When a killer sets her sights on her target, is there any stopping her Award-winning journalist Madison Ford is taking a well-deserved break from covering foreign wars. That break is cut short when she receives a mysterious package, full of incriminating information on a human trafficking ring. When she’s asked to do an interview with an actress and humanitarian, it seems like a welcome distraction. Little does she know how distracting it will become. Elodie Fontaine is in demand. She chooses the movies she wants to work on and the women she wants in her bed. Humanitarian work takes up the rest of her time. Love isn’t an option. When Madison walks into her life, she’s faced with a pursue Madison and lose her heart, or avoid the risk and lose her chance at happiness. When Madison’s life is in danger, will love pull them through Or will it be too late
Robyn Nyx is an avid shutterbug and lover of all things fast and physical. Her writing often reflects both of those passions. She lives with her soul mate and fellow scribe. They have no kids or kittens, which allows them to travel to exotic places at the drop of a hat for “research.” She works hard to find writing time, when she’s not being distracted by blue skies and motorbike rides.
'Netgalley ARC provided by The Publisher in exchange for an unbiased review'
A fairly decent story about the depth and descriptions of horrors in which people suffer and the atrocities in human sex trafficking plus the other evil,sick characters' that did involved these same ones as well:- on how they treated these prisoners. Good storytelling,erotic and also graphic sex scenes,the dialogues were mesh with lots of foul language,the chemistry was okay,way too much over use of the the author writing about supporting characters just having sex randomly and then toss in a paragraph here & there of some mean-spirited crazies doing the most shocking criminal and insane thing for no apparent reason. This plot twist and storyline can be hit or miss depends on how the readers take it but it had an okay ending.
I had mixed feeling about wanting to read this book due to the subject matter, but I wanted to keep an open mind. I tried really hard, but this book just did not work for my personal tastes at all. While I don't mind a story with some grit, this was too over the top for me. I felt like violence and disturbing sex scenes were just thrown in to shock the reader, and it really put me off. While I applaud that Nyx tried to tackle such a tough subject, it just didn't work for me. I had problems with the characters, including the "bad guys" the psycho killer, non-con sex forcing lesbians. I just found the scenes with them to be so out there. The other POV main characters were Elodie and Madison. While I did like Madison, Elodie was not a very believable character so I could not really get into their relationship. This review is totally based on my personal opinion and as much as I tried to be open-minded, there was too much stuff I just could not stomach or get past. I can't recommend this, but maybe other will like it more than I did.
An ARC was given to me by Bold Strokes Books, for a honest review.
Madison Ford, an award-winning journalist, and Elodie Fontaine, a movie star, meet when Madison interviews Elodie about her humanitarian work in human trafficking. They're attracted to each other, but more than that, they like each other and decide that give each their dismal track records with relationships to try out a friendship. Madison receives a package from an informant detailing a human organ trafficking operation with information pointing to Therese Hunt as the head of the operation. Therese Hunt is a psychopath with a penchant for torturing her victims and has managed to evade the law remarkably well considering the trail of bodies she leave in her wake.
This is violent and gruesome with explicit torture. I read reviews before I decided to read it so I knew what to expect and I was okay with it given the context. I struggle more with novels where the main theme is trafficking, kidnapping or a serial killer and the baddies never quite cross the line because it dampens my belief that the main characters are in any danger. I was certain that the main characters were in danger here. I did find Therese a little caricaturish and perhaps lacking in the control that someone running an illicit organ transplant operation might need.
Elodie was an interesting character: an ex-marine, collector of first edition classics, openly lesbian actress and I think there was a masters in psychology in there too. Madison is not sure that Elodie would ever be attracted to her curvier figure but they're intellectually compatible, well, until they don't agree.
The romance worked surprisingly well considering all the blood and guts. I was riveted by the action but in an epic-battle, superhero kind of way because most of the story was quite over the top. But again, I expected it given the reviews, and I was looking for something darker. 3.5 rounded up.
This was a hard hitting, frank, and brutal novel of the inhuman acts traffickers will use to lure their prey and punish those who betray them.
Wow! I can understand why this book got a wide variety of reviews. The subject matter isn't exactly pleasant. But I can't argue with the authors honesty describing the brutal and sadistic world of human trafficking. I guess we all believe that human nature has compassion. Guess in the high stakes of human organs to order compassion isn't something that is recognized. Only power and money.
We know it go's on. We know in some countries it's common knowledge. But in your own backyard? I guess that's too close to home. I know I had some issues with them being American. Why do we feel safer if they were Russian or some other nationalities. Guess psychos are born everywhere. Yes I know a naive point of view. But you get what I'm saying right?
This is a very powerful and realistic book. Scary as hell too. But I also learned so much. The subject matter had me checking my kidneys every so often. And I'll never go to a bar again. What was really compelling was the lengths these people went too to make a point.
I found the romance to be secondary. But it was a lighter side to the book. It kind of helped to l lighten the nasty bits a little. It's nice to see two people connect even when the subject of the novel is brutal. The protagonists idea of sex was also brutal but I felt it told us everything we needed to know about the leader. She had no love for anyone including herself. All she needed was their total surrender.
So, when, not if you pick this book up be aware the subject matter is gruesome. It's heart breaking. And not just for the victims and their families. But also to those who felt the need to participate in the depravity of this world. Enjoy!
Madison Ford is an awarding winner journalist. She’s reported some of the most terrifying news that happens all over the world, from foreign war to Trans rights. As a favour she interviews Elodie Fontaine, a famous actress who’s doing charity work as a humanitarian. Both women are immediately attracted to one another but when Madison becomes entangled in the story of the year related to a Human trafficking ring, their lives get more action than they were expecting.
This book was something else. At no point was I bored or skipping through pages. The pace was great and the segway from my usual romance novels to something with a bit of grit was really enjoyable.
Elodie was something else. The first chapter in the book had my mouth agape the entire time, talk about sex on legs! She was a walking, talking swoon. In saying that, I really liked Maddie. She was such a great character to read and I felt a real connection to her and her fierce need for independence. In the beginning I couldn’t imagine Elodie and Maddie together but by the halfway mark in the book I was really rooting for them.
The chemistry and sex scenes were explicit and unbelievably hot. More than that though, I really felt like Elodie and Maddie were connecting on another level during those scenes. It was like they had a higher level of intimacy.
For me there were times where the violence was a little much, however it never held me back for long and this book has definitely made me rethink some books I have passed up in the past due to the sub-genre.
If you love a thrill mixed with your romance, this is definitely the book for you. It’s already made it to the re-read shelf.
*The copy provided by Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review*
This was one of the hardest book to rate... It could've been 5 stars had it been written differently... I'm not sure exactly what went wrong, or if I'm right about it going wrong actually, but to me - it seemed like it had tried to cover all the issues and horrors of human and organ trafficking, but only managed to try, not actually hit the spot. I liked Madison as a character, but I had a problem with Elodie - she just seemed surreal. And I think that was the problem I had with the book - it seemed like all the descriptions, all the unbelievable stuff was jammed there, stuffed just for the show... It's like the book should've been both thriller and romance/erotica and only managed to score half the romance...
An honest review thanks to NetGalley. This book was great; the characters were jumping off the pages and ready to face the difficult subject matter that was put in front of them. The plot was handled very well and gave the characters chances to grow and face different obstacles. I can see that for some people this book might not be what they were looking for, though the intrigue and mystery, as well as romance and something as horrific as organ traffic, kept me riveted and ready to learn all I could about the characters.
This book was a true original. Very thought provoking. So much to sink your teeth into. It's a bit gruesome, but you get that sense just by looking at the cover and reading the blurb on the jacket. The characters are raw and the story is grim and gritty. Not for the squeamish. Hot sex and a little bit of creepy sex too. There could be some triggers here. I like movies like Hostel so I'm okay with the gory details. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Nyx.
Sex and violence - at the same time just don't rock my boat. I could almost expect it from the evil organ traffickers but even the girl on girl sex from the protagonist's view started out too rough and domineering for me. I am sure there are some whose tastes run in that direction who might appreciate these many scenes in the book.
I do need to say I selected this book by mistake from NetGalley. I don't usually read books in the LGBTQIA genre but I do read books about human trafficking. But I do consider myself to be a halfway open-minded person.
The book could have been much better all the way around, not just the over-the-top sex scenes. It seemed to be aimed to highlight human/organ trafficking (an admirable subject) but got sidetracked with rough and some beyond rough sex scenes and lots of gore - and brutality on top of that.
I received this book from Boldstroke Books through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review.
After reading Robyn Nyx's time travel saga (The Extractor Trilogy), I had to go back to her beginning, obviously, so I read her debut novel, "Never Enough." Since I loved her writing style in the Trilogy, I had a strong feeling I'd love this book. Nothing like a writing style that captures the beating of the heart and words that flow like a rhythm, innit? Sure enough, two chapters in, me mind was made up. I shall be reading everything this new favourite author of mine churns out. End of.
I think I may have finally found me favourite McDermid/Cornwell-style of crime/thriller writing in lesfic! Yup, Nyx's book ticks all the boxes (and then some!) that I'm looking for in this particular genre - unreservedly dark, intense, gruesome, graphic violence (non-sexual, mind!), suspenseful, thrilling. It's the dog's bollocks, really (for me!). But the icing on the cake that McDermid/Cornwell doesn't have but Nyx does? Explicit, uninhibited sex and romance. In other words, the whole package. Sealed and delivered brilliantly with originality and creativity in the plot and story. Bloody hell YES!
Now, I'm sure you may already have a preconceived idea about these subjects, haven't ya? Whatever it is, I'm quite positive that when the details are revealed about them, you'd be taken by surprise. Well, at least I was. I obviously had me own idea about what was entailed after reading the blurb. Bog-standard crime thriller with romance. Nothing new there. But wait! Bugger me! Before I knew it, Nyx literally turned the tables on all the tropes that usually came with these listed subjects!
I bought this book at Manchester Pride 2017 from Robyn in person. I found it hard to get into with the different chapters having different characters and swapping too and forth. I put the book down for a bit after getting to chapter 5. I started from the beginning and made sure I didn't put it down for more than a day. Then I was hooked!
Will Elodie and Madison get together? Will they survive? Will they get away from Therese and her gang? Do they live happily ever after? I'm so glad I stuck to this book! Very well written and I didn't notice and grammatical errors which is a pleasing sign!
I choose this rating because Robyn Nyx did an awesome job with the storyline and characters. Some people will think it's way to graphic in the sex and violence. For some people they are right, but for me I thought I moved the storyline along. I am definitely putting this book on my re-read list. I would recommend this book to other readers.
If you aren't keen on graphic descriptions of violence/torture than this probably won't be the book for you.
Personally, i didn't mind it. I've already read the authors Extractor trilogy and that's pretty hard hitting in parts. I asked Nyx previously if this book would be darker and the positive confirmation certainly didn't disappoint.
I truly love that all of Nyx's work has an undertone - the story isn't just the 'story'. You could consider this book to be graphically violent, to showboat torture alongside some explicit sex scenes. There's no denying that those elements are in the book, but strip that away and you'll find a story of human trafficking, the have's and have nots, power, emotional vulnerability, upbringing, journalism and many many other considerations.
The graphicness is no worse than what you'd find in a horror movie, the content however is more true to life than any horror movie. Nyx is never afraid to write about the topics others would sweep under the carpet or the ones that get sugar coated to be more palatable.
Human trafficking exists, homophobia exists, corruption exists, socioeconomic divides exist and journalism on the frontline exists. Maybe they don't always exist in our back yard but somewhere in the world there will be similar true to life tales of destruction, of what money, greed, power and a lack of humanity can buy.
Yes, this book is a thriller - there's graphic violence and hot and heavy sex and it won't be everyone's cup of tea but there's a chillingly cold truth being told in this book of what happens in a seedy underworld driven by desperation, power and greed. Nyx should be commended for once again documenting in her own unique style the nastiness that is sometimes humanity.
NOTE: I rarely put trigger warnings in my book recommendation posts but, for some reason, I deem it necessary this time:
TW: non-consensual sex
----- I am a big fan of crime fiction, so I thought I would be always ready for violent and gory scenes in this genre—but 'Never Enough,' which is my second book by Robyn Nyx, has proven me wrong.
The level of violence and gore in this book is one notch higher than the stuff I usually read—thanks to its villain whose POV readers get to read as she commits her crimes—and hence my TW above.
And as for the romance part, I liked the build up between Madison and Elodie. Both had crafted their own barriers when it comes to commitment and romantic relationships, so it was fun following their story as they deal with their feelings and emotions for each other. My only complaint is that the author seemed to use endearments such as baby and nicknames far too often for my liking. But other than that, I liked both characters individually and as a couple.
All in all, this was a worthy read—well, once I got past those parts I found morally challenging to read. It had kept me on the edge of my seat, particularly during the last quarter of the story.
Oh wow!!! This is an awesome thriller that will keep anyone at the edge of their seat because I was definitely at the edge of mine and I almost did a face-plant! I'm not going to lie, this story took me through the entire emotional spectrum because I laughed, almost cried and I said "Awww" during all of the heartwarming moments. Elodie and Madison are phenomenal women who have a lot of emotional baggage and I was cheering for them every step of the way. The author did a fabulous job of portraying Madison and Elodie's best qualities and their flaws because that made me love them even more than ever. I have found a new favorite author because I loved this story and I will be on the look out for more books written by this superb author.
If you've read Nyx's Extractor trilogy, you'll know that action, sex and violence are more or less her trademark, and Never Enough did not disappoint.
With her classically incredible cast of women, Nyx had me gripped throughout the book. Elodie was a fantastic character who has some interesting layers for you to sink into, and Madison's (mostly) fearless passion for her job and the associated risks were badass AF.
While there are a number of hard-hitting topics, Nyx handles them deftly and with the upmost respect, providing some much needed awareness on these dark issues.
If you're into badass women who punch bad guys and kiss beautiful women, you should 100% give this a read!
Don't judge this book by its gruesome cover (which is great) or what others say about it. Pick it up and give it a go. It's got everything and more. I love a good thriller and this one didn't disappoint. It may shock some, which isn't always a bad thing. Once you start reading it you won't want to put it down, it's got everything, suspense, romance, sex, a super storyline with great believable characters with lots of chemistry. I'm no literary judge, but Robyn Nyx this is good. Look forward to reading your next book.
A book that flows nicely and is well edited, Never Enough kept my gripped until the end. Robyn had written, not only the protagonists, but also the antagonists, with such sensitivity and depth, that I actually started to feel sorry for the evil ones!
Well written, great dialogue and technically comfortable (easy to read, well edited), this book was a pleasure to read, despite the traumatic content. Good job!
I bought this book for my wife for her holiday read but once I read my book I started this book, and once again I was gripped by the plot. The detail Robyn goes into is amazing as it gives you a clear image of what is going happening as if it was happening right in front of you. The plot works great and keeps you gripped well it did me as I didn't put the book down all day. I highly recommend this book if you want romance, action, blood and gore.
Although very disturbing to come across Therese, this book was so hot on so many levels, I'm still fanning myself (and I won't lie, she contributed to 85% of the hotness).
The right level of angst, and the right amount of chemistry between Elodie and Madison. The underground horrid story just adds to the heightened state of excitment one should feel (okay, yes, it wasn't so pleasant, but still very much interesting as it is a very serious topic).
Well... this is a new face of lesfic! Nyx takes on romance but adds lots of gritty plot. The villain is truly evil, but you can’t wait to see what she does next. It’s fast paced, sweet, sexy, raw, and intense. Nyx doesn’t shy away from the detail, something you don’t often see in this market. I loved it and highly recommend it.
Didn't get past the 10% mark. So many things to irk me in so few pages. One of the main can barely wait to meet the second one, to f*** her and oh maybe she's the one. But they have never met, don't evolve in the same circles and the way sex and violence is mentionned really got me in the wrong way.
I want more by Robyn now! I read this book in one sitting. Of course I finished it at 2 a.m. because I couldn't put it down! Now I'm off to see what else I can grab by her & her wife to read!