My brother's getting engaged, and I couldn't give less of a shit--until he shows up at our parent's home with a woman I've had in my arms before. It seems Luke forgot to tell her he had a twin.
I'll be damned if I let him use my good name to net a catch like Hana. My brother's as possessive as I am, and we butt heads over our little Hana with deadly consequences.
She's like a treasured toy held between two boys, pulled in either direction at the same time, but I won't let go of what's mine.
Luke doesn't deserve her, and I'll die before I let him break her.
Cold Retribution is a dark romance written for mature audiences only. It contains graphic scenes that may be too dark for some readers.
Two brothers, twins, rivals; one financial successful at the top of his career yet egotistical; the other enjoying blue collar work and liked by most. What happens when a woman comes between them?
I liked the diversity -- Asian heroine, Black hero. It was also fast-paced and spicy from the start. I was not so much a fan of the style as it read very much like an urban romance, and the character development lacked a depth that would have made the interactions real. I also couldn't feel the connectedness between the two love interests maybe because of the faster pace. Everything simply felt like drama without richness.
I’ll be honest, when I picked up Cold Retribution I didn’t quite realise what I’d gotten myself into. I read the trigger warnings with my usual suspicion that the book probably wouldn’t live up to them. Damn! Was I wrong.
If not for the first chapter, the book started out like an incredibly hot and heavy but light romance. Boy and girl hook up, and then a second time when she’s really hooking up with his twin. Girl walks into her new job to find one twin is her boss. Shenanigans ensue. I should’ve heeded the subtle warnings in that first chapter – there was no way in hell this was going to be a light fluffy romance.
I love Hana’s character in the first few chapters of the book. She’s sassy, snarky, confident, and unafraid to go after what she wants. But, after six months under Luke’s control, you can see a lot of that attitude fading out. It’s meeting Logan again that brings these qualities back, but by then the damage is done. Even though she stands up to Luke, her behaviour towards Logan is conflicted. One minute she swears she’s going to fight, and the next she’s not just acquiesced, but is almost actively encouraging his toxic behaviour.
Luke is an absolutely vile excuse for a human being. In fact, his character is solely responsible for a number of the content warnings given at the beginning of the book. Not only is he overly entitled and arrogant, but he’s also brutal in his anger and approach to taking what he wants. Logan suggests that it’s a product of his upbringing, although this view is based wholly on his own experiences. Towards the end of the book, Luke gives a very different opinion on his relationship with his brother. Neither is wrong nor right, but both have been damaged by the actions of their parents.
Yep, this book brings a whole new meaning to the concept of sibling rivalry.
Understandably, Logan is obsessed with getting one over on his brother, but with that vendetta, he’s also able to indulge in his obsession with Hana. It seems that Hana is an unfortunate casualty of their animosity yet Logan is incapable of realising how negatively his actions are affecting her. The difference between him and Luke is that Luke knows his behaviour is reprehensible yet doesn’t care.
Having read the content warnings, I knew that I was going to be in for a cliffhanger come the end of the book, yet I didn’t realise just how steep of a fall it would be. Luke and Logan had already proved that nothing was past them, but up until the last few chapters I had an inkling of how things would play out. I’m not afraid to admit that I was wrong. Oh so wrong. The book was full of the brothers’ shady shit but nothing could prepare me for those final chapters.
Bravo Selena Michaels. Bravo!
WHY YOU SHOULD READ COLD RETRIBUTION * If you revel in trigger warnings, you’re gonna feel like a kid in a candy store * Sinister yet thoroughly addictive * Deliciously dark and steamy
dnf. I started this hoping for a love triangle between the heroine and two brothers. The mother's way of showing favoritism was way OTT and not believable. The dialogue was OTT as well. This is not my kind of dark and depraved romance I prefer to read. I have no issue with the trigger warnings, it's the execution of the writing style.
I’m going to hold off on rating this because this was… not my thing. At least not anything I usually like
Was this a bad book? No not at all, it was really well written, really intense, instantly had me hooked from the beginning with never a dull moment
But there were so many things that didn’t sit right with me and I wanted to DNF multiple times. Just blatant red flags, danger, fight or flight triggers and I like to think of myself as someone who doesn’t really have any triggers so…. Yeah. Not my thing personally
Is this even considered a romance? Dark romance I guess?- I wouldn’t consider this a romance. Psychological suspenseful type of thing? Yeah. Romance? Definitely not the kind of romance I’m used to
Wow, this was a dark, cold and intense read. Not romantic at all just to make you aware! Very dark, gritty and bold.
Luke and Logan are twins and I would say it’s safe to say enemies. Using Hana as a pawn to get at one another. They are both assholes and not nice people with the games they play, especially with Hana. Although, I would say Luke takes the spot for evil bastard.
This story is quite involved and complex but Hana is so changeable in her nature and attitudes, it was a little frustrating but you can kind of understand with the violent manner she is treated. There are parts of this book, one part in particular where it was just hard to read as I wanted to help her so much.
Selena does not shy from anything in this book. It is super dark but I like dark so it’s a win for me.
Logan is an intense asshole but is possessive and controlling, it’s so confusing at times to know if you are rooting for him or not. This writing just keeps you guessing.
The only male I truly liked in this is Joseph as he was the most “normal”, which poor Hana needs around her.
Already started on next book in this series and want to see where it goes.
This was some kind of crazy. I almost dnf-ed a bunch of times but kept getting sucked back in. The premise is pretty great, if not super original, with an extreme case of sibling rivalry, an evil twin and a woman caught in the middle. The execution left much to be desired. The pacing and characterization were both a bit off. Consequently, everything was just thrown at the reader without much development or explanation for characters' motivation and feelings. Overall, this felt rushed though the plot kept me entertained. The steam was great and the drama kept coming. There’s OW and OM drama, non and dub-con, violence among other triggers, so it's not for sensitive readers.
A set of rivaling twins, and one woman coming between them. Luke and Logan are twins that have some toxicity to their relationship. Hana comes in and is unfortunately caught in the crossfire.
Heed the trigger warnings, because they are there for a reason. The first chapter seems like a light, fluffy romance, but that is just a ruse. The story does get dark, and there are a number of triggers taking place throughout the story. But if you're like me and love a book with triggers galore, you need to read this.
Luke had a vendetta against his brother Logan, and due to this he always needs to one up him or gain something on him. The way he uses Hana are a majority of the trigger warnings, and he's just has a despicable personality (but you also can't help but like him?). Logan has the ability to acknowledge what they're doing is wrong, but Luke doesn't care.
Hana also seems to play a part on the bickering they have. She tells Logan one thing, like how she'll fight for them, but then gives up fairly quickly? She was a weak character and I wish the author would have toughened her up a little bit.
My emotions are all over the place. This dark romance has done a number on me. Luke, Logan, Hana, and Joseph are unlike any characters I've read. The plot twist is unexpected, and l love it. This is an interracial story with black heroes and a Korean American heroine.
Omg, you have a mistaken identity; if I can’t have you, nobody can and rejected as unworthy. This story is about twins fighting over the same woman. One has had the world handed to him, and the other has been mistreated his entire life.
Lawd! Luke is a sociopath while Logon is a psychopath and these brothers did a number, Hana. Yip, there is spice, spice, spice! I highly recommend reading this book if you're into romances with dark themes.
Cold Retribution by Selena Michaels is a dark romance. This is the first book in the Tangled Revenge series.
This is the first book of Selena's that I have read, and it won't be my last. I will start by saying you will definitely want to check out the TW. This book is not for everyone.
Logan and Luke are definitely not Hero's in this story, and I haven't found any redeeming qualities about either of them. However, the last chapter left me begging for more. I can't wait to start book two Cold Salvation to see if my opinion changes.
I would recommend this book if you like dark romances.
Wow this book take sibling rivaly to a new level. Read in two sittings this book is full of twisted sibling rivalry that is both calculated and off the scale wrong. You do not know what is coming and tbh at times I was shocked by the antics of Luke and Logan but also Hanas yo yo of emotions. Ultimately the ending is not what you are expecting at all and the twists leave you gobsmacked. Some triggers here for some but the book comes with a warning. You will feel an array of emotions reading this book so be prepared for a ride and a lot of reflection 4.5 stars.
Oh my... these are some bad bad boys... There are three hot male leads in this book, because yes, I'm counting Joseph. What a fiercely protective hottie. Please tell me we get a book for him too!
I found the twins (I'm partial to those) to be just the right level of dark and wrong, so that this was one of those book where I just couldn't stop reading. I had to know what they were going to do next. It's twisted, it's full of things I didn't see coming, and yes, I think I might love Logan lol
I thought it was going to be a dark romance where both twins share her. It was not what I was expecting and I couldn't understand why Luke the eldest twin was the parents favourite and I wished Logan spoke up to his parents about it and did something but he didn't.The h I found was a doormat who seemed to enjoy getting tortured by Luke and I found the plot was all over the place which made me skip through it as I tried to get into it but I found most times I couldn't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Selena yanked me out of my comfort zone with this awesome tale!! This story is fast-paced, full of steam, and spice, along with memorable characters. A definite twist on the love triangle. These characters awakened such strong emotions in me while I devoured this book.
Luke!? Nah. Joseph? Maybe. Logan? Mmm… Logan is the antihero you’ll love to hate in this book. (lol) His obsession is next level, and the intimacy is HOT. It’s so wrong, it’s right. Highly recommend!
I DNF'd this book as I could not get into the author's writing style. the sorry did not flow well and lacked full development of the scene. The mother was a bit over the top with her preference for Luke.
Luke can’t stand his twin brother, Logan. Luke uses Hana to hurt Logan. Heed the trigger warnings. Hana is put through so much. She is not completely innocent, though. She likes to antagonize and put the brothers against each other. This story is very well written. Earning five stars from me!
Oh. My. Lanta!! I think I need a cigarette after reading this… this book is HOT! I thought this would be a regular, run of the mill mafia romance… I was so, so wrong! This book is phenomenal! And hot! I devoured this book in no time and want more. The characters are great, the writing is above and beyond. It’s twisted in the best way, and everything you could want in a dark mafia romance with sprinkles of yumminess on top! Did I mention this book is hot!? Do yourself a favor and read this book now… don’t put it on your TBR… read it now! PS: Caution if you have triggers!!
Okay... This book did not go where I thought it was going to go! This author managed to make me throw all my expectations into the wind and just let the words come as they pleased.
All trigger warnings for this book are absolutely justified. This book is like an absolute warning for parents how not to behave if you want to prevent getting two very screwed up adults later in life. This is a twisted story, with one girl stuck in the middle of a sibling rivalry of the nuclear kind. I'm still not sure how to feel about any of these characters at the moment...
I was equally excited and hesitant for this book. The tropes and trigger warnings were right up my alley. But I am not a fan of books that have homophobia or racism, and this one had both, which I knew going it, so at least I was ready for it. And it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Unfortunately, all of the things wrong with it (besides the hate themes already mentioned) such as missing words, extra words, wrong you're/your, continuity issues and little things that just didn't make sense. I also was unaware going in that there was a cliffhanger. I am not sure that I was entertained enough to keep going with the series.
This is a fast paced book that grips from the first page. It’s dark and twisted with some truly unexpected moments. It isn’t always easy to read because of the content but it is very well written. I loved the character of Hana she has a real spark and Joseph is a real sweetie. If you like dark reads then this is an addictive one. I’m already eager to read the next book in the series.
A dark steamy intense tale that ends in cliffhanger. Major sibling rivalry throughout involving love triangle. Lots of tension, steam, angst, twists, and complications.
Wow...I thought I knew what to expect going into this book, but the author completely knocked me on my a$$ (in the best of ways). I love it when an author can suprise me like that!
This book is dark and incredibly twisted and takes the meaning of sibling rivalry to a whole new level. Luke and Logan are obsessively determined to have Hana as his own and neither one thinks twice about playing dirty to get her...and when I say dirty.... I. MEAN. DIRTY!!! 🔥 🥵 🔥
Hana is caught up in the middle of a game where Luke and Logan are in control, and neither one knows the meaning of playing nice. It's a wild ride and I can't wait see where this goes in book two.
Luke and Logan! They take twin rivalry to another level. Their after the same woman for different reasons. The twins will stop at nothing and I'm mean nothing to have this woman. The dialogue between characters is good. The sex scenes are well written with explosive details. I could not get enough of this story. This is an absolute 5 star read.
This book was not at all what I was expecting. Honestly, I’m not quite sure how I feel about it. I knew it was going to be dark, which I’m usually ok with, but this was a whole other level of dark.
I thought going into this book it would be a love triangle, where the fmc might even end up with both brothers, but it was so much more twisted than I could’ve imagined. It was basically two very different yet equally deranged psychopaths trying to one-up the other and fighting over the same girl. Neither brother had any redeeming qualities after the sick and twisted things they did, in my opinion.
There were actually several times I considered stopping and not finishing the book, but the story managed to suck me in enough that I wanted to know what was going to happen next. And the writing was great! I just didn’t really enjoy the overall story, because I really didn’t like the characters. I don’t think I’ll be reading the other books in the series, but I would still consider reading other books from this author in the future.
4 stars. Logan and Luke were both assholes but only Luke was into legit non consent. He was so gross. At least Logan was halfway decent. Hana was a real hoot. She was a little bitch but in the best way, you know? Logan and Luke both did some really fucked up shit to dear Hana. Hana should be seriously traumatized by these twins. Regardless of that, I don't want any groveling. They both are who they are and neither one of them is apologetic about any of it. I went into this blind and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. But now I'm invested and looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.
I like it don’t get me wrong but I can’t say I loved it. The storyline was weak and rushed which made it hard to even like the characters sometimes. The h was weak and whiny, the H was boring and typical, the villain was lackluster. I couldn’t connect to any of them. I love the trope and it could’ve been great if it were to have been slowed down, personable and have more character development and arcs. I will read book two to see where the storyline goes but as characters they could’ve been better
O.M.G. What did I just read! This book is insane. From page 1 all the way to the end. The last 15 pages were brutal and my mind is blown! 🤯🤯 Luke is truly evil, Logan is a complete physco but in the best way? I think lol. Hana is crazy as well and Joseph is the perfect best friend. I'm running for book 2 because I can't even deal with what just happened. I was not prepared. Selena Michaels you get a round of applause on this one even tho my heart hurts.😭😭 I'm on to the next! Happy reading everyone