Beauty in the Broken by Charmaine Pauls

ABOUT THE BOOK

A DIAMOND MAGNATE DARK ROMANCE NOVEL

Six years ago, Harold Dalton framed me for theft and sent me to jail to steal my diamond discovery. He gave his daughter to Jack Clarke in exchange for the excavation rights. Today, I’m walking free, and I’m coming for him with a vengeance. Six years of cruelty make beasts out of men. I’m going to take back what he stole from me, and more. I’m not interested in his properties or shares. I don’t want his small change. I want his biggest asset. Beautiful, mentally unstable, Angelina Dalton-Clarke.

Worth billions, she’s the wealthiest widow in the country, and also the craziest. Her self-harming tendencies had Jack declare her incompetent before he put a gun to his head and blew out his brains. Lina isn’t allowed to touch a cent of her riches. Her father manages her finances. He has all the signing power. As her husband, that chore will fall to me. But if she thinks I only want her for her money, she’s sadly mistaken.

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REVIEW

Lina's circumstances have nearly crushed her will at the beginning of Beauty in the Broken. Damian shackles Lina to him convinced this is the only way she will stay by his side. Charmain Pauls does a fantastic job of balancing her dark romances, and Beauty in the Broken is no exception. Lina and Damian begin their relationship emotionally crippled, often using sexual intimacy to elicit an emotional bond. They are flawed but find strength from one another. With the emotional give and take between Lina and Damian, they repair the damage inside of them. Be warned the consent is sometimes suspect, and a strong dominance theme is at play here. This scenario fits the characters well. I believe it advances their development and leads to a magnificent place. In the end, their roles are balanced, and they are both better for it. I enjoyed reading an advanced copy of Beauty in the Broken by Charmaine Pauls. I would highly recommend giving it a try.

Corrupt by Penelope Douglas

 ABOUT THE BOOK 

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Douglas comes a new dark romance...

Erika

I was told that dreams were our heart’s desires. My nightmares, however, became my obsession. 

His name is Michael Crist. 

My boyfriend’s older brother is like that scary movie that you peek through your hand to watch. He's handsome, strong, and completely terrifying. The star of his college’s basketball team and now gone pro, he’s more concerned with the dirt on his shoe than me. 

But I noticed him.

I saw him. I heard him. The things that he did, and the deeds that he hid…For years, I bit my nails, unable to look away. 

Now, I’ve graduated high school and moved on to college, but I haven’t stopped watching Michael. He’s bad, and the dirt I’ve seen isn’t content to stay in my head anymore. 

Because he’s finally noticed me. 

Michael

Her name is Erika Fane, but everyone calls her Rika.

My brother’s girlfriend grew up hanging around my house and is always at our dinner table. She looks down when I enter a room and stills when I am close. I can always feel the fear rolling off of her, and while I haven’t had her body, I know that I have her mind. That’s all I really want anyway. 

Until my brother leaves for the military, and I find Rika alone at college. 

In my city. 

Unprotected. 

The opportunity is too good to be true, as well as the timing. Because you see, three years ago she put a few of my high school friends in prison, and now they’re out. 

We’ve waited. We’ve been patient. And now every last one of her nightmares will come true. 

*Corrupt is a STANDALONE dark romance with no cliffhanger. It is suitable for ages 18+. 

Purchase on Amazon

REVIEW

Exceedingly glad I decided to read this story.  Thank you Kindle Unlimited, this recommendation was an excellent one.  At the heart of Corrupt is a sizzling dark romance. The chemistry between Rika and Michael is off the charts, their relationship develops thoughtfully and never feels forced. A huge conflict exists between the couple (no spoilers, figuring that out is part of the crazy ride), one that began when they were young, which leads to some intense interludes, both physical and emotional. 

Also present is a suspenseful mystery that could rival other stories dealing solely in that genre. The author presents a life-changing event through a series of flashbacks. Slowly we gain insight into what puts the group at odds with one another. I did not see the twists coming, and it was intense at times. I could not put this book down. 

I will most definitely be checking out more titles by Penelope Douglas, starting with Hideaway which picks up some time after Corrupt. If you like a little darkness, suspense, and some intense sensuality with your romance, Corrupt may be a good fit. It certainly hit all my buttons.  All opinions are my own. I encourage readers to reach their own conclusions.