Trouble in Hell

Hell Night #1

by Alex Grayson

Book one in Alex Grayson's brand new romantic suspense series, Hell Night.... Welcome to Malus.

Trouble and his brothers escaped from Malus, Texas as kids. In the dead of night, they left behind a hell so hideous, it made national news.

Years later, they returned to make the place that was once their living nightmare, a safe place for those who have suffered just as they have.

When Remi comes to town, heavily pregnant and in desperate need of help, as the town's only doctor, Trouble reluctantly offers his services. Little did he know the strong attraction he would feel for the woman. He fights it, tries to push it to the side, but it only grows stronger, nearly consuming him.

Love is not something Trouble can afford to feel. Not when he still has vengeance in his blood and the need to punish those of his past. Not when he knows Remi would never be able to see past the merciless actions he must carry out.

Remi has no time for love either, no matter how much her heart yearns for Trouble. Not when danger is knocking on her door, demanding something she'll never be able to give.

Will the darkness in their pasts devour them, or will they find the beauty that's just out of reach? In a town like Malus, anything is possible....

DISCLAIMER: Intended for readers 18 years and older due to mature content, abusive situations, and harsh language. May contain triggers for some readers. Please read with caution.

Genres: Dark, Romance, Dark Romance, Abuse, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Suspense

327 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 18, 2018

About the author

Alex Grayson is the bestselling author of heart pounding, emotionally gripping contemporary romance including the Jaded Series, the Consumed Series, and two standalone novels. Her passion for books was reignited by a gift from her sister-in-law. After spending several years as a devoted reader and blogger, Alex decided to write and independently publish her first novel in 2014 (an endeavor that took a little longer than expected). The rest, as they say, is history.

Originally a southern girl, Alex now lives in Ohio with her husband, two children, two cats and dog. She loves the color blue, homemade lasagna, casually browsing real estate, and interacting with her readers. Visit her website, www.alexgraysonbooks.com, or find her on social media!

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Reviews

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

TROUBLE IN HELL: Trouble in Hell is the first instalment of (Hell Night #1) a full length dark romance novel by Alex Grayson.

Starting this nothing prepared me for the ‘Prologue’ where close friends, who are closer than blood and call themselves brothers (Emo, JW, Trouble and Judge) escape into the night leaving chaos, death and destruction behind them. Setting off where no one knows their names, seeking freedom from the horrors of the township named 'Sweet Haven' they left behind in their dust.



Twenty years later: They have all made something of themselves and going back to the town (now renamed Malus) that they'd left behind an isolated little township, one became a doctor, one a Sheriff, one a coroner, and the other a Judge where they rule the town with an iron fist where they punish those that step out of line effectively, and all the roles they place ensure the town is run how they want it to be run.

Strangers are never welcomed and on the very rare occasion one turns up the township of three hundred and eighty nine bands together to make sure they don't out stay their welcome.



Remi is driving through Texas on her way to Colorado to visit her brother nearing her due date running low on petrol she rolls into town in a shit car that's barely drive-able and is stranded until her car is fixed the township is on high alert they don't want her there uncovering their secrets.

But that's not how this story goes, she's stranded longer than anyone within the town herself included anticipated, parts for her car were hard to source. Trouble fights his attraction towards Remi but the longer she's there he has no chance in hell no matter how hard he tries to fight it, add in the fact that he's her Doctor and under his care until she delivers her baby these two fight a losing battle to keep their attraction under wraps.

My jaw drops to my lap when he walks over to my bed. Gorgeous is one word to describe him, but it's not nearly enough.
Well over six feet tall, inky black hair just a bit longer on the top, luxurious blue eyes, and a body I can tell through the grey slacks and white dress shirt, ripples with muscles, makes the man quite possibly the most beautiful male specimen I have ever laid eyes on.

This ticked all my boxes, it wasn't extremely dark but it was enough to wet my appetite, and had me lapping up the pages in record time. I was pulled into the storyline as soon as I started it, hooked like an addict with no cure, drawn into the darkness of revenge.

Emo's story is the one I'm highly anticipating, he's the deadliest and the most unpredictable of the group, he thrives on pain..

* Teasers used are off the authors facebook page *

     

[Dri ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

★ 5 STARS ★

“If one of us gets cut deep, we all feel the pain. If one of us has been betrayed, we all feel the ramifications. What you do to one, you do to all of us. We aren’t just close friends. We’re brothers.”

▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬



Há tempos não lia um livro dark tão bom e que me consumisse completamente.
Embora esta história contenha um assunto pesado e perturbador, eu adorei cada minuto dessa leitura!

Os personagens principais foram bem construídos. Gostei muito do Trouble e da Remi, ambos interessantíssimos e intrigantes. Meu coração se partiu por eles e pelo que tiveram que passar e suportar...
Gostei de como o relacionamento dos dois foi ganhando forma e progredindo aos poucos, foi convincente e tudo aconteceu na hora certa, sem pressa ou afobação.

Os personagens secundários são bem presentes e unidos. Cada um despertou muito o meu interesse. Não vejo a hora de saber mais sobre JW, Judge e o meu preferido, Emo.

A trama é narrada em POVs duplos e a história seguiu um ritmo muito bom. Me agradou muito que neste caso a vingança teve fundamento, teve um motivo convincente.
É frustrante quando leio um livro envolvendo vingança e no fim vejo que era por pouca coisa ou besteira. Aqui foi impossível não torcer para que os envolvidos pagassem e sofressem pelos atos horríveis que cometeram.

Eu já li muitos livros com temas pesados, mas quando o assunto envolve o que é abordado nesta história, me aperta o coração, me embrulha o estômago. Sinto uma revolta tão profunda, um ódio tão grande em ver o quanto as pessoas podem ser cruéis, monstruosas e desumanas. Machuca de verdade saber que há situações semelhantes ocorrendo diariamente pelo mundo.

Eu já conhecia o trabalho da autora, adorei os livros que li dela. A sua escrita e narrativa são maravilhosas, bem fluida e envolvente. E novamente fui cativada desde a primeira página até a última.
Estou bem ansiosa e curiosa para ler o livro do JW e descobrir o que virá a seguir!

Trouble in Hell foi uma leitura dolorosa, perturbadora, violenta e sangrenta, porém ao mesmo tempo incrível e que despertou em mim inúmeros sentimentos e emoções! Uma história bem construída, desenvolvida e muito bem escrita!
Eu recomendo muito!

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.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was totally me while reading this book...








My goodness, this book was hard to get through. If you have any triggers, it is a book you best take a pass on. If you want specifics feel free to message me. That warning aside, I pretty much LOVED everything about this book. I am going to leave things pretty vague as to not give too much of the story away, but the writing was excellent. It was perfectly paced. The plot was engaging. It was dark. It was twisted. It was bloody. It was heartbreaking. It was sickening. All wrapped up in a satisfying ending.





There was an excellent cast of secondary characters as well. I can't wait to read more about Emo, JW, and especially Judge since the dude has a sister-wife situation going on and I am curious to see where the author is going with that. Both the main characters were extremely likable as well. This book wasn't very spicy, but considering the situation Remi found herself in, that made perfect sense. Neither were virgins. There is a tiny drop of OW drama, which honestly seemed a bit pointless and the story would have been fine without it. That said, it was just a drop and not anything that would bother most people.

Not much left to say really. I loved it, and I can't wait to get my hands on JW's book next!

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 dark and disturbing stars

Wow, what a read! Emotional, romantic, but so, so dark - beware triggers everywhere - it’s definitely not an easy read, and is often uncomfortable, but I was completely hooked and I loved it!

“May Lucifer welcome you with open arms,” …
“And deliver you to the darkest pits of hell,” …
“To live out an eternity for the evil deeds you’ve bestowed,” …
“Shall you not rest in peace,”

‘Trouble’ and his three best friends grew up in the town of Sweet Haven, Texas, and their lives were nothing short of hell. Subjected to the worst kinds of abuse, they barely survived and managed to escape as young teenagers, bonding together closer than brothers as they made something of themselves and plotted their plan of vengeance against those who hurt them so badly. Now adults, they have returned to their home town, renamed Malus, and they own it. They run it according to their rules, where punishment is dealt quickly and according to their sense of justice, and they keep themselves isolated from the outside world while continuing their quest for revenge for the evils of their pasts.

Remi is driving through Texas on her way to Colorado. Heavily pregnant and in a car that is barely holding on, she literally stumbles across the town of Malus needing help, and due to health and car problems, she gets stuck there longer than the quick stop she was planning. And she quickly notices something about the mysterious town – a feeling of darkness and a sense that that townsfolk don’t want her there. But she finds herself drawn to the broody town doctor known as Trouble.

I don’t want to say too much more about the story, because just dive in and experience it and prepare to be completely consumed because OMG! This is a seriously dark story but with a beautiful romance and an overall message of hope that helps to temper all of that evil.

First, the romance, and damn, the chemistry between Trouble and Remi is fantastic! You can feel it from the very first moment, but with all of the mystery and the unique situations of the characters, it takes some time to develop. And that’s completely understandable because Remi is only in town for a short while, and feelings are a momentous shift for Trouble who has been operating so coldly for so long.

For the first time since my brothers and I started this whole thing, I wish it could be different. I wish I wasn’t so fucked in the head and held so much hatred in my heart. I wish I could let the past go and look toward a future. I wish I could have things there’s no chance in hell I could ever have.

There are a lot of barriers to get past, and though neither of them are looking for a relationship, they can’t stop what’s happening between them. And when it starts to move, it moves quickly. The pacing is realistic to the story, and it’s natural and develops beautifully in a way that is real to who Trouble and Remi are, and I loved watching it all unfold for them.

Remi, she came into my life in all her pregnant glory, unknowingly threatening everything I’ve worked hard to gain for years. As irrational as it may be, I’ve already claimed her, and Lord help anyone who tries to take her away.

And then about all of that dark… holy hell. It’s disturbing, and at times nauseating to read. If you have any triggers at all related to violence, torture, sexual abuse or childhood abuse of any kind, I would recommend you stay away from this book. It is violent, intense and descriptive, and it occurs on the page so we see and feel all of the horrific details. It creates a malevolent feeling throughout the book, and I thought it was a bit much at times because it’s so distressing, but having that details allows us to understand Trouble and his brothers, and why they do the things they do, which I think is important.

And as I said, there is a balance of lightness to all of that dark. The characters in the town, the love and loyalty between the brothers, the friendships, the sense of family and the romance all work together to bring a sense of hope, which I really appreciated.

There are twists and turns, ups and downs, and I was captivated as it all played out. The book ends in a really good place and I’m really excited to continue on with this series and read more about Trouble’s brothers – each of them very unique, it’s one of those situations where I suspect each new book will be my favourite, and I can’t wait to dive in with JW up next!

Such a fantastic read. 4.5 stars.

Advanced Review Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Carla Bulian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gostei bastante dessa história, apesar de achar que tiveram algumas coisas mal explicadas, mas com certeza, nos próximos livros serão mostradas.
Excelente leitura!

[Tianna✸loves books✸]

DNF

Well....
I don’t know where to start. But this book is a little too much for me.
Firstly the H is a doctor.
A sick perverted doctor I must say..

“Maybe I shouldn’t have a career in the medical field, and my license would probably be revoked if the medical board found out about my perverse cravings, but I love my profession.”

Then in one scene he is doing the breast examinations of one of his female patient, and he is aroused by this.
Then he does her vaginal examination, and again he is aroused by that.

What the f*cking hell????

Then one of his friend comes home. The friend has dark sexual needs and the H suggest him that he will send a girl for his dark sexual need.

“The town of Malus is small, so the pickings of women are slim.”

Yuck...

Then the h has to take a stop in the town due car problems and health as well. There she meets the pervert doctor H. He is obviously horny seeing her pregnant belly and all. Then while doing her ultrasound...

“You see this right here? Well, it seems your boy has started early in twiddling his diddle.”
“I don’t— What the…. Is he…?”
“Yes. He’s flicking his wick.”
“Oh, my God! My son is a pervert!”
“Nah, he’s just a curious little guy.”
“He’s a dirty little guy.”

If this is supposed to be funny, then sorry I don’t think so. Maybe because coming that from the sick pervert doctor was ..not sounding good to me.
If such stuff don’t offend you then you can read this book.

For me this is too dark and yuck and disgusting.

[✰ Charlie ✰ Chisholm · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Wow, this book is so good.
I’m not going to go into details I think you should go in blind
Alex never disappoints with her books and this one was so good
The storyline is so different from what I have read from this author before. It is raw emotional heartbreaking but also so good. This story had me turning the pages to see how it all going to play out, another well written brilliant book by this author. I recommend this to people who love this author other works and if you have never read then this is a must

[Ashleyjo]

“Disclaimer curtesy of my friend, Marie. Grab a bottle, if you don’t smoke, you might start, and hold the fuck on.”

Mmkay, Crown🍹 in one hand… cig 🚬 in the other… ass clinched 🍑 - I believe I’m ready.

——-

PERSONAL NOTE

It’s kind of surreal to read this book now. Years ago, I remember this author being one of the first books I read containing “triggers” for childhood abuse. It was a subject I chose to keep in a closet far away from my escape of reading. Dark has never bothered me, but children + dark shit - it was a no-go. The reviews for that book disturbed me, called out to me, poked me to look in the closet because a lot of people read abuse and pigeonhole the response on the other end as a litmus test for believability. How wrong they are. It was the reviewer response that I felt obligated to contribute to. Today, I still read such books as that one and this one sparingly because they emotionally drain me, but I’m no longer afraid of them. If done with purpose of understanding and thought, not shock value or glorifying, such books shouldn’t even fall in the realm of “dark reading” just because they shine light in dark places that the world is uncomfortable seeing. That said, to the book we go.

———

THE BEGINNING

He chose the lesser of two evils, which still slowly kills him from the inside out.

A young girl dead by her own hand, a choice of nothingness rather than whatever horrors she faced. Young boys, including the girls’ brother (MMC- Trouble,) running from their home of Sweet Haven, Texas into the unknown.

What horrors did they endure, and what will become of them now.

Fast forward 23 years to Chapter Two.

Sweet Haven, that small, secluded town, has been renamed Malus, Texas. It’s been flipped 180 degrees from a den of sexual iniquity to a place of zero tolerance.

Malus doesn’t do shit by the books… they deal with their own justice the insider-way, and that’s thanks to above boys returning and setting up their lives here as judge, jury, and hangman 10 years ago.

To get familiar with this town’s operation, readers are told a young girl has been molested by her father, and the sheriff has brought him in for some of that small town justice. It’s why.. “the crime rate here is damn near non-existent.”

🚨 Here begins my first plot problem:

If this town is so openly vigilante, then why would anyone with perversions stay there to carry out said perversions when they know this won’t be an evidence-first, proven guilty, slap on the wrist kinda situation? Seven offenders in ten years. Sounds great until you consider the population is 389 children and adults. Seven of those people have been horrific abusers despite knowing they’d have an automatic death sentence?

Moving on…

MEET TROUBLE

The MMCs thoughts are written with honesty and realism that some readers, particularly those not familiar with severe childhood sexual abuse, likely won’t get. That reader may find this appalling at worst and pornographic at best. Me? I found the core of his character honest in a way few authors beyond the pitch dark corners have the guts to write and few people want to accept. Trauma conditions the mind and body to respond to stimuli in a sexual way. A clinical setting doesn’t just automatically adjust that. It’s morals and ethics that draw the line between engrained baser thoughts and acting/taking advantage of said thoughts, and that’s true for anyone, not just doctors like Trouble. In other words, if you think your gynecologist doesn’t see an attractive woman’s vagina and have non-medical thoughts, you’re a dumbass; if your gynecologist acts on said thoughts, that’s what makes the difference between a human and a pervert.

My complaint here comes later… in that there is no follow up to this plot line after he falls in love.

Is Trouble a dark character? 👿😇

Depends on your definition. Is Batman dark when he swoops through the night to comically kill the “bad guys?” Who did you empathize with while reading Grisham’s A Time To Kill? Is Dexter evil or a weapon of karma? For me the answer is that this is neither black nor white. It is what it is - a light flashed in the dark corner.

MEET REMI 🌦

What an intro to the FMC.

Edgar Allen Poe called it “The Imp of the Perverse”. It’s a phenomenon when a person thinks about doing something they know is wrong just because they can do it.

Despite my hiccup with the world-building of the town, the characters are fascinating. Raw. Gritty. Ying-Yang of the psychic apparatus. Brutally honest. Unfiltered. Not diluted for PC.

She’s pregnant and on her way to Colorado to start her life anew under her brother’s love and support. Her car leaves her stranded in this Malus, Texas as an outsider no one wants there. Trouble makes sure she and the baby are healthy while she waits for her car to be repaired. It’s insta attraction, but neither character is in a place to see where that attraction could go.

PLOT

The undercurrent is the romantic tension between Trouble and Remi as proximity keeps pushing their buttons. The overhead plot is much more 🌗 and layered.

What’s justice? What’s punishment?

Imagine a rudimentary, semi-civilized justice system without the buffers of lawyers, legal theatrics, and loopholes. The system… Here’s the evidence - why is it true or untrue? There’s a conscious battle here for the reader to find their bias. Mob mentality is ruthless and can be anything but fair in the face of innocence. On the other hand, we know how often the guilty evade any/befitting punishment within the legal system of today’s reality.

I think it’s a poignant question presented as the plot’s focal point. Where the author goes wrong for me is trying to sell the character’s point of view, or rather creation from that point of view, as some utopian perfect answer. This methodology is just as fallible as any other methodology.

I have a similar problem with the world-building required for such a utopia… thus my second plot problem….

🚨 2) The outsider rules may protect the town, but it defies logic that this would ever lasts as the generations behind the brothers seek college educations, romantic companionship, jobs, etc and come and go from within the safety of the town. <<—- and, if not allowed, then that utopia becomes no better than the cult prison it removed. As with all utopias, beautiful fallacy concept that could never be executed in reality. Even the author can’t align the world with the concept…

“She used to work in a big wig salon in New York City.”

“She’s been in Malus for nine years, but before that, she worked in Dallas. When I asked what made her move to Malus, her answer was vague,”

“Jenny’s been here the longest,” Jamie answers. “I came six years ago. Layla and Gillian came at the same time three years ago.”

^^^ All of the people there, save a few, are outsiders that have been brought there for refuge . So, why all the uproar about the FMC being an outsider? Even after the MMC discovers the FMC has reason to be empathetic to town’s cause, he’s still denying she could ever stay there because of their “justice.” It made no sense that these other people’s pasts made them befitting, but the FMC’s past made no difference.


The “she must leave” mantra is exhausting. Both characters say it over and over and over and over as a mantra on every single scene they share for the majority of the book. It becomes fluff to fill space verses a legit device for angst. At 66% in the book, I expect some progression beyond this same thought on repeat…

Her and Elijah are leaving, and even if she were willing to stay, there’s no way she would be okay with what we do here. Killing criminals is something ninety-nine percent of people won’t accept. 66%

TOO MANY PODIUM POINTS

📴

This book’s child abuse is heavy and a massive undertaking to convey to the reader. Adding all these podium social talking points felt intrusive, preachy, distracting, and forced.

📴 Polyamory: I could have lived without this particular side character’s lifestyle being such a focal point of this book. To each their own and all that, but the depth of this should’ve been for Judge’s book, not Trouble’s book.

📴 Breast feeding in public narrative on how natural it is and a woman’s right.

📴 Natural child labor.

📴 Stretch marks being sexy.

📴 Ah, this… A drop of milk forms on the tip, and I lick it away. It’s sweeter than I expected. In some countries, it’s becoming more common for men to nurse from women—there’s even a few establishments that offer breast milk straight from the source.

✋^^^ In each case, whether I agreed with the message or not, I found the added “taboo” and social message subjects intrusive to the plot. Plus, several of these are delivered by the MMC, but they sound 💯 like the synopsis of a thesis written by a feminist. I want to be clear here that my dislike here is not the subjects covered…. It’s that they’re covered in THIS book, which took me out of the main plots. Story continuation suffered.

LULL

For a heavy book, this had a lot of lull space. Chapter 7 is a great example. It’s lollygagging with no purpose beyond word-count.

There’s also multiple rehashing of events and things being told multiple times between different characters. Repetition.

I’ve seen a lot worse, but ^^^ it’s just very noticeable here because of the heaviness in other parts of the book.

ROMANCE

The FMC and MMC both have so many things holding them back from their chemistry. She’s passing through and pregnant. He’s responsible for the town’s safety and ensuring she moves right on along.

Chapter 14 welcomes new life in this bleak story. The interaction here between the MCs was quite powerful. The name thing was a little bit too much of kismet meets coincidence. I’d have rather her just ask his name and let that be it.

Watching this relationship bloom slowly with so much uncertainty around it was magical. It’s impossible not to root with all your might for these two injured souls to find the peace, happiness, and love they deserve.

Again, my one complaint is the “she must leave” mantra. This should have been progressed. Instead, the converge between “she must leave” and “she can’t leave” blurred together to the point there was no big moment here. That one big scene where your hopes for the characters comes to life… yeah, that just blended in, and I can’t even think back to when it happened as I write this review. I’m still happy for them, but I feel cheated from the “Notebook” moment of ❤️‍🔥

TRIGGERS

Graphic childhood abuses of all sorts told in flashback, graphic detail. It’s beyond heartbreaking. It’s not for shock value. It’s not glorified. It’s not excused or belittled. It’s graphic to show the depth of harm… the emotional and physical agony… the mental shame and suffering…. and contrast from victim to survivor.

When I say graphic, I do mean graphic. This will make your stomach sour as it boils with anger. It’s necessary, though, for the characters of this story to be heard. Communes, cults, and such do exist, and the mental mindfuckery these kids endure is far beyond the physical pains of sexual trauma.

Domestic abuse recounted.

FMC rape recounted.

Vigilant justice delivered.

Torture.

🤬 WHY CHEAPEN THE ENTIRE BOOK? 🤬

🛑 spoiler section 🛑

The author handled all the triggers with realism, giving the reader a glimpse of the horror without diluting or cheapening it in any way.

Then….

@75%, the author cheapens everything about this book with dime store theatrics … pull a rabbit out of the hat BS.

A child abuser from Texas just happens to move to Mississippi and rapes a woman there… said woman just happens to move from Mississippi, making a detour through Texas on her way to Colorado, and she just happens to break down and fall right in place with the kids her rapist abused 23 years ago.

^^^ This shit just fucking destroyed the entire book because it took a subject that happens to kids everyday and slathered it in some 1-in-a-billion chance of fantasy fated hyperbole so that the MCs could have the same abuser.

To the author… I get abuse. I get your story. Many, however, won’t. They’ll see it as “too much” … so why would you martyr the trust you’ve worked hard to build with the reader with the OTT fated notion that the abuser goes from Tx to Ms and his MS victim just follows fate to TX to his hometown?

What the hell am I supposed to do with this book now?

🛑 end spoiler section 🛑

HEA

I didn’t even want to read the ending after the spoiler. The absurdity of it ruined the reckoning. Still, I’m glad these characters found each other and their HEA.

UNANSWERED

This is a standalone. The MCs get their HEA and personal storyline completion. Side characters have their own stories to tell in separate books that I’m assuming continues the quest for vengeance on the overhead plot.

There are a few loose ends that may be wrapped up better in side character books? I dont know. But, here’s a list of the questions I still had at the end

Epilogue is years later, but we never meet the FMC’s friend (which is big because of her missing reaction to her father’s death.)
We never meet FMC’s brother.
We never get on-page acceptance of FMC by MMC’s brothers.
The ex ow who threatened the FMC is never mentioned again even though she basically threatened the FMCs life if she stayed.
Did the MMC continue to view his patients in a sexual way after the FMC?
No follow up on the FMC’s initial thoughts of wrong because one can.

OVERALL

Before the spoiler, this was a 4 star read for me, with the one-star deduction being pacing issues, too many social messages interfering with the main plots, and the lack of realism in the utopian town. After the spoiler, I don’t have a f’ing clue what to rate this book. It killed my enjoyment, satisfaction; but, is it just to dismiss all that came before the horrible spoiler? 🤷‍♀️

[Camila Matuella · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 * trouble * estrelas

Uauu que livro viciante, quando vi tinha acabado.
Pra quem gosta de um livro mais dark (eu não achei ele tão pesado assim, apesar dele possuir temas bem importantes e relevantes, que nos embrulham o estômago, porém já li livros mais pesados que esse) esse é uma boa pedida. Mas cuidado o assunto nesse pode ser que não seja a escolha de muitos .

Eu gostei muito dos personagens, estou louca pra ler a história dos demais, mas principalmente do Emo.
Já no aguardo dos próximos livros.

Obs.: que capa uoh.

[Debbie Dumke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lies, Deceit, Half-Truths, Secrets, Pain, the Rawest of Emotions make up Every Single Character in this book.

The one ‘spoiler’ or warning, I’ll give you if you will, is that this book really isn’t for everyone. There are some very dark, sensitive situations that will make just about every person who breathes air to feel uncomfortable. Having said, that I think that in reading most if not all of Alex’s books, that is what she strives to do. She wants to shine a light on the ugly underbelly of life and show you the compassion and strength people can and do have. I will also add that as uncomfortable as that aspect of the backstory is, Alex DOES NOT go into graphic details, she gives just enough glossed over ones for the reader to know what happened.

“Devine Intervention is what brought Remi to Malus. Desperation is what forced her to stay longer than she was welcome.”

Malus TX is not like any backdrop town I’ve ever read about ….. Right from the beginning, you get little breadcrumbs into its secrets and under workings. They are an extremely tight-knit community who don’t take kindly to strangers passing through their town, let alone staying for any length of time.

The town is “ran” by a group of men who are brothers by choice not by blood. Judge is well, the town’s Judge, JW is the town’s sheriff, Emo is the town’s coroner, and Trouble is the town’s doctor. They each play a role in the health and safety of each member in their town.

Remi, eight months pregnant is traveling From Mississippi to Colorado in a car loaded with all of her belongings. Along the way, the AC in her car craps the bed, and if that isn’t bad enough it seems like it’s been 100 miles since the last time she passed civilization. She sees a sign for the town of Malus TX, and she can’t exit fast enough.

Unfortunately, in her hast to get to Colorado as fast as she could, she didn’t really take the necessary precautions and planning. But with all she had going on it’s completely understandable why she just wanted to Get outta Dodge. She finds herself waking up in a bed with an IV in her arm due to being dehydrated and her car needing a lot more then the AC fixed.

Trouble needs Remi to get out of town fast, as in ’don’t pass go, don’t collect $200’ Fast. But as a doctor, he knows she needs her health to be where its safe for both her and her unborn child to travel. As a man, he struggles with his attraction to her.

Remi is scared and closed off, she tries to keep her past tightly locked down. She needs to get to Colorado where her brother lives and who can help her. But man, if Trouble isn’t the most attractive man she’s ever seen, even when his body is tightly strung with tension.

Lies, Deceit, Half-Truths, Secrets, Pain, the Rawest of Emotions are things that no matter what amount of attraction you have for someone are things that you sometimes can’t move beyond, are sometimes things you can’t understand or forgive. Yet they’re also things that can tie you to someone in the deepest way possible. Which one of these roads do Trouble & Remi find themselves on?

[Somia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Wavering Stars

Trouble is the MC in this story. He's a doctor who lives in a small town renamed Malus. Trouble along with his brothers of the heart - JW, Emo and Judge returned to the town that held so much horror for them and changed things drastically - hunting those who needed punishing/death and protecting the innocents of the town. Malus now has its own laws written and enforced by Trouble and his brothers, outsiders are unwanted and encouraged to leave as soon as possible.

When outsider Remi arrives, heavily pregnant he tries to nudge her to leave as soon as possible, but he cannot deny he is strangely drawn to her, and when her past comes calling he is determined to protect her.

At the start of the book, some of the scenes where Trouble was getting turned on examining his patients just made me uncomfortable, the way in which things were written didn't work.

The bad guys in this were seriously disgusting excuses for human beings. Triggers throughout the read.

Ack when it comes to this book I'm still not sure how I feel, I'm all for books with intensely dark tones and themes but in this book the execution felt off from the get go. I finished uneasy. There were moments of intensity and scenes that had me aching for characters, but there was also a strand of emotion and potency missing. The writing and romance didn't entirely work for me.

Potential Triggers: Reference to long-term child sexual abuse spanning generations. Rape of minors and adults is referred to.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is really hard to give an opinion about a book that has left me with a sense of uneasess not because it was terrible but because it dealt with a difficult topic that is child abuse.
The book is indeed a dark romance in which the reader will read about this pregnant woman who accidentally ends up in this remote town. Here she encounters this sexy doctor who, along with other men, hides a dark past that involves the entire town. A place that apparently in the past seemed one of the happiest and most quietest southern town but deep down there lived an entire population with cruel tendencies. As I started reading this book I began to ask myself in what world did I set foot in but as soon as the characters started interacting with one another, everything just came into into place and the story started to make sense. So I advice to give this book a chance because among all this darkness, a beautiful relationship will bloom and all the ugliness of the world will fade in comparison to the strong feelings that are so evident through these pages of profound suffering yet with strong dignity.

[Melissa J (Book Addicts Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 dark and troubled stars!! This book was phenomenal!!!

So reading this book I went in blind. For some reason I was expecting like a bad boy next door and no this is not that. And then the entire book I am like “ this needs to be a series”, “I need to email the author”, “oh please give me more” and then at the end it says a preview for JW’s story!!! Ahhh I am so excited. This is book one of the “Hell Night Series”!!!!! I. Can. Not. Wait. For more!!!!

Ok so this is an absolute stand alone book with so many fascinating characters. So you will definitely want to keep your eyes on Alex Grayson!! But I do want to say this book has some very nasty triggers and some parts that even made me put it down for a second. But those parts were crucial to the plot of the this book. If you are sensitive enter this book cautiously.

This author did an amazing job of evoking emotions from each and every character. I was addicted to this book. It played out like a tv series to me. I think this book is amazing and it has depth. Everyone in this book has been through something terrible and each and every one has their own story. What I love is the evolution of where they came from to who they are.

Secrets, lies, pain, harsh pasts, demons, death, hope, love, and new beginnings... that is what lies in Malus...

**I received this book as an ARC and in return gave my honest review**

[Adricrisuruta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Grayson is easily becoming one of my favorite authors.

This reading is not for the faint of heart. It is heartbreaking, dark and of an unparalleled rawness and yet love is there surrounded by so much evil, giving a breath of it.

Malus's past is marked by sin and pain but he will never go unpunished. Malus will get her revenge as she rebuilds herself and gives hope to those in need.

The way the author handles secrets, lies, hatred, demons and the dark past that hides in Malus really made me wonder how far human beings can go and what acts to consent to when it comes to living with and seeing child abuse.

In truth, despite the topic, I do not regret reading it and I hope that I can follow the series soon.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great set up for series

Wow, this is not your typical sweet romance read. Although there is sweet and romance in this, its just more in the background. I loved the slow burn as we got to learn about Malus and its people. There is darkness here, and triggers, but you need to read this to understand why these 4 brothers do what they do. At times this was gut wrenching, had all the feels and loved how things turned out. Is going to be a great series.

[Chelsea]

Y'all this book was hard to read. I'm not gonna lie. I skipped the flashbacks. I couldn't handle them. I do like the way the town was handled. I have no idea how to rate this book. Listen to the trigger warnings. I won't be continuing the series because it's way too dark for me.

[Philomena Callan Cheekypee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like previous books I’ve read by this author Trouble in Hell was another epic read. I absolutely loved it and read within a day.

Best friends who call themselves brothers. JW, Elmo, Judge and Trouble. They rule a town in Texas called Malus where outsiders aren’t welcome. When Remys car breaks down in Malus she finds Trouble. The chemistry between these two is oh so hot.

A shout out for the secondary characters. Can’t wait to read more about them.

This was a brilliant read. If you’ve got triggers then this may not be for you. If your looking for a well written dark and gritty story then I highly recommend you read this gem. I loved it.

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy heavens above this book was FANTASTIC!! I loved every minute of it.
In saying that let me just add this book does contain triggers so be warned.
This book is dark and twisted, raw, heartbreaking and so much more..
I'm going to keep this short as I don't want to give anything away. You need to go in blind to get the full effect of this fantastic read.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Warning, this book won't be for everyone, can have triggers***

Trouble, JW, Judge, and Emo went through some disgusting evil stuff as children.

It was disturbing, crazy, dark and everything wrapped together. And during that all Remi and trouble find each other.

I can't wait for Emo's book it's just a shame that isn't the next one.

[Manoela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 estrelas .

Gostei muito . Um livro dark e ao mesmo tempo emocional com uma pitada de suspense com personagens intrigantes e um romance cativante .

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/5/2019)! 🎁

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty three years ago Trouble, Emo, JW and Judge escaped hell when they were just children. The town of Sweet Haven, where they once lived, was a place where nightmares came true. Now, they have taken over the town renaming it Malus. Trouble, Emo, JW and Judge rule Malus with an iron fist and have their own set of rules to govern their town. Outsiders are not welcome as Malus holds a lot of secrets that could be dangerous if they ever get out.

Remi Stone is running away from a tragedy. Heavily pregnant, she is traveling to Colorado to get to her brother. But, her car has other plans and breaks down in the heat of Texas in a tiny little town called Malus. When she meets Trouble, the town’s doctor, there is an instant attraction and as they grow closer together she has a hard time wanting to leave even though Trouble makes it known she has to eventually go. If Remi ever finds out the secrets surrounding Malus it could lead to consequences, ones Trouble does not need or want.

Holy freakin hell! There are dark books and then there are DARK books. Alex Grayson has taken over the lead with the darkest, twisted and most f*cked up book I have read in a very long time. The contents of Trouble in Hell are very disturbing and uncomfortable to read through. Anything dealing with extreme child abuse really gets me angry. Grayson does NOT hold anything back and while most of the abuse is mostly told through flashbacks your heart will still break over what children of Sweet Haven have gone through.

I really loved seeing Remi and Trouble together and rooted for them the entire way through the story. I am so glad Grayson did not go the sweet and innocent route with Remi. Remi has a painful past and I think it makes her more of the right kind of woman that Trouble needs as she can understand what he has gone through and is able to accept him for who he is.

I found the plot to be intense and engaging and it really captured my attention all the way through, even if it did make me squirm in many parts. The text is gritty and descriptive and Grayson really made me feel like I wanted to be a part of Malus. On the upside, these four men are super hot especially Emo! I just can’t wait for his story!

Trouble in Hell is not for the faint of heart. The story is rich, vivid and very, very dark. I wholeheartedly enjoyed the first book in the Hell Night series and cannot wait to read more about these devilishly handsome men who rule Malus.

[Nerdy Dirty & Flirty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, gritty….

Oh boy, was this a walk down the dark side. Be sure you read the disclaimer it will be too late - you won’t want to stop….

What do you do after surviving hell? Well, if you are Trouble and his brothers, you create a world where women and children do not have to fear. Where they are in control. This is the first in the series and it laid the foundation for a story arc that is both riveting and repellant. What they endured, what they continue to fight against, represents the worst of human nature. And it was a battle that was not over.

When Remi found herself in the small town of Malus little did she know what lurked behind its deceptive calm. Trouble intrigued her but, given her situation, she wasn’t sure why. For Trouble, Remi was an outsider and that said it all. As circumstances forced them together, the attraction continued to build as secrets swirled around between them. And so did my understanding of what Malus was all about.

I really enjoyed this story with so many different elements coming together into an emotion-filled, at times very uncomfortable, read. If I had a problem with the gritty details, I dealt with them because the story had me. There’s more to come and I’m excited – and afraid – of what’s in store…

[poppy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book may not be for everyone it is a pretty dark romance and I just loved it. This was a really intense read and once I started reading it I just could not put it down. I refuse to give anything away but if you like a good twisted dark read then you will want to get this book as far as I am concerned this is a must read

[Nancy Metsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a rough book to read at first, but then as I got further in it did get better. This was the first book I have read bu Alex

[Clara H · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Alex Grayson]

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[Maria Angie Mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, twisted and suspenseful, this book was full of gritty triggers.
Gut wrenching and emotional, if you can’t handle certain triggers best to stay away!
However, if you don’t mind them, you’ll love it!
This read offers a unique, hard core method of justice and revenge!
The characters were well developed and there was this underlying passion coming through from them when you least expected it, that made the characters likable. Their flaws and their complicated pasts gave them an edge and a quest for truth that I found appealing.
Well written, exciting and intense, the story flowed nicely although, the suspenseful elements were sometimes hard to understand and even harder to digest. Especially in the beginning.
Nonetheless...Keep reading...it all makes sense at the end !!!
I liked it...a lot!!
Can’t wait what happens next, and no it’s not because of a cliffhanger!

[Yvette89 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not sure what to say about this book. It is dark and full of triggers. Trouble and his brothers experienced child abuse in every form imaginable. Reading what happened was very hard. However, they survived. As adults they become a group oh vigilantes and take care of the abused. Many people may not agree with there approach, but it’s their own brand of justice. When Reny stumbles across their town, she has no idea what she is about to encounter. She has her own demons and secrets. Things progress quickly. Among all the darkness they find love. Can their love survive the darkness and secrets. Twists and turns with a hero that has a soft spot for women and children. A heroine that will go to the ends of earth to protect her child.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Pavitra (For The Love of Fictional Worlds) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also Posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds

Disclaimer: An eARC was provided via Inkslinger PR and the Author as part of the Blog Tour. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own.

Disclaimer: This book is definitely intended for mature audiences. It is dark, traumatic and may have triggers for abuse, sexual and physical. I will not go into details about the plot or the characters themselves; go in blind, like I did, and you will definitely enjoy this book!


This is my first book by Alex Grayson – and I am so very intrigued. Wounded, grumpy heroes are my kryptonite – it was only with the blurb that the author pretty much sucked me right in.

Trouble aka Dr. Trayce is a survivor. He has had a traumatic childhood – way beyond what any of us would call traumatic, going right into horrific. So it wasn’t any wonder, that he isn’t exactly the well – adjusted adult he should be, considering that he is now a Doctor.

He and his brothers have banded together & taken back the one place that put them in hell – and made it their own. They live by their own code of justice – and all four of them have their demons. We get a glimpse of these demons in this first book in Hell Night Series – but I was honestly intrigued, and my interest was piqued as I went along this convoluted yet somehow reasonable journey.

Remi is another survivor. She is also heavily pregnant and making her way across the country (I think? I am not a native American, so not sure!) to where her brother lives – but her luck causes her car to break down near the town of Malus.


I fell in love – this was a dark book – there are instances where I wanted to skip those parts because they were horrific, but I couldn’t because I was slowly falling in love with Trouble and his over – protectiveness, that he himself couldn’t understand because Remi was an outsider and outsiders weren’t allowed in Malus.

I also fell in love with the author because she did justice to Remi and trouble’s relationship plus gave her son, Elijah his due with Trouble as well. Even with all the demons, their dysfunction it is easy to fall for these troubled brothers – and I am definitely looking forward to the next book in Hell Night.

Plus, does this mean, I am gonna be checking out Alex Grayson’s backlist? You would be absolutely right 😀




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