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Axed
From New York Times bestselling author Samantha Towle comes a forbidden dark romance novella....
Axel Turner has finally been released from prison, and he can’t wait to retreat to a quiet existence, keeping his head down and living his life on his own terms. The only person he has to answer to now is his parole officer.
Imagine his surprise when the stuffy, middle-aged overweight guy he’d conjured in his mind turns out to be anything but that, and he finds himself sitting across the desk from Eden Briars—the girl he went to high school with. The girl that’s consumed his dreams since he was a teenager. The girl he once loved.
And now she’s his parole officer.
What’s worse is that, since his release, his old classmates have started dropping like flies, all dying under suspicious circumstances. Of course, the people in town are only too quick to point their fingers in Axel’s direction.
Because once a murderer, always a murderer, right?
**Previously part of the Scouts Anthology**
Axel Turner has finally been released from prison, and he can’t wait to retreat to a quiet existence, keeping his head down and living his life on his own terms. The only person he has to answer to now is his parole officer.
Imagine his surprise when the stuffy, middle-aged overweight guy he’d conjured in his mind turns out to be anything but that, and he finds himself sitting across the desk from Eden Briars—the girl he went to high school with. The girl that’s consumed his dreams since he was a teenager. The girl he once loved.
And now she’s his parole officer.
What’s worse is that, since his release, his old classmates have started dropping like flies, all dying under suspicious circumstances. Of course, the people in town are only too quick to point their fingers in Axel’s direction.
Because once a murderer, always a murderer, right?
**Previously part of the Scouts Anthology**
51 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 17, 2022
67 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Towle
36 books11.9k followersSamantha Towle is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.
A native of Hull, she lives in East Yorkshire with her husband, their son and daughter, and three large furbabies.
She is the author of contemporary romances, The Storm Series, The Revved Series, The Wardrobe Series, The Gods Series, and standalones, Trouble, When I Was Yours, The Ending I Want, Unsuitable, Under Her, River Wild, Dead Pretty, The Two Week Stand and Sacking the Quarterback which was written with James Patterson. She has also written paranormal romances, The Bringer and The Alexandra Jones Series. With over a million books sold, her titles have appeared in countless bestseller lists, and are currently translated into ten languages.
To receive an email when Samantha releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter - http://samanthatowle.co.uk/newsletter...
You can also find Samantha at -
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Samantha-Tow...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/samtowlewrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samtowlewri...
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/saman...
A native of Hull, she lives in East Yorkshire with her husband, their son and daughter, and three large furbabies.
She is the author of contemporary romances, The Storm Series, The Revved Series, The Wardrobe Series, The Gods Series, and standalones, Trouble, When I Was Yours, The Ending I Want, Unsuitable, Under Her, River Wild, Dead Pretty, The Two Week Stand and Sacking the Quarterback which was written with James Patterson. She has also written paranormal romances, The Bringer and The Alexandra Jones Series. With over a million books sold, her titles have appeared in countless bestseller lists, and are currently translated into ten languages.
To receive an email when Samantha releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter - http://samanthatowle.co.uk/newsletter...
You can also find Samantha at -
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Samantha-Tow...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/samtowlewrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samtowlewri...
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/saman...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
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February 19, 2022🤍🪓🖤 𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘!! 🖤🪓🤍
Axed was originally written for the Scouts Anthology, but because I LOVED Axel and Eden’s story so much, I decided to release it into the wild as a novella!
🖤 GET IT HERE: mybook.to/Axed
🪓 AVAILABLE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED!
Axed was originally written for the Scouts Anthology, but because I LOVED Axel and Eden’s story so much, I decided to release it into the wild as a novella!
🖤 GET IT HERE: mybook.to/Axed
🪓 AVAILABLE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED!
September 21, 2022
Fast read....
Had potential but it was just too short...to give any real depth to the characters or give the story enough realism. Wanted more!!!!
Currently available on KU.
Had potential but it was just too short...to give any real depth to the characters or give the story enough realism. Wanted more!!!!
Currently available on KU.
February 22, 2022
This was an adorable little novella. Sexy, mysterious, heartbreaking. But it was also so very short. I wish Sam would've worked on it a bit more to make it a full-length novel with so much more excitement and mystery and danger and falling in love and maybe even a few tiny looks into the past.
But still - I liked reading it!
But still - I liked reading it!
February 21, 2022
3.5
Nice novella.
I really liked the thriller part but the romance one was a bit lacking.
Nice novella.
I really liked the thriller part but the romance one was a bit lacking.
July 24, 2023
3.5⭐️
This was a super quick, decent read. I only knew it was parole officer and parolee and that they knew each other from high school. The murder mystery was a nice added touch. It was 51 pages and packed a decent story in such a short amount of time.
This was a super quick, decent read. I only knew it was parole officer and parolee and that they knew each other from high school. The murder mystery was a nice added touch. It was 51 pages and packed a decent story in such a short amount of time.
February 1, 2023
Super fast read which had amazing potential to be a full blown book where the characters could develope more. But a fun read nonetheless!
May 16, 2024
Love this author. But this one felt like an after thought. Or a rough draft.
March 2, 2022
4.5 stars!
I've read a few of this author's books and liked them a lot, so I was intrigued when I saw the cover for this novella! I then read the synopsis and was very intrigued, so I waited for it to release, grabbed a copy, and read it as soon as I could! After reading, I can say that I loved this novella a lot! I wanted it to be a lot longer and some scenes to be expanded because I would have loved to have read a full-length book on this couple! The mystery aspect and killer kept me desperate to read on and find out what was going to happen next! I was surprised by who the killer was because I really didn't expect them to be the killer! There was also a lot of romance in the plot, which allowed for some seriously hot scenes! The characters were also amazing and made this novella even better! Eden was the main female character, and in this book she reconnected with someone she knew from school! Eden was popular in school and she hung around with the popular kids who bullied! This had a massive impact in the plot, but Eden regretted high school and she had grown a lot! Axel was the main male character and love interest of Eden! Axel was fresh out of prison in this novella and he wanted to keep his head down and build a life for himself! I really liked Axel and he had learned his lesson and served his time! It was also easy to see how Axel felt about Eden and he was protective of her and wanted her to be safe! I loved that this novella was written from both Eden and Axel's point of views! It helped me connect more with both characters and see their feelings for each other develop! It allowed for a few more things to happen in the plot as well! I can also completely understand why this novella is a standalone! As I said I wish that it had been a lot longer, but the ending was left at the perfect place for the character and summed up their story! All the questions raised were answered as well! I now can't wait to read more of this author's books! The cover for this book is also seriously hot! I loved it as soon as I saw it and it drew me to the book and made me want to read the story behind it!
I've read a few of this author's books and liked them a lot, so I was intrigued when I saw the cover for this novella! I then read the synopsis and was very intrigued, so I waited for it to release, grabbed a copy, and read it as soon as I could! After reading, I can say that I loved this novella a lot! I wanted it to be a lot longer and some scenes to be expanded because I would have loved to have read a full-length book on this couple! The mystery aspect and killer kept me desperate to read on and find out what was going to happen next! I was surprised by who the killer was because I really didn't expect them to be the killer! There was also a lot of romance in the plot, which allowed for some seriously hot scenes! The characters were also amazing and made this novella even better! Eden was the main female character, and in this book she reconnected with someone she knew from school! Eden was popular in school and she hung around with the popular kids who bullied! This had a massive impact in the plot, but Eden regretted high school and she had grown a lot! Axel was the main male character and love interest of Eden! Axel was fresh out of prison in this novella and he wanted to keep his head down and build a life for himself! I really liked Axel and he had learned his lesson and served his time! It was also easy to see how Axel felt about Eden and he was protective of her and wanted her to be safe! I loved that this novella was written from both Eden and Axel's point of views! It helped me connect more with both characters and see their feelings for each other develop! It allowed for a few more things to happen in the plot as well! I can also completely understand why this novella is a standalone! As I said I wish that it had been a lot longer, but the ending was left at the perfect place for the character and summed up their story! All the questions raised were answered as well! I now can't wait to read more of this author's books! The cover for this book is also seriously hot! I loved it as soon as I saw it and it drew me to the book and made me want to read the story behind it!
February 22, 2022
When an author can intrigue you in the span of just 51 pages, then you know they wrote a winner. And with Axed, Samantha Towle did just that. Originally part of an anthology that I had not read prior, the unexpected love story between Axel and Eden truly shook both of them up. Especially since his stint in prison meant that his relationship with Eden as his parole officer should have prevented any sort of romantic entanglement between them. But the years-long want that Axel had for Eden made itself known as they cross that professional line more than once. As though that should have been enough of a surprise to both of them, as members of Eden's former high school clique start to turn up dead, it's a race against time in trying to figure out who is behind all the killings.
Let's just say the big reveal is a huge shocker with revelations Eden can't quite fathom. It's all one big unexpected mess but I enjoyed every minute of it and truly wished that it was a longer book. Towle has shown she can write mysteries with a hint of the forbidden with the best of them so I'm hopeful she'll continue with this genre at some point in the future.
4 solid stars!
Let's just say the big reveal is a huge shocker with revelations Eden can't quite fathom. It's all one big unexpected mess but I enjoyed every minute of it and truly wished that it was a longer book. Towle has shown she can write mysteries with a hint of the forbidden with the best of them so I'm hopeful she'll continue with this genre at some point in the future.
4 solid stars!
March 4, 2023
I want to start off by saying that I love Samantha’s books. She’s creative and her characters usually make me swoon and fall in love with them. However, this one falls a little short for me. And I know it’s because it was a short novella, which I don’t usually read unless they’re attached to a novel or series, but because it was written by Samantha, I wanted to read it. It was originally included in an anthology, but she ended up releasing it so others could see it and read it. I really liked where this one was going and the suspense part was great, but I would have loved if it was made into a book with more in-depth descriptions, action and romance. Would have loved to find out how they were years ago and the full version of what happened to Axel. I think because it was so short, I couldn’t connect with the characters like I normally can. I did love the idea that it was a parole officer and parolee who knew each other when they were kids. All in all, I liked, it but would have loved more added to it. Samantha, would you ever want to enhance on this one and make it into a novel one day? I’d definitely read it, especially knowing the suspense you had in River Wild, which I loved.
April 7, 2022
Something about the title of this novella drew me and it did not disappoint, as with most other readers I would've loved to have gotten a full book out these two just because I think they deserve it. I think that their story was so sweet, but at the same as the title says it was dark, these are not by any stretch of the imagination happy characters, but they was beautifully breken, and I thought that the way that their story unfolded was fantastic, didn't see that ending coming from anywhere, but it was another awesome book by an awesome author.
November 4, 2023
meh, again another novella of indifference. Was searching for quick short reads to add before KU sub ends. I’ve read one of this authors books before so i had some familiarity, but again its harder to truly judge a story of 50 pgs. Could potentially see this as a full length, but unsure if i’d actually finish it in all honesty 🫢
p.s can publishers PLS stop w the shirtless covers?! scarier than the murder in the book 💀
p.s can publishers PLS stop w the shirtless covers?! scarier than the murder in the book 💀
October 5, 2022
perfect plane ride reading
I’ve been waiting for holiday to read this as this is where I love to read all Samantha Towle’s books. I loved it, it has all Samantha’s classic sexy scenes to a dark and suspenseful murder mystery all wrapped up in a short novella which was perfect plane reading! Hurry up and release more!
I’ve been waiting for holiday to read this as this is where I love to read all Samantha Towle’s books. I loved it, it has all Samantha’s classic sexy scenes to a dark and suspenseful murder mystery all wrapped up in a short novella which was perfect plane reading! Hurry up and release more!
January 27, 2025
Axed by Samantha Towle is a gripping and intense romance that will captivate fans of dark, suspenseful, and second-chance love stories, particularly those who enjoy complex characters, small-town secrets, and the thrill of a forbidden attraction between two people from different worlds.
I read this dark romance on Kindle Unlimited. I really enjoyed this story.
I read this dark romance on Kindle Unlimited. I really enjoyed this story.
February 28, 2025
A nice quick read
It was ok, a nice quick read. It was Samantha towle when alls said and done I love all her books, a small town romance with his parole officer, who he loved from high school, she didn't notice him, but when he returns from a stint in prison sparks fly. Never give up, good things come to those who wait
It was ok, a nice quick read. It was Samantha towle when alls said and done I love all her books, a small town romance with his parole officer, who he loved from high school, she didn't notice him, but when he returns from a stint in prison sparks fly. Never give up, good things come to those who wait
February 3, 2023
Great quick read
I want more. I felt I was reading a plot outline, this would have made such a great novel. The characters had backgrounds entwined and and there is a whole load of history and future that could be built on.
I want more. I felt I was reading a plot outline, this would have made such a great novel. The characters had backgrounds entwined and and there is a whole load of history and future that could be built on.
April 24, 2023
I get that this was a novella ( took me about 20 mins to read )... but it just felt like it was an outline rather than a fully developed tale. Not enough time to get to know or care about the characters. It kind of reminded of those challenges to write a story with certain criteria.
April 26, 2023
This story was rather strange.
I was expecting it to be a prologue to a longer book. But the whole murders were solved in 55 pages.
I wouldn’t class the book as a dark romance either. It’s just a romance with a brief murder mystery aspect
I was expecting it to be a prologue to a longer book. But the whole murders were solved in 55 pages.
I wouldn’t class the book as a dark romance either. It’s just a romance with a brief murder mystery aspect
February 21, 2022
short story
Short and possibly not so sweet LOL.
Kinda left wanting more from Axel but also get that the story is already tied up and finished.
Short and possibly not so sweet LOL.
Kinda left wanting more from Axel but also get that the story is already tied up and finished.
February 22, 2022
Dark short story that was an enjoyable quick read. Bit of a twist at the end..Loved the chemistry between the protagonists.
March 1, 2022
Axel & Eden
This was a little too jumpy for me. And I know it's a novella, but it could have been explained more
This was a little too jumpy for me. And I know it's a novella, but it could have been explained more
March 12, 2022
Too short needed more
Way too short! Needed more left alot to be desired with the length of the book but otherwise a good if not very quick read
Way too short! Needed more left alot to be desired with the length of the book but otherwise a good if not very quick read
March 18, 2022
Cute little novella, just wish there were more! Very short to the point!
May 14, 2022
read a book on my birthday, i’m so proud of me
April 22, 2023
I could've happily read a whole book of this instead of it being a novella. But I absolutely loved it.
I can't believe I've only just read this as I love Samantha and her books.
I can't believe I've only just read this as I love Samantha and her books.
June 24, 2023
3.75☆
August 25, 2023
Great story... wish it had been a novel
So this grabbed me at the beginning and just as I was settling in for the mystery Bam it was over... good ending just really fast
So this grabbed me at the beginning and just as I was settling in for the mystery Bam it was over... good ending just really fast
January 24, 2024
really short novella. dont want to say much and give away spoilers. this novella was good. had some spice not much but a nice little short mystery.
January 29, 2024
This was a very satisfying read. I mean really satisfying.
March 12, 2024
Pretty damn good plot and spice for only being 51 pages. Character setup was decent and history was easy to establish.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews