Raze
(Scarred Souls #1)
by
Tillie Cole (Goodreads Author)
To take back life, one must first face death...
One man stripped of his freedom, his morals...his life.
Conditioned in captivity to maim, to kill and to slaughter, prisoner 818 becomes an unremorseful, unrivaled and unstoppable fighter in the ring. Violence is all he knows. Death and brutality are the masters of his fate.
After years of incarceration in an underground hell, only one thought occupies his mind: revenge...bloody, slow and violent revenge.
Revenge on the man who lied.
Revenge on the man who wronged him.
Revenge on the man who condemned him and turned him into this: a rage-fueled killing machine. A monster void of humanity; a monster filled with hate.
And no one will stand in the way of getting what he wants.
One woman stripped of her freedom, her morals...her life.
Kisa Volkova is the only daughter of Kirill ‘The Silencer’ Volkov, head of the infamous ‘Triad’ bosses of New York's Russian Bratva. Her life is protected. In reality, it’s a virtual prison. Her father’s savage treatment of his rivals and his lucrative and coveted underground gambling ring—The Dungeon—ensures too many enemies lurk at their door.
She dreams to be set free.
Kisa has known only cruelty and loss in her short life. As manager of her father’s death match enterprise, only grief and pain fill her days. Her mafia boss father, in her world, rules absolute. And her fiancĂ©, Alik Durov, is no better; the Dungeon’s five-time champion, a stone-cold killer, the treasured son of her father’s best friend, and her very own—and much resented—personal guard. Unrivaled in both strength and social standing, Alik controls every facet of Kisa’s life, dominates her every move; keeps her subdued and dead inside...then one night changes everything.
While working for her church—the only reprieve in her constant surveillance—Kisa stumbles across a tattooed, scarred, but stunningly beautiful homeless man on the streets. Something about him stirs feelings deep within her; familiar yet impossibly forbidden desires. He doesn’t talk. Doesn’t communicate with anyone. He’s a man beyond saving, and a man she must quickly forget...for both their sakes.
But when weeks later, out of the blue and to her complete surprise, he’s announced as the replacement fighter in The Dungeon, Kisa knows she’s in a whole lot of trouble. He’s built, ripped and lethally unforgiving to his opponents, leaving fear in his wake and the look of death in his eyes.
Kisa becomes obsessed with him. Yearns for him. Craves his touch. Needs to possess this mysterious man...this man they call Raze.
Dark Contemporary Romance. Contains explicit sexual situations, excessive violence, disturbingly sensitive and taboo subjects, offensive language and mature topics. Recommended for age 18 years and up.
BUY: AMAZON (US) | AMAZON (CAN)
Source: Kindle
Genre: Dark Contemporary Mafia Romance
Part 1 of an ongoing series
My Reap Review . . .
I've been a bit of a funk lately with reading and thankfully this book ensnared me from beginning to end. Kisa
Volkova has always known who her soulmate was but he was taken from her young. This loss caused her to make poor choices, but dutiful ones. Now that she knows she's missing her other half, she ends up being engaged to a huge asshole ,Alik
Durov. She knows what she has with Alik. It isn't healthy, but she's fulfilling her role. Until 818 appears.
"I've seen too many bad things with these eyes. This, I will feel in my heart."
818 knows two things. 1) to kill to survive and 2) revenge. After most of his life in the dungeon, 818 finally has a chance to escape and get his revenge.
"Ignore it. Control your anger. Kill first, live later. Then get the girl."
The minute Kisa meets 818, she's drawn to him. She's doesn't know why, but she can't seem to stay away. Now the problem is, she's still with Alik? However, once she finds out who 818 is, she now has to decide between her duty or her heart.
"He will have you, Kisa. You saw his soul, yet you didn't recognize his face. And he knew you, even when his memories were not there. You are his light, his guide back to this life."
Did I love this book? YES!!! It was dark but heartwarming. 818 is so damaged and broken, but his heart is so pure. His struggles to find himself are heartfelt and raw. But the true beauty in this book is the bond between Kisa and 818. It knows no end. It's strong and real.
"Nothing will ever happen to her, sir. She's my everything . . . she's the reason I live . . . breath . . . exist. She's my entire world. There's no safer place for her than being beside me."
This book is so much darker than Tillie's Sweet Home series, but the heart is still there. In this book, the beauty is in the darkness. I loved it and recommend it. Now, I can't wait for more.
4. 5 Beauty in the darkness thumbs up!
. 5
Lauren
BUY: AMAZON (US) | AMAZON (CAN)
Reap
(Scarred Souls #2)
Raised as a prototype for the Georgian Bratva's obedience drug, 221 fails to think, act, or live for himself; he's his master's perfectly-crafted killing puppet. Standing at six-foot-six, weighing two-hundred-and-fifty pounds, and unrivaled in to-the-death combat, 221 successfully secures business for the Georgian Mafiya Boss of NYC, who rules the dark world of the criminal underground. Until his enemies capture him.
Talia Tolstaia dreams to break from the heavy clutches of Bratva life. She dreams of another life--away from the stifling leash of her Russian Bratva Boss father and from the brutality of her work at The Dungeon, her criminal family's underground death-match enterprise. But when she stumbles upon her family's captive who is more monster than man, she starts to see the man underneath. A powerful, beautiful, damaged man whose heart calls to hers. But sacrifices must be made--blood for blood...life for life...souls for scarred souls...
Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of St. Martins Press via NetGalley
Genre: Dark Contemporary Mafia Romance
Part 2 of an ongoing series
My Reap Review . . .
This is NOT a standalone. You need to have read Raze first to get the whole story. This book continues immediately after Raze and it has multiple POVs. It is from Luka, and as well as his sister, Talia and 221/ Zaal. At the beginning, I was hoping for a miracle and 362 would reappear. Sadly that didn't happen but 221 is a close second in many different ways.
"Because . . . you are . . . for me."
Luka is still having issues re-adjusting to being free, plus he has a driving need to avenge his friend's death. 221, like 818 knows to kill but that's all he knows because he's been drugged to the point that he acts on command and doesn't remember anything from his past. All he knows is to obey his master and kill.
Avenging 362, causes Luka to find 221. Now knowing the whole picture he will do anything to not only avenge, but save 221. Since their lives are even more interconnected than they originally realized, Luka drops 221 off at the beach house with his sister Talia.
All Talia wanted was a break from her life, but when 221 gets thrown into the mix, everything changes for her. As one to not always fall in line with orders, of course she will land on this path where she has to choose between her heart or her family.
Immediately, Talia is drawn to 221 but knows he's the enemy. But knowing and understanding are two different things, especially when the vulnerability of 221 breaks your heart.
For the first time 221 who is now Zaal, wants more but can't immediately except that he's free. Not only is he free, but he's a huge past that he has to come to terms with. Both Luka and Zaal have to come to terms with their pasts so they can find the balance between past and present.
Gah! Zaal's past and his struggles break my heart. His poor scarred soul has so much to learn but with the help of Talia, he can find love for the first time. At the same time, these two have the opportunity to bridge the past, and heal the present, so they can have a future together.
"You are . . . for me. No other male. Just me. And me . . . for you. This is my 'I love you.' These are my words from my scarred soul. They are not borrowed words, but words from my full heart, and my heart only."
These poor broken men, who have huge hearts. The capacity to love for them is hard, but is the only thing that can heal them and propel them forward. Again another book, where the light shines within the darkness causing beauty to blossom where we least expect it. Thankfully Reap was another great addition to this series, where I couldn't put it down. I loved it from beginning to end. I LOVE THIS SERIES!!!!! And I can't wait for more.
5 Light within the dark thumbs up!
Lauren
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