I remember the first book I read from this writing duo, it was the first book from their biker's series and initially I wasn't overly impressed. LuckiI remember the first book I read from this writing duo, it was the first book from their biker's series and initially I wasn't overly impressed. Luckily though I'm all for second chances and that's when, by happenstance, I saw they had also written a dark romance inclusive of an Italian mafia, an assassin and a clueless prodigal son. After reading the blurb I was fascinated and so my journey into Dom and Seth's life began. I have never been disappointed by those characters since.
Their dysfunction is what makes their love so perfect.
Chokehold, the latest installment of this addictive series, takes place in the poverty stricken regions of Mexico. While attempting to cross undetected between the US and Mexican border, the boys are attacked resulting in unfavorable circumstances that delays their journey to Columbia. Seth is forced to take on the responsibility of being the financial provider for their small group while Domenico spends time recovering from his injuries. As the plot unfolds, resentment from the past and current frustrations collide, so much so, that the future for Dom and Seth's relationship is in jeopardy. The angst between Dom and Seth also affects Mark, the latest addition to their family, and for much of the story Mark finds himself caught between doing the right thing and staying silent.
The underlying presence of danger and violence, a theme for all the books of this series thus far, is no less evidenced in this one. Seth has to maintain the facade of bravery to placate his employer, the son of the legendary Carpintero, and Dom re-establishes his relationship with Santo, a member of the Mafia family they're so desperately trying to escape, which promises a future of bloodshed and uncertainty for, not only Dom and Seth, but also Mark.
In terms of writing, I personally thought special attention should be paid to editing. There were too many typos, grammatical errors and tense mishaps for Chokehold to receive all 5 stars, however the bones of this story was solid. The tension was palpable, the arguments and somber atmosphere felt real. The discord and disconnect between Dom and Seth felt genuine and their ultimate reconciliation deserved a round of applause. It's a pity that my enjoyment of those moments had to be dulled by the presence of editing errors but alas, we can't always get it perfect.
I got Chokehold as an ARC in exchange for an honest review and I gotta say thank you K.A Merikan! I did enjoy this one, I hope more people give this series a try. Dom and Seth deserves an enormous fan base. I also hope the next book would be released next month (wishful thinking), I really can't take these extensive waiting periods for the next release. I mean why can't these books be written all at once and be released at the same time?!
After several days of reading these excessively long volumes I've come to the realization that the drama is wearing me out. Actually that isn't true, this part in particular was utterly disappointing and my mental subconscious was silently sneering at the nonsense.
I was already unhappy with Reaver in Part 1 but I didn't expect the dislike to intensify in Part 2. So he was raped. (Ok) So he decided to deal with the issues stemming from that by sleeping with his tormentor - don't....even.....try to figure out the logic there folks. So he overcame his psychosis and in so doing felt like himself again....(Ok). So this newly reborn, stronger, wiser Reaver becomes friends with the enemy and......and.....decides to participate in the raping of his sheltered brother Adler and expects Killian to understand and accept that he did all that because of his love for him.
In part 2 the couple is more broken than ever and Reaver insists that Killian should be grateful that he - Reaver- was able to overcome his obstacles. Killian should fall to the floor at his feet and beg forgiveness because Reaver is always right and any concerns Killi Cat might have is just an over dramatization of a jealous, insecure boyfriend. No, Killi has no right to feel betrayed and hurt because, that's being petty. Reaver is a top dog and what he says goes.........and you know what's most upsetting about all this fuckery? THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS. Anytime Killian attempts to assert his opinions they're disregarded and he's treated like a villain for feeling any other way than accepting, which in my opinion is UTTER SHIT.
What little progress Killian's character made in part 1 totally crumbles in the face of Reaver's disdain and frankly I am tired with this shit. It took me thousands of fucking pages to be tired and I......I.......wanna just hit something. Nothing changes for these two. Reaver was a bigger asshole than ever throughout this book and Killian, was his ever tearful, whimpering, blubbering shadow. The relationship has no substance or strengths and I don't empathize with either character.
I've realized that in this series there are no good or bad sides. Everyone has their own agenda and will do anything to see it fulfilled. There was a point at which I thought Elish had finally learned from his mistakes, but...nope, I guess his taste of humility was a filler to extend the pages of an entertaining story. In this part we witness Elish's underhanded plans backfire when King Silas (the stupidest King in the history of mankind) is made aware of his deceit. You would think torture of not only him but his beloved maritus (or however it's spelt) would curb his cold, manipulative ways but alas that's asking too much. The sadistic acts targeted against him fuels Elish's desire for revenge and I'm thinking Quil Carter will find a way to extend these manipulations in multiple books with multiple volumes in the future because.......fuck if I know.
Another eye roll worthy moment for me was Reno's ability to catch feelings at the slightest provocation. Silas was a bitch to him for most of the series however the two bonded over their grief for Reaver, Sky and Killian. As a result Reno, who's already engaged to Garret Dekker, (a man I thought he'd already loved) convinces himself he's Silas' savior and his one true love.
Then there were parasitic mind controlling worms for the Dekker family to contend with, and Gage (a born immortal who can kill immortals), and unnecessary POV's and long.......fucking loooooonnggggg stretches of unnecessary chapters and I am tired. I am TIRED people.
Maybe one day I'll return to this series because truly it isn't horrible but right now.....I can't deal. Too much is going on and I can't keep up. Sorry.
P.S Is Silas evil or not? What is his purpose? With the return of Sky will this fool finally settle down and be happy?.......Hmm, guess we'll see soon enough....more
I'm going to be honest here, personally I didn't really care for the first half of this story, there were just POV's I could have been spared. I didn't care for Jack, Sanguine or Elish. Those fuckers deserved their fate and in a way I understood why I had to read about the fall of the ever so proud, prideful, manipulative Elish Dekker but the others?.....Not so much, but it is what it is.
As for the last half..........OH MY GOD.
Reaver. Reaver. Reaver. What the fuck? I don't....don't.......the hell am I suppose to write?
For much of this story people Reaver is struggling to return to his version of 'normal'. He's been raped by the most sadistic chimera brother in that fucked up family of his and as such doesn't know how to cope with the violation. For someone as arrogant and violent as this born immortal the ordeal is slowly deteriorating his stability so in a bid to prove he's not losing his shit, he sets about taking unnecessary risks, being abusive towards his partner, actively voicing his dominance (in an already unhealthy relationship), randomly killing....etc. etc. Finally that moment comes where he faces the demons of his past and that......that my friends is when everything goes to shit. Epically.
If you've read Volume 2 you know that Perish made Killian immortal. With this new improvement to his body Killian slowly builds confidence, (much to Reaver's dismay) and for the first time (and long overdue in my opinion) Killian Massey is no longer the victim, the damsel in distress, the whimperi...... - well.......technically he's still a whimpering coward but to a lesser extent and you know what? I FUCKING LOVE IT!! This new and improved character's reduced flaws causes some tension in his relationship with Reaver and ultimately leads to a fallout so fucking huge that all a reader can do is scream.......
In this Volume we also learn new truths about Killian, which I can't really say I'm too shocked over because I always knew his ass was mental. In the next part I guess we'll see how this news affects the rest of Reaver and Killian's relationship (if there even is a relationship anymore). Oh boy......I'm not sure I even wanna know.
This was so fucked up, I can't even believe I finished this. This whole family is a mess and here I am enjoying their despair. It was so........I'm like judging myself right now. What kinda person am I for reading and enjoying this twisted horror of literature?
Gosh Perry you broke my heart - yeah sure you were fucked up for much of the series and in this one you were a little passed fucked up and more batshit insane but it wasn't your fault. Why'd you do it Perr? WHY?!!! **Silas' Voice** (snickers)
Now if you decide to read this series people you're voluntarily signing up for a horrific decent into madness and sadism but hey if that's you're thing this shit will blow your mind. I don't think I'd call the genre a dark romance though, it's more like a pitch black cherry of creepy but alas I digress.
So much to discuss but where to begin..hmm
Basically this book was a creative depiction of crazy. Reaver was skirting the edges of mental meltdown while searching for his beloved Killian. Elish was stoically (yet desperately) trying to restrain all emotion while hunting for Jade. Garret (an overemotional nut case) displayed all manner of crazy in a bid to save Reno and keep him safe. Silas........well is crazy in general therefore whatever actions he displayed in this book comes as no surprise. Perish (also Sky) .....ok that fucker took the cake for insanity and I'll just leave it at that. Jade, the raver (LAUGHING) more like Jade the slayer, crazy is too kind of a word for that one.
Killian...tsk, tsk, tsk you were never my favorite character but boy you were mindfucked so hard here I could feel myself giving you points for endurance. Perry took care of you in the end though and I'm really looking forward to reading whether or not you develop both nut sacks in the final volume.
I'm doing a butch job of this review but whatever. I don't have the mental capacity to be all in depth and witty after reading something like this.
Point is if you want to know what happened, I highly recommend you read it. You won't regret it.
As far as editing goes.......it could have been better. There were some POV's I didn't really believe actually needed to be there but, meh, who am I to judge? I still gobbled it up so that's all that counts.
Future readers the question is not whether this was a good read or not, no my dears, the question you should ask yourself is....how dark are you willing to go?
That is all.
P.S That moment when Reaver thought Killian was dead.......was just.....all those fucking feels.....
As I collect my thoughts and slowly wind down from this lake of depravity, I silently contemplate whether this series was created solely to shock its audience or to bring about nightmares (the verdict remains out on that one). Readers if you can conjure a memory of the darkest book you've ever read I would like for you to take that experience and triple the emotions ten fold then perhaps you may have an idea of how sick the contents of this book really was.
There was blood.....tons of it.
There were maggots.....by the bucket full.
There was rape.......it was almost the norm.
There was cannibalism.....I mean human organs were a processed delicacy people (WTF?)
There was violence.........fuck, Reaver personified the word......
Etc. Etc.
Now that's enough rambling on my part, let's get to the heart of the story.........
Fallocaust - centers around a post apocalyptic era in which mankind are all but extinct and the world all but destroyed.
Aras - is the safe haven for greywasters who are struggling to survive in their desolate reality. Their impoverished lifestyle condemn them to horrific methods of survival and to constant means of protection.
Is a law unto himself. He's a Chimera and doesn't know it, he's dangerous and he will kill you with no remorse. His character is so complex I'm still not entirely sure what his potential is, but meh, this was only book #1, guess I'll learn more in #2 however for now let's just say he's the top badass in a land of badasses.
The biggest pussy who ever lived. This character will burst into tears on the tail end of a stiff breeze.......he's just that pathetic. I liked him but his needy ass was too much, I just....just.....**sigh** what the fuck ever I really don't care to write much about Killian at this point.
Lycos (a.k.a Leo) & Greyson - Reaver's adoptive parents with control issues and anger management problems. In short they're as fucked up as their kid.
The dominant ruler of Skyfall. The immortal asshole who's sociopathic tendencies have the "Chimeras" he created in awe and in fear of him. His antagonistic purpose is to regain custody of Reaver in order to fulfill some twisted fantasy and to ultimately destroy the world Reaver created for himself.
Chimeras - Silas' genetically engineered creations/demigods/humans designed for unique purposes. They are also immortal.
The foundation of this series is solid. The premise is good, the ideas twisted, the depiction unique but alas it's in need of professional editing. It was quite annoying the number of typos, grammatical mishaps, character confusion glaringly obvious throughout each chapter. With some tweaking and gentle reconstruction this story has the potential to be outstanding. I mean really fucking awesome.
As sordid as the nature of this plot was I have to question my level of interest. It begs the question, did I enjoy this because the story was so fucked up? Or was it because I'm so fucked up why I enjoyed it?
Oh who the fuck cares! People my advice to you is...........DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU'RE FAINT OF HEART OR ARE EASILY DISTURBED That doesn't even begin to cover my warning, but you get the general idea. That is all. **whistles and walks away**
Without question this is the best book in the series. No. Doubt. About it. C. S Pacat has shut me up and quietly put me in my place with this one, I eWithout question this is the best book in the series. No. Doubt. About it. C. S Pacat has shut me up and quietly put me in my place with this one, I enjoyed the fuck out of it. Whew! Soooo before I go any further I just wanna say that Damen has to be the most naive character I've come across in a lonnnggg time.
Here are the reasons why:-
He thought Laurent didn't know who he was........
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(Still Laughing) Fuck Damen, even the device I used to read this book knew you weren't a slave. This author made sure to assert the clever cunning and brilliance of Laurent's mind from the beginning and you still thought he didn't know who you were?
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He hadn't discerned Laurent's childhood abuse until the truth rammed through the doors of his slow witted mind.......
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Probably reading about Laurent's reactions to intimacy gave me an advantage but I would think that after it was mentioned several times that the Regent liked little boys and after seeing for yourself how Laurent reacted in an intimate setting, one would make deductions and come up with a logical answer for it. Nope, not my boy Damen (I love him still though).
He thought Guion would be honest when called upon to do so.........
I can't....I just can't deal with Damen. The list goes on but we'll leave it there.
Kings Rising was just what the name entailed. Two men after harrowing circumstances eventually earning their right to their respective thrones. This was the first book in the series where I actually felt the romance, felt a pivotal shift in the relationship between MC's. Laurent expressed so many unguarded emotions it gave me whiplash............
Overall I didn't want it to end. I wanted the Regent to face Damianos (a.k.a Incredible Hulk) in a sword fight whereby he'd be slowly defeated and flayed in a room full of witnesses. I wanted to hear his clever remarks and words of acceptance as Damen's sword made its way through his black, filthy heart. His death was just to simple (in my opinion), he didn't suffer, just a simple beheading and that was it............
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Sigh, oh well it's at last over and now I can return to reading sub par romances with uninspired storylines (fuck me). I recommend this series, I do, whoever decides to give it a shot, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have. The End....more
I was patiently waiting for it to stop being and abstract idea, wrapped up in ambiguous gestures, ultimately meant to be interpreted by readers however they liked. I wanted it to start becoming an active participant in my mind so that I could feel something. **Sighs** Let me just say that this is probably one of the sloowwwwest romances out there. I became aware of that fact early on, as such I stopped waiting for anything to happen between MC's and started paying closer attention to the strategies of war, the demonstration of how to out wit an enemy and that had me interested but didn't have me on the edge of my seat, readily awaiting the next page, hungry for another chapter. I have no interest in chess and the convoluted web of counteractive measures to secure Laurent's post as King had me mentally exhausted. I could have really fucking cared less.
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If I feel this way why the four stars then?
I'll tell you this, that as a reader who goes about reading just for the joy of it you come across many surprises. In Volume I C.S Pacat didn't impress me as an author, I really didn't care for Captive Prince however in Volume II I noticed right away that the writing, if not completely changed, felt different. I followed it more. It's like she hit her stride and by the end of it was flat out sprinting to the finish line. I know the exact point in which my rating moved from a 2 to a 3 to a 4.
When Aimeric did what he did, I was like...........
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When Laurent finally dropped the cool bitch facade I was like.............
You see the thing about slow romances is that when things finally start happening, you feel the impact that much more. I did a double take of that scene to confirm that my eyes did not deceive.........it was awesome.
When Akielos soldiers appeared in the end and the whispered murmurings of 'Damianos' crescendoed in an uproar of....."He lives, The King's son lives. Damianos" I was like.........
And now sadly my journey with these two has come to an end, I'll read the last part eventually but at $13 US for it HA!.......It won't be happening anytime soon, that's for sure. In this instance C.S Pacat can feel charitable and email me a copy of it in exchange for an honest review, I'll read it gladly.
So folks by now I'm sure you've already decided on whether or not you're into the story, for me it was a bumpy ride, for you, probably not so much. I understand now what has drawn so many readers to this tale and whenever I get the chance I look forward to reading the next one. The End.
I wished I could be like everyone else and say that I absolutely loved Grim's story.......(oh how I wish). I wanted to, I was prepared to,
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I wished I could be like everyone else and say that I absolutely loved Grim's story.......(oh how I wish). I wanted to, I was prepared to, hell I was convinced I'd be mentally destroyed days after reading this but.......but......I didn't love it (liked it, sure....but not love). First off Grim is a Savage, (I loved that part of his character) he's a blood thirsty, remorseless fiend who prides himself on being a martyr for those he deems less capable. After having met Misha while on one of Coffin Nails' mission, Grim appoints himself Misha's guardian and sets about earning his affection by being a creep. There were mental images of Grim fucking Misha's stumps, there was intense obsession over the way these stumps looked, there were moments where Grim popped wood while he watched Misha awkwardly maneuver his disabled body and before you know it half the book is dedicated to Grim learning how not to be a weirdo around Misha and unfortunately by that time I'm like.........
I've been prepared to read Grim's story since having read about him in Lucky and Tooth's however I was a bit disappointed. I expected heart stopping action and bloodshed from beginning to end. I wanted Misha to use that USB he stole from Gary as a weapon to exact retribution for all he had lost, Zero would come after him, with his army of sickos and Grim (that walking sex on a stick) would be all that stands between these two opponents.....again **sigh** I guess in a way the story sorta, kinda, unfolded something like how I had imagined but it dragged in some places (in my opinion). My attention wasn't stuck to the pages like it usually is while reading a book from these lovely authors but what can I say *shrugs* shit happens.
After having read this book one thing is still crystal clear......Lucky & Tooth would forever remain my favorite characters in this series (I swear Lucky is my bff HA!). I have no idea where K. A. Merikan gets the inspiration to write about as many dysfunctional characters as they do, but I love them even though at times their oddness takes some getting use too, lol, smh.
Oh before I forget, reading about Grim's horse dick was this story's redemption........I mean really......wow and the sex.......fuck....(my mind is in the gutter)
Overall folks, if you've been following this series don't hesitate to pick this one up. Despite my disappointment the overall plot wasn't horrible and the characters were likable and that's what's important here. The End.
P.S I wished Zero had suffered more.....the bastard died too easily....more
I'm emotionally wrecked.........
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I don't know what to say....**sigh** I knew I held off on reading this for a reason, I knew anything havingI'm emotionally wrecked.........
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I don't know what to say....**sigh** I knew I held off on reading this for a reason, I knew anything having to do with war and violence and Greek history would not end well but I still hoped. Like the ever hopeful and loving Patroclus I wanted the Trojans and Phthians to form a truce along with all other war hungry Kings and villains. I wanted these characters to end on a high note, sing Kumbayah and swear to a peace treaty that would end all wars among themselves. Smh, folly on my part I know but as I said that's what I wanted that's not what I got. I don't know much of Greek history, however I am not completely ignorant. I'm familiar with the Troy saga, with certain historical facts and myths, though 'The lliad' is not one of them, as such I prefer to not rate this author's historical accuracy or mythological certainty. I choose to focus on the main character's relationship, Patroclus and Achilles and in my opinion it was excellently done.
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The myriad of feelings I felt coming off the pages left me feeling exhausted and I applaud the author for her rendition of, what I've now come to understand, is an ancient Greek's tale. Patroclus and Achilles have stolen a peace of my sappy heart and I wished they had a better ending, it may not have been realistic and probably would not have made this book the riveting plot that it is but I'm a sucker for happy living what can I say........GAH!! this was depressing, I just can't stop.....
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I'd completely understand if readers gave this a low rating based solely on how it unfolded, I was tempted to do so myself, but I felt that my attention was too focused, my radar was too high strung and I was too invested in this book to rate it poorly out of spite therefore folks if you're gonna read this just be prepared. That is all....more
"Do you remember Natasha?.....Well coke wasn't the only thing I let her blow"......
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Yes my friends that was my epic and most favored moment."Do you remember Natasha?.....Well coke wasn't the only thing I let her blow"......
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Yes my friends that was my epic and most favored moment. Big up to Ben who could piss with the big boys! (Smoke that Nik) As much as I enjoyed certain aspects of this book rating it was difficult, I was torn between 3.5 - 4.0 stars due to the fact that I enjoyed the last half of the book way more than I did the first. It was just too slow in the beginning. I didn't care for Jono (Squeezy's nephew), I didn't find Ben & Nik's crusade to find the possible clues that led to Jonathon's death particularly riveting and frankly most of that initial setting blurred through my senses, like Nik I was bored by it all. One thing's for certain though, I definitely love Ben & Nik.
"The Other Country" like other installments, is a roller coaster ride for the main characters, there's violence and bloodshed (all of which I enjoy) but what actually made me give this 4 and not 3 stars was the desperate manner in which Nik (the stoic Lord of Lies as I like to call him) was so devastated by Ben's neurological mishap. I felt his hurt, I sympathized with his confusion and I was overwhelmed by what a life without the "old Ben" in it could mean for him. John Wiltshire gets an A+ for character development I'd give him that, these characters are intense and I love them and truly they're the main reasons I continue with this series even if I may not always love the entire plot. So readers I recommend this one, it's as entertaining as only a John Wiltshire book can be. That is all. ...more
This was awesome, I loved my boys!! Domenico definitely is my fictional bf HA!! His badassness always leaves me riveted and Seth is still the naive sweetheart but as this story developed I saw that his character was slowly growing some balls. Mark was, I must say, a brilliant addition to this series, his presence only worked to bring Dom & Seth closer and also brought out a side of Domenico we, as readers, don't usually see. (gosh I loved this book) I feel as though I can go on and on about the epic-ness of Swamp Blood but I'll leave some anonymity for future readers. I highly recommend this one and I'm not just blowing smoke up the authors asses because I got this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review, I genuinely loooooveed book #3 so much so that I dread the long wait for book #4 gosh why can't it be published tomorrow??? ...more
I finished this a few hours ago and had to ponder on the review, first let me just say that this book was insane. The characters were sipping crazy juI finished this a few hours ago and had to ponder on the review, first let me just say that this book was insane. The characters were sipping crazy juice and guzzling testosterone and as usual K.A Merikan had me hooked from the first page, I was addicted to the madness and I guess that made me a lunatic too....HA! Jack reminded me so much of Seth from Guns n' Boys that I got nostalgic and Loki...um what the fuck can one say about his crazy ass? Let's just say he had more than just a screw loose. This wasn't the overly sweet, dump in the thousandth "I love you's" kinda romance, a trademark of the K.A Merikan team that I always appreciate, it was instead a butch roller coaster ride between two men with so many issues I'm surprised a therapist wasn't thrown in the mix just for kicks & giggles. Red Hot was by no stretch of the imagination believable and the book in its entirety wasn't perfect however i could care less, I enjoyed it, I look forward to the next one and only hope that in the others the action, angst and excitement is a little more believable...that is all. ...more
This was a promising start to a popular series, if nothing else I have to give credit for that, however my mind was not blown, I wasn't perched on theThis was a promising start to a popular series, if nothing else I have to give credit for that, however my mind was not blown, I wasn't perched on the edge of my seat nor was I riveted by each page, hoping to get my next fix of unimaginable violence and (as Dex so rightly put it) sweaty man sex. There were parts of this book that just went on and on, so much so that I skimmed pages (I just couldn't be bothered). For a more interesting perspective I would have liked to read other characters' POV's, for instance Ash, Cael, Toby, Calvin & Hobbs (yep, believe it) and even the antagonist Issac Pearce. They all seemed interesting and I really would have appreciated a little insight on their lives, on what they're like, so the plot wouldn't read so one dimensional. Oh well this is the first one so I'm guessing (or rather hoping) that as I continue with the series things may change but for now THIRDS was okay, I didn't hate it so that's a start. Read people if you're into Paranormals, it was good enough to pass the time. ...more
Initially I was bored. I felt as though there were pieces that failed to register, as though I was missing something that everyone else caught but theInitially I was bored. I felt as though there were pieces that failed to register, as though I was missing something that everyone else caught but then I realized, as the story progressed, that's the way it was suppose to be. Nothing seemed right until you go further into the story, until you tag along with Ben to uncover the mysterious facets that make up the enigmatic Nikolas Mikklesen. It messed with your mind (at least my mind) and definitely was a bit of a power trip but I liked it. Dysfunctional relationships usually intrigue me hence the reason Ben and Nikolas' fiasco of a romance did the same. It may take a while before I get a hold of the other books in this series (such a pity) but I look forward to it. That is all.
Yes I recommend this to anyone interested in a unique pair of ex-military men fighting for survival to protect their very uncertain futures. ...more
This was.........ok o_O. I really have no words other than that very simple summation. Edie was beyond annoying. The constant water works, the random This was.........ok o_O. I really have no words other than that very simple summation. Edie was beyond annoying. The constant water works, the random fits of anger, the clingy desperation **sighs** I just.....it was just.....all too disgusting (I was almost offended). Are women that weak? That cloying and emotionally unstable? First she was described as shy and introverted, then with one interaction, one psychic insight, one glance from Kev and all that withdrawn, morbid bullshit disappeared. All of a sudden we have a vixen, eager for dick and okay with the thought of moving in with a man she just met a few hours ago (Ha! I couldn't escape my skepticism there). Kev also an introvert (I think) who the fuck knows, he was brain wrecked for 70% of it all and was for all intents and purposes the knight in white armor. He was the traumatized, battle worn, subdued protagonist who's brilliance shone greater than the sun. He was the multi talented philanthropist capable of deadly force and just like Edie, fell in love at the drop of a hat. (The love was legendary people) **Blink, Blink**
I liked the fact that the McClouds got their lost brother back, although with the luke warm reception it didn't seem as though anyone was really happy about that fact (I expected more.....it was disappointing) I liked the twists and turns, the action and drama (well some of it), it wasn't a total snooze fest and for that I can only be grateful. Fade to Midnight wasn't my favorite however I've read worse therefore I would recommend this one to women into instantaneous love and fanciful expectations, basically to women who needs to get away from reality. That is all. ...more
I have no words. No words to describe my utter disappointment with this follow up of the Special Forces Series. I just hav............................
I have no words. No words to describe my utter disappointment with this follow up of the Special Forces Series. I just have one question for the author, if indeed it was the same person who wrote 'Soldiers.' How high were you when you wrote this book?
This was 80% total and utter madness 10% emotion and heartbreak and 10% devastation and torment. (I could be being generous) Unlike its predecessor which was absolutely riveting, Mercenaries Part I is the polar opposite. This book could have been 250 pages, if it were that then probably it would have made more sense, I am still at a loss as to what exactly the writers were thinking when they compiled this butchering of an initially "romantic" plot.
Where does one even begin to voice the various shortcomings of a book such as this?
The Beginning - The book resumes where Soldiers left off. Vadim's in captivity and all that. Subsequently he's tortured for 2 yrs and is eventually released after the fall of the KGB etc etc. Of course after being tortured, it is to be expected that one would not possess the same faculties nor would he be inclined toward civil interaction for some time. This would be only natural. I understood this, I am sure many readers would understand Vadim's disorientation and mild insanity (after all he was tortured). However Dan did not understand, the Baroness did not understand and so everything went to shit from there. It was awful.
Fast Forward - Eventually Vadim slowly comes to his senses and therefore realizes that he must once again seek out Dan's company because, of course they are in love. By then Dan is fucking everything that moves and has built himself a harem of guys to fuck for leisure, all so he can cope with the pain and anguish of losing Vadim........**Screams Dan you're an asshole**
Dan's reaction to seeing Vadim - "Oh you cunt!" "I hate you Russkie Cunt hole bastard, spawn of Satan!" "Shitface just die Russkie faggot ass, bastard!" "How dare you?!!!!" "I Hate you!!" (not necessarily in his words but the premise is there) At this point I have no fucking clue what the fuck I'm reading.
Vadim on the Army Base - Due to Dan's unpleasant reception Vadim is now ostracized and ridiculed by other mercenaries but alas, at least he's where his beloved Dan also resides. Many nights are filled with Vadim's agonized cries and discontent, some of which are due to being tortured, most of which are due to the fact that he can no longer hold his lover in his arms. Nothing's the same. This back and forth madness between Dan and Vadim lasted for more than half of the book. **Yells what the fuck is this shit?**
Jean - This totally irrelevant character, also a mercenary, was initially Vadim's only ally but due to a bizarre altercation between the two, Jean quickly shifted support and became an addition to Dan's harem of sluts.......(Jean is supposed to be straight). SO Jean, who initially identified as being 'straight', who loves a transgender, who protested fiercely when faced with Vadim's lust, oh so suddenly becomes closely acquainted with Dan and ultimately begins a fuck fest with the man to mutually release tension. (How the fuck could the follow up of Soldiers be this bad?)
Reconciliation - Well into this compilation of absurdity, Vadim and Dan put to rest their differences, profess their undying love and vacation in Thailand for some well deserved R&R. **Snorts** (More like XXX rated S&M). Their bliss was sweet (at some times nauseating but sweet still) and for all intents and purposes it appeared as though this unique couple was on their way to a beautiful beginning.
Back on base - After R&R and what seemed to be a tentative new start for these guys, Dan's disgusting behavior continues. **Insert perplexed face here** Jean and Dan resume their sexual exploits. Vadim is unaware (or maybe he was aware who knows) At that point I just started skimming. The stupidness of it all just gave me pause. There were orgies, there was sex, sex, sex.....Random sex that absolutely made my eyes roll. There was sex with Vadim, Sex with Jean, Sex with Matt, probably sex with Dan and a dildo and Sex with who-the-fuck-ever-else. **Sighs** Mercenaries Part I just dissolved into a distasteful barrage of explicit activities that boggled the mind (at least my mind).
Ending - I have no idea what happened because I lost interest. SUCH a pity. If I had known this would be that bad I would've just stuck with "Soldiers" and remained in blissful ignorance. Vadim and Dan might not have had their happy ending in that one but the message was way more meaningful than this mockery of a former masterpiece. Gosh I'm disappointed (shit and damn). I don't even feel up to recommending this to anyone, ugh, read if you must people it's just a bridge to part II (I don't think I can even read that, smh). That's all from me at this point. ...more
Everything was intense. The violence, the sex, the action, the emotions, it was all so fucking overwhelming!!One word to describe this book - INTENSE!
Everything was intense. The violence, the sex, the action, the emotions, it was all so fucking overwhelming!! Reading this was such a rush of anxiety, adrenaline, passion and grief. (I am not ashamed to say that I shed a tear) I wanna start from the beginning and read this series all over because it was just that good. It was just that ah-ma-ZING!! It was a true work of ART! I will remember Sin and Boyd for a very long time, their story, their fights, their loss, their misunderstandings - gosh it was all so real.
To the authors I say - Bravo! BraVO!!
This worded brilliance needs more exposure because really, from book one to four I was caught up in the maelstrom of lies and deceit, of corruption and violence and of bitterness and anger. It says something when writer's can develop their characters so realistically that just reading a paragraph paints a vivid picture of what their lives are like and how real their struggles are. A lot of heart and soul went into this and it comes out in the pages and I absolutely have mad respect for Santino Hassell & Ais (disregard my previous ranting reviews I took too much Xanax that day) Oh boy this was Epic.
I DIDN'T WANT IT TO END!!
**Sighs** so now I have a headache, it's probably due to hypertension from that crazy ride I put myself through but I don't regret it. I have no words to go on so I'll just end it here. Keep on writing guys you people are ridiculously talented. **HIGH FIVE** To anyone thinking about giving this series a chance don't even question it, just grab a copy and click to the first page, that is all. Boyd & Sin forever!!!
"Have you ever loved but never wanted?" "No, always wanted but never loved." "Lucky Bastard....."
Where the fuck do I begin. **Mind Blown**
There are no w"Have you ever loved but never wanted?" "No, always wanted but never loved." "Lucky Bastard....."
Where the fuck do I begin. **Mind Blown**
There are no words to describe how powerful this novel is. I think to review a book like this is even beyond my realm of expertise but I shall try. Dan and Vadim (those two are fucked in more ways than the literal) met under circumstances that were beyond twisted, beyond mildly tragic, beyond forgivable, yet still despite all that they were able to form a truce of sorts over time- **insert the aww button here** But my very simplistic summary doesn't even begin to do this book justice, there is nothing I can refer to that would give me the right words to form sentences that would express how deeply this masterpiece (because there's no other like it) touched me.
From the first page I was addicted. "Special Forces" is not written in the traditional sense, the words were given such a beautiful, poetic quality that my mind inhaled every letter, word and sentence. In no way was I tempted to skim, skip or browse through pages, (which I normally would due to the length) nope, I realized that every sentence had a purpose, every chapter had a meaning and every event brought the MC's closer. I'm not into writing long reviews but somehow I believe this book deserves it.
Vadim's character is complex, it's not often that I catch all these feelings for the antagonist (because what he did was fucking appalling) but due to the superbly written context and stages of character development I just couldn't help it. The man who started out as the most disgusting of adversaries not only for Dan but for me, blossomed, he experienced humility in the most fitting way, he got fucked up so many times even I cringed, he pleaded for mercy and I pleaded for mercy on his behalf (yeah I did). The way Vadim's life is told, the way it unfolds the way he's oppressed, all of it just gently tugs on the sympathy strings people, ain't no other way to describe it than that.
Dan, **sighs** Danny boy, oh how I admired Dan. Dan is the man you don't cross, he's the man you leave alone to his own devices unless you're intent on getting killed. (And apparently Vadim had a death wish) Dan's character is fierce, an assassin, a soldier and a man of honor. His qualities were lovable. The bond that formed between him and Vadim was just priceless. So yes, what started out as an unlikely, unhealthy and unpleasant connection between two men/enemies/opponents developed into something so rare and precious that after reading this I got all agonized and hyper. **Shakes head**
Ultimately I found this work of brilliance to be captivating. Vadim and Dan's future remans a mystery but despite the ominous nature and my feelings of foreboding I know that things will work out, they just have too for LOVE sake....(God I'm a sap). I encourage anyone looking for a romance outside of the norm, to give this one a shot. That is all. ...more
I have reconsidered my opinion of this series, after considerable doubts upon completing Afterimage I started reading Interludes with a truly disgruntI have reconsidered my opinion of this series, after considerable doubts upon completing Afterimage I started reading Interludes with a truly disgruntled point of view. Honestly at the 15% mark of this book I was ready to DNF without further consideration, however as with my initial perception while reading Eventfall, something insisted that I continue, something forced me to be patient, something pushed me to go forward and I did. I am happy that I did. You see, in all my disgust and discontent with Afterimage, I forgot that in reality relationships are not perfect. Love (at least genuine love) is oft times never the fairy tale delusion many romance novels and authors attempt to assert in their stories. I forgot that most times, if love is meant to last, the struggles that we go through occur to strengthen an already unbreakable bond, therefore after reading Interludes it is with a lighter heart that I say that this series is brilliant.
The authors doesn't feed you what you think should be the outcome of their story but instead reels you into the struggles of imperfect human nature all the while emphasizing the beauty of personal growth and love. Of course as with each installment of this series the ominous back drop is ever present, the new administration is on the horizon, futures are uncertain, Boyd and Sin are forever in the battle to stay together but somehow I believe they'll get their happy ending (they better) and I can't wait to see how exactly this feat will be achieved. This was an excellent third installment and I look forward to reading the next one. ...more
I didn't like it. After coming out of the greatness of Eventfall Volume I & II, Afterimage just emotionally fucks with you. I just finished reading itI didn't like it. After coming out of the greatness of Eventfall Volume I & II, Afterimage just emotionally fucks with you. I just finished reading it and I am pissed off. Sin and Boyd were soooo infuriating in this book that I just wanna grab them and smash their faces in. (GAH!!!!!) I currently have no words to express myself at the moment so I'm gonna go cool off and finish this review later (thanks for the fucking indigestion by the way authors) UGH!!...more
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