nosed unforgettable character.
Mia is as sweet as pie, but also strong and persistent. She carries evidence that can incriminate her stepbrother and his family for various crimes, and she had been the victim herself of abuse by her stepbrother. For this reason, she run away from home in order to protect herself, and she now is in hiding.
Their first meeting is sexually charged and Mia realizes that, next to him, she’s flirting with deep dark danger. Julien takes control and decides to help her against those who threaten her. He demands though not only her agreement to his plans against her stepbrother but also her complete surrender to his sexual needs. Mia puts her trust on him and totally submits to his dark desires. They dive into a smoking hot D/S relationship and, oh-my-god- those sex scenes make your blood boil!
This I think is one of the best books by Natasha Knight I have read yet! The inner turmoil in both of the main character was amazingly written and the read for me was engaging and captivating. What I really liked was the unique combination of dirty, kinky sex and an imaginative, suspenseful plot! It was a fascinating story of lust and lasciviousness. Lots of sexual tension builds to a spicy spanking session and smoking hot sex! Seriously, turn on a fan and make sure you are alone while reading. Loved it.
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
November 3, 2016
3.75 Stars
This is my 3rd book by Natasha Knight and I’ve noticed a pattern where the heroine finds herself kidnapped by the hero. Regardless of the similarities, her books are fast paced, quick reads and entertaining. I wouldn’t classify this story as full on dark but it does have some dark undertones with a hero that is true to the title – deviant.
Mia is on the run from her sister’s husband and his crazy son who is out for vengeance because of her testimony that sent him to prison. But instead of staying carefully hidden, Mia’s peeping tom ways had her seeing something she shouldn’t have and caught the attention of hitman Julian DeAngelo.
A paid hitman, Julian has no choice but to kill Mia after she witnesses one of his jobs. He later finds out she has a price on her head and decides to bring her in for the payment. Aware that her life is in his hands, Mia offers to double his payment if he releases her and helps her claim the inheritance that her sister left her.
Mia’s innocence and naivete doesn’t prepare her for what comes with the offer she proposes to Julian. If he accepts, the arrangement also includes Julian to have total control of her physically. That means whenever and whatever he wants, she would have to submit to him. Without any other choice, she agrees.
Julian is crude, arrogant, amoral and basically a motherfucker who is all too willing to corrupt the innocent Mia. Her tendency to mouth off when she shouldn’t, provides Julian the ammunition to discipline her for disobedience with spankings to fulfil his depraved kinky heart.
The naughty sex scenes were scorching hot and dominated by Julian. The cover model with his shit eating grin demonstrates Julian perfectly.
This is my 3rd book by Natasha Knight and I’ve noticed a pattern where the heroine finds herself kidnapped by the hero. Regardless of the similarities, her books are fast paced, quick reads and entertaining. I wouldn’t classify this story as full on dark but it does have some dark undertones with a hero that is true to the title – deviant.
Mia is on the run from her sister’s husband and his crazy son who is out for vengeance because of her testimony that sent him to prison. But instead of staying carefully hidden, Mia’s peeping tom ways had her seeing something she shouldn’t have and caught the attention of hitman Julian DeAngelo.
A paid hitman, Julian has no choice but to kill Mia after she witnesses one of his jobs. He later finds out she has a price on her head and decides to bring her in for the payment. Aware that her life is in his hands, Mia offers to double his payment if he releases her and helps her claim the inheritance that her sister left her.
Mia’s innocence and naivete doesn’t prepare her for what comes with the offer she proposes to Julian. If he accepts, the arrangement also includes Julian to have total control of her physically. That means whenever and whatever he wants, she would have to submit to him. Without any other choice, she agrees.
Julian is crude, arrogant, amoral and basically a motherfucker who is all too willing to corrupt the innocent Mia. Her tendency to mouth off when she shouldn’t, provides Julian the ammunition to discipline her for disobedience with spankings to fulfil his depraved kinky heart.
The naughty sex scenes were scorching hot and dominated by Julian. The cover model with his shit eating grin demonstrates Julian perfectly.
September 26, 2019
Audiobook review. Let me start by saying that this book is not for the faint at heart. Our hero, Julien, is unapologetically himself. That sometimes means he’s crude and cruel. Other times it means he will give our heroine the most confusing pleasure-pain she’s ever had. His past colors his actions but Mia worms her way into his heart in a way that, although he resists, he can’t do so for long.
I liked Mia. She was curious, a bit naive, and maybe too trusting but she was honest, optimistic despite having plenty of reasons not to be, and protective too. Julien does some things that made it harder to love him for Mia but once those layers came down, I was rooting for them. The intimate scenes were scorching 🔥. SCORCHING.
As far as narration is concerned, Philip Alces knows his stuff. He did a great job of portraying Julien in all his different moods. I won’t say his portrayal of Mia was as strong but totally to be expected. I’m sure the female voices aren’t as easy to do.
Complimentary copy received and voluntarily reviewed.
I liked Mia. She was curious, a bit naive, and maybe too trusting but she was honest, optimistic despite having plenty of reasons not to be, and protective too. Julien does some things that made it harder to love him for Mia but once those layers came down, I was rooting for them. The intimate scenes were scorching 🔥. SCORCHING.
As far as narration is concerned, Philip Alces knows his stuff. He did a great job of portraying Julien in all his different moods. I won’t say his portrayal of Mia was as strong but totally to be expected. I’m sure the female voices aren’t as easy to do.
Complimentary copy received and voluntarily reviewed.
January 21, 2016
The cover is amazingly hot, the blurb is incredibly steamy and the story was erotically INTENSE!
Holy hell this novel just hit me in all the right places!
No one should ever miss out on this novel...What do you have to loose?
Holy hell this novel just hit me in all the right places!
No one should ever miss out on this novel...What do you have to loose?
July 28, 2020
Natasha Knight is one of the best adult romance authors. I loved this book. It was fun, thrilling, the pace was good, nice plot and both protagonists have such strong chemistry.
The ending was perfect.
can-never-read
February 6, 2016Fucked up on so many levels, I won't even bother explaining why...
Self note:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Self note:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
February 9, 2016
You can find more of my reviews at Carlene Corrupted and Carlene Inspired.
She's been watching him for three days. Three days of rough sex with his mark before he kills her and then she'll be next. Julien doesn't do witnesses and he'll take out some frustrations on the innocent girl watching through the window before getting rid of her too. At least that was the plan until two men show up prepared to take her out as well. Turns out Mia St. Rose has a price on her head thanks to her newly free step brother. Mia is willing to submit to Julien if it means keeping her life for a little while longer. Just long enough to convince Julien she can pay him more to keep her alive. While on the run she see's just how bad he really is, how devious, but she also sees him, the pain and vulnerability he's got inside. Sleeping with the devil may not be so bad, because there's no way she's letting her step brother touch her again.
I ended up with this book when I went on one of my one-click sprees on Amazon. I didn't read the synopsis, I just saw the cover and quantity of reviews and bought it. Sometimes I end up with great books, sometimes they obviously suck. In this case, I am feeling so guilty about how darn much I enjoyed this book. There were absolutely times I felt uncomfortable just reading the words, but other times I was sitting there fanning myself. It's dark, but not nearly as dark as it could've been. It absolutely is a forced seduction novel and you'll know if it's a book you will want to finish or leave behind within the first 15%.
Julien, our anti-hero, is exactly like the male on the cover and he most definitely is a deviant. You aren't going to like him, at least not at first. He crosses every moral line that exists and keeps Mia alive and safe from her brother, but requires her total submission while he's doing so. You will wonder what the heck Mia sees in him, but what makes this book a romance isn't the BDSM relationship between the characters, but the emotional developments between the H and h. The sex is hot and heavy, there are times it is definitely about pain and punishment, but there is a lot of history that goes into who each character is and why the kink works for them. The personal histories that leaves them both vulnerable really make them work together, because Mia wants to see him as good when he's all about the hunt, the kill, the sex, and the pain. I really enjoyed the two separate story lines, one of romance and redemption and the other of the assassin saving the innocent for his own gain. It was all about the lesser of two evils and which path kept Mia alive longer. I liked the interactions between the characters and the unique voices of the secondary characters. There is also a lot of action and suspense in this book, far more than I expected, and while some of it was really easy to guess, it still was interesting.
I struggled with Mia as a character, for a girl that's been on the run so long she sure is dumb. I get that past catches up to you, but someone who gets caught peeping on sex has got to have done other things that were noticeable. Plus, she never seemed brave or capable of making personal decisions, so I had a hard time believing she'd been capable of taking care of herself while hiding. Then there's Julien, who was excellent as a dark, emotionless assassin, for the first 50%. At one point I felt him sliding more into the emotional and brooding hero role instead of being the sexy, dark killer out for his own good. I get the emotions developed between Mia and Julien, but I started seeing the assassin part as just his job instead of as who he really was. I wanted him to be bad and still work for Mia, because hello his bad side is what I loved. The ending just didn't work for me and I ended up imagining it playing out in a different way.
With plenty of chemistry and salacious scenes, Julien and Mia make for one intriguing couple. Deviant is a perfect mesh of erotica and suspense and Natasha Knight weaved just the right amount of sex scenes with true substance to make this a novel you won't be able to put down. The writing is excellent and full of engaging action.
She's been watching him for three days. Three days of rough sex with his mark before he kills her and then she'll be next. Julien doesn't do witnesses and he'll take out some frustrations on the innocent girl watching through the window before getting rid of her too. At least that was the plan until two men show up prepared to take her out as well. Turns out Mia St. Rose has a price on her head thanks to her newly free step brother. Mia is willing to submit to Julien if it means keeping her life for a little while longer. Just long enough to convince Julien she can pay him more to keep her alive. While on the run she see's just how bad he really is, how devious, but she also sees him, the pain and vulnerability he's got inside. Sleeping with the devil may not be so bad, because there's no way she's letting her step brother touch her again.
I ended up with this book when I went on one of my one-click sprees on Amazon. I didn't read the synopsis, I just saw the cover and quantity of reviews and bought it. Sometimes I end up with great books, sometimes they obviously suck. In this case, I am feeling so guilty about how darn much I enjoyed this book. There were absolutely times I felt uncomfortable just reading the words, but other times I was sitting there fanning myself. It's dark, but not nearly as dark as it could've been. It absolutely is a forced seduction novel and you'll know if it's a book you will want to finish or leave behind within the first 15%.
Julien, our anti-hero, is exactly like the male on the cover and he most definitely is a deviant. You aren't going to like him, at least not at first. He crosses every moral line that exists and keeps Mia alive and safe from her brother, but requires her total submission while he's doing so. You will wonder what the heck Mia sees in him, but what makes this book a romance isn't the BDSM relationship between the characters, but the emotional developments between the H and h. The sex is hot and heavy, there are times it is definitely about pain and punishment, but there is a lot of history that goes into who each character is and why the kink works for them. The personal histories that leaves them both vulnerable really make them work together, because Mia wants to see him as good when he's all about the hunt, the kill, the sex, and the pain. I really enjoyed the two separate story lines, one of romance and redemption and the other of the assassin saving the innocent for his own gain. It was all about the lesser of two evils and which path kept Mia alive longer. I liked the interactions between the characters and the unique voices of the secondary characters. There is also a lot of action and suspense in this book, far more than I expected, and while some of it was really easy to guess, it still was interesting.
I struggled with Mia as a character, for a girl that's been on the run so long she sure is dumb. I get that past catches up to you, but someone who gets caught peeping on sex has got to have done other things that were noticeable. Plus, she never seemed brave or capable of making personal decisions, so I had a hard time believing she'd been capable of taking care of herself while hiding. Then there's Julien, who was excellent as a dark, emotionless assassin, for the first 50%. At one point I felt him sliding more into the emotional and brooding hero role instead of being the sexy, dark killer out for his own good. I get the emotions developed between Mia and Julien, but I started seeing the assassin part as just his job instead of as who he really was. I wanted him to be bad and still work for Mia, because hello his bad side is what I loved. The ending just didn't work for me and I ended up imagining it playing out in a different way.
With plenty of chemistry and salacious scenes, Julien and Mia make for one intriguing couple. Deviant is a perfect mesh of erotica and suspense and Natasha Knight weaved just the right amount of sex scenes with true substance to make this a novel you won't be able to put down. The writing is excellent and full of engaging action.
July 25, 2015
☆ I received an ARC via the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ☆
I'll be honest, this book may not be for every reader, but it did entertain me for the three hours that it took for me to read it.
Deviant was an erotic dark read between a lethal hitman and an innocent woman he meets along the way.
It was gritty, it was sensual, and over all it tagged a lot of hot and cold buttons for me.
Regardless though, I personally feel that you're either going to dig it. OR, want to throw it down the dump. It's kind of between the extremes depending on your taste really.
I'll be honest, this book may not be for every reader, but it did entertain me for the three hours that it took for me to read it.
Deviant was an erotic dark read between a lethal hitman and an innocent woman he meets along the way.
It was gritty, it was sensual, and over all it tagged a lot of hot and cold buttons for me.
Regardless though, I personally feel that you're either going to dig it. OR, want to throw it down the dump. It's kind of between the extremes depending on your taste really.
December 17, 2015
4.5 Killer stars
as I read the blurb I expected it to be something but instead I got a completely different thing! I liked the book, suprisingly...
I started off as a an unusual encounter between Julien DeAngelo the deadly contract killer, an assasin who was an asshole and a prick towards his female victims (well, he fucked their brains out before he killed them, isn't that a good way to go, huh?!)and a sudden witness to his sexual escapades...
Mia St.Rose was running from the "attached family" that her older sister married in (stepbrother, who wants revenge, her dead of alive and stepfather who wants smth that was stolen from him and used as a security deposit)...she's been hiding for years now and recently been in Italy where she stumbled across the steamy window...she couldn't take her eyes of him, the tattoed guy in the heat of the action...and she couldn't escape the heat that overwhelmed her just by looking...
but she didn't know that he saw her looking...
and then well, you can figure it out, can't you...LOL
he leaves no witnesses, whatsoever!
and the twist here comes with the offer Mia proposes to Julien and the allure is more than tempting for a contract killer...
well, their arrangement places Mia into his hands and under his control, his total control...
he promises to keep her alive until she can deliver the means...but the stuff that would happen in between is totaly up to him and him alone...any disobediance will be punished...and he's a determened mother fucker with a mean strike...
and the book worked for me...the pace, the action, the interaction between the characters - the cold start of a deal turned into a confession from both sides and final deliverance to the impossible...the chance for them to be "together"
and the scenes I really wanna talk about were just the right amount of pleasure and pain (even for me who really can't stand the thought of receiving the pain in that sexual behaviour...just kinda fit right for this story and these characters...)
it was a bit soft or romantic in the end but that worked too somehow...
anyway, enjoyable read!
October 17, 2015
***this review may contain some spoilers***
2hrs into the book....
WHY THE FUCK DIDN'T ANYONE SAY THIS WAS A GODDAMN FORCED SEDUCTION BOOK? I read a few reviews and NOT A FUCKING PEEP. And now we are into the hero giving the heroine a "punishment". She was NOT into this lifestyle and he is forcing it on her. I do not like that shit. The whole BDSM and D/s lifestyle is about trust, respect, and is mutually agreed on limits. WHAT THE FUCK DID I GET MYSELF INTO!?!?
Soldiering on to the end hopefully cus i'm a fucking literary masochist......
1.5hrs left
I can't!!!!! Not only am I disgusted at the non consensual spanking and anal sex. I'm pissed at Mia's stupidity. I was really trying to overlook the forced seductions and focus on the suspense part. But shit that didn't make it any easier. I pegged Alison from call 1. Why why why would the author think it's ok to have Julien force sex on a woman who he suspected was sexually abused? Oh and Anal as a punishment? no lube? NO FUCKING THANK YOU!!!!
Back to the story.....
Done.
I swear this was utter bullshit. I didn't realize I read a book or two from this author a few months ago. Needless to say this is the last book i will ever read from her. She has a thing with forced spankings, forced domination, forced seduction and that shit just ain't sexy. I am absolutely SHOCKED with all the 4/5 star reviews. I feel like I didn't read the same book they did.
The end of this book was ridiculous. We never find out what's in the ledger. I was just DONE with this book. This author is blackballed from my tbr list. I'm off to find something else.
2hrs into the book....
WHY THE FUCK DIDN'T ANYONE SAY THIS WAS A GODDAMN FORCED SEDUCTION BOOK? I read a few reviews and NOT A FUCKING PEEP. And now we are into the hero giving the heroine a "punishment". She was NOT into this lifestyle and he is forcing it on her. I do not like that shit. The whole BDSM and D/s lifestyle is about trust, respect, and is mutually agreed on limits. WHAT THE FUCK DID I GET MYSELF INTO!?!?
Soldiering on to the end hopefully cus i'm a fucking literary masochist......
1.5hrs left
I can't!!!!! Not only am I disgusted at the non consensual spanking and anal sex. I'm pissed at Mia's stupidity. I was really trying to overlook the forced seductions and focus on the suspense part. But shit that didn't make it any easier. I pegged Alison from call 1. Why why why would the author think it's ok to have Julien force sex on a woman who he suspected was sexually abused? Oh and Anal as a punishment? no lube? NO FUCKING THANK YOU!!!!
Back to the story.....
Done.
I swear this was utter bullshit. I didn't realize I read a book or two from this author a few months ago. Needless to say this is the last book i will ever read from her. She has a thing with forced spankings, forced domination, forced seduction and that shit just ain't sexy. I am absolutely SHOCKED with all the 4/5 star reviews. I feel like I didn't read the same book they did.
The end of this book was ridiculous. We never find out what's in the ledger. I was just DONE with this book. This author is blackballed from my tbr list. I'm off to find something else.
October 6, 2015
DNF at 47%
I had guessed as to where the author was going with Mia's backstory and apparently Julien knew (or at least guessed as much) too. That fact makes me all the more disgusted with this book. With him being so insistent about her giving it up, even if he had an INKLING about something that had happened to her, really enrages me. If a woman says, "No" or "Stop" - you do it! There's no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I don't care that's he's an assassin or that he's angsty, he doesn't have to be a rapist too.
I had guessed as to where the author was going with Mia's backstory and apparently Julien knew (or at least guessed as much) too. That fact makes me all the more disgusted with this book. With him being so insistent about her giving it up, even if he had an INKLING about something that had happened to her, really enrages me. If a woman says, "No" or "Stop" - you do it! There's no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I don't care that's he's an assassin or that he's angsty, he doesn't have to be a rapist too.
September 8, 2015
Dnf @ 85%, only God knows how I made it this far........blame my curiosity. Tbh the cover kinda turned me off in the beginning cause the guy looked like a total douche but I decided to give it a chance. Mia is so fucking stupid, it was painful to read. I didn't like Julien at all. They practically fucked every 3 pages & I wasn't even feeling the sex. Was that meant to be bdsm??? Lol. I felt 0 chemistry between them........it was more like Stockholm syndrome. I'm sorry but this was terrible imo :/
July 14, 2016
note to self. this book had the sexiest dirty talk i've ever read and TRUST me i've read some pretty hot dirty talk. the story was beautiful.
July 18, 2017
HOT ALPHA ALERT.
(Hint: He's a mercenary too. *raises eyebrows*)
(Hint: He's a mercenary too. *raises eyebrows*)
April 25, 2020
4 stars! i love this! firstly, look at the cover. wow. right amount of darkness, twisty, steam and suspense.
Julien, a hitman, isn't a romantic hero and the first page basically started with him having rough sex with another woman (before he kills her) all the while knowing Mia was watching from the opposite. Mia, the curious kitten, couldn't help herself but watch through the curtains. however, Julien can't have witnesses like this and she had to go too. sadly, Mia finds herself in some trouble all because of her stepbrother and this is where Julien comes in, making a deal with her. Mia is only submitting to Julien because it promises her safety, keeping her life a little longer.
Julien is one hot, dirty-talking Dominant and sadistic man, yet you can't help but fall for him as his vulnerable side starts to show when he's with Mia. underneath the depraved and sinister soul lies a deeply broken man.
the rest of the journey was full of ups and downs. (though there were times where i felt like killing Julien myself for the things he did)
Mia has to learn to obey Julien; otherwise.. you know what happens 🤷 4 stars!!
Julien, a hitman, isn't a romantic hero and the first page basically started with him having rough sex with another woman (before he kills her) all the while knowing Mia was watching from the opposite. Mia, the curious kitten, couldn't help herself but watch through the curtains. however, Julien can't have witnesses like this and she had to go too. sadly, Mia finds herself in some trouble all because of her stepbrother and this is where Julien comes in, making a deal with her. Mia is only submitting to Julien because it promises her safety, keeping her life a little longer.
Julien is one hot, dirty-talking Dominant and sadistic man, yet you can't help but fall for him as his vulnerable side starts to show when he's with Mia. underneath the depraved and sinister soul lies a deeply broken man.
the rest of the journey was full of ups and downs. (though there were times where i felt like killing Julien myself for the things he did)
Mia has to learn to obey Julien; otherwise.. you know what happens 🤷 4 stars!!
May 3, 2017
"I hold your life in my hands. You live at my pleasure, understand?"
I listened to the audio version of DEVIANT and OMG this heart palpitating, hot AF dark romance might in fact be my absolute FAVORITE Natasha Knight dark romance to date!
This story made me blush, quiver, squirm, cringe and shudder in equal measure!! Julien is one dirty-talking, dominant, DEPRAVED badass who was oh so menacing yet also so deeply broken he made me love him despite his heinous acts. He is the epitome of the dark anti-hero who is "somewhat" reformed by his love for his sweet, painfully naive captive Mia but never quite sheds his devilish skin.
The sinister mercenary for hire originally plans on silencing the lovely peeping Tom after she catches him "on the job" but there is something about her that gets under his skin and in a rare moment of "kindness" he ends up taking the naughty little temptress hostage instead when he discovers she's on the run for her life!! When he learns that she is in mortal jeopardy from corrupt folks who are even more demonic than him, they strike an unsavory bargain where she promises him half a million in return for his around the clock protection. Of course there's a catch. She must do WHAT he says, WHEN he says it and defiance and disobedience are SWIFTLY punished. And we are not talking about love taps either! But can Julien really be trusted or is he about to pull off a MAJOR doublecross that will lead poor gullible Mia into the hands of the enemy? What ensues is an action packed, hyper erotic, seriously TWISTED dark thriller that titillates the senses and penetrates the heart!
I love dark, predatory Doms that scare me a little and OMG Julien did that in SPADES!! The sexual interludes were kinky and crude and very rough, and there were definitely a few BDSM encounters that pushed me WAY out of my comfort zone but there was also underlying tenderness too and as soul-shattering revelations come to light my heart ached for them both. It's through the sheer power of Natasha Knight's writing that you can't NOT read (or in my case listen) even when things happen that steamrolls your hard limits. Her stories are just so darn addictive and emotionally gripping that against all odds you are fully invested in her couples finding light amidst the suffocating darkness!
The plot was fast paced, suspenseful and uber exciting, with spine-tingling twists and turns! And while this was not a romantic love story by ANY means--Julien is a cold-blooded assassin AND a cruel sadist who enjoys humiliating and punishing as much as pleasuring and protecting--the emotional journey these characters embarked on was intricate and multi-layered and the intimate bond that these characters forged was deeply profound. I loved how Mia saw the best in Julien even when he was at his VERY WORST! And after an EXPLOSIVE showdown with the bad guys, the romantic payoff was perfecto. Ms. Knight ultimately served up a beautiful, poignant HEA that warmed my heart and gave me delicious goosebumps!
Bottom line? DEVIANT is a DARK, TWISTY , SIZZLING HOT must-read for romance fans who love to take a walk on the depraved side!
I listened to the audio version of DEVIANT and OMG this heart palpitating, hot AF dark romance might in fact be my absolute FAVORITE Natasha Knight dark romance to date!
This story made me blush, quiver, squirm, cringe and shudder in equal measure!! Julien is one dirty-talking, dominant, DEPRAVED badass who was oh so menacing yet also so deeply broken he made me love him despite his heinous acts. He is the epitome of the dark anti-hero who is "somewhat" reformed by his love for his sweet, painfully naive captive Mia but never quite sheds his devilish skin.
The sinister mercenary for hire originally plans on silencing the lovely peeping Tom after she catches him "on the job" but there is something about her that gets under his skin and in a rare moment of "kindness" he ends up taking the naughty little temptress hostage instead when he discovers she's on the run for her life!! When he learns that she is in mortal jeopardy from corrupt folks who are even more demonic than him, they strike an unsavory bargain where she promises him half a million in return for his around the clock protection. Of course there's a catch. She must do WHAT he says, WHEN he says it and defiance and disobedience are SWIFTLY punished. And we are not talking about love taps either! But can Julien really be trusted or is he about to pull off a MAJOR doublecross that will lead poor gullible Mia into the hands of the enemy? What ensues is an action packed, hyper erotic, seriously TWISTED dark thriller that titillates the senses and penetrates the heart!
I love dark, predatory Doms that scare me a little and OMG Julien did that in SPADES!! The sexual interludes were kinky and crude and very rough, and there were definitely a few BDSM encounters that pushed me WAY out of my comfort zone but there was also underlying tenderness too and as soul-shattering revelations come to light my heart ached for them both. It's through the sheer power of Natasha Knight's writing that you can't NOT read (or in my case listen) even when things happen that steamrolls your hard limits. Her stories are just so darn addictive and emotionally gripping that against all odds you are fully invested in her couples finding light amidst the suffocating darkness!
The plot was fast paced, suspenseful and uber exciting, with spine-tingling twists and turns! And while this was not a romantic love story by ANY means--Julien is a cold-blooded assassin AND a cruel sadist who enjoys humiliating and punishing as much as pleasuring and protecting--the emotional journey these characters embarked on was intricate and multi-layered and the intimate bond that these characters forged was deeply profound. I loved how Mia saw the best in Julien even when he was at his VERY WORST! And after an EXPLOSIVE showdown with the bad guys, the romantic payoff was perfecto. Ms. Knight ultimately served up a beautiful, poignant HEA that warmed my heart and gave me delicious goosebumps!
Bottom line? DEVIANT is a DARK, TWISTY , SIZZLING HOT must-read for romance fans who love to take a walk on the depraved side!
February 27, 2017
So this is the third book of this author I read.... and why?
Because I can't put them down.
That being said, each one blurs the consensual line, in the end the heroines want it and enjoy it and that's not what annoys me.
In every book, the hero beats the h with a belt and she's aroused and they end up having this sort of relationship. I think this is this author's trademark, so if you want to read a book of hers and don't like BDSM themes, don't read them. But it's not merely BDSM themes here, but they're dark reads. The heroes always start as assholes.
In her other 2 books though, I felt the love a lot more than in this book.
Although I enjoyed reading their journey, and their epilogue was amazing and finally saw his love for her, the abusive tendencies were TOO much. I get that she likes it, but for ONCE I want a heroine to say no! It's like every woman in the world gets wet from being whipped. Sometimes, I thought he was so brutal even though that's who he was...
I loved the softness from him,
But one thing which constantly pisses me off in her books is the fact that the heroines CANT say no despite anything... sometimes I wanted the heroine to say no to him. More in. This book than the otherv2 I've read.
I loved how he softens towards her. In the end I believed they loved each other ... and I do read books where the men beat the women with a belt and I accept it ... because it's relatable and I can connect to the emotions.
In her books, it goes through the cliche line where without fail, it's a beating, she gets wet, they have sex. And it's all okay.
In others, I've read one where the woman enjoys it but it makes her feel so messed up she pushes the H away after. That's relatable. I'm not saying the cliche way doesn't happen, but every SINGLE time... really?!
Ps: this book isn't 100% safe. Early on after they meet and he takes her he was sex with OW in front of her while she's waiting in the car. Yes he felt guilt, but hardly. I would've probably given a 2 star for that scene but I went into this book knowing that
July 19, 2015
The assassin and the innocent.
'Deviant' was going to be a first time read for me by this author but while I was waiting for its release I came across 'Given to the Savage' so I thought I'd give it a try, unfortunately I found myself disappointed with it and so when 'Deviant' was released I left it for awhile, I'm glad however that I did get round to reading it.
Mia hasn't had much luck in her life she's completely alone and she's been on the run for the past two years, she's running from her stepbrother who's put a quarter of a million bounty on her head.
Mia spent three days spying on the couple across from her hotel room window but when the woman in question turns up dead and then Mia finds the man sat in her room things are not looking good.
Julian's a hit-man, he's cruel and ruthless and once Mia sees him her fate is sealed since he can't afford to leave a witness behind but she's temporarily saved when two men break into her room and he sees another way.
I enjoyed this book, I liked the story and for the most part the characters, ideally I would have preferred more details, relationship and everything really but it was good and while I like a dark erotic read I do require a HEA
September 25, 2016
Not a good read for my taste. Julian's an assassin, a hitman if you will. And he's excellent at it. He never misses, he doesn't leave any witnesses, he completes the jobs he takes and he's a sociopath. Or a human terminator which would also make him a sociopath. When his neighbor, Mia, sees him having sex with his target, he decides she must also be eliminated.
Mia has issues starting out. She has a history of sex abuse, family problems that keep her one step ahead of retaliation for testifying against them and of course low self esteem. She perceives a relationship with Julian and it is. It's just not the kind she thinks.
Julian's plan is to kill her but not until he fulfills every sexual thought with her, especially the most painful or demeaning. Julian's repertoire is extensive the least of which is forced seduction, rape and not using lubricant among other things.
He's definitely a hard to like anti-hero and although Mia's the victim over and over and definitely has whatever is beyond Stockholm Syndrome with regard to Julian, I didn't find her sympathetic. This is definitely dark erotica and if that's not your cuppa, don't even think it.
Rating:1.5stars
Mia has issues starting out. She has a history of sex abuse, family problems that keep her one step ahead of retaliation for testifying against them and of course low self esteem. She perceives a relationship with Julian and it is. It's just not the kind she thinks.
Julian's plan is to kill her but not until he fulfills every sexual thought with her, especially the most painful or demeaning. Julian's repertoire is extensive the least of which is forced seduction, rape and not using lubricant among other things.
He's definitely a hard to like anti-hero and although Mia's the victim over and over and definitely has whatever is beyond Stockholm Syndrome with regard to Julian, I didn't find her sympathetic. This is definitely dark erotica and if that's not your cuppa, don't even think it.
Rating:1.5stars
July 11, 2015
I’ve read author Natasha Knight for several years now, and her books keep getting better and better with regard to storytelling and writing. They’re also getting darker and darker, delving into and dredging up moral corruption for the reader to see. Deviant is a twisted tale of man without boundaries or scruples, and the victimized woman who thinks she can save him. Julien isn’t a bad boy--he’s an anti-hero, a degenerate, a villain romanticized. Deviant is edgy, gritty and raw—and utterly compelling. You can’t put it down. Author Knight is so convincing in showing Julien’s moral bankruptcy that I personally had difficulty accepting his redemption. If you can handle edgy fiction, this one should be at the top of your must-read list.
August 20, 2015
The cover model is a perfect representation of Julien he's a sexy arrogant asshole. But I love an arrogant guy that falls hard for an innocent girl. Mia had a backbone which I liked. This was pretty hardcore but I loved it!! I'd love a novella!!
October 8, 2015
Julien is a hitman and a good one. He never asks questions, he never fails and he gets the done job done in whatever way he deems necessary. But when a young woman, Mia, sees him with his next target he knows he has to silence her in a permeant way; never leave a witness no matter what. But she intrigues him, especially as she watched while he had rough, dirty sex and didn’t turn away. And when her story comes to light he thinks he has 2 options, silence her or trade her in for money but could Mia make this ruthless and cold hitman think about more than just sex and killing and save herself in the process?
“I’m a hit man, an assassin. A deviant by all accounts. I never pretended to be the good guy.”
A thrilling, intense, suspenseful, dirty, hot and rough story that will suck you in and keep you breathless right till the very end.
“No witnesses, no matter what. That was rule number one. It had to be.”
I absolutely loved this story! I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a day! It was so intense and fast paced; I loved both the main characters and the plot was exiting and new and get me gripped!
“It was just so innocent, so… corruptible. Irresistible to a man like me. I always liked to play with them first, fuck with them a little. It was cruel, reprehensible, really. I knew it, but it didn’t make me enjoy it any less.”?
Mia has had a messed up and unfair life so from the beginning you feel for her even though you are not sure what’s going on, you know she’s running and she’s scared. But you soon discover she is also brave and courageous and faces the danger that’s following her to do the right thing, despite knowing she could end up dead.
“Having him like this, so close, his breath on me, his scent around me, his big arms caging me in… it made me wet. Even though I knew what he was, what he had done, it made me wet.”
Julien is so dangerous and the ultimate bad man, and despite his profession I couldn’t help but want him. He’s dirty, cocky, self-assured, dominant and so bloody hot that’s he’s scorching. Make no mistake that Julien is a bad man, he has done terrible things but as the story develops you realise there is more to his personally than just the emotionless hitman, a lot more!
“This man who terrified me was suffering. I didn’t know if some sick masochistic side of me wanted to help him or what, but I needed to hear his story, to understand his pain.”
The plot was new, exciting, fast paced and full of twists and turns that kept me on my toes. It was suspenseful, it kept me guessing and there was so much action and danger which I love! The sex were some of the dirtiest and hottest I have read in a long time (I wouldn’t read this in public!) and throughout I had no idea what Julien was going to decide and if Mia would end up safe.
“This man was danger. This man —he brought death. And I wanted him, even now as he lashed me, God help me, I wanted him.”
I highly recommend this read for those who love a venture into the darker side of reading and be prepared to read this non-stop as you won’t be able to put it down!
~Bethany
“I’m a hit man, an assassin. A deviant by all accounts. I never pretended to be the good guy.”
A thrilling, intense, suspenseful, dirty, hot and rough story that will suck you in and keep you breathless right till the very end.
“No witnesses, no matter what. That was rule number one. It had to be.”
I absolutely loved this story! I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a day! It was so intense and fast paced; I loved both the main characters and the plot was exiting and new and get me gripped!
“It was just so innocent, so… corruptible. Irresistible to a man like me. I always liked to play with them first, fuck with them a little. It was cruel, reprehensible, really. I knew it, but it didn’t make me enjoy it any less.”?
Mia has had a messed up and unfair life so from the beginning you feel for her even though you are not sure what’s going on, you know she’s running and she’s scared. But you soon discover she is also brave and courageous and faces the danger that’s following her to do the right thing, despite knowing she could end up dead.
“Having him like this, so close, his breath on me, his scent around me, his big arms caging me in… it made me wet. Even though I knew what he was, what he had done, it made me wet.”
Julien is so dangerous and the ultimate bad man, and despite his profession I couldn’t help but want him. He’s dirty, cocky, self-assured, dominant and so bloody hot that’s he’s scorching. Make no mistake that Julien is a bad man, he has done terrible things but as the story develops you realise there is more to his personally than just the emotionless hitman, a lot more!
“This man who terrified me was suffering. I didn’t know if some sick masochistic side of me wanted to help him or what, but I needed to hear his story, to understand his pain.”
The plot was new, exciting, fast paced and full of twists and turns that kept me on my toes. It was suspenseful, it kept me guessing and there was so much action and danger which I love! The sex were some of the dirtiest and hottest I have read in a long time (I wouldn’t read this in public!) and throughout I had no idea what Julien was going to decide and if Mia would end up safe.
“This man was danger. This man —he brought death. And I wanted him, even now as he lashed me, God help me, I wanted him.”
I highly recommend this read for those who love a venture into the darker side of reading and be prepared to read this non-stop as you won’t be able to put it down!
~Bethany
September 15, 2015
So, I'm a little afraid to admit I read this book, and ironically, that admission will either attract or repel readers of this review. I felt that same push and pull while reading this novel - horrified, but I couldn't quit turning the pages. It was full of kinky sex, mistreatment of women, callousness regarding the emotional and mental implications of forced sex (which was so egregious that I can't even touch on it in this review), and no remorse for bad acts. The Julien we meet at the beginning is a true anti-hero. And he was a sadomasochist. Notice that I didn't simply call him a sadist. Julien is actually a person in pain as he is simultaneously delivering pain. "I forced myself to watch her as I [blanked] her, made myself look at the hurt in her eyes, wanting to make her hate me. Needing to make her hate me." As is true with most anti-heroes, self-hate propels Julien to be an assassin, and most despicably he screws his female targets before he offs them. Knight is smart, though, and never makes the marks into real people that we can relate much to in the story.
Fortunately, being bad to Mia (emotionally, not in the bound, whipped, lubed sort of way) doesn't make Julien feel good, and that is what turns this book into a romance. "Mia turned her still shocked face away from me and cleared her throat. I didn't smile, didn't fell like I'd won anything." What makes this a dark romance is that as poorly as Julien treats Mia, she has to keep reminding herself he is no hero. He saves her from her step-brother's henchmen and in the immediacy of the moment, Mia chooses Julien as the lesser evil. Unfortunately, she has to keep revisiting that notion. And I have to admit he was mercenary enough that for awhile I wasn't sure he would treat Mia any differently than the female mark who opens the book. This novel is also dark in the sense that it goes to some very despairing places in the backgrounds of Julien and Mia. In a sense, they are both fueled by revenge.
About 75% of this book is devoted to interaction between Mia and Julien. That is its downfall. The narrative switches first person point of view between Julien and Mia, so the reader really gets in both their heads. I needed to see Julien as cold and calculating and brutally efficient at his job. That scary uber-control needed to play out with everyday folk a little more so Knight could ratchet up Julien's intimidation factor. With Mia he was dominant but emotional, forceful but flooding with feeling. He was an assassin, but just like Mia, I began to see him only in his hero mode.
Fortunately, being bad to Mia (emotionally, not in the bound, whipped, lubed sort of way) doesn't make Julien feel good, and that is what turns this book into a romance. "Mia turned her still shocked face away from me and cleared her throat. I didn't smile, didn't fell like I'd won anything." What makes this a dark romance is that as poorly as Julien treats Mia, she has to keep reminding herself he is no hero. He saves her from her step-brother's henchmen and in the immediacy of the moment, Mia chooses Julien as the lesser evil. Unfortunately, she has to keep revisiting that notion. And I have to admit he was mercenary enough that for awhile I wasn't sure he would treat Mia any differently than the female mark who opens the book. This novel is also dark in the sense that it goes to some very despairing places in the backgrounds of Julien and Mia. In a sense, they are both fueled by revenge.
About 75% of this book is devoted to interaction between Mia and Julien. That is its downfall. The narrative switches first person point of view between Julien and Mia, so the reader really gets in both their heads. I needed to see Julien as cold and calculating and brutally efficient at his job. That scary uber-control needed to play out with everyday folk a little more so Knight could ratchet up Julien's intimidation factor. With Mia he was dominant but emotional, forceful but flooding with feeling. He was an assassin, but just like Mia, I began to see him only in his hero mode.
November 11, 2016
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Having been so taken with Salvatore, I dove right into another Natasha Knight book. Deviant has an interesting naughty premise, which is really all I need to justify anything.
The first half of the book was intriguing. Julien, a mercenary, is working a contract (and by working I mean nailing) when he notices Mia spying on him from another hotel room. Amused, he draws things out a little longer than planned, knowing he’ll eventually have to kill her for seeing his face.
But Mia has her own set of problems, and Julien is not the only guy that wants her dead. I found it a little odd that Julien elects to save her life rather than just take the opportunity to kill her with the other guys that came for her, but hey, I don’t have a penis.
Julien is a dom to the extreme. He doesn’t just like being in control, he enjoys hurting Mia and making her afraid of him, which I didn’t dig. And I was struggling to believe Mia would enjoy it either, given how scared she was of him. There were parts where Julien straight up victimizes her, which I found pretty upsetting given that Mia has already been victimized in the past and he KNOWS that.
I am also noticing a HEAVY theme for Knight’s works when it comes to uh…backdoor play. Nothing in the positive or negative column there, just an observation. But I will say this: after some of the stuff Julien does to her, there is NO way girl is sitting down normally for a long ass (teehee, get it?) time.
All in all, not my favorite, but so far I’ve only got Salvatore to compare it to. That said, Knight comes up with some damn good premises and I’ll continue to check out more of her titles.
Having been so taken with Salvatore, I dove right into another Natasha Knight book. Deviant has an interesting naughty premise, which is really all I need to justify anything.
The first half of the book was intriguing. Julien, a mercenary, is working a contract (and by working I mean nailing) when he notices Mia spying on him from another hotel room. Amused, he draws things out a little longer than planned, knowing he’ll eventually have to kill her for seeing his face.
But Mia has her own set of problems, and Julien is not the only guy that wants her dead. I found it a little odd that Julien elects to save her life rather than just take the opportunity to kill her with the other guys that came for her, but hey, I don’t have a penis.
Julien is a dom to the extreme. He doesn’t just like being in control, he enjoys hurting Mia and making her afraid of him, which I didn’t dig. And I was struggling to believe Mia would enjoy it either, given how scared she was of him. There were parts where Julien straight up victimizes her, which I found pretty upsetting given that Mia has already been victimized in the past and he KNOWS that.
I am also noticing a HEAVY theme for Knight’s works when it comes to uh…backdoor play. Nothing in the positive or negative column there, just an observation. But I will say this: after some of the stuff Julien does to her, there is NO way girl is sitting down normally for a long ass (teehee, get it?) time.
All in all, not my favorite, but so far I’ve only got Salvatore to compare it to. That said, Knight comes up with some damn good premises and I’ll continue to check out more of her titles.
July 19, 2015
Mia is on the run from Samuel, her sister's husband and Jason, his son. She not only testified against Jason sending him to jail, but she left with an important ledger belonging to Samuel. While on the run, she witnesses a gorgeous man having sex through the window of her hotel room. Instead of looking away, she watches unaware that she's been seen. Mia has no way of knowing that Julien is an assassin or that the women he's with is his next target.
Julien sees the innocent green eyed beauty watching him and knows he can't have any witnesses. When Julien goes after Mia, he's surprised when two gunman show up trying to kill her. Once he learns there's a bounty on Mia's head, Julien's plans change.
Julien is a bada$$ killer for hire who cares about no one. It's all about the job and collecting the money. He's a hard man so it's completely unexpected when he realizes he feels something for Mia.
Mia is a great leading woman. She's been through so much, yet she's stayed strong and survived. She doesn't back down from Julien and is embarrassed and confused by the attraction she develops for him.
Julien and Mia were so perfect for each other. I enjoyed watching them get closer without even realizing what they were doing. And sexy times, wow! Julien is a man who likes to be in control and brought Mia to her knees...literally. We're able to learn enough about both of their pasts to understand why things are the way they are.
If you enjoy a darker story with suspense and finding unexpected love, you'll enjoy this story. It's told from both POVs and has one of those endings we all love.
Final/random thought: I'm not sure who the smiling man on the cover of this book is supposed to be. Julien is sexy and mysterious. I don't recall any part of the book where he was grinning and tipping his shades at anyone.
Julien sees the innocent green eyed beauty watching him and knows he can't have any witnesses. When Julien goes after Mia, he's surprised when two gunman show up trying to kill her. Once he learns there's a bounty on Mia's head, Julien's plans change.
Julien is a bada$$ killer for hire who cares about no one. It's all about the job and collecting the money. He's a hard man so it's completely unexpected when he realizes he feels something for Mia.
Mia is a great leading woman. She's been through so much, yet she's stayed strong and survived. She doesn't back down from Julien and is embarrassed and confused by the attraction she develops for him.
Julien and Mia were so perfect for each other. I enjoyed watching them get closer without even realizing what they were doing. And sexy times, wow! Julien is a man who likes to be in control and brought Mia to her knees...literally. We're able to learn enough about both of their pasts to understand why things are the way they are.
If you enjoy a darker story with suspense and finding unexpected love, you'll enjoy this story. It's told from both POVs and has one of those endings we all love.
Final/random thought: I'm not sure who the smiling man on the cover of this book is supposed to be. Julien is sexy and mysterious. I don't recall any part of the book where he was grinning and tipping his shades at anyone.
June 21, 2019
Audiobook Review
Overall 2.5 stars
Performance 3 stars
Story 1.5- 2 stars
I'm normally not a big dark romance reader, but have become a fan of Natasha Knight's books. She has a way of getting me invested in these broken anti-heroes that surprises me every time. I wanted to enjoy this one too, but unfortunately, Deviant was a miss for me. I knew going in that it was going to be a dark listen, but many situations in the book felt like they were there just for the shock value rather than actually adding anything to the story. Philip Alces did a good job narrating, but I didn't particularly enjoy his female voices and I thought his voice wasn't gruff enough to fully pull off our amoral hero.
The heroine, Mia, came across as too stupid to live, and all the hero, Julien, ever did in the book was have sex (with our h and OW in the beginning) or dole out punishments, which led to more sex. There are BDSM situations, forced seduction, and dubious consent in this one. It felt much more like Stockholm Syndrome rather than love and it was very hard to believe that Mia was always "dripping and ready" for Julien, after the things that he did to her. The main drama involving why Mia was on the run from her step family wrapped up really fast and was anticlimactic given how much build up there had been. Julien's 180 at the end made the epilogue feel disingenuous and though fans of dark romance/erotica may enjoy this one, Deviant just wasn't for me.
Overall 2.5 stars
Performance 3 stars
Story 1.5- 2 stars
I'm normally not a big dark romance reader, but have become a fan of Natasha Knight's books. She has a way of getting me invested in these broken anti-heroes that surprises me every time. I wanted to enjoy this one too, but unfortunately, Deviant was a miss for me. I knew going in that it was going to be a dark listen, but many situations in the book felt like they were there just for the shock value rather than actually adding anything to the story. Philip Alces did a good job narrating, but I didn't particularly enjoy his female voices and I thought his voice wasn't gruff enough to fully pull off our amoral hero.
The heroine, Mia, came across as too stupid to live, and all the hero, Julien, ever did in the book was have sex (with our h and OW in the beginning) or dole out punishments, which led to more sex. There are BDSM situations, forced seduction, and dubious consent in this one. It felt much more like Stockholm Syndrome rather than love and it was very hard to believe that Mia was always "dripping and ready" for Julien, after the things that he did to her. The main drama involving why Mia was on the run from her step family wrapped up really fast and was anticlimactic given how much build up there had been. Julien's 180 at the end made the epilogue feel disingenuous and though fans of dark romance/erotica may enjoy this one, Deviant just wasn't for me.
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