Lust, the dark arranged marriage romance and second book in The Sinful Empire Trilogy from Eva Charles is available now!
Our fate was sealed with a blood oath.
She’s much more than I expected.
Beautiful.
Fiery.
Seductive.
And hiding deadly secrets.
Her angels play so nicely with my demons.
I crave her touch.
Her whimpers.
Her obedience.
Her light.
Do I deserve her? No.
Will that stop me from taking what’s rightfully mine? Also no.
Some men never seek forgiveness, not even with their final breath.
My name is Antonio Huntsman, and I am one of those men.
Lust is the second book in A Sinful Empire Trilogy, which begins with Greed and concludes with Envy. It should be read after reading Greed. Lust is a dark romance with dark themes.
“I’m not easy, Daniela. I’ll never be easy, and we will never have the kind of marriage little girls dream about. But I can take care of you the way you deserve. If you let me.”
The steam has taken over every corner of the shower, but through the fog, I see the emotion in his face. I feel how much it costs him to open his heart to me. It’s staggering.
I stand and drag my hand over two days’ worth of stubble, enjoying the rough prickle on my fingertips.
“Little girls don’t all have the same dreams. Some of us dream about dark princes, on dark horses, who defy danger, bravely slaying dragons and monsters. I’ll take the extravagant library and the glass slippers, and even the little mice who chatter endlessly, but in my heart, I’m a dirty Princesa, and I want the dark fairy tale. The one with the dangerous, broody prince who has a good soul that he never allows anyone to see.” I stroke his jaw. “I can take care of you too, if you let me.”
He takes my hand and brings it to his mouth. His eyes never leave mine. “You deserve more than me. So much more.”
I shake my head. “What I deserve is what every girl and every woman deserves: to choose my own fairy tale, and my own prince. Tradition and outdated customs be damned.”
“You make it sound so simple.”
“It is, Antonio. You’re too close to see it, but it’s not a novel idea. That kind of freedom will strengthen our world rather than weaken it.”
A muscle in his jaw twitches. “You would have never chosen me after your father died, or if I’d gone to Fall River and asked you to come home.” Anguish is woven around each word.
“I don’t know. Maybe not.” It pains me to tell him, but it’s the truth. “There have been so many seasons of my life when I would have chosen you over anyone. But I don’t know. What I do know is that I choose you now.”
About Eva Charles
Eva Charles is the best-selling author of sexy romantic suspense, and contemporary romance. She spent a career working as a social worker and an attorney, specializing in domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, and civil rights. Aspects of this work often sneak their way into her books.
When she’s not writing steamy stories, trying to squeeze information out of her tight-lipped sons, or playing with the two naughtiest dogs you’ve ever met, Eva’s creating chapters in her own love story.
Sabotage, an all-new dark stand-alone romance from USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Shantel Tessier is available now!
COLTON
Raylee Lexington Adams is my stepsister and the one woman in the world who can make my blood boil.
She’s vindictive, a lot of crazy, and absolutely stunning.
I hate everything about her except for when she’s on her knees begging me to use her as my own personal toy.
We’ve been playing a game of cat and mouse for far too long. We have used each other for our own sick pleasure.
I’ve ruined every relationship my little princess has ever had. A sure way that she’ll come crawling back to me, begging me for what only I can give her when another man fails her.
But I got tired of watching others get a piece of what is mine. So, I did what any rational man would do—I staked my claim, showed the world that she belonged to me, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to make her believe it too.
RAYLEE
Colton Remington Knox is a man I despise but can’t say no to.
He’s what any girl would call a walking red flag. But I’ve never claimed to be a smart woman when it comes to men. Why should he be any different?
I’ve always managed to hold my own against him. But this time, he’s gone too far. Posting a video of me on my knees for him, for what? To brag? Embarrass me? He’s acting like he doesn’t know me very well.
Colt wants to play a game? I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure I win. No matter what it costs me. People already think I have no dignity, so why let them down now?
Feels 3 Storyline 4.5 Steam 5 Overall Rating 4.5 Kindle eArc provided by Author Reviewed by Robin
When it comes to the Lords, you know some nasty, crazy stuff is going to be involved. What a toxic, enemies to lovers dynamic and whoa boy…the humiliation aspect…BAM! I was never sure if I ever really liked Colt but he sure knew how to take charge and bring Raylee to heel. These two have this dark co-dependency and my depraved black little soul was all into it. There’s not much romantic about the way these two come together and apart but it’s addictive to see what each of them of will do next. It’s a whirlwind of emotion and if you like dark power plays and domination…you are in for a wild ride.
Excerpt
“Boys.” She greets my friends, coming to a stop in front of me but doesn’t look at them standing next to me. Instead, her eyes stay on mine before dropping to my exposed chest. “I hope I didn’t interrupt you.” Her red-painted lips pull down slightly for a brief second as if the thought of pulling me from a woman would make her sad. But when her eyes lift to meet mine again, a devious smile spreads across her face, telling me how she really feels about what I was in the middle of. “Shouldn’t have shared that video.”
I lean forward, and she doesn’t retreat. No, that’s one thing about this bitch. She’s not afraid of anything. I get close enough to smell the smoke lingering on her clothes from what’s left of my car, and whisper, “That video is nothing compared to what I’m going to do to you.”
Meet Shantel Tessier
Shantel is a Texas born girl who now lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma with her high school sweetheart, who is a wonderful, supportive husband and their two daughters. She loves to spend time cuddled up on the couch with a good book.
She considers herself extremely lucky to get to be a stay at home wife and mother. Going to concerts and the movies are just a few of her favorite things to do. She hates coffee, but loves wine. She and her husband are both huge football fans, college and NFL. And she has to feed her high heel addiction by shopping for shoes weekly.
Although she has a passion to write, her family is most important to her. She loves spending evenings at home with her husband and daughters, along with their cats and dogs.
Nothing will stop Poppy from freeing her King and destroying everything the Blood Crown stands for.
The War of Two Queens, the stunning continuation in the Blood and Ash series from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout is available now!
War is only the beginning…
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes book four in her Blood and Ash series.
From the desperation of golden crowns…
Casteel Da’Neer knows all too well that very few are as cunning or vicious as the Blood Queen, but no one, not even him, could’ve prepared for the staggering revelations. The magnitude of what the Blood Queen has done is almost unthinkable.
And born of mortal flesh…
Nothing will stop Poppy from freeing her King and destroying everything the Blood Crown stands for. With the strength of the Primal of Life’s guards behind her, and the support of the wolven, Poppy must convince the Atlantian generals to make war her way—because there can be no retreat this time. Not if she has any hope of building a future where both kingdoms can reside in peace.
A great primal power rises…
Together, Poppy and Casteel must embrace traditions old and new to safeguard those they hold dear—to protect those who cannot defend themselves. But war is only the beginning. Ancient primal powers have already stirred, revealing the horror of what began eons ago. To end what the Blood Queen has begun, Poppy might have to become what she has been prophesied to be—what she fears the most.
The click and drag of claws drew closer as the weak flame above the lone candle sputtered and then went out, pitching the cell into darkness.
A thicker mass of shadows appeared in the open archway—a misshapen form on its hands and knees. It halted, sniffing as loudly as a godsdamn barrat, scenting blood. My blood.
The smooth bands of shadowstone tightened around my throat and ankles as I shifted, bracing myself. The damn stone was unbreakable, but it did come in handy. A low-pitched wail came from the creature.
“Mother—” The thing exploded out of the archway, scurrying forward, its keening moan becoming an ear-piercing screech. “—fucker.”
I waited until its stench of decay reached me and then pressed my back against the wall, lifting my legs. The length of the chain between my ankles was only about half a foot, and the shackles wouldn’t give an inch, but it was enough. Planting my bare feet into the creature’s shoulders, I got a good, most unfortunate look at the thing as its foul breath blasted me in the face.
Man, the Craven was not a fresh one.
Patches of gray flesh clung to its hairless skull, and half of its nose was gone. One entire cheekbone was exposed, eyes burning like hot coals. Lips torn and mangled— The Craven twisted its head down, sinking its fangs into my calf. Its teeth tore through the breeches and into flesh and muscle. Air hissed between my gritted teeth as fiery pain burned its way up my leg.
Worth it.
The pain was more than worth it.
I would spend an eternity taking these bites if that meant she was safe. That it wasn’t her in this cell. That she wasn’t the one in pain.
Shaking the Craven free, I dragged the short chain over the thing’s neck as I crossed my feet. I twisted at the waist, pulling the dull bone chain tight across its throat, ending the Craven’s screams. The shackle clamped down on my throat as I kept turning, cutting off my air as the chain dug into the Craven’s neck. Its arms flailed on the floor as I jerked my legs in the opposite direction, snapping the creature’s spine. The spasming became more of a twitching as I hauled it within reach of my bound hands. The chain between my wrists, connected to the shackle at my throat, was much shorter—but long enough.
I grasped the Craven’s cold, clammy jowls and brought its head down hard, slamming it against the stone floor by my knees. Flesh gave way, spraying rotting blood over my stomach
and chest. Bone split open with a wet-sounding crack. The Craven went limp. I knew it wouldn’t stay down, but it bought me some time.
Lungs burning, I unwound the chain and kicked the creature away from me. It landed by the archway in a tangled mess of limbs as I relaxed my muscles. The band around my neck was slow to loosen, eventually allowing air into my burning lungs.
I stared at the Craven’s body. At any other time, I would’ve kicked the bastard into the hall like usual, but I was weakening.
I was losing too much blood.
Already.
Not a good sign.
Breathing heavily, I looked down. Just below the shadowstone bands, shallow slices ran up the insides of my arms, past both elbows and over the veins. I counted them. Again. Just to be sure.
Thirteen.
Thirteen days had passed since the first time the Handmaidens swarmed this cell, dressed in black and as quiet as a tomb. They came once a day to cut into my flesh, siphoning my blood as if I were a damn barrel of fine wine.
A tight, savage smile twisted my mouth. I’d managed to take out three of them in the beginning. Ripped their throats out when they got too close, which was why they’d shortened the chain between my wrists. Only one of them actually stayed dead, though. The damn throats of the other two had stitched themselves closed within minutes—impressive and also infuriating to witness.
Learned something valuable, though.
Not all of the Blood Queen’s Handmaidens were Revenants.
I wasn’t sure how I could use that information yet, but I guessed they were using my blood to make brand-spanking-new Revs. Or using it as a dessert for the lucky.
Tipping back my head against the wall, I tried not to breathe too deeply. If the stench of the downed Craven didn’t choke me, the damn shadowstone around my throat would. I closed my eyes. There had been more days before the Handmaidens showed the first time. How many? I wasn’t exactly sure. Two days? A week? Or—?
I stopped myself there. Shut it the fuck down.
I couldn’t go down that road. I wouldn’t. I’d done that the last time, trying to clock the days and weeks until there came a point when time simply ceased to move. Hours became days. Weeks became years. And my mind became as rotten as the blood seeping from the Craven’s ruined head.
But things were different in the here and now.
The cell was larger, with no barred entrance. Not that there needed to be one with the shadowstone and the chains. They were a mix of iron and deity bone, connected to a hook in the wall and then to a pulley system to lengthen or shorten them. I could sit up and move a little, but that was about it. However, the cell was windowless like before, and the dank, musty smell told me they once again held me underground. The freely roaming Craven were also a new addition.
My eyes opened to thin slits. The fuck by the archway had to be the sixth or seventh one that had found its way into the cell, drawn by the scent of blood. Their appearance made me think there was one hell of a Craven problem aboveground.
I’d heard of Craven attacks inside the Rise surrounding Carsodonia before. Something the Blood Crown blamed on Atlantia and angry gods. I’d always assumed it was due to an Ascended
getting greedy and leaving mortals they’d fed on to turn. Now, I was beginning to think the Craven were possibly being kept down here. Wherever here was. And if that were the case, and they could get out and get aboveground, so could I.
If only I could get these damn chains to loosen. I’d spent an ungodly amount of time pulling on the hook. In all those attempts, it may have slipped a half-inch from the wall—if that. But that wasn’t the only thing different about this time. Other than the Craven, I’d only seen the Handmaidens. I didn’t know what to think about that. I’d figured it’d be like the last time. Too-frequent visits from the Blood Crown and their cronies, where they spent their time taunting and inflicting pain, feeding, and doing whatever they wanted.
Of course, my last go-around with this captivity bullshit hadn’t started that way. The Blood Queen had tried to open my eyes first, coax me to her side. Turn me against my family and my kingdom. When that hadn’t worked, the real fun had begun.
#1 New York Times and #1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. She spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Border Jack Apollo. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was an Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.
She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over a hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more.
Feels 5 Steam 2 Storyline 5 Overall Rating 5 Kindle eArc provided by Author Reviewed by Stephanie
I have been in what feels like the longest reading slump ever. But this book…OMG this book yanked me right out of it. This is my first story by Catherine Wiltcher and not only was the writing style phenomenal, but the characters, the plot, the shitload of angst and darkness…oh, how I loved the darkness…all of it, phenomenal. Everything was so perfectly woven together to give us this mind blowing, non-stop, extremely fucked up yet insanely beautiful second chance, dark mafia romance.
“You will live by this oath, and you will die by this oath. You will be bound to it until the day you die.”
Frankie and Ada have both been through hell and back. Although Ada has no idea she once got Frankie through the most horrible night of his young life, years later they reunite but quickly are torn apart by violence and bloodshed. Frankie is driven away from the place he should rule, and Ada is forced back to a hell that makes even the worst day possible sound like a walk in the park on a sunny afternoon. Frankie made a promise to Ada and now 14 years later he’s back to fulfill that promise and more.
“Our chains had finally broken. The war was finally here.”
I loved Ada and Frankie both so much. Their loyalty, love and trust for each other was a beautiful thing. Frankie may be a force to be reckoned with, but Ada was unbreakable. She knew no matter what the devil told her that he would come back and break down the doors of hell to save her. Everything that she endured broke my heart for her…such an amazingly written character. They both were. There were also some fantastic secondary characters. Even someone I thought I hated turned into someone I shed tears for. There was so much tucked into the pages of this story. Their world was a dark, bloody and cruel one but the love they had for each other was worth fighting for. I absolutely loved this book world and every single person in it!
“Worth killing for. Worth dying for. Worth all of it.”
Excerpt
PROLOGUE
ADA
They told me he was dead, and I believed them.
Two weeks later, the first book arrived.
There was no postmark, no return address, but I knew it was from him. I’d been holding a copy the day he set fire to my soul in a stolen car on the edge of darkness. When for twelve hours the world had sparked with light and colour before they’d shrouded it in black again.
After that, they appeared once a month, and it was always the same book, just different versions. Some had discreet covers. Others were straight-up classics. French, German, Italian, Arabic… Every translation you could think of.
Most were torn with age, but a few had been newly reprinted that year. No two copies were identical, but the story never changed because it was our story now. They’d turned him into the villain, and me into a footnote: framed for a crime we didn’t commit, and then punished and kept apart for years because of it.
One was so rare it had been auctioned off for a huge amount of money—the highest anyone had paid for a first edition. The buyer was anonymous, of course. I read about him in a newspaper someone had left behind in a coffee shop. According to the by-line, the final bid had come in from Monaco.
Monaco.
I remember thinking then how sad and strange it was that for all the blood money we had, we were both still bankrupt in all the ways it mattered.
Then, five months ago, the books stopped arriving.
I figured he was dead now for sure, and my grief was so great it felt like every chamber of my heart was being pierced by a bullet.
I waited weeks for my Bratva bastard of a husband to show up and taunt me with the news, but he never came.
That’s when I knew the truth:
Our chains had finally broken.
The war was finally here.
Frankie was coming back for me, and the whole of London was going to burn because of it.
Meet Catherine
Catherine Wiltcher is a USA Today and Amazon Top 15 bestselling dark romance author. A stage 4 cancer thriver and a former TV Producer, she writes flawed characters who always fall hard and deep for one another, whatever the cost.
She lives in the UK with her husband and their two young daughters.
To keep up to date with all things in the Santiago World, sign up to her newsletter for giveaways and exclusives! www.catherinewiltcher.com/newsletter
“Ken and Van’s story will hit your feelings like a freight train. It is angsty, delicious and original. Everything I look for in an epic romance.” – LJ Shen, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author
Always Meant to Be, an all-new emotional and forbidden stand-alone romance from USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Siobhan Davis is available now!
He’s my eighteen-year-old son’s best friend, and I’m old enough to know better.
My marriage is falling apart, and Vander’s home life is tragic.
Yet, his broken parts speak to mine, and amid all the chaos, a true connection is formed.
The only peace I find is in those stolen moments when we share our darkest secrets and our deepest desires.
This thing between us has disaster written all over it.
But I’m powerless to resist the magnetic pull that draws us closer and closer.
Until lines are crossed, boundaries are broken, and everything I thought I knew about myself is undone.
This reverse age-gap romance contains mature scenes, dark themes, and situations that may push your boundaries. Reader caution is advised.
Feels 2 Storyline 4.25 Steam 5 Overall Rating 4.25 Kindle eArc provided by Author Reviewed by Robin
This romance has a little bit of everything in it. Forbidden romance, reverse age gap, taboo, friends to lovers, second chances…and some crazy manipulative villains. The story was entertaining and original with twisted situations that put Kendall and Vander through the wringer. Definitely kept me on edge. Parts of the book were not what I was expecting and I was surprised the way everything unfolded. A refreshing, different take on a couple meant to be together.
Excerpt
VANDER
“You belong with someone your own age,” she counters after a few intense beats. She pulls her hand away from my face and averts her gaze. “You deserve to find someone young and pretty without any complications. I want you to be happy. I want that for you so much.”
“My happy place is you.” I reel her into my body, clamping my hands on her lower back to stop her from wriggling free. “You make me happy. I don’t want any other girl. I never have, and I never will. I only want you.”
“Vander, please.” Tipping her chin up, she stares at me with tears in her eyes. “Please forget about me and find someone else.”
I shake my head. “It won’t happen. I can’t tell my heart how to feel.” Taking her hand, I place it over my chest, hoping she can feel the steady thrumming of my heart. “This is yours, Kendall, whether you want it or not. It doesn’t matter if you don’t claim it, it will always beat only for you.”
Siobhan Davis is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Amazon Top 10 bestselling romance author. Siobhan writes emotionally intense stories with swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and tons of unexpected plot twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages beyond bedtime! She has sold over 1.5 million books and her titles are translated into several languages.
Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management.
She lives in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.
The Smutbrarians 