Book picks similar to
When the Dark Wins by Jennifer Bene
dark
anthology
horror
dark-romance
Heat
R. Lee Smith - 2009
A world quarantined since its discovery by the Far-Reachers of Jota's history. And where the fortunes of slavers and chemists have been made ever since.It was to Earth that Kanetus E'Var, the son of Jota's most ruthless slaver, escaped to make Vahst, a powerful drug manufactured from the human brain. And it was to Earth that Tagen Pahnee, Fourth-ranking officer of the Jotan Off-World Security Fleet, was sent to bring the criminal back to justice. Neither of them could have anticipated that at that moment, E'Var's hunting grounds were experiencing the worst heat wave in years, triggering the Jotan breeding cycle in both males.Home is not an option for either of them. Both are determined to find a way to work on this hostile planet, surrounded by humans, surrounded by dangers, surrounded by Heat.Adult readers only, due to graphic gore, violence, and explicit sexual situations.617 pages, 285,862 words
Saved
D.D. Prince - 2017
But when she has to jump from a burning building into the arms of the mysterious and handsome master of the house, it's a catalyst for big change. Holly, no longer happy to be blissfully ignorant, starts to play with sexual fire. How badly is she about to get burnt?Him: I saved her from a fate many would believe was worse than death. But, I’m no hero. Far from it. I’m saving her for myself, which might be an even worse fate. Her: He's dark. He’s dangerous. He’s the most attractive man I have ever laid eyes on. Everything about him says villain but I can't help but think that maybe there's a hero deep inside. He's kept me apart from the others for a long time. No one is allowed to touch me. Few are allowed to even set eyes on me. I arrived here just before my sixteenth birthday. But soon, I won’t be a little girl any more. How much longer will I be safe? And is safety all that matters? This is a dark romance. If you like your romance dark, proceed. If you don't, or if you're not sure --- approach with caution. This story is a standalone that is a Dominator series spin-off. Holly and Alessandro's story. You do not need to have read the Dominator books to enjoy this story. (Possible trigger. Dark romance. Sex, Violence, Coarse language. Human Trafficking.) Dedication: This story is for the readers who like to spend time in the dark. With the anti-heroes. The damaged ones who don’t think they can be redeemed. This book is for you. And for them.
Prisoner
Annika Martin - 2014
He’s dangerous. He’s wild. He’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.So I hide behind my prim glasses and my book like I always do, because I have secrets too. Then he shows up in the prison writing class I have to teach, and he blows me away with his honesty. He tells me secrets in his stories, and it’s getting harder to hide mine. I shiver when he gets too close, with only the cuffs and the bars and the guards holding him back. At night I can’t stop thinking about him in his cell.But that’s the thing about an animal in a cage—you never know when he’ll bite. He might use you to escape. He might even pull you into a forest and hold a hand over your mouth so you can’t call for the cops. He might make you come so hard, you can’t think.And you might crave him more than your next breath.
Thou Shall Not: A Dark Ten Commandments Anthology
Michelle BrownNatalie Bennett - 2019
We listened. We obeyed. We sinned. Shall we repent? Or shall we take you down with us? Thou shall not have any other gods before me. Thou shall not make yourself a carved image. Thou shall not take the Lord's name in vain. Thou shall remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy. Thou shall honor your mother and father. Thou shall not murder. Thou shall not commit adultery. Thou shall not steal. Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Thou shall not covet your neighbor’s house. *This is NOT a religious book. This is dark, depraved, and delicious and is intended for a mature audience 18+. The Ten Commandments as you've never seen them before...*
Beast
A. Zavarelli - 2017
But then he took me. And he taught me that life isn’t a fairytale. He is scarred. Broken. A dark and wild thing. His beauty is violent and his words are cruel. His heart is a shadowed landscape where nothing can grow. He tells me he could never care for me, and he proves it every day. He’s destroyed my life. Tortured me. And worse… He’s trained me to beg for his affection. This prison is a place where sunlight doesn’t reach. He taught me that hate is born in darkness. And then he taught me that sometimes love is too.
Lost
Ker Dukey - 2016
My Baby Sister is missing…Stolen…Lost… I’ve never felt this helpless before now, the vacant hole inside me expanding with each passing second of not knowing where she is. What’s she going through? Is she hurt?Suffering?Alive? The more I learn of her disappearance the more fear implants itself inside my heart, hardening - darkening. The world is a depraved place, full of evil lurking behind normality.Behind smiles. Behind deception and facades. She needs me and I will do whatever it takes to find her. Whatever. Whatever.
Take the Heat: A Criminal Romance Anthology
Skye WarrenTrent Evans - 2014
Celebrate the illicit in this romantic suspense anthology, where handcuffs are used for more than play. These stories are shocking, sexy, and thought-provoking.In New York Times Bestselling Author Skye Warren’s Magnolia Hotel, meet the heroine who pays her brother’s debt to a loan shark—who happens to be her childhood crush. Find out if the jury made the right decision in Acquitted by award-winning author Giselle Renarde. Explore a dark and sensual psychology with New York Times Bestselling Author Pam Godwin in Unlawful Seduction.Ride the edge of desire and see if you can TAKE THE HEAT…Skye Warren – Magnolia HotelCynthia Richards – CaptivatedPam Godwin – Unlawful SeductionSheri Savill – SlipknotShoshanna Evers – This Might Hurt A BitCandy Quinn – The BombshellTamsin Flowers – Playing with FireElizabeth Coldwell – Disposing of DonnieAudrey Lusk – Surprise WitnessTrent Evans – Last DayGiselle Renarde – Acquitted
Serial, Volume One
Lily White - 2014
Born with everything, wanting for nothing, murder has become his addiction. He kills women who entice him. He immortalizes them while they’re still young and beautiful. How will he manage to save the one woman he loves?Ronnie Lapierre is a survivor. Born with nothing, she’s struggling in a dead end job with an abusive bastard for a boyfriend. Jude offers her a way out, salvation beyond her wildest dreams. What will happen when she learns his terrible secret?Donovan Blake is the brightest mind to come out of Quantico in years. Charged with finding the Cascades Butcher, he’s perfect for this game of cat and mouse. Will his own dark past lead him to success, or drag him into the depths of hell with the most dangerous man he’s ever encountered?Hearts will be broken, families destroyed, and good men will turn evil. In the end, only one will remain. Find out who survives in this intense story of love and ruin.***Explores dark themes of murder, violence, sexuality, BDSM, the nature of evil...basically all the good stuff.
Wake
D.S. Wrights - 2017
Six years ago Sam helped Anna escape from the clutches of his father's enslaving cult, since he couldn't bear the thought of his younger stepsister being wed to the abusive man. However, he was left behind in the process. Now, after being brainwashed into being his fathers and cult leader's enforcer, he is hell-bent on redemption. This means returning Anna and breaking her into submission.The memory of Sam - her guardian angel, her savior, and the only one she will ever love - is all that had kept Anna together over the past few years. Believing him to be dead and having lost her grand-parents shortly after her escape, she is ready to start a new life after turning twenty-one. Little does she know that Sam has been lurking in the shadows, waiting for her to fall into his trap.Be warned: This book contains various forms of abuse. Purchase at your own risk.
Twisted
Natasha Knight - 2019
I always wanted my own Willow Girl.What happened on that island didn’t break me. It twisted me. Corrupted me.Made me into a monster.Although, I guess it’s true what she says. You can’t become something that wasn’t inside you all along. This was always going to happen. I was always going to take Amelia Willow. History and destiny sealed her fate. Sealed both of ours. For months, I’ve been waiting.Watching.Preparing.And tonight, everything will change. Because tonight, I’ll collect my own Willow Girl.Author’s Note: Twisted is a standalone dark romance, no cliffhanger!
Schadenfreude
19 - 2013
The Hell he finds in Auschwitz as the property of Dr. Ahren Kaltherzig will destroy everything he thinks he knows about life and safety.Word Count: approx. 71,000Warnings: rape, drugs use, medical torture, graphic violence, underage main character involved in sexual acts, Auschwitz setting
Take Me with You
Nina G. Jones - 2016
A set of rules for myself. I don't take unnecessary risks. That's how I've been able to evade capture all these years.But there's something about this girl that is different than the others. When I finally meet her, the rules become a blur. And I break the most important one of all--I take her with me.-----It's just my imagination--that feeling of being watched. That those icy eyes-- a vivid turquoise with a distinct golden fleck--aren't watching me.It's just stress. I am the person everyone relies on. Maybe that's why I haven't been feeling so content with my life lately. Why I dream those eyes belong to someone who can tear me away from all of my responsibilities.But these are just shameful fantasies, never meant to breach reality.Then one night, the dream comes true, only it's a horrific nightmare.Now, I only have one task: survival.Trigger warning: If you need one, this is really not the book for you.
Ruthless
Alexis Abbott - 2015
The Dimitri Brokov. Billionaire, CEO, Russian Mobster, and my step-brother.I can have it all. A fling with the hot, tattooed and totally off-limits cocky prick, half a million dollars and, best of all, the sweet taste of revenge to mend my broken heartI'm supposed to be in control, but I keep going back for more. His hands on me are addictive, the danger he's in thrills me. And when he ties me to his bed so I can't run, we share more than a night of passion; we share a purpose. A mission. One that threatens everything we thought we knew.
Cold Cole Heart
K. Webster - 2018
Something I want to feed. Something I crave to unleash.I want to make her pay.Over and over and over again.Finding the evil, spoiled women sates my ravenous, vengeful soul. I hunt. I capture. I destroy.Slowly. So slowly.One, two, three, four, five…And now six.I’m wicked and sadistic.I am Cold Cole Heart.My mission is death and their payment to me has come due.Number six thinks she is different.Yet when I look at her, I see them.She will pay.They always do.