Book picks similar to
Hard Times by C. Hallman
dark-romance
dark
arc
standalone
Sinful
Katherine Hawthorne - 2018
Hunted by a murderer, Xander saved me from the pits of hell, braving a fire that would have ended my life. Hiding me from a killer, he became my protector, my best friend, but never anything more.Sin was a nightmare waiting to happen.Six years later, a friend is murdered at the hottest nightclub in Manhattan, again thrusting me into a killer's crosshairs. Now a detective with the NYPD, I refuse to hide, unyielding in my pursuit of justice, which has eluded me for so long. Determined to keep me safe, Sin forces me from the case. Defying him at every turn, our contentious relationship finally explodes in the most scandalous way conceivable, leaving me devastated.I wanted them both.Xander, sophisticated and elegant. My hero, the man who owns my heart. Sin, dominating alpha-male. My lieutenant, forbidden in so many ways. One dangerous kiss changes everything, catapulting me into a war between the two, neither of them willing to let me go. I become a pawn in their game until they join forces in a way I never saw coming. But lies and deception threaten to destroy us, leading to a betrayal that cuts so deep, I wonder if I'll ever survive.AUTHOR'S NOTE: This book is intended for mature audiences due to explicit language and sexual content. Sinful is a menage romance that's all about the girl. There are NO M/M scenes.
Quadruple Duty
Krista Wolf - 2018
Wife material. Long term only. The ad was ridiculous. Beyond ridiculous! Yet for Sammara Madsen, bored in life and unlucky in love? The concept made her stomach do a sexy barrel roll. After a chance encounter with a gorgeous soldier reveals the opportunity of a lifetime, Sammara goes along out of simple curiosity. Yet when she falls in love with the beautiful mansion as well as the three other handsome Rangers who live there? The idea of being shared between them as their girlfriend doesn't seem so outrageous anymore. Kyle is the charming, sculpted epitome of the perfect man. Dakota, the beautiful giant - and quintessential country boy. Ryan is the brooding, motorcycle-riding bad boy who shares Sammara's lonely past, and Briggs is the mysterious alpha mercenary, dark and enigmatic, with wounds only a lover could heal. Yet satisfying the physical and emotional needs of four strapping, powerful soldiers is not without its share of problems. Sammara is plagued by the woes of her dying business. And the four brothers-in-arms have a puzzling secret all their own... one that could easily put them - and their eager new girlfriend - in mortal danger. Four Army Rangers... sharing the same woman, mind, body, and soul. The ultimate fantasy becomes heart-pounding reality as Sammara is taken into each of their beds - and hearts - one by one, two on one... and more. Can Sammara succeed in fulfilling her role to each of her beautiful new boyfriends; that of friend, lover, and so much more? Or will sinister unknown forces crush their budding 5-way relationship before it can even begin? QUADRUPLE DUTY is a sexy, stand-alone reverse harem military romance filled with humor, drama, pulse-pounding excitement, and enormous amounts of love. It also contains sizzling hot MFMMM menage sex, in single and multiple partner scenes so molten they're bound to melt your kindle! HEA guaranteed.
A.C.H.E.
M. Never - 2018
C is for choice. H is for his. E is for Everly. I have always gotten the short end of the stick when it came to my personal life. Drug addicted mother, obsessive step father, shitty upbringing, and one soul shattering, heart-wrenching relationship. But everything changed when I met Alec Prescott. I couldn’t stand the cocky hotshot lawyer at first, but after assisting him on one case, my opinion changed drastically. He became the beginning I so desperately needed, even if romantic relations at work are completely forbidden. Unfortunately, falling in love with a co-worker is the least of my problems. Funny thing about the past, it’s never truly far away. No matter how fast you run from it, or how hard you try to suppress it, it’s there, lingering like a fog, blinding your vision, impacting your decisions, affecting your life. That’s where Tage Andrews comes in. He’s the heartache I can never outrun. The man who saved me from my past all while pillaging my emotions. I want to avoid reliving it—avoid him—but he’s always there, lingering like a fog, blinding my vision, impacting my decisions, affecting my life. This is my paradoxical predicament. Two men. One choice. Inevitable heartbreak. A.C.H.E. is an angsty, fast-paced, romantic suspense with ménage themes. Reader discretion is advised. (less)
By Sin I Rise: Part One
Cora Reilly - 2021
Raised by his uncle, the president of the Tartarus MC, Maddox is destined to follow in his footsteps. Now their chapter is on the rise again, but for their ultimate triumph they need to destroy the Vitiello empire. And what better way to do it than to steal the spoilt Vitiello princess and break her piece by piece until her father begs for mercy.Known as the spoilt princess of New York, Marcella Vitiello grew up in a golden cage. If your father is the most feared man in New York, people gift you with reverence.Destined to marry the boyfriend approved by her father, Marcella is sick of being treated like an untouchable porcelain doll. She resents the life forced upon her by her family until everything she took for granted is ripped from her. Where she’s now, her name doesn’t bring awe, only pain and humiliation.If you’ve grown up in a high castle, the fall is all the deeper. Sins of the fathers have a way of catching up…who’s going to bleed for them?
Because You're Mine
Claire Contreras - 2018
They're the ones with experience. The ones with secrets. The ones that exude sex just by saying your name.From the minute I laid eyes on Lorenzo, I knew he wasn't just bad news. He was the headline.My opinion didn't change on our second meeting. Or our third. But my head and my heart are at war. He’s too mysterious, too gorgeous, too wild, and now, he wants me. I should run far away. So why am I racing toward him? I’m totally going to get burned. I know it. A man like Lorenzo won’t leave me unscathed.He'll make ashes of me.
Passion & Venom
S. Williams - 2016
Respect. Wealth.He is a savage beast of a man - dominant in every way.Soon after, he makes you an offer that you can't refuse.All you have do is submit to him, and in return you won't be punished.He will reward you handsomely.But if you disobey, you must be prepared to face the consequences.What do you do when the most wanted man in the world . . . wants you?**Please Note: This story contains dark elements that may not be suitable for everyone. If you are sensitive to darker matters or if they make you feel uncomfortable in anyway, please consider that before reading Passion & Venom. I will be the first person to tell you that this story is NOT for everyone. To all the others that are eager to read it . . . The Jefe awaits.**
Aries
Gemma James - 2019
A virgin queen. One arranged marriage. The first time I met the boys of the Zodiac Brotherhood, I was forced to my knees for the introduction. Still grieving the death of my parents, I was a child queen, a pawn in my uncle’s agenda for wealth and gain. As my guardian, he had the authority to arrange a marriage upon my eighteenth birthday. That meeting took place six years ago. Now those boys are powerful men. Twelve virile men that want to own me. And I must spend a month with each one. Bending and yielding to their desires and commands. Shedding pieces of my innocence so long as my virtue remains intact. Because they want a virgin queen after the last month concludes, and my uncle plans to auction me off to the highest bidder. Out of the twelve men, only one has my heart. And only one can claim my hand in marriage. If only it were up to me to decide.
Part 1 of The Zodiac Queen.
Den of Vipers
K.A. Knight - 2020
Their deals are as sordid as their business, and their reputation is enough to bring a grown man to his knees, forcing him to beg for mercy. They are not people you mess with, yet my dad did. The old man ran up a debt with them and then sold me to cover his losses.Yes, sold me.They own me now.I’m theirs in every sense of the word. But I’ve never been meek and compliant. These men, they look at me with longing. Their scarred, blood-stained hands holding me tight. They want everything I am, everything I have to give, and won’t stop until they get just that. They can own my body, but they will never have my heart.The Vipers? I’m going to make them regret the day they took me.This girl? She bites too.18+ Reverse Harem Romance. Warning this book contains scenes and references of abuse/assault that some readers may find triggering. Along with graphic sex scenes and violence. This is a dark book.
Voyeur
Candace Wondrak - 2021
I used to be a good girl. I did everything right. But then I came home and found my boyfriend in bed with my sister, so I left, eventually finding myself at the Dollhouse—a strip club. No good girl would be caught dead at the Dollhouse, but like I said, that was the old me. The new me? The new me likes it dirty. Likes it rough. I like being put on display and watched… and he likes watching. He will do anything to take me as his own and make me his in every sick way possible. He wants to own me. To control me. Roman is a devil in a suit, the kind of dangerous man who can bend anyone to his will. Together, with his partner in crime, Carter, he dominates me the moment we meet. But I still have a mind of my own, my own wants and desires that include a sweet, kind, and dangerously cute neighbor of mine. If Roman wants to keep me, he’ll either have to cage me or bow to me once in a while. Even devils can break. Voyeur is a dark RH/Why Choose romance, recommended 18+. It is a standalone novel full of graphic sex scenes and a bit of violence.
Her Vigilante
Lillian Lark - 2020
A voice that haunts me late into the night with a yearning to taste the forbidden.
Some say dreams hold hidden truths. I hope not.
The man the media calls the ‘Vigilante’ is supposed to be my prey, but instead we dance. Every possible step closer, he evades. Only his faceless taunts close the distance between us. I can barely catch my breath.Then the copycat killings begin, and I struggle to hold my grip on the truth.
In the face of temptation will I rise, or will I fall?
Am I the saint? Or his angel?
Disclaimer: Her Vigilante is a romance with taboo elements. It is not meant to convey real-life situations. This is not a police procedural. It deals with violence, death, and unprotected sex.
If you’re a lover of taboo attraction and morally ambiguous heroes, welcome and happy reading!
Hearts of Darkness
Catherine Wiltcher - 2018
Then he blew my world apart …”He’s a criminal with no conscience. The whisper of a name, a faceless stranger… A man content to dwell in the shadows of his underworld. I’m the light to his dark, an investigative reporter intent on exposing dangerous men like him. We were worlds apart until I caught his attention. Now I’m his captive, kept at the whim of a devil with no kindness or morality.I may be an innocent but I have secrets too. For years I’ve been fighting a private war with the illegal drugs trade, with the cartel responsible for murdering my brother. I’m closer to revenge than I’ve ever been until his duplicity tears my life apart. Ours is a relationship borne of hate but we can't deny the fire that rages between us. But Dante’s a haunted man. He knows only pain and suffering until I see a spark of light buried deep within the shadows of his heart. Now I have two choices. Save Dante Santiago’s soul or lose myself to his darkness forever.
Resurrection
Siobhan Davis - 2020
The night I met Saint, Galen, Caz, and Theo. Those manipulative a-holes set out to ruin me after our hot night together, but they didn’t realize you can’t destroy something that’s already broken. And it only works if the victim cares. Which I don’t. Because I’ve been in hell for years, and nothing penetrates the steel walls I’ve erected.Until The Sainthood decides I belong to them and cracks appear in my veneer. Their cruel games, harsh words, and rough touch awakens something inside me, and now, I’m in trouble.They draw me deeper into their dangerous world, until I’m in the middle of all the violence and gang warfare, tangled up in all the secrets and lies, and there’s no turning back.Because they own me. And nothing has ever felt so right.I’m exactly where I should be.But with enemies on all sides, survival becomes a deadly game with no guarantees.And, sometimes, saints become sinners.Due to mature content, this book is recommended to readers aged eighteen and over. This is a full-length reverse harem dark romance novel with enemies-to-lovers/bullying themes. Cannot be read as a standalone and ends with a cliffhanger. Book 1 of 3.
Run Posy Run
Cate C. Wells - 2021
He didn't care about my past. The talk. The stain on my family's reputation.Then he saw something I never wanted anyone to see.He cares now.This isn't a breakup, it's a warning shot, and if I want to get out of this bad romance alive, I have to run and never look back.Dario Volpe is no storybook hero. He's a psychopath, and he can't decide--kiss me? Or kill me?DarioI'm the man behind the curtain, the power behind the throne. I could have killed her, and no one would have blinked an eye. Posy Santoro isn't exactly a mafia princess.No one sees her as clearly as I can--the perfect mind hidden by that knockout body in the tight dress.I made a mistake, running her off, but now I get to play one of my favorite games.Posy can run, but she isn't made to be free. She's made for me. And when I catch her? Game over.Run Posy Run is a standalone mafia romance with dark elements. Intended for adult readers.HEA guaranteed.
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.
Father
Clarissa Wild - 2017
It’s raw. It’s vulgar. It’s downright offensive. But it’s oh so damn delicious with a capital D. If you are easily offended or prudish, please don’t read this book. But if you like a bit of humor mixed in with raunchiness and brawling, you’ll love this book.Contains disturbing situations, strong language, and graphic violence.