Better the Devil You Know by Bey Deckard Review

Novel (40 000 words)
Genre(s): Horror, torture, erotica, paranormal, serial killer

Tags: graphic torture, forced incest, rape

Byron is tall, handsome, well spoken, wealthy, and has outstanding taste in wine and food. You’ll be impressed by his impeccable attire and eloquence in conversation, ranging from Baroque art to the newest advances in pharmacology. With his charming smile and elegant manners, Byron truly is the perfect date… and who doesn’t love a man who appreciates opera?

What’s the catch, you ask?

Just this: if Byron finds you suitable, he will subject you to utterly depraved forms of torture.

No, I’m not talking about S&M.

Byron will mutilate, rape, and then kill you. Don’t think that you will survive the encounter, because you won’t. He has a perfect record.

Intrigued? Would you like me to arrange a rendezvous? It has to be in the next few days because he’s leaving on a trip south to much warmer climes, and his calendar will be completely full.

Yes? Very good. I will make a reservation for two under the name of Smith.

Who am I? I’m Gloria, his personal assistant.

FROM THE AUTHOR

"Write something dark," they said.

So I did.

Purchase Information
http://www.beydeckard.com
http://www.beydeckard.com/blog/better-the-devil-you-know-out-now/

Bey currently lives in the wilds of Montréal with his best buddy, a spotty pit bull named Murphy.

      

REVIEW

Better the Devil You Know by Bey Deckard

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

My brain says, "The writing was genius, at least 5 stars."

My sensitive soul says, "Owie, that hurts."

So we had to meet in the middle.

Sexually dark books have always fallen into two categories in my mind. The first has a warped lead who mentally or physically tortures an unwilling subject so deeply that my psyche winces, but despite everything, the recipient and I still develop Stockholm syndrome for him. The second has a completely evil role who mutilates or gruesomely murders the victims of his sexual urges in graphic detail. He pushes me too far, causing a loss of all emotional connection which turns the material into a bad read for me.

Better the Devil You Know made it's own new category. I had that sick feeling of going too far during more than one scene; yet, my attraction to the plot didn't break. Also while throwing out these horrors on the surface, there's a different storyline bubbling underneath. The reader is presented with a mystery and a differing outlook than the usual. There's a lot of shock factor, but there's also intelligence.

Byron is medieval and savage upon several people during his life. The accounts of some of his 'dates' are given. Although the story is told in third person, the accounts are from the point of view of Byron's prey. Each tale gives further clues in the overall scheme of things.

This is one of the darkest books I've ever read. Parts of it were so disturbing that I don't even know how to convey the depravity. It is absolutely not for many, but for a certain audience, it is perfection. Better the Devil You Know is horrific, smart and beyond rare.

***copy given in exchange for an honest review***


toni

FangirlMoments and My Two Cents

View all my reviews

Brothers LaFon, Part One: Crucial Lessons by Joseph Lance Tonlet Review

AUTHOR:  Joseph Lance Tonlet

BOOK TITLE:  Brothers LaFon, Part One: Crucial Lessons

RELEASE DATE:  02/28/2015

PUBLISHER:  JLT Publishing

COVER GRAPHIC ARTISTS:  Bey Deckard & Preston Hultz

GENRE:  M/M, NON-Con Erotica, Thriller

LENGTH:  Novelette, 16k Words, 60 Pages

BLURB:

Alexander LaFon lives a nightmare, but he deals with it. Deals with the fact that his mother abandoned him as an infant, deals with the fact that his father is never home, and deals with the fact that his older brother, Jeremiah, tortures him.

He dreams of escaping his mobile-home prison and finding a normal life. Of breaking free of his agony, finding a woman to love, becoming a teacher.

But some horrors you can never outrun. There's nowhere to hide. Some nightmares chase you in your sleep and steal your freedom like a brutal thief. Some brothers never give up and never answer why.

Note: This book contains graphic violence, non-consensual sex, child abuse, and animal cruelty.

Tags: GAY, EROTICA, FORCED SUBMISSION, THIRLLER, NON-CON, INCEST, KIDNAPPING, CHILD ABUSE, ANIMAL CRUELTY

BUY LINK:

Author Website:

http://www.josephlancetonlet.com/Brothers_LaFon.html

GOODREADS LINKS:

Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23257254-brothers-lafon

Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/145755-brothers-lafon

  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Joseph is a born and raised Southern Californian—with a twenty-year stint of living in the Midwest. He loves the laid-back lifestyle of San Diego and considers himself lucky to live where people dream of vacationing.

A lifelong reader of m/m fiction, he began his writing career one night sitting at his MacBook and has never looked back. He writes to bring the characters he dreams about to life.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Personal Website: http://www.josephlancetonlet.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joseph.lance.tonlet

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+JosephLanceTonletAuthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Joseph_Lance_Tonlet

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/josephltonlet/

Twitter (adult content): https://twitter.com/JosephLTonlet

 EMAIL ADDRESS:  jlt@josephlancetonlet.com

Writing Evil

Writing Jeremiah (Miah), the psychotic antagonist in my latest novelette release, Brothers LaFon, was nothing short of a blast. 

 “I know I’m not normal…like other people. I don’t feel things like other folks do.”

He sighed, released his light grip on his brother's throat, and ran his palm across the younger man's lean forearm.

“I know I hurt you—that I intend to hurt you—and it makes me feel good to hear your screams and pleas, to see the blood and scars. But your pain, what it means to you, it has no effect on me; I don’t feel anything about it in regards to you as a person. I don’t feel…empathy, Alexander.”

Actors routinely comment that portraying the villain is vastly more fun than playing the victim. I can now say, at least for this author, it's very enjoyable to write them too.

Reading takes us on a journey—an adventure into another time and place, with fresh faces to learn, and experiences to live. Witnessing front row, the age-old paradox between good and evil can be thrilling...and horrifying. Particularly when the evil is truly heinous.

A reader, and fellow author, recently described her feelings about Jeremiah like this:

"I go balls in when I find a character like this. The need’s there to pull him from the pages, tie him down in a padded cell, break him enough to see how he ticks... and it disturbs the hell out of me that Miah fascinates me like this: there’s nothing, and I mean NOTHING redeemable about him. But... but..."

As I've mentioned on this blog tour, writing a character who has no moral compass, who feels nothing beyond his own needs and gratification, is almost euphoric; the possibilities are nearly limitless. Indeed, without a conscious, the character can go in any direction...and certainly bound into the darkest of places most characters would never venture.

But, most importantly, reading a character like Jeremiah takes us on a journey which allows us to—hopefully—feel deeply, while pondering the character's unfathomable motivations, and, with what's left over, encourage the victim, in this case his own brother, to not lose hope.

Another reader said: 

"Disturbed, sadistic and manipulative bastard. That is Miah on the outside. On the inside, he is very complex, and the whole time, you just want to understand... Alex is so sweet and conflicted and just trying to survive. My heart broke for him so many times until he finally makes his break."

Yeah, I had a complete blast writing the twistedness of Jeremiah. But if I did it correctly, it wasn't half as much fun as reading about him will be.

Peace,

JLT

#pleasurethroughdenial

GIVEAWAY

More info at http://www.josephlancetonlet.com/Grifs_Toy.html

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW

Brothers LaFon, Part One: Crucial Lessons by Joseph Lance Tonlet

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my first book from JLT. I had no idea if he was a good writer or not. After finishing this, I have to say, he's got the skills. I read the warnings before starting this book. I like dark so I moved forward.

This novella is about two brothers. Miah is a true psychopath/sociopath. He's willing to go to inhuman lengths without batting and eye. His greatest pleasure is physically and psychologically torturing his little brother Alex. Alex lives in hell made by a brother he cannot reason with no matter how much he begs or cries. The ultimate kicker is despite how much pain and degradation Alex endures at the hands of Miah, he still loves his brother.

For about a day after reading, I was speechless except for rambling curses.

The dark in it is about as dark as a story can get without becoming horror. The bad things are so wrong; yet, I still felt drawn to what was happening. There are no boundaries in this novella. I had no idea where it would go next, and I cannot wait for the next installment to discover the brothers' fates.

If you don't like truly dark reads, this is not for you. I suggest you take the warnings seriously.

4.5 scars

***copy given in exchange for an honest review***


toni

FangirlMoments and My Two Cents

View all my reviews

Three, Two, One by JA Huss Review

ONE GIRL

Battered, barefoot, and huddled under a bookstore awning in the pouring rain, Blue only knows one thing. After fifteen months of captivity, finally... she is free.

TWO FRIENDS

Self-made millionaires JD and Ark are not out to save anyone when they stumble upon a wet and shivering girl one early Sunday morning. But when you sell sex for a living and salvation rings your bell... you answer the call.

THREE SOULMATES

After years of searching, love lifts the veil of darkness, and three people--with three very big secrets--find themselves bound together in a relationship that defies the odds.

Or does it?

Love. Lust. Sex.

This trinity might be perfection... but not everything should come in 3's.

WARNING: This is a STANDALONE non-traditional M/F/M ROMANCE with a non-traditional ending.

Three, Two, One (321) Website

Three, Two, One (321) Facebook Group

JA Huss is the USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty romances. She likes stories about family, loyalty, and extraordinary characters who struggle with basic human emotions while dealing with bigger than life problems. JA loves writing heroes who make you swoon, heroines who makes you jealous, and the perfect Happily Ever After ending.

Three, Two, One by J.A. Huss

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Several friends told me to read this book so I gave in. I just finished a couple of minutes ago. So this review may be rambling. I haven't thought it out yet.

This story has so many elements that I need to discuss. From the very first scene, it had me. I don't remember ever reading a story before that started from this angle. The beginning is insane. I was shocked that meetings and offers would take off like they did. Information is slowly given to the reader so when it begins, you only see a random chick, a guy coming on to her and a guy filming. Three people, totally different, yet alike in so many ways. All are lost, looking for something.

Everybody's got a past. Everybody is running from some demon or another. Everybody needs a second chance. If there's a person out there who has not fucked up royally and needed a second chance...well, that person hasn't lived yet.

I didn't know how connected in the underlying scheme and in heart each one was when I first saw them. Their first scenes together felt sort of awkward, but they continually evolved. I didn't know this craziness would turn into lust like no other. I've read some hot books, but hell their scenes turned me on. I don't mean a little. It's like I need a break to catch my breath here. Every book synopsis boasts of how provocative it is this days so I can't even express this enough. You just have to read it to understand. Then before you know it, love takes over.

"Three, two, one...action."

While all of this is going on, there is an overall backstory causing fear, just waiting to jump into the forefront. Slowly bits of each character are revealed. Confusion steps in. You're not sure which way is up or where the storyline is going to go.

'Not everything should come in threes.'

'Every set of three is perfect.'

How does one story have so much? Love, heartbreak, sexiness, action, mystery, friendship, tragedy, sweetness, excitement, beauty, ugliness, completeness—the list goes on. I am so hungover, I could cry right now. I loved the whole book. The author does an excellent job of putting the reader in positions most of us will never find ourselves in real life. It enables you to sympathize and connect. The way the plot slowly unfolds ensures you are totally invested. It's a perfectly preformed bittersweet symphony. I loved it, and now I'm going to sit and dwell. It's over, but I'm still stuck inside.

5+ Rocked My Foundation Stars

toni

FangirlMoments and My Two Cents

View all my reviews

KICK by Carmen Jenner Blog Tour Review

Blurb

When I was ten, my father indoctrinated me into the family.

A brotherhood who would fight, protect, and give their lives for one another. A club whose ties ran thicker than blood, murkier than the dirt and grime that tainted my soul. Stronger than the bonds that connected me to my own family.

A band of brothers, where loyalty was kept and paid in a currency of blood.

When I was twenty-seven, I betrayed that brotherhood.

I’ve spent every day since running, avoiding paying back that debt.

My name is Daniel Johnson.  I have betrayed everyone I ever loved.

And I’ll betray her too.

This is my story—if you’re screwed up enough to want to read it.

Warning: KICK contains graphic violence, profanity, drug use, and explicit sexual situations of a taboo nature. Intended for an 18+ audience only. Not intended for pussies.

Excerpt

I take a deep shuddering breath, close my eyes and stretch my hand towards him. His touch is gentle this time, far more gentle than I’d ever thought someone with so much uncontained violence to him could be.

“Spread your fingers,” he commands. I do, and he lifts the roll of tape, presses the edge to my skin and begins winding it over my knuckles. I close my eyes. The strident sound of it stretching out from the roll makes me want to flee. It makes me want to run as far from his touch—from any man’s touch—as I can possibly get.

The feel of the tape against my flesh, binding, holding, is so much worse. I tug on my hand, but he won’t let go. My heartrate skyrockets, and sweat beads erupt over my brow and upper lip. I’m in that room again, struggling, screaming, trying to fight them off, and failing.

Biker knows it, too. His dark eyes challenge, they dare me to run, but they also implore me to stay. It’s ironic that the only thing keeping me here, keeping me grounded, is the man who abducted me.

He holds my gaze. I don’t know exactly what is hidden in his dark blue one, but it suffocates the panic within me, douses it like water flooding flames. He bends his head to my hand. Taking the paper tape in his mouth, he rips it with his teeth.

I still. I soften. His gaze doesn’t leave mine, not even once. Not even when he starts in on my wrist, gently biting through each piece of tape before pressing it down with his rough hands. I’m mesmerised by his mouth, the piercing, and the soft, full lips. The light catches a silver chain around his neck, something I’ve never noticed before—but then I try not to make a habit of staring too closely at him. Not now, though. Now I watch every twitch, every blink, every intake of breath, and every inch that is swallowed up by his mouth moving closer to my flesh.

Happy Release to Carmen Jenner

Kick is LIVE!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1z3NZL8

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Jwnbb8

iBooks: http://tinyurl.com/m4mjlqk

B&N:http://tinyurl.com/kfmqf6u

Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/l3soqkc

Add Kick to your TBR list on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1uTnAjs

RELEASE DATE: January 26th, 2015

KICK Book Trailer: http://tinyurl.com/o84xd5g

Join the KICK Release Day Party: http://on.fb.me/1t9xQnN

Support the KICK Thunderclap campaign: http://bit.ly/1EcrVCz

Enter the KICK Paperback Giveaway: http://bit.ly/1t9xYnn

Visit the Saint Savage MC official website:   http://savagesaintsmc.blogspot.com.au/

Additional books by this author

Welcome to Sugartown

Amazon: http://amzn.to/13X0U6S

B&N: http://bit.ly/1yjefiK

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1skhr98

Enjoy Your Stay

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1tqG4Bc

B&N: http://bit.ly/1zaoEhy

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1sqXUVI

Greetings from Sugartown

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1yjdLJp

B&N: http://bit.ly/1qw1Jbs

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1yjeZ7w

Welcome to Sugartown Website:

http://www.welcometosugartown.blogspot.com.au/

About the Author:

Carmen Jenner

Carmen Jenner is a thirty-something, USA TODAY Best Selling Author, doctor, pilot and CIA agent.  She's also a compulsive, flagrant prevaricator who gets to make things up for a living.

While Sugartown may not technically exist, Carmen grew up in a small Australian town just like it, and just like her characters, she always longed for something more. They didn't have an Elijah Cade, though.

If they did, you can be sure she would have never left.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW

Kick by Carmen Jenner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I did not read the Sugartown books, so I went into this story 'blind' I guess you could say. Every character was starting at ground level for me. I must say this is a really gritty story. It definitely will not be for everyone. The author even has a note in the beginning stating that it will be a difficult story. I tend to love the damaged characters. Thus, Kick found his way into my heart.

Kick has had a terrible life. From the womb he has never had an easy go at anything. I just don't even know how the poor guy is still standing. He seeks no sympathy for how he is either. I actually think he puts himself in a category for people who are terrible when really he isn't. He blames himself for not being the hero. He's really just a broken person, a survivor, not a truly bad man.

the fucked up ones gravitate towards each other like magnets. Darkness doesn't seek out the light. It smothers the light, and it revels in the light's death. And there is nothing more dangerous than darkness that doesn't have an outlet.

Enter Indie. She was a person in 'the light' but not now. Indie went through total hell. This isn't easy stuff to read, but it makes you feel. Indie and Kick are just two pieces of matter floating around in their fucked up world. The question is can they help each other?

The writing was excellent. This storyline is like none I remember. Often I get MC books confused with each other. There will be no danger of that here. This story knocked me for a good one. I definitely will continue with the series. And I want to add that I appreciate Kick, a guy who is attracted to the women who are damaged. In most reads the bad boy has a chick that's all his, a sweet one breaks through his shell. Kick likes the whores, the losers, the ones who've been molested and gang raped, the ones most men wouldn't get near.

4 to 4.5 twisted stars

***copy given in exchange for an honest review***


toni

FangirlMoments and My Two Cents

View all my reviews