Ruhumdaki Canavar

Monster in His Eyes #2

by J.M. Darhower, Arzu Altınanıt (Translator)

Ben iyi bir adam değilim. Değilim işte. Biliyorum. İçimde, dünyada en ufak ışık zerresi bile bırakmayacak kadar karanlık var. Ama zarar veremeyeceğim biri var, söndürmeye cesaret edemediğim tek bir ışık…

Karissa.

Benim bir canavar olduğumu düşünüyor ve belki de öyleyim. Onu her dokunuşumla ürkütüyor, ruhuna işkence ediyorum. Ama ben tek değilim. Dünya canavarlarla dolu ve en tehlikelileri ben değilim.

Onların yanına bile yaklaşmıyorum.

Tanrı bana yardım etsin ki onu seviyorum.

Seviyorum işte.

Ve Tanrı, onu benden almaya çalışan herkese de yardım etsin.

Genres: Romance, Dark, Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, New Adult

480 pages, Paperback

First published September 26, 2014

Reviews

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

I just didn't enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed the first one.

Karissa annoyed the fuck out of me.

And when it wasn't Karissa annoying me, it was the constant mention of Naz's love for his dead wife.

Cause we all know how I feel about THE DEAD EX.

[SueBee★bring me an alpha!★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★ ½ ! Torture to Her Soul, book 2 of 2. The mysterious & mercurial Naz’s continued story told from his POV!

“I'm not heartless— my heart is just hardened, while the rest of me is hollow.”

Books in series should be read in order:
Book 1: Monster in His Eyes
Book 2: Torture to Her Soul

In Monster in His Eyes (book 1) university student Karissa Reed, Kissimmee was swept off her feet by the mysterious and mercurial Ignazio Vitale, Naz. He seduced and pursued her while warning her off.

Karissa, who was coddled and naïve, wanted to believe the best in people and her situation. Nothing could have prepared her for the brutal truth nor the shocking events leading up to the revelation and chaotic ending.

Torture to Her Soul (book 2), told from Naz’s POV, picks up right after book 1’s violent and shocking ending. Their lives are in turmoil and Naz is desperately trying to bridge the gap and open the lines of communication. Karissa is hurt, shocked and angry, but she cannot deny still feeling a connection and attraction to Naz.

Naz can force and put pressure, but does he want to? It’s a slow re-building of trust based on revelations and confessions. But there is more to come plus the evil all around them is closing in. Soon it’s not just about them finding their way back together rather them finding a way out…. But do they want to?

It’s a journey of good versus evil, truths and lies, joy and pain and the fact that everything in life comes at a price…

“We're a tragedy in the making. The game of tug-of-war we're playing will end up destroying us, because she doesn't have it in her to surrender, and I can't let go.”

Ignazio Vitale, Naz is a tortured, broken soul yet reflective. When tragedy struck him at age eighteen instead of grieving he sought the path of vengeance. It is a heart-wrenching, candid glimpse into the life of a man who trusts no one, leans on no one, rarely sleeps, barely eats and obsessively organizes his life.

Eight words to describe Naz: Mysterious, mercurial, closed-off, imperfect, broken, ruthless, possessive and nurturing.

“It's hard to feel alive when you've been obliterated inside, hard to feel real when you no longer remember how to dream.”

Eight words to describe Karissa Reed, Kissimmee: Naïve, lonely insecure, impressionable, smart, inadequate, immature and sheltered.

“She looks broken, but so goddamn beautiful. I want to put her back together. I want to break her down even more.”

Torture to Her Soul is raw and violent. Story does not attempt to sugar-coat the truth of what and who Naz is. It’s about redemption for the irredeemable as many of their issues have no answer, no fixing, no redemption… When reading one has to be prepared not to get it all. As much as I think I needed my HEA, everything wrapped up in a tight bow, I feel the author did a good job of staying true to their situation.

The epilogue and bonus chapters were amazing, not sure I could have handled story without them. I’d welcome more further into their future, but I am happy were it left them!

Candid POV from a very memorable hero! Captivating plot! Excellent story-telling!

“Sometimes secrets have the power to kill. The power to destroy. We each hold nuclear weapons inside of us.”

***
Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 4 stars
Sexual tension rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Plot rating: 4 stars
Dialogue rating: 4.5 stars
Storytelling rating: 4.5 stars
Story ending rating: 4.5 stars
Book editing rating (5 = no edits spotted): 4 stars
************************************************
Overall rating: 4.5 stars

Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Maybe later.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Not a good guy stars!!!



Monster in His Eyes is one of my favorite dark/romantic suspense books of the year. When I heard the sequel coming out was all from Naz’s pov, I was ecstatic. I always get a little nervous when an amazing 5 star book has a sequel. It seems about half the time, they don’t live up to the original story and that high you had about the book starts to dwindle. I can say with absolute certainty that did not happen here! Torture to Her Soul was just as good as Monster in His Eyes. If anything, it might have been a little bit better!

I didn’t set out to love her. I didn’t even plan to like her. But it happened... we happened... and I’m still trying to figure out how to deal with that.

Naz never meant to care for Karissa. He certainly never meant to fall in love with her. When he met her, he wanted one thing and one thing only. The monster in him wanted her for revenge. But now, things have changed.



Karissa and Naz’s relationship is complicated to say the least. Karissa is finding it difficult to trust anything that Naz says or does. She is hurt and she is not making their situation any easier. In fact, she’s making it much more difficult. Naz is being as patient with her as he can. He knows most of this is his fault and he’s trying not to make it harder on her than it already is.



Naz is caught in a tough spot. He has choices to make. He has to decide what type of man he wants to be. Will he make the decisions he feels forced to make, or will he do what he thinks is right for him...

I love how this author can take such a serious, dark and suspenseful book and give it such light hearted moments. There were a few spots that left a smile on my face.

“You’re delusional.”

“You mispronounced handsome.”

“The whole watching me from afar thing is kind of creepy, you know. I get that you don’t trust me, but stalking is only cool when Edward Cullen does it.”

And she brought the heat again. 
The sex between Naz and Karissa was hotter than ever. It was angry and rough. It was passionate and sexy.



Naz is complex. He’s a broken, tortured and haunted man. He is not a good guy, but he’s not all bad either. He might not be a hero, but he’s not exactly a villain either. His past haunts him. Naz is who he is. I love that about him. He makes no excuses. He does what he wants. No need to lie about it. Being in his head this entire story was a real treat!

Now on to Karissa. Even though I understood where she was coming from and why she was acting the way she was, I’m not going to lie. The first half of the book she annoyed the piss out of me. As the story went on, she got better. And Naz was pretty much perfection so it all worked out. I’m thankful that I liked her again by the end of the book.

Even though Karissa had every reason to hate Naz, and there were moments she really did hate him, she also loved him fiercely. Karissa constantly struggles with what her heart wants, and what her mind says is the right thing.



I especially loved the way Naz was with Karissa. He’s loves, cares for her and protects her.

“You have no reason to be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you... nobody is.”

She stares at me for a moment before reaching up, covering my hand with her own.
“How can you be sure?”

“Because I won’t let them,” I say.
“It’s as simple as that.”

And then there is that ending... towards the end I had some major heart palpitations. My nerves were all over the place not knowing what was going to happen and how it was all going to go down. I liked how those final scenes came together. Any questions you had were answered and things were concluded nicely. And that epilogue. It was amazing. I shed a few tears reading it.

Torture to Her Soul is another winner for me. I love the suspense, the mystery, the grit, the passion and all around fuckedupedness of the story. Naz is my favorite type of hero. The not so good guy who’s not so bad either. A man with issues. If you’ve read Monster in His Eyes, make sure this is your next read! You won’t be disappointed. And if you haven’t, I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a taboo love story with some heat, crime and suspense mixed in!

[Christine Wallflower & Dark Romance Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

PLEASE NOTE: This book picks up where Monster in His Eyes left off, it's not a repeat of the last book in Naz's POV, but a continuation. (hope that makes sense)

4.5 STARS!



So if you enjoyed the first book in this series, Monster in His Eyes, you would've been just as ecstatic as I was when you found out there was a second book. You can't even begin to imagine how happy I was when I realised Torture to Her Soul, was told solely from Naz's POV. In Monster in His Eyes, Naz was a mystery, his character seemed aloof yet he seemed to soften when he was around, Karissa (no pun intended)

I didn't set out to love her.
I didn't even plan to like her.
But it happened... we happened... and I'm still trying to figure out how to deal with that.

I got a front row seat to Naz's head in this book, the way he thought, his reaction to every hit he made, and lastly the way Karissa had changed him. Don't for one minute think that Naz has suddenly grown a conscious. He always gets the job done no matter the cost, with cold precision. But the whole dynamic changes when he's job begins to threaten the woman he loves. For the first time he begins to question the boss, and himself...

The street soldiers, cruel thugs who lie, cheat, kill, and steal, shy away, whereas little Karissa, half my size with barely any physical strength, never hesitated to stare me straight in the eyes, like she was reading my soul with just a glance.

In this story which is also the last book in the series, Naz and Karissa are living together. Naz proposed in the previous book and Karissa accepted but because of the events that lead to her father's death and caused her mother to live her life on the run, their relationship no longer feels as sincere as it used to be, well at least not for Karissa. She obviously still loves Naz, but the side he's shown of himself has also made her fear him. They barely speak, Karissa rarely even looks at Naz.
Naz won't let her leave.

She's just as fucked up as I am.
And maybe I did that to her.
Maybe it's wrong of me.
But fuck if it doesn't feel right this way.



This book was quite hefty, not too long but longer than other books I've read. So I think my only gripe with this book was I think the author should have taken about 20 to 30% of the beginning of this book and made it a novella. Reason being, while I enjoyed every bit of this book, the beginning or introduction lacked direction. It was just a lot of information and background about Naz, and also about Naz and Karissa's struggle to put what Naz had done behind them. So quite honestly this good have all been in a novella.

I'll give her anything.
I'll tear my fucking chest open with my bare hands, rip it out and hand it to her, if it's what she needs.
All she has to do is tell me.
All she has to do is ask.

So I'm trying to keep this review spoiler free and not tell you what actually happens. After being injured when leaving a club one night, Naz is forced to do something he never wanted to do, because doing it would hurt, Karissa. And with the increasing pressure from his boss and a leak in the midst, Naz doesn't know who to trust anymore. Can he trust the woman he loves, he finds himself questioning the organisation that has been there for him ever since he lost his family all those years ago.

My enemy was my enemy until I looked inside of her and realised we weren't so different after all.

I was very satisfied with the ending of this book, the dark intensity of Naz's thoughts was something I loved. He was broody, and at times almost obsessive in his love for Karissa. I love that in a hero. It was darkly romantic but did not lose the grittiness you get when you read a true mafia story.

I've said it before.
I'll say it again.
I'm not a good man.
I never will be.

ARC kindly provided by author in return for an honest review

[KristenReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!!!



Once I finished this book, I quickly read it again. That's how much I loved it. It wasn't perfect but it was perfect for me.

[Mysza · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You should run far, far away from me.
I know I should. I wish I could."

And the story from Monster in His Eyes continues, only this time, it is told from Naz's POV. Anyone who loved Monster... should love this one as well.

After everything that happened in the first book, the situation between both MCs becomes even more complicated. They live together, but their relationship is strained, they don't trust each other anymore. Karissa hates Naz but she can't stop loving him either. She knows she can't walk away and I think deep down she doesn't want to. She also finds it hard to deal with the fact how much he hurt her.

Naz is very patient with her and tries to give her time and space. He wants her trust back and is also trying to make himself believe in her once again. She was supposed to be his revenge and became his salvation instead. I loved how this mysterious and dark man softened around her. Don't get me wrong, because Naz is still not a good man, he does what he does and makes no excuses for it, nor does he have regrets. It's just the fact that his love for her is so strong that he starts to question the choices he made and the life he led so far.

I loved how they slowly rebuilt their relationship. There was still a lot of hurt and bad things still happened, but there was also healing, forgiveness and the realization that they can't live without each other, that no matter what, they belong together.
I loved the intimacy between them. Sex was still rough and wild, but there were also moments where Naz would make love to Karissa, whisper sweet words to her and call her baby, which made my stomach flutter.

I was perfectly happy with the ending, the epilogue and bonus scene were simply fantastic. Overall, this was a very good reading, I adored this book and highly recommend!

"We do what we have to do, take what we have to take, and sometimes we hurt people we swear we won't hurt, but we do, because life makes us.
It's a dog eat dog world.
We're all monsters, when it comes down to it."

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 STARS

”I didn’t’ set out to love her. I didn’t even plan to like her. But it happened…we happened… and I’m trying to figure out how to deal with that.”



It’s been awhile since I read the first book of this series but lucky for me, the author’s writing and storytelling brought it all back to me. This story is in full all male POV of Naz and wow it was very interesting being inside his head!

”I’m in love with one woman I should never have fallen for. We’re a tragedy in the making. The game of tug-of-war we’re playing will end up destroying us, because she doesn’t have it in her to surrender, and I can’t let go.”

So you see our couple is at an impasse. Naz is in love with the woman who is a part of the bloodline he set out to destroy. She’s the daughter of his former friend and his wife who destroyed his world and revenge has driven him for decades now. Karissa is staying with Naz and they aren’t as close since his revenge plan got out. Naz is still working with/for Ray and the revenge plan is still in effect while along the way other lives are taken and the bodies and deaths just keep accumulating.

”They say when seeking revenge, dig two graves, one for you and one for them. I’ve buried them all, disposed of bodies and left a trail of charred remains in my wake, and now all that’s left is my own grave. And I dug it, all right…dug it so deep there’s no fucking way out of it.”



Karissa and Naz both end up learning and seeing the others flaws while living together and at times not even liking one another. Our young heroine grows up in this story and I totally sympathized with her. She’s trapped with her feelings for Naz and well… a conscience. Naz is not a good man as he repeatedly tells our heroine but along with some humor and crazy hot sex scenes these two keep a relationship going. Karissa’s love and forgiveness knew no bounds in this story and I’m pretty shocked that she can let one particular thing go. Perhaps it’s just for now type of thing and that over time it will fester?

Overall, this was a bit on the long side where some things could have been a bit condensed. Still seeing the world through Naz’s eyes was very beneficial to the series and going forward into book three of this series.

“I'm not a good man," he says, "but I'm trying. I'm trying. I can't make you any promises of perfection. I can't promise I'll be what you deserve, or what you need, or even what you always want. All I can promise is that I'll love you until the day I die, and I'll spend every moment I'm alive trying for you.”

[Hulya Kara Yuksel · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all this book is from Naz’s POV!!!! Wohooo, I'm dancing right now. :D After reading 1st book I was so freaking nervous… Holy shit, what an amazing ending right? Karissa found out something awful about her family and what they did to Naz. She was so furious her own family and also with Naz too (because he did a very very bad thing Karissa's family) but can time heal their wounded heart? Will they try to find a peace on their own world? Ugh I wanna tell you everything about this book but I probably shouldn’t do that… You just have to read it!!! You just have to experience Naz’s POV. Well, trust me he’s gonna blow your mind away. And your body too. :D

If you like dark and twisted love story. You should definitely read this series asap! You just have to meet Naz or Ignazio or Vitale. But I must warn you. Once you met him, you're gonna hate him and also love him!!! You just can't resist this fucking amazing man.

“I'll give her anything.
I'll tear my fucking chest open with my bare hands, rip out my heart and hand it to her, if that's what she needs.
All she has to do is tell me.
All she has to do is ask.”







---------------------------

Naz – Ignazio – Vitale. I love all of your personality.









---------------------------

“She's not just under my skin, she's in my organs, wrapped up in my cells, infecting me.”

“You want to know what I think about when I look at you, Karissa?"
"What?"
"I think there's nobody else like you in the world."

“She talks to me about regret, but what she doesn't realize is that even if she destroys me in the end, I'll never want to erase what we have. I'd never want to take back a single moment of this.”

“I'm not a good man," he says, "but I'm trying. I'm trying. I can't make you any promises of perfection. I can't promise I'll be what you deserve, or what you need, or even what you always want. All I can promise is that I'll love you until the day I die, and I'll spend every moment I'm alive trying for you.”

“I'll give her anything.
I'll tear my fucking chest open with my bare hands, rip out my heart and hand it to her, if that's what she needs.
All she has to do is tell me.
All she has to do is ask.”

“I love every inch of you," I tell her. "Every part of your body that makes you nervous gives me pleasure. I see no flaws, nothing for you to be ashamed of or humiliated over... nothing you should hide from me. I've seen it all, and I love it. You're beautiful, baby.”

“Everything about her is beautiful to me. Even when she's scowling, when she's angry and full of hate. She's beautiful when she cries, when she's in the throes of grief. She's beautiful when she smiles, when she laughs at me. But she's the most beautiful when she's doing nothing. When she thinks nobody's looking, when she thinks she's alone.”

“When you love people, you want what's best for them, and sometimes what's best for them isn't you.”

[Lady Vigilante (Feifei) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!!



I was really relieved that this second book would be in Naz’s POV. Monster in His Eyes was a mediocre read for me and it was mainly because of the idiotic heroine Karissa. With this book, however, I greatly appreciated being in Naz’s head and felt that it helped me understand him better. I also recognized that for the story to be entirely in his POV, the mystery and enigmatic part that made him so appealing in the first book would have to be sacrificed. And that was okay with me. What I got in return was so much better: a multifaceted Naz. Not just the killer side of him, but the human side as well. No matter how badass or cold the man could be, this book showed that there is a layer of vulnerability to his character.



Aside from the 5 star prologue, the first 40% of the book seriously tested my patience. It seemed like both Karissa & Naz were playing the waiting game…just waiting for something or someone to interfere that would kickstart yet another argument and I was especially sick of Karissa brushing off Naz’s efforts. It took great patience and effort on my part to not DNF. I’m really glad I kept reading because after the 40% mark, things picked up and I was totally with these characters. Reading the story from Naz’s POV accomplished what I thought would be impossible: I actually sympathized for Karissa. Through Naz’s eyes, I feel like she did mature a bit and learned from her experiences in book 1. The sex scenes were scorching and wickedly hot, but this time around there was heartfelt emotion as well, something that was lacking in the first book.



For me, reading books has always been how the book made me feel, think, etc…But this book really placed me in the characters’ shoes. I personally didn’t like Karissa, yet through Naz’s eyes I understood why he found her youth and naïveté appealing. I personally didn’t like some of Naz’s actions, but through his eyes, I could at least understand his motivations. A book that could make me consider the characters’ feelings and thoughts besides my own is a well-written book IMO. That’s not to say that Naz has completely justified himself or is a good man in disguise…because I’m not so sure he is nor would I want him to be in this case ;)



Torture to Her Soul is the second book in this 2-part series and isn’t a standalone. You must read Monster in His Eyes first.

My review for Monster in His Eyes

P.S. I freaking love the epilogue and bonus scene! Made me tear up <3

[TheCrazyWorldOfABookLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Tell me," I whisper, running my tongue along the shell of her ear. "Tell me how you want it to be. Tell me what you need from me."
I'll give her anything.
I'll tear my fucking chest open with my bare hands, rip out my heart and hand it to her, if that's what she needs.
All she has to do is tell me.
All she has to do is ask.
She could bark out a million demands, and I would work myself to the death making them all happen, but instead she merely whispers, “I want you to love me.”
So I do.
I love her.


___

Tempted by the evil beside me, the original sin..my forbidden fruit. I took a bite of her on a whim and realized, despite what the world led me to believe, she wasn't rotten to the core. He wants me to toss her aside, throw her away, let her decay into the ground where he thinks she's meant to be, but I'm not sure anything else could sustain me.
I drank from the Holy Grail.
He's not taking that away.

If those quotes alone don't make you want to read this, there is something wrong with you and we can't be friends.

JK.

Not really.

If you haven't read this amazing series by my favorite freaking author, READ THEM!

Monster In His Eyes | http://amzn.to/1KIIHsi
Torture To Her Soul | http://amzn.to/1KIIIwn



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[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

So awesome!



I love stories where the protagonist is a really bad guy and it is told from his point of view. This book was even better than the first in the series, it had humor, I was even in tears at one point, but through it all the story kept me fully engaged.

“The whole watching me from afar thing is kind of creepy, you know. I get that you don't trust me, but stalking is only cool when Edward Cullen does it.”

The love story is steamy, romantic and a bit heartbreaking. The Mafia parts are intriguing and suspenseful, and the family drama is on point. I am moving right on to book 3!

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[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

We're a tragedy in the making. The game of tug-of-war we're playing will end up destroying us, because she doesn't have it in her to surrender, and I can't let go. It's something else I love about her. There's a fight in her. But it's a fight that'll be our downfall. Because I have that same fight in me.

Can I just say how much I LOVED getting the conclusion entirely in Naz's POV? Because NAZ!!! FREAKING NAZ!

Tell me how you want it to be. Tell me what you need from me." I'll give her anything. I'll tear my fucking chest open with my bare hands, rip out my heart and hand it to her, if that's what she needs. All she has to do is tell me. All she has to do is ask.

Sometimes the line between good and bad isn't so black and white. Sometimes it's somewhere in the very depths of gray. And that's exactly what you get with Naz. This is a man that's done plenty of bad things and makes no apologies for it. He fully accepts who he is and what he's become. He's a man driven by pain and revenge. A man that's sold his soul to the devil for a chance at vengeance. But Karissa has changed him irrevocably. He'll still go to war and cover the streets in blood, but now it's all for her.

She's trying to be unbreakable but I'm unshakeable. She's going crazy, and I'm already goddamn insane. I clipped my jailbird's wings so she couldn't fly away from me, and then I wonder why the fuck I can't make her soar.

Being inside his head was an experience of dark and darker. And while you know it's wrong, you just can't find it in you to care even a little bit.

Torture To Her Soul was exactly what I hoped and so much more. J.M. Darhower knows how to weave one hell of a story and she's a master of words. She's given me some of my favorite mafia anti-heroes and I hope she never stops.

Second chances don't come easily. Most people don't get them. Most people don't know what it's like to come back from the brink of death. It changes people. It certainly changed me.

Find me on:

[✦❋Arianna✦❋ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS

“I'm going to tell you something that a wise man once told me: it's not the darkness that's terrifying, it's what you might find in it.”

I think everyone who read the first book in the series “Monster In His Eyes”, (where the narrator in Karissa) was happy to hear that the second book will be entirely told from Naz’s POV. I definitely was and I enjoyed tremendously being in Naz's head! “Torture to Her Soul” picks up right where the first book ends.

“I didn’t set out to love her. I didn’t even plan to like her. But it happened... we happened... and I’m still trying to figure out how to deal with that.”

Naz’s plan was never to fall in love for Karissa. He never supposed to like her, but it happened, they happened and now Naz had to deal with it.

“My insides are black but my heart still beats. It still beats. And it fucking beats for her.”

Karissa still lives in Naz’s house even if their relationship has changed. They live together, but separately at the same time. They are like two strangers. She ignores him, she doesn’t talk with him, but Naz is patient, he gives her space only because he knows she loves him back and because he knows at some point she will forget that she’s supposed to hate him.



Naz is a haunted man. For almost twenty years he didn’t forgive himself and others for his fiancée death, he didn’t forget, he didn’t live. Until Karissa...He didn't live, yes, he only existed, wanting only one thing, revenge. Naz is forced by some circumstances to make a decision. He will have to choose where he wants to live - in the past or in the present. He will have to choose between dark and light?

“It's okay to admit the darkness terrified me. Because I found some light in it. I found her.”

Naz knows he’s not a good man and Karissa knows it too. He is who he is and he regrets nothing.

Naz’s character is so well developed in this book. He’s a complex character, intriguing with many layers. He thinks he has only bad in him, but he’s so wrong and Karissa will try to show him that. I loved her for that!

Even if he's not "completely" a good man, you will fall for him and sometimes even sympathize with him. I did! I loved how he is with Karissa. He’s so patient, caring, loving and protecting. There were times when his words or actions melted my heart. You can truly “feel” his love for her.

I loved how he loves her, how intense are his feelings for her, how much he wants to be with her, no matter what, how vulnerable he is when it comes to her. With Karissa he's human again, with her he becomes a good man. Their chemistry is really palpable, they are perfect for each other and the sex scenes are hotter than hell – rough or sweet they are intense every time !

“I'm not heartless—my heart is just hardened, while the rest of me is hollow. But she breathes life into what long ago stopped trying to live. She's oxygen, and without her, I'm dead.”

Karissa is a little different here. She is more mature, less annoying, so more likeable. She loves Naz with all her heart, even if she constantly tries to fight her feelings because she doesn’t understands how it’s possible to LOVE a man like him, to love HIM.

I know there are many there who got bored with the first half of the book. For some reason I didn't. Yes, the second half is more engaging and entertaining, but I enjoyed the first half too.

The story is more emotional then the first book, which I really liked.

As always the writing was perfect and the epilogue and the bonus scene (Karissa's POV) were amazing. Loved them so hard!

Overall, I loved it!

[Vina · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I'm not a good man," he says, "but I'm trying. I'm trying. I can't make you any promises of perfection. I can't promise I'll be what you deserve, or what you need, or even what you always want. All I can promise is that I'll love you until the day I die, and I'll spend every moment I'm alive trying for you.”

Dear god I feel so bad that the thought of this book could be a disappointment even crossed my mind!



I already loved Naz from the first book. But man do I love him even more now! He's not a good guy by any means. He turned out to be much more ruthless than I originally realized. He's still complex and interesting but now I understand him better. He's broken, tormented and unable to forget his past. He's methodical and very aware of who he is and makes no apologies for it. I knew he loved Karissa throughout the first book, but once I found out he was the reason her and her mom were always on the run, that he was trying to find her for her entire life, that he wanted to kill her, and her parents, for revenge, but now he is her protector, the man that loves her more than any other on this earth, and I could understand his thoughts and his actions and see just how much he truly loves her, I was a goner. I loved Naz even more, if that were possible. He was so endearing.





The relationship was very strained from the beginning but they finally started to trust each other. They worked past their trust issues and started to heal together. Seeing them reconnect, seeing how patient Naz was with her, seeing the love rebuild was entirely heartwarming. Their passion was again off the charts hot!
And then end, the end was pure bliss. PERFECTION!

[Eda** · Rating 5 out of 5]

** 4,5-5 "tragedy in the making" STARS **

"I'm not afraid of the dark anymore."

"Of course not. It's not the darkness that's terrifying, it's what you might find in it. And it doesn't scare you anymore, Ignazio, because it is you. You're what's terrifying in the darkness."

After reading Monster in His Eyes, I was left wanting more! More Karissa. More Naz. More darkness and more twisted romance.

Then I learned that Book #2 would be in Naz' POV... And I was like:



Usually, sequels of incredible books tend to disappoint the readers, because we expect a little bit too much from them and get frustrated when we see something different than what we've expected. J.M. Darhower didn't disappoint, though. This was exactly what I was hoping for...and more!



After the sh*t-storm that Karissa has faced because of Naz in Book #1, she is confused as to how she can feel the way she does for Naz. She is still physically there, in Naz' home, living with him, but she is not really there. She knows she can leave. But she can never really escape. Naz will never let her go. But...does she even want to leave?

"She loves me. And she probably hates that fact more than she hates me most days."

She doesn't talk to him. She doesn't react to his actions. She rarely even acknowledges his existence... And Naz is not happy. He gives her space, to come to terms with what he has done and who he is...or rather what he is. The only thing keeping him calm and patient is the fact that he knows for sure that she still loves him. Despite everything.

"I know she hates me. I can see it. I can sense it. It's written in the tension in her muscles, the way she folds into herself when I'm close, the flush of her body whenever I dare touch her.

But I know she loves me, too. Because a fire wages beneath her skin, and not all of it is fueled by anger."

Sometimes the shield Karissa puts between her and Naz slips. Just for a few seconds. Those are the times that Naz clings to. The moments that he lives for anymore.

"Every now and then she'll forget she's supposed to despise me, she'll forget she's not allowed to want me. She'll forget I'm a monster.

And all she remembers in the moment, all she knows, all she cares about, is that I'm a man, a man who went through hell, a man who loves her, who swore he wouldn't hurt her, and for the moment she'll let herself believe it.

She'll forget I'm the bad guy and remember what it felt like when she thought I was the hero. The one who would drown so she could stay afloat."

Circumstances will force Naz to make a decision. A decision between the only light in his life...Karissa, and the demons that still haunt him at night. The demons from his past, that once pushed him to feel loyalty towards his boss and father-in-law, his father-figure, Ray. The demons that he's been welcoming inside his head for years. The demons that remind him everyday of his revenge, of who his enemies are, of who he must kill to free his dead wife's soul and memory into heaven.

But if your enemy is the only person to thaw your frozen heart, which road do you choose and drive away to?

Revenge or forgiveness? Fury or grief? Dark or light?

I fell in love with her.

It was my worst nightmare. But sometimes nightmares are simply fueled by fear... fear of something we don't understand.

A clown isn't scary when it takes off its makeup. A monster isn't so terrifying when you turn on the light. My enemy was my enemy until I looked inside of her and realized we weren't so different, after all.

When Naz finally decides which turn to take...it's too late. Because the choices has already been made for him, by the past.

"I'm nobody's hero."

"You're trying to be Karissa's."

"No, I just don't want to be her villain."

The love between Naz and Karissa is palpable in every page of this book. Sometimes heartbreaking. Sometimes sweet. But always there. And always genuine.

My insides are black but my heart still beats. It still beats. And it f*cking beats for her.

I’ll give her anything. I’ll tear my fucking chest open with my bare hands, rip out my heart and hand it to her, if that’s what she needs. All she has to do is tell me. All she has to do is ask.

We get a glimpse inside Naz' head, get to see the way his thoughts swirl in it and let me just say that it is quite complex, dark and analytic. He has no regrets about his actions, his murders, his hurtful words. He enjoys every second of all of it.

"It's funny, in a way, that they call it "a hit". Because it is. It's a hit. A high. And I crave it."

"The world made me who I am, and the world pays for that mistake every day."

He is a brutal and unforgiving man. He is certainly not a good man. But does that necessarily mean he is a bad one? Does the darkness inside him coat all of the light? Is he a real monster, or does the "human" inside him still breathe?

"I’ve lived a life of darkness already, years where the sun didn’t shine on me, and now that I’ve seen daylight again, I don’t think I could ever turn my back on it."

Despite being incredibly satisfied with the way this story ended, my hands still twitch with wanting more! I could never say no to more Ignazio Vitale, after all. *wiggles eyebrows*

"She's not just under my skin, she's in my organs, wrapped up in my cells, infecting me."

Trust me and:



You won't be disappointed.

[Eliza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Torture to Her Soul
Series: Monster in His Eyes #2
Author: J.M. Darhower
Release Date: 29th September, 2014
Rating: 4.25-4.5 "Don't say it unless you mean it" Stars
Cliffhanger: No






After reading Monster in his Eyes, I was very excited about what to expect with the rest of the story and how it would develop. In particular I wanted to know how dark Ignazio Vitale could really be and to have a greater understanding of the man. I also recall regarding the first book as more of an introductory story. We saw Naz and Karissa "meet" and fall in love. By the end of the book we know that their meeting was not by chance but rather premeditated, on Naz's part and although they subsequently fall in love, this was not part of the original plan but now however; it now plays a vital role in its execution.



From the prologue alone, I gained a much better understanding of him. I loved being inside his head, it helps that he is a thinker, analytical at that. He likes silence, order and is methodical in most things. He's more ruthless than I gave him credit for in the first book, casual in his manner and thinking of taking a life.

"I heard this saying once, long ago, that I've never forgotten: three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead."

As a result of Naz's earlier actions in the first book, killing Karissa's estranged father there are choices that must now be made. Naz's choice to commit to a promise he made to Ray as well as himself, years ago for justice; which will now be at the price of Karrissa's pain.



Although the story is told from Naz's point of view, Karrissa's choice is to love or hate the man who killed her father, the man who still stalks her mother.

There's something seriously wrong with you. But maybe there's something wrong with me, too, because no matter how much I try to hate you, or how much I want to stay away from you, I can't. I love you, but I don't understand… I don't understand why you'd do it, why you'd do that to me, how you could bring yourself to hurt me when you're supposed to love me, too."

As things become clearer in Naz's mind and there is a moment of clarity from an unlikely source, it does not by any means mean there can be vindication. What started as a crusade for justice has now become a raging battle of inner turmoil and serious threat to what he holds dear, with there own serious consequence.

"I'll die someday, somehow, and I'm not afraid. Death will be a release for me. Until then, I live vicariously through others, watching them reach the point of acceptance, watching as they fight for one more breath.
Life never grants them it, not when I'm around."

I enjoyed the speed and movement of the the story, at times still it felt as though we were waiting. Waiting for someone to make the next move, this time however it added to the torture, the ominous undercurrent of knowing every action has a reaction and that, that reaction could impact heavily on Naz and Karissa. He's caught between being the uncaring, unfeeling man he has been for years and being overwhelmed with emotion for Karissa and the fear that either way his decision can cost him, her.



I'm happy with the way the story concluded, although I won't lie I was on tender hooks down to the last page. I must add, it's also very sexy and has lightness and humour to balance the dark. Naz is not the traditional romantic but he does it so well.

ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!~


FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:

[trestitia ⵊⵊⵊ deamorski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before she can react, I grab ahold of her, pinning her against the wall, my body flush against hers, my hand around her throat. She gasps loudly, startled, the sharp inhale sending shivers through me, gunning straight for my cock.
…
I’m pulsating to the rhythm of her heart as it pounds against my fingertips.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Fuck.
…
She inhales sharply, filling her lungs with a deep breath, before my hand wraps around her throat once more.
She exhales with surprise.
This time, I squeeze.
…
…
…
“So what do I get out of it, Karissa? I get to watch you inhale. I get to make you breathe. It’s like you’re coming back from death, and it’s a goddamn beautiful thing to see. And maybe that’s sick. Hell, I know I’m sick. But it’s give me a high, too.”
…
“There’s nothing sexier than hearing you sigh,” I confess. “Especially that first thrust... your breath hitches, and you gasp, like you can’t believe how good it feels to have my cock inside of you.”



She’s going to bring me to my knees if she makes that sound again.



I’ll give her anything.
I’ll tear my fucking chest open with my bare hands, rip out my heart and hand it to her, if that’s what she needs.
All she has to do is tell me.
All she has to do is ask.



My conscience tells me not to ask, to not push her tonight, but my cock is hard and my heart is wide open, and I want every bit of this woman I can get.



She’s under my skin and I want to make myself at home inside of her body.



It’s too much.
It’s never enough.
I want more. I need more. I’m greedy and I want all of her. I want to love her, want to hold her, want to be inside of her again.
I want to fuck her mercilessly.



She looks broken, but so goddamn beautiful.
I want to put her back together.
I want to break her down even more.



She rests her head against the side of mine as I carry her. She’s light, and feels so right clinging to me.
I think I could carry the woman forever.



“Well, you’re going to be my wife, aren’t you?”
She hesitates.
Hesitates.
“You’re going to be my wife,” I say, not phrasing it as a question this time for my own sanity.



“Go.” The word is from my lips without a second thought. I can’t give it a second thought or the selfish monster inside of me will stop it, with stop this moment of weakness. “Go. Now. Before I can’t let you go again.”
“What?”
Her voice is tear-filled and full of confusion. I open my eyes, looking at her. The sight of her distress hurts.
I have to look back away.
“Leave, if you want. If you want out, go. I won’t come after you.”
“You won’t?”
I try not to be hurt by the hope I hear in her question.
Try, and fail.
It fucking hurts.
“I won’t,” I say. “If you want to leave, I’ll let you leave.”
…
“I don’t want you to,” I tell her, the words spilling out of me, a hitch in my voice. I’ve never felt so vulnerable in my life, cracking myself open for her. “Letting go of you will kill me. So I’m asking you to stay… to stay with me. It’s my turn to ask you to stay this time. But it’s up to you. I can’t make this choice. You’re going to have to make it. Stay or go.”
She slowly pulls herself to her feet and takes a step back. One step. That’s all it takes. My insides break.
“Don’t ever come back,” I tell her. “Never come around here again. You walk out that door, Karissa, for both of our sakes, you can never come back here.”
She hesitates.
One.
Two.
Three seconds.
And then she turns around.
I close my eyes again. I don’t watch as she leaves. I can’t.
As soon as she’s out the door, those tears burning my eyes break free.
I cry for the first time in twenty years.
So this is grief…



“It’s okay. I’ve got you. Just keep breathing, okay? You’re going to be okay just as long as you keep breathing for me.”



I smile, watching her.
She’s trying to hurt me, but all I can think is she’s so goddamn beautiful when she’s pissed.



She could pick up a knife from the counter and plunge it in my chest right now, and it wouldn’t bother me—wouldn’t hurt me—as much as those words do.
I’d rather be shot again than to hear what she just said.



And maybe there is a monster inside of me.
Scratch that, I know there is.
I feel it rear its ugly head sometimes. I feel it eating away at my body, poisoning my thoughts when the darkness takes over. My insides are black but my heart still beats.
It still beats.
And it fucking beats for her.



She’s yelling at me.
Yelling.
She’s beautiful when she yells, too.



Stubborn woman.
Fucking beautiful, stubborn ass woman.
She’s going to be the end of me.



She’s furious. And that? I fucking love it.
…
“Ah, don’t be that way. It’s your fault, really, for being so beautiful when you get angry.”
“You’re crazy.”
“I am. You make me that way.”



I’m scum, compared to this woman.
I should be the one on my knees.



The sound, Im convinced, is going to fucking kill me.
Death by orgasm... and it’s not even my own.



“Do you think we could get married here?”
I damn near drop her.



“Fuck, Karissa, I’m already wounded, and you start taking your clothes off. Are you trying to kill me?”



“What if we both can’t win?”
“I’ve already told you what happens then.”
“What?”
“I give you the plank, Karissa.”



Instead, I wrap my arms around her, pulling her to me, my head resting against her stomach. She runs her hands through my hair, caressing it, as I close my eyes, letting myself, for the moment, feel it.



“What are you doing over here?”
My eyes shift to her, scanning her in the darkness. “I’m admiring the view.”
“Oh. Am I blocking it?”
“No. You are it.”



That stare.
The one that makes it feel like she’s clawing at my skin, ripping apart my outsides to find her way deeper in.



“First of all, if I’m going gray, it’s because of you. You make me crazy. And secondly, I don’t have any music because I find it pointless.”



“You want to know what I think about when I look at you, Karissa? I think there’s nobody else like you in the world.”



Fuck, she feels so good wrapped around me. So good, that it’s hard to believe something like this could ever be bad. That I could ever be wrong for her. And I know I am… I’m the last person she should give herself to… but moments like this, when she gasps, that first sudden exhale, like she’s surprised by how perfect we fit together, like she’s finally whole again after missing a part of her, gives me hope.



I’m still wearing yesterday’s clothes. I don’t know if she even notices, or cares, that I didn’t sleep beside her, that I didn’t come home until some godforsaken hour and then spent until sunrise putting together a goddamn machine to give her coffee. I don’t know if she missed my presence then, but I know she feels it now.



“I was naïve, Karissa. I thought perfection existed, and I thought I’d found it. I thought I was untouchable, that nothing and nobody could ever take away what I had. I was happy, because I was a fool. I’ve learned a lesson since then, a hard lesson, and I can’t be that person anymore. I can never be that happy again. I’m not naïve anymore. But that doesn’t mean you don’t make me happy, because you do… in your own way. What I have with you isn’t blissfully ignorant. It’s real, and it isn’t always pretty, but when it’s good, it’s good. So yeah, I’m happy, Karissa. A different kind of happy. The kind of happy that says even if this all destroys me, and it might, it’ll all be worth it.”



“Don’t worry about it. You have no reason to be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you… nobody is.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because I won’t let them. It’s as simple as that.”



“I’m nobody’s hero.”
“You’re trying to be Karissa’s.”
“No, I just don’t want to be her villain.”



…my tongue sweeping along her entrance before plunging in, tasting every bit of her.
It’s Heaven.



I wanted justice.
All I got was more heartbreak.
They say when seeking revenge, dig two graves, one for you and one for them. I’ve buried them all, disposed of bodies and left a trail of charred remains in my wake, and now all that’s left is my own grave. And I dug it, all right… dug it so deep there’s no fucking way out of it.





- And maybe there is no quite quote for the state he was in when he proposed or when he ordered drink with glass after she left but damn if didn’t felt like a delicious burn on my chest (yeah, all 14 times).
 

[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 THIS SERIES IS the BOMB Stars

I can’t believe it’s over. It’s been awhile since I’ve found a series I absolutely loved from start to finish. I love this author, I love Naz, I love everything about this book!

I just can’t contain myself….

Really.. I can’t

I die, you die

I don’t doubt that for a moment

Imagine a person that is 100% wrong for you. Imagine a person that can hurt you, make you feel pain, shouldn’t be in your life, but somehow is PERFECT for you? That person would be Naz Does that make sense? No, but it doesn’t have to.

Love is ugly, and messy. Love makes no sense. And I love him, as impossible as that may be.

I love this love story for the sheer fact it’s simply that. A love story. Karissa and Naz are a ball of issues. He killed her father for heaven sakes. So there’s tension and Karissa is pissed. I loved how Torture to her Soul started. There’s so much angst, so much hate that radiates from Karissa, I’m just gobbling up the pages.

I also love that it’s completely from Naz’s POV. I love how he sees himself through Karissa’s eyes. Yes, he’s a monster and not because he says so, but because he is. You can see it and it just oozes out of the pages, dripping with blood.

I couldn’t get enough

The second thing I love is Naz’s love for Karissa. It doesn’t make sense and it’s so tortured, yet so beautiful at the same time.

…she’s the most beautiful when she’s doing nothing. When she thinks nobody’s looking, when she thinks she’s alone.

I’m with her simply because I want to be. Because I need to be. Because she needs me, I think, and if I’m being honest, I need her just as much.

What I have with you isn’t blissfully ignorant. It’s real, and it isn’t always pretty but when it’s good, it’s good.

The third thing I love about this book is that I felt everything. I felt the hate, I felt the love, I felt all the emotions. I felt like I was there and I was reliving it through them. This book was PERFECTION and an amazing read.

These are the books I live for, these are the books I strive to obtain. They are gritty, raw and written so beautifully. If you loved Monster in his Eyes, you will not be disappointed in this one.

REVIEW | AMAZON
AMAZON

[Kelena]

Dear J.M Darhower,
I`m here to place a tiny request for having a Cover and a Sooner rather than Later Publication Date of Torture in Her Soul (Monster in His Eyes, #2)

BECAUSE....

[Amy | Foxy Blogs · Rating 4 out of 5]

TORTURE TO HER SOUL is a continuation of Monster in His Eyes with Naz’s as the narrator.

Naz and Karissa's relationship is not in a good place because of certain truths that have been revealed. Karissa is no longer naive to Naz's world. This world was created long before Karissa was born and because of past situations she has become inadvertently part of his world.

Naz is not a good man. He knows that and his family knows that but Karissa wrestles with the idea that inside of him is a decent human being. Unfortunately, his past haunts him and leaves him cold and unfeeling except to the one person who has brought light into his world.



THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER:

•Regardless of if you were there or not, the day happened. There’s a lesson to be learned there, you know. Life goes on without you.

•“Never trust someone who only ever smiles at you.”
I’m going to remember that next time I meet someone who ONLY ever smiles at me. Kind of creepy when you think about it. Wonder what the person is smiling about that they don't take an interest enough to speak to you. *lol*

•“It’s a little trick I learned. Whenever a situation makes you nervous, suck on a piece of hard candy. It’s psychological. Your brain thinks if you were in any real danger, you wouldn’t be eating something, so it reasons that you’re perfectly fine.”
Yep, I’m totally trying this to see if it works. *fingers crossed* it works.

For lovers of Monster in His Eyes you'll want to read this dark and twisty resolution to their love story.

✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
Release date: 9/29/2014
Monster in His Eyes- on sale right now for $.99 (9/26/2014): http://amzn.to/1ngfS0r
Torture to Her Soul: Pre-order | order: http://amzn.to/1rrwWQt

SERIES:

2 part series.

**Complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**

[Beverly Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I, Ignazio Vitale, have always been afraid of the dark. If you tell anyone that, I'll kill you.

Where to begin? Reading this book from Naz's POV was dark, dangerous and intense. We knew Naz was complicated. I fell in love with him through Karissa's eyes. But being inside his mind. Knowing what he feels. How his mind works. That was a ride I didn't want to end.



I'll tear my fucking chest open with my bare hands, rip out my heart and hand it to her, if that's what she needs.



Loved it!

[Vanessa Booked Up · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 stars!!! Not A Good Guy but a DAMN Good Book!!!!!

"It's not the darkness that's terrifying, it's what you might find in it."

Holy hell, what a fantastic book and series! I am speechless! This one is going straight to my All Time Fave Shelf!! Why I waited this long to jump into this series, I will never know! Amazing! OMG, I think I just left a piece of my heart back there in that book.

My absolute favorite element of this book:

Ignazio Vitale!! Naz has got to be one of the darkest, most fucked up, and complex characters I've ever read. I loved him and feared him equally in the first book, but OMG, in this book, he is terrifying! Naz hasn't changed one bit, and isn't going to. He's still the best at what he does, and he does it with precision and without fail. I just wanted to know more and more about him. This really is a story about what happens when the love of your life is a bad guy...a guy who is 100% WRONG for you, who has long since passed any chance of redemption.



My Second Favorite Element of this book:

The way Naz loves Karissa. OMG!!! For as much of an evil bastard as Naz is, I just wanted to hug him. I loved how patient he was with her, even when she couldn't stand the sight of him. How he would protect her, lay down his life for her, just do anything to keep her safe. So endearing. And oh once again, the sex between these two is hot, hot, hot!!! Holy HELL the scene in Rome on the balcony?!?!? SCORCHING!!!

"…she’s the most beautiful when she’s doing nothing. When she thinks nobody’s looking, when she thinks she’s alone."

"I’m with her simply because I want to be. Because I need to be. Because she needs me, I think, and if I’m being honest, I need her just as much."

"Don't worry about it," I say quietly, running my thumb across her lips before leaning down and kissing her. "You have no reason to be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you...nobody is."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because I won't let them," I say. "It's as simple as that."



And for all the Karissa haters..LOL. Kidding.. kinda. I really do think the readers were too hard on her, but, I think you will be happy to know that she is more mature in this book. She's just super conflicted. She loves Naz, but she hates that she does. She's fighting it. She doesn't understand how she can love HIM!

If you love mafia romances, this series is def for you. I know I will be rereading it at least once. What I look for most in a book is for it to make me feel the characters and their emotions. This book is exclusively in Naz's POV, and wow, did I feel this character. I didn't always like the things that he did, but by being in his head, I understood why he did them. But don't get me wrong, this book has some disturbing shit in it. Not in the sense that a lot of the other "dark" books out there right now do. It's not a Stokholm and there isn't really any BDSM themes...maybe one. But in the sense that some of Naz's decisions are hard to swallow. I would be like, no Naz...you're not really gonna, are you?....oh, yep....he did!! Like the fact that he killed her mother...OH why Naz?! Why did you have to do it? I get that she sealed her own fate when she shot at him, and that it turned into this whole kill or be killed game between them, but I so badly wanted him to be a good guy here. That is one aspect of the story that I will be pondering for a while to come. I do seriously applaud Darhower for maintaining the consistency of this character throughout this entire story. That is something that is not executed well enough in a lot of the other dark romances out there, in my opinion. There's a definite ARC and transition, but at the last page of this book, Naz is still the ruthless bad boy that he was at the start of it all.

I need to read more from this author like very soon!! Perfect ending to the series. Everything came full circle and all of my questions were answered. Some of the scenes at the end, like when he went to visit Maria, had me bawling!!!! Loved the much needed light-hearted moments of humor. Like the scene at the dealership with the passport? OMG, hilarious!

And gah, LOVED that epilogue and bonus scene!!! ❤️

"Maybe you're not a good man-"
"I'm not."
She stalls at my interruption before finishing her thought. "Okay, but that doesn't mean you're a bad man, Naz."

“It's okay to admit the darkness terrified me. Because I found some light in it. I found her.”

“I'm not a good man," he says, "but I'm trying. I'm trying. I can't make you any promises of perfection. I can't promise I'll be what you deserve, or what you need, or even what you always want. All I can promise is that I'll love you until the day I die, and I'll spend every moment I'm alive trying for you.” <--- My very fave quote of the whole book! ❤️



I know I went a little overboard with the quotes here. I just couldn't help myself! I highlighted most of the damn book! These are all just some of my faves. So really, this is half review/ half tribute! Oh and ladies, Naz is MINE!! So read him, enjoy him, fear him, but then get your little paws off!!! ;)

Long live Naz!! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

[Cyndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will start with a few things that I liked- the writing is high quality and engaging and I did feel some type of connection between Naz and Karissa before the book ended. Also we learned that Naz was not a manwhore- he had only slept with a few women in the 20 years since his wife.
Now on to my troubles:
Pretty late in the book Karissa sees a wedding photo of Naz and his dead wife. She says " you look happy, really happy." He thinks to himself that he won't lie to her so he says " yes I was very happy then". When she asks if he is happy now he tells her no- that he will never be that happy again, but that he is a form of happy with her or some other bullsh*t line like that. No matter how dark the book or how bad the H is supposed to be I really need to believe that the h is #1 to the H. I never believed that here. He always said his life ended when his wife was killed and that he was living in the dark. Sometimes he would say that the h was a light for him, but honestly to me what Naz had with Karissa was a pale imitation to what he had with his wife. And I'm not trying to minimize grief, but since it is fiction I will say it- he only knew his dead wife for 2 years before she was killed. Good grief- she had been dead 20 years and he never got over it. I was really hoping that in his POV I would learn that the h was it for him- that maybe what he had with his wife was a puppy love that a teenager would have. I do believe he will stay with Karissa and be faithful and loving and all that, but it didn't seem like his heart was really in it. And now there is a third book coming out. I will probably read it just to see what else happens.

[Makhda]

The continuation that was told from Naz's POV..



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Counting down..One week again.. :))

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OMG.. September 29th...
I'm so giddy.
Is this Naz's POV? Can I hope..? :))



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Well, look at that.. 'Coming to fall'.
Ok, thank you ^^

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Dear Miss Darhower...

Would you mind to share the publication date with us?
Because I'm getting a book withdrawal.
Drives me f***ing crazy.
I keep 'stalking' your profile.
It's getting creepy. Even for me.

[SusanAhh · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It's not the darkness that's terrifying, it's what you might find in it.”


My love affair (in my mind) with Ignazio Michele Vitale (Naz) continues in this the next book in the “Monster in Her Eyes series. In this book, the author gives voice to Naz as it is written entirely in his (first person) POV. He bares his soul for us and recounts his monstrous deeds and how he came to be the man he is. Naz confides to the reader abut the darkness he feels within and without. He describes the pervasive quality of this darkness:

“It's that heavy sort of darkness, the kind you can feel when you breathe, the denseness filling your lungs and slowly suffocating you.”

He also tells us a secret:

“I, Ignazio Vitale, have always been afraid of the dark. If you tell anyone that, I'll kill you.”

In the opening chapters, we find Karissa barely speaking to Naz. She goes about her days in a robotic manner, at times even acting downright disrespectful to Naz. Karissa is angry because she felt Naz lied to her by omission. Naz claims he never uttered an untruth to her and never will. Yes, Karissa is angry; but…the reader can still feel the gravitational pull between Karissa and Naz.
Naz reflects on his attraction, attachment and love of Karissa. He feels almost entirely dark, yet his heart still beats, and it beats for Karissa. She is precious light to him. She reminds him of the man he used to be before all the darkness shrouded his life.

As Naz searches his soul and takes stock of his life through the events in this second book, I find the writing deeply reflective with thoughts well organized and flowing from one idea to the next. It’s not just unnecessary filler. No, this writer has something to say to us through her characters…actually she has many things to say.


As you get further into the read, momentum begins to build, and the pace of the plot accelerates exponentially. There are heart-stopping life and death moments and complications that generate intrigue and a vital decision Naz ultimately needs to make.

And yes…the heat. Oh, the sensational passionate erotic love scenes!!! So beautifully done. So captivating. So worthy of sighs, swoons and… not a little sweat. Naz wants to please in this book. Help me…“io muoio.”



Naz moves from his dark, dark world toward something he never thought he ever would again…the light of a pure innocent unafraid love. He is reconsidering whether he is completely bad because he thinks himself so and is there a possibility for him to think of himself in another way…the way Karissa does?

“Despite everything she knows I've done, despite most of the time hating me, she can't let go of that sliver of hope, that part of her that thought she saw some good in me somewhere. I told her she couldn't change me, but she didn't believe that shit for a second. I wish... I fucking wish... some part of me could let her be right about this.”

Karissa’s “torture to her soul” is in the epiphany she makes after witnessing the choices Naz made.

"Because you can't go back and change things once they're done. You can't rewrite history. Dwelling on it, wondering what could've been different, wondering how things might be in a perfect world, is a waste of time. Because this world isn't perfect, life isn't perfect, and it never will be…”

This book, this series, this man, Naz is haunting. If you swoon for that bad, bad devil of a man who cannot help but find himself transformed in part by love despite the improbability, then my friend this book, this series, this man was created for you!!!

“It's okay to admit the darkness terrified me. Because I found some light in it. I found her.”

[Seda · Rating 5 out of 5]

”Sesi yüksek bir iç çekiş tarafından yutuldu. Nefes almak, bir nefes daha almak, bir şans daha elde etmek için bir iç çekişti bu... En derin hücreme kadar beni sarsan bir iç çekiş; ta içimde hissettiğim, beni göğsümdeki kurşundan daha çok etkileyen, patlayana kadar kalbimi sıkan bir acıydı.”

Bir insanın son nefesini vermesinin acısı bu kadar mı güzel anlatılır?

Bu kitabı ilkinden daha çok seviyorum. Sanırım sebebi Vitale’nin dünyasına onun gözünden bakmamız. Özellikle sonu beni paramparça ediyor. Daha önce yaşadıklarını tekrar yaşayacağı korkusu, sevdiğini kaybetme korkusu çok güzel anlatılıyor.

Fazla yorum yapmaya gerek yok aslında seri için. Sevmek ya da sevmemek siyahla beyaz gibi keskin bir çizgi ile ayrılıyor bu seride. Ben içindeki tüm karanlığa, kötülüğe, şiddete, ölüme rağmen, aydınlığı, vazgeçememeyi, sınırsız sevgiyi, kaybetme korkusunu, sevdiği için her şeyi yapabilecek bir adamı görüyorum. Sanırım Vitale’yi sevenlerin hepsi biraz Karissa gibi, her şeyin farkında ama sevmekten vazgeçemiyor, hepsi biraz Stockholm Sendromu hastası 🤩🤩

“Ona aşık olmuştum.
Ve bu, en kötü kabusumdu.
Bana pişmanlıktan söz ediyordu ama sonunda beni mahvetse bile sahip olduğumuz şeyi asla silip atmak istemeyeceğimin farkında değildi. Bunun bir anını bile geri almak istemiyordum.
Kalpsiz değildim; geri kalan her yerim bir boşluktan ibaretken sadece kalbim taş kesmişti. Ama o, uzun süre önce yaşamaya uğraşmaktan vazgeçmiş şeye hayat veriyordu.
O, oksijendi ve o olmadan ben ölüydüm.”

“Eve geldiğimde perişan haldeydi. Aklını kaybetmişti. Zavallının üzerinde sende olduğundan daha çok kan vardı. Sen baygındın ama nefesin düzgündü. Nabzın zayıftı ama istikrarlı atıyordu. Yine de sana kalp masajı yapmaya çalışıyor, göğsüne vuruyor, ciğerlerine hava üflüyordu. Faydadan çok zarar veriyordu yani. Göğsüne her bastırdığında daha çok kan fışkırıyordu. Seni hayatta tutmaya çalışırken neredeyse öldürecekti.”
Kendimi tutamayıp gülümsedim. Tam Karissa’ya uygun davranıştı; kasıt olmadan, hatta bana ne yaptığını fark etmeden hayatımın içine etmek...

[NMmomof4]

DNF @ 52%

The h was so freaking annoying in this! And nothing was really happening except her being bratty. The constant mention of the H’s dead wife got rather old too. I basically skimmed from 52% to the end and I’m not all that heartbroken about what I missed tbh …needless to say, I’m not going to be reading the final book (that I just was reminded existed)! I see mixed reviews on this book from my GR friends, so at least I’m not in the slim minority again 😅

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW TO COME

I 've missed Naz so much

[Catarina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Dark Side Stars.



This time we’re inside Naz’s head immediately after the end of the first book.
He never meant to fall in love with Karissa, but that happened anyway and now he doesn’t want to let her go. She belongs to him.
However, the recent events put a strain on their relationship and now she almost don’t even look at him. He knows he have to fight for her but she also knows that he has a dark side and she fears that hidden side of him.
This is a fight that Naz isn’t willing to lose, because we will fight against anything that try to Karissa from him…. Including herself.



Rating: 4 Stars.
Storyline: A gritty and emotional romance story, that will certainly please lovers of dark-and-twisted-romance books. I will always love JM Darhower because she wrote “Sempre” and although these books haven’t the same effect on me (by far) for someone who isn’t usually a fan of twisted romances, these books definitely made my day!
Writing Style: First Person. Male POV. Emotional, gritty and completely addictive.
Character Development: Karissa was a little stubborn on the beginning and although it was comprehensible where she came from, it annoyed me a little. I liked how she eventually embraced her love and made up her mind. I loved how Naz didn’t suddenly turn into a saint. Yes, his love for Karissa definitely tamed him a little, but he wasn’t a nice guy. Which was good.
Steam: Some hot scenes.
HEA: Yes.

[trestitia ⵊⵊⵊ deamorski · Rating 5 out of 5]

sevgili yazarlar;
eğer kendini gizleyen karakter yazacaksanız, ya o karakterin ağzından anlatacaksınız hikayeyi ya da üçüncü kişi yani ilahi bakış açısıyla.
bunu niye diyorum çünkü birinci kitap bu yüzden kim vurduya gitmiş. ha düşüncelerim sonradan değişti, 1. kitabı "mahalle baskısı"ndan sıyrılıp tekrar okuduğumda dünyanın en büyük haksızlığını ettiğimi fark ettim. ilk kitap biraz fazla popüleriteye kurban gitmişti- düzelttim.
Naz'i anladım, anladım ve bağrıma bastım. anlamak derken, neyi neden yaptı değil, şeytanları bağrıma basamam ama kötüleri basabilirim. kötüleri zaten severim, benim herolarım her zaman anti-herolar, villainlar oldu. bak evil demiyorum, villain diyorum. arada fark var.

kitap, son zamanlarda mevzusu dönen en iyi dark kitaplardan biri bence. BANA KALIRSA HALA DARK DEĞİL. kurcaladığım pek çok kitap var, film var; yani değil. AMA dark okumayan birinin kafasını aşşırı güzel allak bullak eder, onu belirteyim.

şimdi çok mühim bir şey diyeceğim, 1. boğazlama hakkında, 2.si kitabın sonu hakkında. sonra da genel dedikodulara geçeciğim, yani bkz:
o boğazlamanın altında yazan mevzu müthiş! zaten boğazlama müthiş, üzgünüm. tahmin edilebilirdi tabi ki ama yazar çok güzel anlatmış. manyak anlatmış. "ona tekrar nefes verebilmek, yaşadığını hissedebilmek" allahım evet evet evet! bunun ötesinde, bu kitabı bu kadar sevmeme neden olan bu boğazlama mevzusu, hatta ve hatta altında yatan nedeni fark etmeden (öğrendikten sonra değil, kendimin fark etmesinden) önce seviyordum zaten. ilk kitapta köpürdüğünüz (benim köpürmediğim) sahne yine vardı seks sırasında: kızın boğazını sıkma. Naz'i tamamiyle anladım, özellikle onun ağzından okuduktan sonra (ilk kitabı tekrar okuyunca da fark etmemek elde değil). bence ortada tiksinilecek bir durum yok. EĞER FİLM İZLEYEN BİRİYSENİZ, PEK ÇOK PSİKOLOJİK TABANLI AŞK FİLMLERİNDE, ŞİDDET UNSURU GÖRÜRSÜNÜZ. ve eğer böyle biriysen bu kitabı yargılamazsın, yargılayamazsın.

bir de şu var, sadece seks sırasında boğazlamada değil, aynı zamanda karissa iç çektiğinde, nefesini sertçe çetiğinde/tuttuğunda veya soluğu kesildiğinde falan da sertleşmesine yol açıyor ve bu müthiş, BOĞAZLAMADAN BİLE MÜTHİŞ. üzen, buruk bir müthiş. Naz'in bunu dile getirdiği her sahne müthiş. şimdi içindeki çıkıntı diyecek ki bana "her şeyde tahrik olmak zorunda mı, hele ki bu konuda, oturup ağlasın falan mesela" bu adam kitap boyunca hiç bir zaman 'seks istiyom, sertim, ölüyom, taş gibiyim, sikişmem lazım' demedi. hani kitaplar var ya kız nefes alsa sertleşiyor, öyle değil. herifin ağzından çıkan şey, 'karissa olmadan yapamam, ben kötü ve bencilim, mariayı sevdim, karissasız ölürüm, ben canavar ve karanlığım, karissasız yaşayabilmirem de bilmirem' den başka bişi değil.

karissanın her hareketi, tavrı, lafı, herife kılıç olup saplandı, samimi ve katıksız sevgi ile gülüşü bile. karanlığı anlatabiliyor muyum?

yani kitap şu meşhur denklem, seks+olay+seks+seks... denklemi değil. hatta öyle ki bildiğin, o kaosun içinde rayına oturmuş bir birlikteliğe dönüşmüş, yazar cicim ayları gibi yazmamış.

şimdi diğer husus, kitabın sonu. EĞER KİTABIN SONU; KARISSA VURULDUĞUNDA ÖLSEYDİ VE NAZ DE ACIYA DAYANAMAYIP (sen ölürsen ben zaten ölüyüm, ben ölürüm sen ölme mantığından mütevellit) ÖNCE DÜNYANIN AMINA KOYUP SONRA İNTİHAR ETSEYDİ, neler yapardım bi fikrim yok, önce fangirllik yapar sonra ben de kendimi öldürürdüm heralde :D. yapardım ama yapmadı. üzdü. ha, ama diğer klişe sonlar gibi de bitmedi. canavarlar (karissayı dahil ediyorum) mutlu sonlarla yaşamadı, sadece beraber yaşadılar ve the end.

Bİ DE AQ O KARANLIKLAR İÇİNDE, YATAĞIN UCUNA TÜNEMİŞ KARA DÜŞÜNCELER İÇİNDE, "ÇIRILÇIPLAK" VE "TEK" DİZİ ÜSTÜNDE, ANNESİNİN YÜZÜĞÜYLE, KIZA "'LÜTFEN' BÖLME" DİYE DİYE, ACILAR İÇİNDE VE Bİ NEVİ KABUL ETMEMESİNİ UMARAKKİ EVLENME TEKLİFİ! KOTAMI AŞTI YAZAR, AĞZIMA SIÇTI. ağzıma sıçmaya ne hakkın var. AĞLADI, parçalandı, uyuyamadı, öldürdü ama bu... bunu bana yapmayacaktın!

bi diğer şey, seks şiddetliydi, şimdi bu şiddeti anlamak, özümsemek göt ister benim de göt istedi AMA tamamiyle “yazış”la ve sonrasında duygu olarak “ne yazdığın”la alakalı. ben o şiddetin, şiddet değil tutku ve ihtiras, aşkın ying-yangı öfke-nefret karışımını (sevdiceğine değil dünyaya olanı) gördüm. ha, canım da görmek istemiş olabilir, size ne? chick-litteki bir kitapta da okunabilecek cümleler, hızlı, sert ve derin seks, ama. abi hayvanlar gibi düzüşebilirsiniz ve acıyı sevebilirsiniz o başkadır, birine sadece acı çektirmek için ya da onun kaldırabileceği acıdan fazla zorlayarak salt vahşetle becermek ayrıdır. Bu ikili ilk katagorideler. naz'in gözünden bile karissayı hissettirdi yazar, karissanın ne istediği, niye istediğini...

ABİ Bİ DE para önde değildi. yani gittikleri hastahane, evdeki güvenlik yöntemi olan kilitler, giysiler vesaire, gözüme sokmamış o zenginliği allah bin kere razı olsun.

bana bir katili nasıl seversin diye soranlar oluyor (attığım bir twitten sonra mesela) niye sevmeyim, abicim bi kere adam hayallerimin, kirli düşlerimin adamı diyorum size. şiddetinden tutun sevgisine, yaşından tutun somurtgan suratına, giyiminden tutun yemek yediği yerlere kadar fantezilerimi süsleyen adam. ciddi anlamda kötüyle şeytan arasında incecik bir çizgi var, naz şeytan değil, en azından benim literatürümde böyle.

tabi ki bir klişe olarak "sevdiceğim ölürse ben ne bok yerim" ile aklı başına gelen iki karakter var ortada. AMA ORTADA ACILAR İÇİNDE KAFASI KARIŞIK SÜKLÜM PÜKLÜM AŞIK VE GERİZEKALI, DELİ DANA GİBİ DOLAŞIP SÜREKİ 'SENİ SEVİYORUM KARISSA' DİYEN BİR NAZ VAR, herif seksten sonra bile cloud nine'a çıkamıyor, ay ölücem heralde... kulak memesi kıvamındaki hamura dönüştü herif, yumuşadı derken kişiliği değişmedi, sadece kendini açtı, karissa'yı sahiplenmek üzerine konuşmaktansa sürekli nasıl ona ait olduğunu, onun için neleri yapacağını dedi durdu. ya da kendini açtı derken, mesela daha fazla laf çarpmalı şakalar yaptı. asdfasdfadgfh Karissa'ya git ve dönme değişi, hatun gittikten sonra başkasının getirdiğini içmesi... vallahi öldüm geberdim yok oldum dirilmedim.

ve karissa mevzusunda, şimdi zaten kendi de soruyor stockholm falan, manyak mıyım aq napıyorum ben diye. aşk kötü bişi bir, ikincisi, bence de manyaklık var, üçüncüsü stockholmlük bi durum yok. PEK ÇOK "NORMAL" ROMANCESDA STOCKHOLMLÜK KURGU VAR (ÖZELE GEL SÖLİİİM) ha şimdi yazar böyle dedi diye her şey ok mu? tabi ki değil! ama işte okuman ve benim beynime sahip olup benim gbi düşünmen lazım. hapishane kuşu derken ikimiz de (naz ve ben) olmadığını biliyoruz.

eski karısını ne olursa olsun herife unutturmadığı ve SEVMEYE DEVAM ETTİRDİĞİ İÇİN yazara buradan teşekkürlerimi yolluyorum.

ŞUNU DEMELİYİM, ben de hasta ruhluyum, ve eğer sen değilsen, anlamaman normal. mesela ben yeraltı edebiyatına müslüman olmasam taparım; sana saçma, ahlaksız ve gereksiz gelir. hayatının mükemmel olması, acının olmaması, her yanının toz pembeye bürünüklüğünden bahsetmiyorum. mühim olan hasta yanın var mı? cevabın hayırsa, bu tarz kitapları, ister saçmasapan aşk kitabı olsun ister De Sade kitapları anlamamak normaldir. VE ben uçlarda bir hasta olmadığım için de uçlardaki bir karakteri anlayamam bunu da biliyorum. o yüzden de benim kadar olanlar bağrımda yanarken, uçlardaki bir kenara atılıyor. nys.

tekrar dile getireyim, ağlayan erkek fetişim var.

Kitapta ne bu şimdi, nere gerek var, niye yaptın ki bunu dediğim hiç bi sahne yoktu. daha çok anlatırım da, o kadar çok yazdım ki yoruldum aq. ama kurgu ve anlatımın güzel olmasından dolayı, ve kahrolası acılar içindeki aşık erkek etkeninden dolayı, ve üşendiğimden dolayı spoilerların sonuna geldiniz.

kitabın adını niye ızdıraplı değil canavarlı yaptınız anlamış değilim, ama çeviri fena değildi, lakin eksikler de var. vasat diyebiliriz.

BAŞKASININ GETİRDİĞİNİ İÇTİ DİYORUM SİZE!

« I'll give her anything.
I'll tear my fucking chest open with my bare hands, rip out my heart and hand it to her, if that's what she needs.
All she has to do is tell me.
All she has to do is ask. »
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