Twisted Together

Monsters in the Dark #3

by Pepper Winters

“After battling through hell, I brought my esclave back from the brink of ruin. I sacrificed everything—my heart, my mind, my very desires to bring her back to life. And for a while, I thought it broke me, that I’d never be the same. But slowly the beast is growing bolder, and it’s finally time to show Tess how beautiful the dark can be.”

Q gave everything to bring Tess back. In return, he expects nothing less. Tess may have leashed and tamed him, but he’s still a monster inside.

After surviving the darkness, a new dawn has begun. Twisted Together wades through black to grey, chasing the light of true love to banish the shadows forever.

Pain is a requirement, connection a necessity. But ultimately Q and Tess must face their demons, before they can embrace their future.

Genres: Dark, BDSM, Romance, Erotica, Abuse, Contemporary, Adult

574 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2014

About the author

Pepper Winters is a multiple New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today International Bestseller.

She currently has thirty books released in nine languages. She’s hit best-seller lists (USA Today, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal) thirty-three times. She dabbles in multiple genres, ranging from Dark Romance to Coming of Age.

After chasing her dreams to become a full-time writer, Pepper has earned recognition with awards for best Dark Romance, best BDSM Series, and best Hero. She’s an multiple #1 iBooks bestseller, along with #1 in Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Erotica Thriller. With 20 books currently published, she has hit the bestseller charts twenty-nine times in three years.

Pepper is a Hybrid Author of both Traditional and Self-published work. Her Pure Corruption Series was released by Grand Central, Hachette.

Her books have garnered foreign interest and are currently being translated into numerous languages, including already released titles in Italian, French, Hebrew, German, and Turkish.

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She loves mail of any kind: pepperwinters@gmail.com

You can stalk her here:

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Reviews

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Twisted stars!



I enjoy sweet an sexy reads. I like YA/NA reads. I’ll dabble in almost any genre. But anyone who knows my reading preferences knows that I love a good dark and twisted book with a damaged hero above all else. I love my antiheroes, broken men and messed up story lines. This series has all that. Q and Tess have an epic dark romance. Pepper Winter’s has written an fantastic series that I like to refer to as ‘deliciously dark’. It’s my favorite kind of dark read. It’s got romance, steam, and a twisted and thrilling storyline to go with it.

We’re altered, we’re abnormal, our souls stained with each other’s mark. Our souls are that of monsters born in the dark.


Quincy Mercer has never let himself be vulnerable, never let himself close enough to anyone to fall this hard. But his escalve number 58 has changed everything for him. Q’s girl isn’t herself. She’s not the vibrant and spirited woman she once was. She’s changed. What she’s endured left deep scars.

Tess has been through so much. More than any one person should. She’s doing the best she can, but she’s not herself. Her nightmares and flashbacks consume her. It’s affecting every part of her life.

The stress of the past few months decorated both our faces, and I feared we’d never go back to who we were.

Q doesn’t know what to do to bring her back. All he knows is he can’t do nothing. He’s got to try.



Just as Q and Tess start to overcome some obstacles, something shocking comes to play. I was on the edge of my seat... anxious and waiting to see what was going to happen. I think I bit every one of my nails off reading this story. I don’t want to go into any detail at all about the last half of the book. You need to read it for yourself. I will say it’s intense. If you thought book 2 was dark and thrilling, Ms. Winters stepped up her game.

I’ve always loved Q. From the first time I met him in Tears of Tess, I adored him. He’s not perfect. He struggles with who he is and his wants and desires, but he is an amazing man. He proves himself over and over again. Some of the things he went through... I can’t even talk about it. Don’t want to think about it. Just know that I love him even more than I did before, and thats saying something. He may not be the ‘perfect’ man, but he is perfect for Tess.

“I’m not perfect, esclave. You’re mistaking me for someone else.”


“You’re perfect for me.”

Tess is a stand up heroine. She sees the good in Q and accepts him for who he is. They are truly a perfect match. Both of them have been through so much, they deserve happiness and peace.

Getting dual pov in a book like this is so important. I am so glad we get both Tess and Q’s perspectives. I’m going to be honest with you all. This book is long. I was a little put off by that to begin with. It did start a little slow for me. But when it picked up... damn. My heart was racing and I couldn’t stop reading. The last half flew by. The intensity of the last half and the beauty in the ending more than made up for the slow start. I feel that this series ended in a perfect place for both of these characters I’ve grown to know and love.

Intertwined, tangled, knotted forever, our souls will always be

Twisted together, our demons, our monsters belong to the other,

Bow to me, I bow to thee, now we are free.

If you’re looking for something on the dark side with a damaged hero, strong heroine, erotic and thrilling sex scenes, suspense and raw emotion, I would give this series a try. Just a warning- books 2 and 3 especially aren’t for the faint of heart. Pepper’s writing enthralls me and her characters are close to my heart. This is a series that is unforgettable and one I would highly recommend.

You are the one for me, my monster in the dark. You are the perfect mate for me, wicked and unmarked. Together we cannot be denied, our undeniable spark. Together we will find our perfect evolving never ending arc.

[Lady Vigilante (Feifei) · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 stars!!!



Breathtakingly A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!! One of my most highly anticipated books of the year, Twisted Together truly delivered a beautiful conclusion to Tess and Q’s epic love story. This is dark romance at its finest!

FYI, this book is not a standalone. You must read Tears of Tess and Quintessentially Q before starting this third book.

To say I was wary of this book would be an understatement. After reading book 2 I was in a position where I felt content in letting these characters go and though I will never turn down more Q and Tess, I couldn’t help but wonder: what if this third book is unnecessary? Or worse, what if it completely ruins the first two books? But after finishing Twisted Together, I have to stress that I cannot imagine this series without it – in fact, this book delivers such an essential final piece to Q and Tess’s story that I feel guilty for ever doubting Pepper’s writing abilities.



This book picks up right where book 2 ended – Tess and Q are together and both are joyously preparing for their upcoming wedding – or so it seems. And here I thought Tess was emotionally healed but boy was I wrong. Perhaps it’s because I never went through what Tess did, but while I was reading this book I fully realized that an experience as traumatizing and painful as Tess’s kidnapping isn’t something that can be just swept under the rug and shooed away with Q’s kisses. Thus, I really appreciated the depth to which Pepper portrayed Q and Tess’s struggle and obvious agony and torment they went through to emotionally heal Tess. The one thing that brought Q and Tess together in the past is the very thing that is tearing them apart now, and it shocked me to my core when I realized that Tess, once a lively, passionate woman who loves with a ferocity, abhors pain. The one thing I never forgot is that with such a dark, twisted, and explosive relationship, love is sometimes not enough to sustain Q and Tess. Pain was their bridge and to inflict pain and accept pain is probably the equivalent of me saying “I love you” to my significant other.



So for Tess to lose that need for pain truly devastated Q and it sure made me agitated when I read it. Nevertheless, I love that Q never gave up on her, I love that gradually Tess started to resist her nightmares, and I love that together, they were able to fight back her demons and replace her bad memories with new ones. Just when I thought the book was going to wrap up, BAM! Something I never would’ve expected happened and it changed this story. This plot twist is what made this book a 6 star read for me. Tess and Q demonstrate just how much they are willing to sacrifice for one another. Just calling them strong isn’t a powerful adjective for them. All I’m going to say is, the second half of the book made me believe that this couple – and their love – is an invincible force.

After I finished this book, I was left pensive and thoughtful for a few days. It also led me to ask myself a question I’ve been asking ever since I picked up my first dark read: just what is so appealing about dark romance? Before reading this book I would’ve shrugged and said a combination of whips, chains, and pain is hot, but now? Well, people say that love comes in all kinds of forms and I suppose for me, dark romance is the twisted, somewhat sick but 100% heartfelt form of love. Real life and society are sometimes cruel and it’s unfortunate that those caught up in the aftermath of their ordeals are left with permanent scars. To me, dark romance stories (and specifically this series) show that these people, the damaged, the shunned, the outcasts, and the monsters, deserve their happily-ever-afters. These books, albeit grotesque and sometimes horrifying to read, are the stories that leave memorable and lasting impressions on me.



This series is the perfect example of what I consider to be top-notch epic dark romance books – Pepper Winters is an author who truly excels in this genre and always goes above and beyond of what I expect from her and her fantastic stories. I’m sure I speak for many when I say that I can’t wait to see what she has next up her sleeve.

ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.

[Aldy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible... estuve MESES dandole una nueva oportunidad y hoy decidí terminarlo. Es un somnífero, en el intento de ser un libro oscuro termina dando mil vueltas sobre el mismo problema del pasado que tuvo Q y no logra progresar. Realmente, a pesar de que él "enfrentó" a sus demonios al final de la historia, no logré sentir que avanzasen en su relación, que madurase, que tuviese algo nuevo que aportar.


“I’m not marrying you for the pleasure of calling you my wife, esclave. I’m not marrying you because it’s the evolution of a relationship. I’m marrying you so I have claim on you forever. Your soul will be mine for eternity. In sickness and in health, in life and death you will belong to me. And I will belong to you.”
Q brought me closer, whispering his passion into my mouth. “Don’t think this is a contract between two people in love. Don’t think this legal document is something flimsy and unpowerful. By marrying me you’re taking all of me. Everything I am. All that I will be. You’re accepting my lightness, my darkness, my fucking eternal spirit. By signing your name to mine you are no longer Tess Snow.”
“What am I?” I murmured, accepting his feather-soft kiss.
“You’re Tess Mercer. Now and for always. Forever and ever. It’s done.”

[Yeasmin Alo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"To me you’re more than a knight in some stupid shiny armour. You’re the monster who no one can tame but the woman he loves.”

First things first this was the exact moment when, Esclave, you became one of my favourite heroines

“My name is Tess Mercer.
I’m no longer weak or afraid or broken. I’ve taken control of my fate. I no longer need a tower or dark angels or help. I am fear. And I take your soul in penance for everything that was done to me. I take it for the women you’ve raped. I take it for the women you’ve sold. I take it for my master,
soul-mate, and husband. I take you for me.”

I swear it felt like someone rubbed some ice on my burning soul when she shoot for the first time there 🖤


Did I mention I would have lost it if I already Didn't know there is book number 3.5 with a HEA?? Man!!!! My Heart literally stopped 🙃🙃🙃 I almost scratched my hands.......
And why is that I can't say because then it would be a major spoiler


Not gonna elaborate
Three books later my sorry a$$ is realising something
Finally when I was screaming eternally while reading this book
I became so numb that I couldn’t even shed tears
That's when I realised it

I was denying it before
But not anymore

I love Q 🖤


I LOVE MERCER WITH ALL MY HEART AND BEYOND ALL THE LOGISTICS

He is my first book boyfriend from this Great Genre of Dark Romance

He is my Favourite Dark Fairytale 🖤

And that's how I see him as my Adam and I wanna be his Belle 🦋🦋




Let the journey begin.......

"I’m Tess Snow.
And I would survive or die. I was done just existing."

"Dominator and dominated. It linked us more than anything.
It also made me realise I would do absolutely anything for this beautiful woman until the day I died"

"Bind our twisted perversions, love me dark, leave your mark. love my faults and imperfections.
My night and day, my moon and sun, your light turns my black to glittering grey"

"All I knew was what I wanted. And I wanted her. I let go. I went to her. I obeyed my esclave."

“Sometimes, the only way to make your dreams come true is to shatter them,” he said, circling me like a predator. “Sometimes, the only way to make your nightmares disappear is by facing them.”

He smiled. “Kiss me again. I need to know this is real.”

"Are you okay?”

“Turn around, let me hug you. Ensuite, j’irai bien.” Then I will be.

"Tess was my complete circle.
She was my home.
My refuge.
My best friend and partner.
We’d found each other not just for this lifetime but forever."

Finally, the great adventure of searching my Dark Prince is over 🖤🖤

Quincy Mercer till death do us apart 🖤

Je suis à toi

[Aleatha Romig · Rating 5 out of 5]

The words of this author are astounding...the perfect blend of good and bad...pleasure and pain! She has taken me down dark roads that I didn't want to go...but couldn't stop.
I absolutely LOVE Pepper Winter's writing! This series is one of the VERY best DARK series out to date!! While reading Twisted Together I have giggled, blushed, been so stressed I could hardly read fast enough. I have even shed a tear- or two. I refuse to say anything that could be taken as a spoiler.
THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for Tess and Q's story. The writing amazes me and transports me to the private world of these troubled twisted souls...
IF you haven't stared this journey ...with Tears of Tess, Quintessentially Q, and now Twisted Together...do not hesitate...go...buy...be forever changed!!!

[Nadine ShelfLove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazon US- http://amzn.to/1goabYh

6 Agonizing Breathtaking Beautiful Twisted Stars

He tasted of darkness and sin, making me want to follow him to the ends of the earth.

How do you write a review for a book that has blown your expectations; that has brought out all your worst and best emotions?
It’s almost impossible to sum up how much I loved this book and its characters. This final book was everything I wished it’d be and more. With Twisted Together Pepper wrote a well-deserved ending for two characters that went through hell, back and forth, suffered so much grief, pain, and loss that every normal person would have died of, but never forgetting that their love conquers it all. This is by far the best dark romance/erotic series I’ve read and I can honestly say, after having experienced reading such brilliantness, my expectations for any dark romance books now are very high.
It’s difficult to compose a review for a final book in a series without giving away too much, as well as to write it interesting enough so fellow book lovers are interested in picking this series up; thus, I try my best to give as little away as possible but also to make you curious beyond repair.

… we’re altered, we’re abnormal, our souls stained with each other’s mark.
Our souls are that of monsters born in the dark.

Q and Tess are each other’s lifeline and their bond grew stronger and stronger the farther I’ve read. Not only this, but both characters personality grew in this final installment – no comparison to book 1 and 2; they were more complex, more real…just more of everything. I fell even deeper in love with Q. While one experiment the helplessness and couldn’t quite figure out what to do with this emotion, the other welcomed the power of strength facing and fighting off demons; but both realized it was necessary to welcome every foreign emotion in order to fully embrace their undeniable and twisted love.

For the first time in my life I’m vulnerable, all because I fell in love. ~ Q
I knew I would do anything, absolutely anything, for this man. He was the reason I was alive. The only reason I wanted to stay alive. ~Tess

Reading the book in dual pov made me squeal out loud. I saw a side of Q that I didn’t know I was missing in the previous books. He was passionate, dominant, vulnerable, strong, brutal but also very soft. I lost count how many times I swooned and envied Tess for having such a special love. Sure, Q’s monster is still coming to the surface throughout the book (and I’d have missed it if not), but also that got tamed in a very special way. His pov also made me laugh and this side of him was pure bliss to read; he seemed so normal. Trying his hardest for the woman he loved and adored. Ok let me define normal: Normal in his and her twisted way ;)

…it was time we started trusting and pulled the ends of our connection tight, stitching ourselves together forever.

Tess is by far one of very few characters that went through a shit load! I mean really, in book two I almost suffered from a heart attack because her pain caused me pain and trust me, this woman went through A LOT of suffering so prepare yourself. Despite that, she was so strong and I admired her. She tried her hardest for the man she loved and would do anything. Her love had no limits. But her demons sucked her in every night and it was hard to find the woman she ones was. And she proved us that her love goes beyond anything… I was so proud of her.

Do you have any concept of how much I fucking miss the woman I fell in love with?

Yeah it wasn’t easy but Q made it…. he brought her back, using the only way he knew how: “Welcome to my kingdom. I’m going to make you scream.”

Well, don’t think it was that easy or unicorns were hopping around; nope, it was a tough way and when he finally cracked her their lives couldn’t have become a bigger mess. Short lived was the joy to have the woman back he so badly missed. Too short was the happiness Tess felt to be the woman again, Q deserves.

When hope seems lost, it’s the thought of what they have that keeps them alive and going.

She was my home.
I’ll trade my life for hers.

Because hope is all Q has left when his monsters come and take him away…to a very very dark place.

The agony faded, inch by inch, ache by ache, until I felt nothing. Nothing but weightlessness…nothingness. Sounds faded. … Life tiptoed away from me, taking with it any promise of happiness I might’ve found by marrying my soul-mate.

Are you ready for a story that makes your heart bleed, your pulse beat, and heart swell with love and joy? If, then go ahead and read it. It is my favorite book in the series and I couldn’t be happier how it ended. Peppers guides you through darkness; so dark it’ll make you wince in pain and mess with your mind just to slowly but surely lead you to the light on the end of the tunnel. You’ll experience so many emotions that you might need a break but you can’t stop reading because your heart feels like as if it’s hanging on a single thread, ready to smash down, if you dare stop reading.

I hope you could see that this is hands down my very favorite series ever!!
Enjoy Q & Tess <3

[Eda** · Rating 5 out of 5]

** 4,5-5 "We'll finally find peace in the dark" STARS **

"You're my wings. You made me fly."
~ TESS

"You stole my loneliness. I may have given you wings, but you've become my gravity. I'll never be free of your force."
~ Q

I dreaded the moment I'd be sitting down to write this review. It's been 3 weeks since I've finished the book, in the middle of the night, with tears in my eyes and a strange ache in my heart. Why I waited this long for the review you ask? I didn't want to say goodbye to these characters with whom I've bonded so tightly, I guess. But now it's time, so there it goes:



The towers that Tess has built inside her head has shattered and collapsed after Q's sacrifice, but it’s not enough. Her scars are too deep. She is now too broken. She is still not Esclave #58, the one feisty slave that still had fight left inside her when she first came to Q's doorstep. But the eternal love she feels for her maître forces her to fight the evil inside her. She is willing to do anything to fly free again. For Q. For her master.

The stitching in my heart tore wide, spilling my chest with love so deep and eternal, I knew I would do anything, for this man.

Q has already branded Tess and he knows in his heart that Tess truly belongs to him now: Body and soul. But what about her mind? With the demons from the past still roaming freely inside her head, can she really give all that she is to Q and marry him?



Before Q can make her Mrs Mercer, he needs to fight with those demons once more and try to bring back the woman he fell in love with , to reawaken her spirit and set her free of the chains still tightly keeping her tied to the horrors of the past. Q is desperate and, as expected, our beloved sadictic master’s methods are quite unconventional to say the very least...



The first half of the story is very slow and heavy, and to be honest, it was hard for me to get through it. But for the sake of Q and Tess, I kept reading. Thank God for that! It was the right decision, because at the second half of the book, the story gets paced and BLOWS YOUR MIND!

"My name is Tess Mercer. I'm no longer weak or afraid or broken. I've taken control of my fate. I no longer need a tower or dark angels or help. I am fear. And I take your soul in penance for everything that was done to me. I take it for the women you've raped and sold. I take it for my master, soul-mate and husband. I take you for me."

Like the love I deeply felt for Q wasn't enough, now it has expanded even more with this book. That man is just pure perfection… I can’t believe the things he sacrificed for his eternal love and the decisions he made to stay loyal to and worthy of Tess. My hands still shake when I think about the things he has endured in this book. It breaks my heart that he still thinks so lowly about himself, that he doesn't see the light that Tess and all of us see in him.

"To me, you're more than a knight in some stupid shiny armor. You're the monster who no one can tame but the woman he loves."
~ TESS

"I've already married you in my heart, Tess. The moment I set eyes on you, you were mine forever."
~ Q

I also love the new Tess. She finally stood up for herself and fought for her love, for her maître. She finally accepted that she is a monster in the dark, just like Q, and willingly stepped into the dark. She proved that she could both love and fight as fiercely as Q.

"I'm his. I married the night and became his monster. And you should fear me."

I am so goddamn happy about the ending! OMG I was ugly-crying and wiping my snot all the while reading the most perfect ending that could have ever been written for Tess and Q. Just brilliant!

Pepper Winters...



This book has everything: Moments that will make you cringe and close your eyes in fear, moments that will make you want to throw up and get rid of the foreign feeling of loss and despair that grows inside of you and moments that will make you grin like an idiot, moments that will melt your heart and build it again in the shape of a sparrow…



I would recommend this series to everyone ! Readers that love ‘em some darkness will obviously fall in love with it, but even if you are a softer reader, give this series a chance. It might change you forever.



P.S: I demand a book for Franco and Suzette! THIS IS A MUST!

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 TWISTED STARS

"You are my savior. My salvation. My Together. My absolution. My treasure. The crown to my thrown. YOU ARE MY HOME. "

OMG What a twisted journey! This was so intense, raw, dark and twisted! I really loved it! I can't believe that these series has come to an end... I'm not sure I'm ready to say goodbye to these characters. I will really missed Tess and Q... especially after what happened in the last two books! I really loved watching their characters develop and grow!



This book takes place were the previous book left us! Tess is rescued by Q, but she really struggles with fear for pain and with terrible nightmares... but Q has to rescue her from the demons she has inside. It is the only way for them to have their future...
But can they manage to be happy and free for their demons?
Can they finally have a happy ending?
There is so much going on and happening in this final book. At some point I was nervous and shocked. I really couldn't put it down! I loved Pepper's writing in this book! Her writing is so poetic! I will definitely read more books of hers! I saw that some of my friends find the beginning slow,but for me,I think it need it...because after 50% shit got real!
I loved Tess and Q! Together they embraced the dark and light in their lives to find true happiness! I liked Tess, she is a strong character. I liked her determination to live! And Q mmm he is dark but you can't stop loving him..especially after this book!! You can feel how much he loves her and the passion he has for her! But the thing that I liked more is that in this book his character has opened up and made him more appealing.

Thank you so much Pepper for writing this amazing series!

ARC provided by author in exchange of honest review

[~ Becs ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Click HERE to enter to win a signed copy of Twisted Together at Sinfully Sexy.

Intertwined, tangled, knotted forever, our souls will always be twisted together, our demons, our monsters belong to the other.

I think Twisted Together has been probably my mostly hotly anticipated book of 2014. Tears of Tess and Quintessentially Q were undoubtedly amongst my top reads of 2013 and Pepper Winters really has put this unconventional couple through so much. They’ve had so much to endure, been so broken that Twisted Together was going to need to be really special to give this story, their journey together, the closure it so badly needed and it absolutely delivers. This book is HUGE but it needed to be – there’s so much to work through, so much to come to terms with that it needed to be this long to fit it all in.

So, Twisted Together is another intense, emotional journey fraught with danger and suspense, the kind of story we’ve very much come to expect from Pepper Tess is now so broken – Q’s esclave fifty-eight, the feisty girl with the seemingly unbreakable spirit is now truly broken. Q has done what he can to bring her back from the emotional hell she was trapped in but it’s not enough. He wants to marry her but, before he can make her Mrs Mercer and embark on their honeymoon, he needs to take her on a crescent moon, to reawaken her spirit to finally allow her to move past the horrors of the past few weeks and the unrelenting guilt that is now consuming her.

This story dripped with emotional agony as Tess struggled to find her former self, the girl who loved to endure her Master’s pain – she’s prepared to put up with anything for her Maître and this willingness to do what he wants despite her inner turmoil is breaking Q’s heart. He’ll do just about anything to bring back the feisty slave he fell in love with and, of course, Q’s methods are unconventional to say the very least.

Poor Tess – the depths of her despair really did make my heart hurt so badly. Her once indomitable spirit is now broken as her sleep is haunted by all-consuming night terrors as she is force to relive her ordeal over and over again on a nightly basis. Her screams are breaking Q’s heart as he can do nothing to rouse her until the dreams reach their ultimate, terrible conclusion. Their collective pain is palpable, the sense of loss that they share despite being together is tearing them apart but Q will do anything to bring her back and you can trust this sadist maître to use extremely unconventional methods.

Q went to great lengths, tore the world apart and savagely killed anyone who stood in his way to get Tess back from her second kidnapping in the previous book and deeds such as these do not come without repercussions and there will be consequences. There are dark days in store for this troubled couple and there is still much to endure so hold on to your hats as you’re about to be taken on another hair-raising and heart-stopping ride the like of which only Pepper Winters can deliver.

There were moments when I was reading this when the world just slipped away and all that I could hear was my own frantic heartbeat as I almost didn’t dare to turn the page, afraid of what was to come next. Afraid that Pepper wouldn’t allow these two to finally get their happy ending. It’s harrowing and suspenseful and I absolutely devoured this book as their story consumed me. Real life faded into the background and all that existed was Q and Tess, Monsters in the Dark and those that sought to tear them asunder forever.

Pepper delivers another powerfully dark romance, chilling in it’s execution with richly drawn characters which I have really come to love and hold dear over the course of the three books. Q and Tess mean so much to me that their ordeal is hard yet compelling to read. Twisted Together is full of horror and darkness and yet there are moments of genuine humour despite everything that is happening to them, Tess and Q remain quintessentially themselves - Q is still a darkly tortured sadist maître and Tess is still his feisty esclave no 58 and you can expect some scorching hot scenes between these two as they rediscover their love of pain together.


The book has everything – moments that will steal your breath away and moments that will make you smile BIG. It’s dark, it’s suspenseful and it’s HOT AS HELL. Just what we’ve come to expect from Pepper Winters.

5 breath-taking stars

[Hulya Kara Yuksel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want more, I need more... :) A lot of bad shit happened but finally Q and Tess found happiness in the dark. I'm so happy for them. :) And I have to say "Monsters in the Dark" series gave me the best days of my life... I loved this story so much.

And Quincy, I love you. My monster in the Dark. I'll never forget you. :)

WARNING: Some parts of the book was really, really disturbing and not easy to read it. If you're under age 18, pls think twice and then read it. :)

--------------------------------

“Je suis à toi. Je suis ton monstre dans le noir pour toujours."



--------------------------------

QUOTES from the book. All of them are my favorites. And If you haven't read the book yet, I wouldn't recommend to you read them. ;)

“I'll be ready when you are, esclave. A life for a life. A tale for a tale.”

“Running my hands up my waist, cupping my breasts, I taunted, “I’m not hungry for food, maître. Who needs dinner when I can suck on you?”

“You're unpredictable and dangerous and protect those you love fiercely. You should be proud. To me you're more than a knight in some stupid shiny armour. You're the monster who no one can tame but the woman he loves. - Tess Snow”

“Sometimes, the only way to make your dreams come true is to shatter them.”

“I’m his. I’m Tess. I’m his esclave.”

"Je suis à toi. Je suis ton monstre dans le noir pour toujours."

“I’m not marrying you for the pleasure of calling you my wife, esclave. I’m not marrying you because it’s the evolution of a relationship. I’m marrying you so I have claim on you forever. Your soul will be mine for eternity. In sickness and in health, in life and in death, you will belong to me. And I will belong to you.” Quincy

“My name is Tess Mercer. I’m no longer weak or afraid or broken. I’ve taken control of my fate. I no longer need a tower or dark angels or help. I am fear. And I take your soul in penance for everything that was done to me. I take it for the women you’ve raped. I take it for the women you’ve sold. I take it for my master, soul-mate, and husband. I take you for me.” Tess

[Raj · Rating 5 out of 5]

reread:6/16/17


5 'Forever & Ever' Stars



I thought that the whole entire book will be about Tess being broken and all that but it wasn't (thank god), it was better than that, I Loved it. The second book was my favorite but this one is my second favorite. It was just...amazing.



I fell in love with Q even more. He was so dreamy,hot,sexy,hot,dark,and my monster in the dark.



Short review? Yes but words can't really explain this book AMAZING!

“Forgive me. Forgive my sins and I’ll split open my soul and let you in.”



You'r my everything

[* Meli Mel * · Rating 4 out of 5]

♥♥♥ 4.5 'Forever' Stars ♥♥♥

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

I'll make it happen
I would find a way. I would fix her. I would fix myself.

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

Holy moly...this story...it was just intense and really amazing. Not so much the events that took place, obviously, but the writing was really great. Loved it!





This book picks up where Quintessentially Q ended. I'm going to be honest, the beginning was slow and was hard for me to get into. I just felt like we had just gone through everything that happened in the first quarter, or so, in the last book. But, that quickly changed as soon as some of the dark stuff started happening. I cringed at a lot at all that occurred and got frustrated. It was all just so messed up. But this is what this story is known for. It wasn't all that way, there were some sweet heart melting moments at seeing them plan their future together.

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

'I thought I loved her before. But that was before I had any fucking idea what love really was. It was nothing, nothing, compared to what I felt now. I was possessed by her. Totally consumed.

She was my home. Plain and simple--the biggest investment of my life.'

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

I am still in a bit of awe of Q. I just couldn't believe the lengths he would go for his love of Tess. But that is what made me love him, his unconditional, soul deep love for Tess. We get too see how this love makes him vulnerable. It still melts my heart that he doesn't see all the good that is in him and that he isn't complete darkness. The things he had to do to help heal Tess...I just had no words. The whole thing was crazy. He really did everything in his power to protect Tess from any future harm. I didn't think it could be possible, but I fell more in love with him. He was perfect for Tess.



I was so impressed by how much Tess has transformed since the first book. Both characters are complex and have evolved, for sure, but I think Tess has the most. She has been in the darkness and has endured it all. She survived. I was blown away by her in this one. She willingly goes into the dark and faces her demons. She is so strong and loves just as fiercely as Q does. She also would do absolutely anything to protect Q. I just loved her in this book. She has become a new Tess that won't let anything get her or those she loves.

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

"I'm yours. I'm your monster in the dark forever."

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

This whole story was slowly building up to that last half of the book. It was so intense, I could not stop reading. It was dark, gruesome, and twisted. Even though you probably had to fight me to put this book down, there were parts I felt I needed to read it through my fingers covering my eyes because it was so disturbing. But, like I mentioned before, this is what makes this story. This is what is so interesting about it. This is also what makes this book not for everyone. The suspense was killing me and I enjoyed every moment of it.




The ending was the best!! I was so blissfully happy for them. They're journey was a long and brutal one. I loved that Franco and Tess became closer and how he played a bigger role in the story. I was so happy that their happily ever after had finally arrived. After all that went down since book one, they freaking deserved to have some happiness. These two were made for each other. They saw in one another what they didn't see in themselves. Such a perfect couple. I was glad she didn't overdo the cheese sauce in the ending. It was done in a way that just them. But now, I totally need a Franco and Suzette book! It just needs to happen!

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

'Tess was my complete circle. She was my home. My refuge. My best friend and partner. We'd found each other not just for this lifetime but forever.'

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

Overall, loved the book. I feel that in total, the last half of the book overshadowed the slowness of the first quarter. The writing was superb. It really had me captivated. A great ending to the series. I would definitely recommend this one to all those readers who enjoy dark reads like this.



*WARNING* Contains extreme violence, blood play, and rape.

[Katy Loves Romance ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

JOINT REVIEW by Katy and Daisy

RATING CLAFICATION 4.5**** Healing stars-Katy 4*** stars off Daisy

KT-This is been one of the most Raw and Intense stories I have EVER read, we have both adored Q and Tess's journey and I have felt completely mesmerised by their journey and as a series as a whole I would explain it as EPIC, but also it has a true depth and a real life lesson hidden in it. This really has brought to light how human trafficking does still exist and for that alone brought on so many emotions for that I applaud Pepper right Girl?



DAISY- I'm marrying you so I have claim on you forever. Your soul will be mine for eternity

Twisted Together is a wonderful epilogue for Q and Tess. This series is definitely in my favourite series list!!!! Their love story which was twisted and dark ended in a captivating way. You will only fall in love with Q more and more.

SO WHAT'S IT ABOUT
KT-As a start this was a much slower beginning for book 2, After Quinsentually Q a lot happened for Tess to need time to heal, Q does everything in his power to help Tess see the light again, what does he do? Their relationship is unconventional and in that I'd say he does what he needs to for his woman to breathe, to feel, to want pain again. I won't explain any more than that, but here in the this part of the story it is a very much of a therapeutic feel, healing, taking Q's time, and Q's love for Tess is something here that I will say is above all is BEAUTIFUL.



KT-Although this needs to happen, We did struggle at times to get past this part, I'm only saying this as IT IS WORTH the wait once you get past the first half, I very much felt like it was a slower and tranquil read.

DAISY- There were moments in this book where I felt it was little draggy and slow but it was worth the read. Q is Q!!

....I'd struggled the entire four hour journey with a massive hard-on LOL Aint' he darling....

Ain't he just?



As the story goes on, Tess becomes herself again she becomes stronger, Braver and ultimately the woman Q needs by his side.


Right Daisy?

There were moments where I wanted to kick Tess but I guess she kinda redeemed herself for Q!


They become Forever's for each other, but Q had to protect Tess in Quissentually Q and to do that he now has people on the hunt, secrets to uncover and this time Tess has to fight for her man. She becomes the strength, she becomes the one Q needs..... She is Tess and she is Q's Esclave

Two options: Live or die. Survive or give-up

Our Thoughts
I will forever have Q and Tess in my thoughts, this to me was a brilliant Final book to end this PHENOMENAL series, there relationship is not conventional, its raw (the Sex was always primal), and its at times Intense. It provoked many emotions I was at the edge of my seat with Worry for Tess, with Q but I will say in Twisted Together what spoke loud and clear was Q's love for Tess and his devotion for his Eclave' He never went out intentionally to fall in love with a slave he wanted to save but in that he ended up saving himself, he saved his soul and Tess helped him to deal with his own Demons and his Monster in the Dark.

"You accept me for me. Darkness and all. Sin and everything. You are my equal. My teacher. I am your disciple. I am your owner. I couldn't be more in love with you if I had two hearts instead of one. My life is yours. My soul is yours. I vow to always comfort you. Always protect you. I will cry with you. I will laugh with you. I will hold you every night of our lives.

DAISY- So, why wait!!!! PICK THIS SERIES UP!!!!

SO TO SUM UP

Will we read this again? -Yes in the future sometime

Will we recommend this?--Yes absolutely 100%

Will we read anything Pepper writes in the future? Yes definitely.

Happy reading Kt and D xo




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[Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read** · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4.5 Stars***

I did it! I finally put on my big girl panties and rode out the dark, intense and passionate story of Tess and Q. Holy fucking satisfying!

Tess and I were formed in the dark. The dark had molded us, changed us, almost broken us, but in its black embrace we would find healing and peace.

Tess and Q have already been through so much, but the dark wasn't done with them yet. The time has come to face the monster, rip open every scar and fight for the love they've already bled for.

"Life taught me an eternal love will demand the worst sacrifices. A transcendent love will split your soul, cleaving you into pieces. A love this strong doesn't grant you sweetness - it grants you pain. And in that pain is the greatest pleasure of all."

There are already so many reviews out there for this book and series that I don't know what more I could add. I don't have words adequate enough to describe the dark, twisted, soul-melding love that comes through each one of the books in this series, but especially this one.

There's not much I can say here without spoiling anything. Tess and Q are still dealing with the aftereffects of Tess' kidnapping. Danger is lurking...not only in the physical form of men out to find Q, but also in the recesses of Tess's mind. While she may have one monster sleeping in the bed next to her, some monsters come from within.....they wait for you to close your eyes before they strike.

While Tess and Q are figuring out how to heal from their past, the present is gearing up for vengeance....ready to rip away any shred of a future they may have.

Since I'm not going to give any more than that, I'll just try and put into words my overall thoughts on this series.

This series is dark, twisted and intense, but it's also filled with so much love, hope and passion that at times you're left breathless.

Is it difficult to read at times? Yes. It's honest and gritty and dirty and it'll make you question humanity. Is it beautiful? Yes. It'll show you what it means to survive, give you a look at brutal healing, open your eyes to selfless sacrifice and open your heart to complete and utter unconditional love and acceptance.

I'd never been able to SEE love. I knew what it felt like, how it hurt as well as healed, but until that moment, I didn't know what physical form it took. Now, I did. It was a swirling world inside me, interlocked with the swirling world inside Q. Our two dimensions superseded our bodies and existed not in us but BETWEEN us.

It was knowledge.

The knowledge I'd be there for him, and he'd be there for me.

I thought I loved her before. But that was before I had any fucking idea what love really was. It was nothing, NOTHING, compared to what I felt now. I was possessed by her. Totally consumed.

Tess is a heroine I won't soon forget. Her strength astounded me throughout this series. She was never a victim...she may have had her moments of weakness, but she was never truly weak. She was vulnerable yet powerful, subdued yet strong, fearful yet determined...she was overwhelmed by her love for Q, but she was also emboldened and empowered by it.

"I love you, Q. You truly are my master. Not because of the power you have over me, but because of the power you give me."

And Q....what can I saw about him. He is the ultimate antihero. His demons are dark and buried deep. His monster is a part of him...a living breathing beast residing in the depths of his soul. It sits and seethes...waiting to devour its prey. And Q has found the perfect counterpart in Tess. She calls out to his monster, taunts him with her allure...beckons him with her fighting spirit.

Watching Q learn to accept every facet of himself and realize while his love for Tess may be his biggest weakness, it also gives him insurmountable strength, was absolute perfection.

"I no longer hate my demons because you fight them on my behalf. I no longer feel alone because you are my home. I no longer fear myself because you control my beast. I'm your monster, Tess. I'll kill those who hurt you. I'll nurture those who tend you. I'll never stop hunting your nightmares or providing a perfect life."

Tess was my complete circle. She was my home. My refuge. My best friend and partner. We'd found each other not just for this lifetime but forever.

My beast purred. My monster stretched.

I've been tamed.

And I fucking loved it.

Tess and Q share a love so dark and intense that it crosses the boundaries of passion and transcends the meaning of unconditional love.

They were savage in their need for a future and slayed every demon that threatened to rip that dream away from them. They fought, killed and bled for the hope of a tomorrow.

The future was ours. Evolving together. Twisting our souls into one. Knitting our lives into inseparable tapestries. I could never love another like him. Fate designed us from the same darkness, the same fabric of wrongness.

They're a couple that will stay with me forever and their tale will linger in my heart for years to come.

You are the one for me, my monster in the dark
You are the perfect mate for me, wicked and unmarked
Together we cannot be denied, our deniable spark
Together we will find our perfect evolving never ending arc

[Rachel L]

I can't believe I'm saying this, but DNF at around 50%



^^My feelings about dnf-ing. I'm sorry, but this one was soooooooo long and unfortunately I was bored. The back and forth between the characters became too much for me, yes this is happening, no it isn't happening. It was all muddled to me.

I still love your books Pepper Winters! This one just wasn't for me :(

[Sandy ღCoffee Addict Booksღ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-3.5 prolonged epilogue stars!!
*This review contains spoilers*

I know I’m in the minority here! To clarify my rating I’ve divided my review into three parts:

The good part: EPIC WEDDING. Just love the theme of their wedding “Angels & Demons”, not only did they get married in the traditional way but also for what they really are, minus the stripping!!

The bad part : I don’t know to be relived or annoyed for the little amount of darkness present in this story. After almost having mini heart attack reading Quintessentially Q, I was little (in fact more) petrified to read the third installment in this series, that’s how well Pepper winters write dark novel, but this was nothing but huge disappointment mostly BORING!!!



Nearly 50% of the story was only about-Q fixing Tess-I don’t deserve him- planning the wedding-I would do anything to save her-travelling-I need to mark her-throbbing cock-lying-hurting-my inner monster-loving-hating and crazy sex. I Love Tess and Q to the core, after the way how things ended I would love for nothing more than her to be FIXED with her fears from the mental torture and ride off into the sunset!! But seriously way too bore with inner monologues which were generously repetitive and very descriptive!! Don’t get me started with number of times they were professing their undying love!! If I wanted fluffy romance I would've read YA/NA not this..



Luckily the second half saved the story and restored my faith in pepper winters ability to drive you crazy with gut wrenching suspense!!

The weird part: How on earth did Q have stamina for hardcore-let’s-fuck-each-other's-brains-out-sex after literally being beaten to death, tortured with taser, with broken rib, bloody cuts and bruised face!!! Hell I couldn't even sit for longer than 5 minutes after excruciating tooth extraction let alone be horny!!

Final verdict:
Overall I loved the series so much. I love the way how Tess grew in every installment, she is fierce, strong and passionate. I love her for embracing Q for all the good and bad he is, for never giving up, for showing the ultimate courage in saving Q.

“My name is Tess Mercer. I’m no longer weak or afraid or broken. I've taken control of my fate. I no longer need a tower or dark angels or help. I am fear.”

I don’t think anything I say is enough to justify the monstrous beauty that is‘Q Mercer’. If I was masochist Q would have been my ultimate BB, nevertheless I love and respect him for all that he is! Q was born into darkness, right from his childhood he’s had a dark twisted sensual urges but always managed to fight his inner beast, he was always scared of turning into his bastard of father but living a life of high morals and managed to save the slaves and give them a new life. I loved Q and Tess’s unconventional non traditional love story, their love, desire, acceptance and commitment was something I've never heard before.

“We’re altered, we’re abnormal, our souls stained with each other’s mark. Our souls are that of monsters born in the dark.”

Q lived and breathed power, when it came to saving Tess he did what no master/dom ever did-he gave control to Tess to hurt and torture him.

“I’m offering to be the one you take all that rage and pain out”

Dear Q
Total respect for everything you have done. If Tess branded your name in her skin I've dedicated my profile picture in your honor (which really is a big deal to me)!! :D

[Vanessa Booked Up · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 C'etait Magnifique Stars!! <--- Q sent me that translation...LOL!!



OMG, where do I begin with this review of an amazingly complex, multi-layered, incredible book that I will never forget?!?!! This was one of my most highly anticipated books of 2014, so to say that my expectations were high going in, is putting it lightly. I really don't know what I was expecting to get with Twisted Together. I thought Tess and Q had experienced their fair share of turmoil and heartache in the first two books. So, I think what I wanted was more-so an extended epilogue type book where we would get a really romantic wedding and a hot as hell honeymoon. Oh, how dumb I was!! This book obliterated my very high expectations of all the places that Q and Tess still had left to go.

"The blackness tried to swallow us whole, kill us, ruin us, capture our soul."

OK, I have to admit, this book started out a little slow for me. But, looking back, I think it was necessary for it to begin the way that it did. It's been six months since we last saw Q and Tess. Peppers spends the first 10% or so putting us back in their lives, their emotions, their struggles. We soon realize that, although they are both hopeful of a blissful future together, filled with love and happiness, neither one of them are there yet, and they can't just sweep their pasts under the rug.

"Gone was the stupidity to act as if we were normal. We weren't normal. And we needed to address our past before it swallowed us whole."

The story begins exactly where Quintessentially Q left off with Q and Tess working towards joining their lives together. Q is still fighting -tooth and nail- at getting Tess to overcome the complete emotional hell she succumbed to. Tess hopes and prays that she can fake it and pretend to be fine and that hopefully Q won't notice, and that eventually, her emotional self will catch up to where the rest of her wants to be. Meanwhile, Q still struggles himself with his purpose and role in life and in a relationship. How does he find balance between being the loving partner, by his own definition, and the savage beast that's inevitably clawing to get out?

"You should've told me, Tess." I murmured against her hair. "You helped me find my humanness but you took it away with your lies."



I loved these characters in the first two books. But I think I loved them twice as much in Twisted Together. Without giving too much away, I will say this, to me, there were two themes in this book. The first was the set of circumstances that unfold here act as the catalyst to pushing Tess and Q to deal with both of their issues like never before. No longer will they be able to look the other way. No longer will they be able to pretend. And what happens when it is do or die? And the second theme, and this is one to remember while you are reading; everything, EVERYTHING from their entire journey in all the books, comes full circle.

"The pain reminded me of something I'd forgotten. Something I should never have taken for granted.
I'm Tess Snow.
And I would survive or die. I was done just existing."

This story is NOT for the faint of heart. It is hard-core at times, suspenseful, and thrilling. Pepper takes us on a dangerous journey, like only Pepper can. Once I hit around the 50% mark, it became utterly IMPOSSIBLE to put this book down, and I was up until 4 in the morning, needing to finish it! I felt Q and Tess's love and need for each other. Their relationship and chemistry for one another carries a raw, erotic sensuality that is not often found and has got to be hard to write, but Pepper pulls it off, flawlessly.



I loved Pepper before; she is already one of my favorite authors. But her writing in this book BLEW ME AWAY!! Yes, it is long but really necessarily so. There is not one word of "filler" material here. I think that all of the things that Tess and Q endured were necessary in order to make their tale complete. I also think that a few other scenes were descriptive and lengthy for Tess and Q's fans...at least, that is how it felt to me. Tess and Q are one of those epic love stories, totally unconventional, but one that I will never forget.

I am sad as I sit here and write this because, even after another 432 pages with them, I am not ready to say goodbye. Maybe there will be more?

Oh, I LOVED the banter between Franco and Q which provided some very much needed comic relief at times throughout this book. And, speaking of Franco, Pepper!!! I need more Franco and Suzette!!!! There is totally a story there and I WANT IT!! LOL!

Basically, Pepper wrote the hell out of this book! I could tell that these characters are special to her and it was a ride that you don't want to miss!



An ARC of Twisted Together was provided to Rebel Book Chicks by the author as part of her blog tour and in exchange for an honest review.

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[↜ƈɦǟռ☂ɛℓℓɛ↝]

Twisted Together by Pepper Winters (Monsters in the Dark #3)

[✰ Liz ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Fantastic Unforgettable Stars

Twisted Together is the third and final installment in the Monsters in the Dark Series. We have struggled along with Tess and Q as they have battled the demons of their world (both physical, emotional, internal, and external). Every single ounce of pain has branded them together. I never could have imagined that something so dark and raw could turn into something so beautiful. What can I say except.....



Tess and Q are a reminder to us all that there is beauty in pain. It is the trials that we face that make us who we are.



Twisted Together picks up directly after the second book (Quintessentially Q). At the beginning, Tess is still recovering from the emotional and physical abuse she has faced. She knows that she loves Q and he is her peace and yet, still the chains of her past are still holding her down.

"Love suffocated my heart, stitching me up until I felt mummified with confusion."-Tess

Q is battling with his longing to love Tess (sweet and tender Q) versus allowing himself to be who he was created to be (violent and sinfully sexy Q).

"I might be governed by my heart nowadays but having her delicate, very breakable touch in mine turned the man into a monster. I wanted her spread below me, bound before me. I wanted her gagged and chained, so I could worship her for hours." -Q

The story is written in dual POV therefore we see the degree of inner turmoil these two are facing. The awkward and uncomfortable tension is what propels them forward and causes them to cling more tightly together.

"The stitching in my heart tore wide, spilling my chest with love so deep and eternal I knew I would do anything, absolutely anything, for this man. He was the reason I was alive. The only reason I wanted to stay alive."- Tess

Q is quite the alpha. However, it is this part of the journey that we see the softer side of Q. We begin to unravel the layers of who he is. Why he is the man he is. We see Q take an even bigger stand to protect Tess (if it was even possible) and in turn we see Tess begin to completely trust Q.

"Did she know I would bow to her every command now-hearing her call me family. I'd hire out Disneyland if she wanted a princess wedding. I'd invite woodland animals and fairy godmothers if that's what she wanted."



Twisted Together is chalk full of adventure, more heart break, tender moments, and true transformation. The events that take place will make you squirm, cry, laugh, and sigh! It is through this journey together that Tess becomes strong and truly claims Q.



Anyone that enjoys a gritty love story will love this series. The ending in Twisted Together is one that I will never forget. Tess and Q truly get their HEA and then some.

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 Stars

I really liked this. I liked catching up with Q and Tess and I loved seeing them get their happy ending...however, the reason I can only rate it 3.75 stars is because it was a very slow read for me. There there was a LOT of redundancy - in both action and inner character dialogue.

At the end of Quintessentially Q, there is a note from the author in which she discusses how she originally intended this to be only a two book series, but she states:

"I can't wrap up Q and Tess's story in just one chapter. After everything they've been through, it's only fair to give them a Happily Ever After...so, I hope you can forgive me for writing a third and final book in the Monsters in the Dark series."

While I totally understand and respect that, I also feel that the crux of this third book could have been delivered via an extended epilogue at the end of Q or written as a third, more novella style book. Like I said earlier, I just felt that there was a lot of redundancy and, quite frankly, it seemed to drag on forever with a lot of unnecessary "issues" and scenes.

Don't get me wrong though, I LOVED Tess and Q and I loved this series. I would recommend it to anyone and, while I may not have loved this final installment, I feel that the series as a whole was outstanding. Truly epic.

[Kelli C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the 3 books in this series in 3 days and I am totally wiped out...totally hung over from the exhausting darkness, angst, and mindf***s!


“The blackness tried to swallow us whole, kill us, ruin us, capture our soul”

HOLY HELL! I survived the first two books and did not think I could finish this! I mean how much can one take! I was right by Q's side in the first 50% slowly aching...

Tess...Oh Tess! She is back, She is alive, yet she is so not ok. Her mind is a fortress of protection and she no longer is able to be the enslave that Q needs and wants. She fears the one thing he thrives on.

There is so much conflict...Q loves her...he is mad at her...he is a caged animal on the verge of losing it!

Only Pepper Winters can fix the broken by breaking sanity and shoving brutality in your face, yet making it sexy...WTF!

"After everything I’d done, she was the one to bring back her light. She’d claimed her own destiny once again and in the same breath handed it over to me.”

FINALLY! Let Tess and Q get back to sensual pain and blood sharing! After everything they have endured they deserve it right? But, WAIT...NO WAY...Just cannot be that easy! Time has come for Tess to show how much of a fighter I always thought she was because now it is up to her to save Q! This Woman is BADASS!

“My name is Tess Mercer. I’m no longer weak or afraid or broken. I’ve taken control of my fate. I no longer need a tower or dark angels or help. I am fear. And I take your soul in penance for everything that was done to me...I take it for my master, soul-mate, and husband. I take you for me.”

NO one will tear them apart. The Pain and the Pleasure bond them. They are truly apart of one another. "In sickness and in health, in life and in death, you will belong to me. And I will belong to you.”
Q and Tess are so unique. They can communicate with a look, they can feel one another when apart, and they are able to love each other beyond the normal. They own each other's souls. Branded by fire, joined in legality, together in brutal harmony...they will rule over one another forever!

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Ms. Winter's books. Her characters are well developed and the storyline will suck you in from page one.

This book picks up where book two left off. Tess and Q are back together, but barely hanging on. Both of them are struggling with their own fears, guilt and other inner demons. Tess, in particular, is changed by the traumatic events she endured at the hands of her kidnappers. Her sexual tastes have changed as a result and she fears that she'll never be able to give Q what he desires.

Q is going out of his mind trying to get Tess to let him in. He is unwilling to accept that she is no longer the woman he fell for and goes to great lengths to help her heal. In the process, he risks losing himself to his darker urges.

Meanwhile, the notoriety of Q's now-public slave rescue operation has made him a wanted man, hunted by the traffickers he betrayed. He makes a bold decision, which costs him dearly, in order to ensure Tess will be safe and to give them a chance at a future.

There is plenty of action and emotional turmoil throughout. Both Q and Tess grow as individuals and cement the bonds of their relationship. Finally, they get the happily ever after that they both deserve. If you're a fan of earlier books in this series, you won't want to miss this one. Great book!

[Shanoff Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

***SPOILERISH*** (nothing direct that will ruin the story)

BRAVO Pepper Winters!!! This final installment of the Monsters in the Dark Series is phenomenal. Not only did she write a dark and twisted tale, but she did it so awesomely. When I first read this series I had only a couple of dark erotica under my belt and those have NOTHING on this series. I honestly thought that I wouldn't like it but MY GOD I was so wrong. This entire series is written to the fullest with nothing held back and nothing left out. What I love most about Pepper's writing is that everything is addressed at one point in time or another. Nothing is left undone or waiting to be unraveled. I am in awe of her writing and this series is just so wonderfully twisted. I first read Tears of Tess over the past Christmas holidays and I just couldn't consume the book fast enough and was lucky enough that Quintessentially Q had already been released because I devoured that book with a vengeance. Then I was really regretting doing that because I had to wait wait wait for Twisted Together. Man let me tell you this book was my most anticipated book of 2014. I would check Pepper's Facebook page and blog pretty regularly for release date and teasers. Then it got to the point where I couldn't read the teasers anymore because I was becoming really impatient..oh but I did share them. I think this is series that EVERYONE should read.

I will start with Tess. I absolutely LOVE Tess Snow (Mercer). She is such a strong female character and she is what made this story all the better. I love her fierce determination to live and love. I love that she is so strong that the only way to break her was to give her drugs, but she still survived a shell of who she was but she survived. I love that she was willing to forgo her needs and wants just to keep Q happy. This book picks up right where QQ ends. Tess realizes that she no longer craves the pain that Q delivers, but she is actually fearful of it because of what she was forced to do while being held captive in QQ. Only she is willing to hold her truths in order to please Q. For a good bit of the first part of this book I was just biting my nails waiting and waiting for Q to realize what Tess is going through and to see how he would fix it. When Q finally has enough of her hiding and lies I just couldn't wait to see what he would do, but holy hell I was completely shocked with his plan. But for Q and Tess it was the only plan that would make it better.

Q's love for Tess is fierce and so strong that you can not help but be overwhelmed by it when you read from his POV. You can feel his confusion and self loathing when he wants nothing more than to savagely take her, but you can also feel his passion and what he feels for her. I absolutely loved the alternating POV of this book, because it really helped me connect with both Tess and Q throughout the entire story, hell even the series. Q's character really opened up in this book and made him so much more appealing. I am already in love with Q, but this book sent it even more over the edge. I love how Pepper stayed so consistent with his character. She never made any huge uncharacteristic changes in him. Well, that is not entirely true when we first meet him he is a harsh asshole (to Tess), but he still holds that title just with his fierce love for Tess. He is still no nonsense and a man to be feared. He is savage and not afraid to get his hands bloody for the woman he loves.

So, I went into this book thinking that it would just be mostly about them getting married and settling into their new lives. HOLY HELL was I completely wrong. Why I thought this I don't know, because Pepper Winters is anything but streamline and her writing shows. I should have expected the "What the Fuck" and "Holy Shit" and the "Hell Yeah" that I did while reading this book. I should have expected the raw emotion while reading. I should have expected the anger and hatred while reading this book. I didn't really expect those things but HOLY FUCK did I get them. The only thing I expected was to maybe cry tears of joy for Q and Tess. I did cry a few times, some were happy and proud, but the others those were throat clogging and a little snotty tears that I should have expected, but foolishly didn't.

I have touched on a lot of things about this book and I won't give anything big away, because that is just not my style. I loved this book and this entire series. I am overwhelmed with the emotions that I felt for these two characters and even Franco and Suzette. (Maybe they will have their own story who knows). I loved Frederick and his relationship that he had with Q. I love that all of the people that surrounded Q and Tess knew them so well that they gave them something that they didn't even know that they needed. (That was another one of the HOLY FUCK moments) I love that they were always willing to put their lives in jeopardy to ensure that Q and Tess were safe and protected. In this unconventional series ,these characters have the best friendships and love than most of the books that I have read. This series has some really hardcore shit in it that is not for the faint of heart or the squeamish. It is dark, gritty, twisted and sometimes really fucking ugly, but it is also so so beautiful. This is my all time favorite series! After reading this last book I can honestly say that this is my FAVORITE series.

This series is a MUST read!!!

[✝✝ Ⓓaisy ❣ ✝✝ · Rating 4 out of 5]

JOINT REVIEW by Katy and Daisy

RATING CLAFICATION 4.5**** Healing stars-Katy 4*** stars off Daisy

KT-This is been one of the most Raw and Intense stories I have EVER read, we have both adored Q and Tess's journey and I have felt completely mesmerised by their journey and as a series as a whole I would explain it as EPIC, but also it has a true depth and a real life lesson hidden in it. This really has brought to light how human trafficking does still exist and for that alone brought on so many emotions for that I applaud Pepper right Girl?



DAISY- I'm marrying you so I have claim on you forever. Your soul will be mine for eternity

Twisted Together is a wonderful epilogue for Q and Tess. This series is definitely in my favourite series list!!!! Their love story which was twisted and dark ended in a captivating way. You will only fall in love with Q more and more.

SO WHAT'S IT ABOUT

KT-As a start this was a much slower beginning for book 2, After Quinsentually Q a lot happened for Tess to need time to heal, Q does everything in his power to help Tess see the light again, what does he do? Their relationship is unconventional and in that I'd say he does what he needs to for his woman to breathe, to feel, to want pain again. I won't explain any more than that, but here in the this part of the story it is a very much of a therapeutic feel, healing, taking Q's time, and Q's love for Tess is something here that I will say is above all is BEAUTIFUL.



KT-Although this needs to happen, We did struggle at times to get past this part, I'm only saying this as IT IS WORTH the wait once you get past the first half, I very much felt like it was a slower and tranquil read.

DAISY- There were moments in this book where I felt it was little draggy and slow but it was worth the read. Q is Q!!

....I'd struggled the entire four hour journey with a massive hard-on LOL Aint' he darling....

Ain't he just?



As the story goes on, Tess becomes herself again she becomes stronger, Braver and ultimately the woman Q needs by his side.


Right Daisy?

There were moments where I wanted to kick Tess but I guess she kinda redeemed herself for Q!


They become Forever's for each other, but Q had to protect Tess in Quissentually Q and to do that he now has people on the hunt, secrets to uncover and this time Tess has to fight for her man. She becomes the strength, she becomes the one Q needs..... She is Tess and she is Q's Esclave.



Two options: Live or die. Survive or give-up

Our Thoughts
I will forever have Q and Tess in my thoughts, this to me was a brilliant Final book to end this PHENOMENAL series, there relationship is not conventional, its raw (the Sex was always primal), and its at times Intense. It provoked many emotions I was at the edge of my seat with Worry for Tess, with Q but I will say in Twisted Together what spoke loud and clear was Q's love for Tess and his devotion for his Eclave' He never went out intentionally to fall in love with a slave he wanted to save but in that he ended up saving himself, he saved his soul and Tess helped him to deal with his own Demons and his Monster in the Dark.



"You accept me for me. Darkness and all. Sin and everything. You are my equal. My teacher. I am your disciple. I am your owner. I couldn't be more in love with you if I had two hearts instead of one. My life is yours. My soul is yours. I vow to always comfort you. Always protect you. I will cry with you. I will laugh with you. I will hold you every night of our lives.


DAISY- So, why wait!!!! PICK THIS SERIES UP!!!!

SO TO SUM UP

Will we read this again? -Yes in the future sometime

Will we recommend this?--Yes absolutely 100%

Will we read anything Pepper writes in the future? Yes definitely.

Happy reading Kt and D xo

[Jenny••Steamy Reads Blog•• · Rating 4 out of 5]

Q and Tess share a love so dark and intense. They were savage in their need for a future and slayed every demon that threatened to rip their dream away from them. They killed, they slaughtered, they conquered anything in their way to reach their dream. But along the long journey, they never lost me, I hung on to every page, to every word. The writing in this book is unforgettable, it's captivating, simply amazing.

This was hard, cruel, and at times unbearable to read. During the last book, I bit off all my fingernails, this book I dang near lost my fucking mind. Definitely a dark, twisted book that completely beholds you and doesn't let you go but oh so worth the pain <3 !!!

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bad fucking ass... I have no words for this spectacular book... I could gush all day... I need to calm my ass down before doing a proper review. . All I can say its this book had me on edge freaking out the whole time. ..

**************Before reading **********

Well I decided to get my begging bright and early!









I could barely contain myself when I saw the author's note on the ARC for QQ! I need it nowwwww!!!!

[The Hopeless Romantics Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going into this final book in the "Monsters in the Dark" trilogy, I have to say, I did have some reservations. Don't get me wrong, I was excited about getting more Q and Tess, but it was the final book. This couple had already been through so much, they'd been to hell and back on more than one occasion and with "Quintessentially Q" ending the way it did, what else could possibly happen to draw me into their world again and hold my attention for the duration of what was going to be a very loooong book. You see, I have a fear of reading lengthy books ... I tend to get bored or lose interest and I really didn't want that with "Twisted Together." I wanted my time with this amazing couple to end on a high note. I didn't want to feel that the author had drawn out their story for the sake of one final book.

The blackness tried to swallow us whole, kill us, ruin us, capture our soul.

So Pepper Winters.... what's my verdict? HOLY CRAP, YOU FREAKIN' DID IT AGAIN!!!! You gave me a story I honestly wasn't expecting. You moved things up a gear when I didn't think there was anywhere else for you to go. You pushed the boundaries at every turn, made me question my sanity, turned me on when really I should have been mortified and gave me the dark, twisted, angst filled read that I'd been craving since finishing "Quintessentially Q." Was I bored? Did I lose interest? Not a chance in hell because with every turn of every page, there was something that made my heart drop, made my breath hitch, made my pulse sore, made the butterflies dance in my belly!!!! Crazy I know but I loved everything about this book.... Every. Single. Thing.

For the first time in my life, I'm vulnerable, all because I fell in love.

"Twisted Together" took me on quite the journey with Tess and Q and hearts and flowers it most definitely wasn't.... not even whips and chains if that's what you're thinking. Time and time again Tess and Q were pushed to their limits (both as individuals and as a couple) and I felt devastated for them. Why did I expect anything less from the queen of darkness? Why did I make the assumption she might go gentle on my heart just this once? She didn't. Pepper toyed with my emotions once again, leaving an ache in my chest that just wouldn't go away. Even when things looked like they were on the up, I knew it was too good to last... the hints dropped told me I needed brace myself for the next bout of pain she was about to inflict on me. It was brutal, horrific, torturous reading, my nerves hanging on for dear life but I was addicted to the story and I wasn't about to stop reading until I got a HEA (stamps foot!!!)

I've loved watching Tess and Q grow and develop over the course of the three books but it was "Twisted Together" that would really put each of them to test. As the past collided with the present and every skeleton that had been locked away came out to play, I saw both characters hit an all time low. I witnessed a very broken Tess and a very lost Q try to make sense of their lives and come to terms with the hand of cards each had been dealt. They'd changed... how could they not with everything they'd been through... the question was: would their relationship survive it?

"I feel like I know everything about you- the fundamental parts of you. You're like me in so many ways, but really,... I don't know you at all. Not anymore. Not after they stole you."

Chapters told from alternate POV only intensified my reading experience of "Twisted Together." I got inside both Q and Tess's head and to say it was heart breaking is an understatement. What it did do was help me understand what each character was going through, the depths of despair they felt, the raw emotions radiating off the pages. Don't worry though, it wasn't all doom and gloom, I did get to see a kick ass Tess too and I did get to see Q as the hot, lustful, sexy as sin monster that he truly was and I loved it. Yes the cat o nine tail came out to play as did a kitchen whisk and several other household implements... what this couple shared was intense, it pushed limits, it left them exposed but it's who they were and it felt right... so very right. Crazy huh!!!

The agony faded, inch by inch, ache by ache, until I felt nothing. Nothing but weightlessness…nothingness. Sounds faded. … Life tiptoed away from me, taking with it any promise of happiness I might’ve found by marrying my soul-mate.

I couldn't have predicted some of the curve balls that were thrown in to this story and even when I did guess what was to come, it was the outcome that would leave me gob smacked. Not once did it feel forced... not at all. Instead looking back, it was all inevitable, helping to tie up the story nicely, giving the reader the perfect conclusion to Tess and Q's story. And yes, you will get answers to all the questions you may have had since book #1... no stone was left unturned.

In terms of the writing, I don't even know how to describe it. Pepper has a way of making you feel everything the characters are going through. Her words pulling you into the story line, digging their claws into your heart, holding you hostage until the book is finished. Be prepared to feel happiness, sadness, anger and frustration like never and be prepared for this story to play out like a movie in your mind... that's one thing I loved about this whole series... I could see it all unravel clear as day ... pure genius!!!

You are my savior. My salvation. My Together. My absolution. My treasure. The crown to my thrown. YOU ARE MY HOME.

"Tears of Tess" was my first introduction to a "dark" read and I haven't looked back since. I've absolutely loved my time with Tess and Q both and I'm so not ready to say goodbye to them. On top of that, I've gotten to know the secondary characters really well (Suzette, Franco, Frederick, Angelique) all played such big parts in their story and it pains me to know there will be no more.... Hey Pepper, how about a story about a baby Q or Tess (no, this isn't a spoiler!)... or Franco and Suzette's story.... or how about the story of how Frederick and Angelique got together.... or ... oh I don't know... just anything to buy me some more time.... anything.... something.... please?????

Pepper Winters, you are a true master in your art and I couldn't give "Twisted Together" anything less than a gut wrenching, heart breaking, soul destroying, angst ridden 5 Hearts from me.

[Tanaka K · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 amazingly beautiful stars

There comes a certain book that gives you a ripple effect. To me my version of a ripple effect is you feel it in your bones and all over body. Thats what Twisted Together made me feel. That feeling is euphoric and so good that you want more.

This book gave more than the ripple effect. It gave me emotion. You know when you feel a lot of things in a book. Tears, joy, happiness, swooning. Thats the greatest thing ever. To me thats in Peppers writing, she puts emotion into her writing page by page. You end up feeling those emotions yourself. That takes a good writer.

This books allowed to see that there is beauty in darkness. There is beauty in pain. There is beauty in imperfection. When there is darkness, there is always light. This book also gave me a lesson. There is so much love no matter how much pain you go through someone will always love you. They will always love you beyond your pain, horrors and darkness. It also allowed to let me see that monsters can find love. Monsters in the dark can find their light.

Tess and Q are the imperfect cpuple that are perfect together. Through their journey as a couple they went through all kinds of hell but they stood for their love. I truly loved it and it made me gravitate towards them.

Overally Twisted Together is not a final chapter in Monsters in the dark. To me its their beginning in their lives. Vivifly written and envoking all emotions a story was made and I was truly happy to have read this book and series. I was able to enter into Tess and Qs world.

I recommend this book and series.

[Esra Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ya bu adam beni benden alıyor yemin ediyorum. İki gündür kafamın içi Q oldu! O değil, bitirmek istiyorum ama bitmesin de istiyorum çünkü böyle bir karakter okur muyum bir daha bilmiyorum.

Pepper'in kalemine tek kelimeyle aşığım. Fazlasıyla cesur ve içten. Keşke seriyi hiç ara vermeden okusaydım, o zaman daha lezzetli olurdu. Ama yayınevi çevirmediği için ben de devam etme fırsatı uzun bir zaman bulamadım.

Bu kitapta açıkçası baya çektiler. Ama sonu tatmin edici değildi nedense. Bu yüzden de novella yı da adeta içercesine okuyup bitirdim ve işte son böyle olur dedim.

Ya ben bu kadar mutlu, mıç mıç ilişkileri okumayı sevmiyorum ve kitabın sonunda Tess ve Q çok mıçmıçtı. Sen benimsin, ben seninim falan son 100 sayfada beni aşırı boğdu. La anladık la seviyorsunuz, birbirinize aitsiniz. Neyse, elbette ki bunlar önemli değil. Açıkçası güzel bir seriyidi ve ben bayıla bayıla okudum. Canım ne zaman Q aşerirse ilk kitabı okuycam. Çünkü bu kitabı bitince canım başa sarmak istedi ama biraz nefes almam lazım. Q oldum resmen!

Ulan ne karakterdi be... Kadın bu işi çok iyi biliyor. En kısa zamanda diğer serilerine de el atmalıyım. Kesinlikle bağımlılık yapan bir kalemi var.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

We'll finally find peace in the dark -

What an epic conclusion to Monsters in the Dark and for my favourite kinky couple, Tess and Q. Aside from the first quarter whereby I find it was repetitive and too much back and forth when Q was dealing with Tess' mental state, the plot do pick up after 50% and then it was pure awesomeness.

I thought Tess situation was dealt with by the end of book 2, but apparently it isn't and Q is still having a hard time trying to heal Tess and make her enjoy pain again. Now whenever he turn aggressive, Tess flinched from his touch. It pains him to see his enslave is no longer the strong woman he grown to love. But Q is always understanding the best lover ever, he rather hide his inner desire than to hurt Tess anymore.

Okay, the aforementioned problem was solve when Q came up with another bizarre form of therapy for Tess. And we can finally move forward to put the past behind us.

Yeah, lets the hotness begin. I just love all their sex scenes. Q make it as though is an art form. He was damn creative when it comes to bondage. I wonder where did he got those ideas from, is there a handbook somewhere?

But there is a small thing that I don't really get. Come on! They did some many things that was beyond normal human comprehension, yet Tess was afraid of anal?I don't buy that.

It wasn't a body orgasm. It was more than that.
It was a soul orgasm.

I bet only Q can have that kind of capability. And I wouldn't be surprised if Q turned out to be a shapeshifter seeing he constantly talking about his inner beast.

"How am I supposed to play footsies with you if you leap a fucking mile?"
"Did you just say footsie?"

I was laughing my ass off when Q said that word. It was just so out of character yet so funny.

Things were nice and dandy until Q life was threaten when he exposed the smuggling ring and human trafficking to the authorities during his previous search for Tess. Someone wanted him to pay and Q safety is in jeopardy.

Will Tess and Franco able to get to Q in time? I just love seeing how both Q and Tess can so willingly sacrifices everything for each other without a thought. Their brand of love totally consumed one another and me as a reader totally got sucked into it as well.

"Life taught me an eternal love will demand the worst sacrifices. A transcendent love will split your soul, cleaving you into pieces. A love this strong doesn't grant you sweetness - it grants you pain. And in that pain is the greatest pleasure of all."

What a conclusion. Honestly, I'm now thoroughly exhausted after going through the 3 books marathon. Every books were so intense and mind blowing. If you like a dark romance with a hero to die for and some awesome plot beside of just hot sex, don't miss this series. Now I'm in need of a sweet YA read next to lighten up.

"Je suis a toi. Je suis ton monstre dans le noir pour toujours."

p/s: I'm ecstatic to know that there is a novella coming up for Tess and Q. I think there is a baby Q in the horizon. I also wouldn't mind if Pepper write a novella for Franco and Suzette as well.