Oh my goodness it is great to have SE Jakes 3.5 Stars rounded up because SE <3
*This is my half of my co-review with OJ on our
Oh my goodness it is great to have SE Jakes back and in form! No matter my mood her men are always a good fit. She is writing with a loose flow and an intense vibe that just nails you right to your chair.
CHARACTERS
Brogan assessed him and frowned. “You’re not good at following orders.� Aleks raised his chin and demanded, “Prove to me they’re worth following.�
Aleksandr Solonick � A bossy sub with a very dark past and a future of retribution.
Brogan Montgomery-Johnstone � Dom and All-American handsome businessman, Brogan recalls Aleks from years past and is going to make sure Aleks remembers him.
Harry � Brogan’s brother and “the biggest fish� in the fighting ring.
STORY
This is a book about revenge.
Book two in the Thirds universe fits right in. Aleks is a tattooist in Con and Quinn’s parlour. Aleks comes from a very dark past and is on a life mission to right wrongs. He has focus and determination until Brogan distracts him with some hot dom action. Their lives are deeply intwinded already, but neither knows just how deeply.
You are entering a dark world of cage fighting, human-trafficing, and mafia corruption. Luckily, Con and Quinn have thier shit straight enough to lend a hand when necessary. Maybe, just maybe, with the help of their friends, these two can find a way to right some wrongs and mend their hearts along the way.
WRITING
Finding a prologue in a novella was neat. It was necessary and set a necessary dark tone for this book. As I said earlier I found the flow here very easy to read and, more importantly, to get into. I was absorbed.
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How do you tell people about a book that you’re so in love with that, even though you’ve read it over and over…and over, it becom~~~
**5 Stars**
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How do you tell people about a book that you’re so in love with that, even though you’ve read it over and over…and over, it becomes more cherished with each reading? How do you explain that each scene is better than the last and it would be impossible to choose a favorite part? How do you describe that the author’s words in this romantic and thrilling love story pierced your heart and lifted you away? I guess by asking them to trust you enough to read it.
Surrender the Dark is a book I have had the most wonderful pleasure of being involved with from early on. I was able to see this story develop through many revisions. And boy, did it evolve. With each rendition it grew wonderfully more complex, compelling and beautiful. I have a rather biased review for you, as you can tell, but please know that this book is special regardless of my rapport with the extraordinary and lovely, Tibby Armstrong.
CHARACTERS
Benjamin Fuller � Impertinent, cocky, insolent and cantankerous. And also none of those things. Benjamin is driven, skilled, and deeply, deeply troubled. Quite a package. And all those eccentricities come in the fair-haired lithe and agile form of a blind hunter dressed in leather and weapons.
Tzadkiel Dragoumanos � Battle-hardened, sophisticated, lethal, and virtuous. As War King, Tzadkiel exudes power and confidence. His unquestionable honor drives his sense of duty, no matter his conflicted heart.
Nyx � I believe you are going to completely dig Nyx! One of Benjamin’s two best friends from his youth, and a full-fledged badass all on her own. Nyx has the wisdom of a sage, the patience of a saint, and the swift acumen to keep a tetchy Benjamin in line.
Akito � He breaks my heart in this book. I think you might find a little of yourself in Akito. I did. It’s not easy being the ‘regular� guy.
STORY
I won’t say too much here (I want you to discover this all on your own), but this story spans some 20 plus years with exciting and engrossing circumstances that capture you from the very first pages.
Benjamin’s family has been hunting monstrous vampires for eternity, it is their sworn duty. Benjamin, a hunter born, a hunter bred, is raised to continue his family’s legacy. He and his friends take the responsibility seriously, and they’re good at it, working as a team to protect Boston from these heinous creatures.
Tzadkiel’s family has been torn apart and now their home, Boston, is at risk of ruin because of an imbalance between warring factions. It is up to Tzadkiel to protect his mora at any cost. And to do this he will need a sacrifice.
WRITING
Writing like this proves romance can be so much more than just a scintillating read. This beautiful composition weaves rhythm with harmony, witty repartee with fiery passion, reasoning with turmoil. Tibby Armstrong has amplified her writing prowess exponentially with this book. She skillfully crafts a paranormal romance book that is convincing, sumptuous, and most of all splendidly entertaining.
[image] A quote I cut, with the author's permission, from a FB post.
A Saturday snippet for all you m/m vampire lovers:
Tzadkiel yanked the hunter’s head back to expose his neck. Benjamin gasped, his pulse leaping under the goose bumps dotting his skin. The scent of terror, sharp and bright, called to Tzadkiel, whetting his predator-drive. Hunger and arousal licked at his control, peeling back the layers of his humanity to expose the vampire beneath. “That’s right, hunter,� Tzadkiel bit out, saliva pooling. “Fear me.� Benjamin, panting, remained stock still, fear pulsing off him in fragrant waves. “Go ahead. Bite me. It’ll be the last fucking thing you do.�
Surrender the Dark Random House / Loveswept December 2016
I would like to thank Tibby Armstrong and Random House-Loveswept for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
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This is the kind of book I want to read. The kind of book I seek out. Because it’s bigger, deeper, more complex. Sink i~ 5 Stars *Not a stand-alone book
This is the kind of book I want to read. The kind of book I seek out. Because it’s bigger, deeper, more complex. Sink in, hold on, and tighten your gut because it’s all coming at you. Hard. No fluff. Even the tenderness is difficult. Real. You want a peek at BDSM? TheN you get this series. By this author. And you are immersed. Times ten. Because this isn’t just a kinky little whip-you-until-you-love-me story. No. This is a freaking psychological head fuck with all the trimmings. And because of that you get to see how a Master/sub/vanilla relationship can be the most reasonable way to approach a bond. Tall order for a little MM Romance, hmm?
THE STORY
Tender brutality
A culmination. But hard earned. Have you been paying attention? I mean really paying attention? I’ll bet you thought you knew things. I’ll bet you thought you knew where this was going. You didn’t. At least I didn’t. I didn’t see the angles, twists and plunges. Pyke takes her sweet time getting you there. The first several chapters are nothing but pure emotional anguish merged with tender, raw beauty. Deep. Painful. Love. Guilt. Remorse. And revelation.
Puzzle pieces fit. Martin emerges. Gray has no choice. Shit. Shit. Shit. And Jan is…just so fucked.
I’d say get yourself in a good emotional place before delving into this one, because it is going to tear at you. The more you’ve fallen for these men, the more you’re going to fall for in this book.
THE CHARACTERS
Gray Raoul � Finally we get to see the man behind all the composure. You think you want to know. But do you? The weight on him is crushing.
“Gray managed a smile, albeit one that tore at his stomach.�
Jack Harrison � His whole life he’s been fucked with. And still he gives. Martin � How in the hell can I love Martin?
…break Jack, get to Martin�
Jan Richards � Yeah. I get Jan. “Nobody is here for me.�
THE WRITING
Pyke’s writing is strong. Her economy of words, as it were, is what makes reading her both stunning and challenging. But in this book it is the storytelling that trumps that writing skill. Looking back at my reviews on the earlier books I see I was flailing at times, but I realize now she had me in her control all along. I am simply hers to dominate. …the past can be nothing but a prefix to better memories.
I would like to thank Jack L. Pyke and Fantistic Fiction Publishing for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
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Aww, thanks Tibby Armstrong for sharing this lovely story with me. It had been on my radar for years, but you brought it back to the forefront.
I'l~~~
Aww, thanks Tibby Armstrong for sharing this lovely story with me. It had been on my radar for years, but you brought it back to the forefront.
I'll be perfectly honest, up until halfway through this read I was thinking this was just a sweet, easy read with a little brutality to set the tone in the beginning. Then as the two MC's begin to know each other it seemed that everything was just too perfect, to easy. I should have known better.
WHAMMO! At about 65% my heart completely split. I think I even knew what was coming and still that's the affect it had on me.
I haven't bawled like that in a good while. I needed that. Hmm, I haven't really told you anything about the story here, have I?
It's a modern M/M twist on Hans Christian Andersen's classic, The Ugly Duckling. But somehow even if you know that classic inside and out (and most of us do) this comes off as entirely unique and satisfying. It was lovely and very enjoyable. Even if my heart shredded somewhere in the middle.
Just know, I'm left with a contented smile on my face and a big desire to read Kim Dare's Axel's Pup - right now!
My eyes narrowed while reading this, my heart was pounding and my stomach churned. His writing is so damned good it scares me. I want to hate it, but I can't help appreciate his ability. And I'm just not sure what to do with that. o_o
Lisa Arbitrary - AttentionIsArbitrary M/M Blog
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