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"I'm not your enemy, Quinn. And I'm sure as hell not your prince charming, so stop looking at me like you're not sure which one I am."

Six years he's been gone, and then he falls straight into my bed. Literally. And I know my torment is only beginning. 


I waited my whole life for Zee St. James to open his eyes and see me. But Port Clover's official bad boy would never view me as anything more than his best friend's little sister. 

He shattered my heart into thousands of pieces when he left. And I spent years trying to forget him. Trying to banish the memory of that one kiss. 

I thought I'd moved on. But when he comes crashing back into my life, or rather my apartment - the one he still owns - I'm defenseless against him. 

Just when I think I might finally get my happily ever after, a web of secrets and betrayal threaten to unravel the hope I finally found in his arms. 

And I'm faced with the soul-baring question: Is loving Zee worth the torment he inflicts? 

Torment is the first, stand-alone novel in the brand-new Savages and Saints series, and a spin off of the Wild Irish series from Amazon Bestselling Author C.M. Seabrook 

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 24, 2018

559 people are currently reading
451 people want to read

About the author

C.M. Seabrook

21 books1,078 followers
Amazon bestselling author C.M. Seabrook writes hot, steamy romances with possessive bad boys, and the passionate, fiery women who love them. Swoonworthy romances from the heart!



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Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
Profile Image for Katy Patton.
123 reviews1 follower
April 26, 2018
Holy Zee

This was a beautiful story. Quinn has been in love with Zee since she has been in her teens and he has had her back since. But Zee has such a troubled dark soul that he wont allow anyone in. Quinn wont stop until she breaks Zee's walls down and little by little she does and he falls in love with her but Zee had done something screwed up behind his brothers back so he pushes away everyone that loves him away. Finally he comes clean and Kade, Quinn's brother forgives him and he realizes maybe he deserves happiness and Quinn's love. . . It was a beautiful love story I loved it first book by C.M Seabrook and loved it!!!
Profile Image for Syndi.
3,717 reviews1,043 followers
July 22, 2018
i feel like i am watching a soap opera. that never ending whose baby is it?? good god! its very weary listening to the audiobook

there is no chemistry between zee and quinn. i do not know why they attract each other. i do not feel any connection with quinn at all. she is needy and annoying.

good thing its short. 2 stars
Profile Image for EpicRomanceReviews.
768 reviews142 followers
February 19, 2018
❤~🌟~❤5 ANGST-RIDDEN STARS! ❤~🌟~❤

“I’m not your enemy, Quinn. And I’m sure as hell not your prince charming, so stop looking at me like you’re not sure which one I am.”

Eeeep! I am a sucker for best friend's little sister tales...and TORMENT by C.M. Seabrook packed a wallop with this first standalone installment in her scintillating new Savages and Saints series, a spinoff to her uber popular Wild Irish trilogy. So if you are looking for scorching hot, angst-ridden love story with ALL THE FEELS, featuring a tortured alpha hero and the starry-eyed girl who’s loved him for an eternity, then you are going to be on cloud nine!

THE STORY:
Quinn Savage has been in love with her older brother Kade’s best friend, Zee St. James, forever, and in the emotional aftermath of Zee’s father’s funeral, a moment of comfort offered to the broody bad boy of her dreams ends in a forbidden kiss that rocks her world! But Zee is in a world of pain and anguish and instantly regrets taking “advantage” of Q’s innocence and cruelly pushes her away. He rubs salt in the wound even further when he leaves town with nary a goodbye, finding fame and fortune as lead guitarist in the AutoCorrect band, only to crash and burn when the lifestyle catches up with him and he eventually hits rock bottom.

Now he returns to their hometown of Port Clover six years later, clean and sober, hoping to right past wrongs and banish his demons once and for all. But when a tipsy Quinn comes home, strips off her clothes and slips between the sheets, only to find the boy who smashed her heart to smithereens sleeping in HER BED, to say sparks fly aplenty is an understatement! However, despite all the hurt and pain he inflicted on her and his loved ones, she can’t help but still be drawn to the devastatingly handsome Rock God who once starred in her every teenage fantasy! But can she allow Zee close enough to break her heart a second time—especially when a soul shattering revelation comes to light that threatens to implode all their worlds?

MY MUSINGS:
Gah! THE ANGST! THE PASSION! THE PATHOS! THE SCANDAL! THE LOVE AGAINST ALL ODDS! Holy eff…this book had it all!!! C.M. Seabrook excels at intertwining drama, tortuous push-pull, aching emotion and sizzling sensuality so seamlessly that you get a full bodied story with no shortcuts along the way!

I just love me a tale of a broody bad boy hero whose heart is mended by the angelic good girl who's always been out of reach, and TORMENTED checked off all those boxes AND THEN SOME. This beautifully penned book hooked me from the wrenching prologue—and had me breathlessly turning the pages till the very end! The story is exquisitely crafted, chock full of swoony romance, palpable sexual tension, complex, multi layered characters and a gripping plotline that just RESONATES! I got so many heartachy feels, chills and goosebumps throughout and there were some shiver-inducing twists and turns that I never saw coming!

I just adored this couple! You feel their soul-deep connection from the very start, and due to their rich backstory, Zee and Quinn have a ton of rooting value! I love the forbidden love setup of this story, where Zee, the gruff, ruggedly gorgeous black sheep town outcast, who has burned many bridges along the way, has to get through the heroine’s four fiercely overprotective older brothers in order to stake a claim on the girl who has always owned a piece of his tattered heart. But despite their sizzling chemistry, Zee comes with SO MUCH BAGGAGE and it’s anyone’s guess how he will be able to reconcile the past in order to embrace the future. My heart just BROKE for this poor guy who carried around so much guilt and regret and recrimination and feels unworthy of love. Especially an angelic beauty like Quinn who he knows deserves so much better than what he has to offer. But for some unfathomable reason she chose HIM!

Quinn is probably my favorite CM Seabrook heroine to date: she is a sweet and loyal, feisty and fun-loving girl next door type with roots firmly planted in Port Clover. I love how she always puts family and friends above all else, and I ESPECIALLY adore how she fights for her man even at the expense of her own heart.

I found the slow smolder between the MCs to be absolutely delicious! It takes them a while to finally give into their magnetic attraction but when these two finally surrender to temptation, you WILL. FEEL. THE. BURN! The sex scenes were not only incredibly tantalizing but infused with poignant, hearthrobbing emotion!

I don’t want to delve too much into plot because there are some major bombshell revelations dropped along the way that are guaranteed to gut you, but at its core, TORMENT is a soul stirring story about fighting for love, AGAINST ALL ODDS, even when it hurts! However, even though this book has plenty of angst, I also found it fun and flirty, sweet and heartwarming. And I also thoroughly enjoyed the Port Clover small town vibe, where tongues are always wagging, and I thought the big boisterous St. James and Savage clans, who always band together in good times and bad, added oodles of juicy drama, and love and laughter, into the mix.

BOTTOM LINE:
TORMENT is another C.M. Seabrook masterpiece, and think it’s is a wonderful start to a stellar new series! I relished every single moment of this best friend’s little sister tale--I swooned. Sighed. Cried. Rejoiced. And, yup, the ending left me with a bit goofy smile on my face!
Profile Image for Get Your Book On.
212 reviews16 followers
February 24, 2018
Wow, just freaking wow!!! C.M. Seabrook has once again delivered a fantastic emotion packed romance! She keeps outdoing herself when it comes to her writing, so much so that I’m once again going to say that this is her best work to date.

I loved EVERYTHING about it!

I absolutely adore Quinn. She’s not afraid to be who she wants to be, regardless of what people think. She wants what she want and has no regrets. And what she wants most in life is her older brother’s best friend, Zee St. James. That is until he leaves town.

Fast forward six years, and Zee is back and he’s far from perfect. He’s made mistakes. Huge ones. He broken by his past, and feels unworthy and unloved. But Quinn refuses to just stand by and watch her dream man walk away again. But will his mistakes be too much for her to handle? You’ll have to read it to find out for yourself.

But before you do, make sure you have a box of tissues on hand. Do you know how hard it is to ready and cry at the same time. It’s difficult. I cried too often with this book. Tears of sadness and happiness flowed freely, and often.
681 reviews6 followers
June 3, 2023
Es ist mein erstes Buch der Autorin und ich muss sagen es lies sich mega gut lesen. Es hatte alles was ein gutes Buch braucht, Humor und doch eine gewisse Schwere. Ich mochte die Charaktere sooo gerne. Ich ziehe einen Stern ab denn ein klein wenig hat gefehlt um mich ganz vom Hocker zu hauen. Dennoch freue ich mich sehr auf den zweiten Band.
Profile Image for Jessi.
1,248 reviews42 followers
August 10, 2023
Meinung:

Vielen Dank an den Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar!

Ein fernes Donnergrollen lässt einige der Anwesenden mit stoischer Miene gen Himmel blicken, dann werden mehr als ein dutzend schwarzer Regenschirme aufgespannt.

Das Cover strahlt Rockstar-Romance aus, wobei es nicht sehr viel um Musik geht und Zee auch nur so halb in der Band ist. Trotzdem erreicht es, denke ich, die richtige Zielgruppe, auch wenn die Gitarre vielleicht irreführend ist.

Der Schreibstil der Autorin war sehr gut und angenehm zu lesen. Das Buch ist in der Ich-Perspektive geschrieben und es gibt sowohl Kapitel aus Zee’s, als auch aus Quinn’s Sicht. Dadurch lernt man beide Charaktere besser kennen.

Zu Beginn lernt man Quinn kennen, die schon immer auf Zee stand. Dieser hat vor Jahren die Stadt verlassen, doch jetzt ist er wieder da und bringt ihre Gefühle durcheinander. Zee selbst sieht sich nicht als Ritter in glänzender Rüstung und will nur alles in Ordnung bringen, um dann wieder zu gehen. Nur ist es diesmal schwerer für ihn.

Der Einstieg in das Buch ist mir sehr leicht gefallen. Man liest von der Vergangenheit, von dem Tag an dem Zee ging und wie es Quinn damit ging. Dadurch hat man gleich einen guten Eindruck von den beiden und weiß, wie ihre Vergangenheit ausgesehen hat. Danach geht es in der Gegenwart weiter. Quinn ist glücklich, obwohl sie noch an Zee denken muss und ich fand ihre Einstellung zum Leben echt gut.

Generell mochte ich Quinn sehr gerne, auch wenn ich es etwas extrem finde jeden Kerl auch noch nach sechs Jahren mit Zee zu vergleichen. Diese Fixierung kann nicht gesund sein. Abgesehen davon mochte ich, dass sie so selbstbewusst war und sich auch nahm was sie wollte. Manchmal hätte ich gerne diese Einstellung von ihr.

Zee mochte ich lange Zeit nicht so gerne. Er wäre eigentlich ein guter Kerl, wenn er sich nicht selbst als der größte Arsch auf Erden sehen würde und sich selbst für Dinge bestraft, für die er gar nichts kann. Sein Verhalten ist selbstzerstörerisch und er lässt keinerlei Freude in seinem Leben zu. Das fand ich einerseits traurig und andererseits etwas zu viel aufgetragen, auch wenn ich ihn doch verstehen konnte. Zusammen mit Quinn hatte er aber schöne Momente und da blitzte ein anderer Zee durch.

Das Buch ist recht kurz, aber dennoch passiert wirklich viel und ich hatte nie das Gefühl, dass hier irgendwas zu schnell geht oder zu wenig Aufmerksamkeit bekommt. Lange weiß man nicht, was Zee eigentlich vor hat und somit blieb eine gewisse Grundspannung erhalten. Dadurch, dass sich Quinn und Zee schon lange kennen ist es auch nicht verwunderlich, dass sich zwischen ihnen nicht erst alles von Grund auf entwickeln muss, sondern schon eine Anziehung besteht, das hat natürlich auch alles beschleunigt.

Ich mag es ja sehr, wenn Protagonisten eine große Familie haben und Quinn hat gleich vier Brüder, von denen zwei sehr präsent sind. Ich liebe es, wenn die großen Brüder auf die kleine Schwester aufpassen und mit Kade und Abbott hatten wir gleich zwei Extreme. Abbott will alles Übel von Quinn fernhalten und Kade will nur, dass sie glücklich ist. So haben sich oft sehr gute Situationen ergeben, mit Abbott eher wilde und mit Kade ruhige und romantische, immer dann, wenn sie Quinn in eine bestimmte Richtung schuppsen wollten.

Die Liebesgeschichte fand ich realistisch, dadurch, dass Quinn früher schon in Zee verknallt war, ist es von ihrer Seite aus klar. Bei ihm merkt man sexuelle Spannung, aber schon bald wird klar, dass da mehr ist. Ich fand es nicht zu schnell, höchstens am Ende, weil da ging wirklich alles sehr flott. Da wäre es gut gewesen, wenn sie mehr Zeit zusammen gehabt hätten, bevor alles so schnell und überstürzt passiert, das hat mir nicht so gefallen.

Fazit:

In der Kürze liegt die Würze, oder so. Das Buch ist wirklich nicht lang, aber ich kannte schon Bücher der Autorin und fand sie gut, so war es auch hier. Es wurden einige tollen Themen eingebaut und auch behandelt, man sollte sich aber trotzdem nicht den teifgründigsten Roman ever erwarten. Man wird gut unterhalten und bekommt einige heiße Szenen, außerdem kam am Ende ein bisschen Spannung dazu. Ich mochte das Buch und vergebe 4 Sterne.
Profile Image for Doris.
3,617 reviews138 followers
March 2, 2018
Quinn had a crush on her big brother’s best friend since she was a young girl but Zee St. James knew that he would never be the man that would be good enough for her. Even after that kiss with Zee and he took off and he never returned back home until years later did she think she would ever have another chance with the man that owned her heart whether he liked it or not. Zee had lived a hard life since he left. Making it big on the rock scene and nearly killing himself with all of the drugs and booze he could hoping to numb everything he had done in his life.

After nearly dying and his stint in rehab it was time to come home and come clean with everyone he had wronged. It just happened that those people happened to be the most important people in his life were ones he betrayed. Quinn wanted to help Zee by helping him realize that it was time to stop running and fight for what was best.

I loved this story because it was so well written that you felt the torment that Zee was going through and it had you hoping that Quinn would not be left yet again by a man she believed in. I’m already hooked on this series and can’t wait to read what Ms. Seabrook has in store for Kade.

I received this book as an ARC for a freely given and honest review.
Profile Image for Judy Robichaud.
268 reviews18 followers
April 24, 2018
¸.•´★`*•.¸¸.•´★`*•.¸¸.•´★`*•.¸¸.•´★`*•.¸¸.•´★`*•.¸¸.•´★`*•.¸
★★★★ ★★★TORMENT DELIVERS!!! ★★★★ ★★★
`*•.¸★¸.•*´`*•.¸★¸.•*´`*•.¸★¸.•*´`*•.¸★¸.•*´★`*•.¸¸.•´★¸.•

Torment is an angsty story of Zee, a broken man whose past is scarred by secret indiscretions, mistakes and bad choices and the guilt and fallout that comes along with that, a present filled with regret, shame and TORMENT and the need to make amends and do the right thing and a future marked with hope, redemption, forgiveness and the love of a good woman….. and that would be Quinn.

Quinn, a woman who heart is overflowing with unconditional love and shows him, that sometimes…….. you can go home again.

Kudos to the author for throwing in some humor as well. The "BOB" scene was freaking hilarious and had me laughing out loud... Loved that......

This book is a fantastic 5 STAR start to the Savages and Saints Series by one of my all-time favorite authors, C.M. Seabrook. If you haven’t yet, don’t miss out and grab your copy of Torment and take the journey with Zee & Quinn……

I loved this book and so will you. I can’t wait for Kade’s story in Gravity, book 2 of the series. He was one of my favorite characters in Torment. ★★★★★
Profile Image for Diane (Books and Tequila Blog).
1,519 reviews71 followers
June 8, 2018
Emotional Second-Chance Romance.
Torment is a brother’s best friend, and an emotional second chance at love story. It is book 1 in the Savages and Saints series which is a sort of spin off of the Wild Irish series, but can be read completely as a standalone.

“Already I can feel my darkness pulling its heavy weight across my soul. If only there was a way to live in the sun.”

Zee St James ran off abandoning 18 yr old Quinn leaving her with only the memory of his kiss. He left with burdens and when he returns he arrives with more secrets to be revealed.

“I can’t love someone who, despite his confession, doesn’t love me. Because love fights. It struggles. It perseveres through the worst storms and comes out stronger.
The only thing Zee has to offer me is torment.”

I was able to listen to this on audiobook and really enjoyed the narration. It definitely brought the story to life for me.
-4 Stars-
1,305 reviews122 followers
April 13, 2023
3.5 stars
Small town Romance\Dark dramatic love story with a backdrop of twisted familial ties harboring secrets,abuse,drug abuse and infidelity.
Profile Image for Tammy.
1,586 reviews2 followers
April 29, 2019
3.5 stars.
Secrets. I can't stand secrets as a plot device, no matter how good the book may be otherwise.
Profile Image for Shelley.
736 reviews25 followers
May 29, 2021
A really enjoyable solid read. Tortured bad boy and younger girl crushing on her brothers best friend. Although typical genre has a good plot twist to keep you hooked
Profile Image for Ana Rita.
1,772 reviews41 followers
February 26, 2018
Things have been good for me regarding books. I mean... Every single book that I've read I've loved it so much and then I get a new one and I'm on cloud nine.
Books are piling up so fast that I can't keep up with them but I'll try.
C. M. Seabrook is a to go author for me and her books are getting better and hotter by the minute. Her writing is hot, intense, wild and sweet.
Once I know that she has a new book I'm always on board to read it because she's that amazing.
Torment is the first book from the Savages and Saints series and I couldn't start it fast enough.
This book tells the stories of Zee and Quinn.
But let me just say that you need to read Wild Irish series, because despite they are all standalones this new series is a spin off from that one. Trust me. You won't regret it.
Zee was always trouble. The day his father was buried he up and left his life behind. Drugs and booze left their mark in him and he hit rock bottom. Being in a famous band can be good but it can bring some bad stuff as well. After being sober for almost 1 year he decides to get back to his hometown. And now what?
Quinn saw her heart being broken the day her teen crush rejected her and up and left without a tail. She knew he was off limits being not only older but also because he was her older brother best friend. But we can't choose the one we fall in love to. After 6 years she's trying to get back on her feet trying to pay her debts and doing something with her life.
Sweet lord... This book is something special.
The plot is magnificent, engaging, intense, raw and so real. It's beautiful the way that this author could turn something so dark into something so amazing.
The interation between the characters is raw, beautiful, intense. Jeez these two are stubborn as hell. He, because his demons keep hunting him and her because her love is stronger than everything.
The story progressed in a way so beautiful, so heartfelt that I saw myself wanting to enter the book and hold them. Of course that we have some hilarious scenes that will make you laugh hard. Lol
And guess what? The hot scenes are to die for. They are intense and super hot... Get ready...
Oh C. M. You nailed it. This book is freaking amazing and I can't get enough of it. And guess? I want more. Please tell me that Kade and Abbott will have their own stories? Please...
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Profile Image for Ulla.
202 reviews7 followers
June 1, 2023
Von klein auf ist Quinn in Zee verliebt, aber für ihn wahr sie wie eine kleine Schwester, die er versucht zu beschützen, bis zu den Moment als er sie küsste und dann war er weg. Sechs verdammte Jahre versucht Quinn ihn zu vergessen, was erfolglos ist bis zu der Nacht als er durch Zufall unbewusst in ihrem Bett landet und so entfacht er wieder aufs neue ihre Gefühle. Beide versuchen Abstand zu halten aber das ist leichter gesagt als getan, die Anziehung und die verborgenen Gefühle sind stark und brodeln um an die Oberfläche zu kommen...



Als ich das Buch bekommen habe, wusste ich nicht so genau auf was ich mich einlasse, weil die Autorin unbekannt für mich ist. Ich bin froh, dass ich es lesen durfte, mit der Geschichte hat mich die C M Seabrook überzeugt, und ich konnte das Buch nicht aus der Hand legen.

Die Story ist sehr spannend aber auch sehr emotional, große Gefühle die Achterbahn fahren, schöne erotische Momente die toll beschrieben sind. Beide Protagonisten erleben Höhen und Tiefen.



Quinn ist von ihren Brüdern behütet aufgewachsen, sie sind eine großartige Familie, jedoch jeder hat ein Päckchen zu tragen, der eine mehr und der andere weniger. Sie liebt den Bad-Boy seit sie ein Kind war, aber er erwidert ihre Liebe nicht. Obwohl sie viele Jahre von dem Musiker, der Schlagzeilen über viele Eskapaden macht, nichts hört, schlägt ihr Herz immer noch für ihn.



Zee macht Karriere als Musiker, aber die Drogen, der Sex, und Alkohol treiben ihn beinahe in den Abgrund, er kehrt zurück, um den Dämonen zu entkommen, die ihn seit der Vergangenheit verfolgen. Er möchte die Sachen erledigen, die ihn quälen ….

Quinn ist schon immer das Licht für ihn gewesen. Jedoch er möchte sie nicht verletzen und hält Abstand zu ihr ..

Ein schöner und flüssiger Schreibstil macht das Lesen angenehm. Klasse Protas, die ich manchmal schütteln wollte, wie aber auch die neben Charaktere, die wirklich gut beschrieben und dargestellt sind. Die Story ist aus beiden Sichten geschrieben, so konnte ich alles verstehen und nachvollziehen. Es ist eine Klasse Story, die ich sehr empfehlen kann und freue mich auf Kade.
Profile Image for Sophie Koufes.
1,994 reviews27 followers
October 31, 2019
Audio Review:
Torment (Savages and Saints, Book 1) is a second chance romance with a best friends little sister twist. A beautiful tale about love & family unveiling the truth about the past. Character's are compelling with complex personalities. The history, secrets and lies along with supporting character's bring tons of angst. The writing style is expressive. The ending happily ever after trails into book two which is Cades love story. Looking forward to listening to the next audio in this series.


Narators Gunnar Qualen, Jenna St. Claire duet narration was perfect. This was my first time listening to these two narators and I am looking forward to listening to more audiobooks narated by them. Gunner's inflection is deep and gravelly which fit the narrative. Jenna's inflection is passionate & sweet smoothing with all the right sentiments. Tranquil listen.
Profile Image for Christine.
457 reviews29 followers
February 23, 2018
Torment by C.M. Seabrook is a sexy, brothers best friend romance that gives all the feels you want in a great romance. Let's be honest the cover and blurb hooked me at first but Seabrooks writing had the perfect pace and flow to catch and keep me addicted, chapter after chapter. Torment is told in dual POV telling the tale of Quinn & Zee who grew up in a small ocean side town of Port Clover. Zee: the rock-star with a problem and Quinn: the small town girl who's happy working in her brothers bar. These characters stole my heart and took me on a wild ride that I didn't want to end. I can't wait for the next book in this series after meeting this tight-knit group. 5 Stars for Torment by C.M. Seabrook

*** Reviewed for Sweet & Spicy Reads - ARC provided for an honest review ***
Profile Image for Tammy Bulcao.
918 reviews11 followers
June 9, 2019
Great Book!!
I’m new to this author as well as the narrators, what a great combination.
I loved this story. The characters are genuine and storyline kept me intrigued.
This is book 1 in this series and I’m super excited to read/listen to book 2.
The narration was amazing and sexy. I would definitely recommend this book.
Profile Image for Nicole.
1,839 reviews39 followers
March 10, 2018
I loved this book from start to finish! The chemistry between Quinn and Zee isall kinds of hot and electric and sexy, the dialogue comes across as natural, not all weird and stilted. The secondary characters (especially Lola, that girl is hilarious!) round out the story in a great way.
Profile Image for Book Lovers  Down Under.
264 reviews11 followers
April 2, 2019
Confused

I bought this from a blurb I read and clicked the link. But the blurb I read was nothing like this book. Hence why confused. It was a good story anyway but I really want to read the blurb book. Lol. Hope you all enjoy it too. Thanks.
Profile Image for Lylian.
625 reviews1 follower
February 24, 2018
Amazing! Wonderful! Hot, full of emotion, intense.... didn’t I mention hot?!?! Quinn and Zee made the perfect storyline. Unmissable book! Highly recommend it
Profile Image for Karen.
1,558 reviews16 followers
March 2, 2018
It is an intriguing emotional romance. It has twists and turns, great characters that have chemistry, and written well. I enjoyed reading this book.
Profile Image for Megan.
1,469 reviews29 followers
February 27, 2018
Quinn has loved Zee her whole life and despite the hurt and the six-year separation, she can't seem to shake her feelings. No man she dates can measure up, no man tears her up or torments her heart the same way. And when she finds him in her bed one night she can't deny that despite him making her crazy, she'd like to keep him there.

Zee knows Quinn has had a crush on him for most of their lives and somewhere deep inside he knows that it's her adoration that lights his heart. But he also knows that the darkness eclipses everything and ruins everyone he touches. His penchant for running away is the only thing that can truly break her heart and he'll do it because the one thing he knows above all else is that he's unworthy of love.

They've led a long life together but always on the periphery of one another. With the two families intricately connected it was inevitable, but what wasn't was the fallout after the St. James patriarch's death. Zee doesn't handle it well and his mistakes are all catching up with him. Even after six years of being gone there's nowhere else he can run without trying to make it up to everyone he's hurt. Except no matter how hard he tries he seems to only be successful at mucking it all up and then pulling a runner.

If it weren't for Quinn he'd be out the door right away but there's something about her that keeps him there. He won't admit that he yearns for her but with her permission he'll give her all the passion she craves with the caveat that it can't be permanent. Quinn accepts because she'll take anything she can get from the man who could very easily become her whole world.

I liked these people. Quinn was full of sass and stubborn as an ox but so very full of love. Through everything it's her love and willingness to see beyond the pain that makes me love her. She's immature at times but that kind of adds to her charm. Zee is such a martyr. But he doesn't even martyr well. He's full of self-loathing and a lot of it is with good reason. He needs a lot of help to work beyond all that to right his wrongs. I like him because he's redeemable and the way he is with Quinn when he's not being a prick is so tender and full of hope. I'm looking forward to seeing them on the periphery of the rest of the series. As the first coupling from these families they've brought together the Savages and Saints in a way that will provide fodder, angst, and incredible feels throughout the subsequent books.

Willingly read and reviewed this ARC from the author.
Profile Image for Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog).
5,880 reviews213 followers
February 24, 2018
Torment is an angsty, brother's best friend romance.

Quinn has been in love with her brother's best friend, Zee, for as long as she can remember. He's like a member of the family, but she sees him as something more, something she can't help but see him as. But, Zee thinks of her as his little sister. Or does he? Because he lays a serious kiss on her one night, then disappears for years. Until he comes back home and stirs all those feelings up in her again. Feelings she doesn't want to still have, but doesn't really fight.

I wanted to love Torment, but I just couldn't. I liked the premise, brother's best friend is so my thing, but I just couldn't get into the whole push and pull Zee put Quinn through. I'm afraid that I never felt their connection to be strong enough for Quinn to put herself through the torment of loving Zee. I knew she loved Zee, but I never felt it, and I definitely did not feel Zee's feelings. Sure, what they had is hot, but love? Not sure about that, at least not on Zee's part.

I liked Quinn, but she was entirely too much of a doormat for Zee. And Zee was a dick. Not purposely, but still, he dicked Quinn around so much, and even when he knew he was hurting her, he didn't stop. His running away when things got tough got really old, really quickly. I felt bad for his inner torment, but I didn't like him and I didn't like the way he treated Quinn.

Still, although I didn't connect with Quinn and Zee and their story, the world they inhabit is interesting and I'm looking forward to more of this series. At the very least, Quinn's brothers should be more entertaining than Quinn and Zee were.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Rellim.
1,676 reviews43 followers
July 9, 2019
KU. Parts of this were good, other parts not so much. I’m rounding to 3 because I feel like 2 is too harsh ~ but it’s more like 2.5.

The “big secret” wasn’t hard to figure out (I saw it coming in the first chapter) which made having to read 70% of the book for the confession and another 10% to get the truth... way. too. long.

Zee & Quinn have sex. Multiple times. But there’s *nothing* building an actual relationship between them. They don’t actually date, and if you remove internal dialogue ~ they barely talk. One or two confessions doesn’t make up for all the damage or the 6 years of no contact. The author does very little to prove that Zee has truly healed and has a good shot at being what Quinn needs. Frankly, I’m on “Team Abbott” in regards to having huge reservations that this is a good idea.

As far as the “grand gesture” ~ it’s still just throwing money at past mistakes. Which is all Zee has done to atone for all the wrongs he’s committed. With the abrupt wrap up, this feels like a HFN instead of a HEA.

Some of the secondary characters are pretty compelling and I might continue with the series. I’m feeling fairly invested in Kane.
Profile Image for Bellereader.
733 reviews52 followers
February 25, 2018
Quinn and Zee have both had trials but their paths have finally brought them back together. Quinn life is filled with her overprotective brothers, boring dating life, and dreams for something more. The minute she kissed Zee St James all those years ago and he turned away from her and left town and never looked back, she lost the man she loved and the life she dreamed of with him. Zee can only classify his life as a exercise in screwups. One colossal mistake after another has shaped his life and now it's time to own up to faults. Back home for the first time in years he knows that he his revelations are going to blow apart his sleepy hometown. The moment he sees Quinn again every single emotion he tried to bury resurfaces. Something about her brings him peace, something he craves but doesn't deserve. He knows he has nothing to offer her, but he is helpless to ignore the passion he feels for her. But with the his secrets and demons what hope does he have at keeping her?

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book.
Profile Image for Nance.
1,603 reviews116 followers
February 26, 2018
This was a quick read that rapidly got my attention from the first page. Zee is a broken man as he’s made quite a few mistakes in his twenty-nine years. From the time he was a young boy to adulthood, he has felt the guilt time and time again. But, that doesn’t stop the young woman, Quinn from loving this damaged man. Unfortunately for Quinn, Zee doesn’t see himself worthy of her, so he runs quite often. Will Zee ever decide to stay? And, when a painful truth is unexpectedly exposed, will Quinn be able to forgive Zee?

Oh, this was a sad one. So many hurtful mistakes were made. But, Quinn and Zee’s love was real. He just had a hard time accepting the fact that he was worthy and he could truly love her too. She loved him since like forever, and that wasn’t changing anytime soon. Their intense relationship just made for a pretty entertaining read. My first book by this author, and I look forward to more...

And, that cover!!! WOW!!! Simply Gorgeous!!
Profile Image for L.
206 reviews
January 5, 2019
I love angsty books. I love the heart wrenching, soul crushing books that make me feel ALL the feelings. So when I come across books that seem to be just that I get excited, however in this case my excitement didn’t last long. Torment wasn’t a bad book but it wasn’t the angsty book I was expecting. I felt the author spent too much time on the buildup of the secrets that once it all came to light the reader already knew what to expect and the book ended up falling flat for me.
Profile Image for AmaraSummer.
107 reviews
June 11, 2023
Zweite Chancen

„Savages and Saints - Zee“ erzählt die Geschichte von Quinn Savage und Zee St. James. Sie war als Teenager unglücklich in Zee St. James verknallt und ist mit seinem Verschwinden nie klargekommen. Er verschwand vor sechs Jahren aus seiner Heimatstadt und steht nun vor den Scherben seines Lebens. Das Buch wurde von der kanadischen Autorin C.M. Seabrook geschrieben und ist 2023 als eBook im LYX Verlag (Bastei Lübbe) erschienen. „Savages and Saints - Zee“ ist der erste Band der „Savages and Saints“ Reihe. Das englische Original ist unter dem Titel „Torment“ erschienen.

Quinn Savage ist die Cousine von Makena Fraser (Wild Irish - Shane: Band 3 der Wild Irish Trilogie). Mit ihren 24 Jahren ist sie eine junge Frau, die einerseits über ein erstaunliches Rückgrat verfügt, die sich anderseits aber auch zu sehr von ihren Emotionen leiten lässt. Mir hat gefallen das sie nicht auf den Mund gefallen ist und sich gegenüber ihren 4 älteren Brüdern behaupten kann. Was mich stellenweise gestört hat war ihre unnötige Sturheit, mit der sie nur sich selbst und ihrem Glück in Weg steht. Quinn ist eine Frau, die mit ganzem Herzen liebt und das hat sie mir sympathisch gemacht. Überraschenderweise konnte ich sowohl ihr Verhalten als auch ihre Entscheidungen bis zum Schluss nachvollziehen.

Zee St. James wirkt im ersten Moment wie der typische Bad Boy, der keine Grenzen kennt, wenn es darum geht Spaß zu haben. Als Rockstar hat er sein Leben in vollen Zügen genossen und das mit den „Sex, Drugs and Rock'n'Roll“ ein bisschen zu exzessive gelebt. Mir hat gefallen, dass er im Laufe der Geschichte erkennt, dass er Fehler gemacht hat und dass es manchmal mehr als nur Geld braucht, um sie wiedergutzumachen. Meiner Meinung nach durchläuft er eine größere Entwicklung als Quinn und lernt dabei nicht nur sich selbst besser kennen. Zee war mir auf Anhieb sympathisch und ich muss sagen, dass ich seine dunkle Ausstrahlung faszinierend und anziehend zugleich finde. Auch sein Verhalten und seine Entscheidungen konnte ich bis zum Schluss nachvollziehen.

Mein einziger Kritikpunkt ist die stellenweise fehlende Handlung. Ja, die Geschichte hat einen gut erkennbaren roten Faden und die Autorin hat sich auch an den für das Genre typischen Verlauf gehalten. Leider gab es im Laufe der Geschichte ein paar Momente, die für meinen Geschmack zu dürftig beschrieben wurden oder die die Autorin komplett übersprungen hat. Manchmal hat man dann in einem Nebensatz erfahren was passiert ist manchmal hat aber selbst das gefehlt. Damit hatte die Geschichte für mich nicht alle Fragen beantwortet.

Die deutsche Übersetzung von C.M. Seabrooks Schreibstil ließ sich flüssig lesen. Die Wortwahl hat für mich zum Genre gepasst. Die Geschichte wird abwechselnd aus der Sicht von Quinn und Zee erzählt. Das Buch wurde in der ersten Person geschrieben.

Fazit
Ein guter Einstieg in eine Reihe, der meine Neugierde definitiv wecken konnte.
Profile Image for Jessica Cox.
697 reviews13 followers
February 21, 2018
With a name like Zee St. James you just know he going break your heart. Quinn Savage has always loved the tortured soul of her brothers best friend Zee. She knew he was trouble but loved him anyway. Zee up and leaves six years ago with not even a goodbye, he returns after finding out some pretty shocking news, but he has changed, he is Sober , and wants to come clean from his past sins. He falls right into Quinns bed. Quinn still wants Zee anyway she can have him because she knows he going leave again. With everyone in town against Quinn falling for Zee especially her older brothers , she goes with her heart and wants to help Zee see the good in himself.
Zee is definitely a tortured soul, he was making me feel down, Their was a huge secret surprise to his return that I guessed pretty quickly, and I thought Zee and Quinn together was a beautiful thing. I thought that Quinn was a little puppy dog-ish just wanting Zee to give her anything. She was a lot less spunky in this read than in Taming Irish. I really excited for the next in this series Kade deserves his HEA. With a name like Zee St. James you just know he going break your heart. Quinn Savage has always loved the tortured soul of her brothers best friend Zee. She knew he was trouble but loved him anyway. Zee up and leaves six years ago with not even a goodbye, he returns after finding out some pretty shocking news, but he has changed, he is Sober , and wants to come clean from his past sins. He falls right into Quinns bed. Quinn still wants Zee anyway she can have him because she knows he going leave again. With everyone in town against Quinn falling for Zee especially her older brothers , she goes with her heart and wants to help Zee see the good in himself.
Zee is definitely a tortured soul, he was making me feel down, Their was a huge secret surprise to his return that I guessed pretty quickly, and I thought Zee and Quinn together was a beautiful thing. I thought that Quinn was a little puppy dog-ish just wanting Zee to give her anything. She was a lot less spunky in this read than in Taming Irish. I really excited for the next in this series Kade deserves his HEA.I happily and gratefully read this beauty to share my thoughts.
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