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Tormentor Mine #1
Tormentor Mine
A new dark romance from New York Times bestseller Anna Zaires
He came to me in the night, a cruel, darkly handsome stranger from the most dangerous corners of Russia. He tormented me and destroyed me, ripping apart my world in his quest for vengeance.
Now he's back, but he’s no longer after my secrets.
The man who stars in my nightmares wants me.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2017
3045 people are currently reading
12083 people want to read
About the author
Anna Zaires
100 books7,830 followersAnna Zaires fell in love with books at the age of five, when her grandmother taught her to read. She wrote her first story shortly thereafter. Since then, she has always lived partially in a fantasy world where the only limits were those of her imagination. Currently residing in Florida, Anna is happily married to Dima Zales (a science fiction and fantasy author) and closely collaborates with him on all their works.
After graduating from the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics, Anna spent eight years on Wall Street analyzing stocks and writing research reports. In 2013, she became a full-time author, pursuing her lifelong dream of writing romance novels.
Dima Zales is the love of her life and a huge inspiration in all aspects of her writing. Every book Anna writes is a product of their unique collaborative process.
In addition to reading and writing, Anna enjoys drinking tea (coconut oolong, anyone?), watching addictive TV shows, and discussing book ideas during long walks with her amazing husband.
She loves hearing from her readers, so please don't hesitate to contact her through her website or connect with her on Facebook, where she hangs out way too often. Also, please visit her husband and collaborator, Dima Zales, at www.dimazales.com and check out their fantasy & science fiction books.
After graduating from the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics, Anna spent eight years on Wall Street analyzing stocks and writing research reports. In 2013, she became a full-time author, pursuing her lifelong dream of writing romance novels.
Dima Zales is the love of her life and a huge inspiration in all aspects of her writing. Every book Anna writes is a product of their unique collaborative process.
In addition to reading and writing, Anna enjoys drinking tea (coconut oolong, anyone?), watching addictive TV shows, and discussing book ideas during long walks with her amazing husband.
She loves hearing from her readers, so please don't hesitate to contact her through her website or connect with her on Facebook, where she hangs out way too often. Also, please visit her husband and collaborator, Dima Zales, at www.dimazales.com and check out their fantasy & science fiction books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 994 reviews
March 21, 2017
This was a great start to what I am assuming will be another hot as fuck trilogy from an amazing author.
Ever since I read Twist Me back in December of 2015, Anna Zaires has had my one-click trigger by the balls.
Seriously though, this chick owns me.
If she shits on a piece of paper...I want to read it.
Did she actually just say that, you're thinking?
When you read a Zaires book, you can just tell homie is intelligent.
Seriously though, she must have legit graduated from college with a degree in "Smarter Than You."
I'm about to piss off some snowflakes saying this, but fuck it: In this new era of self-published authors...there are so many shiteous books out there.
Seriously, completely heinous.
Now, I totally understand the whole "don't knock people's babies cause they put their heart and soul into them" mumbo jumbo, but let's just be honest:
Some of the stuff people put out is pretty shitty. Just straight up BAD.
With shitty grammar to boot.
I'm just keepin' it real and telling it like it is people.
So don't shoot the messenger.
That said, don't get me wrong.
I read a lot of self-published stuff that has shitty plots, shitty grammar, shitty EVERYTHING.
And you know what?
I ENJOY a lot of them.
So, I'm not knocking them. At ALL.
All I am saying is that reading a book these days with solid plots, solid characters, AND solid grammar?
It's an occasion to celebrate, people.
So whenever a new Zaires book comes out, you can bet your ass that I'm getting my Gene Kelly on.
All of Zaires books are just SOLID.
They have layers to them that just make them awesome.
In short, she covers all the bases.
The plot is always tight - with no holes and lots of reason - and the writing and grammar is always flawless. Even when you have to suspend belief - as was the case with her Krinar Series - it came from a scientific platform that just made sense.
Add to that some awesome psychological elements, an edge of darkness, and some seriously hot sexy time?
Perfection.
For me, at least.
I cannot WAIT for book two in this series.
We met Peter in book one of Twist Me. And seven books later, here we are.
I love the world and the character portraits Zaires has created here in Twist Me/Capture Me land and Peter's book definitely hit par.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Finally, Peter's story!
I'm so excited to start this, I could crap myself.
Ever since I read Twist Me back in December of 2015, Anna Zaires has had my one-click trigger by the balls.
Seriously though, this chick owns me.
If she shits on a piece of paper...I want to read it.
Did she actually just say that, you're thinking?
When you read a Zaires book, you can just tell homie is intelligent.
Seriously though, she must have legit graduated from college with a degree in "Smarter Than You."
I'm about to piss off some snowflakes saying this, but fuck it: In this new era of self-published authors...there are so many shiteous books out there.
Seriously, completely heinous.
Now, I totally understand the whole "don't knock people's babies cause they put their heart and soul into them" mumbo jumbo, but let's just be honest:
Some of the stuff people put out is pretty shitty. Just straight up BAD.
With shitty grammar to boot.
I'm just keepin' it real and telling it like it is people.
So don't shoot the messenger.
That said, don't get me wrong.
I read a lot of self-published stuff that has shitty plots, shitty grammar, shitty EVERYTHING.
And you know what?
I ENJOY a lot of them.
So, I'm not knocking them. At ALL.
All I am saying is that reading a book these days with solid plots, solid characters, AND solid grammar?
It's an occasion to celebrate, people.
So whenever a new Zaires book comes out, you can bet your ass that I'm getting my Gene Kelly on.
All of Zaires books are just SOLID.
They have layers to them that just make them awesome.
In short, she covers all the bases.
The plot is always tight - with no holes and lots of reason - and the writing and grammar is always flawless. Even when you have to suspend belief - as was the case with her Krinar Series - it came from a scientific platform that just made sense.
Add to that some awesome psychological elements, an edge of darkness, and some seriously hot sexy time?
Perfection.
For me, at least.
I cannot WAIT for book two in this series.
We met Peter in book one of Twist Me. And seven books later, here we are.
I love the world and the character portraits Zaires has created here in Twist Me/Capture Me land and Peter's book definitely hit par.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Finally, Peter's story!
I'm so excited to start this, I could crap myself.
June 27, 2021
***5 STARS***
This was my first dip into the dark romance genre.
When I first read this book and as I was reading it I was shocked. I had never read a book with an anti-hero before and I was just floored. The “hero” Peter comes into the heroine’s life with the intent to torture and kill her because of her connection to his revenge plot. While torturing her he starts to feel for her and then falls instantly in love/lust and kidnaps her.
This book had me questioning myself as to right/wrong but it was so enjoyable I couldn’t look away or put it down. I absolutely loved Peter. Yes he is a criminal but he loved Sara with everything he had…his views were just warped…lol.
Please be warned that there are triggers galore and this is not the typical HEA. But I highly recommend this series.
This was my first dip into the dark romance genre.
When I first read this book and as I was reading it I was shocked. I had never read a book with an anti-hero before and I was just floored. The “hero” Peter comes into the heroine’s life with the intent to torture and kill her because of her connection to his revenge plot. While torturing her he starts to feel for her and then falls instantly in love/lust and kidnaps her.
This book had me questioning myself as to right/wrong but it was so enjoyable I couldn’t look away or put it down. I absolutely loved Peter. Yes he is a criminal but he loved Sara with everything he had…his views were just warped…lol.
Please be warned that there are triggers galore and this is not the typical HEA. But I highly recommend this series.
June 4, 2017
When I saw that Anna Zaires had released another dark romance, I was sure that I'd found my next 5-star read. Some of her other dark series are amongst my favorites. I absolutely love that this lady is not afraid to write some scary, twisted and disturbing content. Creating anti-heroes that make you fall in love with them, in spite of your better judgment, is a specialty of hers.
Unfortunately, while this story was good, it didn't live up to my expectations for this writer. Don't get me wrong...it was good. I just expected more -- more emotion, more drama, more darkness. I waited, but it never came.
You might remember Peter Sokolov from the 'Twist Me' series. He was the man that Julian promised to provide with a list of the names of the individuals responsible for the deaths of his wife and son. Since his actions placed Nora in danger, Julian considered them to be a betrayal. Nora saw things differently and provided the list to Peter.
This book begins Peter's story. His history is revealed as he works his way through the list of names, seeking revenge for the murder of his family years earlier.
Sara Cobakis is the wife of one of the men on the list. He had no intention of ever falling in love with her. She served one purpose to him - to give up the location of her husband. Peter stalks her, torments her and gets the information that he needs from her to exact his revenge. That should be the end of his interactions with her, but it isn't.
Along the way, Peter cannot stop thinking about the woman whose husband he killed. She has become his new obsession. Regardless of what his initial plans were, he decides that he is going to make Sara Cobakis his. Neither of them could have expected true feelings to develop.
Of course, eventually they do develop feelings for one another. It is set up perfectly for these two to live out their happily ever after, until a twist at the end. Again, it was nice. It just wasn't the dark, twisted story that I craved. It ended up being kind of sweet actually...which is fine, it just wasn't what I expected.
In all fairness, I should say that I'm in a bit of a reading rut right now. Maybe I would've enjoyed it more at a different time when I wasn't in a "funk". Who knows? If I re-read/listen to this story later and my opinions change, I'll update my review then.
Nevertheless, this was just a "good" story for me. I wanted to love it, but it didn't happen. I liked it though. I was hoping for something much darker and edgier. It didn't happen this time. It was sweet, in kind of unbelievably convenient way.
Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
Unfortunately, while this story was good, it didn't live up to my expectations for this writer. Don't get me wrong...it was good. I just expected more -- more emotion, more drama, more darkness. I waited, but it never came.
You might remember Peter Sokolov from the 'Twist Me' series. He was the man that Julian promised to provide with a list of the names of the individuals responsible for the deaths of his wife and son. Since his actions placed Nora in danger, Julian considered them to be a betrayal. Nora saw things differently and provided the list to Peter.
This book begins Peter's story. His history is revealed as he works his way through the list of names, seeking revenge for the murder of his family years earlier.
Sara Cobakis is the wife of one of the men on the list. He had no intention of ever falling in love with her. She served one purpose to him - to give up the location of her husband. Peter stalks her, torments her and gets the information that he needs from her to exact his revenge. That should be the end of his interactions with her, but it isn't.
Along the way, Peter cannot stop thinking about the woman whose husband he killed. She has become his new obsession. Regardless of what his initial plans were, he decides that he is going to make Sara Cobakis his. Neither of them could have expected true feelings to develop.
Of course, eventually they do develop feelings for one another. It is set up perfectly for these two to live out their happily ever after, until a twist at the end. Again, it was nice. It just wasn't the dark, twisted story that I craved. It ended up being kind of sweet actually...which is fine, it just wasn't what I expected.
In all fairness, I should say that I'm in a bit of a reading rut right now. Maybe I would've enjoyed it more at a different time when I wasn't in a "funk". Who knows? If I re-read/listen to this story later and my opinions change, I'll update my review then.
Nevertheless, this was just a "good" story for me. I wanted to love it, but it didn't happen. I liked it though. I was hoping for something much darker and edgier. It didn't happen this time. It was sweet, in kind of unbelievably convenient way.
Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
February 25, 2025
Sara, if you don’t want Peter, let me have him!
Look, I don’t know about y’all, but I love my hair being brushed! And dinner cooked for me? Even better!!!! Sara, girl… you’re spoiled!!!
This might be an unpopular opinion, but if I’m gonna get water boarded, I want it to be done by Peter 👀🥵💦💦💦LITERALLY 🤣😅 let all that water be for me 💁🏻♀️.
This is now the fourth time I read this book 🤣. I’m a LITTLE (*cough* a LOTTA) obsessed with Peter 🤣. Sigh 🥹 he’s just so dreamy 🥰
2022 review here:
As I was rereading, I was side eyeing Sara. Like… not only does Peter cook for her (gourmet meals), but he massages her, washes her, TAKES CARE OF HER.
Sara. Why are you complaining girl?? 😅 this man PAMPERS you… and, well, of COURSE he’s super skilled where it matters😉🔥 (yeah. Yeah. With protecting her, but also in other more IMPORTANT areas too 😉🥵).
If you don’t want him, I’ll volunteer 💁🏻♀️💅. Give me give me give me
I looooved how sensual he can, and PATIENT 🥹🥰. The patience of this man can rival a priest’s.
Peter’s a bulldozer without bulldozing 🙃. He stalks/spies/watches her but still lets her do her normal life things. I love how much he values the life she brings into this world since she’s a doctor (I know. It’s a paradox considering that he casually takes life away 😬). At least he doesn’t demand that she stop working 🤷🏻♀️
Sooo swoooony 🥰❤️.
Sara, you could’ve gotten a crazy stalker. But no. You got a controlled, SEXY ASF man who knows you more than you think. And more importantly…
He PROTECTS you 😅. He does what needs to get done 💁🏻♀️😉. Annnnnd…
A little bit of blood doesn’t scare him 😅 mmhmm. He’s a REAL man… 🔥.
My original review from 2020:
This is my first Anne Zaires book and I’m addicted! We start off by getting the background information on Peter-5 years earlier when his wife and son were killed. That scene got me emotional- especially when he discovers the body of his son. Fast forward to 5 years later when he comes to murder Sara’s husband since he was involved in the bombing of his family. Right away, there was something so seductive about the way he approached Sara to get info on her hubby. Six months later, he reappears in her life and is obsessed with her, but she doesn’t realize how much she actually wants him too. I couldn’t put this book down!! I can’t wait to start book 2.
Adding ⚠️ info for anyone wanting to know
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing/owd
-mild OMD: there are people that want her to date others (her parents and coworker). One asks her out on a date
-both MCs are widows
-unaliving: two men try to attack the h; they TRY; the H comes in 💅💁🏻♀️
-loss of a child (the H)
-mental health/panic attacks/anxiety/therapy
-PTSD:water boarding/war/deaths
-biting/restraining/praise kink/
-neither have been with anyone in a long time/for the h, nearly two years
-condoms/then none/both clean
-cliffy
Look, I don’t know about y’all, but I love my hair being brushed! And dinner cooked for me? Even better!!!! Sara, girl… you’re spoiled!!!
This might be an unpopular opinion, but if I’m gonna get water boarded, I want it to be done by Peter 👀🥵💦💦💦LITERALLY 🤣😅 let all that water be for me 💁🏻♀️.
This is now the fourth time I read this book 🤣. I’m a LITTLE (*cough* a LOTTA) obsessed with Peter 🤣. Sigh 🥹 he’s just so dreamy 🥰
2022 review here:
As I was rereading, I was side eyeing Sara. Like… not only does Peter cook for her (gourmet meals), but he massages her, washes her, TAKES CARE OF HER.
Sara. Why are you complaining girl?? 😅 this man PAMPERS you… and, well, of COURSE he’s super skilled where it matters😉🔥 (yeah. Yeah. With protecting her, but also in other more IMPORTANT areas too 😉🥵).
If you don’t want him, I’ll volunteer 💁🏻♀️💅. Give me give me give me
She’s not just a person to me now; she’s my world, and I will protect her from everyone and everything.
I looooved how sensual he can, and PATIENT 🥹🥰. The patience of this man can rival a priest’s.
Peter’s a bulldozer without bulldozing 🙃. He stalks/spies/watches her but still lets her do her normal life things. I love how much he values the life she brings into this world since she’s a doctor (I know. It’s a paradox considering that he casually takes life away 😬). At least he doesn’t demand that she stop working 🤷🏻♀️
Sooo swoooony 🥰❤️.
Sara, you could’ve gotten a crazy stalker. But no. You got a controlled, SEXY ASF man who knows you more than you think. And more importantly…
He PROTECTS you 😅. He does what needs to get done 💁🏻♀️😉. Annnnnd…
A little bit of blood doesn’t scare him 😅 mmhmm. He’s a REAL man… 🔥.
My original review from 2020:
This is my first Anne Zaires book and I’m addicted! We start off by getting the background information on Peter-5 years earlier when his wife and son were killed. That scene got me emotional- especially when he discovers the body of his son. Fast forward to 5 years later when he comes to murder Sara’s husband since he was involved in the bombing of his family. Right away, there was something so seductive about the way he approached Sara to get info on her hubby. Six months later, he reappears in her life and is obsessed with her, but she doesn’t realize how much she actually wants him too. I couldn’t put this book down!! I can’t wait to start book 2.
Adding ⚠️ info for anyone wanting to know
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing/owd
-mild OMD: there are people that want her to date others (her parents and coworker). One asks her out on a date
-both MCs are widows
-unaliving: two men try to attack the h; they TRY; the H comes in 💅💁🏻♀️
-loss of a child (the H)
-mental health/panic attacks/anxiety/therapy
-PTSD:water boarding/war/deaths
-biting/restraining/praise kink/
-neither have been with anyone in a long time/for the h, nearly two years
-condoms/then none/both clean
-cliffy
November 28, 2017
A new spin off from the "Twist me" series!
This time Peter Sokolov is the leading male character. If you have been a “Twist Me” fan, you certainly remember the secondary character Peter.
Peter was the one that helped Nora to save Julian and in return he got a list of names. The names of the people who were responsible for the slaughtering of his wife’s village and consequently the death of his wife and his toddler son.
Since then Peter disappeared from the life of Julian and Nora because he was too busy killing the murderers and because Julian was too enraged with him for endangering his precious Nora.
Sara’s husband is the one of the men in the list. When Peter tortures Sara in order to learn the place that Sara’s husband hides, he will have two surprises:
1. Sara’s husband is brain dead after a car accident
2. Sara is a fascinating woman
The first surprise will not change anything. Sara’s husband will still die.
The second surprise will change the life of both Sara and Peter, because Sara is equally and guiltily attracted to him.
If you liked Julian (from Twist Me) and/or Lucas (from Capture Me) and you expect to find a similar male character in this book, you will not. Peter is actually a nice guy. He will not rape. He will wait.
He is good in killing people, but he only kills when he has to kill. I think Julian and Lucan were gaining a deeply satisfaction from killing. And they lived a life that they had chosen to live.
Unfortunate Peter had to strangle since he was a teenager and committed his first murder. Since then he was pushed to do things as a matter of survival. A tortured hero. The description of discovering his family’s bodies will break your heart and you will have the images imprinted in your mind until the end of the book.
Sara will be shocked at first. Tortured (waterboarded) and drugged by Peter, she will reveal where her husband, George, is. After George’s death, she will try to resume her life, but she will have Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a persistent stalker.
Sara is a dynamic woman. She became a doctor early in her life, she looks after many misfortunate women and she works nonstop long hours. Her husband murderer will look after her; cook for her; sleep with her. After a while she will stop struggling. Feelings will kick in.
It is a nice love story. I did not find it very intense – at least not as much as the love stories from Twist Me and from Capture Me.
Still the ending was very interesting and I really want to know what happens next.
This time Peter Sokolov is the leading male character. If you have been a “Twist Me” fan, you certainly remember the secondary character Peter.
Peter was the one that helped Nora to save Julian and in return he got a list of names. The names of the people who were responsible for the slaughtering of his wife’s village and consequently the death of his wife and his toddler son.
Since then Peter disappeared from the life of Julian and Nora because he was too busy killing the murderers and because Julian was too enraged with him for endangering his precious Nora.
Sara’s husband is the one of the men in the list. When Peter tortures Sara in order to learn the place that Sara’s husband hides, he will have two surprises:
1. Sara’s husband is brain dead after a car accident
2. Sara is a fascinating woman
The first surprise will not change anything. Sara’s husband will still die.
The second surprise will change the life of both Sara and Peter, because Sara is equally and guiltily attracted to him.
If you liked Julian (from Twist Me) and/or Lucas (from Capture Me) and you expect to find a similar male character in this book, you will not. Peter is actually a nice guy. He will not rape. He will wait.
He is good in killing people, but he only kills when he has to kill. I think Julian and Lucan were gaining a deeply satisfaction from killing. And they lived a life that they had chosen to live.
Unfortunate Peter had to strangle since he was a teenager and committed his first murder. Since then he was pushed to do things as a matter of survival. A tortured hero. The description of discovering his family’s bodies will break your heart and you will have the images imprinted in your mind until the end of the book.
Sara will be shocked at first. Tortured (waterboarded) and drugged by Peter, she will reveal where her husband, George, is. After George’s death, she will try to resume her life, but she will have Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a persistent stalker.
Sara is a dynamic woman. She became a doctor early in her life, she looks after many misfortunate women and she works nonstop long hours. Her husband murderer will look after her; cook for her; sleep with her. After a while she will stop struggling. Feelings will kick in.
It is a nice love story. I did not find it very intense – at least not as much as the love stories from Twist Me and from Capture Me.
Still the ending was very interesting and I really want to know what happens next.
March 1, 2020
While I finished the 4 books in the series, the review will be just on the first one - to avoid spoilers. 💥💥💥
I have this big crazy smile on my face (my husband said I look like the Joker! LOL 😜) all because of Anna's twisted mind, wonderful characters and her ability to connect everything to one (totally creepy, but freaking excellent) series! 👌❤
📚 ”𝑰𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒌𝒂 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒑 𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆.” 📚
The life of former Russian army soldier, Peter Sokolov is crushed. Since then, the only reason he lives, is to find and eliminate those responsible for his tragedy. 💣💥
One of those people is the husband of Dr. Sara Cobakis, But to find him, he has to get the information out of her in every way, including torture... 😱
Peter successfully completes his mission, but no matter how hard he tries, he can't get Sara out of his head... He follows her, watches her from afar, listens to her conversations, enters her life forcefully and tries to make her realize that the connection between them, is fate. 😬
📚 "𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓." 📚
Peter is a dangerous, obsessed, possessive and a very twisted man. (BUT... he's also sexy, cooks gourmet food and makes foot massage like a champ! so, ummm...) 😂
I loved that Sara wasn't submissive and naive - because unlike other Stockholm Syndrome books, Sara fights with everything she has and never stops looking for a way out of that crazy mess. Well, at least at first! 😉
But can this twisted connection become more than just an obsession? Is it possible to fall in love with the person who took you by force from the life you knew...? 😬
📚 "𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒖𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒘." 📚
God, this book... it's not a love story, It's a sick story about obsession. It's twisted and tragic... and I enjoyed every minute! 💥
Peter reminded me of Jesse (from "This Man") just... murderous with a heavy Russian accent. 😂
So if you didn't like Jesse, this series probably isn't for you...
***NOTE: this series can be read as a stand-alone... but it's a sequel to the 'Twist Me' trilogy and contains spoilers about Julian and Nora's story. Damn it! 😬😫
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📖 ᖴOᒪᒪOᗯ ᗰE Oᑎ IᑎᔕTᗩGᖇᗩᗰ: 🎉 https://www.instagram.com/the_romanti...
📖 ᐯIᔕIT ᗰY ᗷᒪOG ᖴOᖇ ᗰOᖇE ᖇEᐯIEᗯᔕ: https://books-romance.com/
October 6, 2023
Alexa, play 'Toxic' by Britney Spears. 🎶
╰┈➤ TOXICITY AND STALKING:
❝That man didn’t just invade my home; he invaded my mind, broke into it like a thief.❞
Their whole relationship dynamic was so toxic, and Peter is dangerously reveling in Sara's fear. It contains STALKING and INVASION OF PRIVACY in the worst way.
• This book starts with the brutal massacre of Peter's son and his wife, and he vows to kill every person responsible. One of his targets is Sara's husband, and to find him, he has to get information from Sara—even if it means torturing her.
As for torturing, he waterboarded her. But when she started panicking, he drugged her to make her cooperate, causing her to lose all her inhibitions and tell him her husband's address. He left her for 6 months during which she was traumatized badly, constantly experiencing paranoia and panic attacks.
❝I wanted the woman I’d come to interrogate, the one whose husband I intended to kill.❞
He kept a constant watch on her from afar, installed cameras in her house, and sneaked inside to watch her sleep! 🫣 When he finally forced himself into her life, she was terrified. However, he tried to be patient and warm in hopes that she would begin to trust him. I swear, the phrase 'I won't hurt you' and 'gentle' were used 272727 times. He even apologized for torturing her hajsksk so, there's that. Nevertheless, it remained too toxic, and he consistently found ways to get his way.
╰┈➤ SARA COBAKIS & PETER SOKOLOV:
Peter — I actually sympathized a little with him because the way he cried when he lost his son was heart-wrenching, and seeing his body was devastating. His past isn't explored much in this book. He can be brutal and harsh at times because he knows that his feelings for Sara are twisted and dark. He kind of wants to hurt her because she's the wife of the man responsible, but he constantly controls himself because he can't harm her at all.
He's too obsessed with her, and just wants to be with her all the time! But he did have a soft side to him hehehe and was gentle so many times. Lol like, imagine a stalker cooking food for you every day, giving you massages, bathing you, brushing your hair, and offering belly rubs when you're on your period and taking care of your health! 😗
Sara — is a gynecologist who loves her career. From the start of the book, she's always pretending to be okay, but she's not. She's mentally strong, and her fears and traumas are well explored in this book. At least she's wise in her decisions not to provoke her stalker too much because she's afraid that he would hurt her or the people she's close to. Her inner monologues and justifications are good, but she's always crying, and though that makes Peter all soft towards her, he still acts all dominant. She did give in easily, thinking he'd leave her alone, but he didn't, and just to remain safe, she constantly gives in afterward.
Her character is complex, and I can't quite figure her out. I won't outright call her a doormat, and to really think from her point of view, her situation was so bad, and she was quite helpless against Peter. She was so badly terrified that he'd kill her or her parents that she remained quiet. Their first sex scene umm I can't say it was rape because it wasn't, but Peter didn't regard her feelings or body language and just had sex with her, even though she gave in as she thought he'd lose interest, and she had no choice. WELL, SHE HAD NO CHOICE IN ANYTHING.
— This book ends with a cliffhanger, as Peter finally kidnaps Sara because the FBI has discovered him. I can't wait to see how she'll react because she doesn't want to leave her career, friends, parents and lose her freedom.
╰┈➤ RATINGS:
Tormentor Mine - 4 stars
Obsession Mine - 3.5 stars
Destiny Mine - TBR
Forever Mine - TBR
╰┈➤ TOXICITY AND STALKING:
❝That man didn’t just invade my home; he invaded my mind, broke into it like a thief.❞
Their whole relationship dynamic was so toxic, and Peter is dangerously reveling in Sara's fear. It contains STALKING and INVASION OF PRIVACY in the worst way.
• This book starts with the brutal massacre of Peter's son and his wife, and he vows to kill every person responsible. One of his targets is Sara's husband, and to find him, he has to get information from Sara—even if it means torturing her.
As for torturing, he waterboarded her. But when she started panicking, he drugged her to make her cooperate, causing her to lose all her inhibitions and tell him her husband's address. He left her for 6 months during which she was traumatized badly, constantly experiencing paranoia and panic attacks.
❝I wanted the woman I’d come to interrogate, the one whose husband I intended to kill.❞
He kept a constant watch on her from afar, installed cameras in her house, and sneaked inside to watch her sleep! 🫣 When he finally forced himself into her life, she was terrified. However, he tried to be patient and warm in hopes that she would begin to trust him. I swear, the phrase 'I won't hurt you' and 'gentle' were used 272727 times. He even apologized for torturing her hajsksk so, there's that. Nevertheless, it remained too toxic, and he consistently found ways to get his way.
╰┈➤ SARA COBAKIS & PETER SOKOLOV:
Peter — I actually sympathized a little with him because the way he cried when he lost his son was heart-wrenching, and seeing his body was devastating. His past isn't explored much in this book. He can be brutal and harsh at times because he knows that his feelings for Sara are twisted and dark. He kind of wants to hurt her because she's the wife of the man responsible, but he constantly controls himself because he can't harm her at all.
He's too obsessed with her, and just wants to be with her all the time! But he did have a soft side to him hehehe and was gentle so many times. Lol like, imagine a stalker cooking food for you every day, giving you massages, bathing you, brushing your hair, and offering belly rubs when you're on your period and taking care of your health! 😗
Sara — is a gynecologist who loves her career. From the start of the book, she's always pretending to be okay, but she's not. She's mentally strong, and her fears and traumas are well explored in this book. At least she's wise in her decisions not to provoke her stalker too much because she's afraid that he would hurt her or the people she's close to. Her inner monologues and justifications are good, but she's always crying, and though that makes Peter all soft towards her, he still acts all dominant. She did give in easily, thinking he'd leave her alone, but he didn't, and just to remain safe, she constantly gives in afterward.
Her character is complex, and I can't quite figure her out. I won't outright call her a doormat, and to really think from her point of view, her situation was so bad, and she was quite helpless against Peter. She was so badly terrified that he'd kill her or her parents that she remained quiet. Their first sex scene umm I can't say it was rape because it wasn't, but Peter didn't regard her feelings or body language and just had sex with her, even though she gave in as she thought he'd lose interest, and she had no choice. WELL, SHE HAD NO CHOICE IN ANYTHING.
— This book ends with a cliffhanger, as Peter finally kidnaps Sara because the FBI has discovered him. I can't wait to see how she'll react because she doesn't want to leave her career, friends, parents and lose her freedom.
╰┈➤ RATINGS:
Tormentor Mine - 4 stars
Obsession Mine - 3.5 stars
Destiny Mine - TBR
Forever Mine - TBR
April 3, 2017
4.5 STARS
”I wanted the woman I’d come to interrogate, the one whose husband I intend to kill.”
This is the first book I have read by this author and I’m extremely pleased with the writing and delivery of this story. The main character meets the hero after the author paints a heartbreaking picture of what had become of the hero’s family in the past and how he’s been on a path of revenge ever since. This path leads him to our heroine’s home looking for answers on where her husband is. Peter Sokolov is a Russian assassin who is completely terrifying yet seems after their first encounter completely infatuated with our heroine, Sara Cobakis.
"I want her. It's completely irrational, and wrong on so many levels, but I want her."
Peter’s infatuation and stalking comes completely unapologetic and yet a bit swoonworthy. At times the humor of the heroine’s thoughts on how Peter is in her home cooking for her and/or how she maybe even likes him was amusing as he shows her his tender/sexual side.
”It might not be a love story for you, ptichka but as fucked up as it is, that’s precisely what this is for me. I started off hating you, but somewhere along the way, you’ve become the only thing that matters to me, the only person I still care about.”
The story’s pace is on the slow side yet for me worked and with each encounter the two connected on a higher level. The book does end in a cliffhanger that was well timed and has me excited to see where the author brings the story and this “relationship” next.
”I love her and I’m going to keep her. No matter what it takes.”
”I wanted the woman I’d come to interrogate, the one whose husband I intend to kill.”
This is the first book I have read by this author and I’m extremely pleased with the writing and delivery of this story. The main character meets the hero after the author paints a heartbreaking picture of what had become of the hero’s family in the past and how he’s been on a path of revenge ever since. This path leads him to our heroine’s home looking for answers on where her husband is. Peter Sokolov is a Russian assassin who is completely terrifying yet seems after their first encounter completely infatuated with our heroine, Sara Cobakis.
"I want her. It's completely irrational, and wrong on so many levels, but I want her."
Peter’s infatuation and stalking comes completely unapologetic and yet a bit swoonworthy. At times the humor of the heroine’s thoughts on how Peter is in her home cooking for her and/or how she maybe even likes him was amusing as he shows her his tender/sexual side.
”It might not be a love story for you, ptichka but as fucked up as it is, that’s precisely what this is for me. I started off hating you, but somewhere along the way, you’ve become the only thing that matters to me, the only person I still care about.”
The story’s pace is on the slow side yet for me worked and with each encounter the two connected on a higher level. The book does end in a cliffhanger that was well timed and has me excited to see where the author brings the story and this “relationship” next.
”I love her and I’m going to keep her. No matter what it takes.”
May 1, 2017
Holy Shiiiit! That End!
Can't wait to read 2nd book...
Ps. Thank you so much to my lovely friend Isabella for recommendation. This was my 1st Anna Zaires book and I really enjoyed it. I'll give a shot her other books soon. :)
Can't wait to read 2nd book...
Ps. Thank you so much to my lovely friend Isabella for recommendation. This was my 1st Anna Zaires book and I really enjoyed it. I'll give a shot her other books soon. :)
August 11, 2017
3.5-4 Stars!
To say I was excited about this book would be a major understatement. After the mysterious and dangerous Peter was introduced in the Twist Me series I knew he would be a character to watch out for. He has a tortured past and is seeking one thing: revenge. That is until he meets Sara.
Peter Sokolov is an ex-Russian Special Force. He has one goal in life and that is to kill every single person involved in the murder of his wife and son. He has a list of all those involved and to get to the next person on his list he needs information from someone close to his target. Sara. He uses various means to get her to talk and eventually gets the information required. Sara cannot get over what she experienced with Peter and Peter cannot forget Sara. So he briefly forgets his drive for vengeance and pursues a relationship with her...
"I want her. It's completely irrational, and wrong on so many levels, but I want her."
Peter made this story for me, he was so devoted and different from what I expected. In the Twist Me series he was so serious and not a man of many words. But he become so domesticated when he met Sara and did not shy away from sweet words of devotion and love as I assumed a man with his past would...Peter was an obsessed stalker when it came to Sara. He constantly watched her and had 24/7 surveillance on her home.
"She's not just a person to me now; she's my world, and I will protect her from everyone and everything."
So, what didn't work for me was the pace of the story in general. It really didn't feel like much was happening for a majority of the book. It was this constant Peter wanting Sara and her fighting her feelings because of who he is and what he did - but they continue to be together because Peter doesn't let her leave him. Besides this push and pull of emotions I just felt like nothing was happening. However, based on the cliffhanger I think the real story is going to start in the second book.
I have so many questions at the end of this story. Will Peter begin his quest for vengeance again? Will he continue to destroy all those involved with the death of his wife and son? Will Sara make him see a new path? And will Sara love Peter as much as he loves her?
It looks like this might be set up as a trilogy as well. I just hope the wait isn't too long!
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review!
To say I was excited about this book would be a major understatement. After the mysterious and dangerous Peter was introduced in the Twist Me series I knew he would be a character to watch out for. He has a tortured past and is seeking one thing: revenge. That is until he meets Sara.
Peter Sokolov is an ex-Russian Special Force. He has one goal in life and that is to kill every single person involved in the murder of his wife and son. He has a list of all those involved and to get to the next person on his list he needs information from someone close to his target. Sara. He uses various means to get her to talk and eventually gets the information required. Sara cannot get over what she experienced with Peter and Peter cannot forget Sara. So he briefly forgets his drive for vengeance and pursues a relationship with her...
"I want her. It's completely irrational, and wrong on so many levels, but I want her."
Peter made this story for me, he was so devoted and different from what I expected. In the Twist Me series he was so serious and not a man of many words. But he become so domesticated when he met Sara and did not shy away from sweet words of devotion and love as I assumed a man with his past would...Peter was an obsessed stalker when it came to Sara. He constantly watched her and had 24/7 surveillance on her home.
"She's not just a person to me now; she's my world, and I will protect her from everyone and everything."
So, what didn't work for me was the pace of the story in general. It really didn't feel like much was happening for a majority of the book. It was this constant Peter wanting Sara and her fighting her feelings because of who he is and what he did - but they continue to be together because Peter doesn't let her leave him. Besides this push and pull of emotions I just felt like nothing was happening. However, based on the cliffhanger I think the real story is going to start in the second book.
I have so many questions at the end of this story. Will Peter begin his quest for vengeance again? Will he continue to destroy all those involved with the death of his wife and son? Will Sara make him see a new path? And will Sara love Peter as much as he loves her?
It looks like this might be set up as a trilogy as well. I just hope the wait isn't too long!
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review!
June 25, 2017
There is no beauty without ugliness, just as there’s no happiness without sorrow. We live in a world of contrasts, not absolutes.
Peter Sokolov what a Hero you are. Deadly yet kind. A beast that will lash out when he cans but will pamper you in any way that he can to keep the demons at bay. Out for vengeance and revenge. His list has nearly come to an end that is until he meets Sara and can’t seem to let go.
A fascination is born that morphs into obsession. He wants his Ptichka and the predator will give the prey more time. Irrational yet he can’t help himself.
I might not have claimed her yet, but she’s going to be mine.
Sara lost her husband in an accident he is a vegetable. One night when she comes home she is questioned about the whereabouts of her husband until the unorthodox methods make her spill all the details. I mean what’s a little waterboarding and truth serum between soon to be lovers?
Doesn’t matter that Peter wants to kill Sara’s husband.
She fights it to begin with but there is no way out for her she is trapped in a cage. But with time her soul and mind start to adapt her body submitted a long time before that. Peter sets out to get what he wants.
When Sara sees me again I want it to be different. I want her to know me as something other than her assailant. – Good luck with that Peter.
And at the last vital second, he succeeds. Although Sara is clear that she wants to get rid of him.
“Fine,” I say in an attempt to regroup. “So what’s it going to take for you to leave me alone?” “A bullet to the brain or heart,” he answers, unblinking, and my stomach lurches as I realize he’s completely serious. He has no intention of walking away from me. Ever.
Although this isn’t as dark and twisted as the other series I like the direction it is going in and I hope it gets darker, grittier and more twisted as that is what I need when I read this authors books.
A book filled with duplicity, subterfuge, secrets and not all is what it seems. They both have suffered a great loss and with time find solace in one another.
I couldn’t give it 5 stars because Sara annoyed to the point where I just wanted to push her out of the way and say “Bitch please if you don’t want him then I’ll take him.” And her constant blabbing on of her tormentor, blah blah, tormentor, blah, blah got exasperating and tiresome. Other than that, this book is perfect.
I love this author’s work. Damn you Ms. Zaires a second book? Although it does make sense. So, I’m not too bummed. It only took me to the very end to figure that shite out as I was constantly wondering how Ms. Zaires was going to fit their unconventional HEA in to one book.
Ever since I read The Twist Me Trilogy I have wanted a book about Peter. And obviously just for me Ms. Zaires decided to write one or in this case a trilogy. The writing is engaging and drags you into an underworld of assassins for hire and a stalker that wants it all.
Review can also be found @ http://jerisbookattic-reviewblog.blog...
November 14, 2017
I had to read this because I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about this author. Everyone who knows how much fun I have on the dark side of romance told me that I’m going to love books by Anna Zaires… and they were freaking right!! This story is a little bit dark, it’s intense, sensual, twisted, and extremely entertaining. So after reading the first few chapters, the thought that continuously ran through my mind was… ‘How can this possibly ever turn into a romance?’
How could waterboarding and forcible injections turn into love? I was held captive by this story because I NEEDED to know how the author would turn things around. And it may have not been what I expected, but it was no less intriguing as it unfolded.
I got a little tired of Sara…
I couldn’t get enough of Peter…
And more Peter...
Although this book wasn’t as dark as I thought it would be, I still liked it. It had enough suspense and drama to keep things lively. Number one reason: I loved me some Peter! My heart nearly broke for him when reading about the tragic events in his past, but this man took his pain and turned it into vengeance. And I loved him for it! Peter damn well owned me. I couldn’t let go of him and I’m so grateful that there’s another book to come that will let me indulge in my stalker-psycho-sexiness fantasy!
Release Date: March 28, 2017
Genre: Dark Romance
POV: Dual - 1st person
Heat: 3.5 out of 5
Type: Book 1 of the Tormentor Mine series
Publisher: Mozaika Publications
How could waterboarding and forcible injections turn into love? I was held captive by this story because I NEEDED to know how the author would turn things around. And it may have not been what I expected, but it was no less intriguing as it unfolded.
I got a little tired of Sara…
I couldn’t get enough of Peter…
And more Peter...
Although this book wasn’t as dark as I thought it would be, I still liked it. It had enough suspense and drama to keep things lively. Number one reason: I loved me some Peter! My heart nearly broke for him when reading about the tragic events in his past, but this man took his pain and turned it into vengeance. And I loved him for it! Peter damn well owned me. I couldn’t let go of him and I’m so grateful that there’s another book to come that will let me indulge in my stalker-psycho-sexiness fantasy!
Release Date: March 28, 2017
Genre: Dark Romance
POV: Dual - 1st person
Heat: 3.5 out of 5
Type: Book 1 of the Tormentor Mine series
Publisher: Mozaika Publications
Read
December 18, 2018No rating till I read the 2nd book.
Warning! It's not a standalone!!!
The heroine wrote my review by herself with only this line:
Brilliantly written! Captivating!
Warning! It's not a standalone!!!
The heroine wrote my review by herself with only this line:
"...it's a bizarre version of Stockholm Syndrome."
Brilliantly written! Captivating!
November 18, 2017
I loved this dark read!!! Review to come!!!
November 18, 2017
3.5 Ptichka Stars
Peter’s work is to torture the terrorist. In one of his mission, when he wasn’t at home an operation in the village where his wife and his son live, is performed. And they died in the crossfire. So he promised himself he will make their killer pay.
Sara works in a hospital. One night when she comes back from her work, some one attacks her in her house. Her attacker wanted to know where her husband is but she doesn’t tell him. So he tormented her (not rape) but her lips are closed; so he drugged her with something like truth serum. Then her lips open. The next time she opens her eyes, she is in a hospital and they say her husband is gone. Dead.
Six months later, her PTSD, nightmares and paranoia begin to reveal themselves. She thinks her tormentor comes back. Yep, he comes back to torture her again but in another way!
Well I think this book should have been a Novella, because it was like an introduction for the second book. Nothing special happened in this one. Just he wants her and she constantly thinks to herself he is my husband killer and I don’t want him. Don’t get me wrong! I enjoyed it but not as much as I thought. I had difficulties to connect with the characters. I warn you it has cliffhanger and I have doubt to read the next one. This was my opinion and I think it was just me because of high ratings. So don’t listen to me and read this book!!
Peter’s work is to torture the terrorist. In one of his mission, when he wasn’t at home an operation in the village where his wife and his son live, is performed. And they died in the crossfire. So he promised himself he will make their killer pay.
Sara works in a hospital. One night when she comes back from her work, some one attacks her in her house. Her attacker wanted to know where her husband is but she doesn’t tell him. So he tormented her (not rape) but her lips are closed; so he drugged her with something like truth serum. Then her lips open. The next time she opens her eyes, she is in a hospital and they say her husband is gone. Dead.
Six months later, her PTSD, nightmares and paranoia begin to reveal themselves. She thinks her tormentor comes back. Yep, he comes back to torture her again but in another way!
Well I think this book should have been a Novella, because it was like an introduction for the second book. Nothing special happened in this one. Just he wants her and she constantly thinks to herself he is my husband killer and I don’t want him. Don’t get me wrong! I enjoyed it but not as much as I thought. I had difficulties to connect with the characters. I warn you it has cliffhanger and I have doubt to read the next one. This was my opinion and I think it was just me because of high ratings. So don’t listen to me and read this book!!
September 25, 2017
4 stars! I really enjoyed the writing
I so needed a dark romance. I was kind of bored with all the rainbows and unicorns in my latest reads.
This is my first book by Anna Zaires. I should start by saying I was hooked from the very first page. This book is exactly what I needed. A lot of angst!
I loved the blurb. Peter really was a darkly handsome stranger and Sara's life was ripped apart in his quest for vengeance.
I was excited to read this book as I love dark stories. I also appreciate it when the blurb isn't mean only for making you want to discover the story, but it doesn't really suits the book. Well this one does and I couldn't stop reading.
My heart ached for Peter's heartbreaking past. Now he lived only for revenge and I admit I couldn't blame him. Some scenes ripped my heart opened, but I kept reading and reading and I understood his actions. He was fueled with so much pain and the need of revenge was everything to him. Until he met Sara. Poor woman. Her life became a nightmare after Peter forced himself into her life and made her tell him where her husband was. I cringed at Peter's brutality. I wanted him to make peace with his demons.
In all honesty, this wasn't the darkest romance I've read, but it serves its purpose and I can't complain about the writing or the story.
I haven't read other books by this author, but I saw many people said she has better stories.
Well this one was a good one, better that I expected, so I might give others a try in the future.
Oh and the next book, Obsession Mine, will be released in November, so I'm really excited to read that one too and see how their story ends. I have high expectations.
I so needed a dark romance. I was kind of bored with all the rainbows and unicorns in my latest reads.
This is my first book by Anna Zaires. I should start by saying I was hooked from the very first page. This book is exactly what I needed. A lot of angst!
I loved the blurb. Peter really was a darkly handsome stranger and Sara's life was ripped apart in his quest for vengeance.
I was excited to read this book as I love dark stories. I also appreciate it when the blurb isn't mean only for making you want to discover the story, but it doesn't really suits the book. Well this one does and I couldn't stop reading.
My heart ached for Peter's heartbreaking past. Now he lived only for revenge and I admit I couldn't blame him. Some scenes ripped my heart opened, but I kept reading and reading and I understood his actions. He was fueled with so much pain and the need of revenge was everything to him. Until he met Sara. Poor woman. Her life became a nightmare after Peter forced himself into her life and made her tell him where her husband was. I cringed at Peter's brutality. I wanted him to make peace with his demons.
In all honesty, this wasn't the darkest romance I've read, but it serves its purpose and I can't complain about the writing or the story.
I haven't read other books by this author, but I saw many people said she has better stories.
Well this one was a good one, better that I expected, so I might give others a try in the future.
Oh and the next book, Obsession Mine, will be released in November, so I'm really excited to read that one too and see how their story ends. I have high expectations.
December 5, 2021
"even though you think I’m a monster. I love you more than life itself, Sara, because when I’m with you, I feel more than agony and rage—and I want more than death and vengeance.....When I’m with you, ptichka, I’m living.”
I really liked the story of Peter and Sara. This is a book about a stalker obsessing over the wife of one of his victims. It was a twisted story of pain, lust and obsession. Peter had an agonizing and painful past which led him to go on a quest of vengeance.
The writing was very compelling and a page turner. I felt not much was happening with the plot however. The story remained the same throughout the book, where Peter is chasing Sara, and Sara resisting him. I didn't know that this was a duet or a series, because now I know their story isn't resolved in the first book. I'm not too intrigued to go read books 2 and 3. But I'll rate this book as it was.
Rating 3 obsessive stars 🌟 ❤
I really liked the story of Peter and Sara. This is a book about a stalker obsessing over the wife of one of his victims. It was a twisted story of pain, lust and obsession. Peter had an agonizing and painful past which led him to go on a quest of vengeance.
The writing was very compelling and a page turner. I felt not much was happening with the plot however. The story remained the same throughout the book, where Peter is chasing Sara, and Sara resisting him. I didn't know that this was a duet or a series, because now I know their story isn't resolved in the first book. I'm not too intrigued to go read books 2 and 3. But I'll rate this book as it was.
Rating 3 obsessive stars 🌟 ❤
April 10, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read this book last year and I loved it so much so I had to read it again to see if my feelings still hold up. And, to no one’s surprise, they absolutely do!!! It’s so rare to find a author who can write such solid, likable characters and use perfectly perfect grammar. And when you do finally find them, you hold onto them like your life depends on them. And you stay loyal to them. That’s the least they deserve for penning such heart-warming, sinfully beautiful stories.
This book put me through a wringer. I tried so hard to grasp onto my ambivalent emotions, to try and make sense of all the feelings roiling through me as I was reading the book; empathy, fear, agony, excitement and something akin to love. Love for the characters, for their perfectly imperfect lives. For their inability to stop themselves from falling for each other. I absolutely adore it when an apathetic killer inevitably falls for his captive.
This book is on top of my captive/captor books list. 🥺
I read this book last year and I loved it so much so I had to read it again to see if my feelings still hold up. And, to no one’s surprise, they absolutely do!!! It’s so rare to find a author who can write such solid, likable characters and use perfectly perfect grammar. And when you do finally find them, you hold onto them like your life depends on them. And you stay loyal to them. That’s the least they deserve for penning such heart-warming, sinfully beautiful stories.
This book put me through a wringer. I tried so hard to grasp onto my ambivalent emotions, to try and make sense of all the feelings roiling through me as I was reading the book; empathy, fear, agony, excitement and something akin to love. Love for the characters, for their perfectly imperfect lives. For their inability to stop themselves from falling for each other. I absolutely adore it when an apathetic killer inevitably falls for his captive.
This book is on top of my captive/captor books list. 🥺
March 28, 2017
I enjoyed this book a lot it had all the ingredients that makes AZ so loved by myself. Even though I found Peter dark I also felt his actions with all his killings were justified, especially with what happened to his adorable little boy. The scenes with his son especially his last scene with him brought tears to my eyes, that's something no parent can ever get over. I think I have been spoilt by a certain arms dealer so even though I liked Peter as a dark character he just wasn't dark enough for me but that's just my personal preference I guess. I think the heroine came across as a bit too naive and having blinders on for too long about her husband and that put me off her a bit but I also understood where she was coming from in that she had been with him from a young age. This definitely is a series I will continue with as come on it's ANNA ZAIRES! Thank you for this wonderful ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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September 19, 2022
⤅ Honestly, I don't think anybody does the modern-day dark hero QUITE like Anna Zaires does.
I put this book on hold after starting it last year because I wasn't feeling it, but then I picked it up again this month and tore through all four installments in the series. Zaires's winning combination - criminal action, super-possessive antiheroes, and surprisingly likeable heroines - is once again on display.
28-year-old Dr Sara Cobakis returns home one night to find pretty much any woman's worst nightmare: a terrifying man has broken into her home and is holding her at knifepoint. But unlike your average home intruder, he isn't just after rape or robbery. He wants information from her: specifically, the location of her husband George, who's been left brain-damaged after a car crash.
35-year-old Peter Sokolov is an ex-Russian agent who's now turned to the dark side and is wanted across the world. Slowly, he's hunting down and assassinating all the people he holds responsible for the deaths of his wife and son. He thinks George is one of them, notwithstanding Sara's frantic protestations that her husband is only a journalist.
Peter ties her up, waterboards her, and then eventually injects her with a truth serum to make her talk. When Sara wakes up, she finds that her husband has been murdered. But her travails don't end there. Over the course of the evening, Peter has fallen into obsession with her, and it isn't long before she sees him again, haunting her every step.
Okay, so to get my first concern out of the way: there is no need to worry about Peter's wife being a source of OW drama. He did feel affection for her, but he makes it clear he only married her because he got her pregnant, and Sara is the one he loves. Even the awful memories of his son's death ease when he's with Sara, so there's absolutely zero safety concerns. Zaires is a winner on this front.
As for the waterboarding... basically, if you can accept this, the rest of the series is a doddle. Peter never does anything so cruel again. It's not great, and Sara does have nightmares about it, but he stops fairly quickly in favour of the truth serum and thereafter is basically the most besotted man ever. He totally coddles Sara - cooked meals, massages, the works. Of course, he expects sex in return for these things, but then he wouldn't be a dark hero if he didn't.
Sara is a good character. Unlike Nora and Yulia from the previous trilogies, she's a bit more on the aesthetically average nice, which is nice. She also works as an obstetrician and her need to maintain her job is a strong theme throughout the series. Some reviews do call her a doormat, and I suppose it's true that she doesn't do much in the way of trying to evade Peter/tell the FBI about him, but I felt like we got a pretty good view into her mindset. She doesn't hold herself apart from Peter physically but she does so emotionally, which for him is actually worse, so IMO we still see spine from her.
The book gets three stars because it's a little lacking in plot compared to the sequel, but Zaires's concept here is superb for any dark romance lover. Well executed, too.
I put this book on hold after starting it last year because I wasn't feeling it, but then I picked it up again this month and tore through all four installments in the series. Zaires's winning combination - criminal action, super-possessive antiheroes, and surprisingly likeable heroines - is once again on display.
28-year-old Dr Sara Cobakis returns home one night to find pretty much any woman's worst nightmare: a terrifying man has broken into her home and is holding her at knifepoint. But unlike your average home intruder, he isn't just after rape or robbery. He wants information from her: specifically, the location of her husband George, who's been left brain-damaged after a car crash.
35-year-old Peter Sokolov is an ex-Russian agent who's now turned to the dark side and is wanted across the world. Slowly, he's hunting down and assassinating all the people he holds responsible for the deaths of his wife and son. He thinks George is one of them, notwithstanding Sara's frantic protestations that her husband is only a journalist.
Peter ties her up, waterboards her, and then eventually injects her with a truth serum to make her talk. When Sara wakes up, she finds that her husband has been murdered. But her travails don't end there. Over the course of the evening, Peter has fallen into obsession with her, and it isn't long before she sees him again, haunting her every step.
Okay, so to get my first concern out of the way: there is no need to worry about Peter's wife being a source of OW drama. He did feel affection for her, but he makes it clear he only married her because he got her pregnant, and Sara is the one he loves. Even the awful memories of his son's death ease when he's with Sara, so there's absolutely zero safety concerns. Zaires is a winner on this front.
As for the waterboarding... basically, if you can accept this, the rest of the series is a doddle. Peter never does anything so cruel again. It's not great, and Sara does have nightmares about it, but he stops fairly quickly in favour of the truth serum and thereafter is basically the most besotted man ever. He totally coddles Sara - cooked meals, massages, the works. Of course, he expects sex in return for these things, but then he wouldn't be a dark hero if he didn't.
Sara is a good character. Unlike Nora and Yulia from the previous trilogies, she's a bit more on the aesthetically average nice, which is nice. She also works as an obstetrician and her need to maintain her job is a strong theme throughout the series. Some reviews do call her a doormat, and I suppose it's true that she doesn't do much in the way of trying to evade Peter/tell the FBI about him, but I felt like we got a pretty good view into her mindset. She doesn't hold herself apart from Peter physically but she does so emotionally, which for him is actually worse, so IMO we still see spine from her.
The book gets three stars because it's a little lacking in plot compared to the sequel, but Zaires's concept here is superb for any dark romance lover. Well executed, too.
October 12, 2019
Twisted! Twisted! Twisted!
This one blew my mind!
Starts off with the ultimate tragedy for Peter. This completely explains but not justifies what Peter has been doing for the past 5 1/2 years. He’s been killing everyone that had anything to do with his loss. Which brings him to Sara.
Completely devoted to her career as an OBGYN. Sara works her day job then donates her time to a free clinic. She spends every waking hour she can to help women. When she comes home at night and is water boarded then drugged to release information on her husbands where abouts her life is about to take a drastic turn.
Her tormentor has an unexplainable look in his eye. Sara spends months feeling as if he is watching her. Her therapist keeps telling her it’s a symptom of PTSD, however she soon finds out she was right. Her tormentor is back and he has informed her she is his. There is no where she can go that he will not find her.
Omg! This storyline is amazing! I find myself teetering on liking Peter and I’m stunned. Maybe because of his backstory I can find some way to slightly understand his behavior.
If you like twisted get this ASAP!
Happy reading! DD💕
This one blew my mind!
Starts off with the ultimate tragedy for Peter. This completely explains but not justifies what Peter has been doing for the past 5 1/2 years. He’s been killing everyone that had anything to do with his loss. Which brings him to Sara.
Completely devoted to her career as an OBGYN. Sara works her day job then donates her time to a free clinic. She spends every waking hour she can to help women. When she comes home at night and is water boarded then drugged to release information on her husbands where abouts her life is about to take a drastic turn.
Her tormentor has an unexplainable look in his eye. Sara spends months feeling as if he is watching her. Her therapist keeps telling her it’s a symptom of PTSD, however she soon finds out she was right. Her tormentor is back and he has informed her she is his. There is no where she can go that he will not find her.
Omg! This storyline is amazing! I find myself teetering on liking Peter and I’m stunned. Maybe because of his backstory I can find some way to slightly understand his behavior.
If you like twisted get this ASAP!
Happy reading! DD💕
November 5, 2017
“You can’t escape me, ptichka. Not now, and not ever."
Confession! Ever since Peter Sokolov, a hired Russian assassin, was originally introduced in the TWIST ME trilogy and I got a glimpse into his tragic back-story, I have been clamoring for his story because if there was ever a dark, depraved, TORTURED soul, it’s Peter!
And omgeeeeee after devouring this book in one all night binge session, I can say with full confidence that I had absolutely no clue how utterly mesmerizing this book would be. It is dark. It is twisted. Creepy. Heartbreaking. Spine-tingling. Smoldering hot. And so POWERFULLY ADDICTIVE that I was literally gasping for breath during some scenes as we are lured into Peter’s labyrinth of certifiable madness.
OMFG…The first chapter gutted me, like SMASHED MY HEART TO SMITHEREENS, and set the stage for the dark path of vengeance that Peter embarks on to seek retribution for the heinous massacre of his family!
As introduced in the previous trilogies, he has a hit list of those responsible, and has been relentlessly going through it one by one and has shown NO MERCY to the guilty parties. He metes out punishment and it is severe indeed! Our heroine, Dr. Sara Cobakis, gets caught in the brutal crossfire (won't say how or why to avoid spoilers) but rest assured that Peter takes a VERY personal interest in her. He wants answers, wants her to atone for his pain, and will stop at nothing to get vindication.
But all too soon, she becomes the object of his twisted brand of terrorizing torment and his dark obsession! Peter is such a confounding hero, a thrilling combination of cold-blooded executioner, tortured, broken soul, and ferocious lover. A man who has nothing to live for or lose, until he meets the one person who can change the trajectory of his bleak, soulless life. Sara ignites Peter’s dark passions, incites his anger, rouses the dark predator as well as the devoted protector in him. What started as a cold calculated mission morphs into something more profound and potentially soul-shattering.
There is so much raw, ANIMALISTIC passion between these enemies turned lovers that I was literally quivering in their scenes together!!!! I love how smart and courageous and fiercely independent Sara is and how she is both repelled and spellbound by her lethally sexy stalker who has turned her life into a bona fide nightmare. Yet even though he inflames her forbidden, traitorous desires she refuses to cower to the fear or let him break her!
The plot, which moves at a breakneck speed due to Ms. Zaires’ seamless execution, had me anxiously flipping the pages, partly in trepidation but mostly because I was so invested in finding out what would happen next! As with all of this author’s books, there is a fierce tenderness interlaced with the barbed cruelty and it is that dichotomy that makes this story so INTOXICATING.
There are so many unknowns throughout. Can his Prichka "little bird" be allowed to fly free or will he make good on his thinly veiled threat to clip her wings and "place her in cage of my own and make you sing.” Will Sara be the one to tame the raging beast inside of him or will they both end up destroying each other in the end ? Can love trump blood thirsty revenge? That is of course still to be determined, but HANG ON TIGHT because this first installment is merely a prelude for much more high-throttle drama, chilling suspense, dark, unbridled passion and wicked depravity to come! Oh and for the record? I flooooved the cliffy ending... It was soooo jawdroppingly good! And even though I kinda knew things were leading to the pinnacle event that transpired, it still gave me MAJOR GOOSEBUMPS and sent a rush of giddy euphoria surging through my veins.
In closing, Anna Zaires, one of my all-time fave dark romance scribes, KILLED IT with this book!!! She literally can do no wrong in my eyes and yes, this shameless gushing is totally justified! TORMENTOR MINE tantalizes, terrifies and titillates in equal measure and I shall be on pins and needles awaiting the epic second installment, OBSESSION MINE!
5 Deliciously Depraved Stars!
Confession! Ever since Peter Sokolov, a hired Russian assassin, was originally introduced in the TWIST ME trilogy and I got a glimpse into his tragic back-story, I have been clamoring for his story because if there was ever a dark, depraved, TORTURED soul, it’s Peter!
And omgeeeeee after devouring this book in one all night binge session, I can say with full confidence that I had absolutely no clue how utterly mesmerizing this book would be. It is dark. It is twisted. Creepy. Heartbreaking. Spine-tingling. Smoldering hot. And so POWERFULLY ADDICTIVE that I was literally gasping for breath during some scenes as we are lured into Peter’s labyrinth of certifiable madness.
OMFG…The first chapter gutted me, like SMASHED MY HEART TO SMITHEREENS, and set the stage for the dark path of vengeance that Peter embarks on to seek retribution for the heinous massacre of his family!
As introduced in the previous trilogies, he has a hit list of those responsible, and has been relentlessly going through it one by one and has shown NO MERCY to the guilty parties. He metes out punishment and it is severe indeed! Our heroine, Dr. Sara Cobakis, gets caught in the brutal crossfire (won't say how or why to avoid spoilers) but rest assured that Peter takes a VERY personal interest in her. He wants answers, wants her to atone for his pain, and will stop at nothing to get vindication.
But all too soon, she becomes the object of his twisted brand of terrorizing torment and his dark obsession! Peter is such a confounding hero, a thrilling combination of cold-blooded executioner, tortured, broken soul, and ferocious lover. A man who has nothing to live for or lose, until he meets the one person who can change the trajectory of his bleak, soulless life. Sara ignites Peter’s dark passions, incites his anger, rouses the dark predator as well as the devoted protector in him. What started as a cold calculated mission morphs into something more profound and potentially soul-shattering.
There is so much raw, ANIMALISTIC passion between these enemies turned lovers that I was literally quivering in their scenes together!!!! I love how smart and courageous and fiercely independent Sara is and how she is both repelled and spellbound by her lethally sexy stalker who has turned her life into a bona fide nightmare. Yet even though he inflames her forbidden, traitorous desires she refuses to cower to the fear or let him break her!
The plot, which moves at a breakneck speed due to Ms. Zaires’ seamless execution, had me anxiously flipping the pages, partly in trepidation but mostly because I was so invested in finding out what would happen next! As with all of this author’s books, there is a fierce tenderness interlaced with the barbed cruelty and it is that dichotomy that makes this story so INTOXICATING.
There are so many unknowns throughout. Can his Prichka "little bird" be allowed to fly free or will he make good on his thinly veiled threat to clip her wings and "place her in cage of my own and make you sing.” Will Sara be the one to tame the raging beast inside of him or will they both end up destroying each other in the end ? Can love trump blood thirsty revenge? That is of course still to be determined, but HANG ON TIGHT because this first installment is merely a prelude for much more high-throttle drama, chilling suspense, dark, unbridled passion and wicked depravity to come! Oh and for the record? I flooooved the cliffy ending... It was soooo jawdroppingly good! And even though I kinda knew things were leading to the pinnacle event that transpired, it still gave me MAJOR GOOSEBUMPS and sent a rush of giddy euphoria surging through my veins.
In closing, Anna Zaires, one of my all-time fave dark romance scribes, KILLED IT with this book!!! She literally can do no wrong in my eyes and yes, this shameless gushing is totally justified! TORMENTOR MINE tantalizes, terrifies and titillates in equal measure and I shall be on pins and needles awaiting the epic second installment, OBSESSION MINE!
5 Deliciously Depraved Stars!
March 19, 2023
It’s a great story and reading!
I can’t wait for that cliffhanger to develop!!!
It’s worth the reading.
I can’t wait for that cliffhanger to develop!!!
It’s worth the reading.
Want to read
March 23, 2022TORMENTOR MINE will go live MARCH 28th in ebook and print.
This is a full-length novel featuring Peter Sokolov from the Twist Me series, but it stands entirely on its own. You do not have to have read that series to enjoy this book.
This gorgeous cover was designed by Najla from Najla Qamber Creations.
A new dark romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Twist Me and The Krinar Chronicles
He came to me in the night, a cruel, darkly handsome stranger from the most dangerous corners of Russia. He tormented me and destroyed me, ripping apart my world in his quest for vengeance.
Now he’s back, but he’s no longer after my secrets.
The man who stars in my nightmares wants me.
NOTE: This is a full-length, standalone romance that features characters from the Twist Me series. You do not have to have read that series to enjoy this book.
Excerpt #1: From Peter’s POV
“Are you going to kill me?”
She’s trying—and failing—to keep her voice steady. Still, I admire her attempt at composure. I approached her in public to make her feel safer, but she’s too smart to fall for that. If they’ve told her anything about my background, she must realize I can snap her neck faster than she can scream for help.
“No,” I answer, leaning closer as a louder song comes on. “I’m not going to kill you.”
“Then what do you want from me?”
She’s shaking in my hold, and something about that both intrigues and disturbs me. I don’t want her to be afraid of me, but at the same time, I like having her at my mercy. Her fear calls to the predator within me, turning my desire for her into something darker.
She’s captured prey, soft and sweet and mine to devour.
Bending my head, I bury my nose in her fragrant hair and murmur into her ear, “Meet me at the Starbucks near your house at noon tomorrow, and we’ll talk there. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
I pull back, and she stares at me, her eyes huge in her pale face. I know what she’s thinking, so I lean in again, dipping my head so my mouth is next to her ear.
“If you contact the FBI, they’ll try to hide you from me. Just like they tried to hide your husband and the others on my list. They’ll uproot you, take you away from your parents and your career, and it will all be for nothing. I’ll find you, no matter where you go, Sara… no matter what they do to keep you from me.” My lips brush against the rim of her ear, and I feel her breath hitch. “Alternatively, they might want to use you as bait. If that’s the case—if they set a trap for me—I’ll know, and our next meeting won’t be over coffee.”
She shudders, and I drag in a deep breath, inhaling her delicate scent one last time before releasing her.
Stepping back, I melt into the crowd and message Anton to get the crew into positions.
I have to make sure she gets home safe and sound, unmolested by anyone but me.
PRE-ORDER “TORMENTOR MINE” NOW:
iBooks: http://bit.ly/TormentorMineiBooks
Kindle US: http://bit.ly/TormentorMineAmazonUS
Kindle UK: http://bit.ly/TormentorMineAmazonUK
Kindle CA: http://bit.ly/TormentorMineAmazonCA
Kindle AU: http://bit.ly/TormentorMineAmazonAU
Google Play: http://bit.ly/TormentorMineGooglePlay
Kobo: http://bit.ly/TormentorMineKobo
Nook: http://bit.ly/TormentorMineNook
Paperback: http://bit.ly/TormentorMinePaperback
This is a full-length novel featuring Peter Sokolov from the Twist Me series, but it stands entirely on its own. You do not have to have read that series to enjoy this book.
This gorgeous cover was designed by Najla from Najla Qamber Creations.
A new dark romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Twist Me and The Krinar Chronicles
He came to me in the night, a cruel, darkly handsome stranger from the most dangerous corners of Russia. He tormented me and destroyed me, ripping apart my world in his quest for vengeance.
Now he’s back, but he’s no longer after my secrets.
The man who stars in my nightmares wants me.
NOTE: This is a full-length, standalone romance that features characters from the Twist Me series. You do not have to have read that series to enjoy this book.
Excerpt #1: From Peter’s POV
“Are you going to kill me?”
She’s trying—and failing—to keep her voice steady. Still, I admire her attempt at composure. I approached her in public to make her feel safer, but she’s too smart to fall for that. If they’ve told her anything about my background, she must realize I can snap her neck faster than she can scream for help.
“No,” I answer, leaning closer as a louder song comes on. “I’m not going to kill you.”
“Then what do you want from me?”
She’s shaking in my hold, and something about that both intrigues and disturbs me. I don’t want her to be afraid of me, but at the same time, I like having her at my mercy. Her fear calls to the predator within me, turning my desire for her into something darker.
She’s captured prey, soft and sweet and mine to devour.
Bending my head, I bury my nose in her fragrant hair and murmur into her ear, “Meet me at the Starbucks near your house at noon tomorrow, and we’ll talk there. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
I pull back, and she stares at me, her eyes huge in her pale face. I know what she’s thinking, so I lean in again, dipping my head so my mouth is next to her ear.
“If you contact the FBI, they’ll try to hide you from me. Just like they tried to hide your husband and the others on my list. They’ll uproot you, take you away from your parents and your career, and it will all be for nothing. I’ll find you, no matter where you go, Sara… no matter what they do to keep you from me.” My lips brush against the rim of her ear, and I feel her breath hitch. “Alternatively, they might want to use you as bait. If that’s the case—if they set a trap for me—I’ll know, and our next meeting won’t be over coffee.”
She shudders, and I drag in a deep breath, inhaling her delicate scent one last time before releasing her.
Stepping back, I melt into the crowd and message Anton to get the crew into positions.
I have to make sure she gets home safe and sound, unmolested by anyone but me.
PRE-ORDER “TORMENTOR MINE” NOW:
iBooks: http://bit.ly/TormentorMineiBooks
Kindle US: http://bit.ly/TormentorMineAmazonUS
Kindle UK: http://bit.ly/TormentorMineAmazonUK
Kindle CA: http://bit.ly/TormentorMineAmazonCA
Kindle AU: http://bit.ly/TormentorMineAmazonAU
Google Play: http://bit.ly/TormentorMineGooglePlay
Kobo: http://bit.ly/TormentorMineKobo
Nook: http://bit.ly/TormentorMineNook
Paperback: http://bit.ly/TormentorMinePaperback
March 31, 2017
I love an OTT crazy possessive, obsessive, stalkerific H. However, there were too many things wrong with this story for me to enjoy those aspects. First, the H and h meet when he breaks into her house at waterboards her for information. This was a deeply disturbing scene. After the torture, he drugs her and it loosens her inhibitions enough to suck his fingers and begs him to stay. I was grossed out. The h is traumatized by the events of the night but can't help feeling sexually attracted to the man that tortured her. Still grossed out. The H shows back up into the h's life bc he can't get her out of his head which made no sense since he tortures people as part of his job. I just could not understand the H's immediate infatuation with the h and the h's lust for the H. Especially considering that the H murdered the h's husband. It was sick. We do see the h feel appalled at her behavior but she couldn't control her body's reaction to him (rolling my eyes). It is mentioned that the h hasn't had sex in a long time so she misses being touched and held. I hate when authors make the h desperate for intimacy because they are in a dry spell. Anyway, the sex scenes were not good at all. This shocked me because I wanted a steamy read. The H was pretty much obsessed with having the h but again I never understood why. Their first interaction was brief but so awful. Especially, when you consider the H's past, his attraction to the h never adds up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2020
I was feeling stabby trying to read this. It just showed that I’m a very violent person because I wanted to kill the hero. He waterboarded the heroine and then the stupid woman starts sucking his thumbs and gets aroused. If this was me I definitely would have put his thumbs in my mouth to
bite
them off! I wanted rip his heart with my own hands, I would have stabbed him with the same knife he almost stabbed the heroine with. But I definitely wouldn’t have fallen for this criminal. I don’t know how the hero could live with himself torturing an innocent woman, he’s no better than the ones who killed his wife and son. If heroine was my friend I would tell her to run far away from this man.
The heroine had panic attacks from his torture.
The heroine had panic attacks from his torture.
July 20, 2018
Peter. PETER. I have been dying to meet you and you are more than I ever hoped! I thought no one could top Julian Esguerra but Peter Sokolov is ten kinds of amazing. Scarred possessive alpha who knows how to be tender and get what he wants at the same time.
DEAD. This is my lady-crack.
DEAD. This is my lady-crack.
June 29, 2024
This wasn’t as dark as the twist me series, but sexing the man who water boarded you and put a bullet in your husband’s head isn’t tame either
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2017
It took me a minute, before it clicked in my mind that we have finally received Peter's story from the Twist Me series. He held so much intrigue, and mysticism for a subordinate character that I was desperate for his story. I actually mentioned it in countless reviews in both the
Twist Me
series and the
Capture Me
series spinoff - both of which were crazy hot and held magnetic writing. Zaires is a one click author.
In exchange for a loyal three year service to Julian Esguerra, Peter Sokolov will receive a list of names which reveal those blameworthy for the deaths of his wife, and son years earlier. Julian's wife, Nora, provided Peter with the list earlier than dated in exchange for his help in rescuing Julian who had been captured and tortured by Al-Quadar terrorists. Once the list is received, he sets upon his journey to find and destroy those responsible. Upon first meeting, Nora states in Keep Me : Peter is a good-looking man with a strong jaw, and high exotically slanted cheekbones but for some reason he makes the fine hairs at the back of my neck stand up. It's not what he says or does — he nods at me politely while sitting there, his pose deceptively calmed and relaxed — it's what I see in his steel coloured eyes. Rage. Pure, undiluted rage."
Tamila, Peter's wife could have been so formidable had she been explored in depth: the culture conflict, faith, her independence amidst his occupation as being a member of the Russian Special Forces Unit. The narrative would have been profoundly different - alas I am glad Zaires didn't do such a thing because had we felt for her - the plot would have become skewed. We know nothing much about her therefore I found her lacklustre in a single chapter. Though it was sweet how Peter had this quiet respect and admiration for her. His love for his son — Pasha — however was infinite, and what propels him to torture and get revenge for those involved in the attack, one of whom is Sara's husband - the heroine of the story. Across five years, he aims systematically to do such, until he stumbles across Sara, his obsession perversely beautiful and goes back to take her. The ending was a cliffhanger, but not the disgusting bait-type ones, just a continuation so we can read the next book.
Zaires captures her heroes in a way few authors can - I've come to realise. Though Julian and Nora are my favourite couple, and their book and series one I've read countlessly, Zaires affinity for obsessed stalker hero's hit the nail on the head. You never doubt. I end up loving them, and their inner lurking violence. Once they meet the heroine, they stop at nothing until she's in their clutches. Possessive, sociopathic, deadly with darker sexual proclivities — Zaires manages to create an atmosphere where any and all past lovers are insignificant. The power of the relationship between the hero and the heroine defies boundaries.
Favourite quote:
"You see, death is part of life, Sara. An ugly part, sure, but there’s no beauty without ugliness, just as there’s no happiness without sorrow. We live in a world of contrasts, not absolutes.”
In exchange for a loyal three year service to Julian Esguerra, Peter Sokolov will receive a list of names which reveal those blameworthy for the deaths of his wife, and son years earlier. Julian's wife, Nora, provided Peter with the list earlier than dated in exchange for his help in rescuing Julian who had been captured and tortured by Al-Quadar terrorists. Once the list is received, he sets upon his journey to find and destroy those responsible. Upon first meeting, Nora states in Keep Me : Peter is a good-looking man with a strong jaw, and high exotically slanted cheekbones but for some reason he makes the fine hairs at the back of my neck stand up. It's not what he says or does — he nods at me politely while sitting there, his pose deceptively calmed and relaxed — it's what I see in his steel coloured eyes. Rage. Pure, undiluted rage."
Tamila, Peter's wife could have been so formidable had she been explored in depth: the culture conflict, faith, her independence amidst his occupation as being a member of the Russian Special Forces Unit. The narrative would have been profoundly different - alas I am glad Zaires didn't do such a thing because had we felt for her - the plot would have become skewed. We know nothing much about her therefore I found her lacklustre in a single chapter. Though it was sweet how Peter had this quiet respect and admiration for her. His love for his son — Pasha — however was infinite, and what propels him to torture and get revenge for those involved in the attack, one of whom is Sara's husband - the heroine of the story. Across five years, he aims systematically to do such, until he stumbles across Sara, his obsession perversely beautiful and goes back to take her. The ending was a cliffhanger, but not the disgusting bait-type ones, just a continuation so we can read the next book.
Zaires captures her heroes in a way few authors can - I've come to realise. Though Julian and Nora are my favourite couple, and their book and series one I've read countlessly, Zaires affinity for obsessed stalker hero's hit the nail on the head. You never doubt. I end up loving them, and their inner lurking violence. Once they meet the heroine, they stop at nothing until she's in their clutches. Possessive, sociopathic, deadly with darker sexual proclivities — Zaires manages to create an atmosphere where any and all past lovers are insignificant. The power of the relationship between the hero and the heroine defies boundaries.
Favourite quote:
"You see, death is part of life, Sara. An ugly part, sure, but there’s no beauty without ugliness, just as there’s no happiness without sorrow. We live in a world of contrasts, not absolutes.”
March 17, 2017
Anna Zaires has always been a faithful read for me. So when I heard she was writing Peter's story I knew it would be good. Her writing is always so consistent and you know when it is attached to the Twist Me or Capture Me series it will be GOOD. What I didn't expect was to be so floored by this book! She slayed Peter's story and pretty much left me a drooling mess on the floor eagerly awaiting book 2. Anna grabbed at the opportunity to take her writing to the next level with both hands and succeeded at making a series that was already great, phenomenal!
Tormentor Mine is Peter's story. We first meet Peter when he is working for Julian in the Twist Me series. Peter was looking for a list from his employer and that list contained the names of all those involved in the slaughter of his family. He wants revenge and he is working hard towards that end. Well Peter got his list and now is enacting his revenge in a bloody and brutal fashion. Peter is cold and cruel and completely unapologetic about it. He has accepted his lot in life and nothing is going to stop him from making those that stripped him of his life pay... In blood... Then one night he finds Sara. She has what he needs to make another pay. And he will get it.
Sara is a fighter and I love that about her. She is strong and quirky, but smart as hell. She is nothing like any heroine Anna has ever written. She isn't just gonna sit back and let things happen to or around her. She plots and fights back no matter how scared she is to do it. Sara is an amazing read. In spite of Peter's torment of her she managed to strip him of his hold on the past bit by bit. And still she fought until she didn't want to fight anymore. Until she started to see that sometimes the dark is just as delicious a the light. Sara had heart, and I love a heroine with heart.
Peter and Sara's story is haunting and dark. Anna managed to capture that thread that started in Twist Me and continue it through a series that is just getting better and better. I couldn't put this one down and I know book 2 will be even better. These characters have been brought to life for her readers and despite their darkness they have been a joy to read. Even though Tormentor Mine continues from other stories it can easily be read on its own, though I highly suggest you read the others, because everyone needs a great book boyfriend. Enjoy!
Tormentor Mine is Peter's story. We first meet Peter when he is working for Julian in the Twist Me series. Peter was looking for a list from his employer and that list contained the names of all those involved in the slaughter of his family. He wants revenge and he is working hard towards that end. Well Peter got his list and now is enacting his revenge in a bloody and brutal fashion. Peter is cold and cruel and completely unapologetic about it. He has accepted his lot in life and nothing is going to stop him from making those that stripped him of his life pay... In blood... Then one night he finds Sara. She has what he needs to make another pay. And he will get it.
Sara is a fighter and I love that about her. She is strong and quirky, but smart as hell. She is nothing like any heroine Anna has ever written. She isn't just gonna sit back and let things happen to or around her. She plots and fights back no matter how scared she is to do it. Sara is an amazing read. In spite of Peter's torment of her she managed to strip him of his hold on the past bit by bit. And still she fought until she didn't want to fight anymore. Until she started to see that sometimes the dark is just as delicious a the light. Sara had heart, and I love a heroine with heart.
Peter and Sara's story is haunting and dark. Anna managed to capture that thread that started in Twist Me and continue it through a series that is just getting better and better. I couldn't put this one down and I know book 2 will be even better. These characters have been brought to life for her readers and despite their darkness they have been a joy to read. Even though Tormentor Mine continues from other stories it can easily be read on its own, though I highly suggest you read the others, because everyone needs a great book boyfriend. Enjoy!
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