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The Loan Shark Duet #1-2
Dubious / Consent
A Dark Mafia Romance
Dubious (Book 1)
I’m a loan shark. Breaking people is in my blood. The Haynes’s were supposed to be a straightforward job. Go in and pull the trigger twice. One bullet for Charlie, one for his sister. But when I saw Valentina, I wanted her. Only, in our world, those who owe us don’t get second chances. No way in hell will my mother let her live. So I devised a plan to keep her.
It’s depraved.
It’s immoral.
It’s dubious.
It’s perfect.
Just like her.
Consent (Book 2)
When Gabriel broke down my door, he took over my body and life. Never with force, but always with clever manipulation. He stripped me of my independence, my defenses, and my clothes and turned me into an addict. My addiction is him.
Once, I had dreams and a future. Now, I have fears, scars, and insatiable needs. I’m damaged beyond repair, but if I’m to survive the most dangerous man in Johannesburg, I can’t allow him to break me, because broken toys are destined for the garbage dump.
Dubious (Book 1)
I’m a loan shark. Breaking people is in my blood. The Haynes’s were supposed to be a straightforward job. Go in and pull the trigger twice. One bullet for Charlie, one for his sister. But when I saw Valentina, I wanted her. Only, in our world, those who owe us don’t get second chances. No way in hell will my mother let her live. So I devised a plan to keep her.
It’s depraved.
It’s immoral.
It’s dubious.
It’s perfect.
Just like her.
Consent (Book 2)
When Gabriel broke down my door, he took over my body and life. Never with force, but always with clever manipulation. He stripped me of my independence, my defenses, and my clothes and turned me into an addict. My addiction is him.
Once, I had dreams and a future. Now, I have fears, scars, and insatiable needs. I’m damaged beyond repair, but if I’m to survive the most dangerous man in Johannesburg, I can’t allow him to break me, because broken toys are destined for the garbage dump.
664 pages, ebook
First published November 17, 2017
44 people are currently reading
300 people want to read
About the author
Charmaine Pauls
73 books1,845 followersCharmaine loves to write dark and edgy romance that will melt both your e-reader and your heart.
She's a mom of two teenagers, an adorable dog, and a dominant cat. Her country of birth is South Africa where many of her stories play off. Her French husband kidnapped her to the south of France where she currently lives with her family.
When she's not writing, you'll find her in the kitchen baking cakes or in the gym lifting weights (because ... all those cakes!).
She's a mom of two teenagers, an adorable dog, and a dominant cat. Her country of birth is South Africa where many of her stories play off. Her French husband kidnapped her to the south of France where she currently lives with her family.
When she's not writing, you'll find her in the kitchen baking cakes or in the gym lifting weights (because ... all those cakes!).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 30, 2023
4.5-star ***Major SPOILERS under Sexual History***
Made me cry a few times, especially in book2 due to H and h’s big misunderstandings re: each other’s motives of being in their relationship and the great sacrifices they made for each other. Good emotional pull and character development. Lots of angsty moments.
Good char and char dev/rom and rom dev/sexual and emotional chemistry that were woven in well in plenty of Sex scenes. 36yo mafia loan-shark H was an anti-villain with his cold-hearted manipulations/bullying/threatening of 23yo vet asst. h. But his sometimes out-of-control feelings and actions towards h belied his true feelings for her. He became uncharacteristically open about his caring for h to the point of shunning his family and mafia life just to protect her. Loved H’s OTT possessive-protective jealous-dominant obsessive alpha-ness with h. h had a wonderful character with her mix of innocence and grit/kindness and firmness/practicality and hope. She kept rising above such trials with her general attitude. I admired her character.
Sexual History:
23yo h was not a virgin with 37yo H. She was raped and beat up by an unknown man who was with 5 others in the room when she was 13 but she had her eyes closed the whole time. It wasn’t until book2 that the video H’s cruel mom told her to watch that she found out it was H’s father who raped her. (They thought she was dead in the alley they left her but her beloved older bro found her and her family secretly tended to her. h’s mafia-linked father blackmailed H’s father with a video of the rape in exchange for leaving his family alone. But a car accident 2 years later killed h’s father & disabled her brother with brain damage. Soon after the accident, her mom died and h became the caretaker & breadwinner of her and her disabled brother. Unbeknownst to h, H’s father hired his goons to lightly protect h and her brother and had made a deal with her father before that instead of her marrying the man her father was going to bethrothed her to she was going to marry H instead. However, H’s mom didn’t want that and, after H’s father died, she derailed the arranged marriage to H and began her plan to put h & her brother in their debt so she could kill them for not paying.)
Due to the crime & poverty of their ghetto town, h was forced to pay for her brother’s debt with forced-BJs by a Zulu guy. She always spat his spunk out of her mouth right after. No other sexual stuff with him. Since her rape @ 13, she had never dated and was too busy trying to survive in their town and doing what she can to get her and her bro out of the town (i.e., taking vet classes, working at a vet clinic). She let H oral her before she later begged him to smex her.
36yo H was divorced from his 16yo daughter's mom, who he thought he loved when they got married when both were age 19. But he found out that she was repulsed by him and married him for money. She also couldn’t stand being pregnant and was a neglectful mother. They divorced within a couple years. He had many lovers after because he made it his goal to be a connoisseur of women’s pleasure. He didn’t think any woman would want to be with him due to his gruesome facial scars and limp.
Since meeting h that 1st time, he was captivated by her and stopped his mom's plan from killing h and her brother. So, he made her their live-in maid and his lover in exchange for their lives. It took him weeks to finally smex h since he just focused on her pleasure. Yet he didn’t want any other woman to satisfy him, including his most current lover who came to visit him at his house and tried to seduce him. His decision to delay sex with h was also because he believed her to be a virgin and he viewed himself as too monstrous/ugly to break someone pure like h. He actually told 1 of his goons to take h on a nice date and smex her. Then, he asked his other goon to tie him up in the basement and not unlock him until dawn so he wouldn’t go back on his plan to have OM smex h 1st. Fortunately, nothing happened. Before they finally smexxed, h's confession of being raped made H slow things down their first time together.
When they were separated for 10 months after h left him, both were celibate and not interested in others. H’s plan after his massive surgeries was to secretly stalk h and their son since he didn’t think h would ever take him back.
Made me cry a few times, especially in book2 due to H and h’s big misunderstandings re: each other’s motives of being in their relationship and the great sacrifices they made for each other. Good emotional pull and character development. Lots of angsty moments.
Good char and char dev/rom and rom dev/sexual and emotional chemistry that were woven in well in plenty of Sex scenes. 36yo mafia loan-shark H was an anti-villain with his cold-hearted manipulations/bullying/threatening of 23yo vet asst. h. But his sometimes out-of-control feelings and actions towards h belied his true feelings for her. He became uncharacteristically open about his caring for h to the point of shunning his family and mafia life just to protect her. Loved H’s OTT possessive-protective jealous-dominant obsessive alpha-ness with h. h had a wonderful character with her mix of innocence and grit/kindness and firmness/practicality and hope. She kept rising above such trials with her general attitude. I admired her character.
Sexual History:
23yo h was not a virgin with 37yo H. She was raped and beat up by an unknown man who was with 5 others in the room when she was 13 but she had her eyes closed the whole time. It wasn’t until book2 that the video H’s cruel mom told her to watch that she found out it was H’s father who raped her. (They thought she was dead in the alley they left her but her beloved older bro found her and her family secretly tended to her. h’s mafia-linked father blackmailed H’s father with a video of the rape in exchange for leaving his family alone. But a car accident 2 years later killed h’s father & disabled her brother with brain damage. Soon after the accident, her mom died and h became the caretaker & breadwinner of her and her disabled brother. Unbeknownst to h, H’s father hired his goons to lightly protect h and her brother and had made a deal with her father before that instead of her marrying the man her father was going to bethrothed her to she was going to marry H instead. However, H’s mom didn’t want that and, after H’s father died, she derailed the arranged marriage to H and began her plan to put h & her brother in their debt so she could kill them for not paying.)
Due to the crime & poverty of their ghetto town, h was forced to pay for her brother’s debt with forced-BJs by a Zulu guy. She always spat his spunk out of her mouth right after. No other sexual stuff with him. Since her rape @ 13, she had never dated and was too busy trying to survive in their town and doing what she can to get her and her bro out of the town (i.e., taking vet classes, working at a vet clinic). She let H oral her before she later begged him to smex her.
36yo H was divorced from his 16yo daughter's mom, who he thought he loved when they got married when both were age 19. But he found out that she was repulsed by him and married him for money. She also couldn’t stand being pregnant and was a neglectful mother. They divorced within a couple years. He had many lovers after because he made it his goal to be a connoisseur of women’s pleasure. He didn’t think any woman would want to be with him due to his gruesome facial scars and limp.
Since meeting h that 1st time, he was captivated by her and stopped his mom's plan from killing h and her brother. So, he made her their live-in maid and his lover in exchange for their lives. It took him weeks to finally smex h since he just focused on her pleasure. Yet he didn’t want any other woman to satisfy him, including his most current lover who came to visit him at his house and tried to seduce him. His decision to delay sex with h was also because he believed her to be a virgin and he viewed himself as too monstrous/ugly to break someone pure like h. He actually told 1 of his goons to take h on a nice date and smex her. Then, he asked his other goon to tie him up in the basement and not unlock him until dawn so he wouldn’t go back on his plan to have OM smex h 1st. Fortunately, nothing happened. Before they finally smexxed, h's confession of being raped made H slow things down their first time together.
When they were separated for 10 months after h left him, both were celibate and not interested in others. H’s plan after his massive surgeries was to secretly stalk h and their son since he didn’t think h would ever take him back.
October 12, 2018
4.5*
This series was my introduction to this author and it was way more than I’d expected. The writing the detail and the depth made this unforgettable.
Dubious- 4.5*
The book paints a desolate picture, it's set in Johannesburg in what has become known as drug valley, everyone with money moved leaving the area for the drug dealers, Mafia and gangs.
It's safe to say Valentina is struggling, after losing both her parents she looks after her brain damaged brother, Charlie. She's trying her best to give them a future by training to become a vet but she hardly earns enough to get by on top of feeding and looking after Charlie she has huge college bills to cover.
She's barely keeping her head above water which is bad enough but the book opens with her arriving home from work one night to find Charlie missing. She knows where he'll be, her neighbour a car thief named Jerry was supposed to be watching him but as well as being a car thief he also has a gambling problem and she discovers Charlie is not only gambling but he's a VIP and owes four hundred thousand rand.
She never thought to declare him incompetent and revoke his financial signing power.
Gabriel Louw is known and feared and he's come to collect, Valentina has nowhere to go and no way to pay the debt.
Gabriel has orders to kill both Valentina and Charlie to set an example and reinforce that's it's a bad idea to mess with the Louw family but Gabriel wants Valentina and offers her a different deal. She's his for nine years while she works off her brothers debt in any way he sees fit.
Magda (Gabriel's mother) is furious she wants Val and Charlie dead and so Valentina finds herself property of the Louw family and made to clean the huge mansion.
Magda pushes because she needs her to fail, she's determined to kill her whereas Gabriel is intrigued and obsessed and needs her alive but his mother is a cruel and powerful woman who always gets what she wants.
Gabriel turned out to be an interesting character and not what I was expecting. I've read books similar to this before and in them the Gabriel character is always top of the food chain with total control and command and while they may have demons they answer to no one.
The fact that Magda is very much at the top of food chain adds another dynamic to this book. Gabriel is also scarred and disfigured and far from the male perfection I'm used to but the attraction between him and Val is unlike anything either of them has felt before.
Gabriel's obsession increases along with Magda's determination to push Valentina to fail. Valentina is caught in the middle with nine long years stretching out before her but we all know one way or another she's not making those nine years as she is now, something has to give.
Valentina is strong, unbelievably strong and her love for her brother is, at first anyway the only thing that gets her through each day. As things progress Gabriel turns into the only thing getting her through the nights.
This in itself makes for compulsive reading but the more Gabriel gets to know Valentina the more both she and her past confuse him and he starts to investigate.
By this point, faults and all I just wanted Gabriel and Valentina to be together and this is the point a lot of books would end, with a nice HEA and I'd be happy.
But here there's Magda and Gabriel needs to find a way to keep Valentina alive.
I'm running on 3 hours sleep since I stayed up to finish this and even then I barely resisted starting Consent.
It's safe to say this book was a surprise, I wasn't expecting to enjoy it anywhere near as much as I did and it's very close to getting 5* which is a rating I very rarely give.
Consent - 4.5*
So Consent picks up exactly where Dubious left off. Valentina is scared and running but her fear overruled her common sense, she grabbed Charlie and ran not giving a single thought to money. Now it's too late, if she withdraws any money she'll give away their location and so she finds herself alone with Charlie, no money, no where to live and no job.
Gabriel is beside himself and desperate to find Valentina but he's not the only one searching for her Magda now has the excuse she needs to kill her.
We know it's only a matter of time before they're reunited but the question is what will happen then?
I only really had two small issues (and they are very small) with this book the first was Valentina not considering how she'd live once she ran (yes I know there's extenuating circumstances) and the second was the tragedy, Gabriel gets lost in himself and while I understood and sympathised I felt it went on just a little too long for me but it's difficult to imagine how someone would deal with that so...
This book has a load of stuff going on and I'm not even going to attempt to touch any of it (so no spoilers here) you need to find out for yourself as you're reading. It twists and turns some of which I saw coming some I didn't and it certainly kept me glued the whole way through.
It's a fabulous book (well two books) and the author has created characters I'll never forget, it's clever and interesting and I'm still a little surprised by how much I actually enjoyed it.
I'm all about the HEA and so I loved the ending for me it was perfect, the icing on the cake and I'll be looking out for other books from this author but....
I'm mentioning this only because I have friends who don't feel the same way. Dubious started as a dark read, Gabriel was a powerful and dominating man (although we always knew Valentina was his weakness) but in Consent he changes, the tragedy he suffers affects him greatly and he becomes a different man. I liked this change, I liked him and just about everything about this book but if, like my friends you like a man to stay dark and true throughout then this maybe isn't the book for you.
For the rest of us who love a great HEA then start reading now.
I very rarely give 5* but again this came very very close.
I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley and Charmaine Pauls.
This series was my introduction to this author and it was way more than I’d expected. The writing the detail and the depth made this unforgettable.
Dubious- 4.5*
The book paints a desolate picture, it's set in Johannesburg in what has become known as drug valley, everyone with money moved leaving the area for the drug dealers, Mafia and gangs.
It's safe to say Valentina is struggling, after losing both her parents she looks after her brain damaged brother, Charlie. She's trying her best to give them a future by training to become a vet but she hardly earns enough to get by on top of feeding and looking after Charlie she has huge college bills to cover.
She's barely keeping her head above water which is bad enough but the book opens with her arriving home from work one night to find Charlie missing. She knows where he'll be, her neighbour a car thief named Jerry was supposed to be watching him but as well as being a car thief he also has a gambling problem and she discovers Charlie is not only gambling but he's a VIP and owes four hundred thousand rand.
She never thought to declare him incompetent and revoke his financial signing power.
Gabriel Louw is known and feared and he's come to collect, Valentina has nowhere to go and no way to pay the debt.
Gabriel has orders to kill both Valentina and Charlie to set an example and reinforce that's it's a bad idea to mess with the Louw family but Gabriel wants Valentina and offers her a different deal. She's his for nine years while she works off her brothers debt in any way he sees fit.
Magda (Gabriel's mother) is furious she wants Val and Charlie dead and so Valentina finds herself property of the Louw family and made to clean the huge mansion.
Magda pushes because she needs her to fail, she's determined to kill her whereas Gabriel is intrigued and obsessed and needs her alive but his mother is a cruel and powerful woman who always gets what she wants.
Gabriel turned out to be an interesting character and not what I was expecting. I've read books similar to this before and in them the Gabriel character is always top of the food chain with total control and command and while they may have demons they answer to no one.
The fact that Magda is very much at the top of food chain adds another dynamic to this book. Gabriel is also scarred and disfigured and far from the male perfection I'm used to but the attraction between him and Val is unlike anything either of them has felt before.
Gabriel's obsession increases along with Magda's determination to push Valentina to fail. Valentina is caught in the middle with nine long years stretching out before her but we all know one way or another she's not making those nine years as she is now, something has to give.
Valentina is strong, unbelievably strong and her love for her brother is, at first anyway the only thing that gets her through each day. As things progress Gabriel turns into the only thing getting her through the nights.
This in itself makes for compulsive reading but the more Gabriel gets to know Valentina the more both she and her past confuse him and he starts to investigate.
By this point, faults and all I just wanted Gabriel and Valentina to be together and this is the point a lot of books would end, with a nice HEA and I'd be happy.
But here there's Magda and Gabriel needs to find a way to keep Valentina alive.
I'm running on 3 hours sleep since I stayed up to finish this and even then I barely resisted starting Consent.
It's safe to say this book was a surprise, I wasn't expecting to enjoy it anywhere near as much as I did and it's very close to getting 5* which is a rating I very rarely give.
Consent - 4.5*
So Consent picks up exactly where Dubious left off. Valentina is scared and running but her fear overruled her common sense, she grabbed Charlie and ran not giving a single thought to money. Now it's too late, if she withdraws any money she'll give away their location and so she finds herself alone with Charlie, no money, no where to live and no job.
Gabriel is beside himself and desperate to find Valentina but he's not the only one searching for her Magda now has the excuse she needs to kill her.
We know it's only a matter of time before they're reunited but the question is what will happen then?
I only really had two small issues (and they are very small) with this book the first was Valentina not considering how she'd live once she ran (yes I know there's extenuating circumstances) and the second was the tragedy, Gabriel gets lost in himself and while I understood and sympathised I felt it went on just a little too long for me but it's difficult to imagine how someone would deal with that so...
This book has a load of stuff going on and I'm not even going to attempt to touch any of it (so no spoilers here) you need to find out for yourself as you're reading. It twists and turns some of which I saw coming some I didn't and it certainly kept me glued the whole way through.
It's a fabulous book (well two books) and the author has created characters I'll never forget, it's clever and interesting and I'm still a little surprised by how much I actually enjoyed it.
I'm all about the HEA and so I loved the ending for me it was perfect, the icing on the cake and I'll be looking out for other books from this author but....
I'm mentioning this only because I have friends who don't feel the same way. Dubious started as a dark read, Gabriel was a powerful and dominating man (although we always knew Valentina was his weakness) but in Consent he changes, the tragedy he suffers affects him greatly and he becomes a different man. I liked this change, I liked him and just about everything about this book but if, like my friends you like a man to stay dark and true throughout then this maybe isn't the book for you.
For the rest of us who love a great HEA then start reading now.
I very rarely give 5* but again this came very very close.
I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley and Charmaine Pauls.
July 21, 2021
*** Book Q & A***
* How did the book make you feel?: Wowza. This duet was intense! It checked off many of my favorite tropes (see shelves). I devoured the duet and am glad I waited until the second book was out to binge because that cliffhanger would’ve gutted me!
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: It’s told from dual perspective and the MC’s motivations are thoroughly explained and relatable. The plot moved right along with just the right amount of detail. I did have a problem with some of the racist portrayals of people. For instance, instead of saying “dirty Zambian”, why didn’t the author use a descriptive term that didn’t employ race? Yes he was a bad person (he forced oral sex and attempted rape on the FMC), but his race had nothing to do with it! There were also a lot of asides portraying the white FMC as being a victim of racism and even a complaint about affirmative action. I could’ve done without all that, as I’m sure many other readers could too in these divided times. Readers shouldn’t have to be alienated from a story because of hateful stereotypes. Finally, the sex scenes were very explicit. I liked them for the most part, except for the last one where he goes from anal to vaginal. This is a pet peeve no-no of mine! She’s the mother of his child—does he want her to get a UTI or vaginal infection? Ew! I also found a few typos. Other than a few problems with the book, the story was so entertaining overall that I still had to give it five stars.
* What did you think about the main characters?: Gabriel was a very likable character despite all of his shortcomings. He was a victim in many ways. Once he started standing up to his over-bearing and evil mother, he realized what a pawn he he had been all along. Valentina was pretty much a paragon of a person. Despite all of the heinous things she endured, she persevered, and she loved Gabriel regardless of how he pushed her away, especially after the major tragedy. There was a lot of push and pull and their chemistry was explosive. The secondary characters were so well-developed that you couldn’t help but care for them too.
* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: This book really had me in my feelings, especially toward the end before the resolution. I thought the ending was creative and I was happy that Valentina wasn’t oblivious like everyone else. It makes sense that she would recognize him *in that way*.
* What themes/tropes did you detect in the story?: This book had so many of my favorite ones! See my shelves for a full list. Indebted h, H owns h, forced marriage, evil MIL, h is innocent victim, revenge, surprise baby, remorseful groveling H, Beauty and the Beast
* What did you think about the ending?: It was a very creative twist and it paved the way for their peace and happiness. The h had a remarkable capacity for forgiveness after everything the H put her through, that’s for sure! This author handled it better than many others have, IMO.
* What is your impression of the author?: I would certainly read more!
Possible Triggers and Safety: the full gambit except cheating—explicit rape, molestation, kidnapping, murder, death of a child, dubious consent, abuse, mutilation, racist slurs
* How did the book make you feel?: Wowza. This duet was intense! It checked off many of my favorite tropes (see shelves). I devoured the duet and am glad I waited until the second book was out to binge because that cliffhanger would’ve gutted me!
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: It’s told from dual perspective and the MC’s motivations are thoroughly explained and relatable. The plot moved right along with just the right amount of detail. I did have a problem with some of the racist portrayals of people. For instance, instead of saying “dirty Zambian”, why didn’t the author use a descriptive term that didn’t employ race? Yes he was a bad person (he forced oral sex and attempted rape on the FMC), but his race had nothing to do with it! There were also a lot of asides portraying the white FMC as being a victim of racism and even a complaint about affirmative action. I could’ve done without all that, as I’m sure many other readers could too in these divided times. Readers shouldn’t have to be alienated from a story because of hateful stereotypes. Finally, the sex scenes were very explicit. I liked them for the most part, except for the last one where he goes from anal to vaginal. This is a pet peeve no-no of mine! She’s the mother of his child—does he want her to get a UTI or vaginal infection? Ew! I also found a few typos. Other than a few problems with the book, the story was so entertaining overall that I still had to give it five stars.
* What did you think about the main characters?: Gabriel was a very likable character despite all of his shortcomings. He was a victim in many ways. Once he started standing up to his over-bearing and evil mother, he realized what a pawn he he had been all along. Valentina was pretty much a paragon of a person. Despite all of the heinous things she endured, she persevered, and she loved Gabriel regardless of how he pushed her away, especially after the major tragedy. There was a lot of push and pull and their chemistry was explosive. The secondary characters were so well-developed that you couldn’t help but care for them too.
* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: This book really had me in my feelings, especially toward the end before the resolution. I thought the ending was creative and I was happy that Valentina wasn’t oblivious like everyone else. It makes sense that she would recognize him *in that way*.
* What themes/tropes did you detect in the story?: This book had so many of my favorite ones! See my shelves for a full list. Indebted h, H owns h, forced marriage, evil MIL, h is innocent victim, revenge, surprise baby, remorseful groveling H, Beauty and the Beast
* What did you think about the ending?: It was a very creative twist and it paved the way for their peace and happiness. The h had a remarkable capacity for forgiveness after everything the H put her through, that’s for sure! This author handled it better than many others have, IMO.
* What is your impression of the author?: I would certainly read more!
Possible Triggers and Safety: the full gambit except cheating—explicit rape, molestation, kidnapping, murder, death of a child, dubious consent, abuse, mutilation, racist slurs
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2017
Book 1: Absolutely amazing!! Part 1 of the Loan Shark Duet has grabbed hold of me and held me captive from start to finish! This read was addicting in the best way possible. Valentina is such a strong person who will do what she must for those she loves dearly. Gabriel is not one to mess with and everyone knows that. When their paths collide it’s in a tragically beautiful way and all that follows is not for the weak of heart.
A total MUST-READ!!! I’m beyond ready to dive into part 2 of this duet!!!
Book 2: What an amazing conclusion to this mind-blowing Duet!! I seriously could not put my kindle down!!! I loved everything about it!!! Quite the emotional rollercoaster that had me enjoying every part of it!!!! Valentina makes stuff happen in this one and in the best way possible. Rhett & Quincy are my all time favorite friends & protectors for her and I love their banter. Gabriel...man, I have no words! He is def one of a kind!
Another homer in Read! Be sure to check out this duet!! You will love it!
A total MUST-READ!!! I’m beyond ready to dive into part 2 of this duet!!!
Book 2: What an amazing conclusion to this mind-blowing Duet!! I seriously could not put my kindle down!!! I loved everything about it!!! Quite the emotional rollercoaster that had me enjoying every part of it!!!! Valentina makes stuff happen in this one and in the best way possible. Rhett & Quincy are my all time favorite friends & protectors for her and I love their banter. Gabriel...man, I have no words! He is def one of a kind!
Another homer in Read! Be sure to check out this duet!! You will love it!
March 10, 2020
Age gap
Dub con
Secretly gets her preg on purpose
Loved the first book, the second dragged a little for me. A bad guy who goes good for his girl.
Loved that it was set in South Africa
Dub con
Secretly gets her preg on purpose
Loved the first book, the second dragged a little for me. A bad guy who goes good for his girl.
Loved that it was set in South Africa
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2022
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
I am not a fan of dark romance but sometimes I like to read books out of my comfort zone and this duo had me intrigued since it was released. Everyone warned me this one was so dark and had so many TWs, and for a long time, I couldn't take the plunge. I finally did and I must say that as dark as it was, this was a total page-turner.
The storyline was inspired, edgy, tragic, raw, sexy, intense, and refreshingly unpredictable. This is my first book from Charmaine Pauls and I say she can spin a tale. Yes, the book is full of darkness, death, sadness, and desolation, the story is set in South Africa and the author painted quite an ugly picture of the social environment with very vivid imagery and racist undertones, but I found the story was well-crafted yet a little OTT.
The characters really came to life as I was reading the story. I could visualize each one of the characters and the diverse backdrop of South Africa. I was blown away by strong resilient Valentina. You won't see her complain, quit or whine about the bad hand she's been dealt with. She just carries on. The unconditional love for her brother was powerful and her strength was indestructible. She was pragmatic and discerning considering her circumstances and this is definitely a case where the heroine literally won with kindness and courage. As to the hero, Gabriel, I loved the theme of a physically scarred hero who is cold and implacable but turns into a vulnerable and caring man (in his very own way, gah) when it comes to Valentina. Eventually, he allows himself to be loved, something he felt undeserving of. Some of the things he did were definitely questionable though and he got me on the fence for the most part.
This was an unconventional romance where the couple's journey was tragic and really complicated. They had serious external and internal obstacles to overcome, ad they did, but very painfully. Most of all, I enjoyed reading about the deep connection and chemistry they had together. Even though I liked that the story had a TON of plot twists (albeit rather OTT), the ending turned out to be just a little unbelievable and I think
I didn't appreciate the BDSM and Dom/sub scenes, but that's an "It's not you, it's me" thing, yet it was hard for me to digest the physical pain Gabriel inflicted on Valentina in some scenes although she seemed to crave it, it irked me quite a bit. She walked the lines between pain and pleasure and took it all in (she didn't have much choice), she endured the abuse and that was hard to read. I also thought she deserved a little bit more TLC. I couldn't forgive the . I felt my heart was going to break when she and it got me very twisted and torn up too when I was reaching the end , I was actually growing anxious by the minute, but I was happy to see they get a HEA after all the obstacles. So despite these grievances I couldn't put the book down...!. The duet was full of angst and drama and unforgettable characters that I think won't be forgotten easily!
When I was considering reading this book, I openly asked for TWs but the responses I got were always vague, so I'm listing them here, if anyone, like me, really needs to know before embarking on the ride:
I am not a fan of dark romance but sometimes I like to read books out of my comfort zone and this duo had me intrigued since it was released. Everyone warned me this one was so dark and had so many TWs, and for a long time, I couldn't take the plunge. I finally did and I must say that as dark as it was, this was a total page-turner.
The storyline was inspired, edgy, tragic, raw, sexy, intense, and refreshingly unpredictable. This is my first book from Charmaine Pauls and I say she can spin a tale. Yes, the book is full of darkness, death, sadness, and desolation, the story is set in South Africa and the author painted quite an ugly picture of the social environment with very vivid imagery and racist undertones, but I found the story was well-crafted yet a little OTT.
The characters really came to life as I was reading the story. I could visualize each one of the characters and the diverse backdrop of South Africa. I was blown away by strong resilient Valentina. You won't see her complain, quit or whine about the bad hand she's been dealt with. She just carries on. The unconditional love for her brother was powerful and her strength was indestructible. She was pragmatic and discerning considering her circumstances and this is definitely a case where the heroine literally won with kindness and courage. As to the hero, Gabriel, I loved the theme of a physically scarred hero who is cold and implacable but turns into a vulnerable and caring man (in his very own way, gah) when it comes to Valentina. Eventually, he allows himself to be loved, something he felt undeserving of. Some of the things he did were definitely questionable though and he got me on the fence for the most part.
This was an unconventional romance where the couple's journey was tragic and really complicated. They had serious external and internal obstacles to overcome, ad they did, but very painfully. Most of all, I enjoyed reading about the deep connection and chemistry they had together. Even though I liked that the story had a TON of plot twists (albeit rather OTT), the ending turned out to be just a little unbelievable and I think
I didn't appreciate the BDSM and Dom/sub scenes, but that's an "It's not you, it's me" thing, yet it was hard for me to digest the physical pain Gabriel inflicted on Valentina in some scenes although she seemed to crave it, it irked me quite a bit. She walked the lines between pain and pleasure and took it all in (she didn't have much choice), she endured the abuse and that was hard to read. I also thought she deserved a little bit more TLC. I couldn't forgive the . I felt my heart was going to break when she and it got me very twisted and torn up too when I was reaching the end , I was actually growing anxious by the minute, but I was happy to see they get a HEA after all the obstacles. So despite these grievances I couldn't put the book down...!. The duet was full of angst and drama and unforgettable characters that I think won't be forgotten easily!
When I was considering reading this book, I openly asked for TWs but the responses I got were always vague, so I'm listing them here, if anyone, like me, really needs to know before embarking on the ride:
August 20, 2019
RECENSIONE COMPLETA: https://leggimangiaviaggia.blogspot.c...
VALUTAZIONE:✭✭✭✭✭
Oggi vi parlo della dilogia di Charmaine Pauls
Il titolo del primo volume è "Lo Strozzino", il secondo è " Danneggiata", l'autrice ha unito tutti e due i libri in unico romanzo, regalandoci questa meravigliosa dilogia.
Valentina è una ragazza semplice, studia per diventare veterinaria e nel frattempo lavora nello studio della sua migliore amica Kris.
La ragazza avuto una vita fatta di sofferenze che l'hanno resa quella che è oggi, forte e coraggiosa; orfana, con il fratello, Charlie, che dopo un incidente stradale è rimasto ferito in maniera permanente a livello cognitivo. Valentina dedica il suo tempo, i suoi sacrifici a lui.
Charlie è l'unica cosa preziosa che le è rimasta e lo ama più della sua vita. Una sera un amico lo porta a giocare a carte al Napoli, club del più grande Strozzino della città, Gabriel Louw. Charlie non essendo in grado di capire la situazione, perde di continuo fino ad arrivare ad avere per debito una cifra esorbitante.
Gabriel si presenta nella loro casa a riscuotere un debito che loro non possono restituire, né ora né mai. Quel giorno scatta qualcosa in lui, era pronto ad ucciderli, ma quando vede Valentina cambia idea e le fa un’offerta, che consiste nel renderla sua proprietà per nove anni, nei quali dovrà essere la sua domestica, dovrà vivere sotto il suo stesso tetto, obbedire ai suoi ordini e vivere come sua schiava, nella casa che condivide con la madre. Per amore di Charlie, per paura delle minacce di morte, Valentina accetta firmando la sua condanna.
Gabriel è attratto da lei, la desidera profondamente, con i suoi modi e le sue parole e causa di tutto ciò, farà in modo di renderla dipendente da lui.
Questa non è una storia rose e fiori, non lo è nella maniera più assoluta. È una storia forte, cruda, ricca di azione e avvenimenti pesanti, raccontati in maniera reale e dettagliata...
La Recensione Continua Sul BLOG
Alla Prossima Lettura ANGEL
VALUTAZIONE:✭✭✭✭✭
Oggi vi parlo della dilogia di Charmaine Pauls
Il titolo del primo volume è "Lo Strozzino", il secondo è " Danneggiata", l'autrice ha unito tutti e due i libri in unico romanzo, regalandoci questa meravigliosa dilogia.
Valentina è una ragazza semplice, studia per diventare veterinaria e nel frattempo lavora nello studio della sua migliore amica Kris.
La ragazza avuto una vita fatta di sofferenze che l'hanno resa quella che è oggi, forte e coraggiosa; orfana, con il fratello, Charlie, che dopo un incidente stradale è rimasto ferito in maniera permanente a livello cognitivo. Valentina dedica il suo tempo, i suoi sacrifici a lui.
Charlie è l'unica cosa preziosa che le è rimasta e lo ama più della sua vita. Una sera un amico lo porta a giocare a carte al Napoli, club del più grande Strozzino della città, Gabriel Louw. Charlie non essendo in grado di capire la situazione, perde di continuo fino ad arrivare ad avere per debito una cifra esorbitante.
Gabriel si presenta nella loro casa a riscuotere un debito che loro non possono restituire, né ora né mai. Quel giorno scatta qualcosa in lui, era pronto ad ucciderli, ma quando vede Valentina cambia idea e le fa un’offerta, che consiste nel renderla sua proprietà per nove anni, nei quali dovrà essere la sua domestica, dovrà vivere sotto il suo stesso tetto, obbedire ai suoi ordini e vivere come sua schiava, nella casa che condivide con la madre. Per amore di Charlie, per paura delle minacce di morte, Valentina accetta firmando la sua condanna.
Gabriel è attratto da lei, la desidera profondamente, con i suoi modi e le sue parole e causa di tutto ciò, farà in modo di renderla dipendente da lui.
Questa non è una storia rose e fiori, non lo è nella maniera più assoluta. È una storia forte, cruda, ricca di azione e avvenimenti pesanti, raccontati in maniera reale e dettagliata...
La Recensione Continua Sul BLOG
Alla Prossima Lettura ANGEL
July 30, 2019
Skimmed the bdsm bits but otherwise I really liked it. The second book was amazing, a five almost to the end but a pretty silly Sydney Sheldon-esque change towards the end annoyed me.
The H was not as smart as I prefer, the h was very heroine-like and very tormented.
The H was not as smart as I prefer, the h was very heroine-like and very tormented.
Read
January 20, 2018Amazing read !
This is the first time I have read from this author.. She's amazing.. I can't keep down the book until finish..I liked Gabriel and Valentina characters.. Can't wait for next book..
This is the first time I have read from this author.. She's amazing.. I can't keep down the book until finish..I liked Gabriel and Valentina characters.. Can't wait for next book..
July 29, 2019
Really Sexy! Really enjoyed this book. There are couple of dark scenes at the beginning but this is not really a dark story. I will definitely be reading the next book.
Valentina is struggling, a good girl, she is working hard and succeeding at making a better future for herself and her brain damaged brother. However, her current existence is difficult, she is exposed to dark people and danger. One particular scene at the beginning for Valentina, sets the scene for how desolate and hard an existence people experience living in the area and for Valentina herself.
In a way Gabriel saves her from this dark life. So it starts by Valentina's brother racking up serious debt in Gabriel's,our hero, his mothers casino, despite her brother being mentally disabled. Gabriel is sent to kill them both, but he wants Valentina for himself after seeing her and instead of killing her, he offers her the chance to 'work off' the debt, 9 years with him to save her brother.
Gabriel's mother has manipulated this circumstance, why? The answer to that will likely be in book 2. This book is mostly about the steamy sexual tension between Gabriel and Val. Although they start out as dubious in consent, Gabriel does not force Valentina. Gabriel softly and slowly, seduces Valentina's body and mind. Coxing her to want him, with the unbound pleasure he gives her. He is thoughtful of her, turning the scarred side of his face away from her, because he wants to make things pleasing for her.
I quickly started to really like Gabriel. Although he first appears to be a horrible hateful bad guy, he is actually very lacking in self confidence. He doesn't rate his own physical attractiveness, likely as a result of his scarring and limp. He believes the only way he can get a woman into his bed is by using his money and his power.
It is Gabriel's mother that is the ultimate bad b**ch. A cruel tyrant, she wants Val and her brother dead and pushes Val to breaking point. I don't like how Gabriel cowers to his mother, no real Alpha male would do that. But Gabriel's need for Val only intensifies and he becomes bewitched by her. I Iike the loyal, loving and self scarfing Valentina and Gabriel is hot.
I also like the supporting characters. I was definitely gripped enough by the heated scenes and wanting to know the reasons for Valentina's predicament so much I will definitely be reading the next book.
Valentina is struggling, a good girl, she is working hard and succeeding at making a better future for herself and her brain damaged brother. However, her current existence is difficult, she is exposed to dark people and danger. One particular scene at the beginning for Valentina, sets the scene for how desolate and hard an existence people experience living in the area and for Valentina herself.
In a way Gabriel saves her from this dark life. So it starts by Valentina's brother racking up serious debt in Gabriel's,our hero, his mothers casino, despite her brother being mentally disabled. Gabriel is sent to kill them both, but he wants Valentina for himself after seeing her and instead of killing her, he offers her the chance to 'work off' the debt, 9 years with him to save her brother.
Gabriel's mother has manipulated this circumstance, why? The answer to that will likely be in book 2. This book is mostly about the steamy sexual tension between Gabriel and Val. Although they start out as dubious in consent, Gabriel does not force Valentina. Gabriel softly and slowly, seduces Valentina's body and mind. Coxing her to want him, with the unbound pleasure he gives her. He is thoughtful of her, turning the scarred side of his face away from her, because he wants to make things pleasing for her.
I quickly started to really like Gabriel. Although he first appears to be a horrible hateful bad guy, he is actually very lacking in self confidence. He doesn't rate his own physical attractiveness, likely as a result of his scarring and limp. He believes the only way he can get a woman into his bed is by using his money and his power.
It is Gabriel's mother that is the ultimate bad b**ch. A cruel tyrant, she wants Val and her brother dead and pushes Val to breaking point. I don't like how Gabriel cowers to his mother, no real Alpha male would do that. But Gabriel's need for Val only intensifies and he becomes bewitched by her. I Iike the loyal, loving and self scarfing Valentina and Gabriel is hot.
I also like the supporting characters. I was definitely gripped enough by the heated scenes and wanting to know the reasons for Valentina's predicament so much I will definitely be reading the next book.
August 13, 2025
This is such a strange story. First off, well done to the author for making a sexy, dominating, smooth talking MMC. 🥵🔥👏.
Secondly, what the fuck?
- Why does Valentina call Gabriel “uglier in person” and always talks about his scars. Is he actually physically ugly? We don’t really get a lot about him
- I hate that Gabriel has a teenage daughter with his ex-wife, but I hate even more that the author went to all this trouble to include her in the story and have Valentina form a bond with her only for her to die from a drug overdose?
- While Quincey and Rhett are her guards, why do we not talk about the fact that Rhett KILLED HER DOG?!?
- If Gabriel has such good resources, how does it take him 3 months to track down Valentina (a pregnant, vulnerable, broke woman)?
- I still don’t really get why Gabriel faked his death? The fact that he got plastic surgery to change his appearance but then went and romanced Valentina again is just weird and icky to me. He talks about how his eye no longer droops, etc. SO ONCE AGAIN I ASK… was he ugly or unattractive?
📕📗📘📙📕📗📘📙📕📗📘📙📕📗📘📙📕📗📘
Quick Summary:
- Valentina finds her older brother Charlie (with brain damage) in 400k of debt to a loan shark Gabriel. To prevent him from killing Charlie, Valentina accepts a deal from Gabriel to work off Charlie’s debt for 9 years.
- Furious that Gabriel took Valentina instead of killing her and Charlie, his mother Magda waits for Valentina to inevitably mess up or run away so she can have an excuse to kill her. Gabriel becomes more and more obsessed with Valentina to the point that he replaces her birth control with placebos to get her pregnant (which will also keep Valentina safe from Magda).
- After finding out she is pregnant and believing Gabriel will force her to get an abortion, Valentina runs away. It takes Gabriel 3 months to find her, but things get rocky when his teenage daughter (Carly) finds out about the pregnancy. Right after Valentina and Carly finally start getting along, Carly dies from a drug overdose WTF 🤣🤣🤣
- Some middle stuff happens, but then Gabriel fakes his death (I think to protect Valentina?), gets plastic surgery and then romances her as the new man “Gregor”. Valentina knew it was her Gabriel the whole time, and once he finally admits to it they say “I love you” to each other and get their hea.
𝕳𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊 .
Secondly, what the fuck?
- Why does Valentina call Gabriel “uglier in person” and always talks about his scars. Is he actually physically ugly? We don’t really get a lot about him
- I hate that Gabriel has a teenage daughter with his ex-wife, but I hate even more that the author went to all this trouble to include her in the story and have Valentina form a bond with her only for her to die from a drug overdose?
- While Quincey and Rhett are her guards, why do we not talk about the fact that Rhett KILLED HER DOG?!?
- If Gabriel has such good resources, how does it take him 3 months to track down Valentina (a pregnant, vulnerable, broke woman)?
- I still don’t really get why Gabriel faked his death? The fact that he got plastic surgery to change his appearance but then went and romanced Valentina again is just weird and icky to me. He talks about how his eye no longer droops, etc. SO ONCE AGAIN I ASK… was he ugly or unattractive?
📕📗📘📙📕📗📘📙📕📗📘📙📕📗📘📙📕📗📘
Quick Summary:
- Valentina finds her older brother Charlie (with brain damage) in 400k of debt to a loan shark Gabriel. To prevent him from killing Charlie, Valentina accepts a deal from Gabriel to work off Charlie’s debt for 9 years.
- Furious that Gabriel took Valentina instead of killing her and Charlie, his mother Magda waits for Valentina to inevitably mess up or run away so she can have an excuse to kill her. Gabriel becomes more and more obsessed with Valentina to the point that he replaces her birth control with placebos to get her pregnant (which will also keep Valentina safe from Magda).
- After finding out she is pregnant and believing Gabriel will force her to get an abortion, Valentina runs away. It takes Gabriel 3 months to find her, but things get rocky when his teenage daughter (Carly) finds out about the pregnancy. Right after Valentina and Carly finally start getting along, Carly dies from a drug overdose WTF 🤣🤣🤣
- Some middle stuff happens, but then Gabriel fakes his death (I think to protect Valentina?), gets plastic surgery and then romances her as the new man “Gregor”. Valentina knew it was her Gabriel the whole time, and once he finally admits to it they say “I love you” to each other and get their hea.
𝕳𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊 .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2019
DUBIOUS
Valentina isn’t in a good place, but she is working hard to dig herself out of her circumstances. She’s taking care of her brother who has brain damage, going to school, and working. She’s determined to make it. That is, until she entrusts the wrong person to keep an eye on her brother. Her brother is indebted to a loan shark for a lot of money. Now, she is forced to work for him for nine years. She works for the family as a maid during the day, but she’s at the mercy of Gabriel’s desires at night.
This read is just what the doctor ordered. It’s a dark and steamy story that will take you on a wild ride. The first quarter of the book takes some time to suck you in, but it worked for this story. Things really begin to pick up and you’ll find yourself not wanting to put this book down. You’re going to enjoy this one!
***
CONSENT
Picking up right where this dark read left off, Valentina is running for her life. Gabriel desperately wants her back, but he’s not the only one. Magda finally has all she needs to pull the trigger. Who will find her first? You’ll have to read to find out.
I must say this second installment wasn’t quite as dark as the first. Gabriel’s a changed man, it seems. The ending for this one was perfect for me. This was exactly what I was looking for in my next read. Enjoy!
Valentina isn’t in a good place, but she is working hard to dig herself out of her circumstances. She’s taking care of her brother who has brain damage, going to school, and working. She’s determined to make it. That is, until she entrusts the wrong person to keep an eye on her brother. Her brother is indebted to a loan shark for a lot of money. Now, she is forced to work for him for nine years. She works for the family as a maid during the day, but she’s at the mercy of Gabriel’s desires at night.
This read is just what the doctor ordered. It’s a dark and steamy story that will take you on a wild ride. The first quarter of the book takes some time to suck you in, but it worked for this story. Things really begin to pick up and you’ll find yourself not wanting to put this book down. You’re going to enjoy this one!
***
CONSENT
Picking up right where this dark read left off, Valentina is running for her life. Gabriel desperately wants her back, but he’s not the only one. Magda finally has all she needs to pull the trigger. Who will find her first? You’ll have to read to find out.
I must say this second installment wasn’t quite as dark as the first. Gabriel’s a changed man, it seems. The ending for this one was perfect for me. This was exactly what I was looking for in my next read. Enjoy!
Read
October 3, 2023This duet was so intriguing and it captivated me from the very beginning. Miss Charmaine created such strong, complex characters in Gabriel and Valentina. The plot was exciting and their chemistry was hot. Magda was a character I loved to hate.
Definitely an awesome series! You can’t help but feel love for Valentina and Gabriel. They both have had horrible upbringings but complete opposite circumstances. They don’t shy away from the pain they have faced, instead using it and growing. I throughly enjoyed these 2 books
And of course the HEA was
everything I was rooting for.
This story went far beyond my expectations in every way. I got lost in the believable and intensely emotional story of Gabriel and Valentina. The danger had me biting my nails, the plot was engrossing and realistic, and it was off the charts h-o-t. The author was able to make us feel empathy for even the most deplorable of characters and every person in the story was well developed and nuanced. You understand what drives them and you feel their pain. This was seriously skillful writing. I am so satisfied, but I want more! This is an author to read!
Definitely an awesome series! You can’t help but feel love for Valentina and Gabriel. They both have had horrible upbringings but complete opposite circumstances. They don’t shy away from the pain they have faced, instead using it and growing. I throughly enjoyed these 2 books
And of course the HEA was
everything I was rooting for.
This story went far beyond my expectations in every way. I got lost in the believable and intensely emotional story of Gabriel and Valentina. The danger had me biting my nails, the plot was engrossing and realistic, and it was off the charts h-o-t. The author was able to make us feel empathy for even the most deplorable of characters and every person in the story was well developed and nuanced. You understand what drives them and you feel their pain. This was seriously skillful writing. I am so satisfied, but I want more! This is an author to read!
June 8, 2018
4.5 Stars
Charmaine Pauls is a brand new author to me and one I will be stalking from now on.
The Loan Shark Duet is a gripping read full of drama, twists, hot kinky sexual scenes, love, friendship and betrayal.
Gabriel - A dark, violent man who everyone runs from on sight but a deal he makes changes the whole game and the life mapped out for him.
Valentina - I love this strong feisty woman, she is so caring unselfish and protects what is hers with a strength of steel. Life has dealt her a poor hand and things go from bad to worst but she stands strong and maybe in the end the cards will fall in her favour.
A Dark Romance full of twists, dark themes & hot sex.
January 28, 2020
Excellence!
This story went far beyond my expectations in every way. I got lost in the believable and intensely emotional story of Gabriel and Valentina. The danger had me biting my nails, the plot was engrossing and realistic, and it was off the charts h-o-t. The author was able to make us feel empathy for even the most deplorable of characters and every person in the story was well developed and nuanced. You understand what drives them and you feel their pain. This was seriously skillful writing. I am so satisfied, but I want more! This is an author to read!
This story went far beyond my expectations in every way. I got lost in the believable and intensely emotional story of Gabriel and Valentina. The danger had me biting my nails, the plot was engrossing and realistic, and it was off the charts h-o-t. The author was able to make us feel empathy for even the most deplorable of characters and every person in the story was well developed and nuanced. You understand what drives them and you feel their pain. This was seriously skillful writing. I am so satisfied, but I want more! This is an author to read!
September 22, 2022
OH! Miss Charmaine!!
Missy! You have torn me apart, then ripped those small pieces into even smaller parts, and I am undone!! AUGH!!! Valentina and Gabriel were MADE for each other. My goodness the twists and turns their lives took apart from each other AND together!! I cannot comprehend the “love” that these two knew. And Gabriel’s mother? And I use that word in the least kindest way that I can 🤷🏼♀️. She was one piece of work! Yuck. But you tied it up beautifully with a big blue bow and I absolutely, totally loved all of it. Perfection, thy name is Charmaine Pauls!
Missy! You have torn me apart, then ripped those small pieces into even smaller parts, and I am undone!! AUGH!!! Valentina and Gabriel were MADE for each other. My goodness the twists and turns their lives took apart from each other AND together!! I cannot comprehend the “love” that these two knew. And Gabriel’s mother? And I use that word in the least kindest way that I can 🤷🏼♀️. She was one piece of work! Yuck. But you tied it up beautifully with a big blue bow and I absolutely, totally loved all of it. Perfection, thy name is Charmaine Pauls!
January 6, 2022
Pain and pleasure
Definitely an awesome series! You can’t help but feel love for Valentina and Gabriel. They both have had horrible upbringings but complete opposite circumstances. They don’t shy away from the pain they have faced, instead using it and growing. I throughly enjoyed these 2 books. The sex scenes are H O T!!
Definitely an awesome series! You can’t help but feel love for Valentina and Gabriel. They both have had horrible upbringings but complete opposite circumstances. They don’t shy away from the pain they have faced, instead using it and growing. I throughly enjoyed these 2 books. The sex scenes are H O T!!
January 13, 2021
Incredibly good, compelling and so wonderfully, sensitively told, an absolute "must-read" if you dare and you should not be squeamish. This isn’t for the faint of heart. Without question violent in some details but incredibly romantic and fantastic.
September 26, 2022
Bullseye
Books were riveting, absorbing, entertaining and engrossing. Great admiration for the strength and resilience of Valentina. Gabriel was changed after falling for her and became a much better man. Strongly recommend this dark mafia romance.
Books were riveting, absorbing, entertaining and engrossing. Great admiration for the strength and resilience of Valentina. Gabriel was changed after falling for her and became a much better man. Strongly recommend this dark mafia romance.
January 20, 2026
I AM GLAD MY EX-BOYFRIEND CAME BACK TO ME AND RECONCILED WITH ME AFTER HE BROKE UP WITH ME 5 MONTHS AGO. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
(THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE),
THANKS TO THIS RELATIONSHIP EXPERT...
I recommend_____Robinson.buckler(A)yahoo com
December 30, 2017
4.1 Stars
September 11, 2020
I did not fly but I did not stop either
Good writing, the unrealistic ruined me
Good writing, the unrealistic ruined me
December 7, 2020
Best books ive read in a long time.
December 21, 2020
3.5 stars on both
October 17, 2021
What a mind blowing must read! This duet is dark, sinfully hot and depraved. I loved reading every single word.
January 25, 2023
3.5 stars
May 9, 2023
The emotional heartache 🌼🙂
May 31, 2020
HOLY F*"KING SH*T Batman....I've found a F**KING TRIGGER...
Yup...this book F*"king offended me. It's bad enough punished for someone else's sin unknowingly. When it's known you were the victim of deceit and f**king punished anyway... Grrrr I was so freaking mad that I had to stop at 13%
But... after I cooled down a bit I went back and read it completely. I was glad I did. It was a great story and when I finished reading it, I even went and bought Beauty in the Broken. Loved that too. I will be getting her new Diamond Magnate trilogy but...I'm going to wait until complete. I just HATE waiting.
I came back and editied my review and rating because when I do a book a disservice, I feel the need to correct myself.
Yup...this book F*"king offended me. It's bad enough punished for someone else's sin unknowingly. When it's known you were the victim of deceit and f**king punished anyway... Grrrr I was so freaking mad that I had to stop at 13%
But... after I cooled down a bit I went back and read it completely. I was glad I did. It was a great story and when I finished reading it, I even went and bought Beauty in the Broken. Loved that too. I will be getting her new Diamond Magnate trilogy but...I'm going to wait until complete. I just HATE waiting.
I came back and editied my review and rating because when I do a book a disservice, I feel the need to correct myself.
January 25, 2024
Una di quelle letture da 5 stelle e oltre, verso l’infinito per me!
Non ricordo il primo dark romance che ho letto, ma questo è di gran lunga quello che mi ha rapito il cuore senza più ridarmelo indietro.
Devo ammetterlo, ogni anno faccio nella media 2 o 3 riletture e ogni volta ho la fortuna di provare le stesse emozioni della prima lettura.
La duologia ha tutti i trope a cui io sono più legata, ma è la creazione dei personaggi a rendere tutto magnetico e perfetto a mondo proprio. Gabriel è un mafioso, talvolta gentiluomo ma terribilmente solo; intrappolato in una vita che non ha chiesto, tuttavia la familia va assecondata e protetta. Valentina è una giovane donna, appassionata di animali, che cerca di trovare il suo posto nel mondo, finché non si imbatte in Gabriel e la sua vita cambia per sempre.
La debolezza di Gabriel e il carattere forte e coraggioso di Valentina sono i motivi per cui amo alla follia questa duologia. Se all'equazione aggiungiamo un bambino, nota dolente per molti lettori ma decisamente affascinante per me, l'emozione può solo che aumentare.
Non ricordo il primo dark romance che ho letto, ma questo è di gran lunga quello che mi ha rapito il cuore senza più ridarmelo indietro.
Devo ammetterlo, ogni anno faccio nella media 2 o 3 riletture e ogni volta ho la fortuna di provare le stesse emozioni della prima lettura.
La duologia ha tutti i trope a cui io sono più legata, ma è la creazione dei personaggi a rendere tutto magnetico e perfetto a mondo proprio. Gabriel è un mafioso, talvolta gentiluomo ma terribilmente solo; intrappolato in una vita che non ha chiesto, tuttavia la familia va assecondata e protetta. Valentina è una giovane donna, appassionata di animali, che cerca di trovare il suo posto nel mondo, finché non si imbatte in Gabriel e la sua vita cambia per sempre.
La debolezza di Gabriel e il carattere forte e coraggioso di Valentina sono i motivi per cui amo alla follia questa duologia. Se all'equazione aggiungiamo un bambino, nota dolente per molti lettori ma decisamente affascinante per me, l'emozione può solo che aumentare.
September 17, 2020
Je ne m'attendais vraiment pas à ça!! Très bon et dark comme je les aimes!! L'histoire de Valentina et Gabriel est très originale et émouvante ❤️❤️ ils ont passés beaucoup d'obstacle pour arriver à leur but🖤✨
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