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Book Review-Ravage by Tillie Cole

Ravage is a stimulating story of sacrifice, of losing one self and having to make a difficult choice of family and love against a great evil…

Ravage was another wonderful installment in the Scarred Souls series. I have just been hooked on this series. But I was really excited when I saw that this book was available in the Romance Audible Package and I just jumped at a chance to read this book here. And boy was it good, not as good as the previous books but it had some elements that we didn’t see in the previous two books. The plot of the series as a whole really takes a new turn here that adds thrills and excitement for the reader. d

In Ravage, we have a heart-wrenching tale that will guarantee that it brings out some tough emotion due to this engaging kay players

  • 194 (Valentin), is our sexy hero, taken when he was just a boy along with his younger sister. And he does anything his “mistress” asks of him so he can get their freedom
  • Zoya Kostava, a Russian Mafia Princess, was taken to safety when her family was slaughtered and her two brothers taken captive.

This was a story that was a bit different than the previous two books, it was darker than the other two. It does deal with some difficult issues that not all readers might be okay with. However, if you enjoy reading dark romances, then this book will definitely work for you. Our hero Valentin, was young when he and his sister were taken prisoner at the orphanage. He vowed to make sure she was safe and do everything he could to free them one day. Valentin has been made to be a killer, a slave to the drugs that his “mistress” makes him take through his collar. He never has a choice but his life will take a unique change in his new mission to kill Zaal, the man who killed his mistress’s love. But his quarry is a woman who means something to Zaal, his beloved sister Zoya. As Valentin works to break Zoya’s defenses and get the truth about her relationship with Zaal, Valentin discovers something new that he has never experience….desire and heartfelt emotion that he has only felt about his sister. Soon Zoya and Valentin will be forced to make some difficult choices but the most challenging will be learning to fully trust in each other and the love that they have together.

There is quite a bit of growth that Valentin goes through here and it gets to the point where he would rather have love than to be a slave for the rest of his life. He hates what he does or what he becomes under the drugs that he is forced to take. And seeing him stand on his own and fight for what he believes is right is really beautiful and heart breaking. The relationship between Valentin and Zoya is not easy in the beginning. I mean, Valentin is being forced by drugs to get information out of Zoya, so it’s not pleasant obviously. But he does change and starts to fight the drugs more.

I’m not only scarred on the outside, Kotyonok; I’m scarred on the inside: my mind, my heart, and my soul…… I am your Tbilisi monster…

I honestly felt that this story was the toughest that I have read so far. Because we see what this couple is really faced with and the odds aren’t in their favor. But we do get some moments with our previous favorite characters such as Luca and Zaal. And this side plot is needed for sure. Luca and Zaal know that danger is coming they just have no clue what form it will take and Zaal has no idea that his beloved sister is still alive or that she is being held prisoner to get to him. And my goodness, once he learns the truth, Zaal really has to face up to certain things on a emotional level.

I knew his life had been as impossible as mine. Knew he wasn’t truly as evil as he seemed. He was just like my Anri and Zaal. Like me. Broken

The development of the plot here was key and Tillie Cole did a fabulous job on taking me on a great adventure of thrills and suspense and danger. I honestly never knew what was going to happen in this book, and these twists really worked me hard. What made this book sound wonderful was the latter part of it. This is where you fall in love with this anti-hero that is Valentin. Seeing what he sacrifices for his Zoya is so heartfelt and real. And seeing him do so much to save his sister, it just about broke my heart. He goes through so much but seeing the way that Zoya cares for him, seeing the ways that she loves him outside the bedroom was priceless. Valentin has never known a kind word or tender touch and Zoya teaches him.

Tillie Cole has done wonders with this series, these books are full of tortured souls and damaged hearts that slowly heal with love and understanding and acceptance. I feel so much emotion when I read her work and this author teaches the reader what unconditional love and forgiveness are all about!! This story will wrap you up and endear you to these beautifully crafted characters in a way that you won’t forget!! UNFORGETTABLE!!

We are different. Me weak and you strong. Me a Georgian and you Russian, but our broken hearts are tired and old. Our spirits are low, though not broken. But our souls, though thoroughly tested and hardened through pain, are resilient. THEY ARE THE SAME.

*Now bring on Valentin’s sister’s book “Riot” I will admit I am kinda nervous about this book because his sister has been forced to be a sex slave but from what I hear the hero is AWESOME!! So I can’t wait for the finale and see Valentin and his sister be reunited and that his sister has never forgotten him.

About Tillie Cole

Amazon & USA Today Best Selling Author, Tillie Cole, is a Northern girl through and through. She originates from a place called Teesside on that little but awesomely sunny (okay I exaggerate) Isle called Great Britain. She was brought up surrounded by her English rose mother -- a farmer's daughter, her crazy Scottish father, a savagely sarcastic sister and a multitude of rescue animals and horses.
Being a scary blend of Scottish and English, Tillie embraces both cultures; her English heritage through her love of HP sauce and freshly made Yorkshire Puddings, and her Scottish which is mostly demonstrated by her frighteningly foul-mouthed episodes of pure rage and her much loved dirty jokes.

Having been born and raised as a Teesside Smoggie, Tillie, at age nineteen, moved forty miles north to the 'Toon', Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, where she attended Newcastle University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts honours degree in Religious Studies. She returned two years later to complete a Post-Graduate Certificate in Teaching High School Social Studies. Tillie, regards Newcastle to be a home from home and enjoyed the Newcastle Geordie way of life for seven 'proper mint' and 'lush' years.

One summers day, after finishing reading her thousandth book on her much loved and treasured Kindle, Tillie turned to her husband and declared, "D'you know, I have a great idea for a story. I could write a book." Several months later, after repeating the same tired line at the close of another completed story, she was scolded by her husband to shut up talking about writing a novel and "just bloody do it!" For the first time in eleven years, Tillie actually took his advice (he is still trying to get over the shock) and immediately set off on a crazy journey, delving deep into her fertile imagination.

Tillie, ever since, has written from the heart. She combines her passion for anything camp and glittery with her love of humour and dark brooding men (most often muscled and tattooed – they’re her weakness!). She also has a serious side (believe it or not!) and loves to immerse herself in the complex study of World Religions, History and Cultural Studies and creates fantasy stories that enable her to thread serious issues and topics into her writing -- yep, there's more to this girl than profanity and sparkles!

After six years of teaching high school Social Studies and following her Professional Rugby Player husband around Europe, they have finally given up their nomadic way of life and settled in Calgary, Alberta where Tillie spends most of her days (and many a late night) lost in a writing euphoria or pursuing a dazzling career as a barrel-racing, tasselled-chap wearing, Stetson-sporting cowgirl... Ye-haw!

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Book Review-Sinful Empire by Meghan March

Sinful Empire is a sizzling finale of our couple who come together in no way before. They become true partners against their enemies and learning to fight for the love they share…

In Sinful Empire we have a sensual story that takes you on a ride you won’t expect. Our favorable key players of the story and the trilogy are:

  • Lachlan Mount, our alpha hero, the king of his empire and no one goes against him. But Lachlan will need to face his past in order to embrace his present with the one woman who accepts him unconditionally
  • Keira, our figher of a heroine, she is spunky and smart and finally comes more confident and sure of herself. We see how strong and accepting she really is.

In Sinful Empire  we have a story that immediately starts off where book 2 left off. I don’t want to spoil the trilogy, for those that are currently reading this trilogy here. But basically in the beginnning of Sinful Empire our couple face some reality and almost lose each other. Their lives are put in jeaopardy by an unseen enemy, and both of their health are put in danger and they have to face the fact that they almost lost each other and it impacts them very differently. Our hero faces up to his past with Keira, and basically will give her anything she wants, including complete honesty about his past and who he is and what he is capable of. Then our heroine, realizes how much she loves Lachlan. She never realized until now how much he means to her. And this is where she fights for their relationship. Once she learns everything she “needs” to know about Lachlan’s past, she is determined to be the “queen” that he really needs.

“A King has the most value, but without a queen, he’s a hell of a lot less powerful. Together, they have the best chance of victory…You’ve been the queen from day one. The most powerful piece on the whole fucking board.  “

We see how much more confident she is and what a fighter she becomes. I love the way that she has such a stronger confidence in this book. It became such an endearing quality seeing how much she grows and comes more into herself in this story. Lachlan, is a character that we see way more depth into. We see flashbacks into his childhood and it really makes you understand him in a more intimate level emotionally. It added some unique dynamics especially with the villain who has a personal vendetta and someone no one will expect…I just DAREyou to guess before this person is revealed.

Lachlan Mount lives by his own code, completely unapologetic about his actions, but that doesn’t mean he lacks honorable motives.

I have had such a blast with this trilogy and Sinful Empire was everything that I was expecting and MORE!!It had everything that I was looking for in a story and as the finale was worth the wait and I can’t wait to immerse myself into more of Meghan March’s works. Because The Mount Trilogy was superb and had me on the edge of my seat and curled my toes in those delicious moments I didn’t want to end!!

Lachlan Mount owns me—Body, Heart and Soul

About Meghan March

Meghan March has been known to wear camo face paint and tromp around in woods wearing mud-covered boots, all while sporting a perfect manicure. She’s also impulsive, easily entertained, and absolutely unapologetic about the fact that she loves to read and write smut. Her past lives include slinging auto parts, selling lingerie, making custom jewelry, and practicing corporate law. Writing books about dirty talking alpha males and the strong, sassy women who bring them to their knees is by far the most fabulous job she’s ever had.

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Book Review-El Diablo by M. Robinson

In this stunning tale of a dark romance, which brings together the most unlikely pair you ever see in a romance. But two people that both suffer from dark pasts and help each other in finding their happy ever after.

Our key players that make you fall in love quite instantly are:

• Martinez, our dark hero, who is the most feared of all men and leader of a mob family and is also known as the “El Diablo” or the Devil. He has had to learn to love and lose the important parts of himself. But one woman will make him want to fight for love and keep it.
• Lexi, our courageous heroine, a dancer and has grown up being abused in the worst ways.

We have a story that works through your emotions in some of the worst and BEST ways imaginable. I truly couldn’t get enough of this book and man was it difficult at times. These two really worked me through the ringer and yet I wouldn’t have it any other way. What we see is a romance that isn’t light and funny, Its dark and at times twisted but pulls you in and I just didn’t want it to end. I was really swept away by our hero especially in the first third of the book. We really get to see what he goes through. Being raised as the mob boss’s son, losing parts of himself and seeing his closeness to his mother and sister despite what he has been forced to become by his father. Then we see him fall in love, and lose it all with a horrible twist of fate.

I was pulled instantly to his character, seeing how intense his life was and seeing how he couldn’t stop losing the people that meant the most to him or the way he is betrayed in the worst way by the one person he trusted. Then Lexi comes into his life, like a breath of fresh air, and we see him change only for the better. Now it’s not perfect and their relationship is full of drama at times but I was really pulled into their bond. Now our heroine hasn’t exactly had a life of daisies and roses. She has had her own troubles, but what you come to admire about this character is how strong she really is. I mean its like nothing can get her down, no matter what she goes through, she just faces it and finds the “best” part of herself to keep going forward. She stands up to our hero on a constant basis and I enjoyed seeing the way that they come together.

I will admit that this story didn’t turn out the way that I expected, the turn of events that come into play are unexpected and throw the reader a whirlwind but I had a fun time joining them along in their adventure. What sets this book apart from many other dark romances, is the raw emotion that just pours out of this story in such a “real” way. I honestly never knew what was going to happen even on an emotional level. Right when I thought I have Martinez and Lexi figured out….something else would happen to blow everything out of the water of what I expected or knew about these two. Their road isn’t easy and we see them go through years of their life, figuring out what is the most important and how to learn to fight for it and find their happy ever after that they both deserved to have after what they really go through.

What was one of the most important aspects of this story though was the growth these characters suffer through. They definitely have quite a few growing pains, and certain circumstances really throw them a curveball but it was quite some complex dynamics seeing them muddle through these “mountains” and somehow finding their way back to each other when you least expect it. Definitely amazed with the talent of this author and what a story this book punches through. I am a bit overwhelmed in the story that I just read but loved nonetheless.

Overall I found El Diablo to be a stunning story that swept me away into a world I didn’t want to let go of. BREATHTAKINGLY REAL!!

 

About M. Robinson

USA TODAY Best Selling Author of The VIP Trilogy, Tempting Bad, Two Sides, Complicate Me, Forbid Me, Undo Me, Crave Me. El Diablo, Road To Nowhere, Ends Here.

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