Maryse's Book Blog

Following my heart, one book at a time...

dark read

My Top Ten Dark Reads

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I’ve been asked for a list like this… oh… for about a year now. Ever since I came out with my little “dark read” obsession. What a relief it was to find out I wasn’t alone in my weird thrill.

Dena: any chance you will put together a list of “dark” reads on your blog?

Alicia: She has dark reads…how dark do you wanna go? She’s got the BDSM dark, but if you want darker, there’s a few out there that aren’t on here.

Dena: I loved her recommendation for the captive in the dark series, Comfort Food, etc.. read more

Kitty Thomas – Pleasure House Series Reading Order

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Queen of super-dark reads (and I mean these can get DARK!!), and a new book in this series just went LIVE!!! 😀 P.S. This is the author of my beloved dark-favorite “Comfort Food” (although it’s not part of this series).

Anna: I read Guilty Pleasures by Kitty Thomas about a year ago. I remember it wasn’t quite as dark as I’d expected, but there were definitely some interesting twists and turns. It is one of those books that I still remember a lot about even a year later, and for someone like me who reads a million books and has a shifty memory that is probably saying something 🙂 read more

Reader Recommendations – Books that took us out of our comfort zone…

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This post is inspired by an old comment I found from my book-twin Amy. And wow!!! I absolutely LOVE her idea. I LOVE books that do this to me. Make me feel so uncomfortable but enrapture me to the point of being unable to put it down long enough ’cause I’m so hooked. Uncomfortable or not, I am IN!!! They always end up being unforgettable, whether I loved them, hated them, or hated that I loved them. 😉

They may be dark reads, forbidden or risqué, situations we wouldn’t normally live or accept in our own lives, maybe something scary or simply something that takes us out of our element in a large enough way… maybe even enlightening us in the process. read more

Vanessa Marie’s “The Suicide King” is LIVE & she’s sent over Five Facts about the book

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Whoaaaa!! That gorgeous, moody cover, and title (The Suicide King) has me so intrigued!! Vanessa Marie is this week’s newsletter sponsor and to celebrate her latest release, she sent over a “Five Facts” to give us a look behind the book.

It sounds poignant and heart wrenching. Just check out this blurb, and tell me it doesn’t give you goosebumps…

Jason King thought suicide was the only answer.
He couldn’t take it anymore.
The inner demons were winning and he was ready to surrender.
As far as he was concerned no one would care.
Everyone would be better off.
No one would notice he was gone.
Little did he know how wrong he was.
His actions had consequences.
The reach went further than he could have imagined.
Only his suffering didn’t end.
Stuck in purgatory Jason is forced to walk a new path.
One that shows him how his suicide affected all those involved.
Even the ones he never thought would care.
The ones he never knew it would reach.
In this Scrooged-like tale, Jason King will visit all of those who mourn him.
He finds out a little too late how wrong he was about everything. read more

Monica James – All The Pretty Things Trilogy Reading Order

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<— DARK READ ALERT & IT SOUNDS CRAZY!!! She’s kidnapped on her honeymoon, and sold to him… P.S. Book #2 JUST WENT LIVE!!!

About book #1:

I was kidnapped on my honeymoon by three masked men.

Blindfolded.
Bound.
Destination unknown.

I was told to stay silent and abide by their rules. But they didn’t realize I wasn’t a victim…not anymore.

The open sea was my backdrop for nine torturous days. During that time, glimmers of my fate were revealed by a man with the mysterious chartreuse-colored eyes. He should have scared me, but he didn’t. read more

Our Favorite Dark and Gritty Biker Romance Books

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Time for an update on our favorite biker & MC (motorcycle club) books. We made quite the list a few years ago (our Ultimate List of Biker Books), which I will be updating soon, but then I received this very specific request for recommendations (and a sort of reader confession in itself), and I’m THRILLED to put this together for her (and us).

Okay so… April is looking for some biker book recommendations (HEA NOT necessary). Ooooooh she’s got a dark streak! She asks:

April: I’m hoping you can help me. Looking for a good M.C. book. And something that is a little darker. I’m not a HEA girl. So the darker the better… read more