Top 5 – Dark Reads (Individual and Series)

If anyone knows me, they know I LOVE my dark reads. These reads are not for the faint of heart.

Picking 5 individual books/series was REALLY hard!!!!!!

But I did it.

Buy links embedded in photos.

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I See You – Ker Dukey and D.H. Sidebottom 

Blurb:

I watch you, I see you in ways no one else can, and through my lens I create a life of you for someone to dissect. I capture you in your vulnerability; that smile, your laugh, those tears. I document you and sell your secrets.

When I watch you through my lens you’re mine until I pass you to the buyer. I, like most people, have a fetish for pretty things and in my job I get to be around a lot of pretty things. They pay me to watch them and capture them in a frame for many purposes, and sometimes I like my profession a little more than I should.

I took a job to capture her… I wanted to capture and keep her in more than just the image. This time I will take myself away from the lens and become the client because I cannot resist her, she reminds me too much of my first, I need to have her.

Traumatised from a vicious attack, Nina Drake finds herself shut off from the world until her neighbour brings her out of more than just her nightmares. Even after moving and changing her name, she still can’t shake the feeling of being watched. The memories are so close.

And so is the shadow of the creator of them all.

My Review: 

What in the world did I just read?

**MAJOR TRIGGER WARNING***
This book is a very dark read. If you need a trigger warning of any kind, this book is not for you.

Now….what I’m the world did I just read!?!
Like holy moly.
Nina is a young woman who goes through a dramatic event. She doesn’t understand why it happened and just wants to restart her life.
Then she meets Devon. Devon changes her. Devon makes her come out of her shell. But Devon holds secrets.
You think you have this book figured out and then BAM….total plot twist.

This book was soooo good. I’m definitely going to have a book hangover.

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Animal Series – Marni Mann

Blurb:

In this prison, we weren’t just guards. We were animals.

I captured the guilty.
Locked them inside our prison.
Tortured their bodies and abused their minds.
I had murdered hundreds.
Never recognized one.
Until her face.
Until that scream.
I was hired to take her life.
But first, I had to figure out how she ruined mine.

My Review:

*WARNING*
Animal is an extremely dark novel. There are strong sexual themes, drug usage, physical abuse and torture that could trigger and/or cause emotional suffering. You have been warned.

Mature Adult Content : Readers should be 18+ (contains violence, sexual situations, dark themes) This book is not every anyone who cannot handle cussing and intense situations.

Marni Mann… what did I just read??
This book was captivating, dark (very dark), and so full of twists and turns that I couldn’t put it down. So many people and so many stories that all connect and will make you say “WTF?”

We meet Tyler first. She has just killed herself but we flashback and she tells us her story and how she got where she got.
Tyler is in college and gets drug into the underground world of drugging men and then practically robbing them of thousands of dollars, called the Achurdy. She meets Jae one night while off work and has an instant connection to him. Because of her job, she knows she can never have any kind of relationship with Jae but for some reason, she can’t break away from him.
Then we go to present day and meet Beard. Beard is a killer. He is hired by private people or companies to kill others. He works with two other men, Shank and Diego. Beard loves to torture people, he loves hearing them scream. We don’t learn a lot about his background at first, he is kinda a mystery. He meets a lady name Layla in Miami and is immediately drawn to her. Something about her keeps her in his mind at all times. But you can tell that Layla is hiding secrets.
The story goes back and forth between Tyler flashbacks and present day Beard.
Along the way you also meet Mina who runs Achurdy and Bond who is a person in Beards life. We get a little insight on their stories.
At the end of the book, we get an insight on Shank and what he says blows my mind.

This story was crazy! There were so many twists and turns, connections and ties. And then you read the ending and you are like “OMG”. This book is a total mind f***!!

I can’t wait for Shank’s story to come out!!

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Blurb:

“Because I came from you, does that mean I’m capable of killing? That I’ll be addicted to blood? That I’ll get off on torturing people?”

The kid had questions.
I didn’t blame him.
He’d only heard one side, and it wasn’t mine.

“Why did you hate my mother?”

Now, that was a story worth telling.
But, to do that, I had to bring the kid back to the very beginning.
When the killing and the blood and the torture had all started.
When I was truly happy.
When I was first called a Monster.

Monster is a follow-up to Animal. Animal must be read first.

My Review:

*WARNING*
Monster is an extremely dark novel. There are strong sexual themes, drug usage, physical and sexual abuse, and torture that could trigger and/or cause emotional suffering.

A dark, crazy read.

This review is going to be short because I don’t want to give away anything and the more I type, the more secrets I’ll tell.
Be prepared. This book is dark. I love dark and there were parts I has trouble reading.
With that being said, in this book you learn Shanks story. And what a story.
As always, Marni knows how to give you an ending that leaves you wanting more.

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Pretty Little Dolls Series – Ker Dukey and K. Webster 

Blurb:

Benny loves his pretty little dolls.
As long as they do exactly as they’re told.
He keeps them perfect by brushing their hair
and gives them pretty dresses to wear.
He likes to toy with them late at night.
One so timid but the other likes to fight.
When his favorite doll runs away…
despite the other doll promising to stay,
his heart becomes broken and he can’t help but cry.
He wants her back home or his pretty little doll must die.

Have you ever had to make a decision that haunts you every single day for the rest of your life…the life you stole back?
I have.
I ran for my survival, rocks and twigs cutting into the soles of my feet, my lungs burning and screaming for rest, every muscle tensed and fighting along with me for existence.
I left her.
I ran, ran, ran—from Benny and his lone, pretty little doll—until I couldn’t remember where to find them again.
I’m sorry.

My Review:

I love a dark romance. And this one is definitely dark.
Jade and her sister were kidnapped when they were young and after four years Jade finally escaped. Now she’s a detective and doing everything in her power to find her sister.
But when murders start happening and clue start popping up, Jade realizes that the abductor is after her again.
Can she stop him before he gets to her? Can she find her sister in time?
This book ends in a cliffhanger, and let me tell you I was completely stunned. Chapter 19 totally messed with my head. I was not expecting what happened. I am about to download and read book to right now.

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Blurb:

Benny had a dolly who was sick, sick, sick.
Just like him, his dolly needed darkness as a fix, fix, fix.
So they tormented and hunted and played tricks, tricks, tricks.
Together their sins a lethal mix, mix, mix.

Until Benny missed his dolly who was lost, lost, lost.
He needed to find her and love her at any cost, cost, cost.
Not wanting him and his dolly to be alone, lone, lone.
He made plans to bring his dirty dolly, home, home, home.

Have you ever touched another’s soul with the essence of your own, breathed them in so they become apart of you?
I have.
Finally starting to live, feel and fall in love, amongst all the chaos surrounding me.
Dropping my guard and letting another into my heart.
I left my soul open.
I left my heart open.
I left the door open.
And he stole me.
Dillon…I’m sorry.

My Review:

Holy cow!!!!
The plot twist, I never saw coming.
This book was crazy you never knew what was gonna happen. You never knew who was telling the truth.
Ker Dukey and K. Webster outdid themselves.

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Blurb:

Benny, broken, hurting, and alone
Lost his dolly, his love, his home.
Injured and searching, reborn anew,
He finds himself befriended by one who’s true.
Learning about the world, urges, and lust.
Finding a new future, a new dolly, is a must.
Then out of old pain, fresh prospects come to life,
Benny’s sick mind summons him, so his hand takes the knife.

Have you ever been so lost that you became a shadow? Lurking but not living. Existing in the background where no one notices you.
My doll betrayed me, killed me in more ways than she realized.
I’m watching, waiting, wanting.
One day soon she’ll give me back what she took away…
it’s funny how life works that way.

My Review:

HOLY COW!!!
This book was totally crazy.

It was dark. It was bloody. It was intense. It was AWESOME!!!

This book it different than they last two because there are new players in the game, but trust me, you won’t believe the connections that are relieved in this book.

I don’t want to say too much and give away any big details, but I will say that you DO NOT want to miss out on this book.

Kur Dukey and K. Webster outdid themselves on this one. How in the world they come up with this stuff is crazy. I would love to see their internet search history.

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Blurb:

Betrayal and rage, a festering sting.
Monster vs Master. Who will be king?

Damaged and desperate, a solution they must find, To bring back the dolly who is one of a kind.

Disloyalty and failure will not be forgiven.
Seeking revenge, the monster is driven.

Hungry for his affection, our master has waited. These broken dollies lives have already been fated.

The storm is upon us, the chaos raining down, Now that the big players have come to town.

Who will come out breathing with their prize by their side? And who will be collateral damage along for the ride?

My Review:

*Warning. This is a DARK read with material that will make you squirm. There are also a lot of triggers in this book and some M/M. You have been warned*

I love the Pretty Little Doll series. The journey that Benny has taken us on has been crazy. This book is a bit different than the others though. I still really enjoyed it. I still really enjoyed the story, even though some people will think that I’m crazy because I actually like this kind of read. This book just isn’t about Benny finding his dolls. It’s about him trying to find himself. But Benny is not the only person in this book trying to find themselves.
You have a master and you have a monster. Both are trying to figure out who they are. Both are trying to figure out how the other one plays into their life.
The only reason I give this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because I feel like the story did deviate from where it began. I’m not saying that it was bad because I really did enjoy it but it was a lot different than the first three books.

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The Taken Series – Dani Rene

Blurb:

There is no escape

I never believed in evil.
I never thought the devil was real.
Until I was stolen.

***

I knew Satan existed.
I was convinced I’d be like him one day.
Until my heart was stolen.

Would she be the one to set me free?
Or will I be the one to steal her life?

*This is an extremely dark story with numerous triggers, please be warned. Due to scenes of an adult nature, this book is for 18+ ONLY.

My Review:

Please take note to the warning. This book is a prequel to Severed and it is a DARK read! If you think for one minute you can’t handle this book, then you probably can’t. But if you can….HOLY COW!!!

Drake has grown up in hell. He has seen things that no one should ever see. He has done things no one should ever do. But he does them for a reason, the two people who mean the most to him, his brother and his best friend. To keep them safe.

“And he made sure I’m as cold as he is, but what he doesn’t know is I still have my heart”

Caia has no idea what she has gotten herself into. Taken and drugged, she wakes up in a place she doesn’t know. When she meets Drake she knows he’s not there to save her, but there is something about him that gives her comfort.

What happens when Drake has to do things to Caia he doesn’t want to do? Will he protect her or will he do what his father wants?

This book does end with a cliffhanger and I am DYING to see where the story goes!!

This book was dark and bloody and WONDERFUL!! Dani has a way of writing that makes your brain go places you never thought it could go.

Awesome job!

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Blurb:

*This is NOT a standalone. You need to read Stolen – The Prequel to fully understand this storyline.

My world was hell on earth, son of a man who was evil incarnate.
Hate was all I knew.

When she was stolen, I swore I’d find her.
When I meet her eyes again, I remember what I’m fighting for.
The girl will be mine.

***

I’ve seen true evil, held captive by the devil himself.
And now revenge is all I know.

Everything was stolen from me. Until him.
When my eyes meet his, I’m caught in his web.
Each moment that passes only confirms what I already know—I’m his.

*This is a dark romance. Due to scenes of an adult nature, this book is for 18+ ONLY. That’s the only warning you’ll get.

My Review:

This is a book that will push you out of your comfort zone. I will test your limits and will make you wonder if you can handle any more. But if you can handle it…….HOLY COW!!

I absolutely loved this book. It was dark and gritty but it also had a love story, a love story that touched your heart.

Drake has grown up with the devil. He has seen terrible things and has done terrible things. He tries to block out all the memories he can, but one thing he can’t forget was her. The way she looked. The way she made him feel. But she is gone now and the only people he can rely on are his brother Dante and his best friend River. (these is also a story there)

Caia has given up. She is done trying to fight the life she has now. Four years is a long time to spend with a monster. When her world starts to crumble more than it already has, she wonders how much more she can take.

Drake and Caia’s story is just beginning. Add in River, Harper, Raven, and Dante….and the story deepens even more.

This story is not sunshine and roses. The knight in the story isn’t always a prince, sometimes he’s an outcast, a bad man. But sometimes we need those bad men to take care of other bad men.

You never know what is going to happen next in this book and just when you think you do, everything changes.

I was able to connect with these characters. I was able to feel their pain and to also feel their happiness. You could tell that Dani wrote this story with her heart.

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Book 2 of the Top Shelf Series – Alta Hensley 

Blurb:

My life is one long fevered dream, balancing between being killed or killing.
The name Harley Crow is one to be feared.
I am an assassin.
A killer.
The villain.

I own it. I choose this life. Hell, I crave it. I hunger for it. The smell of fear makes me hard and is the very reason the blood runs through my veins.
Until I meet her…
Marlowe Masters.
Her darkness matches my own.
In my twisted world of dancing along the jagged edge of the blade…
She changes everything.
No weapon can protect me from the kind of death she will ultimately deliver.

My Review:

My favorite Alta Hensley book to date!!
This book was more than I ever expected! Just when I thought I had everything figured out…..EVERYTHING CHANGED!!!!! This book is in my top books of the year!

“Do you have scars on your heart as well ?” “ Not yet .”

Harley Crow is an assassin. A killer. The villain. Part owner of Spiked Roses. He has never loved anyone before. He knows that with the way he lives his life, that love cannot be a part of his life.

Men drank booze out of fancy glasses that cost more than I made in an entire month… unless I did a Tasting . The Tasting Room in Spiked Roses and the Tastings that occurred in that room were a different story.

Marlowe Masters works at Spiked Roses. Since she can remember she has wanted Harley Crow. His dark, mysterious ways interagency her. When an opportunity comes to work in the The Tasting Room, a special room at the Spiked Roses, she takes it. Harley is supposed to be there. He never goes to the tastings. This is her chance to get Harley to notice her.

“RED,” he said. “All you have to do is say RED. But if I don’t hear that word, I won’t stop.”

What happens when Marlowe gets the her chance to be with Harley?
Can one weekend change anything?
What happens when things go to far and trust is broken?
Marlowe and Harley have this connection that cannot be broken or can it?
This book was AMAZING!!!! The story line was great. The plot twist was HOLY COW!!!! This book was so much more than I thought it would be. Once I started reading this book I could not put it down. I can tell that Alta put her heart into this book. The scenes are very well written and the characters have great development.
I cannot wait for the next book in this series!!

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