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30 Days #1
30 Days of Pain
A monster doesn't know how to love.
But maybe she can teach him...
If he doesn't break her first.
WILLOW
My uncle handed me over as collateral for a $5 million debt...
And the beast who claimed me knows no mercy.
I don't know if he has a soul, or if I can melt his frozen heart.
Sergei is a Russian mob boss, a cruel, evil man who draws pleasure from my pain.
My time to find the man inside the monster is running out.
If I don't save him, I won't be able to save myself.
SERGEI
Willow is just a pawn in my war against the Toporov family.
A delicious, sexy little pawn I can't wait to hurt in all the ways I know by heart.
I'm going to make her every nightmare come true.
But Willow has a hidden fire. She has a tender heart.
Too bad for her... Because I'm about to put her light out.
I'm about to make sure she never, ever loves me.
This is a dark romance, complete with trigger warnings! Part 1 of a 3 part series.
No cheating, HEA guaranteed at the end of the series. If you love heartbreaking cliffhangers, one-click now!
But maybe she can teach him...
If he doesn't break her first.
WILLOW
My uncle handed me over as collateral for a $5 million debt...
And the beast who claimed me knows no mercy.
I don't know if he has a soul, or if I can melt his frozen heart.
Sergei is a Russian mob boss, a cruel, evil man who draws pleasure from my pain.
My time to find the man inside the monster is running out.
If I don't save him, I won't be able to save myself.
SERGEI
Willow is just a pawn in my war against the Toporov family.
A delicious, sexy little pawn I can't wait to hurt in all the ways I know by heart.
I'm going to make her every nightmare come true.
But Willow has a hidden fire. She has a tender heart.
Too bad for her... Because I'm about to put her light out.
I'm about to make sure she never, ever loves me.
This is a dark romance, complete with trigger warnings! Part 1 of a 3 part series.
No cheating, HEA guaranteed at the end of the series. If you love heartbreaking cliffhangers, one-click now!
176 pages, Paperback
Published October 24, 2017
627 people are currently reading
616 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
April 28, 2022
I really want to give this 5 stars because of the sex scenes but Thirty Days of Pain isn't just smut but a dark mafia romance so I feel like I also have to give the plot a bit more consideration. Also I do have some issues.
Ginger Talbot is the author of the fantastic series, Blue-Eyed Monsters, about a psychopathic serial killer/billionaire and his latest toy. Thirty Days of Pain is about a sadistic Russian mafia hero who uses the heroine as a pawn for his revenge against her uncle.
What I like about how Talbot writes captor/captive stories where the hero asserts his power over the heroine i.e. you do what I tell you, no clothes etc. that kind of thing is that I can relate to the heroine psychology. In Blue-Eyed Monsters, the heroine went through different strategies before ultimately succumbing as a toy for a hot minute. In Thirty Days of Pain, the heroine hates the hero but has her eyes on the prize. She won't do anything stupid while she is in servitude because she wants to get back to help her cousins.
At the same time, she does recognize her betraying body, and conflict ensues.
I didn't realize this was under 200 pages but the switch from enemy to lover was a little abrupt. All of a sudden, the heroine pines for the hero. Why can't he just be nice all the time to her instead of hot and cold? Meanwhile, we also find out the hero does have a soft spot for the heroine. That, in fact, the first time he saw her he had a thing for her. I'm not big into revenge plots when the hero acknowledges that he does actually like the heroine in the beginning. Makes the revenge even more flimsy as a plot device.
So while the sexual scenes were full of chemistry, I wanted just a chapter more or two to flesh out that transition from enemies and strangers to someone they want to get to know.
I shelved it under BDSM due to scenes with toys and punishments. I also shelved it under slave and master because the hero makes the heroine address him as sir.
Coming off Talbot’s Blue Eyed Monsters series, I felt this hero was lighter but both heroes are dark and do bad things to the heroine. Physical violence, slapping of the face when the hero is angry with the heroine, and public displays/humiliation up to a limit.
I might read the next book because it does end on a bit of a cliffhanger. We still don't know what the heroine's uncle specifically does to the hero but it has to do with his attempted death and his brother's definite murder.
Ginger Talbot is the author of the fantastic series, Blue-Eyed Monsters, about a psychopathic serial killer/billionaire and his latest toy. Thirty Days of Pain is about a sadistic Russian mafia hero who uses the heroine as a pawn for his revenge against her uncle.
What I like about how Talbot writes captor/captive stories where the hero asserts his power over the heroine i.e. you do what I tell you, no clothes etc. that kind of thing is that I can relate to the heroine psychology. In Blue-Eyed Monsters, the heroine went through different strategies before ultimately succumbing as a toy for a hot minute. In Thirty Days of Pain, the heroine hates the hero but has her eyes on the prize. She won't do anything stupid while she is in servitude because she wants to get back to help her cousins.
At the same time, she does recognize her betraying body, and conflict ensues.
I didn't realize this was under 200 pages but the switch from enemy to lover was a little abrupt. All of a sudden, the heroine pines for the hero. Why can't he just be nice all the time to her instead of hot and cold? Meanwhile, we also find out the hero does have a soft spot for the heroine. That, in fact, the first time he saw her he had a thing for her. I'm not big into revenge plots when the hero acknowledges that he does actually like the heroine in the beginning. Makes the revenge even more flimsy as a plot device.
So while the sexual scenes were full of chemistry, I wanted just a chapter more or two to flesh out that transition from enemies and strangers to someone they want to get to know.
I shelved it under BDSM due to scenes with toys and punishments. I also shelved it under slave and master because the hero makes the heroine address him as sir.
Coming off Talbot’s Blue Eyed Monsters series, I felt this hero was lighter but both heroes are dark and do bad things to the heroine. Physical violence, slapping of the face when the hero is angry with the heroine, and public displays/humiliation up to a limit.
I might read the next book because it does end on a bit of a cliffhanger. We still don't know what the heroine's uncle specifically does to the hero but it has to do with his attempted death and his brother's definite murder.
November 29, 2017
This is a dark romance and may not be for the faint of heart. There are scenes that involve intense punishment but not forced sex. It is the first installment of three and ends on a cliffhanger, so be prepared. That said, it was an addictive read! When Willow is forced to spend 30 days with Sergei as collateral, she knows that she will suffer. However, she is willing to sacrifice herself to protect her young cousins. However, nothing goes as planned. She does suffer but not in the way she expected. Her suffering comes more from the mixed feelings she has for her damaged captor. Definitely looking forward to the next installment.
December 5, 2017
This book annoyed me. The main female character, Willow, annoyed me. I spent so much time rolling my eyes, my eyes now hurt and I think I saw my brain. This type of story has been beat to death. He's a complete a**hole to her but she can't help but be attracted. Her vajayjay becomes Niagara Falls whenever he's around. Come on! When are female authors gonna write a book with strong female leads? We constantly get these soft, pliant women who are treated like they're nothing better than a cum dumpster. I love kickass women in books! A woman is capable of being kickass and still be soft for that one special guy.
January 6, 2018
Thirty days of pain is the first book in a trilogy. It's a Kindle Unlimited set.
Willow loves her family even if they are a little unconventional. Her Uncle is a mobster and has a debt of 5 million dollars and the collection wants a guarantee. Willow for 30 days until he gets his money.
Sergei owns Willow for 30 days. He isn't a kind man and he isn't a fair man. He takes what he wants, until Willow. For some reason, her approval makes him happy. Weakness isn't an option he must be strong.
This book is a little disturbing. If you like whips and chains with a side helping of story, then this book will be for you. 4 stars out of 5.
Willow loves her family even if they are a little unconventional. Her Uncle is a mobster and has a debt of 5 million dollars and the collection wants a guarantee. Willow for 30 days until he gets his money.
Sergei owns Willow for 30 days. He isn't a kind man and he isn't a fair man. He takes what he wants, until Willow. For some reason, her approval makes him happy. Weakness isn't an option he must be strong.
This book is a little disturbing. If you like whips and chains with a side helping of story, then this book will be for you. 4 stars out of 5.
November 2, 2017
Cliffhanger
Ok, I am pissed. I don't read series until all books are out. There was no mention that I saw it this being a 3'part story! Sorry, won't be reading the rest of this August again!
Ok, I am pissed. I don't read series until all books are out. There was no mention that I saw it this being a 3'part story! Sorry, won't be reading the rest of this August again!
July 11, 2022
I feel like I have read this exact story several times!!! Despite that, I pressed on, forcing myself to ignore how positively the female captive responded to her captor.
April 6, 2022
This is a new to me author. She takes the Russian mafia meanness next level. It’s a bit darker than most . Usually by 80 % in I actually find something about a dark H that I like -BUT- Sergio is just an a hole and I can’t find anything likable about him at all in Book 1. I’ve read other D/s trope books where the H slaps and chokes the h and it worked because they weren’t doing it in anger. Sergio slaps Willow in the face hard in the face 3 times then chokes her out leaving severe swelling l, bruising and a bleeding lip… bad enough to require a visit from a nurse and heavy duty pain meds. All that said if none of that bothers you there was a good amount of character development for so few pages and the story had good pacing, good storyline and good writing.
May 18, 2018
This dark romance lacked a psychological background for me. It was too superficial and not really believable. The interpersonal and psychological behaviour is fiction at its best. Idiotic.
Too stereotypical when it comes to both characters and those types are over used, as well.
He is a bad and cruel alpha mafioso on a mission, made by his dramatic abuse in the past. She is an absurd female character, that I have had enough of. A doormat with a martyr complex, and a body and especially a vagina she can’t control in his presence. Idiotic. Idiotic.
Too stereotypical when it comes to both characters and those types are over used, as well.
He is a bad and cruel alpha mafioso on a mission, made by his dramatic abuse in the past. She is an absurd female character, that I have had enough of. A doormat with a martyr complex, and a body and especially a vagina she can’t control in his presence. Idiotic. Idiotic.
January 5, 2018
Thirty days of pain is the first book in a trilogy. It's a Kindle Unlimited set.
Willow loves her family even if they are a little unconventional. Her Uncle is a mobster and has a debt of 5 million dollars and the collection wants a guarantee. Willow for 30 days until he gets his money.
Sergei owns Willow for 30 days. He isn't a kind man and he isn't a fair man. He takes what he wants, until Willow. For some reason, her approval makes him happy. Weakness isn't an option he must be strong.
This book is a little disturbing. If you like whips and chains with a side helping of story, then this book will be for you. 4 stars out of 5.
Willow loves her family even if they are a little unconventional. Her Uncle is a mobster and has a debt of 5 million dollars and the collection wants a guarantee. Willow for 30 days until he gets his money.
Sergei owns Willow for 30 days. He isn't a kind man and he isn't a fair man. He takes what he wants, until Willow. For some reason, her approval makes him happy. Weakness isn't an option he must be strong.
This book is a little disturbing. If you like whips and chains with a side helping of story, then this book will be for you. 4 stars out of 5.
February 22, 2018
★★★
***
Me habría gustado más de no ser por las reacciones traicioneras del cuerpo de Willow. Por una vez quería que la heroina no se dejara llevar por su lujuria y su síndrome de estocolmo y pusiera un poco de pelea genuina, no por show. Aunque admito que me gustó esta primera parte por lo real que se sintió Sergei con respecto a toda la oscuridad que llevaba dentro.
Es raro conseguir un dark-romance en donde el protagonista masculino le haga verdadero daño a la chica. .
El final me dejó con ganas de seguir leyendo. Me hace cuestionar hasta dónde es capaz de llegar Sergei con tal de completar sus planes de venganza.
***
***
.
La serie debe ser leída en orden.
"Sweet little Willow... so pure and clean. I've stained her with my darkness, which means I'm part of her, now and forever."
***
Me habría gustado más de no ser por las reacciones traicioneras del cuerpo de Willow. Por una vez quería que la heroina no se dejara llevar por su lujuria y su síndrome de estocolmo y pusiera un poco de pelea genuina, no por show. Aunque admito que me gustó esta primera parte por lo real que se sintió Sergei con respecto a toda la oscuridad que llevaba dentro.
Es raro conseguir un dark-romance en donde el protagonista masculino le haga verdadero daño a la chica. .
El final me dejó con ganas de seguir leyendo. Me hace cuestionar hasta dónde es capaz de llegar Sergei con tal de completar sus planes de venganza.
***
"I have destroyed yet another Toporov. She's a dead woman walking. She just doesn't know it yet."
***
.La serie debe ser leída en orden.
November 18, 2017
4 Painful Stars
At first I wasn't feeling Willow, she was so eager to be with him, so calm and accepting. Sergi was bad and mean to her, I was taken aback because usually you are that they change to be nice and living and even though Sergi started having feelings for her he did not change. Which I liked, and then when Willow changed into a fighter...l loved this story even more...This is for readers who like the dark side of love
At first I wasn't feeling Willow, she was so eager to be with him, so calm and accepting. Sergi was bad and mean to her, I was taken aback because usually you are that they change to be nice and living and even though Sergi started having feelings for her he did not change. Which I liked, and then when Willow changed into a fighter...l loved this story even more...This is for readers who like the dark side of love
May 26, 2019
Warning: super dark
I feel I need to open this review with a warning about this book: it is very, very dark. Triggers: non-con, graphic physical abuse, reference to non-con of minors ("off-screen").
Ok, now that we've covered that, on to the review.
While I found the writing to be good, and the storyline involved enough to hold my interest, I can't say I loved this book. I still gave it four stars in spite of this because my personal tastes don't have anything to do with whether it is a technically good book, which I think it is. I just find physical abuse at the hands of the would-be "hero" to be a hard limit for me. Thus, if you asked me to rate it 1-5 purely on how much I liked the book that rating would certainly be lower than a four.
I AM still going to read the next book to find out what happens, but I'm hoping that the level of brutality is reduced in book two.
I don't see how this could turn into a dark romance. It is currently a dark thriller for me. I hate Sergei. I hate him. I wouldn't feel bad if he were killed in the first scene of the next book. In fact, that would make me pretty happy. I see nothing redeeming in him. I don't care that he had a hard childhood. His treatment of Willow is inexcusable. He's awful.
Whatever happens in the remainder of this series, I hope Willow ends up happy. And I hope Sergei ends up miserable. At least permanently injured/deformed in some way. Perhaps his hands/arms deformed so he can't beat Willow any more? That would be nice.
Anyway, it IS a "good" book from a technical standpoint (good pace, etc.) if you are ok with this subject matter. If so, then I recommend it to you. If this subject matter is outside of your comfort zone you might want to skip it.
I feel I need to open this review with a warning about this book: it is very, very dark. Triggers: non-con, graphic physical abuse, reference to non-con of minors ("off-screen").
Ok, now that we've covered that, on to the review.
While I found the writing to be good, and the storyline involved enough to hold my interest, I can't say I loved this book. I still gave it four stars in spite of this because my personal tastes don't have anything to do with whether it is a technically good book, which I think it is. I just find physical abuse at the hands of the would-be "hero" to be a hard limit for me. Thus, if you asked me to rate it 1-5 purely on how much I liked the book that rating would certainly be lower than a four.
I AM still going to read the next book to find out what happens, but I'm hoping that the level of brutality is reduced in book two.
I don't see how this could turn into a dark romance. It is currently a dark thriller for me. I hate Sergei. I hate him. I wouldn't feel bad if he were killed in the first scene of the next book. In fact, that would make me pretty happy. I see nothing redeeming in him. I don't care that he had a hard childhood. His treatment of Willow is inexcusable. He's awful.
Whatever happens in the remainder of this series, I hope Willow ends up happy. And I hope Sergei ends up miserable. At least permanently injured/deformed in some way. Perhaps his hands/arms deformed so he can't beat Willow any more? That would be nice.
Anyway, it IS a "good" book from a technical standpoint (good pace, etc.) if you are ok with this subject matter. If so, then I recommend it to you. If this subject matter is outside of your comfort zone you might want to skip it.
July 22, 2018
1.75 stars. Sergei is not my idea of an alpha male. An alpha male hero doesn’t Get physical with women outside of the bedroom and degrade them in front of other people on purpose. He’s sickly deranged. Willow is a martyr without a cause. The more you read the more she’s irritating. Playing innocent and trying to save others whilst trying to grow balls and be more like him. The author wrote so many things that made me cringe and roll my eyes. It also doesn’t make sense how quickly he developed emotions and feelings being that he is a sadistic sociopath with no empathy. Check this:
“Oh no, Sergei. We’re done. If you want to force yourself on me, I will lie there and take it because you are physically stronger than me. I used to love it when you fucked me. You like hearing me say dirty words, don’t you? Motherfucker. Yes, I loved it when you kissed me. When you touched me. But when you dragged my cousins into this mess and didn’t even have the balls to admit it, you made me sick to my stomach. So if you’re into necrophilia, go ahead, because you’re basically going to be fucking a dead body.”
“Oh no, Sergei. We’re done. If you want to force yourself on me, I will lie there and take it because you are physically stronger than me. I used to love it when you fucked me. You like hearing me say dirty words, don’t you? Motherfucker. Yes, I loved it when you kissed me. When you touched me. But when you dragged my cousins into this mess and didn’t even have the balls to admit it, you made me sick to my stomach. So if you’re into necrophilia, go ahead, because you’re basically going to be fucking a dead body.”
November 29, 2017
Whoa. What. Did. I just read?!!???? I'm usually not one to shy away from any type of book...
But...this...I'm shocked, I'm disgusted, horrified, and if I'm being honest...i LOVED this book. If you have ANY kind of triggers don't even think about reading this book! It's probably got just about every kind of trigger you can think of.
I had not read Ginger Talbot before this...but she's going to the top of my list now. Although I'm not ok with many aspects to this book I'm not gonna lie and say I wasn't hooked and couldn't put it down.
Willow is one hell of a strong woman. I can't even imagine going through what she has in just one month and coming out as strong as she did. Sergei is one f-ed up monster who I'm not sure if I hate or love yet.
But...this...I'm shocked, I'm disgusted, horrified, and if I'm being honest...i LOVED this book. If you have ANY kind of triggers don't even think about reading this book! It's probably got just about every kind of trigger you can think of.
I had not read Ginger Talbot before this...but she's going to the top of my list now. Although I'm not ok with many aspects to this book I'm not gonna lie and say I wasn't hooked and couldn't put it down.
Willow is one hell of a strong woman. I can't even imagine going through what she has in just one month and coming out as strong as she did. Sergei is one f-ed up monster who I'm not sure if I hate or love yet.
Read
June 8, 2019Re-read 06/08/19 - DNF @ 41%
First read 11/03/17 - Did not rate
This was another book that I read before I had GR and didn’t remember. Upon a re-read, I can conclude it’s not memorable for a reason. I’m not a fan of the writing style, the pacing was off, it was heavily narration-based, and it lacked development and explanation for events that occurred. While it is a dark book that involves forced seduction and dub-con, it wasn’t nearly as gripping or horrifying as I expected due to the pacing that caused a lack of caring about the heroine, Willow. She also suffers from “wanting my captor’s dick” syndrome approximately 2.5 seconds into the story. Not for me and I won’t be bothering with a re-read of the rest of the series.
First read 11/03/17 - Did not rate
This was another book that I read before I had GR and didn’t remember. Upon a re-read, I can conclude it’s not memorable for a reason. I’m not a fan of the writing style, the pacing was off, it was heavily narration-based, and it lacked development and explanation for events that occurred. While it is a dark book that involves forced seduction and dub-con, it wasn’t nearly as gripping or horrifying as I expected due to the pacing that caused a lack of caring about the heroine, Willow. She also suffers from “wanting my captor’s dick” syndrome approximately 2.5 seconds into the story. Not for me and I won’t be bothering with a re-read of the rest of the series.
November 27, 2017
Very slow and boring
I could not get into this book. It had moments, but then fell flat. Willow is annoying and became more irritating the more I read. Only made it to 59%.
I could not get into this book. It had moments, but then fell flat. Willow is annoying and became more irritating the more I read. Only made it to 59%.
September 5, 2019
Willow es una joven que vive una vida llena de comodidades junto con sus tíos y sus primos hasta que Sergei aparece en su vida.
Su tío la engaña y le dice que tiene que ir a trabajar para Sergei como una asistente como garantía,ya que le debe 5millones a Sergei.Ella acepta,temiendo que entreguen a unos de sus primos pequeños en vez de a ella,y como será sólo durante un mes.
Sergei la humilla,la golpea y la aterroriza pero también le atrae de una manera que hasta a ella le parece que está perdiendo la cabeza.
Cuando ha pasado medio mes,Sergei le dice que su tío ha huido a Rusia,dejando a su familia y a ella atrás para que lidien ellos con Sergei.
Sergei se muda a la casa del tío de Willow para hacer saber a este que tiene el control de su familia,de su casa y de casi todo el que era antes su territorio.
Hasta que 3 días antes de cumplirse el mes,Jon,un ex guardaespaldas de su tío,que ahora supuestamente trabaja para Sergei,los saca de la casa para devolvérselos a su cruel tío.
Con ganas de leer la segunda parte.
Su tío la engaña y le dice que tiene que ir a trabajar para Sergei como una asistente como garantía,ya que le debe 5millones a Sergei.Ella acepta,temiendo que entreguen a unos de sus primos pequeños en vez de a ella,y como será sólo durante un mes.
Sergei la humilla,la golpea y la aterroriza pero también le atrae de una manera que hasta a ella le parece que está perdiendo la cabeza.
Cuando ha pasado medio mes,Sergei le dice que su tío ha huido a Rusia,dejando a su familia y a ella atrás para que lidien ellos con Sergei.
Sergei se muda a la casa del tío de Willow para hacer saber a este que tiene el control de su familia,de su casa y de casi todo el que era antes su territorio.
Hasta que 3 días antes de cumplirse el mes,Jon,un ex guardaespaldas de su tío,que ahora supuestamente trabaja para Sergei,los saca de la casa para devolvérselos a su cruel tío.
Con ganas de leer la segunda parte.
November 1, 2017
4 Stars
This is definitely on the darker side, which I love! I was unsure at first but once I started reading I didn't put it down. My mind is reeling with what's going to happen next. I read a lot so sometimes books are predictable so when I find one I haven't figured out its like a pot of gold!!! Cannot wait for book two.
This is definitely on the darker side, which I love! I was unsure at first but once I started reading I didn't put it down. My mind is reeling with what's going to happen next. I read a lot so sometimes books are predictable so when I find one I haven't figured out its like a pot of gold!!! Cannot wait for book two.
November 28, 2017
Exciting dark romance. This is book one of a trilogy.
Willow parents are dead and she lives with her Uncle Vilyat and Aunt Anastasia, along with their two children, Yuri and Helenka. She knows her family does bad and evil things and she hopes to one day escape with Yuri and Helenka. After hearing her aunt and uncle argue about a man named Sergei who expects to be paid what he feels he is owed and he plans on taking one of her uncle's children as collateral, Willow offers to take the place of the child for the thirty days. Sergei really already had it planned that he would take Willow he knew she would never let any harm come to get cousins. Willow is under the impression that she will be Sergei's assistant for thirty days. The instant she is in the back of the car with Sergei he quickly makes her understand that she is there for his pleasure and he plans to humiliate her, degrade her and hurt her. If she's lucky he might grant her pleasure once in a while. This book is a dark romance and it certainly should be mentioned that there should definitely be trigger warnings because it's not for the faint of heart. That said it is an excellent beginning to the trilogy and I would definitely recommend it as a must read. The second book in this trilogy is available now and it's called Thirty Days of Shame and should be read after this book.
Willow parents are dead and she lives with her Uncle Vilyat and Aunt Anastasia, along with their two children, Yuri and Helenka. She knows her family does bad and evil things and she hopes to one day escape with Yuri and Helenka. After hearing her aunt and uncle argue about a man named Sergei who expects to be paid what he feels he is owed and he plans on taking one of her uncle's children as collateral, Willow offers to take the place of the child for the thirty days. Sergei really already had it planned that he would take Willow he knew she would never let any harm come to get cousins. Willow is under the impression that she will be Sergei's assistant for thirty days. The instant she is in the back of the car with Sergei he quickly makes her understand that she is there for his pleasure and he plans to humiliate her, degrade her and hurt her. If she's lucky he might grant her pleasure once in a while. This book is a dark romance and it certainly should be mentioned that there should definitely be trigger warnings because it's not for the faint of heart. That said it is an excellent beginning to the trilogy and I would definitely recommend it as a must read. The second book in this trilogy is available now and it's called Thirty Days of Shame and should be read after this book.
December 29, 2017
Wow the title sums this book up nicely - it’s dark, addictive, twisted and disturbing. This books ends on a cliffhanger - so be prepared - don’t let that put you off though because this is definitely one of those series you don’t want to miss a minute of.
Sergei was broody, dark, dangerous and enjoys inflicting pain. His character was intriguing and the author caught his inner battle beautifully.
Willow was everything a strong heroine should be - strong, independent, caring and sassy. The things Sergei does to her left me feeling utterly cold - I sensed her pain, helplessness yet admired her fighting spirit to open the heart of a man drowning in his own darkness.
This book has heavy punishment scenes so please be prepared. The sex is consensual but gets rough in places.
Im definitely adding this author to my favourite list.
November 21, 2017
I am hooked and not at all happy to have to wait for the rest. However, that’s not the point of this review. I absolutely loved everything about this book: the heroine and hero, the buildup of characters and their backstories, and the graphic description of the sex scenes. I mean it when I say I can’t wait to read more of Sergei and Willow; they are such a fun couple: especially the way she eggs him on knowing full well how he will react. Yes, he is quite sadistic but Willow is the other side for him and he really needs her...and I can’t wait until he accepts that fact. They complement each other in every way. It’s an easy 5+ Stars from me for this book; What a storyline and what a couple!
November 3, 2017
I don't give 5 stars often
I read different genres of books. My favorites are MC romances, dark romances and recently mafia romances. Since mafia books are new reads for me, it takes effort for the authors to keep my attention. Some of the stories I have read have had bad storylines. This book kept me interested. I couldn't turn my Kindle pages fast enough. The storyline was intriguing and flowed so well. I felt like I was in their world,/ experiencing everything Willow did. I wanted to understand Sergei. I do believe that he cares about Willow. He can be so cruel at times. I can't wait for the next book. Well done Ms. Talbot
I read different genres of books. My favorites are MC romances, dark romances and recently mafia romances. Since mafia books are new reads for me, it takes effort for the authors to keep my attention. Some of the stories I have read have had bad storylines. This book kept me interested. I couldn't turn my Kindle pages fast enough. The storyline was intriguing and flowed so well. I felt like I was in their world,/ experiencing everything Willow did. I wanted to understand Sergei. I do believe that he cares about Willow. He can be so cruel at times. I can't wait for the next book. Well done Ms. Talbot
December 27, 2017
I tried the story again and it’s decent. I’m headed to read book two...
3 stars!
3 stars!
June 3, 2018
3.5 stars. I like it but not love it. The story moves along well. At times I think we need more of Sergei's POV to understand him. I read quite a bit dark erotica and at this point I just find Sergei to be an utter asshole. He's not just a sadist, but abusive. So, I find it hard to want a HEA for them.
That said, I want to know what happens next so I will read the next book.
That said, I want to know what happens next so I will read the next book.
September 21, 2018
I can’t understand how this book received so many high ratings. He literally beat her up! Beat Willow up! That’s love? I just can’t possibly fathom how that could possibly be attractive. This is an abusive relationship. No, no, no!
April 7, 2019
Didn’t enjoy this story. Could not get into it. Neither the hero nor heroine were interesting, a lot of boring machismo from the hero
October 8, 2018
A SOLID 4.5 STARS!
WOW! THIS WAS QUITE SENSATIONAL. IT HAS EVERYTHING YOU CAN EXPECT TO FIND FROM A STORY LIKE THIS BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE CHARACTERS SPOKE THEIR OWN CHARISMA AND I WAS SUCKED INTO THIS FICTIONAL WORLD AND READ FINISH THE ENTIRE TRILOGY WITHIN A NIGHT.
THIS REVIEW IS BASED ON THE ENTIRE TRILOGY.
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.
THE MAIN LEAD comes from a poor, traumatic background where he has grown up eating scraps off the floor like a stray dog, begging for food, being beaten, abused and alas being sold into sex trafficking. Yes, he was raped as a child but it doesn't break him. The only breaking point for Sergei was the death and rape of his younger brother whom he cared for tremendously. His baby brother was his world after their coked up mother passed up on them and their father was nowhere to be found - just another drunk who uses his fists on his victims. Sergei makes a vow to make it to the top and avenge his brother's death. In truth, he's not an evil man. Is he bad? Yes. But does he have redeeming qualities that still make him a redeemable human being? Yes. One look at Willow and he knows he has to have her. Through manipulation, he managed to have her under his roof for the next thirty days and she's all his to do with. Sergei may blow hot and cold at times, and as crazy as it sounds I actually wished that he fell a little slower for Willow. I really did enjoyed the angst that came with their love-hate yet passionate and sultry moments. It may be hard for Sergei to open up, but it doesn't stop his heart from craving Willow and it shows through his actions even if he has a hard time to commit.
OUR HEROINE is a meek mouse who turns into a ferocious lioness. I got quite shocked when I realized how physical she can get. She's often throwing stuff at Sergei's head OR slapping at him like a wild cat....it's a bit too much for me...I mean, seriously was that necessary? Anyway, Willow is a selfless young woman who sacrifices much of herself for the sake of her aunt and so called cousins. She's good with children, a testament when she meets a little Czech boy in Sergei's home. Willing to be her uncle's collateral to the scary Russian man, she's bewildered and betrayed by the fact that she's there to be his personal sex slave and dolly. But, I liked how she tested the water with Sergei - knowing her limits, and how much freedom will he allot her. I also liked her hidden strength that shines through when least expected, though I wished she wouldn't relent to Sergei's painful whippings (the non sexual kind) and fed him the information he demanded. It's all about Give and Take with them both, although that was more on the sex dept. Relationship wise, Willow undoubtedly pushes Sergei into a zone he's not comfortable with and that's the dynamic part of this story.
OVERALL I do like the characters and the story itself was almost forever changing, you won't know what's going to happen next because after one bad guy, comes another. And the characters will continue to change in terms of their behaviour, lives and influences around them. It wasn't a DEAD, cardboard story for sure.
WOW! THIS WAS QUITE SENSATIONAL. IT HAS EVERYTHING YOU CAN EXPECT TO FIND FROM A STORY LIKE THIS BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE CHARACTERS SPOKE THEIR OWN CHARISMA AND I WAS SUCKED INTO THIS FICTIONAL WORLD AND READ FINISH THE ENTIRE TRILOGY WITHIN A NIGHT.
THIS REVIEW IS BASED ON THE ENTIRE TRILOGY.
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.
THE MAIN LEAD comes from a poor, traumatic background where he has grown up eating scraps off the floor like a stray dog, begging for food, being beaten, abused and alas being sold into sex trafficking. Yes, he was raped as a child but it doesn't break him. The only breaking point for Sergei was the death and rape of his younger brother whom he cared for tremendously. His baby brother was his world after their coked up mother passed up on them and their father was nowhere to be found - just another drunk who uses his fists on his victims. Sergei makes a vow to make it to the top and avenge his brother's death. In truth, he's not an evil man. Is he bad? Yes. But does he have redeeming qualities that still make him a redeemable human being? Yes. One look at Willow and he knows he has to have her. Through manipulation, he managed to have her under his roof for the next thirty days and she's all his to do with. Sergei may blow hot and cold at times, and as crazy as it sounds I actually wished that he fell a little slower for Willow. I really did enjoyed the angst that came with their love-hate yet passionate and sultry moments. It may be hard for Sergei to open up, but it doesn't stop his heart from craving Willow and it shows through his actions even if he has a hard time to commit.
OUR HEROINE is a meek mouse who turns into a ferocious lioness. I got quite shocked when I realized how physical she can get. She's often throwing stuff at Sergei's head OR slapping at him like a wild cat....it's a bit too much for me...I mean, seriously was that necessary? Anyway, Willow is a selfless young woman who sacrifices much of herself for the sake of her aunt and so called cousins. She's good with children, a testament when she meets a little Czech boy in Sergei's home. Willing to be her uncle's collateral to the scary Russian man, she's bewildered and betrayed by the fact that she's there to be his personal sex slave and dolly. But, I liked how she tested the water with Sergei - knowing her limits, and how much freedom will he allot her. I also liked her hidden strength that shines through when least expected, though I wished she wouldn't relent to Sergei's painful whippings (the non sexual kind) and fed him the information he demanded. It's all about Give and Take with them both, although that was more on the sex dept. Relationship wise, Willow undoubtedly pushes Sergei into a zone he's not comfortable with and that's the dynamic part of this story.
OVERALL I do like the characters and the story itself was almost forever changing, you won't know what's going to happen next because after one bad guy, comes another. And the characters will continue to change in terms of their behaviour, lives and influences around them. It wasn't a DEAD, cardboard story for sure.
July 15, 2025
This was disappointing in the sense that I did not get the same reading experience as her other books.
The book was not long enough to flesh out two full plots at the same time. (Their time while she is captive and the over all plot)
So everything felt over saturated rushed. Also willow had weird knowledge about things that she shouldn’t. Like we as the reader are privy to things about Sergei that she is not yet she references those exact things in her pov . For example we know Sergei had a really terrible childhood with starvation, torture, possibly sa. Later when she is trying to get under his skin she keeps telling him that whatever happened to him as a child wasn’t his fault. She even called him a whore( which again there has not yet been confirmation on if he was sa but there were vibes hinting to it in some of his pov)
So like instead of assuming he’s just a deadly mobster who is doing deadly mobster stuff in the name of being a mobster, she’s like no, he stroked my hair once so he’s a good person deep down who obviously loves me and I must break through to him. Girl..,
Willow was annoying. He would literally beat her, like bust her face up but did she ever shut up? No. But she did immediately forgive him and cum on his weewee 5 seconds later because he looked at her less hateful for two seconds and she was pretty sure that meant he loved her…
They didn’t even spend a total of like 10 days together in the 30 days. They spent it all avoiding each other . So that was stupid. No time for any connections or bonds to build other then the pretend ones in willows head.
Yea he did want her and was secretly in love with her BUT HW LITERALLY NEVER GAVE HER THAT INDICATION. If we didn’t have his pov we wouldn’t believe for a second he cared.
So the romance was not existing it was all just fabricated by willow who once again somehow had information only privy to the readers.
Then our stupid bitch, escapes. Yay but not really bc she doesn’t have two brain cells to rub together .
She knows her uncle will not take her back after being sullied by an enemy family. She knows her uncle beats the shit out of his wife. She knows that her uncle tried selling his 11 year old daughter to sex slavery along side her. But she is so desperate to get away from Sergei that she accepts help from one of her uncle’s undercover men. Who claims her uncle just wants his family back. So her along with the aunt and kids escape.
Then she , realizes it’s a trap. Gets away from that guy only to find out the money her uncle sent was fake. Duh. And suddenly the only person to call his Sergei.. she tells him she wants to come back and he says no BUT LIKE WHY WOULD YOU WANT RO GO BACK???
The book was not long enough to flesh out two full plots at the same time. (Their time while she is captive and the over all plot)
So everything felt over saturated rushed. Also willow had weird knowledge about things that she shouldn’t. Like we as the reader are privy to things about Sergei that she is not yet she references those exact things in her pov . For example we know Sergei had a really terrible childhood with starvation, torture, possibly sa. Later when she is trying to get under his skin she keeps telling him that whatever happened to him as a child wasn’t his fault. She even called him a whore( which again there has not yet been confirmation on if he was sa but there were vibes hinting to it in some of his pov)
So like instead of assuming he’s just a deadly mobster who is doing deadly mobster stuff in the name of being a mobster, she’s like no, he stroked my hair once so he’s a good person deep down who obviously loves me and I must break through to him. Girl..,
Willow was annoying. He would literally beat her, like bust her face up but did she ever shut up? No. But she did immediately forgive him and cum on his weewee 5 seconds later because he looked at her less hateful for two seconds and she was pretty sure that meant he loved her…
They didn’t even spend a total of like 10 days together in the 30 days. They spent it all avoiding each other . So that was stupid. No time for any connections or bonds to build other then the pretend ones in willows head.
Yea he did want her and was secretly in love with her BUT HW LITERALLY NEVER GAVE HER THAT INDICATION. If we didn’t have his pov we wouldn’t believe for a second he cared.
So the romance was not existing it was all just fabricated by willow who once again somehow had information only privy to the readers.
Then our stupid bitch, escapes. Yay but not really bc she doesn’t have two brain cells to rub together .
She knows her uncle will not take her back after being sullied by an enemy family. She knows her uncle beats the shit out of his wife. She knows that her uncle tried selling his 11 year old daughter to sex slavery along side her. But she is so desperate to get away from Sergei that she accepts help from one of her uncle’s undercover men. Who claims her uncle just wants his family back. So her along with the aunt and kids escape.
Then she , realizes it’s a trap. Gets away from that guy only to find out the money her uncle sent was fake. Duh. And suddenly the only person to call his Sergei.. she tells him she wants to come back and he says no BUT LIKE WHY WOULD YOU WANT RO GO BACK???
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2018
Thirty Days of Pain
Thirty Days of Shame
Thirty Days of Hate
by Ginger Talbot
I am voluntarily reviewing this ARC.
As I started to read this book, well all three books, I knew I was in for a journey. It’s a story of life being born into a mob family. The curtains are pulled back on the horrors and atrocities that take place, especially to women and children. There were moments that I had to sit back and hope and pray that this only lives within the mind of the author, but sadly, I don’t think that is true.
The love that blooms between Sergei and Willow is conflicting at best, especially for me in my suburban life. However, as I separate myself and my sensibilities, and peek at a possible other life, I can see how their story is heartbreakingly beautiful.
One of the things I love about these books is the internal struggle that Willow has over her feelings for Sergei. It’s evident that the author knows, this is not norm, nor should it be. The character knows it is inappropriate and weird for lack of a better word. I love that the author doesn’t try to sell out Willow, to make is seem that it’s ok to be in a relationship with a man like Sergei and as long as a man shows some redeeming quality, us weak women have to forgive and forget. I despise when I read books like that. Books where subtly or not so subtlety, the woman is some how blamed for infidelity or abuse of some kind. It’s not that it doesn’t exist. I understand that, but I love that in these books, it’s pondered and not blamed or excused.
Here is a quote from the book that I felt was compelling.
“I’m built from different materials then I was led to believe. It’s like I was told I was fashioned from gold, but it was really lead. Everything that I thought was true about myself is a lie. I feel different from the inside out. I’ll start to forget, I’ll start to feel a little better, and then it comes rushing back to me and I feel disgusting all over again.”
This is a difficult book to read, but extremely compelling. I am giving it 5 stars out of 5 because this author is amazing. These characters are beautiful.
This love story is epic.
I will say, I read all of these books all in a row, I think that made it enjoyable to me. I would hate to be on a cliff hanger with these charachters.
Thirty Days of Shame
Thirty Days of Hate
by Ginger Talbot
I am voluntarily reviewing this ARC.
As I started to read this book, well all three books, I knew I was in for a journey. It’s a story of life being born into a mob family. The curtains are pulled back on the horrors and atrocities that take place, especially to women and children. There were moments that I had to sit back and hope and pray that this only lives within the mind of the author, but sadly, I don’t think that is true.
The love that blooms between Sergei and Willow is conflicting at best, especially for me in my suburban life. However, as I separate myself and my sensibilities, and peek at a possible other life, I can see how their story is heartbreakingly beautiful.
One of the things I love about these books is the internal struggle that Willow has over her feelings for Sergei. It’s evident that the author knows, this is not norm, nor should it be. The character knows it is inappropriate and weird for lack of a better word. I love that the author doesn’t try to sell out Willow, to make is seem that it’s ok to be in a relationship with a man like Sergei and as long as a man shows some redeeming quality, us weak women have to forgive and forget. I despise when I read books like that. Books where subtly or not so subtlety, the woman is some how blamed for infidelity or abuse of some kind. It’s not that it doesn’t exist. I understand that, but I love that in these books, it’s pondered and not blamed or excused.
Here is a quote from the book that I felt was compelling.
“I’m built from different materials then I was led to believe. It’s like I was told I was fashioned from gold, but it was really lead. Everything that I thought was true about myself is a lie. I feel different from the inside out. I’ll start to forget, I’ll start to feel a little better, and then it comes rushing back to me and I feel disgusting all over again.”
This is a difficult book to read, but extremely compelling. I am giving it 5 stars out of 5 because this author is amazing. These characters are beautiful.
This love story is epic.
I will say, I read all of these books all in a row, I think that made it enjoyable to me. I would hate to be on a cliff hanger with these charachters.
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