Ivy Sinclair knew the job offer was too good to be true. But she was desperate. She’d lost her father, her job, her apartment, and her best friend all in one foul swoop. She’d no choice but to hope this was a turning point. She thought things couldn’t get any worse. How wrong she had been. Abducted and thrust into a world of violence, trapped alone with a captor who had been stalking her for years, Ivy must find a way to survive his darkness without losing herself completely as he forces her to become his, in body, mind, and soul. He has wanted her for years, planned each move to perfection, and now all that remained was for him to break her. He wanted an heir. He wanted to hear her screams. He wanted her.
This book contains graphic, non-consensual sex, abuse, and violence. If you don’t enjoy reading a book containing these dark themes this book is not for you.. Not suitable for under 18s.
Hi all, Emily Stormbrook here, I am a steamy paranormal romance, romance, and dark romance author, seeking to quieten the voices in my mind one story at a time. British born and raised, with a background in IT technical support (watching Jed's jobs was like a day in my life) I am currently a full-time carer for people with debilitating or degenerative neurological conditions and like to spend my time reading, gaming, and at the gym. I've always felt the pull to write what I hope are stimulating and sometimes a little dark books. I hope you'll join me on this journey.
Ivy Sinclair knew the job offer was too good to be true. But she was desperate. She’d lost her father, her job, her apartment, and her best friend all in one foul swoop. She’d no choice but to hope this was a turning point. She thought things couldn’t get any worse. How wrong she had been.
Abducted and thrust into a world of violence, trapped alone with a captor who had been stalking her for years, Ivy must find a way to survive his darkness without losing herself completely as he forces her to become his, in body, mind, and soul. He has wanted her for years, planned each move to perfection, and now all that remained was for him to break her. He wanted an heir. He wanted to hear her screams. He wanted her.
This book contains graphic, non-consensual sex, abuse, and violence. If you don’t enjoy reading a book containing these dark themes this book is not for you.. Not suitable for under 18s.
Well written. Minor typos. This descriptive and vivid story will take you on a journey through the beauty of true love contrasted with depravity of the deepest degree. It is not easy to read. I was reminded that this is a reality for some. Trafficking is a real nightmare for many. For children. We need to be able to understand how awful it is so that we don't forget to fight for them. While we get wrapped up in our lives we need to be reminded of the horrors animals, women and children endure a the hands of the souless. It's a good book. I want to go hunting with Miles. The author really does a great job establishing the characters so that you're emotionally invested. Good job!
Wow, I was pleasantly surprised by how good this book was. I hadn't read this author before but after reading some of the reviews thought I would give her a try. I am glad I did. It is dark, so check your triggers before reading.
This was a well thought out story, with characters that you could wrap your emotions around. There was a bit more descriptive inner thoughts than I usually like, but they worked with this story. And the ending, which drives up to immediately read the next book, was realistic, dramatic and heartbreaking. Definitely will continue with this series and this author.
Entertaining. Just as I was in the middle, the book turned very intriguing. So many unanswered questions has my curiosity peaked! Will her captor be caught? Will he try to get her again?
My heart hurt for Ivy. What hurt even more is that there are real-life cases like this where women just disappear. I'm not sure how you just don't give up because that physical and mental abuse is so heavy to bear. However, Ivy is strong, and Miles doesn't give up.
There were parts that I had wished had been fleshed out more but this still was a solid book.
This is a dark tale - not for the faint hearted as be warned the content is very adult. The themes are disturbing, focusing on an isolated young woman who is abducted by a man who has been stalking her for some time. The author is skillful in creating the tense and electric atmosphere and what begins as what you think may be a sweet romance quickly descends into a twisted scenario where the captor does everything he can to break the protagonist. The book is heavily focused on the characters and their interrelation with and effect on each other. Breaking sin is an interesting read and not one to miss, would recommend if you like dark romances.
He had watched her for years, from the moment she stepped foot in school she should have been his. She was the start of an obsession, an addiction he needed to sate. It should have been he who had sat with her the first day, he she came to rely on. Instead it was Miles Taylor. Even when they went to different universities he had never forgotten her. He watched her from the shadows, waiting, manipulating her life until the day she would be his. That day had come. After years of planning she was finally within his grasp. It was time for Ivy Sinclair to give him everything she had denied him for years She would be his, mind, body, and soul. And the best part was, no one would even realise she was gone. She would pay for teasing him, she was his now, his to enjoy, his to play with, his to break. He would be her world, just as she had once been his.
Breaking Sin by Emily Stormbrook is one hell of a dark read and I just couldn't put it down. I fell in love with Ivy and Miles from the start, the sparks and tension between them as they both sought something more from their age old friendship were stomach tingling moreish. I could feel their frustration and desire oozing from the page. And then, everything goes wrong. Ivy is abducted and Miles is sent into a self-destructive spiral as he does everything in his power to try to find her. Meanwhile, poor Ivy is being held by a monster who wants nothing more than to violate and break her in the most horrific ways possible. What started as a sweet romance story between Miles and Ivy becomes something straight from the pages of horror as Ivy's fear, confusion, and terror resonate alongside Miles' desperation. I loved how this book was so character focused. It wasn't just about the horrific things Ivy was enduring, but the effects on Miles and I thought the balance was perfect. I have read a number of these kind of dark books, and most tend to solely focus on the assault, so it was quite refreshing to see the world moving on outside her hopeless situations, while little by little we see her defiance and spark slowly starting to fade as she comes to understand the true hopelessness of her situation. Ivy is one hell of a strong character and I really need book two.
I both loved and hated this book at times . But it’s a great book . Highly recommend for those who love dark romance... can’t wait for the next one . Mastering sin ??? When will it be released????
Where do you draw the line between bittersweet longing and overwhelming addiction?
Many may consider Ivy Sinclair to be wealthy, but she chooses to stay out of her father’s money. She almost always refuses help, even from those who are closest to her, and insists that she does things her way through hard work. That is why when she loses her job and her apartment in one day while her father’s insurance is still in probate, she’s keen to find a new job right away, instead of accepting Miles’, one of her best friends’, offer to temporarily move into his guest house.
After one too many rejection emails, Ivy’s luck seems to have turned around when a too-good-to-be-true job in the Bahamas opens up for her. While she doesn’t want to leave Manhattan because of her affection for Miles, she accepts the position after a shocking revelation from Miles’ mother.
Despite the string of unfortunate events happening to her before and after arriving at The Reverie Muse Hotel, where she will be working, she still chooses to fight and enjoy her interrupted stay. Little does she know that her dream to start over again is just the beginning of her nightmare.
Breaking Sin is Emily Stormbrook’s attempt to explore her capabilities of writing dark fiction and it’s a good one. The plot is common and cliched, with two best friends developing something more than friendship, but the part where the dark erotica begins is well-written, typos aside. Stormbrook is able to define what BDSM is by showing the readers what it is not. Breaking Sin emphasizes the long-known fact that love is about prioritizing others while obsession is all about one’s desires. While one is about conscientious giving, the other just violently takes.
The book starts with a nice pacing -- not too fast and not too slow. But the pacing picks up halfway, as the story heats up. The first half maintains a seamless flow, with a sexy and slightly humorous tone. The second half starts abruptly, though, so it feels like an entirely different world. While the latter part fulfills the promise of sending shivers down the readers’ spines, it is a stark contrast to the dramatic prelude. All of a sudden, the light and sexy atmosphere becomes dark and abusive. The jump is so rough and noticeable. The two halves have to be unified to create a more cohesive story. Specific parts are indeed nerve-racking, but the story, in general, can do so much more to stand out and leave a mark long after the book has been put down.
Breaking Sin has similar themes to Hel to Pay, the first installment to the Elswyth Chase series, also by Stormbrook. For instance, there is the strong sexual tension between the main pair, but none of them would act on their feelings because one (or both) of them has a lot of insecurities that makes them think they are not worthy of a happy relationship. But they end up together anyway. While there is nothing wrong with having a particular style, it can’t be denied that Breaking Sin and Hel to Pay have elements that are pretty much the same. It would be better if every book in every series has something different to offer.
On a more positive note, Stormbrook narrates in a way that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Whether it’s a light drama or a heavy BDSM scene, her intricate details do not fail to feed the mind’s eye with great imagery. An architecturally beautiful lobby gets more breath-taking, and a gruesome beating gets even more graphic with her story-telling.
Ivy’s character is your typical goody two shoes but her little antics make the story interesting. Her character makes certain scenes more experiential. Her setting the mood with fragrance oils awakens the olfactory senses. Her being tactile -- only writing hand-written letters and tugging her belt when she feels uneasy -- makes her unique and likable.
It’s also remarkable how this book’s feminism goes both ways. Most of the time, feminist stories only highlight the women, but in Breaking Sin, even the men’s behavior is progressive. Miles having a psychiatrist and being open about it break the notion that men are not supposed to show and talk about feelings. Jordan, Miles’ dad, is also not afraid to be expressive to both his wife and son.
While the characterization is great, there are a few instances that are hard to grasp. Losing one’s job and residence at the same time is still realistic. But Ivy’s unlucky encounters on her trip to the Bahamas do not seem believable anymore, especially if they are not orchestrated by the antagonist. Also, it’s wonderful that Ivy has painstakingly managed to save herself without expecting anyone to her rescue -- another progressive take. But given that Miles’ father owns one of the top security firms in the country and yet they haven’t gotten far in the investigation makes that part unbelievable.
Although punctuation, grammar, and spelling errors are innumerable, the ending is promising and it does a good job in hyping the readers for the next book. Emily Stormbrook’s Breaking Sin is the first installment in the Addicted to Sin series and it is recommended to readers who are looking for something dark and different.
This book is a book with a terrible situation and it is so well done, aside from a few grammatical and spelling errors. I would read it again for sure. I can't stress enough to check the trigger warnings! This book is very heavy and dark. Sin can't get her footing after the loss of her father. She then loses her job and in that same day finds out she has until the end of the month to vacate her apartment. With her father's life policy tied up she is desperate for any job position so she can make her own way. Sin and Tails are secretly in love with each other and neither one knows how the other feels. Tails mother hates Sin so much she would rather her dead then living on her property with her son. So out of desperation when a live on site job opportunity in the Bahamas drops in her lap she accepts without hesitation or a second thought. She just hopes Tails will join her to visit the Bahamas but he never receives his letter and ticket.
After there is no job available she begins enjoying the fully comped week vacation until the unthinkable happens. She finds herself abducted and held against her will and used as a sex doll. Her world becomes revolved around her captor as he has designed. This book goes deep into the trauma of mentally being at war with oneself over feeling pleasure at the hands of an abuser despite not wanting to. Others do see and hear Sin but they believe it is all a part of her captors game that he pays women to participate in.
I don't want to spoil the last 25% of the book so I will end my review here.
Again. Heavy triggers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Ivy has always been independent especially not taking a handout from her father she believes in hard work, until her life comes crashing down and with her fathers estate still in private shes jobless and homeless, not wanting to take her best friend Miles up 9n his offer of a room she finds her luck changing when a job in the Bahamas comes up, but is it all to good to be true? Ivy gets kidnapped by the man whose loved and stalked her from afar for years, can she ever escape him? This is well written, deeply dark and twisting story.the story grabs your attention and keeps you on your toes through out. Thisbis book 1 of 2.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a warning to us all This is so powerful. It is dark but not in a good way. BDSM is one thing but this is something else again. Perry is totally sick and twisted in one of the worst ways possible. Sin is absolutely believable, the way she is broken and trained, the way her mind reacts. OTH Miles is a man we would all want and pray for. The worst part about this is there really are men who do this to women. One drink is all it can take for this to happen to you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I don’t normally read steamy romance, but I found myself unable to put this book down. The author was masterful in building sexual tension from start to finish. The book started off like an innocent love story but quickly manifested itself into a dark, intricate, psychological thriller. The video game reference was a nice touch and overall the plot was well thought out with many surprises along the way. The author alternated from the perspectives of the male and female protagonists and did a incredible job with it.
I skimmed the first half of the book as it is much too slow for me. The story picks up around 55-65%. For detail purposes, read the first two chapters . Three things will occur that will change the trajectory of Ivy’s life.
The story does not end on a cliffhanger or HEA, thank goodness!. You can actually stop at book one. However, I’m much too nosy not to see how Miles will extract revenge! LOL! The book is aptly titled. Sin is completely broken.
This book hits all the right twist and turns to make it a non-stop thriller. The story evolves from misunderstanding and missed opportunities to horrific terror. We meet our unlucky heroine in this first book, fyi cliff hanger, and you are sucked into a story that you just can't put down. It is dark in some places but all realistic and true to the characters. This is a must read and can't wait to read book two. Enjoy!
I originally DNFd this book in the beginning of the summer. I think I simply just lost interest . I’m glad I picked it back up. I liked the book but my rating is more of an “eh” I love Miles and his determination to get Ivy back but a lot of the time throughout the book the chapters highlighting just him seemed to go on and on and on.
This is an incredible story and you'll never believe what happens could happen by simply reading the first dozen chapters. The twist, the spin, the change is so dramatic it leaves you reeling. But I have to read the next book now.
I thought this would be a captive erotic dark romance, unfortunately it isn't. Yes there's abduction, but the heroine was abducted and raped by the antagonist of the story, not the main male lead. And I wasn't too interested in a vanilla relationship if the genre is tagged dark.
This book was fantastic! Don't read if you're looking for a dark romance Stockholm mess. The characters are easy to love and support and the chapters are well written and kept me enticed and eager to keep reading.
A bit much for me. And I didn’t like that the first 50% of the book was a misunderstanding/ no communication, which is what landed her in the bad situation. Grown ups, use your words! And to you, you bad ass military man, stand up to your mother, I mean really!
This book was definitely 10 stars! Reading books like this breaks my heart but keeps it fresh in my mind that there are people in the real world that are beyond sick and twisted.
I couldn't stop reading. This one is not for the squeamish and it is not a prettied up kidnapping story. I will definitely be reading the next to see what happens to Ivy