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Blood Duet #1-2
Blood Duet: The Complete Series
Their attraction was poison and pleasure, but in the shadows of New Orleans...neither will resist going down in flames.
I bow to no man.
The words are tattooed on my skin, just as they’re branded on my heart.
But I never planned for Sergeant Lincoln Asher, a man as deceptive as he is cold. His dominance sets my teeth on edge . . . and my body on fire. He won’t stop until I’m his, but I’m not his to take.
My secrets bind me—and blind me. I live in the shadows of New Orleans. Hidden and protected in the underworld I call home. I know who I am.
I vow never to kneel before a man... Save one.
And he will be my downfall.
The Blood Duet is a dark and gritty age-gap romance, featuring a heroine on the run and a possessive, morally grey hero. It includes both Sworn and Defied.
I bow to no man.
The words are tattooed on my skin, just as they’re branded on my heart.
But I never planned for Sergeant Lincoln Asher, a man as deceptive as he is cold. His dominance sets my teeth on edge . . . and my body on fire. He won’t stop until I’m his, but I’m not his to take.
My secrets bind me—and blind me. I live in the shadows of New Orleans. Hidden and protected in the underworld I call home. I know who I am.
I vow never to kneel before a man... Save one.
And he will be my downfall.
The Blood Duet is a dark and gritty age-gap romance, featuring a heroine on the run and a possessive, morally grey hero. It includes both Sworn and Defied.
524 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 9, 2022
314 people are currently reading
524 people want to read
About the author
Maria Luis
58 books3,078 followersMaria Luis is an Amazon Top 25 Bestselling Author.
Historian by day and romance novelist by night, Maria lives in New Orleans, and loves bringing the city's cultural flair into her books. When Maria isn't frantically typing with hot chocolate in hand, she can be found binging on reality TV, going on adventures with her other half and two pups, or plotting her next flirty romance.
★ Looking for something quick, fun and sexy to read? Check out these freebies on Maria's website! (Available: Breathless, Undeniable, and The First Fix): https://www.marialuis.org/free-books
Stalk Maria in the wild at:
★ Facebook: facebook.com/marialuisauthor
★ Book Boyfriends Anonymous: http://bit.ly/MariaLuisBBA
★ Instagram: http://bit.ly/MariaLuisIG
★ TikTok: tiktok.com/@marialuisauthor
★ Website: www.marialuis.org
★ Bookbub: http://bit.ly/MariaLuisBB
Maria loves to hear from readers!
Historian by day and romance novelist by night, Maria lives in New Orleans, and loves bringing the city's cultural flair into her books. When Maria isn't frantically typing with hot chocolate in hand, she can be found binging on reality TV, going on adventures with her other half and two pups, or plotting her next flirty romance.
★ Looking for something quick, fun and sexy to read? Check out these freebies on Maria's website! (Available: Breathless, Undeniable, and The First Fix): https://www.marialuis.org/free-books
Stalk Maria in the wild at:
★ Facebook: facebook.com/marialuisauthor
★ Book Boyfriends Anonymous: http://bit.ly/MariaLuisBBA
★ Instagram: http://bit.ly/MariaLuisIG
★ TikTok: tiktok.com/@marialuisauthor
★ Website: www.marialuis.org
★ Bookbub: http://bit.ly/MariaLuisBB
Maria loves to hear from readers!
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 22, 2023
Well written suspenseful and thrilling duet, with well developed characters.
January 19, 2023
4.5 stars. There were some (very minor) continuity issues that nagged at me and kept me from getting totally engrossed in the book. But overall very good and worth the read if you want a spicy little mystery with some low level dark romance
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
January 20, 2023
Title: Blood Duet
Author: Maria Luis
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Dark Romance
Spice: Yes 🥵
Series: Blood Duet, Book 1 - Sworn and book 2 - Defied
Thoughts- I think I’m love ❤️ these books had major Mindf*ck series vibes for me which you can’t loose on. As always I love the twists and turns Maria Luis incorporates in her stories, I’m always on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what’s going to happen. I loved both Lincoln and Avery being strong characters and the spice 🌶️ #chefskiss. If you like mystery, murder and mayhem, as well as a really good virgin trope (not candles, flowers and cuddling sort of thing but not mean, just realistic ), sex clubs and just good old fashioned pounding you will love this!
Series Wrap up: Blood Duet combines both individual books, Sworn & Defied. Special mention for the book covers, I love both the discrete cover of blood duet and the darkness of the individuals.
Plot: Avery’s past is riddled with lies, deception and secrecy. To tell anyone puts her and them at risk. Slowly she’s plotting her vengeance, gathering information on her enemies. Everything was going to plan until Sergeant Lincoln inserts himself in her life. He is not part of her plan but he’s not going away either. There’s something about him she can’t quite figure out. A darkness to him that she relates too. To seek her vengeance she has to try and find out why Lincoln won’t go away but in doing so unravels a whole other world. Will she figure out the secrets to her past or will Lincoln be her saviour or her downfall.
* ⚠️ trigger warnings
* Touch her and die vibes
* Action and mystery
* Noir
* Character chemistry
“Sometimes good people did bad things”
“With the gait of a queen … Her ass swaying in the air had my hand wrapped around my cock in an instant, squeezing tight, delaying the release I was so desperate to have.”
February 24, 2023
Their secrets are their own until they meet. Maria Luis wrote a hauntingly beautiful book with twists and turns that kept my heart pounding.
The way the author reveals secrets and her timing was soo good. Even when I thought one thing correctly, there was still something I didn’t think of, so when the pieces came together, it was fun and edgy. It’s dark and exciting. The author’s knowledge of tarot cards and New Orleans is the perfect aesthetic setting to the duet. It’s vivid and gives a mystical vibe.
Lincoln and Avery both live in the shadows. Their pasts don’t rest.
Lincoln is morally grey, some may just say he is a dirty cop. I of course question his intentions, I question his reason why, and I find justification. But I also, found his truth. The truth is, he was/is a killer. And yet, I want to walk the good vs. evil line with him. I want to take his scarred face into my hands and take him to bed. There is something seriously sexy about a man who toes that line, but once he meets his woman it’s game over!
Avery is someone who goes a long time without feeling love, and yet no mattered what she witnessed, she survived. She reads tarot cards and uses knowledge as her power in putting the pieces together of her past. Her life changes forever when she meets Lincoln. With her chin held high, even her lies are worth every piece of information she can get. It’s just kinda hard when your soulmate sees all of your truth.
Their secrets are their own until they meet. It’s all I can say, because it’s too sexy, edgy, and fun for me to give away the plot.
He calls her brave girl, oof😮💨
“You have no fucking idea how wet you get the second my fingers touch you here.”
“Brave girl.”
“You’ll bow to me, Avery. It might not be today and it might not be tomorrow, but it will happen.”
“Ask me what happened to my face.”
The way the author reveals secrets and her timing was soo good. Even when I thought one thing correctly, there was still something I didn’t think of, so when the pieces came together, it was fun and edgy. It’s dark and exciting. The author’s knowledge of tarot cards and New Orleans is the perfect aesthetic setting to the duet. It’s vivid and gives a mystical vibe.
Lincoln and Avery both live in the shadows. Their pasts don’t rest.
Lincoln is morally grey, some may just say he is a dirty cop. I of course question his intentions, I question his reason why, and I find justification. But I also, found his truth. The truth is, he was/is a killer. And yet, I want to walk the good vs. evil line with him. I want to take his scarred face into my hands and take him to bed. There is something seriously sexy about a man who toes that line, but once he meets his woman it’s game over!
Avery is someone who goes a long time without feeling love, and yet no mattered what she witnessed, she survived. She reads tarot cards and uses knowledge as her power in putting the pieces together of her past. Her life changes forever when she meets Lincoln. With her chin held high, even her lies are worth every piece of information she can get. It’s just kinda hard when your soulmate sees all of your truth.
Their secrets are their own until they meet. It’s all I can say, because it’s too sexy, edgy, and fun for me to give away the plot.
He calls her brave girl, oof😮💨
“You have no fucking idea how wet you get the second my fingers touch you here.”
“Brave girl.”
“You’ll bow to me, Avery. It might not be today and it might not be tomorrow, but it will happen.”
“Ask me what happened to my face.”
January 9, 2023
Not sure what I want to say other than OMG! Having New Orleans as the setting is almost always a win in my book as I have family in the near area. But the story has to be intriguing and interesting and “Blood Duet” is both. Both Avery and Lincoln aren’t who we think that they are, especially considering how they grew up. I just started reading Maria Luis a few years ago and have read just about everything that she’s written since then. She has become one of my go to authors.
I think that Avery and Lincoln have become one of my favorite couples and think that in years to come, they would still be just as enjoyable to read about and just as hot. Ms Luis was able to spin a great tale and wrap the storylines in a believable manner. I am so glad that I found her as an author, she has quickly become one of my must reads. I would highly recommend this book if you want a great read that has depth and is still hot.
I think that Avery and Lincoln have become one of my favorite couples and think that in years to come, they would still be just as enjoyable to read about and just as hot. Ms Luis was able to spin a great tale and wrap the storylines in a believable manner. I am so glad that I found her as an author, she has quickly become one of my must reads. I would highly recommend this book if you want a great read that has depth and is still hot.
May 7, 2023
I've read this duet and I was mesmerized by the story. The characters are so powerful, the story is so raw that is very easy to become addicted to the book and their world. First off, the way the author captures New Orleans is phenomenal. She doesn’t just use the imagery and places of the city but the culture of it. Just from reading this I kind of feel like I’m from there already. Then there’s the character growth which is just beautifully done.
They even manage to mix a little humor in with all that sexual tension. Then there is the ominous feel to the story that carries through the various settings. It is absolutely gripping, and you have to know what is coming next.
The chemistry between Avery and Lincoln is off the charts from the very first scene. Their dialogue is the best part of the book. Then we get to the seriously hot sex 🔥. Get a fan for this one. A terrific duet!
They even manage to mix a little humor in with all that sexual tension. Then there is the ominous feel to the story that carries through the various settings. It is absolutely gripping, and you have to know what is coming next.
The chemistry between Avery and Lincoln is off the charts from the very first scene. Their dialogue is the best part of the book. Then we get to the seriously hot sex 🔥. Get a fan for this one. A terrific duet!
December 30, 2024
Book Stats:
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. 🌶🌶🌶.5/5
Series: Blood Duet, Book 1
POV: Dual
Tropes: Dark Romance, Age-Gap, Morally Grey MMC, Unhinged Villains, Strong FMC, Virgin FMC
CW/TW: Before reading.
🎧 SWORN 🎧
This is the first book I've read by this author and it's not my last one. First of all, because this is part of a duet, so it ends on a cliffhanger, which I love. But also because this book was that good. And I have to say, this author set the bar high with this one. Avery and Lincoln carry so many secrets and their heavy baggage is shown during the whole story. They were compelling and urged me to want to unveil their layers. Even when they thought they had the upper hand on the secret knowledge they earned or took from someone, they were also victims of so many other secrets they were none the wiser. The ambiance and the whole vibe were shady and enthralling. The plot was intriguing and electric and it kept me on edge the whole time. Avery and Lincoln were both so powerful, yet they carried this vulnerability about them and sometimes it seemed even they didn't realize was there. Their chemistry and connection were so addicting and combustible that it was almost palpable. There are so many things I'm dying to know, and so many unanswered questions, even more than when I started the book. And I can't wait to find them all out. Lincoln is dominating AF and it’s so hot. This book ends on one doozy of a cliffhanger like it sucks the breath right from you. But book two is available now so you can jump right into it immediately!
Book Stats:
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. 🌶🌶🌶.5/5
Series: Blood Duet, Book 2
POV: Dual
Tropes: Dark Romance, Age-Gap, Morally Grey MMC, Unhinged Villains, Strong FMC
CW/TW: Before reading.
🎧 DEFIED 🎧
WOW!! Awesome finale with more plot twists and seriously hot sexy times. Avery & Lincoln are a power couple that you just can’t help but love.
Whatever I was thinking in Sworn was blown out of the water in this book. I love it when the plot thickens and twists like this and Defied made me read every page on the edge of my seat. I ploughed through this second book like a bulldozer, squealing with joy as mysteries were revealed by the dozen. I gobbled up how vulnerable Lincoln allowed himself to be in a few scenes and how gutsy Avery was to step up to the plate. I loved every minute I was immersed in this series and am so happy with the ending.
A fantastic end to the duet. Please check out Lincoln’s speech to Avery on their 25th anniversary. I loved this book. Everything was perfect, the ending was not rushed, and the characters were all so well written. I want the story to continue. Thanks, Maria for writing such a cracking good story.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. 🌶🌶🌶.5/5
Series: Blood Duet, Book 1
POV: Dual
Tropes: Dark Romance, Age-Gap, Morally Grey MMC, Unhinged Villains, Strong FMC, Virgin FMC
CW/TW: Before reading.
🎧 SWORN 🎧
This is the first book I've read by this author and it's not my last one. First of all, because this is part of a duet, so it ends on a cliffhanger, which I love. But also because this book was that good. And I have to say, this author set the bar high with this one. Avery and Lincoln carry so many secrets and their heavy baggage is shown during the whole story. They were compelling and urged me to want to unveil their layers. Even when they thought they had the upper hand on the secret knowledge they earned or took from someone, they were also victims of so many other secrets they were none the wiser. The ambiance and the whole vibe were shady and enthralling. The plot was intriguing and electric and it kept me on edge the whole time. Avery and Lincoln were both so powerful, yet they carried this vulnerability about them and sometimes it seemed even they didn't realize was there. Their chemistry and connection were so addicting and combustible that it was almost palpable. There are so many things I'm dying to know, and so many unanswered questions, even more than when I started the book. And I can't wait to find them all out. Lincoln is dominating AF and it’s so hot. This book ends on one doozy of a cliffhanger like it sucks the breath right from you. But book two is available now so you can jump right into it immediately!
Book Stats:
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. 🌶🌶🌶.5/5
Series: Blood Duet, Book 2
POV: Dual
Tropes: Dark Romance, Age-Gap, Morally Grey MMC, Unhinged Villains, Strong FMC
CW/TW: Before reading.
🎧 DEFIED 🎧
WOW!! Awesome finale with more plot twists and seriously hot sexy times. Avery & Lincoln are a power couple that you just can’t help but love.
Whatever I was thinking in Sworn was blown out of the water in this book. I love it when the plot thickens and twists like this and Defied made me read every page on the edge of my seat. I ploughed through this second book like a bulldozer, squealing with joy as mysteries were revealed by the dozen. I gobbled up how vulnerable Lincoln allowed himself to be in a few scenes and how gutsy Avery was to step up to the plate. I loved every minute I was immersed in this series and am so happy with the ending.
A fantastic end to the duet. Please check out Lincoln’s speech to Avery on their 25th anniversary. I loved this book. Everything was perfect, the ending was not rushed, and the characters were all so well written. I want the story to continue. Thanks, Maria for writing such a cracking good story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2023
Meh
So without any spoilers I don't know what it was exactly about this book BUT I almost DNF a few different times, which sucked because I can't pinpoint the exact issue. The book was decent then it got boring, unrealistic, and then decent again. I saw what the author was trying to do with the plot twist but more often than not I skimmed through A LOT of the book just to see how it ended. I'm not a fan. I wouldn't recommend.
So without any spoilers I don't know what it was exactly about this book BUT I almost DNF a few different times, which sucked because I can't pinpoint the exact issue. The book was decent then it got boring, unrealistic, and then decent again. I saw what the author was trying to do with the plot twist but more often than not I skimmed through A LOT of the book just to see how it ended. I'm not a fan. I wouldn't recommend.
January 9, 2023
I don’t know why I waited so long to read the Blood Duet. I’ve read everything else Maria has published and loved it all. Once I started this duet, I finished both books in 24 hours. The characters are dark and complicated and yet somehow still real, and the dark and twisty plot keeps the reader on her toes. I hope to see more dark stuff from Maria!
March 27, 2023
I thought this was good and especially liked all of the tidbits about New Orleans. It really brought the characters and the setting to life. Haint blue eyes was an amazing description that will stick with me. The twists were unexpected and I really liked the chemistry between the two main characters.
March 30, 2023
WOW! My second novel by this talented author and I really need more!
The technicolor of the story was fantastic. You feel like you are walking the streets of New Orleans!
The characters were so well done.
Fantastic dialogue, which I love in a story.
Steamy scenes...phew!
I am most definitely checking out other books by Ms. Luis.
The technicolor of the story was fantastic. You feel like you are walking the streets of New Orleans!
The characters were so well done.
Fantastic dialogue, which I love in a story.
Steamy scenes...phew!
I am most definitely checking out other books by Ms. Luis.
June 25, 2023
I loved this duet! It was so unpredictable. Just when I thought I knew what was going on, I was hit with another curve ball.
It left me confused so many times but it in a good way. Every chapter had my heart racing and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
The anticipation, deceit, manipulation, secrets: all of it has made this in my top 5 fave dark romances.
It left me confused so many times but it in a good way. Every chapter had my heart racing and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
The anticipation, deceit, manipulation, secrets: all of it has made this in my top 5 fave dark romances.
January 3, 2023
good read
The little twists and turns in these books was fantastic… it def had a dark edge to it but they way they came together was a nice play on everything!! And damn they def hot some hot spicy scenes 🌶️🌶️
The little twists and turns in these books was fantastic… it def had a dark edge to it but they way they came together was a nice play on everything!! And damn they def hot some hot spicy scenes 🌶️🌶️
January 19, 2023
Review
Great story with great characters, Lincoln waa deep, dark and delicious and Avery was a girl with an agenda. From their first meeting, sparks flew and burned them both. Excellent read!!
Great story with great characters, Lincoln waa deep, dark and delicious and Avery was a girl with an agenda. From their first meeting, sparks flew and burned them both. Excellent read!!
July 4, 2023
Avery has lived in the dark since she was 12 when her step father had murdered her mother
Lincoln had his face disfigured for not murdering the young girl, twenty years later he doesn't recognize her, when she is introduced as Avery.
Lincoln had his face disfigured for not murdering the young girl, twenty years later he doesn't recognize her, when she is introduced as Avery.
February 14, 2024
The plot twist saved this for me
I loved Asher. His character was tough and soft at the same time and I love reading it but also this story just seemed like it took forever. In the end the plot twist and secrets revealed saved the book for me.
I loved Asher. His character was tough and soft at the same time and I love reading it but also this story just seemed like it took forever. In the end the plot twist and secrets revealed saved the book for me.
October 23, 2024
First book was good. Kept my attention enough to read the second, but i struggled to get through the second. I was bored and I found it predictable. Also found it annoying that we were continuously of his kinky past at the club. That wasn't necessary.
April 8, 2023
Great duet !!
Excellent from start to finish , really enjoyed it .
Excellent from start to finish , really enjoyed it .
June 1, 2023
More 3,5 stars.
July 24, 2024
This was a solid book. Dirty cop and chick living on the street. Enough action to keep me hooked
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews