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Hurt #1
Hurt
“Bestselling and award-winning author Lydia Michaels delivers a devastatingly dark romance with thrilling psychological twists that haunt and hypnotize in this uniquely poignant mafia romance!”
Callan MacGregor’s tortured past is awakened when the woman he secretly loves is brutally attacked. His heart will not rest until vengeance is served.
Violence made me vicious, and my sins are too many to count.
When I look at her, I’m reminded of everything good and pure in this world.
My redemption is hopeless, so I keep my distance, fighting the temptation to get closer to her, even when her eyes and body invite me in.
Everyone I love disappears, so I must keep my distance to keep her safe. Distances and isolation are the price I must pay for the ruthless crimes I’ve committed.
But when I see her hurting, nothing, not even my past, can keep me away. She is mine to protect, and I will be her justice and protection from the true monsters in this ugly world.
Callan MacGregor’s tortured past is awakened when the woman he secretly loves is brutally attacked. His heart will not rest until vengeance is served.
Violence made me vicious, and my sins are too many to count.
When I look at her, I’m reminded of everything good and pure in this world.
My redemption is hopeless, so I keep my distance, fighting the temptation to get closer to her, even when her eyes and body invite me in.
Everyone I love disappears, so I must keep my distance to keep her safe. Distances and isolation are the price I must pay for the ruthless crimes I’ve committed.
But when I see her hurting, nothing, not even my past, can keep me away. She is mine to protect, and I will be her justice and protection from the true monsters in this ugly world.
566 pages, Paperback
First published May 21, 2019
156 people are currently reading
1242 people want to read
About the author
Lydia Michaels
182 books1,887 followersLydia Michaels is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than forty novels. She writes heart-clenching, unpredictable romance with dark elements and high heat. Her work is character-driven and bursting with broken heroes and badass females. With a sweet spot for overbearing, territorial types, her deeply emotional books are spicy, emotionally satisfying, and guaranteed to leave readers with many book hangovers.
Lydia is the consecutive winner of the 2018 & 2019 Author of the Year Award from Happenings Media and the recipient of the 2014 Best Author Award from the Courier Times. She has been featured by USA Today, Romantic Times Magazine, the Women in Publishing Summit, and more.
Michaels has been a recognized presence in the author community since starting her career in 2007. She is the CEO of LMC Consulting and a certified author coach specializing in characterization and plot development. She takes great joy in hosting author events celebrating diversity within the book industry. She has bridged connections among many authors since founding renowned events such as the East Coast Author Convention and the Annual Behind the Keys Author Retreat. However, the gem of her work is, by far, her extensive backlist (see LydiaMichaelsBooks.com).
She is happily married to her childhood sweetheart. Her favorite things include cooking Italian cuisine, hosting extravagant dinner parties, sipping martinis, listening to her husband play piano, and escaping to her coastal home on the Jersey Shore. She’s an LGBTQ ally, a BLM supporter, and a firm believer that the patriarchy must burn (women’s rights are human rights).
You can follow Lydia on Instagram, TikTok, & Facebook!
Instagram: @lydia_michaels_books
Facebook: @LydiaMichaels
TikTok: @LydiaMichaels
Lydia is the consecutive winner of the 2018 & 2019 Author of the Year Award from Happenings Media and the recipient of the 2014 Best Author Award from the Courier Times. She has been featured by USA Today, Romantic Times Magazine, the Women in Publishing Summit, and more.
Michaels has been a recognized presence in the author community since starting her career in 2007. She is the CEO of LMC Consulting and a certified author coach specializing in characterization and plot development. She takes great joy in hosting author events celebrating diversity within the book industry. She has bridged connections among many authors since founding renowned events such as the East Coast Author Convention and the Annual Behind the Keys Author Retreat. However, the gem of her work is, by far, her extensive backlist (see LydiaMichaelsBooks.com).
She is happily married to her childhood sweetheart. Her favorite things include cooking Italian cuisine, hosting extravagant dinner parties, sipping martinis, listening to her husband play piano, and escaping to her coastal home on the Jersey Shore. She’s an LGBTQ ally, a BLM supporter, and a firm believer that the patriarchy must burn (women’s rights are human rights).
You can follow Lydia on Instagram, TikTok, & Facebook!
Instagram: @lydia_michaels_books
Facebook: @LydiaMichaels
TikTok: @LydiaMichaels
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
April 19, 2019
One of the best books I've ever read. The writing is hauntingly beautiful. The chilling tragedies and heartache seep into your bones and linger long after the story ends. The tortured hero is my favorite trope, and my gawd, this hero embodies everything I look for in a character--complicated, brutal, vulnerable, sympathetic, possessive, protective, and hot as hell. Add in his Scottish accent, and lord help me, I can't get enough. Gah, this love story is so dark and perfect. Everyone needs to read this book.
May 19, 2019
I struggled a little with my rating for this book. I couldn't decide if it would be a 3 or 4 Stars. If I were going on just the technical aspects of the book, then this would be a 5 Star read all the way. The writing was outstanding. The plot was original and intricate. It had a well rounded cast of secondary characters. The story jumped back and forth from past to present. <--- not a fave of mine. It didn't bother me overly much in this instance. However, personally I felt a more linear style of storytelling would have worked better than all the jumping around. Both Callan and Emery's characters were well developed. Both were likable characters. Last, it was all wrapped up in an open ended happy for now.
So yea, to say that this was a gut wrenching and emotional book would be an understatement. And therein lies the main issue I had and why I was wavering between 3 and 4 stars. Reading this book was like sitting under a wet blanket for five hours. It was just one over the top tragic event after another. By 70% I was exhausted. I just wanted to get done with the last 30% as quickly as I could. I knew going in this would not be a unicorn farting rainbows type of story, but I really felt like this story needed some sort of...lightness?? Hope? Something to break up the constant misery and darkness. We really get none of that into very late into the book.
However, after thinking on it a bit I decided to go with 4 Stars. The book really was masterfully written, and deserved a higher rating. Just be aware if you decide to tackle it you need to be prepared for a lot of heavy subject matter and scenes. I'll add a spoiler trigger warning below as I know some scenes in this book could trigger readers.
TRIGGERS:
August 3, 2019
4 solid stars
Most of the story is told switching back and forth between the past and the present. It’s no secret I’m not a fan of that. But I adore Lydia Michaels’ writing and the story was gripping enough to keep me turning the pages and wanting more.
The past scenes are about the hero, Callan, and his life in Scotland. At a young age, Callan finds himself responsible for taking care of his younger brother and sister. They’re poor and job options are nonexistent, so he does what he has too to provide for his family. He fights illegally. The fight scenes had me wincing. The author doesn’t hold back. Illegal fighting means dealing with unsavory people, and when Callan doesn’t give in to what they are asking for, he and his family pay the price. What Callan and his family go through is brutal and depraved.
The present scenes are of Callan and Emery in the U.S., and the reason for the 4 instead of 5 stars from me. Callan and Emery are already acquainted. The reader doesn’t get to experience their first meeting. I was very disappointed by that. It also didn’t help that just when I was staring to feel their connection, I’m taken back into the past. Then something tragic happens in the present. Something that has Emery and Callan growing closer, but as sweet as Callan and Emery are together, it took me a good while to finally feel their connection. When I did, I swooned.
I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Most of the story is told switching back and forth between the past and the present. It’s no secret I’m not a fan of that. But I adore Lydia Michaels’ writing and the story was gripping enough to keep me turning the pages and wanting more.
The past scenes are about the hero, Callan, and his life in Scotland. At a young age, Callan finds himself responsible for taking care of his younger brother and sister. They’re poor and job options are nonexistent, so he does what he has too to provide for his family. He fights illegally. The fight scenes had me wincing. The author doesn’t hold back. Illegal fighting means dealing with unsavory people, and when Callan doesn’t give in to what they are asking for, he and his family pay the price. What Callan and his family go through is brutal and depraved.
The present scenes are of Callan and Emery in the U.S., and the reason for the 4 instead of 5 stars from me. Callan and Emery are already acquainted. The reader doesn’t get to experience their first meeting. I was very disappointed by that. It also didn’t help that just when I was staring to feel their connection, I’m taken back into the past. Then something tragic happens in the present. Something that has Emery and Callan growing closer, but as sweet as Callan and Emery are together, it took me a good while to finally feel their connection. When I did, I swooned.
I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
May 27, 2019
"Hurt" was an extremely intense reading experience, one that has some serious triggers that some may find hard to deal with.
This is not going to be for everyone just because of how much it takes out of the reader.
Also, there's a disclaimer at the beginning of this book so please do take notice of this it is there for a reason.
So I liked the main characters Callan and Emery (love their names) and thought both their stories were just so heartbreaking.
I found this to be not so much a dark romance as the relationship at its centre was relatively sweet in nature.
It was all else here apart from this budding potential partnership that was darkness and death, blood and tears, this was where the rot set in colouring the landscape in such violence and brutal shades of black.
I sometimes found so much suffering and despair here that I actually felt like there was no end in sight and I really felt there needed to be some sort of balance to counter this.
So, this was told in a series of flashbacks so it was almost like two separate stories connected by a common theme.
It was extremely well written and so emotive and on that fact, I can not fault this.
There were just some little niggles from my camp that stopped it being a full sweep.
I liked how Callan was not the classically handsome hero, he had scars both inside and out and they only made him more interesting to me.
I also felt that without Emery's own experiences she might not have accepted Callan's past fully.
As awful as it was it has somehow cemented them together.
I also adored the finish it was fitting.
One final observation from my camp I would have liked Callan to own his darkness completely with no apologies to anyone.
So, this is a dark tale that takes you down to rock bottom, its a story of survival and human resilience but it is also a beautiful love story.
Would really love to read the sisters story next.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Hurt (The Hurt Series 1).
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
April 28, 2019
There was nothing more to say. His life had been a series of sacrifices with very few choices.
What. A. Ride. Lydia Michaels has shown her talent and versatility as a writer! #Hurt is her first “dark romance” and she is bringing it to a new level! I don’t even know where to start my review! Her writing, as usual, is exquisite. Each chapter brings on a new level of terror! What else could possibly happen??? It drug me under like a riptide, pulling and pulling until I was completely submerged!
For every silent sorrow swallowed, screams an infinite pain.
For all the voices hollowed, that spoke only in vain.
Emery Danner is quiet, shy and simply beautiful. She is not very social but enjoys the simple things. She is in awe of Callan but her shyness prevents her from seeking more than friendship with him.
The hurt still anchored him. But so did she.
Callan McGregor has not had an easy life. He is such an enigma! Life has made him savage and brutal in order to survive. And yet he has a thoughtful, gentle, shy side as well. Add in his Scottish accent and a few Gaelic words and whoa! I absolutely loved him! I could literally feel his pain!
He was a stunning paradox. So gentle and so kind, but also terrifying for reasons she couldn’t understand.
As the story progresses it will cocoon you like a weighted blanket. Amongst the twists and turns lies a love story. #Hurt will absolutely WOW you! Instead of my normal written review I thought I would share the messages that I was texting to a friend while reading:
"So many OMG moments!"
"I never saw that coming!"
"No, please no!"
"There are just no words to describe Callan and Emery. So raw and beautiful."
"I am drained."
"He makes the word psychopath seem like a daisy."
"Callan is so pure!"
"The rage at times is palpable!"
"There is a lot of competition for evil, horrific humans."
"Every book needs to come with a dose of Ativan!"
"Send help! ~ I think she broke the "trigger" in trigger warning!!!!!"
"Hypnotic and haunting."
"When will the madness end!!!!!!!!"
The truth was in the hurt. In the hurt. That hurt. Hurt. Truth. The truth was in the hurt.
5 Amazing Dark Stars!
#AuthorLydiaMichaels #Hurt #DarkRomance #CallanAndEmery #Suspense #1Click #AMustRead #Blogger #BlushingBabesAreUpAllNight #Suspense #Thriller #Sexy #TriggerWarning #RawAndBeautiful #Scottish
What. A. Ride. Lydia Michaels has shown her talent and versatility as a writer! #Hurt is her first “dark romance” and she is bringing it to a new level! I don’t even know where to start my review! Her writing, as usual, is exquisite. Each chapter brings on a new level of terror! What else could possibly happen??? It drug me under like a riptide, pulling and pulling until I was completely submerged!
For every silent sorrow swallowed, screams an infinite pain.
For all the voices hollowed, that spoke only in vain.
Emery Danner is quiet, shy and simply beautiful. She is not very social but enjoys the simple things. She is in awe of Callan but her shyness prevents her from seeking more than friendship with him.
The hurt still anchored him. But so did she.
Callan McGregor has not had an easy life. He is such an enigma! Life has made him savage and brutal in order to survive. And yet he has a thoughtful, gentle, shy side as well. Add in his Scottish accent and a few Gaelic words and whoa! I absolutely loved him! I could literally feel his pain!
He was a stunning paradox. So gentle and so kind, but also terrifying for reasons she couldn’t understand.
As the story progresses it will cocoon you like a weighted blanket. Amongst the twists and turns lies a love story. #Hurt will absolutely WOW you! Instead of my normal written review I thought I would share the messages that I was texting to a friend while reading:
"So many OMG moments!"
"I never saw that coming!"
"No, please no!"
"There are just no words to describe Callan and Emery. So raw and beautiful."
"I am drained."
"He makes the word psychopath seem like a daisy."
"Callan is so pure!"
"The rage at times is palpable!"
"There is a lot of competition for evil, horrific humans."
"Every book needs to come with a dose of Ativan!"
"Send help! ~ I think she broke the "trigger" in trigger warning!!!!!"
"Hypnotic and haunting."
"When will the madness end!!!!!!!!"
The truth was in the hurt. In the hurt. That hurt. Hurt. Truth. The truth was in the hurt.
5 Amazing Dark Stars!
#AuthorLydiaMichaels #Hurt #DarkRomance #CallanAndEmery #Suspense #1Click #AMustRead #Blogger #BlushingBabesAreUpAllNight #Suspense #Thriller #Sexy #TriggerWarning #RawAndBeautiful #Scottish
May 20, 2019
WOW just WOW so wasn't expecting this story it just blew my mind with how many emotions I went through while reading Hurt . This would be the first book that I've read by Lydia Michaels and I can't wait to read more by her in the future and so want to read her other books because wow amazing writer . If two characters were meant to be it would be Callan and Emery those two have been through so much and then to see how the author revealed Callans past just blew my mind my heart just broke . These two needed a happy ending and was so happy with the end result just wow so beautiful I really can't wait to read more by the author and I hope to see more of these characters in the future .
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
****************************************
hero=10 heroine=10 secondary characters=10
Chemistry=10 steam=8 romance=8
humor=2 darkness level=5 action=4 mystery=4
enjoyment=10 angst=3 story line=10 Story ending=10
character development=10 pacing=10
cover=10 Blurb =10 Stars =4
Is this part of a series =yes
Can it be read as a standalone = yes
would I recommend this book=yes
would I re read this book=yes
would I read future books by this author= yes
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
****************************************
hero=10 heroine=10 secondary characters=10
Chemistry=10 steam=8 romance=8
humor=2 darkness level=5 action=4 mystery=4
enjoyment=10 angst=3 story line=10 Story ending=10
character development=10 pacing=10
cover=10 Blurb =10 Stars =4
Is this part of a series =yes
Can it be read as a standalone = yes
would I recommend this book=yes
would I re read this book=yes
would I read future books by this author= yes
May 16, 2019
This is my first book by Lydia Michaels and boy what a completely mesmerizing introduction it is. This is one gripping story that has you feeling the pain and suffering of the characters throughout the story. This is one story that isn’t to be missed. It is extremely well written and beautifully told. Yes, it has darkness but it also has beauty in it as well. It a fantastic piece of writing that spoke to me and drew out the wonders of Ms Michaels mind and intriguing imagination. It speaks truth about our world and how we as people act. It has you wishing for a better life for our characters but the beauty in their souls is so captivating. It is a must read and definitely doesn’t disappoint.
Want to read
December 7, 2019Thank you Santa’s Lap Warmer for the awesome present! 💝 I look forward to reading it. xx
May 20, 2019
Hard Hitting story with some brutal incidents wrapped in Gut wrenching sentiments. It's quite a Pandora's Box of troubles opened by lydia as she uncases all the wrongs in the world for us to experience.
I believe she writes every book with a purpose, her stories carry a powerful social message and this one carries the MOST IMPORTANT one of all.
Its dark, distrubing at times but essential nevertheless. Seeing the current political climate, this book couldn't have come at a better time.
There's a Gentle Giant - Callan MacGregor. Forced into violence, his mercy is trampled till his heart is nothing but a emotionless crusher of lives
Violence was a stubborn cancer of the soul, and the profane brutality of such a vicious fight did not easily wash away. Every time Callan unleashed his temper, the gaping hole inside of him grew grander and filthier, like a tarnished cup marking his ill-gotten victories. Trophies of shame collected in the shapes of scars.
He's a family keeper, loyal, responsible man who fights to sustain his family of younger sister, Innis and brother Gavin. In other words he's invicible & unbreakable till........
Set in Glasgow which is in Scotland (I kept reading the book in Irish accent🤦♀️)😁
It starts as a struggling life story of three orphaned siblings trying to put a roof on their heads and trying to make something of their miserable existence, every day. An awful incident happens to Callan that destroys his idyllic small haven of a family home.
“I was undefeated. But in the end, I lost everything that mattered.”
He moves to America and meets Emery who works in the same hotel as him. Shy, hesitant, sweet Em'ry is a victim and a struggling survivor and these gentle souls come together to heal and recuperate together
“Let’s be the rain, sliding down each other’s skin, washing away whatever came before.”
The plot is Applause worthy, no doubt about it. It takes a lot of courage and initiative to write such a relevant story on a contemporary topic. Lydia takes on this endeavour with stark honesty and realism. She doesn't sugar coat stuff and neither does she shirk from pushing the envelope just to conform to reader sensitivities.
She has gone "THERE" and then some !!!!!
Narrative is hard hitting and forces you to think.
I fell in love with gentle poetic soul that is Callan. He's a mammoth guy with putty heart that beats for his siblings, his friend Rhys and Em'ry. His broad shoulders have carried enough weight to kill a normal man but yet he piles on more to protect his family and manages to not stumble or crumble under it.
Emery is adorable and you have the urge to shield her always.
Rhys is very noble and loyal and deserves a special mention too
Compassionate story that comes from a compassionate heart.
4.5 Leannán stars
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I believe she writes every book with a purpose, her stories carry a powerful social message and this one carries the MOST IMPORTANT one of all.
Its dark, distrubing at times but essential nevertheless. Seeing the current political climate, this book couldn't have come at a better time.
There's a Gentle Giant - Callan MacGregor. Forced into violence, his mercy is trampled till his heart is nothing but a emotionless crusher of lives
Violence was a stubborn cancer of the soul, and the profane brutality of such a vicious fight did not easily wash away. Every time Callan unleashed his temper, the gaping hole inside of him grew grander and filthier, like a tarnished cup marking his ill-gotten victories. Trophies of shame collected in the shapes of scars.
He's a family keeper, loyal, responsible man who fights to sustain his family of younger sister, Innis and brother Gavin. In other words he's invicible & unbreakable till........
Set in Glasgow which is in Scotland (I kept reading the book in Irish accent🤦♀️)😁
It starts as a struggling life story of three orphaned siblings trying to put a roof on their heads and trying to make something of their miserable existence, every day. An awful incident happens to Callan that destroys his idyllic small haven of a family home.
“I was undefeated. But in the end, I lost everything that mattered.”
He moves to America and meets Emery who works in the same hotel as him. Shy, hesitant, sweet Em'ry is a victim and a struggling survivor and these gentle souls come together to heal and recuperate together
“Let’s be the rain, sliding down each other’s skin, washing away whatever came before.”
The plot is Applause worthy, no doubt about it. It takes a lot of courage and initiative to write such a relevant story on a contemporary topic. Lydia takes on this endeavour with stark honesty and realism. She doesn't sugar coat stuff and neither does she shirk from pushing the envelope just to conform to reader sensitivities.
She has gone "THERE" and then some !!!!!
Narrative is hard hitting and forces you to think.
I fell in love with gentle poetic soul that is Callan. He's a mammoth guy with putty heart that beats for his siblings, his friend Rhys and Em'ry. His broad shoulders have carried enough weight to kill a normal man but yet he piles on more to protect his family and manages to not stumble or crumble under it.
Emery is adorable and you have the urge to shield her always.
Rhys is very noble and loyal and deserves a special mention too
Compassionate story that comes from a compassionate heart.
4.5 Leannán stars
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May 17, 2019
This book was devastating! Before you go any further, please read the author's warning, if you have any triggers, you probably want to pass on this book. It was DARK, and it was painful, and there were scenes that were hard to read. But it blew me away! It was SO GOOD!! Callan and Emery just broke my heart. I fell in love with Callan, he was so damaged and broken, but so protective of Emery. Rhys and Innis had a tragic story, and poor Gavin! I just wish we'd gotten more closure on Innis and Gavin. I'm really hoping the second book will be about them!! This was truly a heartbreaking, tragic love story. Hurt is the perfect title for it, there's so much pain and tragedy in it! But there is light in the darkness. If you like dark romances, and don't have any triggers, then this is a must read!!
October 24, 2021
First book I've read by Lydia and certainly won't be the last. Absolutely fantastic, dark, heartwrenching and captivating.
I couldn't get enough of Callan,a true celtic warrior if there ever was one. The trauma and losses he suffers goes beyond anything I have read before, but his strength, love and morality sets him apart from any other anti hero. This was a truly devastating story that gripped me from page one, the lives of Callan, Innes, Rhys, Gavin and Una will stay with me for a long time, the strength of his love for Emery and hatred for the despicable Rory will always be ingrained in me (Rory must be one of the vilest characters I have ever come across.. and I read a lot of dark books!) The writing was superb, bravo Lydia, I now plan on bingeing every one of your books!
I couldn't get enough of Callan,a true celtic warrior if there ever was one. The trauma and losses he suffers goes beyond anything I have read before, but his strength, love and morality sets him apart from any other anti hero. This was a truly devastating story that gripped me from page one, the lives of Callan, Innes, Rhys, Gavin and Una will stay with me for a long time, the strength of his love for Emery and hatred for the despicable Rory will always be ingrained in me (Rory must be one of the vilest characters I have ever come across.. and I read a lot of dark books!) The writing was superb, bravo Lydia, I now plan on bingeing every one of your books!
October 16, 2024
3.5 stars
*sigh*
So I had a horrible week and this book was so NOT the book to be reading during that time. The title is aptly named. :/ I guess it's my fault as I didn't pay much attention that the book is billed as a "dark psychological romance" and I normally don't mind dark at all but I wasn't prepared for how dark and twisted the story is. And trying to finish this after losing your beloved parrot that died in your hands suddenly just doesn't feel good (I love you forever my Goldie girl 💛). Not a great combo. The timing was very bad. I had trouble organizing my thoughts so this review will be a disorganized soap of words and repetitive thoughts. I really don't know how to rate this.
The good part: The romance. Cathartic, healing, pure and so sweet. Had I been rating this solely on the hero and heroine this would have been 4-5 star book hands down. Callan and Emery were so sweet on each other and became so vital to one another. Two deeply traumatized hurt people finding comfort and safety and love in each other and soaking it up. I just wish more page time was spent on the healing journey and the actual romance and less on the awful flashbacks and trauma that really didn't need all that real estate in this book. If you need to explain your character's backstory fine, give us snippets. That's all that's needed to drive the point home IMO. Don't fill half a book up with just flashbacks in excruciating detail to get to present time and rush the HEA But that's just me. It clearly felt like Michaels ran out of time especially with how she just shoved all of the wrapping up in the last chapter, a whole year and engagement is covered in a few lines. Not even a epilogue. Considering the hell both characters have been through? An epilogue was needed. And a lot of unanswered questions that I really wanted answers to or better closure. So much there left unresolved.
The bad part: The trauma porn. I absolutely aborred the first half and nearly DNF'd 200 pages in after the hero's best friend . The amount of trauma-torture porn that's ping ponged around in this book is just on another level. But why did I continue? Because of the hero and heroine's connection. Emery and Callan's sweetness had me hanging in there by a thin thread. If it wasn't for the sweet chemistry between the hero and heroine I would have kicked this book into outer space. I wish those who recommended this gave readers fair warning about the trigger warnings, the author certainly didn't. Cause I went in having zero idea and I could just imagine someone having serious issues with triggers going into this not knowing. There's sexual assault, rape, torture, abuse and death in graphic detail. And I mean pages long. The first half of this book shifts back and forth between 2 timelines, 4 years ago when the hero was living in Scotland and present day in America. Because of that readers don't meet the heroine Emery until 100 pages in. The author builds up the suspense in having you guess how Callan ends up in America working at the hotel bar where the heroine works and these two throwing secretive tender looks at each other across the lobby. The jarring shift from dark backstory to quiet tender yearning sweetness makes you hang in there to see how it all plays out. The vulnerability these two showed and innocence about certain things was very endearing and heartbreaking.
The book opens up in Glasgow with Callan McGregor a struggling underground fighter trying to make enough money to support his sister Innis and baby brother Gavin and get them out of the hovel they live in. His determination and desperation just permeates scenes and bleeds through the pages. You truly feel his grit and desperation to protect them and make a better life for them. He absolutely hates fighting and it's wearing on his body but he's saving up money to move his family. But everything quickly goes downhill after Callan refuses a mysterious payoff to lose a big fight against an infamous fighter known for maiming/killing his opponents in the ring. Callan manages to win the fight fairly but it follows him in the worst way. He gets home to find his house up in flames and he nearly gets burned alive running in trying desperately to save his siblings inside the burning house. We see him completely defeated and hopeless after that while recovering from excruciating burns all over his body while he slowly plans to hunt down those responsible for killing his siblings. Only to find out almost a year into his hunt This Rory guy was psychotic and unhinged in the worst way. I normally can appreciate a well drawn scary villain but man I wanted this guy DEAD. Like enough already! The amount of times this sociopath got the upper hand was one too many for my liking. I really wish Michaels stopped the endless mental games to give the lunatic villain the upper hand constantly. It almost felt like Lydia Michaels got a high off writing scenes where her characters are tortured. And you honestly expect me to believe a 200+ lb over 6 foot-something fighter like Callan with his endurance and reflexes really couldn't strangle this wisp of a dandy man like Rory in 10 seconds flat? Rory's own goons and whores in his house were terrified of him. I found it hard to believe Callan couldn't just incapacitate him and grab his family and get the fuck out. Like his idiot goons would really stop him? I found that hard to believe. It just frustrated me how long the torture cycle continued because Callan was afraid for his sister's life. This all plays out in the flashback chapters which take up half of the book, and again if it wasn't for the tentative relationship and sweetness Callan finds with Emery who also is recovering, I would have quit this.
While the message sent in the end was great,
The author is a very talented writer whose prose sometimes does get away from her but I saw the strength in her writing. Just wish she didn't spend so much time and energy on the horrific abuse part and more on the human connections and beautiful romance between two people who learn how to heal and champion each other. I will try some of her other books that are hopefully lighter. This one was just too much even for me to enjoy for what it was.
She sank into him like a lost shell drops to the bottom of the sea, returning to the secret garden where it belonged.
*sigh*
So I had a horrible week and this book was so NOT the book to be reading during that time. The title is aptly named. :/ I guess it's my fault as I didn't pay much attention that the book is billed as a "dark psychological romance" and I normally don't mind dark at all but I wasn't prepared for how dark and twisted the story is. And trying to finish this after losing your beloved parrot that died in your hands suddenly just doesn't feel good (I love you forever my Goldie girl 💛). Not a great combo. The timing was very bad. I had trouble organizing my thoughts so this review will be a disorganized soap of words and repetitive thoughts. I really don't know how to rate this.
It wasnae totally his fault. When she spoke, the air turned to wine, and his senses drank her in until all inhibitions were lost.
The good part: The romance. Cathartic, healing, pure and so sweet. Had I been rating this solely on the hero and heroine this would have been 4-5 star book hands down. Callan and Emery were so sweet on each other and became so vital to one another. Two deeply traumatized hurt people finding comfort and safety and love in each other and soaking it up. I just wish more page time was spent on the healing journey and the actual romance and less on the awful flashbacks and trauma that really didn't need all that real estate in this book. If you need to explain your character's backstory fine, give us snippets. That's all that's needed to drive the point home IMO. Don't fill half a book up with just flashbacks in excruciating detail to get to present time and rush the HEA But that's just me. It clearly felt like Michaels ran out of time especially with how she just shoved all of the wrapping up in the last chapter, a whole year and engagement is covered in a few lines. Not even a epilogue. Considering the hell both characters have been through? An epilogue was needed. And a lot of unanswered questions that I really wanted answers to or better closure. So much there left unresolved.
But hurt was different. Hurt lay beneath flesh and blood, within the hollow of the bone. Hurt was dark and lonesome.
The bad part: The trauma porn. I absolutely aborred the first half and nearly DNF'd 200 pages in after the hero's best friend . The amount of trauma-torture porn that's ping ponged around in this book is just on another level. But why did I continue? Because of the hero and heroine's connection. Emery and Callan's sweetness had me hanging in there by a thin thread. If it wasn't for the sweet chemistry between the hero and heroine I would have kicked this book into outer space. I wish those who recommended this gave readers fair warning about the trigger warnings, the author certainly didn't. Cause I went in having zero idea and I could just imagine someone having serious issues with triggers going into this not knowing. There's sexual assault, rape, torture, abuse and death in graphic detail. And I mean pages long. The first half of this book shifts back and forth between 2 timelines, 4 years ago when the hero was living in Scotland and present day in America. Because of that readers don't meet the heroine Emery until 100 pages in. The author builds up the suspense in having you guess how Callan ends up in America working at the hotel bar where the heroine works and these two throwing secretive tender looks at each other across the lobby. The jarring shift from dark backstory to quiet tender yearning sweetness makes you hang in there to see how it all plays out. The vulnerability these two showed and innocence about certain things was very endearing and heartbreaking.
The dream of one day knowing her in any sort of carnal way blended into the shadows of his zealous devotion to take care of her.
The book opens up in Glasgow with Callan McGregor a struggling underground fighter trying to make enough money to support his sister Innis and baby brother Gavin and get them out of the hovel they live in. His determination and desperation just permeates scenes and bleeds through the pages. You truly feel his grit and desperation to protect them and make a better life for them. He absolutely hates fighting and it's wearing on his body but he's saving up money to move his family. But everything quickly goes downhill after Callan refuses a mysterious payoff to lose a big fight against an infamous fighter known for maiming/killing his opponents in the ring. Callan manages to win the fight fairly but it follows him in the worst way. He gets home to find his house up in flames and he nearly gets burned alive running in trying desperately to save his siblings inside the burning house. We see him completely defeated and hopeless after that while recovering from excruciating burns all over his body while he slowly plans to hunt down those responsible for killing his siblings. Only to find out almost a year into his hunt This Rory guy was psychotic and unhinged in the worst way. I normally can appreciate a well drawn scary villain but man I wanted this guy DEAD. Like enough already! The amount of times this sociopath got the upper hand was one too many for my liking. I really wish Michaels stopped the endless mental games to give the lunatic villain the upper hand constantly. It almost felt like Lydia Michaels got a high off writing scenes where her characters are tortured. And you honestly expect me to believe a 200+ lb over 6 foot-something fighter like Callan with his endurance and reflexes really couldn't strangle this wisp of a dandy man like Rory in 10 seconds flat? Rory's own goons and whores in his house were terrified of him. I found it hard to believe Callan couldn't just incapacitate him and grab his family and get the fuck out. Like his idiot goons would really stop him? I found that hard to believe. It just frustrated me how long the torture cycle continued because Callan was afraid for his sister's life. This all plays out in the flashback chapters which take up half of the book, and again if it wasn't for the tentative relationship and sweetness Callan finds with Emery who also is recovering, I would have quit this.
While the message sent in the end was great,
The author is a very talented writer whose prose sometimes does get away from her but I saw the strength in her writing. Just wish she didn't spend so much time and energy on the horrific abuse part and more on the human connections and beautiful romance between two people who learn how to heal and champion each other. I will try some of her other books that are hopefully lighter. This one was just too much even for me to enjoy for what it was.
“I love ye like Hemingway loves the sea, with enough comprehension to fear it, respect it, and admit that it’s bigger than me by a million miles and too deep to ever know all its secrets."
She was the fastening of his world, the hinges of his soul, and the beauty of his life. His Em’ry. His leannán.
April 27, 2019
Life lesson learned. When Lydia Michaels uses words like “major triggers” and “dark”, she’s not kidding. Going in, the violence was expected but not the emotionally gripping pain and heartbreak that came with it. The anguish and captivating moments of love and severe loss that pulled on my heartstrings so much I felt it. There was such a swathe of layers and characters I didn’t expect.
To say things aren’t easy for Callan and Emery is an understatement. There’s abuse, addiction, violence, loss, and so much more. But what makes this story a true tear jerker is the complicated love story at its core. This is not your typical love story of people who fall in love, have fabulous dates and spontaneous adventures. It’s not an Ed Sheeran song. It’s not a series of rainbows and butterflies. It’s a series of battles. Battles that few are strong enough to endure. Battles that, after reading it, will change you forever.
Their story tackles issues too complex for concrete answers. Callan’s actions are riveting and merciless and it’s hard to know how to feel about it. While readers may not agree with Callan’s actions, Lydia Michaels gives him such depth of personality and soul that it keeps you caring about his plight. Good guy or bad guy, he’s a man thrust into a life more horrific than any person can imagine. The savagery that Emery suffered and the aftermath is emotionally brutal but integral to the story. Callan and Emery had both been damaged by the cruelties of life. They understood each other’s pain and knew first- hand how it felt to experience loss of love and dignity. That’s why they fought like hell to hold on to each other. To save each other without losing themselves in the process.
Each chapter of this book takes you on a roller coaster ride bringing you to a raw state of external, and even sometimes, internal assessment. There are so many ethical quandaries. So many hues of right and wrong. As I said before, it’s not your typical romance. This one’s profoundly dark and will quickly sink its hooks into you and stay with you long after the story is over.
To say things aren’t easy for Callan and Emery is an understatement. There’s abuse, addiction, violence, loss, and so much more. But what makes this story a true tear jerker is the complicated love story at its core. This is not your typical love story of people who fall in love, have fabulous dates and spontaneous adventures. It’s not an Ed Sheeran song. It’s not a series of rainbows and butterflies. It’s a series of battles. Battles that few are strong enough to endure. Battles that, after reading it, will change you forever.
Their story tackles issues too complex for concrete answers. Callan’s actions are riveting and merciless and it’s hard to know how to feel about it. While readers may not agree with Callan’s actions, Lydia Michaels gives him such depth of personality and soul that it keeps you caring about his plight. Good guy or bad guy, he’s a man thrust into a life more horrific than any person can imagine. The savagery that Emery suffered and the aftermath is emotionally brutal but integral to the story. Callan and Emery had both been damaged by the cruelties of life. They understood each other’s pain and knew first- hand how it felt to experience loss of love and dignity. That’s why they fought like hell to hold on to each other. To save each other without losing themselves in the process.
Each chapter of this book takes you on a roller coaster ride bringing you to a raw state of external, and even sometimes, internal assessment. There are so many ethical quandaries. So many hues of right and wrong. As I said before, it’s not your typical romance. This one’s profoundly dark and will quickly sink its hooks into you and stay with you long after the story is over.
March 22, 2019
A MUST READ FOR 2019 !!!
Lydia Michaels has clearly blown my mind. HURT is a mind-cluster-brain-cells-explode thrill ride.
It took me places that were dark, eerie, and emotionally disturbing. Which I absolutely loved, so thank you Lydia! It's twisted and so completely and utterly spellbinding ... Her writing is exquisite and it takes the reader on a hair raising, nail biter suspenseful thrill ride that you just cannot get enough of.
It will defiantly break you and you might end up having some hard limits that you never knew you had. The vile actions of the monsters in this book are so demoralizing and yet utterly beautiful.... I enjoy dark thrillers that push my limits and this journey was incredible ... it will leave you with a chill, leave you stunned, leave you destroyed, leave you in shock and you will be broken at times.
Hurt will leave you breathless !!!
Lydia Michaels has clearly blown my mind. HURT is a mind-cluster-brain-cells-explode thrill ride.
It took me places that were dark, eerie, and emotionally disturbing. Which I absolutely loved, so thank you Lydia! It's twisted and so completely and utterly spellbinding ... Her writing is exquisite and it takes the reader on a hair raising, nail biter suspenseful thrill ride that you just cannot get enough of.
It will defiantly break you and you might end up having some hard limits that you never knew you had. The vile actions of the monsters in this book are so demoralizing and yet utterly beautiful.... I enjoy dark thrillers that push my limits and this journey was incredible ... it will leave you with a chill, leave you stunned, leave you destroyed, leave you in shock and you will be broken at times.
Hurt will leave you breathless !!!
May 21, 2019
This is Lydia's first dark romance thriller, and I pray that it will not be her last! It's unlike any of her other works, it grabs you by the short hairs and tugs on your heart strings! Yes, it's that great! Wished I could give it more stars!
April 28, 2019
Callan Macgregor is truly one haunted broken man that has been not only been broken physically also emotionally hurt beyond pain.
Emery Tanner was a sheltered only child to a strict family who she left to try and have her own life, only to have her body ripped apart by a true monster.
Callan's life has been filled with torture and heartache his entire life. Firstly by his abusive father then the death of his mother. Left to fight and raise his younger brother and sister for a better life. He did the only thing he could fight. That is until it all fell apart. Escaping Scotland to survive.
This is a very dark emotional charged book with every single element of violence ruthless abusive and torture of the innocent. There are definitely parts of this book that will leave you stunned in its depavitity. Please continue to read there is also such sweetness and light to the darkness.
The minute Emery saw this huge bulk of a Scottish man start working at the bar of the hotel she worked in, she was captivated by his silent however dark presence that seemed to consume her although even after three years of working together he barely spoke to anyone. Dark mysterious and with a dangerous side that never scared her. Until it did.
After the attack on Emery, Callan become obsessed with protecting her to the extreme. I throughly enjoyed and highly recommend this book. As in the darkness there is also light.
Emery Tanner was a sheltered only child to a strict family who she left to try and have her own life, only to have her body ripped apart by a true monster.
Callan's life has been filled with torture and heartache his entire life. Firstly by his abusive father then the death of his mother. Left to fight and raise his younger brother and sister for a better life. He did the only thing he could fight. That is until it all fell apart. Escaping Scotland to survive.
This is a very dark emotional charged book with every single element of violence ruthless abusive and torture of the innocent. There are definitely parts of this book that will leave you stunned in its depavitity. Please continue to read there is also such sweetness and light to the darkness.
The minute Emery saw this huge bulk of a Scottish man start working at the bar of the hotel she worked in, she was captivated by his silent however dark presence that seemed to consume her although even after three years of working together he barely spoke to anyone. Dark mysterious and with a dangerous side that never scared her. Until it did.
After the attack on Emery, Callan become obsessed with protecting her to the extreme. I throughly enjoyed and highly recommend this book. As in the darkness there is also light.
August 26, 2019
4.5 stars.
If you don’t like dark romance/erotica, don’t let the genre tags dissuade you! Sure, there are some dark scenes describing violence, but this book is so much more than DARK!!! Hurt is a story of overcoming her indescribably terrible hardship. Beautifully told, engrossing and touching, this book will certainly evoke tears for many!!
I wasn’t expecting the male MC to be Scottish – it took a quite a bit of adjusting to get used to the accent which was present not just in dialogue but in the narrative too! I personally spent way too much time trying to figure out what every word sounded like, struggling after assuming KEN was the replacement for CAN then coming across this sentence: “I dinnae ken anything else to tell ye!”
As soon as I became accustomed to NAE representing NO and YE for YOU, it became inconsistent. Overall, Michaels does a phenomenal job in this area and throughout the book, but my eyes always hone in on errors, so it was a bit distracting when Michaels wasn’t consistent.
“Are you certain? Maybe ye just need a break?”
At the beginning of chapter 9, Michaels completely forgets to use a Scottish accent in dialogue for Callan.
Other than that, Hurt is near flawless! It was very refreshing to read a book that wasn’t filled with typos! Michaels is obviously incredibly talented! This was my first book by her but definitely will not be the last!
If you don’t like dark romance/erotica, don’t let the genre tags dissuade you! Sure, there are some dark scenes describing violence, but this book is so much more than DARK!!! Hurt is a story of overcoming her indescribably terrible hardship. Beautifully told, engrossing and touching, this book will certainly evoke tears for many!!
I wasn’t expecting the male MC to be Scottish – it took a quite a bit of adjusting to get used to the accent which was present not just in dialogue but in the narrative too! I personally spent way too much time trying to figure out what every word sounded like, struggling after assuming KEN was the replacement for CAN then coming across this sentence: “I dinnae ken anything else to tell ye!”
As soon as I became accustomed to NAE representing NO and YE for YOU, it became inconsistent. Overall, Michaels does a phenomenal job in this area and throughout the book, but my eyes always hone in on errors, so it was a bit distracting when Michaels wasn’t consistent.
“Are you certain? Maybe ye just need a break?”
At the beginning of chapter 9, Michaels completely forgets to use a Scottish accent in dialogue for Callan.
Other than that, Hurt is near flawless! It was very refreshing to read a book that wasn’t filled with typos! Michaels is obviously incredibly talented! This was my first book by her but definitely will not be the last!
May 13, 2019
Gah!!! This book! It delved into my soul, ripped out my heart, and hurt so dang much! The prose cast a web around me, keeping me spellbound from the first to the last page. Tragedy piled upon tragedy, heartache infested my soul, and it stirs there now, infesting my thoughts. It lingers with a weight I can’t free myself from. Such a tortured hero, he embodies the best, and the worst, of humanity. He’s complicated, brutal, avenging, loving, vulnerable, and hopeful, fiercely protective he’s amazing and brilliantly crafted. A dark and perfect love story, if you dare, dive into this story. But if you get hurt, don’t blame me. Blame the creative genius of Lydia Michaels. Everyone needs to read this book.
May 21, 2019
Goodness gracious. This about gutted me. My first book by Miss Lydia Michaels and it was every bit of amazing, full of raw and poetic beauty. An absolutely haunting story of love and redemption. A five star read of the highest caliber. ♥️
May 14, 2025
The quickest way to my heart is the tortured hero trope, and when he’s a virgin hero? Gah. Catnip. The romance between the hero and the heroine was not dark, but the setting, violence, and trauma that the two protagonists went through made the book quite dark (so please, check those triggers!). Lydia's prose was beautiful, and the story captivated me from start to finish. I highly recommend this, and I will be diving down Lydia's backlist!
May 20, 2019
4 Cranky Stars
Ok bear with me this is like two stories in one that converge and make sense toward the end so putting that into thoughts without ruining the story will be hard. This isn’t a fluffy love story it’s gritty, raw and will rip you open and leave you with an ache. You will feel for Callen and Emery and their journey. Their losses are insurmountable, but they find solace in each other.
Callan MacGregor knows what it’s like to struggle and he knows what it’s like to lose everything you care about. He is underground fighting to take care of his siblings and he’s almost to a point where he can finally move them out of the ghetto in their town in Scotland. When he doesn’t lose a fight on purpose his whole world comes crashing down. He is now a man set out to avenge those he lost. He works his way into the inner workings of the man who started it all. Seeking revenge has almost made him lose a part of himself he will never recover and the darkness brews. He knows his only choice one he gets his revenge is to flee because someone far greater depends on him. When he lands in New York he isn’t expecting to long after the beautiful Emery the front desk clerk at his job. Years of subtle glances and simple conversation become his lifeline until something happens to Emery that changes their fate.
Emery has secretly loved Callan from afar. The mysterious aloof stranger who tends to the bar at the hotel. She has come from a very suffocating home and is happy to be out on her own making her own way. She hates the advances of some of the hotel guests but she shrugs them off because she’s secretly saving herself for Callan. One night a guest doesn’t take no for an answer and it alters Emery’s life to a point she feels she is drowning. She feels nothing but blame and shame. Her only anchor is Callan who came to her rescue. She sees a good man he thinks he’s not worthy. She finds herself submerged in his life and learning all about his sordid past.
Like I said we have two books in one here. We go from current time to his past very often but I promise you the story merges and you see how much these two actually have in common. This book isn’t for the easily triggered or easily offended so that will be my only disclaimer. I loved Callan how under all that corrupt crap on the outside inside he had a huge heart. He loved who he loved with a fierceness that transcended everything. Oh my heart broke for Emery to have that happen to her. To have something removed from her that altered who she was is heartbreaking. I wish there was stiffer penalties for what happened to her. Especially during our current social climate this is a far to real issue that is happening nowadays. If you are a lover of dark romances and two completely cracked and broken souls finding love then this is for you.
Ok bear with me this is like two stories in one that converge and make sense toward the end so putting that into thoughts without ruining the story will be hard. This isn’t a fluffy love story it’s gritty, raw and will rip you open and leave you with an ache. You will feel for Callen and Emery and their journey. Their losses are insurmountable, but they find solace in each other.
Callan MacGregor knows what it’s like to struggle and he knows what it’s like to lose everything you care about. He is underground fighting to take care of his siblings and he’s almost to a point where he can finally move them out of the ghetto in their town in Scotland. When he doesn’t lose a fight on purpose his whole world comes crashing down. He is now a man set out to avenge those he lost. He works his way into the inner workings of the man who started it all. Seeking revenge has almost made him lose a part of himself he will never recover and the darkness brews. He knows his only choice one he gets his revenge is to flee because someone far greater depends on him. When he lands in New York he isn’t expecting to long after the beautiful Emery the front desk clerk at his job. Years of subtle glances and simple conversation become his lifeline until something happens to Emery that changes their fate.
Emery has secretly loved Callan from afar. The mysterious aloof stranger who tends to the bar at the hotel. She has come from a very suffocating home and is happy to be out on her own making her own way. She hates the advances of some of the hotel guests but she shrugs them off because she’s secretly saving herself for Callan. One night a guest doesn’t take no for an answer and it alters Emery’s life to a point she feels she is drowning. She feels nothing but blame and shame. Her only anchor is Callan who came to her rescue. She sees a good man he thinks he’s not worthy. She finds herself submerged in his life and learning all about his sordid past.
Like I said we have two books in one here. We go from current time to his past very often but I promise you the story merges and you see how much these two actually have in common. This book isn’t for the easily triggered or easily offended so that will be my only disclaimer. I loved Callan how under all that corrupt crap on the outside inside he had a huge heart. He loved who he loved with a fierceness that transcended everything. Oh my heart broke for Emery to have that happen to her. To have something removed from her that altered who she was is heartbreaking. I wish there was stiffer penalties for what happened to her. Especially during our current social climate this is a far to real issue that is happening nowadays. If you are a lover of dark romances and two completely cracked and broken souls finding love then this is for you.
April 30, 2019
Going in I knew that I was going to go on an emotional journey. I knew I was going to read some explicit and horrifying scenes - but knowing and actually doing are 2 different things!
I had to pause several times during this reading just to breath - that how much I felt what this story was telling.
For someone so strong to endure what Callum had too - too feel so helpless and trapped!
“No guarantees. Win, lose. Live, die. So long as the right people got paid, no one gave a fuck who got hurt.”
Emery’s story is no less heartbreaking... and the ramifications afterwards despite doing everything possible at the time are a reflection on society and a judicial system that has some serious faults.
Despite the heartbreak and the ‘Hurt’ the connection between these 2 characters is beautiful and well worth the pain!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I had to pause several times during this reading just to breath - that how much I felt what this story was telling.
For someone so strong to endure what Callum had too - too feel so helpless and trapped!
“No guarantees. Win, lose. Live, die. So long as the right people got paid, no one gave a fuck who got hurt.”
Emery’s story is no less heartbreaking... and the ramifications afterwards despite doing everything possible at the time are a reflection on society and a judicial system that has some serious faults.
Despite the heartbreak and the ‘Hurt’ the connection between these 2 characters is beautiful and well worth the pain!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
May 21, 2019
Hurt is an achingly beautiful story written with a haunting prose that ripped me to my core. It was near torture to read but I couldn't stop. It stole my breath, broke my heart, and gutted my soul. I cannot put into words the depth of emotion I felt while reading Callan and Emery's story. It is a story of pain and hurt, of the ungodly things people can do to each other, but it's also a story of strength, survival and hope, with the power of the human spirit on full display.
This was my first read by Lydia Michaels but if this story is any indication of her talent, it won't be my last. Her writing was stellar, making for a deeply moving story with unforgettable characters.
This was my first read by Lydia Michaels but if this story is any indication of her talent, it won't be my last. Her writing was stellar, making for a deeply moving story with unforgettable characters.
May 21, 2019
Ok taking a deep breathe before i dive into this review . This is a dark romance that had me from the first page . In this book we meet Callan and Emery . Callan has had a hard in Scotland and has had to do some unspeakable things to survive . The day he escapes Scotland he sacrifices all even a bit of his soul. When Emery sees him working in the bar she is captivated by the big Scot . She wants to get to know him more but they both are scared . But when tragedy hits and there is only one way out and that is going to bring them both together and heal them both .
The characters in book are so complex and well written . Callan is so complicated , he is brutal , complicated , possessive , vulnerable and oh lordy he is hot and that accent will melt your heart and your panties . There is such sadness under his tough exterior . You want to wrap him up and just hold him tight and in the next breath you want him slaying all your dragons . Emery is a sweet young woman who has lived a sheltered life up to a point . You would love to have her a friend . When tragedy hits she becomes different , you want to just lock her up and hold her tight . She grows so much as you read , she isn't going to let what happened define her . She even stands up to CalThey are great characters on their own but when they are together they are that couple that you will love , they are sweet and vulnerable but also they draw strength from each other and become a fierce pair . They fight the demons that are apart of them and they fall apart together . Trust me you
will love them There are some truly evil characters in this book that will make you cringe. Wesley and Rory are pure evil and that is all i am going to say on those two . You will have to read to find out how evil these two are . Trust me you will want to stab them over and over .
I sat down knowing that this book might have some triggers that could set you off . So i started reading and couldn't put the book down . I was pulled into the story by the third page. The author has a way of pulling you in and keeping you turning the pages . I was on a rollercoaster ride of emotions . With each page the emotions were just on the surface . I was totally broken at one point, I was ugly crying through each page . If this is the authors first foray into the dark sid of romance I say she has done a great job . There is so much that will keep you reading . There is the suspenful thriller and there is romance , a sweet romance also. The author may break your heart but she does do a good job repairing it in the end . I can't wait to see what else this author will do with the dark side . So if you want a book that will break your heart and mend it at the end . This is the book for you . Add it to your summer reading list . It comes out MAY 21 and you can preorder it now ..
The characters in book are so complex and well written . Callan is so complicated , he is brutal , complicated , possessive , vulnerable and oh lordy he is hot and that accent will melt your heart and your panties . There is such sadness under his tough exterior . You want to wrap him up and just hold him tight and in the next breath you want him slaying all your dragons . Emery is a sweet young woman who has lived a sheltered life up to a point . You would love to have her a friend . When tragedy hits she becomes different , you want to just lock her up and hold her tight . She grows so much as you read , she isn't going to let what happened define her . She even stands up to CalThey are great characters on their own but when they are together they are that couple that you will love , they are sweet and vulnerable but also they draw strength from each other and become a fierce pair . They fight the demons that are apart of them and they fall apart together . Trust me you
will love them There are some truly evil characters in this book that will make you cringe. Wesley and Rory are pure evil and that is all i am going to say on those two . You will have to read to find out how evil these two are . Trust me you will want to stab them over and over .
I sat down knowing that this book might have some triggers that could set you off . So i started reading and couldn't put the book down . I was pulled into the story by the third page. The author has a way of pulling you in and keeping you turning the pages . I was on a rollercoaster ride of emotions . With each page the emotions were just on the surface . I was totally broken at one point, I was ugly crying through each page . If this is the authors first foray into the dark sid of romance I say she has done a great job . There is so much that will keep you reading . There is the suspenful thriller and there is romance , a sweet romance also. The author may break your heart but she does do a good job repairing it in the end . I can't wait to see what else this author will do with the dark side . So if you want a book that will break your heart and mend it at the end . This is the book for you . Add it to your summer reading list . It comes out MAY 21 and you can preorder it now ..
May 1, 2019
It’s took me a while, but I finally have my review for Hurt.
The word devastation never really came into my mind with any book I’ve read like this before.
But for me this book devastated me & gutted me straight to my core.
The brutality of how life can be so cruel and damaging and just keeps pushing and pushing with no way out of the darkness is just sheer cruelty.
Callan’s journey of his life is one that will never really leave me, he went to
every extreme &
every measure to ensure he could provide for his family and if that meant sacrificing himself then he would sell his soul to the devil himself, literally.
Emery, this woman I swear i felt every emotion in this book and it rocked me to the point I didn’t think I could read her pain her thoughts even her cries, but this woman honestly, the strength she has the determination to bring herself back to life was astounding and one that I hope if any woman or man is in this situation finds the strength to speak up and be heard because you deserve to have a voice and to be believed!!!!!
This devastatingly raw & emotional read will take you on a dark and depraved journey, but know where there is darkness light will shine through and will slowly get brighter each day.
You are strong
You will be heard & you will be believed.
The word devastation never really came into my mind with any book I’ve read like this before.
But for me this book devastated me & gutted me straight to my core.
The brutality of how life can be so cruel and damaging and just keeps pushing and pushing with no way out of the darkness is just sheer cruelty.
Callan’s journey of his life is one that will never really leave me, he went to
every extreme &
every measure to ensure he could provide for his family and if that meant sacrificing himself then he would sell his soul to the devil himself, literally.
Emery, this woman I swear i felt every emotion in this book and it rocked me to the point I didn’t think I could read her pain her thoughts even her cries, but this woman honestly, the strength she has the determination to bring herself back to life was astounding and one that I hope if any woman or man is in this situation finds the strength to speak up and be heard because you deserve to have a voice and to be believed!!!!!
This devastatingly raw & emotional read will take you on a dark and depraved journey, but know where there is darkness light will shine through and will slowly get brighter each day.
You are strong
You will be heard & you will be believed.
May 7, 2019
Dark romantic thriller.
Dark... that’s an understatement.
Romantic... definitely. And poignant, and beautiful.
Thriller... oh hell yes. And then some.
There’s dark, then there’s Hurt. This book is not for the faint of heart. It will grab your heart, it will squeeze, and it will put it through the wringer. And then you’ll be begging for mercy.
You will be stunned.
You will be wowed.
Your mouth will be agape.
You will have your socks rocked right the fuck off.
Slam after slam to my heart, this well-written story had me holding my breath...made my heart pound, hard...made tears stream down my face...many times.
I had to take a few breaks during this book. My poor heart required it. But then I couldn’t wait to dive back in.
Brutal.
Intense.
Powerful.
Mind-blowing.
This was a story that I felt way deep down in my soul. I can’t stop thinking about it.
The hero:
So possessive.
So heartbroken.
So vulnerable.
So protective. At whatever cost.
And the accent? Here, take my panties.
I can’t recommend this enough.
Do you love romance that is dark and delicious and evil and awesome and beautiful and painful and so fucking good? Read this.
Dark... that’s an understatement.
Romantic... definitely. And poignant, and beautiful.
Thriller... oh hell yes. And then some.
There’s dark, then there’s Hurt. This book is not for the faint of heart. It will grab your heart, it will squeeze, and it will put it through the wringer. And then you’ll be begging for mercy.
You will be stunned.
You will be wowed.
Your mouth will be agape.
You will have your socks rocked right the fuck off.
Slam after slam to my heart, this well-written story had me holding my breath...made my heart pound, hard...made tears stream down my face...many times.
I had to take a few breaks during this book. My poor heart required it. But then I couldn’t wait to dive back in.
Brutal.
Intense.
Powerful.
Mind-blowing.
This was a story that I felt way deep down in my soul. I can’t stop thinking about it.
The hero:
So possessive.
So heartbroken.
So vulnerable.
So protective. At whatever cost.
And the accent? Here, take my panties.
I can’t recommend this enough.
Do you love romance that is dark and delicious and evil and awesome and beautiful and painful and so fucking good? Read this.
May 22, 2019
Oh my god, I think this has been the best thrilling roller coaster EVER!
Lydia Michaels is such a phenomenal writer, her writing style is so different every time she comes up with a new story to give us.
Hurt definitely had my type of hero, broken beyond repair and damaged.
The triggers in this book definitely had me hurting for the characters in this book. I was so immersed, so consumed with this story that it was one of those books that made you lose track of time because it was so hard to put your device down for a second. It's one of those books that you don't want to miss a second on it.
This is definitely one of the books that will be on my top reads for 2019!!
5 HURTING STARS
**Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review**
Lydia Michaels is such a phenomenal writer, her writing style is so different every time she comes up with a new story to give us.
Hurt definitely had my type of hero, broken beyond repair and damaged.
The triggers in this book definitely had me hurting for the characters in this book. I was so immersed, so consumed with this story that it was one of those books that made you lose track of time because it was so hard to put your device down for a second. It's one of those books that you don't want to miss a second on it.
This is definitely one of the books that will be on my top reads for 2019!!
5 HURTING STARS
**Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review**
May 2, 2019
Lydia Michaels has twisted my heart and soul with the first book in The Hurt Series. I've never read an author that can completely tear you apart and then mend you back together the way Lydia has done. In one of the most anticipated reads of 2019, Hurt delivers a powerfully written masterpiece that leaves you on the edge of your seat, crying, cheering and HURTING. This story is one that will stay with you for quite some time and has been well worth the wait.
December 29, 2024
First off let me say this was VERY DARK
The author did not pull any punches with what happens to the characters in this story and it was a little hard to read at times because it was so triggering, but she did put a warning at the beginning of the book
Now when I say it’s dark, I don’t mean the man is super dark like how these dark romances be (they lowkey be romanticizing SA), but I’m talking about the life experiences. The MMC is a dark troubled man, but he never did anything to hurt the FMC
Both the FMC and the MMC (especially him) go through a LOT.
Its dual pov, which I liked, and it alternates between the MMC’s past and the present when he meets the FMC
Overall, it was pretty good
The author did not pull any punches with what happens to the characters in this story and it was a little hard to read at times because it was so triggering, but she did put a warning at the beginning of the book
Now when I say it’s dark, I don’t mean the man is super dark like how these dark romances be (they lowkey be romanticizing SA), but I’m talking about the life experiences. The MMC is a dark troubled man, but he never did anything to hurt the FMC
Both the FMC and the MMC (especially him) go through a LOT.
Its dual pov, which I liked, and it alternates between the MMC’s past and the present when he meets the FMC
Overall, it was pretty good
May 20, 2019
Do not ignore the author’s TRIGGER WARNINGS.
Callan MacGregor is an underground prize fighter trying to save enough money to make a better life for himself, his young brother, and his barely adult sister. A lot of money changes hands at these fights and he comes to the attention of some dangerous people.
Emery Tanner is a young woman who has a secret crush on Callan MacGregor. She herself comes under the attention of another dangerous man. Soon Emery and Callan’s lives are thrust together and Callan must face his demons as he helps Emery face hers.
This is the first book I’ve ever read by Lydia Michaels. At 9% I had the general overall plot of the book figured out but the details of the story are what make this book spectacular. Lydia Michaels is a master at extracting the most exquisitely painful details. How she described the first fight scene had me hooked. There was a lot of foreshadowing in the story but I always hoped that I was wrong. The story was told in flashbacks. Generally this style really irritates me but it was necessary to draw out the kind of emotion needed to experience the story as it needed to be experienced.
The characters are well developed and you felt their emotions like they were your own. Ms. Michaels shows you the story instead of telling you. You can picture the scenes as if you are there. She really knows her craft.
There are twists that I didn’t see coming. There are brief moments of humor that made me laugh out loud. There were times that I actually cried for the pain these characters endured.
I didn’t want to put the book down. If I’d had my druthers I would only have taken breaks to go to the bathroom and eat, but life gets in the way sometimes. I hated for the story to end but our hero and heroine get their HEA and I couldn’t ask for more.
The overall message this story gives is a timely one referring to the lack of women’s rights in our male dominated world.
I understand that the book is part of a series. There is one piece of the story that is left unresolved so I think that’s where the next book will spring from. I loved this book and hope to read the next one in the series. Hopefully it won’t take the author three years to write it.
Favorite excerpts:
But beautiful things often hide the worst ugliness inside.
“Twat on a corpse still works in a pinch,” someone yelled. (My reaction: OMG!)
Facts learned from this book: (Spoilerish)
Callan MacGregor is an underground prize fighter trying to save enough money to make a better life for himself, his young brother, and his barely adult sister. A lot of money changes hands at these fights and he comes to the attention of some dangerous people.
Emery Tanner is a young woman who has a secret crush on Callan MacGregor. She herself comes under the attention of another dangerous man. Soon Emery and Callan’s lives are thrust together and Callan must face his demons as he helps Emery face hers.
This is the first book I’ve ever read by Lydia Michaels. At 9% I had the general overall plot of the book figured out but the details of the story are what make this book spectacular. Lydia Michaels is a master at extracting the most exquisitely painful details. How she described the first fight scene had me hooked. There was a lot of foreshadowing in the story but I always hoped that I was wrong. The story was told in flashbacks. Generally this style really irritates me but it was necessary to draw out the kind of emotion needed to experience the story as it needed to be experienced.
The characters are well developed and you felt their emotions like they were your own. Ms. Michaels shows you the story instead of telling you. You can picture the scenes as if you are there. She really knows her craft.
There are twists that I didn’t see coming. There are brief moments of humor that made me laugh out loud. There were times that I actually cried for the pain these characters endured.
I didn’t want to put the book down. If I’d had my druthers I would only have taken breaks to go to the bathroom and eat, but life gets in the way sometimes. I hated for the story to end but our hero and heroine get their HEA and I couldn’t ask for more.
The overall message this story gives is a timely one referring to the lack of women’s rights in our male dominated world.
I understand that the book is part of a series. There is one piece of the story that is left unresolved so I think that’s where the next book will spring from. I loved this book and hope to read the next one in the series. Hopefully it won’t take the author three years to write it.
Favorite excerpts:
But beautiful things often hide the worst ugliness inside.
“Twat on a corpse still works in a pinch,” someone yelled. (My reaction: OMG!)
Facts learned from this book: (Spoilerish)
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