Shattered

The Dahlia District #2

by Audrey Rush

A dark stalker romance

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, BDSM, Romance

224 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2020

About the author

Audrey Rush writes kinky dark romance and erotic horror. She celebrates spooky season every day, and she is obsessed with Disney. You can find her in the South, drowning in coffee.


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Email: audreyrushbooks@gmail.com


Reviews

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars ⭐️

Wow, just wow. That was an intense read. This is a truly dark novel, but it will make you ponder the injustice in the world, and whether the actions of Rourke are really that bad. Well written, a true mystery to the very end. I do love Audrey Rush’s books. This is another gripping tale.

[Deana The Queen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way affected my review of the novel.

Melissa spends her nights selling her time to the richest clients at the Dahlia District, an entertainment club for billionaires. Mel dreams of pursuing an art career, but when you’re hungry, giving a blow job doesn’t seem so bad. She still paints, however, even if the canvas she uses is made of skin, for Mel paints herself into murals when she’s not pouring the pigments and candle wax onto her body to the preying eyes of hungry men.

Mel sees no end in sight to the abuse of her flesh yet yearns to find freedom.



But a bad judgment call ends up with Mel murdering a sadistic client and pinning it on the local serial killer - the Angel - who seeks out the abusive clients of ladies such as herself. And when Rourke, said serial killer, finds himself up close and personal with Mel after killing her worthless roommate Colin, he knows he has a different kind of punishment in mind for Melissa.

And while Mel dreams of dark fantasies with a serial killer, billionaire Garrett is always at the Dahlia District, pushing Mel towards searching for her inner, authentic self.

This book blew my mind.

I loved the tale that eddied between Mel, Rourke, and Garrett. Mel is not a kick ass chick, but she’s something better; she’s real. I could picture her with her dark hair died flame red and covering her naturally dark eyes with blue contacts in order to become someone else in order to escape herself.

Mel is strong. She knows exactly what type of life she is living, yet faces it head on. At times I would think, umm, you’re entertaining a mask-wearing serial killer here, girl, you ain’t normal … but you know what? If Mel was ok with it, then so was I.

Then there’s the two gentlemen out for Mel’s … body? Heart? Mind? Rourke comes to her - masked - in her bedroom at night, seducing her with his dangerous words and heated breath. Garrett comes to her at the Dahlia District, pumping money into Mel’s account while wanting her to focus on her needs, herself, and her world, such as it is. Garrett asks the tough questions, while Rourke seems to be Mel’s answer to each one.

This book is dark, bloody, and brutal. It carves a mark on your mind much as a tattooist carves art into the skin. These characters will stay with you long after they’ve ridden off into the sunset, somewhere, to do something, most likely unspeakable.

So if you love dark, you don’t want to miss it.

[Michaella Dieter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Audrey Rush. This is a dark book that contains talk of rape, murder, serial killers, drugging, abuse.

The writing was very good, with an interesting storyline with a bit of mystery and twists to keep the reader fully engaged in the story. Mel and Garret made a very intriguing couple, and I enjoyed reading their story. I will definitely be checking out more of Audrey Rush's books.

[Patricia Hoffstaetter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author to me & I was really impressed with this deviously dark & twisted stalker romance. The well-written, interesting plot is fast-paced & pulls the reader in. The characters (Melissa & Garrett Roark) are well-developed & quite engaging with the explosive chemistry between them.
There is: twists & turns, drama, intrigue, suspense, secrets, prostitution, a serial killer, law enforcement, threats, danger, murder, fear, anguish, consensual & non-consensual scenes, murder, drugs, domination/submission, obsession, trickery, violence, conflict, ultimatums, longings, compromises & strangely enough there is love & contentment with a satisfying conclusion.

[Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One heck of an amazing read that is a non-stop bundle of suspense! The nail-biting storyline will keep you on edge with anticipation for making the perfect choice and a great HEA! Emotionally engrossing, witty, exciting and enjoyable! Lip-biting hot chemistry! An amazing bad boy must read that will have you rooting for Mr. Right to take a hike!

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rourke has plans for Melissa, she framed him for a murder he didn’t commit so he plans on framing her for all the ones he did commit. He waits and he watches and what will happen when he falls for her? Fast-paced dark read with loads of drama, suspense and steam. Great characters with lots of depth and intense chemistry. I loved it.

[Bo0kSLoth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is like if Dexter feel in love with a girl who basically unknowingly sold herself into a life of prostitution to pay off debt. This is what happens to Mel who now works for Madame Dahlia at the Dahlia District for pennies; where everything incurrs a fee to use and interest occurs at almost an hourly rate. A business run by the mafia, so Mel will never be free. Penalties mean she will clean toilets, getting paid pennies, and not be able to meet clients to pay rent, all the while going further into debt the longer Madame Dahlia feels like her punishment period should last.

Meanwhile there is a serial killer called the Pro Angel killing Johns who hurts prostitutes. When he kills her roommate right in front of her, she thinks she is next and is ready; she is done with this life or so she thinks until he spares her and a new obsession begins.

There is a fine line between right and wrong; justice and being a vigilante. Some one can seem so good yet hide so much evil. When exposed to her real self, Mel sees for the first time that the world is not black and white, but shades of grey and black; and she has willingly blinded herself to it. It takes a killer to open her eyes, to the world around her, to who are are real people around her; but will it be too late?

It's dark and twist story with a definite skewed view and I liked it. The author embraced that element of darkness that lives between the hard question and the answer, in the "what if" range. It's a story that is not for everyone, but I enjoyed mental stretching of defined ethics. There will be blood and BDSM elements be warned and enjoy.

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

[Little Blue Butterfly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy for an honest and voluntary review

This is book 2, in the Dahlia District series. It does not disappoint!! This is another fantastic story by author, Audrey Rush!! It continues the story from book 1. Again, Audrey Rush has created a very intriguing, intense, dark world within The Dahlia District Club!! This club is owned/run by a very shady lady named, Dahlia!! You don’t want to owe her a debt, because your payments and punishments never seem to end!! Most of the girls work as “servers” to the high end billionaire clientele. This book definitely had a lot of twists and turns!! Book 1 was Haley’s story, Book 2 is her sister Melissa’s. Melissa is a very likable character!! Her emotions were very realistic, and she is very relatable. She has had a very hard life, and is very strong!! I highly recommend this book!! I definitely can’t wait to read Book 3!!

Melissa has agreed to marry Aldrich, if he helps her pay off her debt to Dahlia, and leave her sister, Haley, alone. All Melissa wants to do is create her art. Aldrich is an extremely horrible man, and when Haley shows up to take care of the situation, Melissa ends up having to instead. Back in Dahlia’s debt, even worse than before, she is living with a roommate, Colin. Another horrible man that just uses her!! Melissa has been told to blame what happened to Aldrich, on a serial killer, going around killing men who abuse prostitutes. When the killer shows up, at Melissa’s home after taking care of Colin, he decides he may just need to punish Melissa in another way. A punishment that comes about, because she falsely blamed what happened to Aldrich on him. This serial killer doesn’t like to take credit for someone else’s work......

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first book by this author and I'll be back for more! Mel had to kill Aldrich to save her friend Hayley. Hayleys first call was to Dahlia, mother of the sex trafficking ring known as Dahlia District and owner of the two girls debt decided to stage the death to be like the serial killer, pros angel, that's going around killing abusive john's. But this was to be the start of something bigger, drawing the attention of the real killer towards Mel. Rouke more out of curiosity wanted to met Mel the woman who framed him for a murder he for once didnt commit, and sets out to frame her for all of his murders instead. Though it soon becomes apparent through their nightly meets that desire burns deep between them and Rouke decides he wants to own her, but could she ever want to be with a man like him could she give her self fully to a serial killer. A well written tale with a great story plot that is nicely paced through out and easy to follow  the characters burst to life through descriptive scenes and dialogue. This book has it all violent, suspense, twists, desire, romance and more.

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

[olovesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely something I have never read before. I honestly didn’t know how to feel. Some parts I was like “Wow...that’s twisted” and other parts I was like “That’s what happens.” 😂 This definitely had you looking at your moral code. What Rourke did was honestly justified, but at the same time—not ok?

I loved how Mel and Rourke were together and I definitely think they are great together...BUT there are some issues in their relationship. Some meaning as A LOT. He wanted her to be her true self and not hide & she accepted him for being a murderer. 👀 But they’ve both killed people...and are strangely comfortable with it. I honestly don’t know how to feel about their relationship. I want to be happy for them, but...again this is where it’s just up to the reader to see if this is the type of relationship they like.

I was really excited to read this book especially because I loved Ruined so much, but this didn’t hit that level for me.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Yoneidis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The series keeps getting better with every book I read.
This time the MC is Mel, which also appears in the first book. Mel works at Dahlia District as a painter and her naked body is her canvas.
After what happens with Aldrich, the serial killer nicknamed Angel takes notices of her.
The relationship they begin to maintain will take Mel question her limits, both physical and moral, her life and her sanity.
Rourke will manage to remove the blindfold on many things in her life, especially in her relationship with her “friend” Jake.
But in the end it will be difficult for them to accept some things. Rourke must to leave the city and Mel behind and she has to accept that and the fact that Rourke has stalked her in the beginning.
Bit in the end Mel only wants one thing that nobody gives her except Rourke: to love and accept a person without the need to pretend, lie, be without masks, with all its strengths and weaknesses.
It’s a dark story as well as a brilliant one.
What more adventures awaits us in Dahlia District?

[Nicole Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read 11.7.21
4.5☆
I loved this book!
It was a Fast-paced book for me
》TW: Sex, Violence, Language

•I loved this book, this trope is a new one for me, but I had no hesitation diving in. I am honestly a bit surprised that I loved it as much as I did. I’d like to think that has a lot to do with how Audrey Rush put such a good spin on it.
•The book is written from 2 POVs, Mel(Melissa) and Rourke, two of our main characters, Garrett being the third. In my review of the first book in this series (Ruined), I mentioned that I found some of the writing to be awkward, but here in Shattered these parts of her writing decreased drastically, for the better!
•I enjoyed the happy ending but was sad to see it end, I wanted more of these characters. I have every intention of reading the next 3 books as they all intertwine and even though the other girls from The Dahlia District haven’t been introduced with a whole lot of detail yet, I am so intrigued to read about their stories!

**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Smutty Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t do story recaps, read the blurb guys - that’s why the author wrote one. Then use the reviews to see what others think.

I went into this story completely blind, which can be a bit of a treat. No expectations. Great way to find a new author or a sub genre you maybe haven’t tried before.

The tale of a vigilante serial killer (think the Dexter of the sex industry) and his opportunity to frame a young woman for his murders, as revenge for one of her murders being tied to him. What follows is the progression of their mutual obsession. Lots of dark characters and a dark plot, check for triggers before you read (though I personally didn’t find anything offensive) - rape, breath play, scarification.

This actually is a good book, just not written in a style that works for me. It’s more a study of the psyche of the two characters, written very much from their own POV’s. Well written as it is, I prefer a more dialogue driven story. But, if the fact I’m sill thinking about the storyline is anything to go by - the author did pull me in.

I know this will be hugely enjoyed by another reader, more dialogue to keep me engaged and I’d have totally been in to this. I fully intend to try this author again on the strength of the storyline alone and am looking forward to the next instalment.

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

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review**
So my review is going to sound wishy-washy, but there's no cure for that. Did I like it? On the whole, no...this was not a book for me. I read the blurb and decided that it was something I would probably like, so I downloaded it. Then, I realized "THIS IS DARK!!!!" That part was NOT in the blurb I read. So on the whole, no, not my cup of tea.

However, I finished it and while it was NOT my cup of tea, it was well-written with intense, fascinating, fully-fleshed out characters (who were dark and twisted and pathologically psychotic...). In fact, I may be a little worried for the author's mental state, but I digress. The plot was amazing. Well done.

In short, please read blurbs carefully. But, if you're into that sort of thing, this is a great choice for you!

[Maggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a dark, intense and twisted read. I loved Ruined, the first book and we met Mel/Melissa there. She’s an artist and trying to pay off her debt by working at the gentleman’s club that caters to the rich billionaire men. When she kills a man to save her friend, the murder is blamed on a serial killer who has been targeting men that physically abuse and hurt prostitutes. Now, she’s being stalked by the man when she witnessed him killing her roommate for his evil deeds. He doesn’t mind being blamed for his actual kills but doesn’t want to take the blame for hers. He plans to put the blame on her instead of himself. There’s plenty of drama, suspense, sexy themes and ultimately a deeper attraction. I really have enjoyed this series so far.

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

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our heroine was forced to kill a man and made it look like the work of a serial killer. Unfortunately, our hero knows his own work and doesn't appreciate the extra credit.

This is a dark romance with strong elements of D/S. The story is well written and easy to read with a strong sense of intrigue throughout the story. Both the setting and characters are well developed and easy to visualize. I rather like both our hero and heroine in spite of their obvious...faults. I quite enjoyed watching their dance and the way the relationship developed. It certainly didn't hurt that we got a nice bit of steam along the way. Overall, a very enjoyable read and I look forward to more in the series.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.

[M H · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Deep inside, we’re all just humans trying to survive. Rage fills us, threatens to overflow. How many people are willing to look in the mirror and see what’s really there?"

This book is darkly twisted goodness. Mel finds herself some in the world accepting ask the bad things that happen to her. She had no purpose in life but to wander without direction. She thinks she knows what she wants or if life and who she is. Enter Rourke who sees more of her than she ever has. He has a plan for her but plans don't always go as planned.

This is a dark stalker romance. It read faster than the first book in the series. I just got annoyed at Mel not ever knowing what she truly wanted out of life. I feel like even at the end she truly doesn't know.

I received a free copy of this book and I voluntarily reviewed it.

[Kahaula Kahaula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughtful.

I really REALLY enjoyed this love story on so many levels. But what I think I enjoyed the most was two people, who their societies would deem villains, finding love. There were times that the language does get a bit prosaic, but I would say it wasn’t high handed, just genuinely introspective on the parts of the main characters.

What’s truly ‘dark’ or horrific in this book, in my opinion, isn’t the loving couple at the heart of this story. It’s all the targets they took down—because let’s be real, those male side characters are literally (no, not figuratively) textbook, they’re so statistically common. Overall, the slow build romance FIT the characters. I appreciated that the author gave this book the pacing that it did as well as let the characters have the room to breathe and figure out who they were separately AND together. Enjoy!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm such a fan of this author and she truly has a knack for the dark romance. She can write some dark, incredibly arousing sex scenes, but she also doesn't forget how to make this a really amazing romance with a dark and thrilling edge to it. We are not just talking about slightly bad boy here, we are talking about really bad man. Or is he? These are philosophical questions Melissa gets to struggle with regarding herself, who is she? Is she bad for certain actions? Is this person bad, does this person require punishment? Death? It's a provoking book on many levels, and i thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

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

[Romaine Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Blew me away! I love this very dark and intense read!!
Mel finds herself in an awkward situation when she witnesses her roommate being murdered by the serial killer Pro Angel. Then he comes for her but doesn't kill her. Night after night Rouke visits her with his dirty words and asphyxiation. A k!nk she truly enjoys.
He encourages her to be authentic. To be herself. He's open and honest about himself and why he chooses to kill.
Then there's Garrett. A billionaire who visits her frequently at the Dahlia District. Very secretive about his life. He challenges Mel with questions. He tries to get closer to her but somewhat fails. She feels the need to be faithful to Rouke. Yep messed up I know but romantic.
When Mel becomes the victim who does she turn to?

[Johanna Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brutal but brilliant story! Shattered is the second story of the Dahlia District and I didn’t want to put it down. Wow!

What did I like? Melissa is from book one and killed a man who threatened Haley. It’s an interesting twist that the serial killer starts stalking Melissa which makes up book two. I was glued to the pages! This cat and mouse game with some serious breath play greedily scatter the pages.

Would I recommend or buy? I definitely recommend the series for anyone loving dark edged play. Melissa is an interesting character for the killer to play with. Read the series in order for the best reading pleasure. Five stars! I loved it!

I received a complimentary copy of this box set and voluntarily left a review!

[S I · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a read! Fantastic book! So different and what an amazing storyline! Serial killer, Rourke, that kills Johns for being terrible people.
Mel kills a man defending her friend but they pin it on the serial killer. He has a plan to put all of his killing on her, so he gets close to her.
The different thing about this book is she’s interested in him! It’s like he set her free! This story is so twisted but you’ll love it! I don’t want to tell spoilers, but this is a must read! So many things going on, with interesting characters!

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

[kait · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really liked all 5 of the books in the series. I am huge fan of characterization and I’m really glad that there very clear distinctions between each of the female characters and the men they end up with. I also liked that while this was dark and the couples were far from perfect people they had a HEA that was realistic but still heartwarming. Loved it and highly recommend! My rating would be closer to a 4.5/5, because there were a few times where a character made a very sudden shift from earlier behaviour but it’s very minor and just a preference.

[Sylvie Rochon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dark suspenseful story was way more than expected. To say it is a stalker romance is too easy. It is a dark, very suspenseful story with death, violence, fear, twists, and uniquely interesting. This story being book 2, is Melissa's story, Haley's friend from book 1 who also works at the dahlia district. The story picks up at the murder of Aldrich, as well as the serial killer storyline. It is intense and makes the reader question what is right and wrong! I received a free copy of this via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cathy Greco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Ruined and this is a great addition to the Dahlia District. This is dark and twisted but in a totally want to read way. There is plenty of dark themes, and twists but oh my it was sooo good. A killer with a conscience, well maybe. This is the story of Melisa and it was good from the start, I love when the story starts out with a bang. I could not put it down if you want to read a dark tale this is it!

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

[Eden French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here are the facts. Mel,—Melissa— Foley, is a sex worker. She's a talented artist and "entertainer" at a local gentleman's club. She's also killed a man. And pinned it on a serial killer who kills men who hurt sex workers and who fondly known as the Pros' Angel. The serial killer? Well, he has no issue taking credit for his kills. He even anticipates getting caught. But for *his* kills. Not Mel's. It bothers him. Grates on his nerves. Does she actually think she could get away with it? Of all the nerve. He's ready to pin every murder on her, until something he'd never imagined happens....

That's the premise of SHATTERED: A Dark Stalker Romance by Audrey Rush. There are so many good things about this book I'd like to highlight and a few things that kind of missed the mark.

Things that worked:

1) The general handling of a sex worker as a legitimate job. I really appreciated how Rush portrayed the women at the club as professionals. Sex work is often demeaned, but it is a very real part of society and the people. These women were professionals and even spoke about job advancement ( becoming a manager, madame).

2) The breath play. Strangling never seemed so hot. I mean, sure, the strangler *was* a serial killer, so he was quite proficient in the art of breath play- taking it to the absolute edge. Not really your everyday kinky guy, but like kink extreme. I actually would've like to see more explicit breath play on the pages.

3) Mel's headspace. That was very realistic. She was a consistent character with believable thoughts for her age/situation. Just reckless enough to get involved with a serial killer, not reckless enough to actually condemn his serial killings.

4) The Pros' Angel aka The Serial Killer. This worked, but I did feel it could've worked more. We got a glimpse into his thoughts and some of his actions, but I would've loved to see more action. Ahem.... sex scenes.

5) The bad people get what's coming to them. I'll just say that. I don't want to spoil the how, but this is a romance and we all know the HEA is happening, so I'll just say that this book fits this.

Things that didn't work (for me):

1)There was a subplot of rape. Not a huge part of the story, and it does not happen on the page at all, but it should've either been less of the story or more of the story. I understand why it was in there, and it makes sense, but it was a little too detached.

2) I really wanted to see the actual outcome for one of the characters and I didn't get to, so it felt a bit incomplete. *This* was particularly disappointing to me because I REALLY wanted to see him get his. It was alluded to, and I suppose I can imagine what happened, but I wanted justice to be served on page.

3) The Beth/Mel relationship. I have mixed thoughts about this. On the one hand, it is necessary to demonstrate Melissa's situation/personality/way of thinking. It's important to her character development. However, on the other hand, it should've gone deeper and allowed her character more emotional growth.

Overall, I enjoyed this read...which surprised me because hybristophilia is not a fetish I often enjoy. But I was pleasantly surprised with how this book played out. The characters were real and engaging enough for me to get attached to. It balanced nicely between hope and despair, and of course, the HEA (well, an HEA for the non-victims) happened—which is a must. It was written well, the story was interesting, and paced just right. I give it four stars. I think in order for me to give it 5 stars, it would have to have a few more sex scenes, and addressed the three points that "didn't work" listed above.

However, I would recommend this book to readers who do not mind the content and I look forward to other books by this author.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audrey knows how to write some dark stories and they will grab you at page one and you will want to read to the very end. With plenty of darkness, suspense, twist, turns, and plenty of sex that some people may take offense to, but the blurb gives you a heads up of this. The characters are all great and pack lots of chemistry. This book is a total rush of emotions and well worth the read.
I was given an arc copy and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

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

[Yolanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was crazy but in a good way. Mel another women suck in the sex life with no help. Her parents are POS who threw her out the house. She met a killer and Garrett not knowing there the same person. Mel surprised Garrett because she was than he bargained for. He was killing people but he needed someone to see him to, which Mel gave to him. I kept wondering how it would end for the both if them. But it was a great ending for them.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't for me, despite the very steamy love scenes. I felt like it just tried to be too "deep". Deeper than it needed to be and that made the pacing slow. I wasn't even that compelled by the thriller or suspense portion of the book because any reader with a little bit of intelegince can figure it out really early on. Unless, you like slow, wordy, trying to be deep and philosophical reads i would give this one a pass. I wish i had DNF'ed (which i very rarely do) it and spent my time reading something else.

[Laura Reads Too Much · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in The Dahlia District Series and although it's listed as a standalone, I would recommend reading book 1 first, help get a better understanding of Mel.

Mel is a server at Dahlia District, who was conned into working there, she thought she was going purely for her art, unfortunately the boss lady had different plans for her and she's now stuck there working for however long she's told, getting paid buttons!

Mel has caught the attention of two men, Garrett who has started coming to her work and then Rourke who she caught murdering her flatmate!!

3.5