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Twist Me #1-3
Twist Me: The Complete Trilogy
“Will you ever let me go?”
“No, Nora,” he replies, and I can feel his smile in the darkness. “Never.”
On the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Nora Leston meets Julian Esguerra, and her life changes forever. Stolen away to a private island, she finds herself at the mercy of a powerful, dangerous man whose touch makes her burn.
A man whose obsession with her knows no bounds.
Her enigmatic captor is as cruel as he is beautiful, yet it’s his tenderness that devastates her most. Drawn into his violent world, Nora must find a way to adapt and survive—and find light within the darkness.
Over 1000 5-star reviews across individual books. Here’s what readers are
•“So enthralling, gripping, raw, thrilling, breathtaking I could not put my Kindle down”
•“Twists you into gut wrenching agony and fear and turns you into a writhing mass of need”
•“I enjoyed this book with fear and arousal, amazed by the beauty in its darkness”
•“This series will forever be burned into my heart. I loved it from the very first page and mourned the last page because I never wanted it to end.”
•“This trilogy deserves 10 stars!”
•“Utterly brilliant”
This is the COMPLETE TRILOGY, containing all 3 books in Nora & Julian's story.
“No, Nora,” he replies, and I can feel his smile in the darkness. “Never.”
On the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Nora Leston meets Julian Esguerra, and her life changes forever. Stolen away to a private island, she finds herself at the mercy of a powerful, dangerous man whose touch makes her burn.
A man whose obsession with her knows no bounds.
Her enigmatic captor is as cruel as he is beautiful, yet it’s his tenderness that devastates her most. Drawn into his violent world, Nora must find a way to adapt and survive—and find light within the darkness.
Over 1000 5-star reviews across individual books. Here’s what readers are
•“So enthralling, gripping, raw, thrilling, breathtaking I could not put my Kindle down”
•“Twists you into gut wrenching agony and fear and turns you into a writhing mass of need”
•“I enjoyed this book with fear and arousal, amazed by the beauty in its darkness”
•“This series will forever be burned into my heart. I loved it from the very first page and mourned the last page because I never wanted it to end.”
•“This trilogy deserves 10 stars!”
•“Utterly brilliant”
This is the COMPLETE TRILOGY, containing all 3 books in Nora & Julian's story.
690 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2015
2411 people are currently reading
2351 people want to read
About the author
Anna Zaires
100 books7,857 followersAnna Zaires fell in love with books at the age of five, when her grandmother taught her to read. She wrote her first story shortly thereafter. Since then, she has always lived partially in a fantasy world where the only limits were those of her imagination. Currently residing in Florida, Anna is happily married to Dima Zales (a science fiction and fantasy author) and closely collaborates with him on all their works.
After graduating from the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics, Anna spent eight years on Wall Street analyzing stocks and writing research reports. In 2013, she became a full-time author, pursuing her lifelong dream of writing romance novels.
Dima Zales is the love of her life and a huge inspiration in all aspects of her writing. Every book Anna writes is a product of their unique collaborative process.
In addition to reading and writing, Anna enjoys drinking tea (coconut oolong, anyone?), watching addictive TV shows, and discussing book ideas during long walks with her amazing husband.
She loves hearing from her readers, so please don't hesitate to contact her through her website or connect with her on Facebook, where she hangs out way too often. Also, please visit her husband and collaborator, Dima Zales, at www.dimazales.com and check out their fantasy & science fiction books.
After graduating from the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics, Anna spent eight years on Wall Street analyzing stocks and writing research reports. In 2013, she became a full-time author, pursuing her lifelong dream of writing romance novels.
Dima Zales is the love of her life and a huge inspiration in all aspects of her writing. Every book Anna writes is a product of their unique collaborative process.
In addition to reading and writing, Anna enjoys drinking tea (coconut oolong, anyone?), watching addictive TV shows, and discussing book ideas during long walks with her amazing husband.
She loves hearing from her readers, so please don't hesitate to contact her through her website or connect with her on Facebook, where she hangs out way too often. Also, please visit her husband and collaborator, Dima Zales, at www.dimazales.com and check out their fantasy & science fiction books.
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October 13, 2021
Twist Me!
17 year old virgin, Nora meets twenty-something Julian at a dance club but he makes her nervous.
Julian kidnaps Nora and brings her to his own private island.
Nora discovers there is no way out for her.
Julian shows his true colors (and proclivities).
Nora shows how she feels about what Julian has done.
Julian shows Nora who is in charge.
Nora is confused.
Julian wants what he wants.
Nora starts to change
They start to learn more about each other
They discover they like the same things.
A lot!
Nora still hates what Julian does.
But she loves what he does to her
All I can say about it is:
And
Keep Me!
Nora is kidnapped away from her Kidnapper Julian.
Julian saves Nora but is stuck inside with the bad guys.
Nora is heartbroken but then is surprised.
Julian forces his “Pet” to make the choices he wants.
Nora is not happy.
Though Nora does have feelings for Julian.
Julian is as possessive as ever.
He has very particular tastes.
Nora hates that she loves it.
She can’t make up her mind as to how she feels.
Julian gets even more obsessive about Nora.
Nora doesn’t know what to think.
Julian likes to be in control of Nora at all times
Julian needs to know what Nora is doing every minute of every day.
Nora finally breaks.
Julian will have none of that.
Nora says she hates Julian.
Julian doesn’t care what Nora says or feels
Wishing Nora would go off on Julian!
Hold Me!
Julian and his team went in search of the “Al Qaedar” Terrorists that kidnapped Nora.
Julian’s plane crashed
Nora had a plan to save Julian when she found “Al Qaedar” kidnapped him.
Nora is kidnapped yet again.
Of course we know it had to turn out Ok since this is a romance.
Though Julian is not happy about what Nora did.
Julian is just as possessive as before.
Nora is disturbed Julian’s violent life and how she is becoming violent.
Nora is deeply disturbed by the fact that she is no longer disturbed by Julian
Julian makes all the rules
Julian fears losing Nora.
There is a car chase.
And they live happily ever after…
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
17 year old virgin, Nora meets twenty-something Julian at a dance club but he makes her nervous.
Julian kidnaps Nora and brings her to his own private island.
Nora discovers there is no way out for her.
Julian shows his true colors (and proclivities).
Nora shows how she feels about what Julian has done.
Julian shows Nora who is in charge.
Nora is confused.
Julian wants what he wants.
Nora starts to change
They start to learn more about each other
They discover they like the same things.
A lot!
Nora still hates what Julian does.
But she loves what he does to her
All I can say about it is:
And
Keep Me!
Nora is kidnapped away from her Kidnapper Julian.
Julian saves Nora but is stuck inside with the bad guys.
Nora is heartbroken but then is surprised.
Julian forces his “Pet” to make the choices he wants.
Nora is not happy.
Though Nora does have feelings for Julian.
Julian is as possessive as ever.
He has very particular tastes.
Nora hates that she loves it.
She can’t make up her mind as to how she feels.
Julian gets even more obsessive about Nora.
Nora doesn’t know what to think.
Julian likes to be in control of Nora at all times
Julian needs to know what Nora is doing every minute of every day.
Nora finally breaks.
Julian will have none of that.
Nora says she hates Julian.
Julian doesn’t care what Nora says or feels
Wishing Nora would go off on Julian!
Hold Me!
Julian and his team went in search of the “Al Qaedar” Terrorists that kidnapped Nora.
Julian’s plane crashed
Nora had a plan to save Julian when she found “Al Qaedar” kidnapped him.
Nora is kidnapped yet again.
Of course we know it had to turn out Ok since this is a romance.
Though Julian is not happy about what Nora did.
Julian is just as possessive as before.
Nora is disturbed Julian’s violent life and how she is becoming violent.
Nora is deeply disturbed by the fact that she is no longer disturbed by Julian
Julian makes all the rules
Julian fears losing Nora.
There is a car chase.
And they live happily ever after…
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
November 28, 2018
This series is one of the first dark books I've ever read. Actually, I think it was the second dark book I read and it was just at the right time because I discovered an author I loved and a series of books I'll continue to read whenever I feel the need to mentally go back to a time when everything was peaceful and simple in my life...
Nora and Julian's story is passionate and inspiring to me, especially as a writer myself, Anna's books have caused bombs in my brains and when I hit the keyboard, I hit it hard.
READ THESE!!
You won't regret it.
Feel free to thank me later!
Nora and Julian's story is passionate and inspiring to me, especially as a writer myself, Anna's books have caused bombs in my brains and when I hit the keyboard, I hit it hard.
READ THESE!!
You won't regret it.
Feel free to thank me later!
April 2, 2019
Twist me ( The Complete Trilogy) by Anna Zaire's is the most darkest,twisted, disturbing and unimaginable form of romance ever!! It's also one of those series that keeps tugging at your heart whilst keeping you on the edge and needing more (oh the fun reading this 😉)
There is everything in these books from kidnaping to bullet flying corrupt officials car chases ,torture and plenty of dark naughtiness (and much more )
Right from the first page it starts a thrilling ride which you find you need to continue untill the end,there your left feeling exhausted from all the excitement it also sets you up for the capture series.
I highly recommend this series if you want a dark , obsessive romance 💋
There is everything in these books from kidnaping to bullet flying corrupt officials car chases ,torture and plenty of dark naughtiness (and much more )
Right from the first page it starts a thrilling ride which you find you need to continue untill the end,there your left feeling exhausted from all the excitement it also sets you up for the capture series.
I highly recommend this series if you want a dark , obsessive romance 💋
December 29, 2018
BOOK #1 - 5 Stars 🥀
“With Julian, I feel like I’m the most important thing in the world to him. I feel like I truly matter.”
- Nora Leston
* * *
“I never meant to leave you, never meant to let you go—”
- Julian Esguerra
---------
BOOK #2 - 4 Stars 🥀🥀
“Something about her calms my demons, makes me feel almost normal. Almost . . . happy. It’s not something I can explain or rationalize; it’s just there. It’s what makes my need for her so acute, so desperate.
So dangerously fucked up.”
- Julian Esguerra
* * *
“Captor, lover, or husband—it’s all the same; the label doesn’t alter the reality of our dysfunctional relationship.”
- Nora Esguerra
---------
BOOK #3 - 4 Stars 🥀🥀🥀
“I didn’t know she would come to own me as much as I own her.”
- Julian Esguerra
* * *
“We may never be “normal,” but that doesn’t mean we can’t be happy.”
- Nora Esguerra
“With Julian, I feel like I’m the most important thing in the world to him. I feel like I truly matter.”
- Nora Leston
* * *
“I never meant to leave you, never meant to let you go—”
- Julian Esguerra
---------
BOOK #2 - 4 Stars 🥀🥀
“Something about her calms my demons, makes me feel almost normal. Almost . . . happy. It’s not something I can explain or rationalize; it’s just there. It’s what makes my need for her so acute, so desperate.
So dangerously fucked up.”
- Julian Esguerra
* * *
“Captor, lover, or husband—it’s all the same; the label doesn’t alter the reality of our dysfunctional relationship.”
- Nora Esguerra
---------
BOOK #3 - 4 Stars 🥀🥀🥀
“I didn’t know she would come to own me as much as I own her.”
- Julian Esguerra
* * *
“We may never be “normal,” but that doesn’t mean we can’t be happy.”
- Nora Esguerra
September 26, 2016
“My captive. My wife. My entire world. I will never, ever let her go.”
TWIST ME: The Complete Trilogy by Anna Zaires is hands down the most spellbinding DR series I have ever read! Addictive and passionate, dark and twisted, filled with tantalizing romance, palpable danger, thrilling suspense and SCORCHING HOT sensuality...it is a MUST read!!!!
Ms. Zaires narrative is absolutely breathtaking, and she weaves an intricate plot that is beautifully complex, richly nuanced and epically grand in scope. So much happens throughout, it is impossible to fully encapsulate. But at its heart, this is a wildly passionate tale of dark, obsessive love that ignites between a ruthless, world renowned arms dealer and the innocent, pure-hearted beauty he kidnaps at 18 and spirits away to his remote private island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
TWIST ME features my fave anti-hero EVER, and, in my opinion, Julian Esguerra is unrivaled!! He is dark and predatory, insanely possessive, deliciously dominant and so fiercely protective over Nora Leston, the object of his compulsive desires, he leaves me all aquiver!
Larger than life and lethally handsome with dark hair, chiseled features, a powerful physique and glittering blue eyes, Julian rules his vast empire with an iron fist and he is MERCILESS with his enemies. Especially when he is backed into a corner or those in his inner circle are put in harm’s way.
Julian is so powerful magnetic, in fact, is it any wonder why fans are so hopelessly smitten with him? What draws me to him, beyond his potent sex appeal and commanding presence, is how totally and utterly consumed he is with Nora! Through the course of the trilogy he conditions his beautiful prisoner to bend to his will, to love and depend on him so completely that she not only becomes his willing captive but cannot bear to live without him.
Although he has an exquisitely gentle side, Julian is NOT s man to be crossed, and spells out his intentions toward his bewitching captive from the start. She is his ....forever. There will be no escape.
“You are mine for the rest of your life,” he whispers harshly, the warmth of his breath making my skin prickle with goosebumps. “Do you understand me, Nora? All of you… It’s all mine to use and abuse as I will. I own you, inside and out, in every way possible…”
He'd always planned on owning her, to get her to submit to his will and satisfy his every carnal desire, to be his adoring, obedient pet. Every move was coldly calculated and calmly methodical. He wanted to break her so he could put her back together.
“I gather her against me, knowing she needs tenderness after brutality. And in a way, I need it too. I need to comfort her, to soothe her. To bind her to me when she’s at her most vulnerable, so I can ensure her love."
But he never envisioned falling desperately in love in the process. But love her he did. With every beat of his dark, damaged, diabolical heart. In essence, Nora became the center of his universe. Every breath she took belonged to him, and her happiness, safety and well-being superseded EVERYTHING.
“I will give you the world, my pet. The whole F*king world—just as long as you’re mine.”
While Julian does have his darker, sadistic tendencies, there is a raw, primal tenderness to him that just melts me!! His evolution from cruel, sadistic captor to darkly besotted husband and lover was such a gloriously thing to hold. But at his core he retained his same ruthlessly sinister edge. He made no excuses—or apologies--for the choices he made. He wanted Nora, so he took her. End of story. And in the process he stole the heart of countless fans.
As it turns out, his docile pet is hardly “docile” after all. On the contrary, she is a warrior in her own right. And although in the early days the young spitfire fights tooth and nail against her forced captivity, through the course of the story Nora not only comes to accept her new reality but thrives on it and she soon comes so deeply entrenched in the dark, violent world Julian inhabits that her soul does not emerge unscathed. She soon comes to crave the primitive pleasure and torrid brutality that once terrified her the most. Before long, the two are so inexorably intertwined she needs both in equal measure.
"Julian has tapped into that dark, secret part of myself that is a mirror image of his own twisted desires. It’s a part of me that longs to give up control, to lose myself completely and just be his."
This couple faces much danger and heartache, and many trials and tribulations along the way, and their addiction to one another is so overpowering they would literally walk through the pits of hell, and face down the devil himself, to save one another. Ms. Zaire never missed a single beat with the book. The erotic interludes were tastefully choreographed, scintillating—and plentiful!--and every plot point was brilliantly executed and so palpable it often left me gasping for breath. And the HEA ending? EPIC!!!!!!! The perfectly fitting ending for this beloved couple’s amazing journey…a journey that was filled with love and lust, pain and loss, but finally triumphs against ALL ODDS!!
In closing, I was consumed from start to finish by this sumptuous, high octane romantic thriller, masterfully penned by the exceptionally talented Anna Zaires, about a dark, twisted love affair that defies logic and reason, and is guaranteed to hold my heart forever captive!
TWIST ME: The Complete Trilogy by Anna Zaires is hands down the most spellbinding DR series I have ever read! Addictive and passionate, dark and twisted, filled with tantalizing romance, palpable danger, thrilling suspense and SCORCHING HOT sensuality...it is a MUST read!!!!
Ms. Zaires narrative is absolutely breathtaking, and she weaves an intricate plot that is beautifully complex, richly nuanced and epically grand in scope. So much happens throughout, it is impossible to fully encapsulate. But at its heart, this is a wildly passionate tale of dark, obsessive love that ignites between a ruthless, world renowned arms dealer and the innocent, pure-hearted beauty he kidnaps at 18 and spirits away to his remote private island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
TWIST ME features my fave anti-hero EVER, and, in my opinion, Julian Esguerra is unrivaled!! He is dark and predatory, insanely possessive, deliciously dominant and so fiercely protective over Nora Leston, the object of his compulsive desires, he leaves me all aquiver!
Larger than life and lethally handsome with dark hair, chiseled features, a powerful physique and glittering blue eyes, Julian rules his vast empire with an iron fist and he is MERCILESS with his enemies. Especially when he is backed into a corner or those in his inner circle are put in harm’s way.
Julian is so powerful magnetic, in fact, is it any wonder why fans are so hopelessly smitten with him? What draws me to him, beyond his potent sex appeal and commanding presence, is how totally and utterly consumed he is with Nora! Through the course of the trilogy he conditions his beautiful prisoner to bend to his will, to love and depend on him so completely that she not only becomes his willing captive but cannot bear to live without him.
Although he has an exquisitely gentle side, Julian is NOT s man to be crossed, and spells out his intentions toward his bewitching captive from the start. She is his ....forever. There will be no escape.
“You are mine for the rest of your life,” he whispers harshly, the warmth of his breath making my skin prickle with goosebumps. “Do you understand me, Nora? All of you… It’s all mine to use and abuse as I will. I own you, inside and out, in every way possible…”
He'd always planned on owning her, to get her to submit to his will and satisfy his every carnal desire, to be his adoring, obedient pet. Every move was coldly calculated and calmly methodical. He wanted to break her so he could put her back together.
“I gather her against me, knowing she needs tenderness after brutality. And in a way, I need it too. I need to comfort her, to soothe her. To bind her to me when she’s at her most vulnerable, so I can ensure her love."
But he never envisioned falling desperately in love in the process. But love her he did. With every beat of his dark, damaged, diabolical heart. In essence, Nora became the center of his universe. Every breath she took belonged to him, and her happiness, safety and well-being superseded EVERYTHING.
“I will give you the world, my pet. The whole F*king world—just as long as you’re mine.”
While Julian does have his darker, sadistic tendencies, there is a raw, primal tenderness to him that just melts me!! His evolution from cruel, sadistic captor to darkly besotted husband and lover was such a gloriously thing to hold. But at his core he retained his same ruthlessly sinister edge. He made no excuses—or apologies--for the choices he made. He wanted Nora, so he took her. End of story. And in the process he stole the heart of countless fans.
As it turns out, his docile pet is hardly “docile” after all. On the contrary, she is a warrior in her own right. And although in the early days the young spitfire fights tooth and nail against her forced captivity, through the course of the story Nora not only comes to accept her new reality but thrives on it and she soon comes so deeply entrenched in the dark, violent world Julian inhabits that her soul does not emerge unscathed. She soon comes to crave the primitive pleasure and torrid brutality that once terrified her the most. Before long, the two are so inexorably intertwined she needs both in equal measure.
"Julian has tapped into that dark, secret part of myself that is a mirror image of his own twisted desires. It’s a part of me that longs to give up control, to lose myself completely and just be his."
This couple faces much danger and heartache, and many trials and tribulations along the way, and their addiction to one another is so overpowering they would literally walk through the pits of hell, and face down the devil himself, to save one another. Ms. Zaire never missed a single beat with the book. The erotic interludes were tastefully choreographed, scintillating—and plentiful!--and every plot point was brilliantly executed and so palpable it often left me gasping for breath. And the HEA ending? EPIC!!!!!!! The perfectly fitting ending for this beloved couple’s amazing journey…a journey that was filled with love and lust, pain and loss, but finally triumphs against ALL ODDS!!
In closing, I was consumed from start to finish by this sumptuous, high octane romantic thriller, masterfully penned by the exceptionally talented Anna Zaires, about a dark, twisted love affair that defies logic and reason, and is guaranteed to hold my heart forever captive!
January 12, 2019
Audiobook: Narrators - Robert Scarlato & Shirl Rae
With the addition of Mr. Scarlato’s voice this audio just took the series up to a whole new level for me. While I enjoyed Ms. Rae’s voice in the previous book, I wasn’t constantly turning the audio on. However, this time around, I found myself unable to stop the audio. This pair together were perfection!
Twist Me:
While this is certainly dark with an anti-hero who kidnaps the heroine, it really wasn’t as dark as I expected. The heroine often fears the hero and yet he had never really done anything to show that he was violent to the point of threatening her life. Her constant fear of him in that regard bothered me a bit. I would’ve actually enjoyed this more had he done something to earn that fear. Yes, he does inject her and kidnap her, there is definitely some dubious consent and he begins acts of bd$m without talking to her – she is a victim after all – but even if she was hesitant to give in at first, she quickly changed gears and wanted him. Getting to know the hero along with her was interesting and I, like her, began to fall in love with him. The crisis that arises was horrifying but I loved the ending.
Heroine POV
Safe
Triggers
Keep Me:
Okay, this book has just pushed me off the fence I was riding after book 1 and right into the middle of crazy town and I absolutely love where I’ve landed. With this installment in the series I was allowed into Julian’s mind and wow...talk about dark and dangerous. But there is also so much need to protect and keep Nora safe. And he does it in such extreme controlling ways. Yet I loved it! There is never any question as to how he feels about her and even if she’s a bit back and forth with her decisions, she loves him.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
Hold Me:
While I was at first a bit on edge about the change in Nora’s character that arises during this book, I quickly realized that it was actually perfect for not only the situation but for Julian as well. This is filled with so much drama, action, violence and agony my heart was twisted (oops, didn’t mean to use that as a pun but I’ll leave it) in every direction. I grew to love each of these characters the deeper into the dark they went. Nora’s own personal emotional journey was painful to experience in every way. With Julian’s added to it I was torn between wanting the perfect HEA with a white picket fence and wanting the happy ending that only a dark soul could ever have. Be assured, it does have a HEA, but what it’s made of will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
Without a doubt, I am now a fan of this trilogy and I am so curious to read more by this author.
With the addition of Mr. Scarlato’s voice this audio just took the series up to a whole new level for me. While I enjoyed Ms. Rae’s voice in the previous book, I wasn’t constantly turning the audio on. However, this time around, I found myself unable to stop the audio. This pair together were perfection!
Twist Me:
While this is certainly dark with an anti-hero who kidnaps the heroine, it really wasn’t as dark as I expected. The heroine often fears the hero and yet he had never really done anything to show that he was violent to the point of threatening her life. Her constant fear of him in that regard bothered me a bit. I would’ve actually enjoyed this more had he done something to earn that fear. Yes, he does inject her and kidnap her, there is definitely some dubious consent and he begins acts of bd$m without talking to her – she is a victim after all – but even if she was hesitant to give in at first, she quickly changed gears and wanted him. Getting to know the hero along with her was interesting and I, like her, began to fall in love with him. The crisis that arises was horrifying but I loved the ending.
Heroine POV
Safe
Triggers
Keep Me:
Okay, this book has just pushed me off the fence I was riding after book 1 and right into the middle of crazy town and I absolutely love where I’ve landed. With this installment in the series I was allowed into Julian’s mind and wow...talk about dark and dangerous. But there is also so much need to protect and keep Nora safe. And he does it in such extreme controlling ways. Yet I loved it! There is never any question as to how he feels about her and even if she’s a bit back and forth with her decisions, she loves him.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
Hold Me:
While I was at first a bit on edge about the change in Nora’s character that arises during this book, I quickly realized that it was actually perfect for not only the situation but for Julian as well. This is filled with so much drama, action, violence and agony my heart was twisted (oops, didn’t mean to use that as a pun but I’ll leave it) in every direction. I grew to love each of these characters the deeper into the dark they went. Nora’s own personal emotional journey was painful to experience in every way. With Julian’s added to it I was torn between wanting the perfect HEA with a white picket fence and wanting the happy ending that only a dark soul could ever have. Be assured, it does have a HEA, but what it’s made of will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
Without a doubt, I am now a fan of this trilogy and I am so curious to read more by this author.
February 23, 2023
4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It took me a while to get into this trilogy...when I first started book one ... I was questioning if this erotic romance was really meant for me... and while I liked Nora the heroine right off the bat...Julian was definitely a little more challenging ... he seemed so cruel and unfeeling.
Nora's thought process towards her captor was also a little strange IMO.
However once I settled in I really liked the progression of the story...there was some serious action/suspense scenes as well as all the steamy hot moments!!!
By the end....we get to know these characters really well and can understand their motivations and behavior much clearer ....definitely tempted to try a reread someday.
It took me a while to get into this trilogy...when I first started book one ... I was questioning if this erotic romance was really meant for me... and while I liked Nora the heroine right off the bat...Julian was definitely a little more challenging ... he seemed so cruel and unfeeling.
Nora's thought process towards her captor was also a little strange IMO.
However once I settled in I really liked the progression of the story...there was some serious action/suspense scenes as well as all the steamy hot moments!!!
By the end....we get to know these characters really well and can understand their motivations and behavior much clearer ....definitely tempted to try a reread someday.
August 2, 2019
4.5! ♥
Love this series!
Love this series!
November 4, 2016
I just finished reading Hold Me which is the final book on the Twist Me trilogy. Here's my quick review (some spoilers):
The sex:
Oh my oh my. ChristianGrey is nothing compared to Julian Esguerra. Julian is the kind of sadist that will turn you into the submissive type and make you "beg for more even after the third orgasm despite your fear and reluctance" (Nora's voice) sorry, I just had to. The sex toys are definitely present but they're not a primordial part of his mind games which I personally find quite comforting because I am a new reader (possibly a new fan) of this genre and I am not traumatized by the bdsm scenes.
The love:
I am amazed with it the romantic aspect of this trilogy. You can truly get into the story and see the journey in which Julian and Nora's abnormal erotic relationship develops chapter by chapter becoming the perfect mixture of romance, love, pain and lust (I wish I could've include respect on that one, oh well).
The action:
As you may have already noticed, I am inclined to books and series with a strong female character as a protagonist. Let me just tell you that I am glad that I kept reading after book one. Nora Leston-Esguerra (sorry for the spoiler there) went from being your average teenage girl to this fierce mob wife handling everything from a small semiautomatic in her purse to an AK-47 on a moving SUV while being chased and shot at by both a Hummer and a chopper. The climax of the trilogy felt like I was reading the script for one of the #fastandfurious movies so picture me pacing in my room for the majority of the third book. Terrorist groups, shootings, kidnaps, tourtures, explosions, grenades, plane crashes, car crashes... so someone PLEASE tell #michaelbay that I've found him his next hit! (That's how intense it got, wow I can type fast).
The only reason Twist Me was in the recommended books section of my #kindlefire was because I purchased the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy back in college when everyone was talking about it. Let me just tell you that if you liked Christian Grey then you will LOVE Julian Esguerra. This trilogy is full of romance, action and (duh) hard-core sex with some "soft" BDSM. I am hoping that someone is brave enough to purchase the rights and makes the film; I can assure you that it would be significantly better than Fifty Shades of Grey. I guess I can only hope.
So yes, I give this trilogy 5/5 stars. It's a fast read and I definitely recommend anyone with an open mind to jump in and read it.
PD: It's the first time that only one character whom I cared for died, that fact fills my heart with joy. (Yes, I still hate you #veronicaroth for that whole week that I spent crying, lost, devastated after I finished reading #allegiant #iloveyoubutfuckyou)
The sex:
Oh my oh my. ChristianGrey is nothing compared to Julian Esguerra. Julian is the kind of sadist that will turn you into the submissive type and make you "beg for more even after the third orgasm despite your fear and reluctance" (Nora's voice) sorry, I just had to. The sex toys are definitely present but they're not a primordial part of his mind games which I personally find quite comforting because I am a new reader (possibly a new fan) of this genre and I am not traumatized by the bdsm scenes.
The love:
I am amazed with it the romantic aspect of this trilogy. You can truly get into the story and see the journey in which Julian and Nora's abnormal erotic relationship develops chapter by chapter becoming the perfect mixture of romance, love, pain and lust (I wish I could've include respect on that one, oh well).
The action:
As you may have already noticed, I am inclined to books and series with a strong female character as a protagonist. Let me just tell you that I am glad that I kept reading after book one. Nora Leston-Esguerra (sorry for the spoiler there) went from being your average teenage girl to this fierce mob wife handling everything from a small semiautomatic in her purse to an AK-47 on a moving SUV while being chased and shot at by both a Hummer and a chopper. The climax of the trilogy felt like I was reading the script for one of the #fastandfurious movies so picture me pacing in my room for the majority of the third book. Terrorist groups, shootings, kidnaps, tourtures, explosions, grenades, plane crashes, car crashes... so someone PLEASE tell #michaelbay that I've found him his next hit! (That's how intense it got, wow I can type fast).
The only reason Twist Me was in the recommended books section of my #kindlefire was because I purchased the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy back in college when everyone was talking about it. Let me just tell you that if you liked Christian Grey then you will LOVE Julian Esguerra. This trilogy is full of romance, action and (duh) hard-core sex with some "soft" BDSM. I am hoping that someone is brave enough to purchase the rights and makes the film; I can assure you that it would be significantly better than Fifty Shades of Grey. I guess I can only hope.
So yes, I give this trilogy 5/5 stars. It's a fast read and I definitely recommend anyone with an open mind to jump in and read it.
PD: It's the first time that only one character whom I cared for died, that fact fills my heart with joy. (Yes, I still hate you #veronicaroth for that whole week that I spent crying, lost, devastated after I finished reading #allegiant #iloveyoubutfuckyou)
March 11, 2020
I first read book 1 in this series a couple years ago and for some reason I was unable to connect with the characters.
Recently my really good friend ( Hi Bee )has been encouraging me to read it and I finally gave in lol.
I actually enjoyed book 1 & 2. The storyline was good so it held my interest. My issue is it had way too much sex scenes in it. Don’t get me wrong I love reading about hot and heavy scenes but every other page in this series contained sex. I actually started skimming through the sex scenes because I wanted to read the actual story.
Book 3 however....you guys know how we loved the fast & furious movies but the later movies were some next level over top impossible stunts that left you confused. That’s how I felt about book 3.
Overall it was a good story, I did enjoy it. Maybe if Anna removed some of the unnecessary sex scenes and made this into a duet instead of dragging it out then I would of enjoyed it more.
Also,I have to mention Julian. I actually liked his character but at times I felt like she went way overboard with him.
There is a thing as Too Much!
Eg. The Terminator Eye!!!!!!!
Recently my really good friend ( Hi Bee )has been encouraging me to read it and I finally gave in lol.
I actually enjoyed book 1 & 2. The storyline was good so it held my interest. My issue is it had way too much sex scenes in it. Don’t get me wrong I love reading about hot and heavy scenes but every other page in this series contained sex. I actually started skimming through the sex scenes because I wanted to read the actual story.
Book 3 however....you guys know how we loved the fast & furious movies but the later movies were some next level over top impossible stunts that left you confused. That’s how I felt about book 3.
Overall it was a good story, I did enjoy it. Maybe if Anna removed some of the unnecessary sex scenes and made this into a duet instead of dragging it out then I would of enjoyed it more.
Also,I have to mention Julian. I actually liked his character but at times I felt like she went way overboard with him.
There is a thing as Too Much!
Eg. The Terminator Eye!!!!!!!
February 10, 2018
Oh my oh my. What did I just read???
It's no wonder this series received the rave that it did.
This is not one for the light-hearted.
It's dark. Bloody. Gory. Sexy.
Absolutely 100% yummy.
Which is why I think I need help for loving this.
It's no wonder this series received the rave that it did.
This is not one for the light-hearted.
It's dark. Bloody. Gory. Sexy.
Absolutely 100% yummy.
Which is why I think I need help for loving this.
November 16, 2017
I love this trilogy.
And this one is the complete series audiobook version.
I only listened book #2 and #3 thought, because I lost count how many times I’ve read book #1 already.
I like this audio version too, but I’m not too happy with the way they did it.
This audiobook have male and female narrators, I like that, but they doing it base by POV, not by male or female voice. So when Julian’s POV read it by the Male narrator, he will read Nora’s dialogue too and he sounds ridiculous!🙄😂🤣.
I think they do need to do this differently in the future book, lol.
And this one is the complete series audiobook version.
I only listened book #2 and #3 thought, because I lost count how many times I’ve read book #1 already.
I like this audio version too, but I’m not too happy with the way they did it.
This audiobook have male and female narrators, I like that, but they doing it base by POV, not by male or female voice. So when Julian’s POV read it by the Male narrator, he will read Nora’s dialogue too and he sounds ridiculous!🙄😂🤣.
I think they do need to do this differently in the future book, lol.
December 12, 2019
Twist Me follows the story of Nora Leston, who is elated to celebrate her eighteenth birthday, but on this fateful day, she meets Julian Esguerra, and her life changes forever. Stolen away to a private island, she finds herself at the mercy of a powerful, dangerous man whose touch makes her burn. Will she be free of this man or will she fall into his dark, dangerous arms?
Twist Me is an excellent dark romance trilogy that actually has enough narrative to span three books. The smut was bone-curling intense and the plot was next level. However, the main reason why some may not like this trilogy, is the the relationship between out two leads. Both of are legal age, one just barely, but there is a significant age gap as well. In addition, you add in the kidnapping and hostage situation and this may turn off some readers. There is some question when it comes to consent in a variety of situations that occur in this book that may disturb some readers as well.
On a purely entertainment level, I devoured this trilogy. I was glued to each and every page. I couldn't put this book down. But from a critical standpoint, Julian is not a hero to romanticize and machinations that occur to drive this relationship are unhealthy/problematic. As the trilogy unfolds these problematic elements become more and more prevalent making it hard to truly be enraptured in this story. Simply because these elements are harder to ignore. If you want me to talk more in depth about the problematic elements of this book, please feel free to shoot me a message. In an effort to avoid spoiling anything, I want to provide a high level review of all three books.
Twist Me is an excellent dark romance trilogy that actually has enough narrative to span three books. The smut was bone-curling intense and the plot was next level. However, the main reason why some may not like this trilogy, is the the relationship between out two leads. Both of are legal age, one just barely, but there is a significant age gap as well. In addition, you add in the kidnapping and hostage situation and this may turn off some readers. There is some question when it comes to consent in a variety of situations that occur in this book that may disturb some readers as well.
On a purely entertainment level, I devoured this trilogy. I was glued to each and every page. I couldn't put this book down. But from a critical standpoint, Julian is not a hero to romanticize and machinations that occur to drive this relationship are unhealthy/problematic. As the trilogy unfolds these problematic elements become more and more prevalent making it hard to truly be enraptured in this story. Simply because these elements are harder to ignore. If you want me to talk more in depth about the problematic elements of this book, please feel free to shoot me a message. In an effort to avoid spoiling anything, I want to provide a high level review of all three books.
June 6, 2016
Twist Me Trilogy
Anna Zaire's masterpiece wasn't my first adventure into "dark romance", but it has set the bar so high that I have had trouble finding anything else in this genre as satisfying as this amazing couple, Julian and Nora.
A young woman, newly turned eighteen years old, is kidnapped by a ruthless and powerful arms dealer and held captive on a remote tropical island. She is raped by her captor and used repeatedly for his sadistic sexual pleasures. She hates him, but can't deny the burning desire he ignites in her. Soon she starts to crave his touch, both the pain and the tenderness. Is there any way to sugar coat this scenario to make it palatable? To humanize both captor and victim? To empathize with them?
Anna accomplishes this, not merely competently, but with profound insight, eloquence, and surprising creativity. She makes the reader question herself: "What is wrong with me?" "How can I be aroused by this girl's predicament?" Yet I couldn't help falling in love with Julian and Nora just as surely as they developed their intense loyalty to each other.
“A moment of wordless communication passes between us, and I know. I know what he can’t say right now.
I know he would always come for me.
I know he would kill for me.
I know he would die for me.”
Nora's innocence and strength is a perfect compliment for Julian's depravity and obsessive protectiveness. Whenever they are together it is as if their heat could set the room ablaze. When they are apart there is such intense longing.
“His love for me is wrong and perverse in many ways, but it’s no less real because of that.”
Yes. Exactly! And let me say, I do love this story immensely. Every time I read it. Which has been three times over already and I'll probably still read it again. Why? Because it actually gets better each time. Anna's writing is so subtle that when I re-read, I notice the little nuances of Julian's transformation over the three novels, slowly coming to realize that he is hopelessly in love with Nora even as he steadfastly proclaims himself to be a monster incapable of that emotion. Anna makes us FEEL Julian's vulnerability beneath his harsh demeanour. It reminds me of Beauty and the Beast, with twenty-first century tech, and guns, and lots of hot, steamy sex.
“I will give you the world, my pet. The whole fucking world—just as long as you’re mine.”
This was truly an awe-inspiring romantic journey. I'm so thankful that Anna has continued on to the Capture Me trilogy, featuring Julian's deadly second-in-command, Lucas, and Yulia, the gorgeous Ukrainian spy who set in motion a whole mess of trouble for Julian and Nora.
Anna Zaire's masterpiece wasn't my first adventure into "dark romance", but it has set the bar so high that I have had trouble finding anything else in this genre as satisfying as this amazing couple, Julian and Nora.
A young woman, newly turned eighteen years old, is kidnapped by a ruthless and powerful arms dealer and held captive on a remote tropical island. She is raped by her captor and used repeatedly for his sadistic sexual pleasures. She hates him, but can't deny the burning desire he ignites in her. Soon she starts to crave his touch, both the pain and the tenderness. Is there any way to sugar coat this scenario to make it palatable? To humanize both captor and victim? To empathize with them?
Anna accomplishes this, not merely competently, but with profound insight, eloquence, and surprising creativity. She makes the reader question herself: "What is wrong with me?" "How can I be aroused by this girl's predicament?" Yet I couldn't help falling in love with Julian and Nora just as surely as they developed their intense loyalty to each other.
“A moment of wordless communication passes between us, and I know. I know what he can’t say right now.
I know he would always come for me.
I know he would kill for me.
I know he would die for me.”
Nora's innocence and strength is a perfect compliment for Julian's depravity and obsessive protectiveness. Whenever they are together it is as if their heat could set the room ablaze. When they are apart there is such intense longing.
“His love for me is wrong and perverse in many ways, but it’s no less real because of that.”
Yes. Exactly! And let me say, I do love this story immensely. Every time I read it. Which has been three times over already and I'll probably still read it again. Why? Because it actually gets better each time. Anna's writing is so subtle that when I re-read, I notice the little nuances of Julian's transformation over the three novels, slowly coming to realize that he is hopelessly in love with Nora even as he steadfastly proclaims himself to be a monster incapable of that emotion. Anna makes us FEEL Julian's vulnerability beneath his harsh demeanour. It reminds me of Beauty and the Beast, with twenty-first century tech, and guns, and lots of hot, steamy sex.
“I will give you the world, my pet. The whole fucking world—just as long as you’re mine.”
This was truly an awe-inspiring romantic journey. I'm so thankful that Anna has continued on to the Capture Me trilogy, featuring Julian's deadly second-in-command, Lucas, and Yulia, the gorgeous Ukrainian spy who set in motion a whole mess of trouble for Julian and Nora.
December 2, 2018
What?
This is the most unbelievable story I have read in a long time.
Nora is the most brainless virginal bimbo going around.
Julian is a rapist/abuser/murder and a whole list of other ridiculous traits.
Spoilers below
In the first 100 pages he’s kidnapped Nora who he touched on the lips one time (one whole time seriously) and then went full creeper mode and got her background info. Showed up at her graduation, said nothing - not one thing - then bashed a date she’s one, injects her and takes to an island - WHERE - on the first night he rapes and, get this, she likes it. oh yes orgasms galore apparently because why- he looks good?
Nora advises she’s scared 90% of the time. She shivers a lot. Then goes full Stockholm syndrome on everyone and starts to like him. He bashes her randomly and she cried a lot - asks if he’s into SNM. ( that’s your biggest concern Nora? really!!! )
Girl doesn’t make a coherent escape, tries to run away without a plan, goes back to the house, tried to bash the maid and then goes fishing with her next minute. And so on.
No.
To every girl out there - no.
This is the most unbelievable story I have read in a long time.
Nora is the most brainless virginal bimbo going around.
Julian is a rapist/abuser/murder and a whole list of other ridiculous traits.
Spoilers below
In the first 100 pages he’s kidnapped Nora who he touched on the lips one time (one whole time seriously) and then went full creeper mode and got her background info. Showed up at her graduation, said nothing - not one thing - then bashed a date she’s one, injects her and takes to an island - WHERE - on the first night he rapes and, get this, she likes it. oh yes orgasms galore apparently because why- he looks good?
Nora advises she’s scared 90% of the time. She shivers a lot. Then goes full Stockholm syndrome on everyone and starts to like him. He bashes her randomly and she cried a lot - asks if he’s into SNM. ( that’s your biggest concern Nora? really!!! )
Girl doesn’t make a coherent escape, tries to run away without a plan, goes back to the house, tried to bash the maid and then goes fishing with her next minute. And so on.
No.
To every girl out there - no.
Want to read
August 17, 2017
February 24, 2022
Favourite series to date- loved it. Highly recommended read. (Monogamy, m/f, BDSM, enemies to lovers, quick burn, spice 5/5
After reading this trilogy, I feel like I’ve been taken on a long exciting wild ride. So much happened, and it all combined to make the perfect epic love story. This series literally exceeded all my expectations of an erotic novel. I was hanging off every word. In my experience, usually a series this plot heavy lacks in erotic scenes, or lacks the detail of good erotic scenes, but this series quite literally provided the perfect balance of a gripping story and frequent hot detailed erotic scenes. The passion and heat between these characters made the story phenomenal. The author does a really good job at guiding the reader to understand how it’s possible for a woman who has kidnapped by a kidnapper whom she is sexually and emotionally attracted to feel not only fear and hate towards him, but also love and desire. The author painted the duality of these conflicting feelings beautifully and wrote the story so the main character has the voice to express her conflicting emotions
**potential spoiler**
I felt like I was emotionally on this crazy ride with the female protagonist, Nora. When Julian, the male protagonist (arguably antagonist), first kidnaps her, I was as outraged as she was! As Nora thinks and expresses many times that there is no justification for drugging an eighteen year old and kidnapping her to a secluded tropical island, just because you “want her”, I was also thinking that very thing. At first, Nora, nor the reader, knows if this guy makes a habit out of abducting and raping women. In fact, if it wasn’t for her attraction to him and the fact that he is so tender and loving with her, I might have stopped reading after the first couple chapters- I was struggling that bad with the morality of the situation. Thankfully I clung to the hope that we were going to learn something about this guy or the situation that would justify him kidnapping and “forcing himself on her” (even though he was gentle he didn’t give her a choice and in the real world, that is rape with no wiggle room). Although I don’t know if the way he went about being with her was ever truly justified, his upbringing, dangerous life and her ability to show the reader that she is 100% cognizant of the truth of the situation but chooses to love him anyway, does win the reader over- or at least it did me. The story is so well written that you are right there with Nora as Julian’s tenderness, erotic sadism, absolute devotion to her and her ultimate love for him out-weighs the feelings of injustice and resentment towards the reality of his selfish actions. As Nora begins to understand him, the reader begins to understand him through her thoughts and feelings and falls in love with him and his damaged soul right along with Nora; the internal fight to love or hate him that Nora feels and expresses throughout the story is the exact same one the reader feels. Although Nora is meant to be a natural submissive, she’s also very strong and self aware, which causes an internal battle between her logic, that is telling her his actions are wrong, and her heart, that identifies with his heart and motivations. Because the author does such a good job at writing the character’s inner thoughts battles, which are very rational and matter-of-fact about her situation, it makes the character very relatable to the reader and helps the reader to understand and believe how someone with half a brain could fall in love and choose to stay with their captor. As his evil deeds start being balanced by his good deeds and his devotion to her, eventually, like Nora, you justify routing for him and their love. This Character, Julian, is probably the closest character to being an actual bad guy that I’ve still fallen in love with and routed for.
After reading this trilogy, I feel like I’ve been taken on a long exciting wild ride. So much happened, and it all combined to make the perfect epic love story. This series literally exceeded all my expectations of an erotic novel. I was hanging off every word. In my experience, usually a series this plot heavy lacks in erotic scenes, or lacks the detail of good erotic scenes, but this series quite literally provided the perfect balance of a gripping story and frequent hot detailed erotic scenes. The passion and heat between these characters made the story phenomenal. The author does a really good job at guiding the reader to understand how it’s possible for a woman who has kidnapped by a kidnapper whom she is sexually and emotionally attracted to feel not only fear and hate towards him, but also love and desire. The author painted the duality of these conflicting feelings beautifully and wrote the story so the main character has the voice to express her conflicting emotions
**potential spoiler**
I felt like I was emotionally on this crazy ride with the female protagonist, Nora. When Julian, the male protagonist (arguably antagonist), first kidnaps her, I was as outraged as she was! As Nora thinks and expresses many times that there is no justification for drugging an eighteen year old and kidnapping her to a secluded tropical island, just because you “want her”, I was also thinking that very thing. At first, Nora, nor the reader, knows if this guy makes a habit out of abducting and raping women. In fact, if it wasn’t for her attraction to him and the fact that he is so tender and loving with her, I might have stopped reading after the first couple chapters- I was struggling that bad with the morality of the situation. Thankfully I clung to the hope that we were going to learn something about this guy or the situation that would justify him kidnapping and “forcing himself on her” (even though he was gentle he didn’t give her a choice and in the real world, that is rape with no wiggle room). Although I don’t know if the way he went about being with her was ever truly justified, his upbringing, dangerous life and her ability to show the reader that she is 100% cognizant of the truth of the situation but chooses to love him anyway, does win the reader over- or at least it did me. The story is so well written that you are right there with Nora as Julian’s tenderness, erotic sadism, absolute devotion to her and her ultimate love for him out-weighs the feelings of injustice and resentment towards the reality of his selfish actions. As Nora begins to understand him, the reader begins to understand him through her thoughts and feelings and falls in love with him and his damaged soul right along with Nora; the internal fight to love or hate him that Nora feels and expresses throughout the story is the exact same one the reader feels. Although Nora is meant to be a natural submissive, she’s also very strong and self aware, which causes an internal battle between her logic, that is telling her his actions are wrong, and her heart, that identifies with his heart and motivations. Because the author does such a good job at writing the character’s inner thoughts battles, which are very rational and matter-of-fact about her situation, it makes the character very relatable to the reader and helps the reader to understand and believe how someone with half a brain could fall in love and choose to stay with their captor. As his evil deeds start being balanced by his good deeds and his devotion to her, eventually, like Nora, you justify routing for him and their love. This Character, Julian, is probably the closest character to being an actual bad guy that I’ve still fallen in love with and routed for.
March 30, 2021
My love for Anna Zaires exploded after reading Mia & Korum trilogy and so I was very excited to read this trilogy even though it was dark romance instead of fantasy/sci-fi. And after reading the Twist me series I can unequivocally say that Anna Zaires is now amongst my top 5 favourite authors of all time.
When I say this book was the epitome of captivating I honestly am not exaggerating. I could not put it down for a second. I was drawn by the incredible storyline, the intensity of Julian, the chemistry between him and Nora. I'm not sure what I was expecting going in but having my heart stolen out of my chest by Mr. Esugerra was not it.
I adored the progression of the story, how with every chapter and book we see Nora and Julian's relationship have a new depth and element. Both characters were so well written and the development was top notch. The writing was amazing, the storyline enthralling and the book was just an all round incredible read.
I've said it once, I'll say it a thousand times, hands down one of the best series I've ever read, and an absolute MUST read for dark romance lovers out there.
When I say this book was the epitome of captivating I honestly am not exaggerating. I could not put it down for a second. I was drawn by the incredible storyline, the intensity of Julian, the chemistry between him and Nora. I'm not sure what I was expecting going in but having my heart stolen out of my chest by Mr. Esugerra was not it.
I adored the progression of the story, how with every chapter and book we see Nora and Julian's relationship have a new depth and element. Both characters were so well written and the development was top notch. The writing was amazing, the storyline enthralling and the book was just an all round incredible read.
I've said it once, I'll say it a thousand times, hands down one of the best series I've ever read, and an absolute MUST read for dark romance lovers out there.
November 20, 2022
En cuestión de trama, no hay trama. Es decir, si hay trama, pero si hace diez años hubiese leído este libro, sin duda seria de mis favoritos. Me explico…
Ya ha corrido mucha agua en el Dark Romance. Es un subgénero que ha evolucionado muy rápido y ya no vende el protagonista atormentado por una infancia dura que es malo porque el mundo lo ha hecho así y que se enamora de la virginal estudiante que es su punto de redención. Supongo que, siendo realistas, esta idea aún tiene potencial, pero siempre se puede ir mas allá y hay demasiadas historias que han aparecido a lo largo de estos años que sin duda han explotado al máximo su potencial. Malos malísimos, buenos buenísimos… no. Eso ya no.
Nora es como el agua. No tiene sabor, no tiene color. Aprender defensa personal y manejar un arma es a lo máximo que ha llegado en toda su historia con Julián y su mundo oscuro lleno de enemigos. Se rinde demasiado rápido, en mi opinión. El Síndrome de Estocolmo es un elemento del Dark romance que no necesariamente despoja a la protagonista de sustancia, o sea la personalidad debe definirse y no extinguirse, sino pues no sorprende. Se supone que todo este camino es por algo, va hacia algo, por más inadecuado que sea, hay un propósito, pero en este libro simplemente eso es lo que no encuentro. No sé, yo no la sentí demasiado destacable. Se desfiguraba en muchas partes y no siempre sabíamos quién era ella o que quería, a pesar de que las circunstancias no eran las mejores para demostrarlo. No sé si me estoy explicando bien. Necesitaba más profundidad con ella y conforme avanzaba en la lectura, menos lo conseguía.
Y Julián, es rebelde porque el mundo lo ha hecho así y porque nadie lo ha tratado con amor… hasta Nora, y pues… no hay nada más con él. No tiene carisma, no tiene magnetismo, no despierta interés en el lector para conocer más su historia. Todo es “quiero poseerla, quiero que sea mía, me gusta que me tema, quiero que me quiera”. Meh… Es un antihéroe insípido, en mi opinión. Y creo que la culpa la tiene el primer libro. Las interacciones son netamente sexuales, no hay diálogos reveladores, no hay situaciones intrigantes… no hay nada. Él simplemente la secuestra, tienen sexo dulce o rudo, según sea el caso, la castiga con más sexo, toman el sol, él se va por negocios en su avión y de la nada aparecen los malos que quieren hacerles el verdadero daño. Entonces tú te preguntas… ok ¿Y que más? Pues nada, nada más…
Ya ha corrido mucha agua en el Dark Romance. Es un subgénero que ha evolucionado muy rápido y ya no vende el protagonista atormentado por una infancia dura que es malo porque el mundo lo ha hecho así y que se enamora de la virginal estudiante que es su punto de redención. Supongo que, siendo realistas, esta idea aún tiene potencial, pero siempre se puede ir mas allá y hay demasiadas historias que han aparecido a lo largo de estos años que sin duda han explotado al máximo su potencial. Malos malísimos, buenos buenísimos… no. Eso ya no.
Nora es como el agua. No tiene sabor, no tiene color. Aprender defensa personal y manejar un arma es a lo máximo que ha llegado en toda su historia con Julián y su mundo oscuro lleno de enemigos. Se rinde demasiado rápido, en mi opinión. El Síndrome de Estocolmo es un elemento del Dark romance que no necesariamente despoja a la protagonista de sustancia, o sea la personalidad debe definirse y no extinguirse, sino pues no sorprende. Se supone que todo este camino es por algo, va hacia algo, por más inadecuado que sea, hay un propósito, pero en este libro simplemente eso es lo que no encuentro. No sé, yo no la sentí demasiado destacable. Se desfiguraba en muchas partes y no siempre sabíamos quién era ella o que quería, a pesar de que las circunstancias no eran las mejores para demostrarlo. No sé si me estoy explicando bien. Necesitaba más profundidad con ella y conforme avanzaba en la lectura, menos lo conseguía.
Y Julián, es rebelde porque el mundo lo ha hecho así y porque nadie lo ha tratado con amor… hasta Nora, y pues… no hay nada más con él. No tiene carisma, no tiene magnetismo, no despierta interés en el lector para conocer más su historia. Todo es “quiero poseerla, quiero que sea mía, me gusta que me tema, quiero que me quiera”. Meh… Es un antihéroe insípido, en mi opinión. Y creo que la culpa la tiene el primer libro. Las interacciones son netamente sexuales, no hay diálogos reveladores, no hay situaciones intrigantes… no hay nada. Él simplemente la secuestra, tienen sexo dulce o rudo, según sea el caso, la castiga con más sexo, toman el sol, él se va por negocios en su avión y de la nada aparecen los malos que quieren hacerles el verdadero daño. Entonces tú te preguntas… ok ¿Y que más? Pues nada, nada más…
February 19, 2020
I thought the book was terrible... Mind you I’m in to dark romances. This is definitely for a different mind set.. Far as Im concerned the male interest abuses her the entire book in addition to her being completely weak minded the entire time. It literally hurt me to finish the entire series. #imnoquitter is the only reason I completed it.
December 22, 2015
This series has such good reviews I gave it a go. I found it to be poorly written. The sex scenes were so numerous it left little room for a plot,which was clearly neglected.
March 10, 2020
4,5 Sterne
February 24, 2025
crazy ass book jesus
December 28, 2021
This is one of my most re-read series of all time. Twist Me Trilogy is still deliciously dark, powerful and full of consuming hotness. Highly recommended! ❤️
March 5, 2022
This is one of the first dark romance books I read when I discovered the subgenre. Anna Zaires is still one of my favorite authors and Twist Me is my favorite book by her.
Julian is an alpha jealous possessive hero that kidnaps Nora because he can. He hides her away with the hope of making her fall for him.
I love Julian and Nora's story. It is action packed and filled with a darkness that dark romance readers will love.
Julian is an alpha jealous possessive hero that kidnaps Nora because he can. He hides her away with the hope of making her fall for him.
I love Julian and Nora's story. It is action packed and filled with a darkness that dark romance readers will love.
December 14, 2016
The characters still play in my head-I don't think I have ever been so confused by my feelings for a character. I love Julian but I hate him, I envy Nora but I can't stand her compliance. This is by far the only book that has stayed with me way after I finished it. I find myself always wondering if there could be more to their story.
January 10, 2018
From my Audible review:
Wow! I've got the best book hangover ever!
Q: What made the experience of listening to Twist Me: The Complete Trilogy the most enjoyable?
A: Let's start with not having to stop to find Bk 2 and 3 when I just wanted to know what happened next. Then let's talk about how well the author balances the fear, rage and passion because let's face it. We keep thinking, she should be running, fighting, fleeing! It takes serious skill to create a believable, likeable character who acts so contrary to how we all think we should act in such a situation. I loved the action sequences, the relationship development moments, the view of the secondary characters. Just a really really well-written book.
Q: What other book might you compare Twist Me: The Complete Trilogy to, and why?
A: If comparing to 50 Shades - Julian beats Christian hands down. Not because he's a ruthless criminal but because he's more believable as an aggressive dominant. He does eventually love Nora but Julian's approach makes Christian look like a choir boy experimenting with BDSM. If comparing it to a few other "helpless female lead" books I've read like The Beast & Me by DS Wright - Twist Me still wins. There is a tendency in these books to spend so much time in the characters heads that the plot basically moves at a snails pace, assuming there is something more than a very basic plot. I loved that Twist Me had a more complex series of twists and turns that didn't rely on solely on the lead characters over thinking, assuming, worrying, over analysing everything. I've skipped pages and started skimming in other books for this reason. No desire to page skip here!
Q: Which character – as performed by Roberto Scarlato and Shirl Rae – was your favourite?
A: I can't really choose between Nora and Julian. Both narrators were great at their roles. I love that Nora's character has a backbone, despite her submissive role. As Julian says, she certainly knows when to pick her battles. Seeing her herding her parents as needed was brilliant, though I wish she had used her brain in that night club. Would it have been so hard to go get Julian first? Sigh...
Julian's character is a great balance between monster and lover. He can't be all bad, no one is but at no point does Anna Zaires sugar coat what and who he is - a criminal with a very skewed moral compass. Actually that compass might actually be very very broken. Still, we see how Nora changes him, see how he softens in some areas and harden in others. It was great to see him evolving as the story progressed too. Still, with all that evolution and growth... a leopard cannot change its spots. He's still Julian.
Q: Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
A: That moment when Julian is lying in bed at night, holding a sleeping Nora and he finally faces his grief. Broke my heart! And when they chat with the little girl in the park. A total Awwww moment!
Wow! I've got the best book hangover ever!
Q: What made the experience of listening to Twist Me: The Complete Trilogy the most enjoyable?
A: Let's start with not having to stop to find Bk 2 and 3 when I just wanted to know what happened next. Then let's talk about how well the author balances the fear, rage and passion because let's face it. We keep thinking, she should be running, fighting, fleeing! It takes serious skill to create a believable, likeable character who acts so contrary to how we all think we should act in such a situation. I loved the action sequences, the relationship development moments, the view of the secondary characters. Just a really really well-written book.
Q: What other book might you compare Twist Me: The Complete Trilogy to, and why?
A: If comparing to 50 Shades - Julian beats Christian hands down. Not because he's a ruthless criminal but because he's more believable as an aggressive dominant. He does eventually love Nora but Julian's approach makes Christian look like a choir boy experimenting with BDSM. If comparing it to a few other "helpless female lead" books I've read like The Beast & Me by DS Wright - Twist Me still wins. There is a tendency in these books to spend so much time in the characters heads that the plot basically moves at a snails pace, assuming there is something more than a very basic plot. I loved that Twist Me had a more complex series of twists and turns that didn't rely on solely on the lead characters over thinking, assuming, worrying, over analysing everything. I've skipped pages and started skimming in other books for this reason. No desire to page skip here!
Q: Which character – as performed by Roberto Scarlato and Shirl Rae – was your favourite?
A: I can't really choose between Nora and Julian. Both narrators were great at their roles. I love that Nora's character has a backbone, despite her submissive role. As Julian says, she certainly knows when to pick her battles. Seeing her herding her parents as needed was brilliant, though I wish she had used her brain in that night club. Would it have been so hard to go get Julian first? Sigh...
Julian's character is a great balance between monster and lover. He can't be all bad, no one is but at no point does Anna Zaires sugar coat what and who he is - a criminal with a very skewed moral compass. Actually that compass might actually be very very broken. Still, we see how Nora changes him, see how he softens in some areas and harden in others. It was great to see him evolving as the story progressed too. Still, with all that evolution and growth... a leopard cannot change its spots. He's still Julian.
Q: Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
A: That moment when Julian is lying in bed at night, holding a sleeping Nora and he finally faces his grief. Broke my heart! And when they chat with the little girl in the park. A total Awwww moment!
April 24, 2021
3 books in one. This author was recommended to me by a few readers who were into Jealous-possessive H.
Plot:
Nora Leston, an 18 year old about to finish year 12 meets Julian Esgurrea, an arms dealer from Columbia at a seedy nightclub in Chicago. She was stirred by his looks (!) but quickly moved away. She forgot about him until he turned up at her graduation later. She didn’t think anything of it. While on a date with her long time crush, Jake, she is drugged and kidnapped, taken to an island in the Pacific by Julian. To keep her at the place with little protests or methods of escape, he threatens her with hurting Jake. So eventually she complied. Julian set about Nora’s training into BDSM. Eventually, she became his pet and will do whatever he tells her. The punishment is rough sex, resulting in pain.
The story follows through from the kidnapping by H, kidnapping by his enemies, re-kidnapping by the H (although the author try to make it consensual) forced marriage, putting tracking devices into the h’s body (in case she gets kidnapped again) keeping her at his compound. If you are a feminist, then don’t read this book.
It was better reading all 3 books together. What I liked about this series is that there is very little repetition (regarding previous novel) but TBH, the entire story is just sex. The H is an absolute horn bag. All he thinks about is how to get into her pants and looking for excuses to punish her. On the steam level, this book is 5. Don’t expect for h to ever dominate the H in anything- he always have the upper hand- on top of her in bed, in 1 on 1 training and even when they are in danger. She does assess which battles to fight. She’s smart but still a doormat. Manipulation and lying doesn’t work because she’s easy to read. The H is an anti-hero, a true bad guy who enjoys torturing men (he talks about it) and loves every moment when he kills his enemies. In real life I don’t think any sane, intelligent woman would want to have a relationship with someone like that. In a novel, when it’s another person, that’s a different story.
I gave this one 4 stars. Some parts were 3 (the poor excuses for sex just made this porn) and some parts were a 5. In the end I gave it 4. Would I try another novel by this author? Sure!
Plot:
Nora Leston, an 18 year old about to finish year 12 meets Julian Esgurrea, an arms dealer from Columbia at a seedy nightclub in Chicago. She was stirred by his looks (!) but quickly moved away. She forgot about him until he turned up at her graduation later. She didn’t think anything of it. While on a date with her long time crush, Jake, she is drugged and kidnapped, taken to an island in the Pacific by Julian. To keep her at the place with little protests or methods of escape, he threatens her with hurting Jake. So eventually she complied. Julian set about Nora’s training into BDSM. Eventually, she became his pet and will do whatever he tells her. The punishment is rough sex, resulting in pain.
The story follows through from the kidnapping by H, kidnapping by his enemies, re-kidnapping by the H (although the author try to make it consensual) forced marriage, putting tracking devices into the h’s body (in case she gets kidnapped again) keeping her at his compound. If you are a feminist, then don’t read this book.
It was better reading all 3 books together. What I liked about this series is that there is very little repetition (regarding previous novel) but TBH, the entire story is just sex. The H is an absolute horn bag. All he thinks about is how to get into her pants and looking for excuses to punish her. On the steam level, this book is 5. Don’t expect for h to ever dominate the H in anything- he always have the upper hand- on top of her in bed, in 1 on 1 training and even when they are in danger. She does assess which battles to fight. She’s smart but still a doormat. Manipulation and lying doesn’t work because she’s easy to read. The H is an anti-hero, a true bad guy who enjoys torturing men (he talks about it) and loves every moment when he kills his enemies. In real life I don’t think any sane, intelligent woman would want to have a relationship with someone like that. In a novel, when it’s another person, that’s a different story.
I gave this one 4 stars. Some parts were 3 (the poor excuses for sex just made this porn) and some parts were a 5. In the end I gave it 4. Would I try another novel by this author? Sure!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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April 8, 2024This series is safe (still a dark romance with typical Stockholm syndrome FL), no cheating. A minor "OW drama" in which FL got into the hell hole because she resembled ML's childhood friend but ML didn't love that friend (maybe he had a fetish for brunettes and that type of face or whatever), so it's still safe overall and FL isn't just a second best.
I can’t get enough of her love. I can’t get enough of her. I wanted her initially because of her resemblance to Maria, but my childhood friend had never evoked even a fraction of the emotions Nora makes me feel. My affection for Maria had been innocent and pure, just like Maria herself.
My obsession with Nora is anything but.
I wish the author revealed it sooner, instead of making Nora feel insecure about the old, long gone childhood friend and dragging the "big revelation" into book 3.
I can’t get enough of her love. I can’t get enough of her. I wanted her initially because of her resemblance to Maria, but my childhood friend had never evoked even a fraction of the emotions Nora makes me feel. My affection for Maria had been innocent and pure, just like Maria herself.
My obsession with Nora is anything but.
I wish the author revealed it sooner, instead of making Nora feel insecure about the old, long gone childhood friend and dragging the "big revelation" into book 3.
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