What do you think?
Rate this book
It's in My Blood
Criminal Delights
Death eventually comes for us all. But what if there’s a way for older people to regain their youth? To stay a step ahead of the grim reaper?
Turning 40 was the last straw for me. It’s practically 60 in gay years and I wasn’t ready for dentures yet, so I came to Youthology — a program that injects clients with blood transfusions from young, fit and healthy donors.
I chose Nick.
Handsome. Masculine. And more importantly, young.
I thought I hit the lottery, until my life started to change for the worst. Not even the top medical experts can explain what happened to me. From the moment Nick’s blood flooded into my veins, I stopped being me, and I became something new; something dangerous and deadly.
I became my donor.
His obsessions are mine now. His darkest desires, his dreams, his needs, and nightmares are all a part of me, and I don’t want to let them go.
I embrace them and the beautiful boy who haunts both of our dreams.
My blood pact was sealed the moment I entered Youthology.
I never thought I’d become a killer.
This book is part of CRIMINAL DELIGHTS. Each novel can be read as a standalone and contains a dark M/M romance.
Warning: These books are for adult readers who enjoy stories where lines between right and wrong get blurry. High heat, twisted and tantalizing, these are not for the fainthearted.
Death eventually comes for us all. But what if there’s a way for older people to regain their youth? To stay a step ahead of the grim reaper?
Turning 40 was the last straw for me. It’s practically 60 in gay years and I wasn’t ready for dentures yet, so I came to Youthology — a program that injects clients with blood transfusions from young, fit and healthy donors.
I chose Nick.
Handsome. Masculine. And more importantly, young.
I thought I hit the lottery, until my life started to change for the worst. Not even the top medical experts can explain what happened to me. From the moment Nick’s blood flooded into my veins, I stopped being me, and I became something new; something dangerous and deadly.
I became my donor.
His obsessions are mine now. His darkest desires, his dreams, his needs, and nightmares are all a part of me, and I don’t want to let them go.
I embrace them and the beautiful boy who haunts both of our dreams.
My blood pact was sealed the moment I entered Youthology.
I never thought I’d become a killer.
This book is part of CRIMINAL DELIGHTS. Each novel can be read as a standalone and contains a dark M/M romance.
Warning: These books are for adult readers who enjoy stories where lines between right and wrong get blurry. High heat, twisted and tantalizing, these are not for the fainthearted.
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 14, 2019
74 people are currently reading
512 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
May 18, 2019
A smashing story. Hot as fuck, with filthy language. A journey about finding youth and after finding the right path and walking on it, it leads only to destruction.
This all viewed through the eyes of Mark Edwards. A man who turned into his forties and want to stay young. Youthology seems the solution, it gives a chance by replacing the blood of an older person with the blood of a younger and healthier person, in his case he chose Nick. Only when his body seems to get more and more younger, strange things are happening. As if he is changing into Nick.
He is getting younger, more vital, his libido is sky high, his attitude is getting worse and physically he is even more changing. He dreams lividly and sometimes horrifying.
And then there is Sean his new colleague. Mark is obsessed by him. They are writing an article for their magazine, and they will visite a sexclub. Oh boy, do they got pleasure from each other.
Mark is head over heels!
Things are beginning to run parallel with Mark, Sean and Nick. The story is getting overwhelming steamy, darker and sinister. Mark can’t hold back the urge to control his future anymore and he has to make the biggest decision of his life.
Amazingly written story, extremely captivating, it was dark, powerful, arousing, sexy, violent, with a touch of romance. It was so enthralling written, it faded awareness between good and bad, it made my head spin.
I loved the originality of it.
Highly recommended
This all viewed through the eyes of Mark Edwards. A man who turned into his forties and want to stay young. Youthology seems the solution, it gives a chance by replacing the blood of an older person with the blood of a younger and healthier person, in his case he chose Nick. Only when his body seems to get more and more younger, strange things are happening. As if he is changing into Nick.
He is getting younger, more vital, his libido is sky high, his attitude is getting worse and physically he is even more changing. He dreams lividly and sometimes horrifying.
And then there is Sean his new colleague. Mark is obsessed by him. They are writing an article for their magazine, and they will visite a sexclub. Oh boy, do they got pleasure from each other.
Mark is head over heels!
Things are beginning to run parallel with Mark, Sean and Nick. The story is getting overwhelming steamy, darker and sinister. Mark can’t hold back the urge to control his future anymore and he has to make the biggest decision of his life.
Amazingly written story, extremely captivating, it was dark, powerful, arousing, sexy, violent, with a touch of romance. It was so enthralling written, it faded awareness between good and bad, it made my head spin.
I loved the originality of it.
Highly recommended
![Profile Image for Megan [At The Cottage].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1634561405i%2F25103878._UY200_CR50%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
April 18, 2023
Gay Erotica With Plot
Dark & Depraved
4 Stars ⭐️
I dont know what the fuck to classify this book as. Technically there is a couple by the end but this book is not a typical love story. It’s not even a typical depraved love story because it’s unlike anything I’ve read. I dont know that I can even explain myself properly and let’s be real, I am never speechless. So thank you RomanceBookWorms for offering this for free because I was delighted by this book especially the hot af sex scenes. I should probably mention there’s sharing and a sex club at the heart of this but this is a dark twisted book and I enjoyed the depravity. It was also so fucking hot that I needed a cold shower and some time to myself 😉😂 This also becomes quite taboo (pseudo-incest) once I realized what was going on here and that gave it even more appeal so with all that said here’s what it’s about and I’m going to have to be kind of vague because I won’t spoil this for anyone. But I will say this felt like a mash up between the TV Show “You”, Dorian Gray, Jekyll & Hyde, and a chimera. (The technical term for chimera anyway.)
This is part of the Criminal Delights Dark MM Romance Series. Each book is a stand-alone and they can be read in any order. So, we have Mark a 40 year old gay man who works as a journalist and he’s starting to feel his age. Even though he stays fit he just doesn’t have the same energy he used to and it’s affecting his overall self esteem. But Mark is in luck because there is a new company called Youthology that uses blood transfusions to bring back youth and vitality and the results so far have been incredible. In order for Youthology to reach more people, they give Mark free treatments as long as he writes about it in his column and documents what he goes through. Young, fit and attractive people donate their blood to Youthology and Mark gets to select from photos whose blood he wants to use for the duration of the treatment but besides the photo it’s all anonymous. Mark selects a hot af muscular green eyed hottie named Nick as his donor. Within a few treatments his body starts to change drastically and the results are surprising to those around him. He looks and feels at least 10 years younger but there’s some side effects that worry him. He expresses these to the doctors treating him but it seems a small price to pay for something so life changing. Who cares if his eyes are turning green, his dick is getting bigger, he’s getting chest hair for the first time and his personality is shifting? Not Mark, at least not at first, but as time goes on and the transfusions cause more and more changes, Mark may get more than he bargained for. And that’s when this book becomes a wild fucking ride.
The only thing keeping me from 5 starring this is that the first 25-30% was a tad boring but once this got going I could not put this shit down. I hate dinging authors for grammar when I know my reviews aren’t perfect but this had some issues like “whole” instead of “hole” among other errors that took me out of the book but I enjoyed reading this so much I could look over it. I recommend anyone who is curious about this book to just go into it with an open mind and stay for the hot af sex scenes if nothing else. 🥵
Oh and I can’t believe this author is also Shane K Morton! WTF I have tried to read books under that name and they are way too fluffy for me but I want to devour everything under this pen name and I can only hope he writes more depraved content. I had no desire to return to the Grim and Sinister Delights Series after being traumatized by Lisa Henry’s Naked Ambition but I’m going to because of this author. 💗
Dark & Depraved
4 Stars ⭐️
I dont know what the fuck to classify this book as. Technically there is a couple by the end but this book is not a typical love story. It’s not even a typical depraved love story because it’s unlike anything I’ve read. I dont know that I can even explain myself properly and let’s be real, I am never speechless. So thank you RomanceBookWorms for offering this for free because I was delighted by this book especially the hot af sex scenes. I should probably mention there’s sharing and a sex club at the heart of this but this is a dark twisted book and I enjoyed the depravity. It was also so fucking hot that I needed a cold shower and some time to myself 😉😂 This also becomes quite taboo (pseudo-incest) once I realized what was going on here and that gave it even more appeal so with all that said here’s what it’s about and I’m going to have to be kind of vague because I won’t spoil this for anyone. But I will say this felt like a mash up between the TV Show “You”, Dorian Gray, Jekyll & Hyde, and a chimera. (The technical term for chimera anyway.)
This is part of the Criminal Delights Dark MM Romance Series. Each book is a stand-alone and they can be read in any order. So, we have Mark a 40 year old gay man who works as a journalist and he’s starting to feel his age. Even though he stays fit he just doesn’t have the same energy he used to and it’s affecting his overall self esteem. But Mark is in luck because there is a new company called Youthology that uses blood transfusions to bring back youth and vitality and the results so far have been incredible. In order for Youthology to reach more people, they give Mark free treatments as long as he writes about it in his column and documents what he goes through. Young, fit and attractive people donate their blood to Youthology and Mark gets to select from photos whose blood he wants to use for the duration of the treatment but besides the photo it’s all anonymous. Mark selects a hot af muscular green eyed hottie named Nick as his donor. Within a few treatments his body starts to change drastically and the results are surprising to those around him. He looks and feels at least 10 years younger but there’s some side effects that worry him. He expresses these to the doctors treating him but it seems a small price to pay for something so life changing. Who cares if his eyes are turning green, his dick is getting bigger, he’s getting chest hair for the first time and his personality is shifting? Not Mark, at least not at first, but as time goes on and the transfusions cause more and more changes, Mark may get more than he bargained for. And that’s when this book becomes a wild fucking ride.
The only thing keeping me from 5 starring this is that the first 25-30% was a tad boring but once this got going I could not put this shit down. I hate dinging authors for grammar when I know my reviews aren’t perfect but this had some issues like “whole” instead of “hole” among other errors that took me out of the book but I enjoyed reading this so much I could look over it. I recommend anyone who is curious about this book to just go into it with an open mind and stay for the hot af sex scenes if nothing else. 🥵
Oh and I can’t believe this author is also Shane K Morton! WTF I have tried to read books under that name and they are way too fluffy for me but I want to devour everything under this pen name and I can only hope he writes more depraved content. I had no desire to return to the Grim and Sinister Delights Series after being traumatized by Lisa Henry’s Naked Ambition but I’m going to because of this author. 💗
September 18, 2019
Sean Azinsalt, is a ‘new to me’ author, who also writes as Shane K. Morton, and this is Bk.11 in the CRIMINAL DELIGHTS series. I don’t think (I hope) the reading order matters. I haven’t read the others, but I think it’s more of a thematic link, rather than continuing or interconnected stories. The theme being love or rather lust in the dark alleys of the soul. I liked this one.
Mark Edwards is a stereotypical, but no less authentic, NYC gay man. He works as the lifestyle and fashion editor for an online magazine, and though fit and good looking, he’s on the verge of a nervous breakdown because he’s turning 40, which is like 60 in gay years. He’s not wrong, and he’s also endearingly self aware. You can’t hate him. To portray him otherwise, particularly in his line of work, would be false. Rescue, destiny, or a curse, depending on how you look at it, comes via a work assignment. Mark is the research guinea pig for a series of articles, he himself will write, about a company called Youthology which promises to reverse the effects of aging by the transfusion of blood from a young, vital, and healthy person directly into the veins of their clients. As you can imagine things take an unexpected turn.
I liked the author’s grasp on the geography and culture of the city, while also not getting super specific. I liked the interactions between Mark, his friends, and his work colleagues. It helped ground a story that, for some reason, had me both in mind of a vampiric folk tale, cannibalism, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Even though he has some doubt as to the science of the treatment, Mark proceeds, and at first things are even better than he would’ve hoped for. His energy and vitality are skyrocketing, he’s become a gym rat with the body to prove it, and even his sexual proclivities have changed. Bottom to top. However there are additional, unexpected, and unwelcome changes too. It would seem that Mark is taking on, not only the physical attributes of his ‘donor’, Nick, but also his dark dreams and desires. Nick is not a nice guy. Will Mark remain a nice guy? Define nice. We all do what we deem is right or necessary. Are Mark’s decisions prompted by the alien DNA living in his bloodstream, or where these latent qualities given a nudge by Nick’s blood. Given that Mark was given a choice of picking his ‘donor’, after reading bios and seeing pictures, was his choice of Nick a reasoned one or the call of something deeper? The author doesn’t answer, or even directly ask many this questions, but reading this did prompt them in me along with a light meditation on free will, narcissism, and the different shades of right and wrong. Not a bad way to spend a few hours.
If you came for the smex, it’s here! Brutal, raw, and most of it skirting the edge of bad/wrong, but who am I to say, when it’s what the participants want? There isn’t much romance, this series isn’t about that, though you could argue that the dark roads Mark takes are prompted by love or obsession. To each their own.
***This could use a once over by an editor to fix weird switches in tense and assorted distractions.***
Mark Edwards is a stereotypical, but no less authentic, NYC gay man. He works as the lifestyle and fashion editor for an online magazine, and though fit and good looking, he’s on the verge of a nervous breakdown because he’s turning 40, which is like 60 in gay years. He’s not wrong, and he’s also endearingly self aware. You can’t hate him. To portray him otherwise, particularly in his line of work, would be false. Rescue, destiny, or a curse, depending on how you look at it, comes via a work assignment. Mark is the research guinea pig for a series of articles, he himself will write, about a company called Youthology which promises to reverse the effects of aging by the transfusion of blood from a young, vital, and healthy person directly into the veins of their clients. As you can imagine things take an unexpected turn.
I liked the author’s grasp on the geography and culture of the city, while also not getting super specific. I liked the interactions between Mark, his friends, and his work colleagues. It helped ground a story that, for some reason, had me both in mind of a vampiric folk tale, cannibalism, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Even though he has some doubt as to the science of the treatment, Mark proceeds, and at first things are even better than he would’ve hoped for. His energy and vitality are skyrocketing, he’s become a gym rat with the body to prove it, and even his sexual proclivities have changed. Bottom to top. However there are additional, unexpected, and unwelcome changes too. It would seem that Mark is taking on, not only the physical attributes of his ‘donor’, Nick, but also his dark dreams and desires. Nick is not a nice guy. Will Mark remain a nice guy? Define nice. We all do what we deem is right or necessary. Are Mark’s decisions prompted by the alien DNA living in his bloodstream, or where these latent qualities given a nudge by Nick’s blood. Given that Mark was given a choice of picking his ‘donor’, after reading bios and seeing pictures, was his choice of Nick a reasoned one or the call of something deeper? The author doesn’t answer, or even directly ask many this questions, but reading this did prompt them in me along with a light meditation on free will, narcissism, and the different shades of right and wrong. Not a bad way to spend a few hours.
If you came for the smex, it’s here! Brutal, raw, and most of it skirting the edge of bad/wrong, but who am I to say, when it’s what the participants want? There isn’t much romance, this series isn’t about that, though you could argue that the dark roads Mark takes are prompted by love or obsession. To each their own.
***This could use a once over by an editor to fix weird switches in tense and assorted distractions.***
May 31, 2023
It has an interesting plot with the youthology and the main character slowly changing. It was a intriguing to use fear of aging and blood transfusion. Cool concept. I never read a dark romance with the hero starting out as a kind and sweet guy then change to be a more darker version.
May 18, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
I have been hankering for a story that features a genuine bad guy, a criminal. I wanted to read about a character who wasn’t framed for bad deeds they didn’t do or who gets redeemed one way or another. In that regard, It’s In My Blood fits the bill almost perfectly. It’s part of the Criminal Delights collection, a set of darker, standalone stories written by different authors. Personally, my first impressions of Mark before he started any blood infusions were of an incredibly shallow man obsessed with himself. Towards the end of the story, Mark himself seems to labor under the opinion that he was just milquetoast—compared to what he turns into, I supposed I can see that, but I didn’t not get any impression whatsoever that he was timid or bland, just self-absorbed and poor at handling turning forty. All that is to imply that Mark pre-infusions wasn’t a character I found particularly likeable. This is an interesting choice for me because the nature of the book (and the author’s own blurb about it) make it clear that post-infusions, Mark’s character turns downright nasty.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
I have been hankering for a story that features a genuine bad guy, a criminal. I wanted to read about a character who wasn’t framed for bad deeds they didn’t do or who gets redeemed one way or another. In that regard, It’s In My Blood fits the bill almost perfectly. It’s part of the Criminal Delights collection, a set of darker, standalone stories written by different authors. Personally, my first impressions of Mark before he started any blood infusions were of an incredibly shallow man obsessed with himself. Towards the end of the story, Mark himself seems to labor under the opinion that he was just milquetoast—compared to what he turns into, I supposed I can see that, but I didn’t not get any impression whatsoever that he was timid or bland, just self-absorbed and poor at handling turning forty. All that is to imply that Mark pre-infusions wasn’t a character I found particularly likeable. This is an interesting choice for me because the nature of the book (and the author’s own blurb about it) make it clear that post-infusions, Mark’s character turns downright nasty.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
June 17, 2019
So the first book I read in this collection I wasn't all that impressed with. Definitely not the case this time... Super Dark!
It wasn't so much the plethora of sex (and OMG there was so much of it, in every way imaginable, and ALL THE KINKS), the sex club, the open relationship etc. It was the obsession, the stalking, the pseudo-incest/narcissistic angle & the psychological thriller aspect that had me enthralled. This is exactly what I wanted.
I can't access the info for the narrator info (Edited to Add, now that I'm not on the app: Zachary Zaba - new to me and not linked here for the audio edition) but he was pretty good, and I almost tripped several times hiking along the Point Reyes Seashore cliffs because it was so deliciously raunchy.
I hope the rest are this good.
It wasn't so much the plethora of sex (and OMG there was so much of it, in every way imaginable, and ALL THE KINKS), the sex club, the open relationship etc. It was the obsession, the stalking, the pseudo-incest/narcissistic angle & the psychological thriller aspect that had me enthralled. This is exactly what I wanted.
I can't access the info for the narrator info (Edited to Add, now that I'm not on the app: Zachary Zaba - new to me and not linked here for the audio edition) but he was pretty good, and I almost tripped several times hiking along the Point Reyes Seashore cliffs because it was so deliciously raunchy.
I hope the rest are this good.
April 21, 2023
Trigger warnings galore.
Dark romance.
Twisted.
Depraved.
Rape off page.
Violence.
Humiliation.
Smoking hot smut!!!
I enjoyed this, but I think my shockmeter is skewed and I’ve become extremely jaded in my reading choices. I expected something darker. The smut was hot as hell and it’s worth reading for that alone, but the story didn’t give me the oomph I was looking for. There are there main characters in the book and only one of them is fully fleshed out; the other two are one-dimensional.
Dark romance.
Twisted.
Depraved.
Rape off page.
Violence.
Humiliation.
Smoking hot smut!!!
I enjoyed this, but I think my shockmeter is skewed and I’ve become extremely jaded in my reading choices. I expected something darker. The smut was hot as hell and it’s worth reading for that alone, but the story didn’t give me the oomph I was looking for. There are there main characters in the book and only one of them is fully fleshed out; the other two are one-dimensional.
June 3, 2019
2.5 stars - I love this series, darkness and depravity.. but this one was only half way there for me. Too many things going on. I just couldn’t buy into it ... but glad many others love it
January 25, 2021
(dnf at 25%)
holy shit, this writing was absolutely dreadful. D R E A D F U L. i can only assume there was no editor at all, or an editor who drank a little more wine than they should have, or an editor with a penchant for skim-reading. i'm not exaggerating when i say i could have used punctuation better when i was 14.
and, i mean, i'm picky, but as you can tell by the orthography of this review i'm not a complete grammar obsessive; i can forgive a couple of lapses here and there, but this was every damn page. i'm a voracious reader of fanfic and (once more, this is not an exaggeration) 90% of the fics i've read have used punctuation better than this book has, and most fics don't have any editors at all, are written for pure fun and usually have only one or two drafts. so what the hell is this author's excuse? there isn't one. fuck, the mistakes were so heinous that i'm sure microsoft word would have picked them up.
i tried to persevere because there must be a reason this book has a high rating, right? maybe there is, but i could NOT get past the juvenile writing and horrible grammar. improper use of commas is something you learn about in middle school, for fuck's sake. lord only knows how this has a 4.04 average rating when there's absolutely fantastic books out there floundering in their 3.42 and 3.56 ratings.
sorry if this review is overly salty or harsh, but it drives me up the wall when i see books like this with high ratings when other books have way lower ratings. not everybody can be a good writer, but everybody CAN get an editor. it's pure laziness.
holy shit, this writing was absolutely dreadful. D R E A D F U L. i can only assume there was no editor at all, or an editor who drank a little more wine than they should have, or an editor with a penchant for skim-reading. i'm not exaggerating when i say i could have used punctuation better when i was 14.
and, i mean, i'm picky, but as you can tell by the orthography of this review i'm not a complete grammar obsessive; i can forgive a couple of lapses here and there, but this was every damn page. i'm a voracious reader of fanfic and (once more, this is not an exaggeration) 90% of the fics i've read have used punctuation better than this book has, and most fics don't have any editors at all, are written for pure fun and usually have only one or two drafts. so what the hell is this author's excuse? there isn't one. fuck, the mistakes were so heinous that i'm sure microsoft word would have picked them up.
i tried to persevere because there must be a reason this book has a high rating, right? maybe there is, but i could NOT get past the juvenile writing and horrible grammar. improper use of commas is something you learn about in middle school, for fuck's sake. lord only knows how this has a 4.04 average rating when there's absolutely fantastic books out there floundering in their 3.42 and 3.56 ratings.
sorry if this review is overly salty or harsh, but it drives me up the wall when i see books like this with high ratings when other books have way lower ratings. not everybody can be a good writer, but everybody CAN get an editor. it's pure laziness.
October 24, 2019
I’ve loved reading this series, because I guess I’m a little depraved lol. Sometimes the darker things in life really freak me out and I’m in awe at the sickness of people, because I guess I’m weird because I’m the one who keeps watching or reading. Don’t take that wrong. I’m not saying the authors are depraved or anything, but I love thrillers and murder mysteries, and sometimes they can be quite dark. This, as in the others of this series, is one of them. I have to warn you as with the others, this deals with dark stuff. The darker side of BDSM, murder, rape, and more. So if you can’t handle it, don’t read it. If you are like me and haven’t read this one yet, you need to. It’s a good one.
Mark has just hit the big 40 and it is depressing him in a bad way. His body is changing little by little as he grows older. He’s noticed he’s not as energetic and all. So for his birthday, his editor gives him an assignment and a gift all in one. He’s going to try out this Youthology treatment place where you are supposed to become younger by replacing your blood with the blood of someone younger and vital. When the transfusions start, Mark can notice a difference immediately. He feels more energetic and youthful. But as he gets more transfusions, he notices some other things. He’s having nightmares of depravity and one of murder and he thinks it’s the memories of the guy’s blood he has. Not only that, but he’s changing physically as well. He bulked up at the gym, his dick has grown, and his eyes are changing color along with his hair. This can’t possibly be normal. He addresses his concerns to those people in charge and the doctors and find out it’s some blood mutation. And he has to stop the treatments. He’s also found his donors ex and is falling for the young man. And when he finds out what his donor really has done and the kind of person he is, he sets a plan in place to make Sean never afraid again and to make it right for the poor young man murdered. But then he realizes...his plan won’t make him any better that his donor, will it?
Getting older sucks. I can tell you that personally. I hit 40 and it was like an automatic change in my body. Every injury I ever had in my life, even the healed ones, seemed to hurt again with a vengeance. And my word, the lack of energy and such. So I understood where Mark was coming from. If there was a fountain of youth thing that was real and viable, I might want to try it myself. Until the dreams and nightmares and the fact that my body was changing to that of my donor’s. It’s the stuff of nightmares for real. Especially when you find out the person giving you new life is a man of evil pretty much. Yeah, everyone has their kinks. Some have to have it hardcore. And that’s fine for them. But, personally, for me, sometimes I think things go a bit too far. Not that I’m shaming anyone’s kink. Not at all. If that’s your thing and you’re happy and it’s all consented, be happy. But when it’s obvious some of it is not consentual and then ends in murder….yeah. Way too far. So when Mark saw this stuff of nightmares, he knew what kind of man his donor really was. Especially when it was confirmed by his ex, Mark’s now boyfriend. But the real messed up part, Mark feels like Nick is a part of him in more than one way. Almost like he’s a dual personality and he has to be real careful. Because life for him, is all about Sean and making Sean happy.
This book is a mind trip for sure. I’m telling you, but man it’s good.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
Mark has just hit the big 40 and it is depressing him in a bad way. His body is changing little by little as he grows older. He’s noticed he’s not as energetic and all. So for his birthday, his editor gives him an assignment and a gift all in one. He’s going to try out this Youthology treatment place where you are supposed to become younger by replacing your blood with the blood of someone younger and vital. When the transfusions start, Mark can notice a difference immediately. He feels more energetic and youthful. But as he gets more transfusions, he notices some other things. He’s having nightmares of depravity and one of murder and he thinks it’s the memories of the guy’s blood he has. Not only that, but he’s changing physically as well. He bulked up at the gym, his dick has grown, and his eyes are changing color along with his hair. This can’t possibly be normal. He addresses his concerns to those people in charge and the doctors and find out it’s some blood mutation. And he has to stop the treatments. He’s also found his donors ex and is falling for the young man. And when he finds out what his donor really has done and the kind of person he is, he sets a plan in place to make Sean never afraid again and to make it right for the poor young man murdered. But then he realizes...his plan won’t make him any better that his donor, will it?
Getting older sucks. I can tell you that personally. I hit 40 and it was like an automatic change in my body. Every injury I ever had in my life, even the healed ones, seemed to hurt again with a vengeance. And my word, the lack of energy and such. So I understood where Mark was coming from. If there was a fountain of youth thing that was real and viable, I might want to try it myself. Until the dreams and nightmares and the fact that my body was changing to that of my donor’s. It’s the stuff of nightmares for real. Especially when you find out the person giving you new life is a man of evil pretty much. Yeah, everyone has their kinks. Some have to have it hardcore. And that’s fine for them. But, personally, for me, sometimes I think things go a bit too far. Not that I’m shaming anyone’s kink. Not at all. If that’s your thing and you’re happy and it’s all consented, be happy. But when it’s obvious some of it is not consentual and then ends in murder….yeah. Way too far. So when Mark saw this stuff of nightmares, he knew what kind of man his donor really was. Especially when it was confirmed by his ex, Mark’s now boyfriend. But the real messed up part, Mark feels like Nick is a part of him in more than one way. Almost like he’s a dual personality and he has to be real careful. Because life for him, is all about Sean and making Sean happy.
This book is a mind trip for sure. I’m telling you, but man it’s good.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
May 16, 2019
2.5 stars - not my cup of tea, I was upset because I ADORE the criminal delights books. The concept itself was cool and MC character progression was very well done, but the overall book was lackluster. The first 1/4 of the book was a lot of shaming and whining and a underwhelming "good time". Progressed better but still not enough for me to enjoy it. Disappointed for sure.
May 10, 2019
Mark is mourning his fortieth birthday. He gets an opportunity to try a new rejuvenation treatment. When he starts the treatments his life changes. He finds the man of his dreams and the man in his nightmares.
I didn’t really care for Mark. He came across as a very self centered and selfish person. But I also think the author did an excellent job of showing his descent into whatever it was he fell into. Sean was a sweetheart though. This review doesn’t really give much information. Just read the book and enjoy the ride.
As one of the Criminal Delights books, this one is maybe the strangest I’ve read. Almost into the paranormal range. Definitely dark and pretty darned steamy. Oddly mesmerizing book.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
I didn’t really care for Mark. He came across as a very self centered and selfish person. But I also think the author did an excellent job of showing his descent into whatever it was he fell into. Sean was a sweetheart though. This review doesn’t really give much information. Just read the book and enjoy the ride.
As one of the Criminal Delights books, this one is maybe the strangest I’ve read. Almost into the paranormal range. Definitely dark and pretty darned steamy. Oddly mesmerizing book.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
July 18, 2019
Okay. So this is the second book in the Criminal Delights series that I read and I can tell you this one is twisted.
Mark is vain. Let's get that out of the way. When we meet him, all he seems to worry about is his looks and how turning forty is a kind of deathnail for gay guys. So when he is offered the chance to undergo the 'Youthology' blood-infusion experiment and write about it for the magazine he works for, he jumps at it because of the age-defying promises of the program.
Weeks after he starts the process, the changes to his body are dramatic. He acquires the youthful results he wants. However there are shocking side effects. He also acquires the physical and mental traits of his donor.
Mark acquires a few more deadly vices to add to his vanity and I mean deadly. Things take a twisted turn or two and I'm not going to give you spoilers.
This story is more of a dark psychological suspense and less of a romance, in my opinion but I loved it regardless.
Mark is vain. Let's get that out of the way. When we meet him, all he seems to worry about is his looks and how turning forty is a kind of deathnail for gay guys. So when he is offered the chance to undergo the 'Youthology' blood-infusion experiment and write about it for the magazine he works for, he jumps at it because of the age-defying promises of the program.
Weeks after he starts the process, the changes to his body are dramatic. He acquires the youthful results he wants. However there are shocking side effects. He also acquires the physical and mental traits of his donor.
Mark acquires a few more deadly vices to add to his vanity and I mean deadly. Things take a twisted turn or two and I'm not going to give you spoilers.
This story is more of a dark psychological suspense and less of a romance, in my opinion but I loved it regardless.
May 17, 2019
Who doesn’t want to restore their youth? It’s in My Blood by Sean Azinsalt presents a solution for you, a solution that is so simple it just might work. But you have to watch out for all those nasty and inconvenient side effects the drug commercials warn you about.
Middle age magazine editor Mark Edwards is given a gift for his fortieth birthday. Well it is actually an assignment for the lifestyle section of the magazine. A new procedure with YOUTHOLOGY; their sales pitch:
The Fountain of Youth. Youthology gives blood transfusions from a vibrant young donor into an older person to help keep youth alive. We offer-vitality, vigor, higher sex drive, and increased overall health.
This sounds creepy and like some voodoo at work but, oddly enough it also sounds like it could actually work. Although the thought sends chills through me: someone else’s blood, their life essence pumping through me? Yeah creepy.
After some deliberation and a bit of egotism, Mark decides to go for it. The process is highly thought out. Choosing a donor remains anonymous except for a first name and a complete look at the donor’s assets. His choice is instant, Nick is the most handsome and virile man Mark has ever laid eyes on.
Mark’s transformation is almost immediate and the results are unbelievable – in a good way. All except those pesky side effects that have to be related to the Youthology process.
In steps Sean Wolf, a new hire writer for the millennial life and travel ‘Dating in the New Age’ series of articles the magazine is writing. Not only that, but he’s the unknown man of Mark’s dreams for the last month. Why has he been dreaming of this gorgeous man? Well, you will have to take a gander at It’s in My Blood to find out. Suffice it to say, there is a twisted and dark triangle with Mark, Sean, and Nick ahead for you.
It’s in My Blood is oddly captivating, dark and steamy. And as for the characters…
Mark is a guy who is hung up on his age, something a lot of gay men fret about. Truly a nice guy with good intentions that undergo some serious alteration at the hands of Youthology.
Sean is an absolute sweetheart who apparently can pick‘em. He is kind and trusting, with a beauty he doesn’t know he has. His blue eyes show compassion and hopefulness, with a hint of wariness.
Nick, on the other hand, is an utter disgusting excuse for a human being. Okay, he is gorgeous and hung like a horse, so he has that going for him. Being honest, his connection with Mark has some redeeming qualities, not that it matters in the end.
The premise for each of the stories in the standalone Criminal Delights collection is that “These books are for adult readers who enjoy stories where lines between right and wrong get blurry. High heat, twisted and tantalizing, these are not for the fainthearted.” It’s in My Blood most definitely fits this mold. I was captivated from the start and oddly felt compassion for each of the characters at one point.
The creepiness sets in because Youthology’s process and the consequences have the feeling of being something that is possible. So, I recommend sitting back and enjoying the ride It’s in My Blood takes you on. You won’t be sorry.
Middle age magazine editor Mark Edwards is given a gift for his fortieth birthday. Well it is actually an assignment for the lifestyle section of the magazine. A new procedure with YOUTHOLOGY; their sales pitch:
The Fountain of Youth. Youthology gives blood transfusions from a vibrant young donor into an older person to help keep youth alive. We offer-vitality, vigor, higher sex drive, and increased overall health.
This sounds creepy and like some voodoo at work but, oddly enough it also sounds like it could actually work. Although the thought sends chills through me: someone else’s blood, their life essence pumping through me? Yeah creepy.
After some deliberation and a bit of egotism, Mark decides to go for it. The process is highly thought out. Choosing a donor remains anonymous except for a first name and a complete look at the donor’s assets. His choice is instant, Nick is the most handsome and virile man Mark has ever laid eyes on.
Mark’s transformation is almost immediate and the results are unbelievable – in a good way. All except those pesky side effects that have to be related to the Youthology process.
In steps Sean Wolf, a new hire writer for the millennial life and travel ‘Dating in the New Age’ series of articles the magazine is writing. Not only that, but he’s the unknown man of Mark’s dreams for the last month. Why has he been dreaming of this gorgeous man? Well, you will have to take a gander at It’s in My Blood to find out. Suffice it to say, there is a twisted and dark triangle with Mark, Sean, and Nick ahead for you.
It’s in My Blood is oddly captivating, dark and steamy. And as for the characters…
Mark is a guy who is hung up on his age, something a lot of gay men fret about. Truly a nice guy with good intentions that undergo some serious alteration at the hands of Youthology.
Sean is an absolute sweetheart who apparently can pick‘em. He is kind and trusting, with a beauty he doesn’t know he has. His blue eyes show compassion and hopefulness, with a hint of wariness.
Nick, on the other hand, is an utter disgusting excuse for a human being. Okay, he is gorgeous and hung like a horse, so he has that going for him. Being honest, his connection with Mark has some redeeming qualities, not that it matters in the end.
The premise for each of the stories in the standalone Criminal Delights collection is that “These books are for adult readers who enjoy stories where lines between right and wrong get blurry. High heat, twisted and tantalizing, these are not for the fainthearted.” It’s in My Blood most definitely fits this mold. I was captivated from the start and oddly felt compassion for each of the characters at one point.
The creepiness sets in because Youthology’s process and the consequences have the feeling of being something that is possible. So, I recommend sitting back and enjoying the ride It’s in My Blood takes you on. You won’t be sorry.
May 19, 2019
Having read all the other books in the Criminal Delights series, when I started this one I already tense,ready for and intense ride. And then,the start of the book got me relaxed, because it was kind of funny to see whinny, sad Mark go through his midlife crisis. I shouldn't have relaxed, though, because once he sets foot into Youthology things got so dark,obsessive and disturbing that by the end of the book I was wide eyed and breathless.
It's In Your Blood is not for everyone, certainly not for the faint of heart. It's greatly written and gripping, despite the subject. I recommend it because it offers a different thrill.
It's In Your Blood is not for everyone, certainly not for the faint of heart. It's greatly written and gripping, despite the subject. I recommend it because it offers a different thrill.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2019
I’m not even sure how to put into words what I think about this story. Having just finished it I’m now thinking how much I really liked this story.
Mark Edwards has just turned forty and he isn’t happy about that. When an opportunity arises for him to try out Youthology he decided to give it a go. He’s not prepared for what happens when the process starts.
It’s in my Blood is not a story for everyone. It’s a well written standalone in the Criminal Delights series. It contains a dark mm romance. It’s also got some messed up characters lol
I seriously can’t wait to read more of this series and I’ll be keeping my eye out for more books from this author.
Mark Edwards has just turned forty and he isn’t happy about that. When an opportunity arises for him to try out Youthology he decided to give it a go. He’s not prepared for what happens when the process starts.
It’s in my Blood is not a story for everyone. It’s a well written standalone in the Criminal Delights series. It contains a dark mm romance. It’s also got some messed up characters lol
I seriously can’t wait to read more of this series and I’ll be keeping my eye out for more books from this author.
May 19, 2019
I received a free copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
3 Dark Stars
Sean Azinsalt is a new-to-me author.
Spoiler-free review which is why I will be vague on the plot, as I don't want to ruin the reading experience.
It's in My Blood definitely fits the overall dark theme of the Criminal Delights: Obsession series, which are standalone collaborations by multiple authors.
As someone who just turned 40 on my last birthday, I could easily empathize with how there must be some sort of internal gauge inside our DNA that trips over to having things go haywire in our bodies at the strike of 40. I understood Mark's need for the fountain of youth, even if the lengths he used were far-reaching (uncomfortable laughter)
Mark is difficult to swallow- his almost narcissistic viewpoint comes off as whining, overbearing. What had me sympathizing over turning 40, also left me feeling down on myself, because with all of Mark's vapid whining, it grated on me, because it felt super judgy directed at the over 40 crowd. Only we don't have a fountain of youth or a sociopathic need to basically cannibalize a donor (metaphorical, not literal). This mindset made it easy to believe how Mark devolved into the person who would... do what he did, and the path of travel to get to the destination.
Mark's friend/boss suggested on his fortieth birthday to try Youthology, where he would write an article for their publication on the process and the results. It was perfect timing for Mark.
Now, this is where I have to be vague, because I don't wish to ruin the reading experience. This is a genuinely unique novel. A donor is chosen, where blood transfusions revitalize the recipient, only Mark became a special case. Not only did he become a special case, he became a special headcase, obsessed with the donor. Mark simultaneously loved and loathed Nick, finding symmetry, almost poetic justice in what took place.
Nick's wrongdoing made it slightly easier to swallow his predestined outcome, but that doesn't mean it was easy to read the scenes between them, knowing where it was headed in the end.
While I found the novel intriguing, with a tight premise, I wasn't fully engaged nor entertained. Perhaps it was my mood. I enjoy reading dark novels, but this didn't pull me in to where I needed to know what happened next. The narrator's voice didn't connect well with me, so I believe that added to my issue. Just not my cup of tea, so to speak.
It's in My Blood was a fitting installment in the Criminal Delights series, which I believe will please fans of the author and the series overall.
---
I need to point out that I received a copy with the assumption any and all errors would be fixed upon publication. I need to make a comment on something I would ordinarily not mention, but I spotted it an upwards of 100 times, happening sometimes 3 or 4 times per page- which leads me to believe it's a bad writing habit not put into automatic practice, not an editing error. Commas before or after the name of the person the speaker is speaking with. This was distracting, pulling me from the story, causing me to notice it with greater frequency. This didn't affect the rating, only my entertainment value.
Example: "I wish that were all I knew Nick." "You were there Nick." "You are going to keep giving me life Nick." All three instances within a page or two.
3 Dark Stars
Sean Azinsalt is a new-to-me author.
Spoiler-free review which is why I will be vague on the plot, as I don't want to ruin the reading experience.
It's in My Blood definitely fits the overall dark theme of the Criminal Delights: Obsession series, which are standalone collaborations by multiple authors.
As someone who just turned 40 on my last birthday, I could easily empathize with how there must be some sort of internal gauge inside our DNA that trips over to having things go haywire in our bodies at the strike of 40. I understood Mark's need for the fountain of youth, even if the lengths he used were far-reaching (uncomfortable laughter)
Mark is difficult to swallow- his almost narcissistic viewpoint comes off as whining, overbearing. What had me sympathizing over turning 40, also left me feeling down on myself, because with all of Mark's vapid whining, it grated on me, because it felt super judgy directed at the over 40 crowd. Only we don't have a fountain of youth or a sociopathic need to basically cannibalize a donor (metaphorical, not literal). This mindset made it easy to believe how Mark devolved into the person who would... do what he did, and the path of travel to get to the destination.
Mark's friend/boss suggested on his fortieth birthday to try Youthology, where he would write an article for their publication on the process and the results. It was perfect timing for Mark.
Now, this is where I have to be vague, because I don't wish to ruin the reading experience. This is a genuinely unique novel. A donor is chosen, where blood transfusions revitalize the recipient, only Mark became a special case. Not only did he become a special case, he became a special headcase, obsessed with the donor. Mark simultaneously loved and loathed Nick, finding symmetry, almost poetic justice in what took place.
Nick's wrongdoing made it slightly easier to swallow his predestined outcome, but that doesn't mean it was easy to read the scenes between them, knowing where it was headed in the end.
While I found the novel intriguing, with a tight premise, I wasn't fully engaged nor entertained. Perhaps it was my mood. I enjoy reading dark novels, but this didn't pull me in to where I needed to know what happened next. The narrator's voice didn't connect well with me, so I believe that added to my issue. Just not my cup of tea, so to speak.
It's in My Blood was a fitting installment in the Criminal Delights series, which I believe will please fans of the author and the series overall.
---
I need to point out that I received a copy with the assumption any and all errors would be fixed upon publication. I need to make a comment on something I would ordinarily not mention, but I spotted it an upwards of 100 times, happening sometimes 3 or 4 times per page- which leads me to believe it's a bad writing habit not put into automatic practice, not an editing error. Commas before or after the name of the person the speaker is speaking with. This was distracting, pulling me from the story, causing me to notice it with greater frequency. This didn't affect the rating, only my entertainment value.
Example: "I wish that were all I knew Nick." "You were there Nick." "You are going to keep giving me life Nick." All three instances within a page or two.
September 10, 2020
It's In My Blood is dark. It's steamy. And it's very, very good. Blood follows Mark, a journalist, who has recently turned 40, wishes he looked and felt younger, which is something pretty much everyone can relate to. Mark gets offered an assignment, where he receives blood transfusions, from a younger male, that are supposed to make him feel younger. After starting the transfusions, Mark starts noticing personality changes, including awakening to some darker desires. It's in the Blood was fascinating. Seeing Mark's personality change, and wondering how dark he would go, which gave the book a nice psychological edge and feeling. There are some very steamy sex scenes. Where will Mark's dark desires take him? It's In My Blood does a great job of showing just where Mark's journey goes.
May 17, 2020
Wow . . . That was dark, twisted, filthy, hot, and I loved every second of it!!! Mark is turning 40 and dreading it. So his magazine offers him a chance to turn back the clock with treatments from a place called Youthology. He starts to receive blood transfusions from a young donor, but it comes with unexpected side effects. His personality starts to change, he starts having crazy dreams, and his body starts to change more than expected. Things got really twisted after he meets Sean. This was definitely not a book for the faint of heart, but for those of us who like a walk on the wild side with a touch of dark and twisted, it was just what the doctor ordered!
September 27, 2019
It's difficult to tag this book appropriately so let me say that it is definitely a kink must read. The blood sharing premise is semi-believable and is necessary for the ride. This is not a vampire story. The sex talk was a little over the top but the sex itself was hot. I'd like to know more about Sean. I need to read more in the Criminal Delights series and much more by this author.
October 2, 2020
More terrifying than i expected
The darkness in this book probably gonna last me a few months . If you are into darkness, kinks and orgies this is for you. I didn't like the excessive steams and kinks included in the story. The character lacks development and it's just very bizarre. It's just a non stop rant about aging and evolving and sex.. didn't really enjoy this book.
The darkness in this book probably gonna last me a few months . If you are into darkness, kinks and orgies this is for you. I didn't like the excessive steams and kinks included in the story. The character lacks development and it's just very bizarre. It's just a non stop rant about aging and evolving and sex.. didn't really enjoy this book.
July 21, 2019
Wow
Well that was hot 🔥 , like extremely as in the fires of hell hot . I need a cold shower and a really cold drink. Then read it all again. lol. Hot , kinky , murderous and deliciously twisted. All my favourites.
Well that was hot 🔥 , like extremely as in the fires of hell hot . I need a cold shower and a really cold drink. Then read it all again. lol. Hot , kinky , murderous and deliciously twisted. All my favourites.
May 16, 2019
This book gave me a look what awaits for us in the future with all the things out there today that keeps us all young. I usually don't like these kinda books but something spoke to me about this blurb that had me deciding I want to read it.
I'm not sure what I've just read but I found it strangely awesome. I've finished it and I'm still kinda speechless. When Mark started his treatment and everything started changing in him I was sucked in and couldn't close my kindle until the end.
This book was heavily with dirty talk, hot scenes and like said strangely entertaining.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
I'm not sure what I've just read but I found it strangely awesome. I've finished it and I'm still kinda speechless. When Mark started his treatment and everything started changing in him I was sucked in and couldn't close my kindle until the end.
This book was heavily with dirty talk, hot scenes and like said strangely entertaining.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
May 14, 2019
I read and voluntarily reviewed an arc of this story. I love this series but it’s not for everyone. The themes are dark and twisted. Each book in the Criminal Delights series can be read as a stand-alone. Each however may hold possible triggers of abuse.
In this addition to the series, it’s like two people in one mind. With the darker twisted soul being more dominant. I absolutely loved the way this one was laid out. The angst, dark romance, the flow; all of it kept me page turning on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I can’t wait to read more of these.
In this addition to the series, it’s like two people in one mind. With the darker twisted soul being more dominant. I absolutely loved the way this one was laid out. The angst, dark romance, the flow; all of it kept me page turning on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I can’t wait to read more of these.
June 6, 2019
I loved this story. It has some really hot scenes and, though I think Mark is not a very likeable character, the storyline, which is very well developed, is truly engaging.
June 1, 2019
A ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords Review. This review can also be found here.
2.75 Stars out of 5
Mark is a journalist obsessed with growing old or more accurately obsessed with not growing old. As he turns forty, he can't help feeling like his life is over, when he gets the chance to investigate a company that claims to reverse ageing. As Mark starts his treatments at Youthology not only does it seem to work but it does so much more, as the blood in Mark's system works to make Mark more like his donor, Nick. But there is a darkness in Nick and now it's in Mark too.
This book is Mark's story and I liked Mark. Even with how shallow he is you can tell that he is a good person. He is definitely vain but I really couldn't fault him for his views. Mark was a fascinating character and I really would have liked to see more of his views on what was happening to him.
This book is primarily Mark's story and we see all characters from Mark's lens. Sean is an interesting character who manages to get two men completely obsessed with him though I wonder if he has more of a dark side than we got to witness though I like him as the innocent character in this one. Nick is too much testosterone. He is the alpha male who thinks with the wrong head. He is cocky to his very detriment. He is an idiot and I guess I just have to come out and say this, Mark was always going to win this battle.
The story starts off interesting and it is quite engrossing in the beginning. The sex is hot but somewhat about the halfway point this book devolves into nothing but sex. There are like chapters filed with it. Chapters twenty-four and twenty-five are basically one never-ending sex scene. This author wrote the sex scenes well but there truly is something as too much of a good thing. I really wanted some plot point to emerge amid all that sex but it was for nought. The ultimate conclusion of the story is predictable as we get a hint to it in the prologue so I thought the journey to that point would be interesting. I truly wished that the last act would have been a homage to Mark truly becoming Nick and I would have liked it if it had played out that way but for the most, the author failed to develop the plot much after Sean enters the picture. There is nothing new the story introduces after that point and everything interesting happens before that point.
The writing of this book is a little quirky with some awkward sentence structuring but I think it overall works to build the charm of the book, though at times it did bring me out of the book.
This book is marketed as a dark book and I feel like the author should have stuck to the blood and its side effects to add darkness to the story instead she halfway decides that the darkness in this book is going to come from all that sexual depravity which didn't work for me. Side Note - There is actually a lot of kinky stuff happening in this book and some stuff might be off-putting to people so just a heads up there are some golden showers in this one. I have read almost every sexual taboo out there so it's hard to get me that way. Therefore, I must acknowledge that this book might be subjective with some people agreeing that it is a truly dark read but it wasn't for me.
The last scene should have been the darkest of all but it just doesn't play that way and that epilogue was downright cheery. It was the darkness that this book promised that had me intrigued but it failed to deliver.
Cover Art by Natasha Snow. I really liked the cover it really fits the theme of darkness and intrigue this book was going for.
2.75 Stars out of 5
Mark is a journalist obsessed with growing old or more accurately obsessed with not growing old. As he turns forty, he can't help feeling like his life is over, when he gets the chance to investigate a company that claims to reverse ageing. As Mark starts his treatments at Youthology not only does it seem to work but it does so much more, as the blood in Mark's system works to make Mark more like his donor, Nick. But there is a darkness in Nick and now it's in Mark too.
This book is Mark's story and I liked Mark. Even with how shallow he is you can tell that he is a good person. He is definitely vain but I really couldn't fault him for his views. Mark was a fascinating character and I really would have liked to see more of his views on what was happening to him.
This book is primarily Mark's story and we see all characters from Mark's lens. Sean is an interesting character who manages to get two men completely obsessed with him though I wonder if he has more of a dark side than we got to witness though I like him as the innocent character in this one. Nick is too much testosterone. He is the alpha male who thinks with the wrong head. He is cocky to his very detriment. He is an idiot and I guess I just have to come out and say this, Mark was always going to win this battle.
The story starts off interesting and it is quite engrossing in the beginning. The sex is hot but somewhat about the halfway point this book devolves into nothing but sex. There are like chapters filed with it. Chapters twenty-four and twenty-five are basically one never-ending sex scene. This author wrote the sex scenes well but there truly is something as too much of a good thing. I really wanted some plot point to emerge amid all that sex but it was for nought. The ultimate conclusion of the story is predictable as we get a hint to it in the prologue so I thought the journey to that point would be interesting. I truly wished that the last act would have been a homage to Mark truly becoming Nick and I would have liked it if it had played out that way but for the most, the author failed to develop the plot much after Sean enters the picture. There is nothing new the story introduces after that point and everything interesting happens before that point.
The writing of this book is a little quirky with some awkward sentence structuring but I think it overall works to build the charm of the book, though at times it did bring me out of the book.
This book is marketed as a dark book and I feel like the author should have stuck to the blood and its side effects to add darkness to the story instead she halfway decides that the darkness in this book is going to come from all that sexual depravity which didn't work for me. Side Note - There is actually a lot of kinky stuff happening in this book and some stuff might be off-putting to people so just a heads up there are some golden showers in this one. I have read almost every sexual taboo out there so it's hard to get me that way. Therefore, I must acknowledge that this book might be subjective with some people agreeing that it is a truly dark read but it wasn't for me.
The last scene should have been the darkest of all but it just doesn't play that way and that epilogue was downright cheery. It was the darkness that this book promised that had me intrigued but it failed to deliver.
Cover Art by Natasha Snow. I really liked the cover it really fits the theme of darkness and intrigue this book was going for.
May 14, 2019
An interesting premise, especially for those who are not very young themselves. In the world where youth and beauty are valued most of all, would you agree to participate in a medical experiment that might help you to regain them? Mark doesn’t have much doubts about it, especially after his lover called him “Daddy”. He’s convinced older people like him get shunted into the corner or become bar flies that the younger guys look down on and hope they will never become. So he starts an unconventional treatment to revive his vitality. But the consequences are rather unexpected…
This book might seem slow and a bit repetitive in the beginning, but its pace quickens and sex scenes become more and more debauched. The twist in the end is interesting, though somewhat smoothed out by an attempt to make things lighter.
This book might seem slow and a bit repetitive in the beginning, but its pace quickens and sex scenes become more and more debauched. The twist in the end is interesting, though somewhat smoothed out by an attempt to make things lighter.
July 6, 2019
B rating.
June 14, 2022
Reread this book again recently and omg it is incredible
1-tbr
June 21, 2019
Part of the Criminal Delights series. While part of a series each can de be read as a standalone:
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews