The Bastard's Bride

The Bastard's Bride #1

by E.L. Beth

Gemma Borrean is forced to marry the kings bastard. She described him as being a savage, a brute and a barbarian. In a foreign country where she knows nothing of their culture of their ways Gemma has to endure her fate with her savage husband.

WARNING: This book is recommended for readers over the age of 18. It contains sex and submission and violence.

Genres: Dark Romance, Abuse, Dark, Contemporary, Erotica, Romance, Drama

375 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 19, 2016

About the author

I began writing dark erotica in 2014. I found that it really irritated me how authors bring down their male leads and make love stories sappy. I continually began to feel unfulfilled with reading. So I wrote a book how I like to read it. I find that although my stories are full on and seem a bit much, so many of my readers have connected to them. I try to tone it down ever so often in my books, but I find I write better the harder the material I write about.

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/E.Lbethbooks

Reviews

[Preeti ♥︎ Her Bookshelves · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many triggers! 🚨🚨🚨
Where does one begin?
Of course going in, a reader knows to expect a dark bully-love theme...with bdsm (or really sadism) elements. But still!

This book is a train wreck of another level - with a truly evil, psychopathically and deliberately cruel, dishonest and self-seeking 'H'. He possibly has low self-esteem and an identity crisis issues- all that he takes out on the h, and only the h. Otherwise, in front of others, he's just a wuss.
You name it and this book has it - lying, dishonesty, betrayal, continual cheating, deception, humiliation, degradation, sexual, emotional and physical abuse. Rape actually.
And this is part of a duology - so know that and the above facts.

**Major Major Spoilers**He's a half-Irish, half-Arab royal bastard (yes, that's a literal use). He came to know of his Arab heritage when he's 17. Apparently, he comes to live with his father's family (stepmom, the queen and an older brother, a prince and heir apparent) and was dead set on assimilating and become more Arab than any Arab he knows. The ow is also a stepping stone - she's from a noble family, and ambitious like him and it doesn't hurt that they have a roaring sexual chemistry.
In the present, the American/British (I am not even sure of her nationality) h's uncle and brother have agree to a moc between the H and her, in exchange for oil rights in Oman (that's a real country, madam author) all without her consent. She's an inane, silly and snobbish character to begin with but I couldn't help but admire her for standing up for herself and wanting to remain true to herself in this totally foreign culture.
The H comes off as an abusive, callous psycho right from the word go. He rapes her brutally for consummation and that's only the beginning as far as intimate relations are concerned.

For a while, the H mellows a bit and our supposedly emancipated and independent h goes and falls in love with him - and that doesn't change whatever he does to her and hers over the years.
And then the real nightmare begins. He goes and marries the ow as well. That's allowed in Islam and anyways she's his one true love and the H cannot not marry her. He thinks now his life is set with two sexy women in his harem.
But the h would have none of it. She is heartbroken at his easy and cruel deception and wants him grant her a divorce her but he refuses. The whole book is about her defying him and him 'punishing' her. Despite my horror, I couldn't but admire her dogged tenacity in face of such physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and social abuse (Did I leave out any?).
Then she becomes pregnant. And things only get worse after the birth of their son because he now has another stick to beat her with. He threatens to and does separate the mother and baby on several occasions.

Few Ponderables
*If having two wives isn't exactly immoral - culture wise - then such outright abuse cannot be excused by any standard, era or culture. And he's someone who's been raised in parts in the Western world with a western foster mother and a sister. So, it made it doubly horrible that he does it. Maybe, it's only that he wishes to be 'accepted' in his father's world and works hard at disciplining her, slapping and smacking her publicly.
But, their inter-personal relationship is definitely one-sided sadistic (some maso? Not sure.) with no safety, safe word, pleasure for her or tender moment. The more he 'falls' for her, the more he seethes, the worse the abuse gets. And it seems he needs to keep finding new reasons to whip her up with. As for her, she refuses to bend. If he does force her compliance by blackmail, she's back to fighting fit mode the next day. His misogyny is limited only to the h. The ow he treats well and with only slight irritation at times. And he believes what all BS she feeds him. Stupid AH. We don't get detailed sex scenes for H-ow but they seem energetic and satisfying but no angry sex.

*He punishes her for continuing to wear western clothes (singlets, shorts, sundresses etc.) at their desert camp and I'd get that (his reason, not the abuse) culture-wise but for the nightly naughty community dancing by slinkily dressed women and people making out publicly. These women are not professional belly dancers etc. but women of the camp. And maybe people are having sex outside marriage. Mild hints that he has sex with women other than his wives but not sure. So his upholding-of-morality conduct is unbelievable.

*And why marry at all? I am sure there are plenty of companies his family can do business with. Why her family? Her uncle and brother do not seem very professional anyways. And on the unnatural death of these two men - wealthy businessmen - no international uproar happens? Weird.

*Poor Hekmat. A good honorable man. Can this 'H' be really redeemed??

*The second son, a bastard marries twice while the mid-30s heir not even once? Doesn't really go with the culture.

*Again, It's to the h's credit that she retains a spine and self-respect even after the H and others around him go about systematically destroying her very soul.
'The Bigamist Bastard and his Two Brides' is a more suitable title.

This is a serialized book/dualogy. And I've skimmed the second one a bit and it takes a long crazy path - subplot wise to resolution and is not even half as riveting. (Because for all its ills, this book holds one in its morbid horrifying clutch.) Maybe I won't read it as I prefer the ending as it happens here.

[Serialbookstarter:Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

3rd reread this is just as rage inducing as the first time I read it. Tarek is the bastard Son of an Arabian King… so of course there’s all the cultural differences between men and women. Gemma is either from the UK or USA.


2nd read—-This is a reread review. I read this book A few years ago for the first time. The H and h are both forced into a moc.They fall in love for a few months then he breaks the news to Gemma that he is taking a second wife who he has been in love with since he was a teen. This story is Tarreck trying to force Gemma into a sister wives marriage. She fights him tooth and nail and he smacks her around and threatens her. I consider him a cheater and he cheats with the ow throughout both books stating how he loves her too and how beautiful and how good she is in bed…. He supposedly smacks
Gemma the fmc around because he is more
Passionate towards her and loves her more? Meanwhile he never raises his voice or hand to the sister wife. This book is a train wreck that you can’t look away from.

[Jena]

Cheating H.
He marries the h and then few years later brings another woman into their marriage.
The H is in love with 2 women.
Sister wive situation happens,
Sex scene with ow.
Has brutal rape, etc.
The h has a spine of steel, runs away constantly.

Too much drama for me.🥵

Trilogy.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.25 Stars

TRIGGERS! This book has so many triggers, so be afraid, be very afraid!

This is the story of an arranged marriage between Gemma and Tarrick in another country. Within this other country, it is very acceptable and expected for a man to have multiple wives. Our heroine, Gemma is American, and she is not having any of that! Our hero is from the ruling class, let's call him a king, and he struggles with being in love with two women. Acceptable or unacceptable? Depends in which country you are in. This was a very unique story, something I NEVER read before, and it kept me up all night reading! Can't wait to read the final book to see how it turns out!

Why Not 5 Stars?
While some typo do not normally bother me, the amount of typos was really bad. Probably the worst I've ever read. Author: Please spend the extra money or perhaps have family/friends to proof read your work before publishing. It is very distracting to the reader and will turn us off from reading your future projects.

[Lidia's Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daaaang

This rating and review is for both books (duet)
Book 2 -> The Bastard's Obsession

My thoughts?
This was the most abusive and toxic relationship I've ever read in a dark romance. Mentally, emotionally, physically, and sexually. The first violent scene actually left me shook--heart pounding, sweaty palms and all. Quite disturbing, to say the least. This behavior by the main male character occurs throughout the entire book, including book 2...even during the last few chapters. And to be clear, I'm not criticizing or condemning this book, whatsoever, because as a grown-ass adult who appreciates dark romance, I have a clear understanding that this is in no way, a "how to" manual. It's a work of fiction for readers 18+. Definitely not for everyone.

See Preeti ♥︎ Her Bookshelves's review for more on the story.

My Likes:
✅ Angsty AF 😱
✅ Enthralling story 😲
I read these books practically nonstop.

My Dislikes:
❌ Editing issues/typos galore. It's bad. To be honest, this didn't bother me much because I was too immersed in the story to care. But at times, it did interrupt the flow.
❌ Extremely repetitive scenarios and dialogue. Including the abuse/rape scenes. Over the top. I think I became numb to it after a while.
❌ (Can't believe I'm saying this) Too much sex. It's not the constant sex that bothered me exactly; it's that it didn't always feel believable given some of the situations. 🤨 (I'm too lazy to elaborate.)
❌ Weak ending/HEA. It felt rushed. An epilogue would have helped, maybe.

See my tags for tropes and themes.

Other themes/kinks: dominant/submissive dynamic, sadist/masochist relationship, degradation, praise

Note:
Thank you, Cindy, for holding my hand while I rode this crazy train. When I needed a spoiler to ease the anxiety, you were there. LOL ❤️
Thank you, Nathalia, for...you know what! ❤️

[Ilor · Rating 1 out of 5]

Domestic abuse is not romance!!

At the end of the book, I wanted to MURDER the MC's.
AVOID AVOID AVOID

[Selina]

Though I love the crazy books of this author (my guilty pleasures), I cannot stand that the hero has another wife.
Other woman ...No
Not for me.

[Kathleen Lemke (Kathy Page) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me. Definitely reading the next one to see if he at least begs for forgiveness or maybe get his a** beat. Hoping for both.

[Nelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you like RAPE & ABUSE that's the book for you.

Gemma felt her head split in half when it hit the floor. She struggled to get up. Her face was burning where he had struck her. Son of a bitch.

(...) He grabbed her neck squeezing hard. “I am your lord and your master. You need to remember that.”
(...) Tarreck smacked her across her mouth so hard that she bled. “I am your lord and your master. Say it.”

(...) he backhanded her so hard across her face. She was on the other adjacent wall by the force of his attack.

(...) He grabbed her face so hard. “You want me to show you just how much you belong to me, how I am truly your lord and your master?”

He pulled her along with the grip on her hair and slammed her head down onto the bed. He kept her head pressed down making sure she did not move.

Oh god, she was really beginning to struggle when he pulled up her skirt. “Don’t.” She cried.
He continued to fuck her like he wanted to tear her. He was deliberately hurting her and it didn’t seem to faze him one bit that she was crying.

[Magali · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love dark romance, I seek stories where the Hero abuses the heroine, whether it is abuse emotional, physical, or sexual (or even better, a mixture of all three) and I definitely read darker books than this one, but this is the only book where I found the hero irredeemable. The only one where I was rooting for the H less and less as the story progressed. I was relieved and happy about the way the book ended, which I usually wouldn't.
I will read the second book eventually, but I am in no hurry, thinking that it will be just more of the same in a different setting. I can't imagine the Hero capable of doing any better and thus there being any real happy ending. but hey, maybe I'll be proven wrong, I like the author after all.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK so this book was a great read, you have to have some patients and some anger control to read this book major trigger warning for this book rape and verbal and physical abuse. I’m going to add it to one of my favorite books just because the book was so capturing. I had my attention throughout the whole book not because, of the content or because of the acts that the hero did. I still don’t know if I want the book to have a happy ending .I think that’s one of the first book that I’m hoping it’s not a happy ending that she actually leaves the fucking hero or he fucking pay. This could’ve been the perfect book if the Abuse against their heroine was a one time thing Like the golden Dynasty.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked from the first chapter. Tarrick just wants Gemma to accept that he is in charge. Gemma wants Tarrick to accept that she hates to want him, and won’t ever accept his relationship with Miriam.

If you need safety warnings, this is not for you. If you are like me, this is everything you crave in a book.

I could not start the next book fast enough.
5 OMG What did I just read stars!!!!

[wrkatreading · Rating 1 out of 5]

There should be trigger warning. There is a lot of physical abuse. And sex with OW.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Omg 😱 WTF i’Ve just read. The MC does nothing but rapes the H throughout the whole series . And he beats her like shit even when she’s already bloody . Nd he merely raises his voice with his another wife . WTF complete fuck !!!!!! I never hated a male character more than him. Nd the sex scenes ughhhh same repetitive words every time “he used her hair like reins “ WTF 😳. I tortured myself to read 2 books in the series but I gave up during the third one . I really don’t give a shit about their HEA. The MC was a little girl in pink frock . He never gave me the vibes of a king . He was a little bitch, who only enjoy raping and beating his wife .

[Diedre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was amazing. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. Was it brutal? Yes. But not in a gory, descriptive way. In fact, for all the physical abuse she got, I wish the author would have spent more time describing how broken she became. You don't get whipped and go on your merry way the next day.... but the intrigue was palpable. I quickly bought the second book just to see how it ends. You will hate the H, grieve for the h and sit in incredulous wonder at the culture and customs of that country. And of course, the palace intrigue was sprinkled throughout. For all of you angst lovers, here it is on a silver platter!

[Star · Rating 1 out of 5]

Question:
Por que tiene la categoria de romance?
Deberia ser terror y nada mas..
Mmm🤔 que puedo decir, supero a las novelas chinas y eso es mucho que decir la verdad...
El Ml el unico lugar donde debería estar es en la carcel
Y la Fl en psiquiatrico urgente
Porque de que la golpeo,violo,humillo ,maltrato psicológicamente y engaño.Lo que mas le molesto es que tomara otra segunda esposa ,are we okay?nah.noa olvidamos de todo lo demas y lo unico que importa es eso,es neta?🤮
Sin olvidar que literal solo siente rabia de eso no le importa que el tipo mato a su guardaespaldas y causo la muerte de au hermano nah no importa eso lo que le da rabia solo es eso 🙄

[Grace Lily Creston · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing is a wreck, but the story is so sad and awful that it’s mesmerizing.

I don’t deal the writing is bad as much from a lack of writing experience, but it feels more like a language barrier- as if the story was poorly translated through google? It’s weird. The simple sentence structure is exhausting, yet contributes to the anxiety that the story causes as well.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW Dark and Oh So GOOD

Geez what a gripping Dark and Brutal story but oh so good although a few spelling errors it can be overlooked because the story flows well lots of betrayal and lies looking forward to next book...ty

[BrownAyez · Rating 1 out of 5]

And, really, one star is generous. If such a thing exists I can imagine this being sold as rape porn under a different name/cover. Just, no.

[Kendra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too repetitive

[Miss T Blaze.]

Question...

E.L Beth.. are you okay?
Cause Im not sure what the fuck I just read or even if I want to continue... jesus..

[lybi · Rating 1 out of 5]

So much abuse…..so much abuse
So till the end he didn’t believe his first wife fuck him
Fuck this author
Waste of time

[Ametista · Rating 1 out of 5]

0 stars

[Kristi Custer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I feel after reading this. It was awful in the sense that the h had to live through what she did. But it was like I couldn't look away from the awful live she was living.

[rie · Rating 1 out of 5]

an obviously white woman writes about an abusive muslim mmc who likes to beat his wife and takes another wife. yeah fuck off el beth

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

UPDATE 2018
Love this couple, I could really feel Gemma's turmoil, Tarrick dosent get why she just don't except his second wife and Gemma will not give herself over to Terrick as long as Miriam is apart of his life:))
RE READ 2019
I love Gemma and Terreck story, very up and down. I felt how Gemma felt betrayed and Terrick just did not get it...so frustrating....I'm sure I will read again:))

[Faridah Yasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first EL Beth book and series. Since then I fell in love and became obsessed with her and her books. Now that I’ve finished all the book series and desperately waiting for her to release new ones, I thought I’d go back to the beginning where I started and read again.