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Dancing in the Dark
(*This is a standalone new adult dark romance.) EMMY “One bronze, oval button. One push. One ding, one dong. And it will all be real.” I never thought it would be easy. And, yet, nothing could have prepared me for this. For them. For him. The second the black walls of the Matthews House swallow me whole, I know it’s a dangerous game I’m playing. One that threatens to consume me. Taunt me. Cut, burn, and bleed me dry. Until there’s nothing left to take. In the end, I will find the dark in a way I never expected. In the end . . . I will question everything. ADAM “Ash and dust. Death and murder. When you have no soul, there’s no fear of losing it. And without fear . . . you’re limitless.” She’s supposed to be a pawn. A gift. Some kind of fucked up way to screw with my head. Another doll, another day. But no one, not even my brothers, know the secrets of my past. None of us could know what the girl’s presence here really means. For them. For her. Or what secrets of her own she has buried deep behind those deceptively innocent eyes. But no secret stays buried forever. And not even I can pull the strings when we’re dancing in the dark. *PLEASE BE this book contains triggers. Dark themes, characters with questionable morals, questionable sexual situations, violence, murder, abuse (including minors), sex, and profanity.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 10, 2018
130 people are currently reading
962 people want to read
About the author
T.L. Martin
8 books363 followersMother of 3. Lover of nature, daydreaming, and tea. Taking each day one at a time, just trying to remember to put pants on before I leave the house. Oh, and I write books :)
Currently Available Releases (18+):
BLUE SKIES (coming of age high school romance)
LIAR, LIAR (forbidden high school romance)
DANCING IN THE DARK (dark romance)
TOUCHED BY DEATH (paranormal romance)
❤︎ Connect with me ❤︎
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/t.l.martin/
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/tlmartinauthor/
Facebook Author Profile: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
Currently Available Releases (18+):
BLUE SKIES (coming of age high school romance)
LIAR, LIAR (forbidden high school romance)
DANCING IN THE DARK (dark romance)
TOUCHED BY DEATH (paranormal romance)
❤︎ Connect with me ❤︎
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/t.l.martin/
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/tlmartinauthor/
Facebook Author Profile: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
August 13, 2018
★ 5+ stars! ★
▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬
O-M-F-G!
DARK, TWISTED, and so fu**ing good!
Este livro é o primeiro que leio da autora e foi uma grande e inesperada supresa! Eu não imaginava que iria gostar tanto!
Os personagens principais são extremamente interessantes e intrigantes, além de muito bem construídos. E não falo somente sobre os principais, TODOS de certa forma tiveram algum peso e importância dentro da trama, o que eu particularmente gostei muito.
Confesso que alguns em particular despertaram o meu interesse e por mais perversas que foram suas atitudes, eu senti uma vontade muito grande de entrar em suas mentes e descobrir todos os seus segredos e intenções... dissecar cada cantinho obscuro.
A tensão existente entre Emmy & Adam foi pra lá de inflamante. Foi excitante ver cada encontro destes dois. Adam... *suspiro* é simplesmente foda! 🔥🔥
Eu já li vários livros com temas pesados, sombrios e até mesmo horripilantes. Algumas histórias se repetem, outras não...
E foi isso que mais me surpreendeu e fascinou neste livro, a forma como a autora conseguiu construir tão bem uma trama, de maneira brilhante e ao mesmo tempo única.
A escrita dela é maravilhosa, envolvente e intrigante. A cada página minha curiosidade aumentava, queria saber mais e mais.
A leitura fluiu de maneira bem gostosa e mesmo que algumas cenas tenham me causado desconforto, ainda assim digo que foi uma leitura prazerosa e eletrizante!
Definitivamente esta autora entrou no meu radar e ficarei de olho nos seus próximos lançamentos!
Dancing in the Dark contém uma história muito bem escrita, com personagens interessantíssimos e um enredo muito bem desenvolvido. E eu adorei cada minutinho dessa incrível leitura!
PS: Este é um livro dark com tema e cenas que talvez causarão desconforto em leitores mais sensíveis. Portanto, recomendo somente para aqueles que gostam de livros com temas mais pesados e violentos. Caso contrário, corra no sentido oposto!
“I don’t want to be whole anymore. I want you to see my pieces.”
▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬
O-M-F-G!
DARK, TWISTED, and so fu**ing good!
Este livro é o primeiro que leio da autora e foi uma grande e inesperada supresa! Eu não imaginava que iria gostar tanto!
Os personagens principais são extremamente interessantes e intrigantes, além de muito bem construídos. E não falo somente sobre os principais, TODOS de certa forma tiveram algum peso e importância dentro da trama, o que eu particularmente gostei muito.
“So young and ignorant. Not everyone needs a traumatic childhood to access their true impulses. Some of us are in tune enough with our inner selves to light our own path. While others need to be guided.”
Confesso que alguns em particular despertaram o meu interesse e por mais perversas que foram suas atitudes, eu senti uma vontade muito grande de entrar em suas mentes e descobrir todos os seus segredos e intenções... dissecar cada cantinho obscuro.
“His raw, carnal energy is the match to my flames. In this moment, I don’t care if I’m swallowed up and left as ash scattered in the wind. At least then I’d get to fly.”
A tensão existente entre Emmy & Adam foi pra lá de inflamante. Foi excitante ver cada encontro destes dois. Adam... *suspiro* é simplesmente foda! 🔥🔥
“I’m made of ice, a place where warm things go to die.”
Eu já li vários livros com temas pesados, sombrios e até mesmo horripilantes. Algumas histórias se repetem, outras não...
E foi isso que mais me surpreendeu e fascinou neste livro, a forma como a autora conseguiu construir tão bem uma trama, de maneira brilhante e ao mesmo tempo única.
“This is good for you. Death is a thing of beauty, and it needs to be executed in such a way that does it justice.”
A escrita dela é maravilhosa, envolvente e intrigante. A cada página minha curiosidade aumentava, queria saber mais e mais.
A leitura fluiu de maneira bem gostosa e mesmo que algumas cenas tenham me causado desconforto, ainda assim digo que foi uma leitura prazerosa e eletrizante!
Definitivamente esta autora entrou no meu radar e ficarei de olho nos seus próximos lançamentos!
“You look stunning when you’re not hiding.” My eyelids flutter shut, and I whisper, “I don’t want to hide. Not from you.” “So don’t.” When he nips below my jaw, my toes curl. “Show me everything.”
Dancing in the Dark contém uma história muito bem escrita, com personagens interessantíssimos e um enredo muito bem desenvolvido. E eu adorei cada minutinho dessa incrível leitura!
PS: Este é um livro dark com tema e cenas que talvez causarão desconforto em leitores mais sensíveis. Portanto, recomendo somente para aqueles que gostam de livros com temas mais pesados e violentos. Caso contrário, corra no sentido oposto!
November 27, 2018
When I saw all the glowing reviews for Dancing in the Dark by T. L. Martin, I was immediately intrigued! Dark romance is one of my favorite subgenres, so I love finding new books in that category to fangirl over. Needless to say, I dove into this one hoping that would be the case, and thankfully, I wasn't disappointed!
Emmy's sister, Frankie, disappeared leaving only one clue behind, a phone number leading her to the Matthew's brothers. Raife, Felix, Griff and Adam Matthews are wealthy men that hire women to spend a year serving as their in house "secretaries, " however the job is a lot more than just the paperwork variety. Each woman has to promise to submit to anything these men want...every single freaky little masochistic sexual desire.
Emmy decides to contact the brothers and sign a contract promising herself to them in an effort to discover what happened to her sister. She is aware of the type of things that will be expected of her, but she reasons that it's a small price to pay to find Frankie. Emmy knows these men aren't paying them for vanilla sex and conversation, and she is prepared to do whatever is asked of her no matter how kinky it may be. What she doesn't expect is that she might enjoy it.
Dancing in the Dark is a dark and twisted romance filled with revenge, violence, and mystery! The characters are all fucked up as can be, but some are more morally bankrupt than others. The romance is passionate, primal, and unconventional, and the sex is bloody, intense, and steamy af!
The story is told in dual point of view with a series of flashbacks that provide insight into who our characters are and their motivations. The pacing was perfect. There was never a time where I felt bored or like the story was dragging. I wish I wouldn't have guessed the twist early on, but it didn't really affect my overall enjoyment. I won't hesitate to pick up more of this author's work in the future, and I don't think you should either.
Dark romance fans, this one's for you!
Emmy's sister, Frankie, disappeared leaving only one clue behind, a phone number leading her to the Matthew's brothers. Raife, Felix, Griff and Adam Matthews are wealthy men that hire women to spend a year serving as their in house "secretaries, " however the job is a lot more than just the paperwork variety. Each woman has to promise to submit to anything these men want...every single freaky little masochistic sexual desire.
Emmy decides to contact the brothers and sign a contract promising herself to them in an effort to discover what happened to her sister. She is aware of the type of things that will be expected of her, but she reasons that it's a small price to pay to find Frankie. Emmy knows these men aren't paying them for vanilla sex and conversation, and she is prepared to do whatever is asked of her no matter how kinky it may be. What she doesn't expect is that she might enjoy it.
Dancing in the Dark is a dark and twisted romance filled with revenge, violence, and mystery! The characters are all fucked up as can be, but some are more morally bankrupt than others. The romance is passionate, primal, and unconventional, and the sex is bloody, intense, and steamy af!
The story is told in dual point of view with a series of flashbacks that provide insight into who our characters are and their motivations. The pacing was perfect. There was never a time where I felt bored or like the story was dragging. I wish I wouldn't have guessed the twist early on, but it didn't really affect my overall enjoyment. I won't hesitate to pick up more of this author's work in the future, and I don't think you should either.
Dark romance fans, this one's for you!
August 15, 2018
I knew just from reading the synopsis that this book was going to be perfect for me. The more dark and twisted a book is, the more I seem to love it. I am not going to question what that says about me...I am just embracing it (lol). That said, Miz Martin was a new author for me, and you always run the risk when you try something new that it could all end up pear-shaped. Luckily, that was not the case here. I was blown away by how excellent this book turned out to be. I haven't had a read that consumed me this much in a LONG while.
The writing was phenomenal. It is quite a long book, but the pace was perfect, and I never grew bored or felt the need to skim. It is told in a dual POV format and through flashbacks. The plot was super engaging. It was dark. It was twisted. It was f-cked up. It was bloody. It was somewhat spicy. There wasn't any OW drama, but there was quite a bit of OM drama. There are some sexual things done to the heroine by the brothers, and there is also There was a fantastic cast of secondary characters. Some I loved. Some I hated. Some intrigued me enough that I would love to read more about them. Both the main characters were likable. The heroine slightly more than the hero. But that was just because I thought it took a bit too long for him to "man up" and make the heroine his. Last, it was all wrapped up in a very satisfying way with one loose end hanging that hopefully means this author will be revisiting her dark side again soon.
Want to read
August 10, 2018
INTRIGUED!
Stand-alone.
LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK |
Blurb:
EMMY
“One bronze, oval button. One push. One ding, one dong.
And it will all be real.”
I never thought it would be easy. And, yet, nothing could have prepared me for this.
For them.
For him.
The second the black walls of the Matthews House swallow me whole, I know it’s a dangerous game I’m playing. One that threatens to consume me. Taunt me. Cut, burn, and bleed me dry.
Until there’s nothing left to take.
In the end, I will find the dark in a way I never expected.
In the end . . . I will question everything.
ADAM
“Ash and dust. Death and murder. When you have no soul, there’s no fear of losing it. And without fear . . . you’re limitless.”
She’s supposed to be a pawn.
A gift.
Some kind of fucked up way to screw with my head.
Another doll, another day.
But no one, not even my brothers, know the secrets of my past. None of us could know what the girl’s presence here really means.
For them.
For her.
Or what secrets of her own she has buried deep behind those deceptively innocent eyes.
But no secret stays buried forever.
And not even I can pull the strings when we’re dancing in the dark.
August 10, 2018
T.L. Martin is a new author for me, but Danielle Lori loved this book of hers, then pointed it out to me, and since I admire and respect this talented babe so much, and I also love the thrill of discovering new authors, I decided to go in...
So here I am...excited😏 and eager to meet maybe another winner author for me!
The story
Emmy Highland is concerned about the disappearance of her sister Frankie, and in her ways of trying to find her, she extorts the final option of dialing the number her sister wrote last. And now, she's entering The Matthews house.
She would willingly sign a contract to work as a secretary there but actually meaning a servant, an obeying full service servant to four men, the Matthews brothers - Raife, Felix, Griff and Adam or she would be claimed by one of them.
But Emmy stands out with her long black hair and light blue eyes, she's the uncanny darkness and a vision from the past of these four men.
Her plan to discover what happened to her sister will be filled with the darkness looming around those four men, while slowly all the hidden agenda of revenge, violence and reveleations would consume her along with the undeniable darken connection to Adam Matthews in the most revealing primal and tormented ways possible...
and she's not even aware of it...
until all the broken pieces come falling together in one messed up, twisted mosaic of blended past and present and future.
I am amazed by the storytelling. It's gripping, captivating, suspenseful and thrilling. The anticipating revealing segment of the plot came in the right moment, at a slowly graduately built pace, even though you actually "know and suspect" the truth and still, you are pushing through the pages just to see the very "realization" written on the faces of the main characters.
And they are all equally interesting in their dark vengeful ways, but still Adam is the most complex one, the inner struggle with darkness and redemption seeking is almost as infuriating as it is liberating in the end but I loved seeing him unravel completely while Emmy actually hightened it all though out her own self-revelation.
Highly recommended.
***ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review***
So here I am...excited😏 and eager to meet maybe another winner author for me!
The story
Emmy Highland is concerned about the disappearance of her sister Frankie, and in her ways of trying to find her, she extorts the final option of dialing the number her sister wrote last. And now, she's entering The Matthews house.
She would willingly sign a contract to work as a secretary there but actually meaning a servant, an obeying full service servant to four men, the Matthews brothers - Raife, Felix, Griff and Adam or she would be claimed by one of them.
Ground rules are simple, really: blondes only....only women who get off on what we have to offer, they come to us and a standard year-long contract is the sweet spot.
But Emmy stands out with her long black hair and light blue eyes, she's the uncanny darkness and a vision from the past of these four men.
Her plan to discover what happened to her sister will be filled with the darkness looming around those four men, while slowly all the hidden agenda of revenge, violence and reveleations would consume her along with the undeniable darken connection to Adam Matthews in the most revealing primal and tormented ways possible...
and she's not even aware of it...
until all the broken pieces come falling together in one messed up, twisted mosaic of blended past and present and future.
The steel walls that once trapped me are now the embodiment of power.
In the same way we own our bodies, our hearts, our souls.
This place is no longer my cage. It's my domain.
"Welcome home, baby"
I am amazed by the storytelling. It's gripping, captivating, suspenseful and thrilling. The anticipating revealing segment of the plot came in the right moment, at a slowly graduately built pace, even though you actually "know and suspect" the truth and still, you are pushing through the pages just to see the very "realization" written on the faces of the main characters.
And they are all equally interesting in their dark vengeful ways, but still Adam is the most complex one, the inner struggle with darkness and redemption seeking is almost as infuriating as it is liberating in the end but I loved seeing him unravel completely while Emmy actually hightened it all though out her own self-revelation.
Highly recommended.
***ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review***
August 10, 2018
I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this book. I knew it was supposed to be dark, but dang…I didn’t realize it was going to be all kinds of dark twisty goodness.
Emmy is looking for her sister who has gone missing. Following a shadowy trail, she ends up as a “secretary” at Matthew House in a position that in no way mirrors that of a secretary. Within hours of her arrival she meets the Matthew brothers and is instantly pulled into a dark and dangerous world where she has signed away all of her rights.
Adam lives a dark and bloody life. His dark days are spent seeking those he longs to cut into and watch as they bleed out. With Emmy’s arrival, his mind begins to drift into thoughts of a knife in her hand and the desire to see the real woman behind the Matthew House’s forced persona.
There are some crazy wacked out characters in this book and two of them are the hero and heroine. And yet, I absolutely loved them and cheered them on even as I knew there was no way this couple could ever have a happy ending. Their lives were too twisted, their psyches too damaged. As secrets were revealed I was on the edge just waiting to see how all of this darkness would play out.
Dancing in the Dark pulled me in from page one and didn’t let me go until the very end. I was completely enthralled with each of these characters, their pasts, their current actions and what future steps they would take. This book has a slower pace along with a sadistic tone, definitely painted in black and white with bold splashes of red. And I devoured every word! None of them are used as filler and there was a real fear that if I skipped one of them I would miss a vital piece of information or characterization.
While this does leave a loose end, it felt completed as this couple do find their happy ever after. I’m curious to see if we will have another book to help tie up that little thread that is left dangling. If so, please sign me up!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
Emmy is looking for her sister who has gone missing. Following a shadowy trail, she ends up as a “secretary” at Matthew House in a position that in no way mirrors that of a secretary. Within hours of her arrival she meets the Matthew brothers and is instantly pulled into a dark and dangerous world where she has signed away all of her rights.
Adam lives a dark and bloody life. His dark days are spent seeking those he longs to cut into and watch as they bleed out. With Emmy’s arrival, his mind begins to drift into thoughts of a knife in her hand and the desire to see the real woman behind the Matthew House’s forced persona.
There are some crazy wacked out characters in this book and two of them are the hero and heroine. And yet, I absolutely loved them and cheered them on even as I knew there was no way this couple could ever have a happy ending. Their lives were too twisted, their psyches too damaged. As secrets were revealed I was on the edge just waiting to see how all of this darkness would play out.
Dancing in the Dark pulled me in from page one and didn’t let me go until the very end. I was completely enthralled with each of these characters, their pasts, their current actions and what future steps they would take. This book has a slower pace along with a sadistic tone, definitely painted in black and white with bold splashes of red. And I devoured every word! None of them are used as filler and there was a real fear that if I skipped one of them I would miss a vital piece of information or characterization.
While this does leave a loose end, it felt completed as this couple do find their happy ever after. I’m curious to see if we will have another book to help tie up that little thread that is left dangling. If so, please sign me up!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
September 15, 2018
4 STARS!!
The story begins with Emmy arriving at a secret location to begin a one-year contract as a submissive . . . this is where the search for her missing sister has led her. Armed with nothing but her determination, she's not wholly prepared for the games she finds behind the front door.
Four deeply disturbed brothers + a house full of masochistic submissives + dark, horrifying secrets = a great read!
Wow, this one bordered a lot closer to horror than I've ever ventured before. But I thought the author struck a good balance between the more gruesome aspects of the story (which were not perpetrated against the submissives) with the intense, twisted romance between Emmy and Adam.
I'll definitely be checking out more by T.L. Martin!
"I don't want to be whole anymore. I want you to see my pieces."Holy darkness! This was quite the trip to Crazy Town!
The story begins with Emmy arriving at a secret location to begin a one-year contract as a submissive . . . this is where the search for her missing sister has led her. Armed with nothing but her determination, she's not wholly prepared for the games she finds behind the front door.
Four deeply disturbed brothers + a house full of masochistic submissives + dark, horrifying secrets = a great read!
Wow, this one bordered a lot closer to horror than I've ever ventured before. But I thought the author struck a good balance between the more gruesome aspects of the story (which were not perpetrated against the submissives) with the intense, twisted romance between Emmy and Adam.
Something about her tone makes my shoulders stiffen. It's warm and affectionate, two things that don't belong anywhere near me.Emmy and Adam were actually two peas in a pod, lol, and their explosive relationship completely held my interest. The plot pulled me along at a brisk pace and I never once skimmed or considered not finishing. This was some great dark reading. :D
I'll definitely be checking out more by T.L. Martin!
September 21, 2025
── ✦3.75 stars – I Have Thoughts
This book had me hooked at the beginning, lost me for a bit, then pulled me back in—and didn’t let go.
The vibe? Dark, emotional and messy. I went in expecting heavy trauma, some twisted romance, and maybe a little healing—and I got... most of that. But it was also kind of all over the place sometimes?
The main character had real depth, and I genuinely wanted to root for her. She felt raw and complicated in a way that made her feel real. But the pacing? Whew. It dragged in some spots, lingering too long in scenes that didn’t need it—then suddenly sped up, like the plot just remembered it had somewhere to be. That uneven rhythm made it harder to stay grounded in the story for some time.
The romance... idk. It had so much potential, and I wanted to feel the chemistry, but parts of it felt rushed—like it skipped some emotional beats. I didn’t connect with it as deeply as I wanted to… until we got that revelation about their past connection. 🗣 AAAAAHHH. That changed everything. After that moment, their relationship skyrocketed in my eyes. It wasn’t just attraction anymore—it was history, pain, longing, and everything in between.
Gosh, I was literally reading the flashback chapters with my hands over my face like this lololol:
Some of that stuff was so raw I had to stop and take a breath. Major credit to the author for writing scenes that visceral, but also..... ouch.
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘮 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴, 𝘢 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘐’𝘮 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.
These lines?? Gorgeous. It perfectly captured the mood of the epilogue.
I really appreciated how the ending didn’t pretend love magically fixed everything. Even in the epilogue, they’re still struggling—still healing. There’s hope, yes, but also honesty. This made their relationship feel so much more meaningful to me. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about choosing each other anyway.
The writing is solid, the atmosphere is chef’s kiss, and I totally get why people love it. The emotional weight is there. Glad I read it.
⟡ — pre-read!
I'm freaking scared of this book. Not to mention, the cover is haunting—and the girl on it looks like she might lift her eyes and stare back at me if I look for more than a second.
P.S. I know I'm being over dramatic 🤷♀️
This book had me hooked at the beginning, lost me for a bit, then pulled me back in—and didn’t let go.
The vibe? Dark, emotional and messy. I went in expecting heavy trauma, some twisted romance, and maybe a little healing—and I got... most of that. But it was also kind of all over the place sometimes?
The main character had real depth, and I genuinely wanted to root for her. She felt raw and complicated in a way that made her feel real. But the pacing? Whew. It dragged in some spots, lingering too long in scenes that didn’t need it—then suddenly sped up, like the plot just remembered it had somewhere to be. That uneven rhythm made it harder to stay grounded in the story for some time.
The romance... idk. It had so much potential, and I wanted to feel the chemistry, but parts of it felt rushed—like it skipped some emotional beats. I didn’t connect with it as deeply as I wanted to… until we got that revelation about their past connection. 🗣 AAAAAHHH. That changed everything. After that moment, their relationship skyrocketed in my eyes. It wasn’t just attraction anymore—it was history, pain, longing, and everything in between.
Gosh, I was literally reading the flashback chapters with my hands over my face like this lololol:
Some of that stuff was so raw I had to stop and take a breath. Major credit to the author for writing scenes that visceral, but also..... ouch.
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘮 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴, 𝘢 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘐’𝘮 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.
These lines?? Gorgeous. It perfectly captured the mood of the epilogue.
I really appreciated how the ending didn’t pretend love magically fixed everything. Even in the epilogue, they’re still struggling—still healing. There’s hope, yes, but also honesty. This made their relationship feel so much more meaningful to me. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about choosing each other anyway.
The writing is solid, the atmosphere is chef’s kiss, and I totally get why people love it. The emotional weight is there. Glad I read it.
⟡ — pre-read!
I'm freaking scared of this book. Not to mention, the cover is haunting—and the girl on it looks like she might lift her eyes and stare back at me if I look for more than a second.
P.S. I know I'm being over dramatic 🤷♀️
August 21, 2018
Rtc...............
July 29, 2019
Emmy has a darkness living inside of her, but she's been taught it's wrong and so she's learned to hide it, striving for normality. When her sister disappears, she follows her trail, leading her to the one place that will test her resolve. Will she hold onto what she's always known or will she unleash the beast and savor her first taste of freedom?
There was one person who glittered harder than the rest... one character who stood out no matter who was also sharing the spotlight... Adam. This man wore darkness like a second skin. He lived in it, reveled in it, thrived in it. I could not get enough of this man, his motivations, his past, his ambitions, his thirst. He made me crave him and every glance he sent Emmy's way was MINE!! The author did an incredible job of detailing and personalizing the connection between these characters and getting me to sense the live wire feels of their relationship.
There's a reason why I don't really like new adult romances... I tend to hate the heroines. They're usually illogical and suffer from false delusions of their capabilities. Emmy was no exception. She had no real world experience yet thought she'd make a master sleuth, getting by MEN who've been around for awhile. She suffered questionable morals and her reasoning for her actions didn't quell my anger. However, while she was quite irksome, the author made her admirable. So what if I didn't like her? She was part of one heck of a strong and compelling story. Besides, I had Adam to hold me down. I was good to go. Honestly, it's the author's writing that sold me on this story and I will read whatever she writes in the future. I don't know what truly happened to the other side characters and I wonder if they'll pop up some time? I'll definitely be staying tuned!
"I don't want to be whole anymore. I want you to see my pieces." - Emmy
There was one person who glittered harder than the rest... one character who stood out no matter who was also sharing the spotlight... Adam. This man wore darkness like a second skin. He lived in it, reveled in it, thrived in it. I could not get enough of this man, his motivations, his past, his ambitions, his thirst. He made me crave him and every glance he sent Emmy's way was MINE!! The author did an incredible job of detailing and personalizing the connection between these characters and getting me to sense the live wire feels of their relationship.
Somewhere along the way, she weaved herself so deeply into my veins I can't fucking inhale without her breathing life into me. - Adam
There's a reason why I don't really like new adult romances... I tend to hate the heroines. They're usually illogical and suffer from false delusions of their capabilities. Emmy was no exception. She had no real world experience yet thought she'd make a master sleuth, getting by MEN who've been around for awhile. She suffered questionable morals and her reasoning for her actions didn't quell my anger. However, while she was quite irksome, the author made her admirable. So what if I didn't like her? She was part of one heck of a strong and compelling story. Besides, I had Adam to hold me down. I was good to go. Honestly, it's the author's writing that sold me on this story and I will read whatever she writes in the future. I don't know what truly happened to the other side characters and I wonder if they'll pop up some time? I'll definitely be staying tuned!
August 19, 2018
Wow! T.L. Martin has written a deliciously dark, riveting story that had me on the edge of my seat burning through the pages as fast as I could. While this was her first book delving into the dark romance world, you’d never know it. It’s beautifully written, captivating the reader from the first page and pulling you into Emmy and Adam’s dark world.
After her sister Frankie disappeared, Emmy knew she had to do whatever it took to find her. Even if that meant infiltrating the Matthews house and becoming a “secretary” to the four brothers.
“The second the black walls of the Matthews House swallow me whole, I know it’s a dangerous game I’m playing. One that threatens to consume me. Taunt me. Cut, burn, and bleed me dry.”
The Matthews brothers - Raife, Griff, Felix and Adam - usually hire blondes who willing want to wait on their masters without question, so when the black haired, ivory skinned Emmy shows up she definitely stands out amongst the rest. Being claimed by one of these men is par for the course if she wants to stay, but which one. Adam, hell bent on exacting revenge along with his brothers, spends his days spilling red, but when meeting Emmy stirs up other feelings, how long will he be able to ignore them?
This place is no longer my cage. It's my domain.
"Welcome home, baby"
This story is told in dual POV which I absolutely love and the flashbacks by Adam helped to answer all of the questions I had. For all of you dark romance lovers, you MUST give this one a go. It will not disappoint. This was my second book by Martin and it definitely won’t be the last. She had me as a fan after reading her Touched By Death book, but she’s officially secured a spot on my list of must read authors. I can’t wait to read more by her.
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
After her sister Frankie disappeared, Emmy knew she had to do whatever it took to find her. Even if that meant infiltrating the Matthews house and becoming a “secretary” to the four brothers.
“The second the black walls of the Matthews House swallow me whole, I know it’s a dangerous game I’m playing. One that threatens to consume me. Taunt me. Cut, burn, and bleed me dry.”
The Matthews brothers - Raife, Griff, Felix and Adam - usually hire blondes who willing want to wait on their masters without question, so when the black haired, ivory skinned Emmy shows up she definitely stands out amongst the rest. Being claimed by one of these men is par for the course if she wants to stay, but which one. Adam, hell bent on exacting revenge along with his brothers, spends his days spilling red, but when meeting Emmy stirs up other feelings, how long will he be able to ignore them?
This place is no longer my cage. It's my domain.
"Welcome home, baby"
This story is told in dual POV which I absolutely love and the flashbacks by Adam helped to answer all of the questions I had. For all of you dark romance lovers, you MUST give this one a go. It will not disappoint. This was my second book by Martin and it definitely won’t be the last. She had me as a fan after reading her Touched By Death book, but she’s officially secured a spot on my list of must read authors. I can’t wait to read more by her.
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2018
4.5 gripping Stars!
‘The devil asked me how I knew my way around the walls of hell. I told him I did not need a map for the darkness I know so well.' – T.M.T
And with that the tone was set for what would be a deliciously menacing, compelling, haunting, horrific and riveting dark romance, our first experience of T L Martin’s writing, and the author’s first foray into the world of dark romance, though you’d never believe it considering the way she so descriptively and brilliantly brought Emmy and Adam’s messed up love story to life, in all its tormented glory.
‘Ash and dust, death and murder. Some drink it down like a poison until it kills them, leaving nothing more than a shell without a soul. Others, like me, are the poison. When you have no soul, there’s no threat of losing it. With no threat, there’s nothing to fear.
And without fear…you’re limitless. '
A palpitating sinister prologue immediately grabbed us, making us want to give ourselves immediately to this author and her incredible words. T L Martin is an author we’ll be keeping in our sights because she most definitely delivered the type of story we were in the mood for, which was a f***ed up, twisty, primal, gritty dark read. T L Martin didn’t disappoint in any way and her writing was outstanding.
‘I don’t need a trophy. What I need is my goddam sanity – something I’m not quite sure I’ve ever had.'
We won’t be giving anything of the story away because you need to go into this one blind, to experience the twists, turns and shocks first hand, however please do read the author warning before jumping in because twenty-year-old Emmy Highland and twenty-nine year old Adam Matthews story isn’t for the faint-hearted, and we believe lovers of dark romance will unflinchingly devour this read.
“It’s going to be interesting.” he whispers so soft, so smooth, it would almost sound soothing if I weren’t listening to the words “watching you break. Emmy.”
Following the disappearance of her sister, Frankie, the trail leads Emmy to Matthews House, Inc – where she has falsely been accepted as a ‘secretary’ to the four good-looking Matthews brothers. Secretary is a very broad term for a woman who can cope with the devious demands of the Matthews brothers. If they can stay the year, they’re paid a very generous bonus. Emmy just wants to find Frankie and is convinced her sister met foul play at the hands of one or all of the brothers, and she’s determined to find out what goes on behind the closed doors.
Adam Matthews and his brothers, Felix, Raife, and Griffin are products of their past, these are men with vengeance and revenge on their minds, and cold-hearted steel for hearts. Despite the horrifying and tragic past switches which are carried out with seamless precision by the author, as much as you feel so unbelievably sorry for these men, they are really difficult men to like. They’re actually quite cruel.
‘They said go to therapy. No one ever specified what kind.’
All the characters are mysterious, fascinating and challenging. The cool calm, calculated and intimidating Adam is a force to be reckoned with, and Emmy, who, at first glance, appears the most put together, has her demons and uses her sexual proclivity as a catharsis for dealing with the overbearing voices of her unloving, God-fearing mother who believed Emmy to be evil.
And that’s where we’re going to leave it because we’re loathed to ruin anything of the story for you, and hope we’ve whetted your dark romance soul appetite enough to dive in. This is not a pleasant happy read – it’s deep and it’s dark and it’s shocking – but’s it’s also addictively passionately beautiful and as messed up as it is, it’s a love story between two lost and lonely souls. We couldn’t put it down!
‘We stopped looking for monsters under our bed when we realized that they were inside us. ‘ Charles Darwin.
DANCING IN THE DARK is available below
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Come visit and follow us at:
✲ TotallyBookedBlog
✲ TBB on Facebook
✲ TBB on Instagram
✲ TBB on Twitter
✲ TBB on Pinterest
September 5, 2018
Utterly amazing, dark and twisty.
June 10, 2020
4.5 stars!
I am slightly confused after finishing this book. I loved it, but on the other hand it also left me raw, confused and unconvinced. But my vote goes to Adam and Emmy and their relationship all the way, so I am rating it with 4.5 stars.
I am slightly confused after finishing this book. I loved it, but on the other hand it also left me raw, confused and unconvinced. But my vote goes to Adam and Emmy and their relationship all the way, so I am rating it with 4.5 stars.
August 10, 2018
This is the first book that I have read by Ms. Martin. When I first started reading the plot had me intrigued. Our main character Emmy is looking for her older sister Frankie, which leads her to signing a contract to become a "secretary" within Matthew House. Four brothers with unusual and unconventional tastes. To be able to find her sister she needs to make sure one of the brothers claims her, if not she will be sent back home and her search for her sister will be over. This is were the story takes a twist, the interview is dark and at times unrestrained. She is claimed by Raife while her eyes are on another brother Adam. While she feels that she has the upper hand in the situation unbeknownst to her there are others that have plans for her.
I don't want to give too much away but as the story progresses you realize that the brothers are not who they seem to be and their intentions are not honorable. Emmy is caught in a game of deception and revenge.
This is a dark and twisted tale and for us as a reader it takes you on a wild and at times devilish ride.
"Do not judge my story by the chapter you walked in on" - Unknown
ARC generously provided by author in exchange for honest review
I don't want to give too much away but as the story progresses you realize that the brothers are not who they seem to be and their intentions are not honorable. Emmy is caught in a game of deception and revenge.
This is a dark and twisted tale and for us as a reader it takes you on a wild and at times devilish ride.
"Do not judge my story by the chapter you walked in on" - Unknown
ARC generously provided by author in exchange for honest review
August 25, 2018
4.5 gripping Stars!
‘The devil asked me how I knew my way around the walls of hell. I told him I did not need a map for the darkness I know so well.' – T.M.T
And with that the tone was set for what would be a deliciously menacing, compelling, haunting, horrific and riveting dark romance, our first experience of T L Martin’s writing, and the author’s first foray into the world of dark romance, though you’d never believe it considering the way she so descriptively and brilliantly brought Emmy and Adam’s messed up love story to life, in all its tormented glory.
‘Ash and dust, death and murder. Some drink it down like a poison until it kills them, leaving nothing more than a shell without a soul. Others, like me, are the poison. When you have no soul, there’s no threat of losing it. With no threat, there’s nothing to fear.
And without fear…you’re limitless. '
A palpitating sinister prologue immediately grabbed us, making us want to give ourselves immediately to this author and her incredible words. T L Martin is an author we’ll be keeping in our sights because she most definitely delivered the type of story we were in the mood for, which was a f***ed up, twisty, primal, gritty dark read. T L Martin didn’t disappoint in any way and her writing was outstanding.
‘I don’t need a trophy. What I need is my goddam sanity – something I’m not quite sure I’ve ever had.'
We won’t be giving anything of the story away because you need to go into this one blind, to experience the twists, turns and shocks first hand, however please do read the author warning before jumping in because twenty-year-old Emmy Highland and twenty-nine year old Adam Matthews story isn’t for the faint-hearted, and we believe lovers of dark romance will unflinchingly devour this read.
“It’s going to be interesting.” he whispers so soft, so smooth, it would almost sound soothing if I weren’t listening to the words “watching you break. Emmy.”
Following the disappearance of her sister, Frankie, the trail leads Emmy to Matthews House, Inc – where she has falsely been accepted as a ‘secretary’ to the four good-looking Matthews brothers. Secretary is a very broad term for a woman who can cope with the devious demands of the Matthews brothers. If they can stay the year, they’re paid a very generous bonus. Emmy just wants to find Frankie and is convinced her sister met foul play at the hands of one or all of the brothers, and she’s determined to find out what goes on behind the closed doors.
Adam Matthews and his brothers, Felix, Raife, and Griffin are products of their past, these are men with vengeance and revenge on their minds, and cold-hearted steel for hearts. Despite the horrifying and tragic past switches which are carried out with seamless precision by the author, as much as you feel so unbelievably sorry for these men, they are really difficult men to like. They’re actually quite cruel.
‘They said go to therapy. No one ever specified what kind.’
All the characters are mysterious, fascinating and challenging. The cool calm, calculated and intimidating Adam is a force to be reckoned with, and Emmy, who, at first glance, appears the most put together, has her demons and uses her sexual proclivity as a catharsis for dealing with the overbearing voices of her unloving, God-fearing mother who believed Emmy to be evil.
And that’s where we’re going to leave it because we’re loathed to ruin anything of the story for you, and hope we’ve whetted your dark romance soul appetite enough to dive in. This is not a pleasant happy read – it’s deep and it’s dark and it’s shocking – but’s it’s also addictively passionately beautiful and as messed up as it is, it’s a love story between two lost and lonely souls. We couldn’t put it down!
‘We stopped looking for monsters under our bed when we realized that they were inside us. ‘ Charles Darwin.
DANCING IN THE DARK is available below
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Come visit and follow us at:
✲ TotallyBookedBlog
✲ TBB on Facebook
✲ TBB on Instagram
✲ TBB on Twitter
✲ TBB on Pinterest
September 12, 2018
4.5 Stars
Yay! I've found a new author! I love it when that happens. I'm glad I took a chance on this one. I'll admit to giving unfamiliar stuff the stinkeye lately, but this one did NOT disappoint.
It's dark romance, macabre, with a bit of mystery, suspense, thriller in there. The sex between Adam and Emmy is intense! Explosive. And their backstory is killer, literally. But the thing that I think was done So. Freaking. Well. is the psychological issues these characters had! The little details the author included that if you aren't paying attention, you'll miss. Stuff like the and especially how it ends. I freakin' loved all of it.
The only thing that is holding me back from giving this a full five stars is pacing. Stylistically, the author was heavy on introspection. Which I totally understand why. It fit the issues at hand. But unfortunately, it made the pace more steady than fast. And I tend to like my books rip-roaring fast.
That said, I hope she writes a book with the other secondary characters. I want more!
Yay! I've found a new author! I love it when that happens. I'm glad I took a chance on this one. I'll admit to giving unfamiliar stuff the stinkeye lately, but this one did NOT disappoint.
It's dark romance, macabre, with a bit of mystery, suspense, thriller in there. The sex between Adam and Emmy is intense! Explosive. And their backstory is killer, literally. But the thing that I think was done So. Freaking. Well. is the psychological issues these characters had! The little details the author included that if you aren't paying attention, you'll miss. Stuff like the and especially how it ends. I freakin' loved all of it.
The only thing that is holding me back from giving this a full five stars is pacing. Stylistically, the author was heavy on introspection. Which I totally understand why. It fit the issues at hand. But unfortunately, it made the pace more steady than fast. And I tend to like my books rip-roaring fast.
That said, I hope she writes a book with the other secondary characters. I want more!
August 13, 2018
5 * dark * estrelas
"I'll tell a secrete, my lioness. We're all a little delirious. "
OMFG
Que livro mais alucinante foi esse? Sabe aquele livro pesado, aquele dark muito bem escrito que tu não consegue parar de ler ?? Esse livro é phodastico e tem tudo isso e muito mais.
Acho que escrever livros dark é bem complicado, a autora tem que saber o que ta fazendo pra não assustar demais o leitor e essa autora sabe muito bem o que ela está fazendo.
Se tu gosta desse tema, dessa vibe, bem vindo ao lado negro da força. Vai ser uma jornada viciante.
Sei lá mais que dizer a não ser WOWWW.
♡
"I'll tell a secrete, my lioness. We're all a little delirious. "
OMFG
Que livro mais alucinante foi esse? Sabe aquele livro pesado, aquele dark muito bem escrito que tu não consegue parar de ler ?? Esse livro é phodastico e tem tudo isso e muito mais.
Acho que escrever livros dark é bem complicado, a autora tem que saber o que ta fazendo pra não assustar demais o leitor e essa autora sabe muito bem o que ela está fazendo.
Se tu gosta desse tema, dessa vibe, bem vindo ao lado negro da força. Vai ser uma jornada viciante.
Sei lá mais que dizer a não ser WOWWW.
♡
August 9, 2018
Ho. Ly. Fucking. Shit.
April 26, 2020
*3.5
I enjoyed this book so much and the writing is so addictive that I couldn’t stop reading but the end for me was kind of meh, I was expecting a better ending.
I enjoyed this book so much and the writing is so addictive that I couldn’t stop reading but the end for me was kind of meh, I was expecting a better ending.
August 6, 2018
T.L Martin is a new author to me, and she didn't disappoint.
This book is just wow!
Dancing in the dark is a thrillingly, haunting, Dark and I mean DARK romance.
This book is addictive, from the moment you pick it up until the moment you put it down.
Every character in this book has delt with torment in one way or another.
Their darkness is captivating.
This book has landed a spot in my top 5 reads for 2018.
Its phenomenal and won't disappoint
This book is just wow!
Dancing in the dark is a thrillingly, haunting, Dark and I mean DARK romance.
This book is addictive, from the moment you pick it up until the moment you put it down.
Every character in this book has delt with torment in one way or another.
Their darkness is captivating.
This book has landed a spot in my top 5 reads for 2018.
Its phenomenal and won't disappoint
July 29, 2018
This is a new author to me, and I can tell you I will be checking out her other books
I really enjoyed this book, thrilling story A few twists and turns I didn't see coming. I read in one sitting I just could not put it down. Likable characters. Very well written.
Emmy is looking for answers to the disappearance of her sister Frankie, it leads her to meet the Mathews brothers. but she knows what she is doing and who she is looking for as she thinks one of the brothers know something. the story is pretty fast paced but it will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Can't wait to read what is next by this author.
I really enjoyed this book, thrilling story A few twists and turns I didn't see coming. I read in one sitting I just could not put it down. Likable characters. Very well written.
Emmy is looking for answers to the disappearance of her sister Frankie, it leads her to meet the Mathews brothers. but she knows what she is doing and who she is looking for as she thinks one of the brothers know something. the story is pretty fast paced but it will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Can't wait to read what is next by this author.
August 17, 2018
I’m going to go ahead and tell you that, if you like dark and twisted reads, this should be right up your alley.
The characters in the story are crazy, dangerous and mysterious. I enjoyed getting Adam’s POV, knowing his thoughts and feelings. Especially because on the outside, he gives nothing away. He’s very good at masking his true emotions.
Emmy’s sister has disappeared and she’s trying to do everything in her power to find her. That’s how she meets the Matthews, signs a contract and starts working for them.
Are you intrigued yet?
Emmy and Adam’s relationship may be a bit toxic, yet you’ll be rooting for them and hoping they get the happy ending they rightfully deserve. Those two understood each other perfectly. A perfect match, in my opinion.
So, the reason why I didn’t give this 5 stars is because I wanted a little more; more dialogue and moments between the main characters. I also felt like the inner monologues were drawn out too much.
All in all, I really did enjoy every second of this crazy ride and I am dying to read more from this author.
“Adam—he was unhinged. Shameless. Everything wrong and everything right. And he held the key to my cage in his palm.”
The characters in the story are crazy, dangerous and mysterious. I enjoyed getting Adam’s POV, knowing his thoughts and feelings. Especially because on the outside, he gives nothing away. He’s very good at masking his true emotions.
Emmy’s sister has disappeared and she’s trying to do everything in her power to find her. That’s how she meets the Matthews, signs a contract and starts working for them.
“It’s going to be interesting,” he whispers, his voice so soft, so smooth, it would almost sound soothing if I weren’t listening to the words, ”watching you break. Emmy.”
Are you intrigued yet?
Emmy and Adam’s relationship may be a bit toxic, yet you’ll be rooting for them and hoping they get the happy ending they rightfully deserve. Those two understood each other perfectly. A perfect match, in my opinion.
So, the reason why I didn’t give this 5 stars is because I wanted a little more; more dialogue and moments between the main characters. I also felt like the inner monologues were drawn out too much.
All in all, I really did enjoy every second of this crazy ride and I am dying to read more from this author.
August 14, 2018
5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 27, 2018
This book had me gripped! I actually finished it in one day, it was as if my kindle was stuck to my hand.
I love a story that has a bit of everything and this was it.
Suspense, mystery, murder, secrets.
“But no secret stays buried forever”.
A first novel by T.L Martin and most certainly not my last. I look forward to reading more of her amazing work!
I love a story that has a bit of everything and this was it.
Suspense, mystery, murder, secrets.
“But no secret stays buried forever”.
A first novel by T.L Martin and most certainly not my last. I look forward to reading more of her amazing work!
April 28, 2020
A roller coaster of a read.
First of all let's begin saying that I was definitely not enjoying this book until 35% of it. The dark parts took so long to appear that I was thinking this wasn't a dark novel at all, but it surely is. After a really ass long plot start it became so fucking GOOD, but I still wouldn't say this is a dark romance book, it's more like a dark erotica.
I don't have a single bad thing to say about the characters and plot. All of them were well written and developed, but the romance could have taken more pages to be more as a romance than just fucking. The only one thing that I truly hated was the amount of analogies put in this book, which I still can’t wrap my head around what the author was trying to do. To let the language more "classy", maybe? I just know that it didn't work in this way at all. It became as cringy as the amount of time the word "soul" was in there.
Despite everything, I liked it. I was even thinking that Adam, or as I like to call him, my beloved Lucas Costa, was a sweet man that deserves everything he wants. Does he? Hell yes! Do I hate Raife so much that the only perfect end, in my opinion, was a whole chapter with just Adam torturing and then killing him? Sure I do. Do I need therapy to like this kind of characters and only think good things about then? Maybe...
First of all let's begin saying that I was definitely not enjoying this book until 35% of it. The dark parts took so long to appear that I was thinking this wasn't a dark novel at all, but it surely is. After a really ass long plot start it became so fucking GOOD, but I still wouldn't say this is a dark romance book, it's more like a dark erotica.
I don't have a single bad thing to say about the characters and plot. All of them were well written and developed, but the romance could have taken more pages to be more as a romance than just fucking. The only one thing that I truly hated was the amount of analogies put in this book, which I still can’t wrap my head around what the author was trying to do. To let the language more "classy", maybe? I just know that it didn't work in this way at all. It became as cringy as the amount of time the word "soul" was in there.
Despite everything, I liked it. I was even thinking that Adam, or as I like to call him, my beloved Lucas Costa, was a sweet man that deserves everything he wants. Does he? Hell yes! Do I hate Raife so much that the only perfect end, in my opinion, was a whole chapter with just Adam torturing and then killing him? Sure I do. Do I need therapy to like this kind of characters and only think good things about then? Maybe...
April 27, 2020
3.5/5
Duas coisas:
- Adam Matthews, ou melhor, Lucas Costa. Gostei do personagem.
- Mudaria/melhoraria vários pontos/aspectos no desenvolvimento do livro e até aí tudo bem, mas o que quero deixar registrado aqui é que o epílogo eu queimaria no fogo do inferno. Ou seja, vou fingir que o livro não tem epílogo.
Só isso.
Duas coisas:
- Adam Matthews, ou melhor, Lucas Costa. Gostei do personagem.
- Mudaria/melhoraria vários pontos/aspectos no desenvolvimento do livro e até aí tudo bem, mas o que quero deixar registrado aqui é que o epílogo eu queimaria no fogo do inferno. Ou seja, vou fingir que o livro não tem epílogo.
Só isso.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2018
« Will you let me into that place so deep your darkest secrets hide with ease ? »
T.L. Martin has the ability to write stories that grab me from the very first page and keep hold of me well after the last word has been read. Reading Dancing in the Dark, her very first dark romance, was an adventure on its own.
« Do not judge my story by the chapter you walked in on. » - Unknown
Emmy, the strong-willed new "secretary" hire, Adam, the enigmatic (and definitely hot in my mind) member of the Matthews family, as well as all the characters, put me through a rollercoaster of emotions. Together, no matter what I felt towards them, they manage to make death and blood kind of poetic.
In the beginning I wasn't sure what to expect except something pretty dark. And it was, but not in the way I was prepared for. As I turned the pages all I could do was keep going until I knew the end of it and I had the answers to my questions (and I had a lot of them). I couldn't put this book down (really, I even skipped lunch ^^). Suspenseful and mysterious don't even begin to cover it all. The darkness sucked me in. This book is a trip you need to experience with little details and an open soul so I won't say anymore.
« In this moment, I don’t care if I’m swallowed up and left as ash scattered in the wind. At least then I’d get to fly. »
PS: I love the cover and the playlist of the book ! And I kind of wish it wasn't a standalone
I received an ARC of this book by the author.
T.L. Martin has the ability to write stories that grab me from the very first page and keep hold of me well after the last word has been read. Reading Dancing in the Dark, her very first dark romance, was an adventure on its own.
« Do not judge my story by the chapter you walked in on. » - Unknown
Emmy, the strong-willed new "secretary" hire, Adam, the enigmatic (and definitely hot in my mind) member of the Matthews family, as well as all the characters, put me through a rollercoaster of emotions. Together, no matter what I felt towards them, they manage to make death and blood kind of poetic.
In the beginning I wasn't sure what to expect except something pretty dark. And it was, but not in the way I was prepared for. As I turned the pages all I could do was keep going until I knew the end of it and I had the answers to my questions (and I had a lot of them). I couldn't put this book down (really, I even skipped lunch ^^). Suspenseful and mysterious don't even begin to cover it all. The darkness sucked me in. This book is a trip you need to experience with little details and an open soul so I won't say anymore.
« In this moment, I don’t care if I’m swallowed up and left as ash scattered in the wind. At least then I’d get to fly. »
PS: I love the cover and the playlist of the book ! And I kind of wish it wasn't a standalone
I received an ARC of this book by the author.
March 30, 2020
3 ⭐
Defenily not a book for everyone..take the trigger warnings seriously. If you can't stomach reading about child abuse, you should stay away from this story. I wouldn't call it a dark romance, more dark erotica . The romance element (in my opinion) was lacking and I didn't particularly care for this couple.. probably because I'm not into Insta-connections and heroines who act like lovesick puppies. On the other hand the plot was really intresting and the writing style was great. Even though I didn't love it as much as I thought, I think this is a really solid dark read. Dancing in the Dark reminds me a lot of Prisoner,Hostage and The Fallen: Genesis.. If you liked these books you should give it a chance, you may enjoy it.
Defenily not a book for everyone..take the trigger warnings seriously. If you can't stomach reading about child abuse, you should stay away from this story. I wouldn't call it a dark romance, more dark erotica . The romance element (in my opinion) was lacking and I didn't particularly care for this couple.. probably because I'm not into Insta-connections and heroines who act like lovesick puppies. On the other hand the plot was really intresting and the writing style was great. Even though I didn't love it as much as I thought, I think this is a really solid dark read. Dancing in the Dark reminds me a lot of Prisoner,Hostage and The Fallen: Genesis.. If you liked these books you should give it a chance, you may enjoy it.
January 10, 2021
This was wild, dark, twisty, disturbing. But I have so many questions still and I think I need a prequel to see how it all started for Katrina. Back to her in a minute.
Let’s start at the beginning. Emmy is in search for her missing sister who disappears after receiving a call for a job as a secretary. Emmy goes undercover and takes on a job as a “secretary” with the mysterious Matthew brothers and soon come to experience their depraved ways of life. She is trained, then tested by one brother, groped and punished by another, then taken by another brother who ends up as her master Adam. I like Emmy. She’s smart yet troubled, a bit empty and soon discovers her own enjoyment of depravity. Adam is the brother that won’t give Emmy attention but owns all her actions. He’s a killer on a mission to get revenge on all who have done wrong to him and his brothers when they are kids and distances himself from people. He has an instant connection with Emmy but fights his intense attraction to her. Their chemistry is hot!
There are may parts to this story and I could not put it down. Katrina is a driving force and keeps a hold on all the characters in this story. She is the reason for revenge, for their way of life and their downfall. This was so good. Well paced but uneven character development. I need another book because, although it wraps up enough of the loose ends, I need to see the completion of the revenge happen and clear up some other questions about the other brothers and past characters.
Let’s start at the beginning. Emmy is in search for her missing sister who disappears after receiving a call for a job as a secretary. Emmy goes undercover and takes on a job as a “secretary” with the mysterious Matthew brothers and soon come to experience their depraved ways of life. She is trained, then tested by one brother, groped and punished by another, then taken by another brother who ends up as her master Adam. I like Emmy. She’s smart yet troubled, a bit empty and soon discovers her own enjoyment of depravity. Adam is the brother that won’t give Emmy attention but owns all her actions. He’s a killer on a mission to get revenge on all who have done wrong to him and his brothers when they are kids and distances himself from people. He has an instant connection with Emmy but fights his intense attraction to her. Their chemistry is hot!
There are may parts to this story and I could not put it down. Katrina is a driving force and keeps a hold on all the characters in this story. She is the reason for revenge, for their way of life and their downfall. This was so good. Well paced but uneven character development. I need another book because, although it wraps up enough of the loose ends, I need to see the completion of the revenge happen and clear up some other questions about the other brothers and past characters.
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