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Colour #1
Colour My Ugly
A dark tale of love, pain and ultimately sacrifice.
Rowan was born to be a murderer, trained to do nothing but kill. He spends his days hidden in plain sight waiting for the next life he gets to snuff out.
When the name that crosses his desk of death is one he cannot possibly murder, he makes a decision that will alter the course of both their lives forever.
Lauri has been dying at the hand of her husband for eight long years, his lust for revenge and need for her suffering has finally ended. He wants her dead. Her body is broken, scarred and ugly, but it's her heart and mind that are beyond repair.
When she wakes up dead her whole world changes and she can finally begin living.
Some people are not good, but they can be good for each other.
Rowan was born to be a murderer, trained to do nothing but kill. He spends his days hidden in plain sight waiting for the next life he gets to snuff out.
When the name that crosses his desk of death is one he cannot possibly murder, he makes a decision that will alter the course of both their lives forever.
Lauri has been dying at the hand of her husband for eight long years, his lust for revenge and need for her suffering has finally ended. He wants her dead. Her body is broken, scarred and ugly, but it's her heart and mind that are beyond repair.
When she wakes up dead her whole world changes and she can finally begin living.
Some people are not good, but they can be good for each other.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
30 people are currently reading
604 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
May 1, 2018
This is a really good debut novel. If your looking for a sweet story then skip this. However if your looking for a gripping read with some dark and bad characters then this may be the one for you.
Rowan is an assassin. When his next target is Laurie he's shocked as he's always loved her. You need to 1-click to find out what he's gonna do!
Great praise to the author. I'm so looking forward to reading more of these characters.
Rowan is an assassin. When his next target is Laurie he's shocked as he's always loved her. You need to 1-click to find out what he's gonna do!
Great praise to the author. I'm so looking forward to reading more of these characters.
September 30, 2015
**** 4.5 Beautiful Monster Stars ****
"Monsters are born not made."
This book is FANTASTIC!!! Everything about this story line excited and shocked me.
Lauri has lived a life of darkness even thought she was not aware of most of her darkness until she was older and her father explained his life to her. Her dad was a hired killer and did his job well. He lived for his job but had to hide his job to keep his daughter safe.
In keeping her safe, she is introduced to her father's prodigy, Rowan. Instantly Lauri finds Rowan amazingly handsome and flirts with him. Her flirtation is not reciprocated leaving Lauri bummed but she is 10 years younger.
Then one day Lauri's worst nightmare comes true, her father is killed in an accident. But her father always said,
"Trust me, it would be no accident when I died."
Lauri is devastated but her father gave her strict instructions of what to do when the day came that he died. Lauri obey's her father's wishes and lives a new live as Ellia w/ a shadow she is not aware of.
Ellia gets married to the man of hew dreams and starts her new life with Renzo. Only her new life, is very short lived and on her wedding night her new husband beats and rapes her repeatedly. This is start of a horrible and terrifying 8 years of her life.
"Evil and bad are very different things. I married an evil man. I believe that I married the devil himself."
Lauri's life with Renzo is cruel and beyond the words of abuse. Renzo is the true definition of a monster. His calling in life is to make Lauri pay for the sins of her father.
Wishing for death on many occasions, Lauri finally gets her wish when she wakes up in her old bedroom. Not knowing what is going on but relieved to be away from Renzo for now she relaxes. Then she see's the newspaper. Ellia has had an accident, she was "killed" after her husband hired Rowan, her crush from the past.
Rowan is a man with the darkest of pasts. He has more layers of darkness than I have ever read. As he saves Ellia from her monster husband, he begins his own battle. He can not let Lauri go. He has always wanted her and he was expected to protect her. After finding out about the amount of abuse she endured he is left with more guilt in his heart. He knows he can fix her.
Their story, UNBELIEVABLE. I honestly can't say much more because there are so many twist, turns, secrets and darkness that I don't want to give anything away. You will be left with an emotional overload.
Miss Giannoccaro.....YOU WROTE AND AMAZING STORY!!! I will admit, that ending.....I WAS NOT EXPECTING!!
"I will love you always.
You coloured my ugly and made me whole.
Don't stop living Rowan.
Goodbye My Monster.
I will never stop loving you."
PS....The author has a new version of this book available with editing. This version of the book has a lack of editing which was frustrating but the author won me over with this story and characters. The lack of editing had no effect on my review or my thoughts of this book.
"Monsters are born not made."
This book is FANTASTIC!!! Everything about this story line excited and shocked me.
Lauri has lived a life of darkness even thought she was not aware of most of her darkness until she was older and her father explained his life to her. Her dad was a hired killer and did his job well. He lived for his job but had to hide his job to keep his daughter safe.
In keeping her safe, she is introduced to her father's prodigy, Rowan. Instantly Lauri finds Rowan amazingly handsome and flirts with him. Her flirtation is not reciprocated leaving Lauri bummed but she is 10 years younger.
Then one day Lauri's worst nightmare comes true, her father is killed in an accident. But her father always said,
"Trust me, it would be no accident when I died."
Lauri is devastated but her father gave her strict instructions of what to do when the day came that he died. Lauri obey's her father's wishes and lives a new live as Ellia w/ a shadow she is not aware of.
Ellia gets married to the man of hew dreams and starts her new life with Renzo. Only her new life, is very short lived and on her wedding night her new husband beats and rapes her repeatedly. This is start of a horrible and terrifying 8 years of her life.
"Evil and bad are very different things. I married an evil man. I believe that I married the devil himself."
Lauri's life with Renzo is cruel and beyond the words of abuse. Renzo is the true definition of a monster. His calling in life is to make Lauri pay for the sins of her father.
Wishing for death on many occasions, Lauri finally gets her wish when she wakes up in her old bedroom. Not knowing what is going on but relieved to be away from Renzo for now she relaxes. Then she see's the newspaper. Ellia has had an accident, she was "killed" after her husband hired Rowan, her crush from the past.
Rowan is a man with the darkest of pasts. He has more layers of darkness than I have ever read. As he saves Ellia from her monster husband, he begins his own battle. He can not let Lauri go. He has always wanted her and he was expected to protect her. After finding out about the amount of abuse she endured he is left with more guilt in his heart. He knows he can fix her.
Their story, UNBELIEVABLE. I honestly can't say much more because there are so many twist, turns, secrets and darkness that I don't want to give anything away. You will be left with an emotional overload.
Miss Giannoccaro.....YOU WROTE AND AMAZING STORY!!! I will admit, that ending.....I WAS NOT EXPECTING!!
"I will love you always.
You coloured my ugly and made me whole.
Don't stop living Rowan.
Goodbye My Monster.
I will never stop loving you."
PS....The author has a new version of this book available with editing. This version of the book has a lack of editing which was frustrating but the author won me over with this story and characters. The lack of editing had no effect on my review or my thoughts of this book.
August 20, 2015
New cover, re-edited version will be available August 28th.
4 Stars!
Warning: This is a dark book. So, don't go reading it if you can't handle gritty. If you want a white picket fence, move on down the line.
"Monsters are born not made."
I was truly torn how to rate this book. Ok, I loved, I hated, and I enjoyed some parts of this book. I don't write negative reviews, but I like to explain for the most part why I gave 3 stars, not that 3 stars is bad, but I think the author should know why I personally didn't give the book 4 or 5 Stars. Constructive criticism if you will.
The plot original. The setting is Africa, that in itself was intriguing, we don't get many books like this. The characters are broken, dark, and somewhat mysterious. The Story took a slower pace than what I'm used to, but the author really did bring the characters to life. I loved the meaning that was nicely hidden in the dark. The root, so to speak was phenomenal. This book carried everything I love in my dark books, the characters were well developed. I wanted more depth, instead of telling me, "I'm a monster" I wanted feel it. Don't get me wrong I sure did love the darkness that I did get.
Sometimes the only way to live is to die first
Sometimes the only way to love is with the dark side of your heart
Sometimes the only way to love a monster is to be one
Sometimes to live, love and die are all the same thing
This is the author's debut novel, I need to put that out there. Her idea, or plot rather is undeniably good, dark, gritty, all the makings of a great book for me. Let's just get this out of the way. I had a huge problem with the editing, for the love of writing, I am not an editor, or a writer for that matter, but this really took away from the story. I had to re-read too many sentences to count, just to make sure I was reading it correctly. Believe me, I don't claim to be the word Nazi, and usually I look past it, this time I couldn't. My other problem was the ending, I can't tell you "why," because that would spoil the story. But I wondered if it was for pure shock factor. Blame the other books that came before, because I was shocked of course, but mostly pissed. This could be all me, maybe others didn't feel that way. With all that being said, I can't choose the way the book was written or how the storyline plays out, but I can speak about how that made me feel.
With all this ranting I did, I hope you understand my conflicted emotions. All in all, this story is what we as dark readers love. If you can look past the editing, I think you will enjoy the darkness as much as I did.
P.S.
I spoke with the author, editing has already happened, it's just not updated yet.
4 Stars!
Warning: This is a dark book. So, don't go reading it if you can't handle gritty. If you want a white picket fence, move on down the line.
"Monsters are born not made."
I was truly torn how to rate this book. Ok, I loved, I hated, and I enjoyed some parts of this book. I don't write negative reviews, but I like to explain for the most part why I gave 3 stars, not that 3 stars is bad, but I think the author should know why I personally didn't give the book 4 or 5 Stars. Constructive criticism if you will.
The plot original. The setting is Africa, that in itself was intriguing, we don't get many books like this. The characters are broken, dark, and somewhat mysterious. The Story took a slower pace than what I'm used to, but the author really did bring the characters to life. I loved the meaning that was nicely hidden in the dark. The root, so to speak was phenomenal. This book carried everything I love in my dark books, the characters were well developed. I wanted more depth, instead of telling me, "I'm a monster" I wanted feel it. Don't get me wrong I sure did love the darkness that I did get.
Sometimes the only way to live is to die first
Sometimes the only way to love is with the dark side of your heart
Sometimes the only way to love a monster is to be one
Sometimes to live, love and die are all the same thing
This is the author's debut novel, I need to put that out there. Her idea, or plot rather is undeniably good, dark, gritty, all the makings of a great book for me. Let's just get this out of the way. I had a huge problem with the editing, for the love of writing, I am not an editor, or a writer for that matter, but this really took away from the story. I had to re-read too many sentences to count, just to make sure I was reading it correctly. Believe me, I don't claim to be the word Nazi, and usually I look past it, this time I couldn't. My other problem was the ending, I can't tell you "why," because that would spoil the story. But I wondered if it was for pure shock factor. Blame the other books that came before, because I was shocked of course, but mostly pissed. This could be all me, maybe others didn't feel that way. With all that being said, I can't choose the way the book was written or how the storyline plays out, but I can speak about how that made me feel.
With all this ranting I did, I hope you understand my conflicted emotions. All in all, this story is what we as dark readers love. If you can look past the editing, I think you will enjoy the darkness as much as I did.
P.S.
I spoke with the author, editing has already happened, it's just not updated yet.
January 8, 2016
The first half of the book was wicked good. Lauri was broken from everything that had happened to her. Her story was devastating. What she had experienced was horrible, and it had scarred her in more ways than one. Rowan didn’t know how to help her; all he knew was that he wanted to. The development of their relationship was slow, which is how I like it. Everything good about this book ends there.
Now for the bad stuff:
The editing in this book was horrible. I’ve never seen so many run on sentences in my life. Half of the punctuation was missing. Sometimes I’d have to reread parts to make sense of the jumbled mess of words. A lot of self published books have some errors, but this had way too many for me to ignore. It was distracting and pulled my attention away from the story too many times.
****Some minor spoilers ahead****
Two things were mentioned early on in the book that went nowhere. The hit was placed on Lauri by her husband for her money. Her money was moved so it wouldn’t be accessible to him. He never questioned that the money wasn’t there. It should have been a major clue something suspicious was going on. It was never mentioned again. Lauri’s cousin thought about using her as a bargaining chip with other family members. It was mentioned in passing in one part of the story, and that was it. What was the point of even including this in the story?
They did a bad job of protecting Lauri. Maybe it’s just me but if someone faked their death they should hide. She just went on with life as if she had simply moved away. It was so dumb. It was obvious something bad was going to happen as a result of their stupidity.
A little over halfway through the book it all went to shit. Lauri changed, and the changes weren’t believable to me. Even after everything that happened to her she remained innocent for the first half of the book. Then she developed a dark side. It didn’t mesh with the rest of her personality. It would have made more sense if she had been hell bent on revenge or wanted to know how to hurt others as a means to protect herself. It seemed to me like she became bad to fit in with the people around her. I just couldn’t buy it that she was bad.
I’m fine with stories that don’t have happy endings. Heartbreak is a part of life, so it should be depicted in stories too. The ending was complete bullshit because it could have been prevented. Most of it was a result of a lack of communication. I didn’t understand why the lack of communication occurred since these were people who were usually honest with each other. I can accept bad things when people don’t choose to let it happen. They at least have to go down fighting for me to like the ending and not hate them. I hated the ending because it made all of the characters seem weak and pathetic. It tainted any of the good things that came before it.
Now for the bad stuff:
The editing in this book was horrible. I’ve never seen so many run on sentences in my life. Half of the punctuation was missing. Sometimes I’d have to reread parts to make sense of the jumbled mess of words. A lot of self published books have some errors, but this had way too many for me to ignore. It was distracting and pulled my attention away from the story too many times.
****Some minor spoilers ahead****
Two things were mentioned early on in the book that went nowhere. The hit was placed on Lauri by her husband for her money. Her money was moved so it wouldn’t be accessible to him. He never questioned that the money wasn’t there. It should have been a major clue something suspicious was going on. It was never mentioned again. Lauri’s cousin thought about using her as a bargaining chip with other family members. It was mentioned in passing in one part of the story, and that was it. What was the point of even including this in the story?
They did a bad job of protecting Lauri. Maybe it’s just me but if someone faked their death they should hide. She just went on with life as if she had simply moved away. It was so dumb. It was obvious something bad was going to happen as a result of their stupidity.
A little over halfway through the book it all went to shit. Lauri changed, and the changes weren’t believable to me. Even after everything that happened to her she remained innocent for the first half of the book. Then she developed a dark side. It didn’t mesh with the rest of her personality. It would have made more sense if she had been hell bent on revenge or wanted to know how to hurt others as a means to protect herself. It seemed to me like she became bad to fit in with the people around her. I just couldn’t buy it that she was bad.
I’m fine with stories that don’t have happy endings. Heartbreak is a part of life, so it should be depicted in stories too. The ending was complete bullshit because it could have been prevented. Most of it was a result of a lack of communication. I didn’t understand why the lack of communication occurred since these were people who were usually honest with each other. I can accept bad things when people don’t choose to let it happen. They at least have to go down fighting for me to like the ending and not hate them. I hated the ending because it made all of the characters seem weak and pathetic. It tainted any of the good things that came before it.
December 19, 2017
I so wanted to give this book 5 stars - so much of this book was fresh and different compared to the same old formula. The setting is in a dark world of the criminal underbelly hiding in plain site in South Africa.
The heroine, Lauri, hails from an Irish mob family where her dad is a hitman for hire in Capetown. He has made special plans for Lauri with a new identity should an 'accident' ever kill him as there are no 'accidents' in his life of work. To further secure his daughter's safety, he has his protege, Rowan, who will also step into the role of dark, hidden guardian angel watching over her until she is happy and married should he die.
Needless to say, Lauri seems to have met the man of her dreams, marries, and Rowan reluctantly goes away (he has feelings for Lauri) and goes back to his life as a hitman. Lauri, however, finds out on her wedding night that she has entered hell with no way out. She is abused, terrorized and punished in some of the worse ways possible to mankind on a non-stop basis by her powerful, completely sadistic fucking husband. Everything stays that way until Rowan gets a new contract to carry out and realizes that Lauri is the target and her husband the client. Feeling he has utterly failed her father and Lauri, he takes the contract, fakes her death and thus starts the second life of Lauri.
There is darkness everywhere in this book. Not one single character is only light, everyone has a touch of bad in them. Lauri's ordeal has left her in an abyss and her way out is a very colourful and unique one. Rowan and Lauri's relationship is natural and beautiful to watch as it heals and softens each of them. But the book keeps you tied up knowing it just can't all be that easy - even though it's still been pretty damn tough.
I loved Rowan. I loved Lauri. I loved the inherent danger and I didn't even mind the end which was a downer. Capetown, Johannesburg, Irish mobsters, Italian mafia, the South African countryside - it all made for something fresh. Even Lauri's path to self-healing was completely different and refreshing. So why no 5 stars? Because this book was difficult as hell to read! One must read sentences over and over again. First she's in the present. Next sentence is in the past. Next sentence present. Grammar all over the place. Incomplete sentences, and on and on. I realize it's the author's first book and I LOVE one of her later books but come on, did she not have a friend that could proofread it? Everytime I got into the groove, I'd find myself slipping back to modifying her sentences in my head to make them all coherent and uniform.
So no 5 stars here only because I want to get lost in a book, not constantly be thrown out of it by mistakes littering every page turning me into an English teacher with her red pen out! Sucks too because the story was good, good enough to stick with to the end and the setting was totally new and unique and authentic. The heroine's solution to heal was something I'd never read either and the hero/anti-hero was one of a kind. This should have been a 5 star read damnit! Pissed it wasn't but even with all the crap with the writing style I still have to give a 3.75 because I fell in love with Rowan, I admired Lauri's courage and liked (hated) the way the end stayed true to the dark undersway of the rest of the book. (note to author - you had a 5 on your hands. get an editor and republish this sucker!!!!)
The heroine, Lauri, hails from an Irish mob family where her dad is a hitman for hire in Capetown. He has made special plans for Lauri with a new identity should an 'accident' ever kill him as there are no 'accidents' in his life of work. To further secure his daughter's safety, he has his protege, Rowan, who will also step into the role of dark, hidden guardian angel watching over her until she is happy and married should he die.
Needless to say, Lauri seems to have met the man of her dreams, marries, and Rowan reluctantly goes away (he has feelings for Lauri) and goes back to his life as a hitman. Lauri, however, finds out on her wedding night that she has entered hell with no way out. She is abused, terrorized and punished in some of the worse ways possible to mankind on a non-stop basis by her powerful, completely sadistic fucking husband. Everything stays that way until Rowan gets a new contract to carry out and realizes that Lauri is the target and her husband the client. Feeling he has utterly failed her father and Lauri, he takes the contract, fakes her death and thus starts the second life of Lauri.
There is darkness everywhere in this book. Not one single character is only light, everyone has a touch of bad in them. Lauri's ordeal has left her in an abyss and her way out is a very colourful and unique one. Rowan and Lauri's relationship is natural and beautiful to watch as it heals and softens each of them. But the book keeps you tied up knowing it just can't all be that easy - even though it's still been pretty damn tough.
I loved Rowan. I loved Lauri. I loved the inherent danger and I didn't even mind the end which was a downer. Capetown, Johannesburg, Irish mobsters, Italian mafia, the South African countryside - it all made for something fresh. Even Lauri's path to self-healing was completely different and refreshing. So why no 5 stars? Because this book was difficult as hell to read! One must read sentences over and over again. First she's in the present. Next sentence is in the past. Next sentence present. Grammar all over the place. Incomplete sentences, and on and on. I realize it's the author's first book and I LOVE one of her later books but come on, did she not have a friend that could proofread it? Everytime I got into the groove, I'd find myself slipping back to modifying her sentences in my head to make them all coherent and uniform.
So no 5 stars here only because I want to get lost in a book, not constantly be thrown out of it by mistakes littering every page turning me into an English teacher with her red pen out! Sucks too because the story was good, good enough to stick with to the end and the setting was totally new and unique and authentic. The heroine's solution to heal was something I'd never read either and the hero/anti-hero was one of a kind. This should have been a 5 star read damnit! Pissed it wasn't but even with all the crap with the writing style I still have to give a 3.75 because I fell in love with Rowan, I admired Lauri's courage and liked (hated) the way the end stayed true to the dark undersway of the rest of the book. (note to author - you had a 5 on your hands. get an editor and republish this sucker!!!!)
October 25, 2016
I actually really enjoyed the story in this book and would've given it at least 4stars. It's dark and uncomfortable BUT the editing/punctuation/run on sentences are so awful it ruined it for me (and I admit to being a total grammar loser so it's tough to be that bad for me).
I skimmed so much or had to re-read to make sense of it.... for all I know the story I think I read isn't the real one because I felt myself interpreting so much of it on my own.
I am curious enough and enjoyed the premise just enough to move on to the next book . I am praying to the book (editing) gods that this one is better!
I skimmed so much or had to re-read to make sense of it.... for all I know the story I think I read isn't the real one because I felt myself interpreting so much of it on my own.
I am curious enough and enjoyed the premise just enough to move on to the next book . I am praying to the book (editing) gods that this one is better!
September 6, 2017
How have I not read this before it was fantastic... jumped straight in to the second one !
January 6, 2017
COLOUR MY UGLY is a twisted tale about a bunch of seriously broken, deranged people! This is a story about revenge, passion, heartfelt love, abuse, unfathomable love, assasins, indestructible friendship, betrayal, redemption, blood-lust and so much more! Although the storyline is absolutely spectacular, this is a book I typically would have quit reading very early on because the editing is so atrocious. If I hadn't been so consumed by the dark, depraved, all-consuming story, I definitely would have refused to continue reading after just a few pages. Luckily, I was able to ignore the typos and enjoy what turned out to be a fabulous book! Shockingly, I even cried at the end (something I very, very, very rarely do). What a powerful, moving story!
PS: if you read this review Ms. Giannoccaro, I want to thank you for writing using a back-and-forth perspective between the main characters. IMO, getting to hear how each character felt regarding the same events provided a more thorough overview of the storyline. I also want to encourage you to message me or reach out to the GR community before you publish your next book. I and many others would be more than happy to help proofread/edit for you. Your stories are amazing but they'd be even more so with someone to clean them up!
PS: if you read this review Ms. Giannoccaro, I want to thank you for writing using a back-and-forth perspective between the main characters. IMO, getting to hear how each character felt regarding the same events provided a more thorough overview of the storyline. I also want to encourage you to message me or reach out to the GR community before you publish your next book. I and many others would be more than happy to help proofread/edit for you. Your stories are amazing but they'd be even more so with someone to clean them up!
March 28, 2017
I was surprised that this is a debut novel. As with the second book of this series "Monochrome My Madness" /you can read them as standalones although there are recurring charachters/ the author treads uncertainly in the beginning but then the story captivates you. There were some scenes that were hard to stomach that I was about to add horror genre amongst my shelves. I liked all the characters. I liked that there are not good vs. bad characters in the book, they are all bad and yet you symphatize with some of them and you feel disgusted with others. I also can not ignore the skillful choice for a title as with the second book which nicely corresponds with the story.
December 15, 2015
Have to say this was pretty poor as far as the writing goes. I thought the writing was juvenile - had an adolescent feel about it and it was too repetitive. The book also needs a grammatical overhaul/edit as far asl punctuation and grammar goes. One thing that saved it was the plot. Has potential so hopefully next book in series might be better.
August 9, 2018
Wow! What an amazing story this was. From beginning to end I was captivated. Rowan is not a good man and feels he can never find love. Then Lauri steps back into his life and he has a hard time coming to terms with his feelings for her. Monsters can’t love, can they? Lauri went thru 8 years of hell and is now trying to live again. And Rowan is there every step of the way. This story had me on the edge of my seat so many times. I also needed tissues several times as the depth of emotions coming from Lauri was so heartbreaking and heartwarming as well. The author describes these characters in such detail, I can actually envision what they look like. I truly loved this book and didn’t want it to end. A definite must read!
March 4, 2017
"Sometimes the only way to love a monster is to be one.
Sometimes to live, love and die, are all the same thing."
The sins of the father need to be paid, the debt is still outstanding and unfortunately she pays with her suffering. Lauri is the daughter of a man who sells death, much loved yet so naive to the cruel and evil monsters of the world. Only familiar with a bad man she is not prepared for the truly evil. Eight years of torture and her death sets her free, finding herself a prison in her old family home can she find a way to embrace the ugly and learn to live?
Rowan was born into the life of death, raised to nurture the bad and become a monster hiding in plain sight. Yet when the job comes in and it's her...something forever shifts in his black heart. Learning to see the beauty in the ugly they go on a journey of self discovery, redemption and acceptance that neither one of them was prepared for.
This story honestly left me speechless, I smiled, I cried and I felt hollow. All the turmoil, suffering and triumph and then that ending - I felt they had been cheated but then life isn't always fair and I fell in love with the authors bravery to not give the reader a typically happy ever after. I loved the pace of the story, how it slowed down to explore her recovery and sped along with urgency when he was on a job. The plotline surprised, twisted and flowed. I fell hard and fast for the characters and their offbeat family. I thought it was flawless, raw and passionate. I can't wait to dive into Callum's story.
A five star I cried ugly read.
Sometimes to live, love and die, are all the same thing."
The sins of the father need to be paid, the debt is still outstanding and unfortunately she pays with her suffering. Lauri is the daughter of a man who sells death, much loved yet so naive to the cruel and evil monsters of the world. Only familiar with a bad man she is not prepared for the truly evil. Eight years of torture and her death sets her free, finding herself a prison in her old family home can she find a way to embrace the ugly and learn to live?
Rowan was born into the life of death, raised to nurture the bad and become a monster hiding in plain sight. Yet when the job comes in and it's her...something forever shifts in his black heart. Learning to see the beauty in the ugly they go on a journey of self discovery, redemption and acceptance that neither one of them was prepared for.
This story honestly left me speechless, I smiled, I cried and I felt hollow. All the turmoil, suffering and triumph and then that ending - I felt they had been cheated but then life isn't always fair and I fell in love with the authors bravery to not give the reader a typically happy ever after. I loved the pace of the story, how it slowed down to explore her recovery and sped along with urgency when he was on a job. The plotline surprised, twisted and flowed. I fell hard and fast for the characters and their offbeat family. I thought it was flawless, raw and passionate. I can't wait to dive into Callum's story.
A five star I cried ugly read.
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October 14, 2017Not my cup of tea, but Ashleigh has this amazing talent to lure you into the world she creates I her books and tickles your curiosity for the unknown.
I am delightfully surprised by the twist in the story and how she manages to convince the reader to undergo a change of heart to utterly fall in love with the underdog, a killer and eventually also just a victim fighting the only way he knows how, to survive day by day.
Colour my ugly finds love in the strangest place and shows that it does exist and has the ability to move and to heal.
Great read!
I am delightfully surprised by the twist in the story and how she manages to convince the reader to undergo a change of heart to utterly fall in love with the underdog, a killer and eventually also just a victim fighting the only way he knows how, to survive day by day.
Colour my ugly finds love in the strangest place and shows that it does exist and has the ability to move and to heal.
Great read!
June 9, 2016
"Today's my birthday; I died a year ago today. Well, Ellia died and Lauri was reborn so to say."
Dari luar kehidupan Ellia tampak seperti trophy wife yang sempurna. Suami bilionernya yang bak prince charming, tampan, kaya, berkuasa dan memperlakukannya penuh perhatian. Tapi dibalik pintu rumah mereka, Renzo menjadikannya sansak hidup dengan kekejaman yang OMG.. kau tak akan bisa bayangkan. Dan puncak dari semua penganiayaan Renzo adalah dia menyewa seorang asassin untuk membantai istrinya sendiri.
Rowan, monster rupawan yang sudah mati rasa sejak umur 18 tahun. Dia ketagihan membunuh dan sensasi dominansi dalam seks kasar. Dia mengalami pertentangan batin pertama saat dia mendapatkan job harus membunuh anak mentornya sendiri.
Ini pertama kalinya aku membaca novel dengan karakter yang cukup matang, dan aku menyukainya. Rowan berumur sekitar 43 tahun, 11 tahun lebih tua daripada Ellia.
Dari sisi karakter, kisah ini akan memuaskan selera gelap pencinta romance melankolis. Novel ini bercerita dari sudut pandang multiple POV antara Ellia/Laurie dan Rowan yang didominasi narasi penuh kesedihan, angst dan kegalauan. Mereka akan bercerita dengan alur maju mundur yang lambat antara kejadian sekarang dan masa lalu. POV Callum hero buku 2 dan POV Renzo yang penuh intrik, aku super tertarik dengan apa yang menjadi motivasi tindakan kejam pria sosiopath yang satu ini.
Romantisme penculikan mungkin cerita yang mainstream, tapi serahkan topik kepada Ash untuk memberinya nuansa dan twist baru. Maka kau akan mendapatkan kisah intens, penuh dengan twist kejutan tajam yang bikin jantungan dan taburan emosional super mendalam. Yang aku suka dari buku debut ini adalah Ash berani memberikan nuansa gelap yang berbeda dari sebuah kisah penculikan. Bagaimana Ellia bertransformasi menjadi Laurie dan dalam proses dia menyembuhkan luka batinnya dia juga menyelamatkan Rowan.
Tapi ada beberapa hal yang agak mengusikku :
- Info/fakta diungkapkan berulang-ulang. Misalkan scene X, akan diceritakan dari flashback POV Laurie, POV Rowan, dan kemudian diceritakan lagi dalam sebuah percakapan dengan karakter lain. Dan hal itu terulang beberapa kali.
- POV Callum aku tidak merasa perlu dibahas sampai sedalam itu. Karena aku sudah baca buku Callum duluan aku tahu cerita itu akan diulang lagi di bukunya sendiri, beberapa kali. Kadang less information is better untuk menjaga calon hero buku selanjutnya tetap misterius dan bikin penasaran.
- Beberapa plot dalam storyline agak berlubang. Misalnya Rowan yang di gambarkan asassin handal dan pny banyak musuh tapi tidak membuat sistem keamanan selevel Pentagon. Ellie yang dalam tahap "bersembunyi" justru membuka restoran yang terekspos media.
- Bagian Laurie ingin jadi asassin itu agak out of character dan terlalu ekstrim bagiku. Aku lebih suka dia jadi bagian dunia yang berbeda dari Rowan dan menjadi jangkar penahan pria itu.
- Semua karakter dibuku ini punya hubungan darah "kekeluargaan" ala mafia yang agak rumit dan hobby melabeli diri. Aku lebih suka label itu ditunjukan dengan perbuatan dan bukan hanya diceritakan. Tapi Ash menjanjikan semua fakta akan dikupas tajam, setajam silet di buku ke-3.
Buku ini jelas foreplay bagi Ash, dia meninggalkan banyak misteri dalam kisah ini. Alternatif endingnya yang antimainstream membuatku patah hati berhari-hari. Setiap orang mempunyai warna dalam dirinya. Apakah mereka bisa menunjukan warna asli itu kepada dunia atau mereka hanya menunjukan pelangi dan menyimpan yang gelap didalam pribadi mereka? Tak sabar menunggu bulan Dec untuk mengetahui ending serial ini.
My Rating :
Star : 3.5/5
Bikini : 2/5
Dari luar kehidupan Ellia tampak seperti trophy wife yang sempurna. Suami bilionernya yang bak prince charming, tampan, kaya, berkuasa dan memperlakukannya penuh perhatian. Tapi dibalik pintu rumah mereka, Renzo menjadikannya sansak hidup dengan kekejaman yang OMG.. kau tak akan bisa bayangkan. Dan puncak dari semua penganiayaan Renzo adalah dia menyewa seorang asassin untuk membantai istrinya sendiri.
Rowan, monster rupawan yang sudah mati rasa sejak umur 18 tahun. Dia ketagihan membunuh dan sensasi dominansi dalam seks kasar. Dia mengalami pertentangan batin pertama saat dia mendapatkan job harus membunuh anak mentornya sendiri.
Ini pertama kalinya aku membaca novel dengan karakter yang cukup matang, dan aku menyukainya. Rowan berumur sekitar 43 tahun, 11 tahun lebih tua daripada Ellia.
Dari sisi karakter, kisah ini akan memuaskan selera gelap pencinta romance melankolis. Novel ini bercerita dari sudut pandang multiple POV antara Ellia/Laurie dan Rowan yang didominasi narasi penuh kesedihan, angst dan kegalauan. Mereka akan bercerita dengan alur maju mundur yang lambat antara kejadian sekarang dan masa lalu. POV Callum hero buku 2 dan POV Renzo yang penuh intrik, aku super tertarik dengan apa yang menjadi motivasi tindakan kejam pria sosiopath yang satu ini.
Romantisme penculikan mungkin cerita yang mainstream, tapi serahkan topik kepada Ash untuk memberinya nuansa dan twist baru. Maka kau akan mendapatkan kisah intens, penuh dengan twist kejutan tajam yang bikin jantungan dan taburan emosional super mendalam. Yang aku suka dari buku debut ini adalah Ash berani memberikan nuansa gelap yang berbeda dari sebuah kisah penculikan. Bagaimana Ellia bertransformasi menjadi Laurie dan dalam proses dia menyembuhkan luka batinnya dia juga menyelamatkan Rowan.
Tapi ada beberapa hal yang agak mengusikku :
- Info/fakta diungkapkan berulang-ulang. Misalkan scene X, akan diceritakan dari flashback POV Laurie, POV Rowan, dan kemudian diceritakan lagi dalam sebuah percakapan dengan karakter lain. Dan hal itu terulang beberapa kali.
- POV Callum aku tidak merasa perlu dibahas sampai sedalam itu. Karena aku sudah baca buku Callum duluan aku tahu cerita itu akan diulang lagi di bukunya sendiri, beberapa kali. Kadang less information is better untuk menjaga calon hero buku selanjutnya tetap misterius dan bikin penasaran.
- Beberapa plot dalam storyline agak berlubang. Misalnya Rowan yang di gambarkan asassin handal dan pny banyak musuh tapi tidak membuat sistem keamanan selevel Pentagon. Ellie yang dalam tahap "bersembunyi" justru membuka restoran yang terekspos media.
- Bagian Laurie ingin jadi asassin itu agak out of character dan terlalu ekstrim bagiku. Aku lebih suka dia jadi bagian dunia yang berbeda dari Rowan dan menjadi jangkar penahan pria itu.
- Semua karakter dibuku ini punya hubungan darah "kekeluargaan" ala mafia yang agak rumit dan hobby melabeli diri. Aku lebih suka label itu ditunjukan dengan perbuatan dan bukan hanya diceritakan. Tapi Ash menjanjikan semua fakta akan dikupas tajam, setajam silet di buku ke-3.
Buku ini jelas foreplay bagi Ash, dia meninggalkan banyak misteri dalam kisah ini. Alternatif endingnya yang antimainstream membuatku patah hati berhari-hari. Setiap orang mempunyai warna dalam dirinya. Apakah mereka bisa menunjukan warna asli itu kepada dunia atau mereka hanya menunjukan pelangi dan menyimpan yang gelap didalam pribadi mereka? Tak sabar menunggu bulan Dec untuk mengetahui ending serial ini.
My Rating :
Star : 3.5/5
Bikini : 2/5
November 20, 2016
Jeeezuz! This Author really has a knack for strumming your heartstrings all to hell, what a crescendo! Completely knackered from the emotional turmoil her characters seems to suck from my cold dark empty heart.
Poor little Lauri, she's been literally through hell and lived in purgatory for 8 long years with the devil himself. He made sure he raped her physically and mentally, he almost broke her yet what a survivor she was, she lives to tell her tale and give the devil his due. But at what price must she pay, you won't believe it even as you read it and probably wish you never did.
Rowan is a assassin trained to kill, a murder for hire and he loved to live his life as it was at least he thought he did. That was before he knew he had a heart that was ready for love.
For the love of.. A. Giannoccaro rips your feelings out and leaves them bleeding on the floor in this terrifying glimpse into the lives of a crime family that knows no limits and lives a no holds barred! Read it, live it and bring some gawd dang tissues with you!
Love you sweetheart, keep writing I love every word although the grammar is this one, ouch!! xoxoxo <3
Poor little Lauri, she's been literally through hell and lived in purgatory for 8 long years with the devil himself. He made sure he raped her physically and mentally, he almost broke her yet what a survivor she was, she lives to tell her tale and give the devil his due. But at what price must she pay, you won't believe it even as you read it and probably wish you never did.
Rowan is a assassin trained to kill, a murder for hire and he loved to live his life as it was at least he thought he did. That was before he knew he had a heart that was ready for love.
For the love of.. A. Giannoccaro rips your feelings out and leaves them bleeding on the floor in this terrifying glimpse into the lives of a crime family that knows no limits and lives a no holds barred! Read it, live it and bring some gawd dang tissues with you!
Love you sweetheart, keep writing I love every word although the grammar is this one, ouch!! xoxoxo <3
October 29, 2014
2.5 stars. It pains me to give such a low review on this (and I don't usually). The storyline is great and one that is different which is why I gave it as many stars as I did. The reason for such a low rating comes down to editing. That is the ONLY reason I would ever give a review on anything less than a 3 star book. This book could be AMAZING. I loved the characters. I loved the premise of this book. I loved the story that unfolded. But it was hard to follow due to the editing. Spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes, punctuation issues. I want more than anything to give this book 5 stars. The storyline deserves 5 stars in itself.
August 26, 2015
An Intense 5 Star read!
There is nothing about this book that I didn't like!
There is nothing about this book that I didn't like!
March 24, 2017
Colour My Ugly was about natural born killers justifying their kills because they were born and raised to be monsters. The story goes on to explain the different types of monsters and reasons for their behavior to become a killer. The main characters were Rowan and Lauri. The story was told in multiple points of view. The story had a lot of redundancy with the use of switching back and forth between Rowan and Lauri restating the same scene. The author unnecessarily explained the characters actions by stating reasons for their behavior. I felt like the characters were rambling. The story had a few inconsistencies in regards to Lauri's scars.
I'm suppose to believe that the two hours spent listening to Lauri flirt with Rowan as a fifteen year old girl caused Rowan to become obsessed with her? That sixteen years later he still wants her? He has not seen her in eight years and probably never would have seen her again had her husband not hired him to kill her.
Mick was born into the Irish mob and taught to kill. His daughter Lauri was not informed about Mick's job as a hit man until she turned fifteen. Lauri believed this made her weak not being trained or educated to kill like her father. Mick wanted Lauri to live a normal life as a good girl. Lauri married Renzo believing she had the perfect life. Except Renzo was a monster in disguise. Unfortunately, I was not convinced that Lauri was broken by the abuse she suffered. The words had no emotion. I could give examples but that would spoil the story.
The timeline seemed off. Laurie was twenty-one when she got married. Married for eight years. Yet she was thirty-one when kidnapped. Where the hell did those two years go
Rowan's character reminded me of Dexter. Dexter was a killer in disguise the same way Rowan hid his true identity. He conducted himself as a normal person treating his kills like a regular job. Although, unlike Dexter who only killed killers, Rowan killed innocent idiots who had drug debts. It's ironic that Renzo was labeled a crazy man while Rowan was labeled the monster.
I thought these characters were hypocrites arguing about others being murdering monsters when they were trying to raise a killer themselves. I felt the author was trying to blur the lines of acceptance by stating that these characters were born from killers therefore it was justified behavior and they should not be judged but accepted.
These characters had no morals. Killing and abuse were deemed respectable behaviors since they lived in South Africa. To them it was a job and it earned them money.
I did not love this story mostly because of Lauri's character. Lauri had too many excuses. She was not happy that her father was a killer yet mad that he chose not to train her. She was abused by her husband and could have had him killed yet she chose to live in fear knowing he could come back to kill her. She begged Rowan to kill because he was moody when he was not killing.
I'm suppose to believe that the two hours spent listening to Lauri flirt with Rowan as a fifteen year old girl caused Rowan to become obsessed with her? That sixteen years later he still wants her? He has not seen her in eight years and probably never would have seen her again had her husband not hired him to kill her.
Mick was born into the Irish mob and taught to kill. His daughter Lauri was not informed about Mick's job as a hit man until she turned fifteen. Lauri believed this made her weak not being trained or educated to kill like her father. Mick wanted Lauri to live a normal life as a good girl. Lauri married Renzo believing she had the perfect life. Except Renzo was a monster in disguise. Unfortunately, I was not convinced that Lauri was broken by the abuse she suffered. The words had no emotion. I could give examples but that would spoil the story.
The timeline seemed off. Laurie was twenty-one when she got married. Married for eight years. Yet she was thirty-one when kidnapped. Where the hell did those two years go
Rowan's character reminded me of Dexter. Dexter was a killer in disguise the same way Rowan hid his true identity. He conducted himself as a normal person treating his kills like a regular job. Although, unlike Dexter who only killed killers, Rowan killed innocent idiots who had drug debts. It's ironic that Renzo was labeled a crazy man while Rowan was labeled the monster.
I thought these characters were hypocrites arguing about others being murdering monsters when they were trying to raise a killer themselves. I felt the author was trying to blur the lines of acceptance by stating that these characters were born from killers therefore it was justified behavior and they should not be judged but accepted.
These characters had no morals. Killing and abuse were deemed respectable behaviors since they lived in South Africa. To them it was a job and it earned them money.
I did not love this story mostly because of Lauri's character. Lauri had too many excuses. She was not happy that her father was a killer yet mad that he chose not to train her. She was abused by her husband and could have had him killed yet she chose to live in fear knowing he could come back to kill her. She begged Rowan to kill because he was moody when he was not killing.
July 13, 2017
3.7~
"Sometimes the only way to live is to die first.
Sometimes the only way to love is with the dark side of your heart.
Sometimes the only way to love a monster is to be one.
Sometimes to live, love and die are all the same thing."
Well, I just want to make clear that I am not giving it 4 stars because of that ending!
Ashleigh, I forgave you for what happened in the Goodbye man just because it was so twisted, so I was ok with that, but here!!! How could you?! I totally understand the whys but doesn't mean I like it, so I really mad at you :(!
Leaving my meltdown behind, the story is really good. Row was really sexy and I fell for him. I am surprised that this was less dark than other novels you've written. I've read the blurb of the following books and it appears that they're your normal kind of darkness, though. However, I'm reading the next books until I forgive you for that ending u.u
"Sometimes the only way to live is to die first.
Sometimes the only way to love is with the dark side of your heart.
Sometimes the only way to love a monster is to be one.
Sometimes to live, love and die are all the same thing."
Well, I just want to make clear that I am not giving it 4 stars because of that ending!
Ashleigh, I forgave you for what happened in the Goodbye man just because it was so twisted, so I was ok with that, but here!!! How could you?! I totally understand the whys but doesn't mean I like it, so I really mad at you :(!
Leaving my meltdown behind, the story is really good. Row was really sexy and I fell for him. I am surprised that this was less dark than other novels you've written. I've read the blurb of the following books and it appears that they're your normal kind of darkness, though. However, I'm reading the next books until I forgive you for that ending u.u
June 19, 2017
This was just so hard, I made myself a spoiler, so I wasn't so sure if I wanted to finish this book, I fight with myself for about one day, then I decided I needed to know why and how their lifes would continue, so I finished the book.
I was so sad, Lauri was so strong and I think she deserved better, yes, she did lived happy and fell in love, but I wanted that they enjoyed more together. Rowan was this broken man that felt everything, thinking he hasn't have feelings was unbelievable, since the start he was amazing, like Lauri I fell in love with him.
I promise you this is an amazing reading, I look forward to read the next book in the series, because, why not, maybe I can fell in love with another broken man around them <3
I was so sad, Lauri was so strong and I think she deserved better, yes, she did lived happy and fell in love, but I wanted that they enjoyed more together. Rowan was this broken man that felt everything, thinking he hasn't have feelings was unbelievable, since the start he was amazing, like Lauri I fell in love with him.
I promise you this is an amazing reading, I look forward to read the next book in the series, because, why not, maybe I can fell in love with another broken man around them <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2017
First time I've read this Author...
Loved the storyline, the characters drew me in from the first chapter. I debated between 4 or 5 stars only because of the lack of editing, run on sentences made it hard to follow quite a few times. But ultimately, the story won out and will be be reading the next book in this series.
Loved the storyline, the characters drew me in from the first chapter. I debated between 4 or 5 stars only because of the lack of editing, run on sentences made it hard to follow quite a few times. But ultimately, the story won out and will be be reading the next book in this series.
August 22, 2017
Let your darkness shine
This story. There was so much I don't even know where to begin. Ashleigh is definitely not afraid of darkness. I have read two books and both are darkly brilliant. And yet there is so much more to it than that. It's a reminder that there are always people who will love you no matter what. It's a reminder that you will do anything to protect the ones you love. Up honestly believe we all have a little darkness in us, it's a matter of how free we feel to let that darkness out. Such a good story. Can't wait to dive into the rest and see where else she takes us!
This story. There was so much I don't even know where to begin. Ashleigh is definitely not afraid of darkness. I have read two books and both are darkly brilliant. And yet there is so much more to it than that. It's a reminder that there are always people who will love you no matter what. It's a reminder that you will do anything to protect the ones you love. Up honestly believe we all have a little darkness in us, it's a matter of how free we feel to let that darkness out. Such a good story. Can't wait to dive into the rest and see where else she takes us!
May 3, 2020
I love Giannoccaro's books, but I had yet to go back and read her first books/series. I was very intrigued about this series and had heard such good things about the characters and their dark story. The cover was stunning and fit the story perfectly. The editing was what one might expect from a first book, but the story was brilliant and ALL the feels. The talent of Giannoccaro's storytelling oozed from the pages.
Both Rowan and Lauri were broken in their own ways, but watching their defensive walls crumble as they grew closer and started to feel for one another was truly a beautiful thing. There was so much pain to be overcome and my heart ripped apart a little more with each terrible truth that was revealed. I wanted so badly for these two damaged souls to find a way to heal one another.
When Callum's truths were added to the mix, it took the intensity up another notch. It certainly gave me some feelings of foreboding as the story went along and I tucked that into the back of my mind.
There were so many beautifully worded lines as Rowan and Lauri grew closer and closer. The feelings that made themselves known added such depth to the story. Even the quotes that appeared at the start of the chapters were perfection and helped set the tone.
I had such a glimmer of hope for how things could be, but the reminders of their reality helped hold me in check. I was so on edge, waiting for my heart to be ripped to shreds. I felt so apprehensive as I neared the end.
This was a truly fabulous story that did gut me just a little, but I am already ready to read the next book in the series and let Giannoccaro do her worst to my emotions. She knows how to break a reader's heart so well.
Both Rowan and Lauri were broken in their own ways, but watching their defensive walls crumble as they grew closer and started to feel for one another was truly a beautiful thing. There was so much pain to be overcome and my heart ripped apart a little more with each terrible truth that was revealed. I wanted so badly for these two damaged souls to find a way to heal one another.
When Callum's truths were added to the mix, it took the intensity up another notch. It certainly gave me some feelings of foreboding as the story went along and I tucked that into the back of my mind.
There were so many beautifully worded lines as Rowan and Lauri grew closer and closer. The feelings that made themselves known added such depth to the story. Even the quotes that appeared at the start of the chapters were perfection and helped set the tone.
I had such a glimmer of hope for how things could be, but the reminders of their reality helped hold me in check. I was so on edge, waiting for my heart to be ripped to shreds. I felt so apprehensive as I neared the end.
This was a truly fabulous story that did gut me just a little, but I am already ready to read the next book in the series and let Giannoccaro do her worst to my emotions. She knows how to break a reader's heart so well.
December 3, 2014
Once upon a time there was a little girl who loved her daddy and thought the world of him, then one day she learned what the difference between a bad man and an evil man was as after her grandmother died, he sat her down when she was fifteen years old and told her what he did for a living. Lauri discovered that her dad was an assassin, a hired hitman and that the boy Rowan she had flirted and had a major crush on was his apprentice. Then tragedy occurred and Lauri had to flee her old life and start new and fresh , it was here that she met a man she thought was wonderful and married him. Turns out though that he was evil unlike her father who was just a "bad man". Soon her life became a series of ugly events for the next eight years. After his boss's death, Rowan was given the takeover of the business. Eight years later, Rowan is sent a request and when he opens it - he gets the shock of a lifetime as the person he has been hired to "get rid of" is none other than Lauri. Someone he has tried to protect over the past years and the girl he never stopped loving. So Rowan does what he must do as if he doesn't take the job, then someone else will and succeed. So he fakes the accident and brings her to her old stomping ground. What will Lauri's reaction be when she discovers the truth ? Has the unforseen circumstances given Rowan and Lauri a second chance at happiness ?
Find out in Colour My Ugly by A. Giannoccaro.
Find out in Colour My Ugly by A. Giannoccaro.
December 26, 2016
Extremely dark.
They call themselves monsters because of their fathers/ families and bloodlines that their darkness should be embraced not pushed away. Lot and lots of triggers happening- abuse, rape, killings, drugs, and so so much more.
Laurie first met Rowen when she was 15 and she made googly eyes at him while he was watching her for her father, his mentor. Now years later he was tasked with watching Laurie in her darkest time, or so he thought, but when he stopped bad things happened. 8 years later Rowen will be paid to do a job that will change his life for the worst and for the better. What he actually will get is something that was beyond broken and a lost to being alive.
Had mostly the p.o.v. from Rowen and Laurie 'Ellia' but a few from Callum and a one from the devil. I loved most of the story from rescuing, learning to love or feel again and so forth but I didn't like that his sexascapades, his line of women were coming into the house right from under her window at all hours of the night and Laurie has to hear it all the time and her feelings for him become green. And what happened when the devil came and took what he wanted to be free of the demons after his target got the gift, that really made this into the extremely dark category.
Should have been re-edited, the grammar was off, the spelling was misspelled in some parts even through most was Britain English some words weren't spelled correctly.
They call themselves monsters because of their fathers/ families and bloodlines that their darkness should be embraced not pushed away. Lot and lots of triggers happening- abuse, rape, killings, drugs, and so so much more.
Laurie first met Rowen when she was 15 and she made googly eyes at him while he was watching her for her father, his mentor. Now years later he was tasked with watching Laurie in her darkest time, or so he thought, but when he stopped bad things happened. 8 years later Rowen will be paid to do a job that will change his life for the worst and for the better. What he actually will get is something that was beyond broken and a lost to being alive.
Had mostly the p.o.v. from Rowen and Laurie 'Ellia' but a few from Callum and a one from the devil. I loved most of the story from rescuing, learning to love or feel again and so forth but I didn't like that his sexascapades, his line of women were coming into the house right from under her window at all hours of the night and Laurie has to hear it all the time and her feelings for him become green. And what happened when the devil came and took what he wanted to be free of the demons after his target got the gift, that really made this into the extremely dark category.
Should have been re-edited, the grammar was off, the spelling was misspelled in some parts even through most was Britain English some words weren't spelled correctly.
April 20, 2015
Wow. Nothing I could write could possibly give this book justice.
It's an intense, dark, romantic and a highly emotional read. It has heart and soul that pours off the pages. 5 stars is not enough.
I read till I couldn't see the words no more then as soon as my eyes recoverd i did it again.
Out of all the books I have read, and thats thousands. This is the third book to move to tears. I don't know if I was crying because it was so intense and it was a relief to have finished or if I was crying because of what happened. Probably a bit of both.
My only problem with this book was the ending, I can't tell you why, because that would spoil the story. But i really was hoping for a better one.
Amazing work.
It's an intense, dark, romantic and a highly emotional read. It has heart and soul that pours off the pages. 5 stars is not enough.
I read till I couldn't see the words no more then as soon as my eyes recoverd i did it again.
Out of all the books I have read, and thats thousands. This is the third book to move to tears. I don't know if I was crying because it was so intense and it was a relief to have finished or if I was crying because of what happened. Probably a bit of both.
My only problem with this book was the ending, I can't tell you why, because that would spoil the story. But i really was hoping for a better one.
Amazing work.
January 24, 2016
I really enjoyed this storyline. The characters were all ones that you could feel,for, all having their own stories to share. They made up a pretty messed up family but they were family non the less. The ending wasn't what I was expecting but it completed the book.
I will point out that the 4 stars is due to the editing of this book. The author is aware and hoping to get sorted soon. I proof read and have OCD tendencies so editing of a book bothers me, but the storyline was so good that even I managed to see passed it.
I will point out that the 4 stars is due to the editing of this book. The author is aware and hoping to get sorted soon. I proof read and have OCD tendencies so editing of a book bothers me, but the storyline was so good that even I managed to see passed it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2015
The story itself is definitely 5 star. Great story and the ending was very fitting in my opinion. I only gave it a 3 overall because of all the editing errors. I normally would have stopped reading a book with so many errors but I knew this was a new author and likely self-published so gave it a chance. It is very annoying to read a book with so many grammatical errors and words missing but am happy that I did as the story was great.
July 2, 2016
Very dark, very beautiful
This is not for the soft hearted lovers out there, it's a dark and twisted story of madness, revenge and devotion.
I enjoy a story that is raw and gritty, the love they share is overwhelming.
The only part struggle to understand is her not telling him of the letters, I guess I would heave preferred a different end.
This is not for the soft hearted lovers out there, it's a dark and twisted story of madness, revenge and devotion.
I enjoy a story that is raw and gritty, the love they share is overwhelming.
The only part struggle to understand is her not telling him of the letters, I guess I would heave preferred a different end.
August 5, 2015
Well, the store needs some edits. I enjoy it but let me tell you something THIS IS NOT DARK EROTIC STORY. ITS A SAD STORY. Souls fighting to find love and peace after they find they devil comes to rape it from them.
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