Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark, #1) in Naughty with a Touch of Nice

Sep 23, 2016 Nancy❤The❤Bookaholic rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: alpha-males, dark, erotica

WOW! Talk about a...

...more

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Jan 09, 2014 Laura Carson rated it really liked it

Shelves: owned, naughty-fun, cover-love, contemporary, tattoos-piercings, pushing-the-envelope, bdsm, slave-abduction, tortured-hero-heroine, authors-to-watch

*I received a copy of this book courtesy of Black Firefly, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*

4 stars

"Monsters find each other in the dark..."

Tess Snow has always had these cravings. Dark cravings. She wants things she knows she shouldn't, things that she's afraid to acknowledge. Things that her boyfriend Brax would never consider doing to her, but she can't live with them bottled up for much longer. Ready to reveal her true self on a surprise trip Brax plans for them, she's afr *I received a copy of this book courtesy of Black Firefly, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*

4 stars

"Monsters find each other in the dark..."

Tess Snow has always had these cravings. Dark cravings. She wants things she knows she shouldn't, things that she's afraid to acknowledge. Things that her boyfriend Brax would never consider doing to her, but she can't live with them bottled up for much longer. Ready to reveal her true self on a surprise trip Brax plans for them, she's afraid he'll turn against her like everyone else. Her parents have always been painfully honest that she was a mistake that ruined their lives, what if they saw the darkness lurking in her soul from the very beginning? Before she can spill too much she finds herself taken from the life she's built and thrown into a world of real life monsters and seedy underground dealings. Refusing to surrender, she's given to a man who will change her world forever.

Tears of Tess promised to be a dark contemporary romance and it delivered. It was a great introduction to a new series filled with the shadows of humanity, the dark corners people are scared to look into. As warned, there are triggers contained in the story, so it may be tough for some, but it is told in a beautiful way that is edgy and erotic and emotionally provocative. The tougher scenes, even though contain some of the same general acts, are charged with different emotions than the erotic ones and draw a clear and precise line in the sand allowing the reader to still be more comfortable with the rougher edge of the developing relationship between the two main characters.

Tess is a character that evokes a level of emotion right off the bat. Even if you don't share her issues, everybody has most likely felt a percentage of the self loathing or low self worth that she struggles with daily. It also seeps off the pages and into the readers subconscious, sucking you into a roller coaster along with her. Her growth is measurable and you watch her change from a scared girl to a woman that embraces every side of herself even if it is different from the herd mentality of society.

Q Mercer is a mystery that is unraveled through the pages. Secret end games, taboo desires, and beautiful ink symbolizing a shamed past, he is complex and dark. I loved getting to know him piece by piece through Tess's eyes. He was sexy, powerful, and a believable sadistic Dominant.

The writing was smooth and absorbing and easy to breeze through even considering it was on the longer end, and supporting characters played their part in bringing this world into the three-dimensional. I'm so glad Ms. Winters is continuing the series, and I'm excited to continue it with her. ...more

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Oct 12, 2013 Dina rated it really liked it

4 1/2 stars!!

WOW. WOW. WOW!!!

If you're into dark, twisted plots, this is definitely you're book.

I gotta be honest, a few times I wanted to throttle her. Badly. But when you read along, that urge subsides and you realize that she's just one f'ed up girl! I mean, she was (view spoiler) for heaven't sake! And she still (view spoiler)..

So, I'm thinking, once the reader realizes what those two are about, things will make m ...more

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