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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
“This wasn’t a man caring for me because he loved or wanted me—he was my owner, fixing a possession.”
Tess and Q. I gotta say this was a fast paced and a confusing book for me.
I’m not new to Pepper Winters. I absolutely love the books I’ve read by her but Tess’s character was quite confusing. The back and forth emotions were so quick to change, it was whiplash to understand her current thoughts.
Tess gets trafficked while on a vacation with her boyfriend. She ends up as a slave for a man named Q. Her thoughts and emotions were spot on for a woman kidnapped and raped… only… her dark desires of being spanked, whipped, dominated, etc came to life when Q gave her exactly that.
And she very quickly falls in love with him. But also hates him…
Does she try to run away? Yes. Only back into more sex traffickers. And she realizes she only wants Q again.
I mean- the buildup wasn’t there. The angst was non existent.
Yes, Q ended up saving these women and keeping Tess as the one and only to release his dark desires on, but the book fell flat for me.
Which I’m literally shocked because, I’ve loved her other books I’ve read.
“I’m offering you my pain. My blood. My pleasure. I’m offering you the right to whip and fuck. To debase and harm. I’m offering to fight your needs with my own. I’m willing to join you in the darkness and find pleasure in excruciating pain. I’m willing to be your monster, Q.”
I’d like to finish the series one day but I’m in no hurry.
Tess and Q. I gotta say this was a fast paced and a confusing book for me.
I’m not new to Pepper Winters. I absolutely love the books I’ve read by her but Tess’s character was quite confusing. The back and forth emotions were so quick to change, it was whiplash to understand her current thoughts.
Tess gets trafficked while on a vacation with her boyfriend. She ends up as a slave for a man named Q. Her thoughts and emotions were spot on for a woman kidnapped and raped… only… her dark desires of being spanked, whipped, dominated, etc came to life when Q gave her exactly that.
And she very quickly falls in love with him. But also hates him…
Does she try to run away? Yes. Only back into more sex traffickers. And she realizes she only wants Q again.
I mean- the buildup wasn’t there. The angst was non existent.
Yes, Q ended up saving these women and keeping Tess as the one and only to release his dark desires on, but the book fell flat for me.
Which I’m literally shocked because, I’ve loved her other books I’ve read.
“I’m offering you my pain. My blood. My pleasure. I’m offering you the right to whip and fuck. To debase and harm. I’m offering to fight your needs with my own. I’m willing to join you in the darkness and find pleasure in excruciating pain. I’m willing to be your monster, Q.”
I’d like to finish the series one day but I’m in no hurry.
5 STARS!
SPOILER-FREE
Review originally posted on Aoibh Reads
Tess Snow loves her boyfriend Brax, although she wishes he'd be more adventurous, he's safe and loves her. She's more than happy to go away to Mexico with him for their anniversary.
But after entering a dodgy cafe, she believes Brax to be murdered as she is hauled off, drugged and unaware. Waking with other beaten women, Tess is determined to fight for her freedom. After enduring the darkness of Mexico, she is sold to Q, in France.
He keeps his cards close to his chest and Tess hates him, as she becomes his slave. But not all is what it seems, and Q has a background that Tess is determined to uncover, whilst also wondering if she has come to have feelings for her owner.
I knew this was going to be an uncomfortable read due to the level of abuse and trauma that was predicted for Tess, but the overall story drew me in and I loved it from the start!
Tess: I love her! At the start when she wanted to try new things with Brax, I knew she had a fire to her. After being kidnapped, she didn't just collapse and give up, she fought back even though it meant being hurt more. Upon meeting Q, she defied her orders and she probably didn't see what this symbolised to Q, but it was such a turning point for her. Everything is from her POV and I couldn't help but sympathise for her throughout. Sometimes, with these stories I find it hard to relate to the kidnapped character, but Tess' responses and emotions and thoughts just seemed 100% expected and genuine.
Q: Oh boy... At the start I didn't know if I loved or hated him. We knew nothing about him and to the reader, he was the villain. But as the story developed, we found out so much about him that made the reader fall for him... or at least feel for him. He had such unusual reasons for what he had done and was doing - but it all made sense. It was so fantastically orchestrated that I didn't see it coming, but it was like finally the jigsaw was complete and it was a completely different picture to what was expected. He was a monster, but he was perfect too and so conflicted. He clearly had his own demons but also a heart of gold. He was battling such a dichotomy and I just want to give him a hug!
Writing: Oh WOW!!! Pepper Winters can write! Like, her talent is unbelievable!!! The character development of Tess is executed astoundingly as we really get an insight into who she is and what she wants, mainly at the beginning. This is so important as it means we really know who she is when she's been kidnapped so can properly feel for her. The pacing was perfect and twists and turns were dispersed at great moments that just held my attention for the whole book.
Story: Wow Wow Wow... Obviously you get an insight into what will be happening overall but this story was just a dark storm that you know is dangerous but you can't stop but walk into it. I've never read something that draws the reader in so well. As Q and Tess fall for each other, it's not a sudden or instant thing and it's still tainted with hatred. It's a slow and steady process and more about looking out for each other than anything. Their story is hot and dangerous, but the reader ends up rooting for both of them. Q tries so hard to be careful with her and keep his desires controlled, but Tess yearns to be treated more roughly and ends up knowing him well enough to know how to push his buttons to get what she wants.
Whilst this was a dark read, there were mainly only a select few scenes that were dark. The majority played on the emotions and mental games and focused on other drama. This isn't a negative or a positive, just a note to the reader. I felt it had enough moments that had me worried or scared to keep my interest, but it wasn't overkill to make me want to give up either.
Overall:
I can't recommend this more. It is a mind-f*ck of a story and will leave you numb and confused but it's thrilling and captivating too. I loved the Captive in the Dark series, and read this as a recommendation from that and love this even more. There's a certain elegance to the harshness in this that just makes you fall in love with everything!
See more of my reviews here
SPOILER-FREE
Review originally posted on Aoibh Reads
Tess Snow loves her boyfriend Brax, although she wishes he'd be more adventurous, he's safe and loves her. She's more than happy to go away to Mexico with him for their anniversary.
But after entering a dodgy cafe, she believes Brax to be murdered as she is hauled off, drugged and unaware. Waking with other beaten women, Tess is determined to fight for her freedom. After enduring the darkness of Mexico, she is sold to Q, in France.
He keeps his cards close to his chest and Tess hates him, as she becomes his slave. But not all is what it seems, and Q has a background that Tess is determined to uncover, whilst also wondering if she has come to have feelings for her owner.
I knew this was going to be an uncomfortable read due to the level of abuse and trauma that was predicted for Tess, but the overall story drew me in and I loved it from the start!
Tess: I love her! At the start when she wanted to try new things with Brax, I knew she had a fire to her. After being kidnapped, she didn't just collapse and give up, she fought back even though it meant being hurt more. Upon meeting Q, she defied her orders and she probably didn't see what this symbolised to Q, but it was such a turning point for her. Everything is from her POV and I couldn't help but sympathise for her throughout. Sometimes, with these stories I find it hard to relate to the kidnapped character, but Tess' responses and emotions and thoughts just seemed 100% expected and genuine.
Q: Oh boy... At the start I didn't know if I loved or hated him. We knew nothing about him and to the reader, he was the villain. But as the story developed, we found out so much about him that made the reader fall for him... or at least feel for him. He had such unusual reasons for what he had done and was doing - but it all made sense. It was so fantastically orchestrated that I didn't see it coming, but it was like finally the jigsaw was complete and it was a completely different picture to what was expected. He was a monster, but he was perfect too and so conflicted. He clearly had his own demons but also a heart of gold. He was battling such a dichotomy and I just want to give him a hug!
Writing: Oh WOW!!! Pepper Winters can write! Like, her talent is unbelievable!!! The character development of Tess is executed astoundingly as we really get an insight into who she is and what she wants, mainly at the beginning. This is so important as it means we really know who she is when she's been kidnapped so can properly feel for her. The pacing was perfect and twists and turns were dispersed at great moments that just held my attention for the whole book.
Story: Wow Wow Wow... Obviously you get an insight into what will be happening overall but this story was just a dark storm that you know is dangerous but you can't stop but walk into it. I've never read something that draws the reader in so well. As Q and Tess fall for each other, it's not a sudden or instant thing and it's still tainted with hatred. It's a slow and steady process and more about looking out for each other than anything. Their story is hot and dangerous, but the reader ends up rooting for both of them. Q tries so hard to be careful with her and keep his desires controlled, but Tess yearns to be treated more roughly and ends up knowing him well enough to know how to push his buttons to get what she wants.
Whilst this was a dark read, there were mainly only a select few scenes that were dark. The majority played on the emotions and mental games and focused on other drama. This isn't a negative or a positive, just a note to the reader. I felt it had enough moments that had me worried or scared to keep my interest, but it wasn't overkill to make me want to give up either.
Overall:
I can't recommend this more. It is a mind-f*ck of a story and will leave you numb and confused but it's thrilling and captivating too. I loved the Captive in the Dark series, and read this as a recommendation from that and love this even more. There's a certain elegance to the harshness in this that just makes you fall in love with everything!
See more of my reviews here
Review: When I started reading this book, I was wondering why Tess was still with this guy when she wanted more than this guy could give?
Then she gets kidnapped and my views changed to the saying, “Watch what you wish for?” Tess wass not very happy with her relationship and wanted more. She got more.
Tess, as a character, changed through out the book. She was a girl that wanted more in the beginning, but settled then changed into a woman knowing what she wanted and having the courage to take it.
Q, on the other hand, has not changed as a character. I believe if Tess was in his life more, he would change into someone that can love. Q does something that takes a lot of courage to do, which there are very few who do what Q does.
This is the second book of this year that got me not knowing what to say about it. The first one was “Dark Hearts” by T. R. Stoddard. I am still full of mixed feelings about this book. I wanted to scream at Tess when she was being agreeable with her boyfriend, Brax. Then the kidnapping sent me into a rage to want to save and stop all the madness that Tess was going through. I felt one person, let alone many people, should not have to go through what Tess did.
The word “sold” and “broken” are quiet words. They are words that just roll off the tongue with no meaning implyed. No one should have to feel those two words to associate themselves to. No one should be “sold” or “broken”.
I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
5 Stars
Then she gets kidnapped and my views changed to the saying, “Watch what you wish for?” Tess wass not very happy with her relationship and wanted more. She got more.
Tess, as a character, changed through out the book. She was a girl that wanted more in the beginning, but settled then changed into a woman knowing what she wanted and having the courage to take it.
Q, on the other hand, has not changed as a character. I believe if Tess was in his life more, he would change into someone that can love. Q does something that takes a lot of courage to do, which there are very few who do what Q does.
This is the second book of this year that got me not knowing what to say about it. The first one was “Dark Hearts” by T. R. Stoddard. I am still full of mixed feelings about this book. I wanted to scream at Tess when she was being agreeable with her boyfriend, Brax. Then the kidnapping sent me into a rage to want to save and stop all the madness that Tess was going through. I felt one person, let alone many people, should not have to go through what Tess did.
The word “sold” and “broken” are quiet words. They are words that just roll off the tongue with no meaning implyed. No one should have to feel those two words to associate themselves to. No one should be “sold” or “broken”.
I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
5 Stars
WOW, I have no idea what to say. Tears of Tess has basically left me speechless - and that's normallu pretty impossible!!
This was such a engaging , dark read and I absolutely could not put it down. I was sneaking pages at work - it was that bad!
Loved the whole thing - the story, the characters, the violence, the passion, the emotion.
Can not recommend this enough - especially if you love dark stories and darker characters.
Bring on more Q, Miss Winters - that was far from enough!! Love ya work!!
This was such a engaging , dark read and I absolutely could not put it down. I was sneaking pages at work - it was that bad!
Loved the whole thing - the story, the characters, the violence, the passion, the emotion.
Can not recommend this enough - especially if you love dark stories and darker characters.
Bring on more Q, Miss Winters - that was far from enough!! Love ya work!!
I didn't want to put this book down. Reading the review some 3 stars then some 5. Therefor i was either going to love it or hate it.
I enjoyed this book. I needed to know the ending. The beginning i knew what Tess wanted and Brax just was not enough. We all knew this. She explained it to us. He was just
well you know.......Vanilla
nothing wrong with that but.... Not her cup of tea... nor mine ;0
Tess, the main female lead, She was a great character! Strong. ! She fought and i loved that! She did what the other captive girls were too scared to do! Beat the crap out of her captor! It was great!
If i am to be completely honest i didn't want Brax to find Tess! Once she was sold and she arrived at her new destination i didn't want her going back. Awful to say but everything she begged for in the beginning of the book was coming to her, even if she didn't understand it at first.
Her new owner. Q oh he .. he is so perfectly imperfect.
They both were twisted. They needed each other. She was his medicine and he was the key that set her free. Together they were delectable.
Yet sometimes i was a bit annoyed with them.
How can she think she could win him over. Whenever he showed any sign of kindness she thought she was winning. It doesn't work like that.
"What did you expect? Just because you let him whip you last night, you thought things would be different"- Tess
I love Suzette. I didn't understand at first why she loved Q so much, but now i do. He is just an amazing character. Sexy, titillating.... Whenever there was a chapter without him i would feel need for him to come back. I for sure would get Stockholm Syndrome. Why go back to your boring life you had when your knew life was so different. Exciting.
Everytime Q's name came on the page
And then when Tess did that thing she had to do of course because she had to keep fighting. I understand but how dare she! Bad girl! Tisk Tisk.
It was her own fault what happened to her because of her actions.
And then IT happened
Why....... STUPID ESCLAVE >.>
All your fault Tess. For i don't know how many pages i suffered. No more Q.
It was awful....... Or maybe i am just twisted.
The ending was great. I can't wait to read the next book. No cliffhanger but i am curious to see what these two monsters will do!
A beast who would turn savage on those who wronged her- Q
I enjoyed this book. I needed to know the ending. The beginning i knew what Tess wanted and Brax just was not enough. We all knew this. She explained it to us. He was just
well you know.......Vanilla
nothing wrong with that but.... Not her cup of tea... nor mine ;0Tess, the main female lead, She was a great character! Strong. ! She fought and i loved that! She did what the other captive girls were too scared to do! Beat the crap out of her captor! It was great!
If i am to be completely honest i didn't want Brax to find Tess! Once she was sold and she arrived at her new destination i didn't want her going back. Awful to say but everything she begged for in the beginning of the book was coming to her, even if she didn't understand it at first.
Her new owner. Q oh he .. he is so perfectly imperfect.
They both were twisted. They needed each other. She was his medicine and he was the key that set her free. Together they were delectable.
Yet sometimes i was a bit annoyed with them.
How can she think she could win him over. Whenever he showed any sign of kindness she thought she was winning. It doesn't work like that.
"What did you expect? Just because you let him whip you last night, you thought things would be different"- Tess
I love Suzette. I didn't understand at first why she loved Q so much, but now i do. He is just an amazing character. Sexy, titillating.... Whenever there was a chapter without him i would feel need for him to come back. I for sure would get Stockholm Syndrome. Why go back to your boring life you had when your knew life was so different. Exciting.
Everytime Q's name came on the page
And then when Tess did that thing she had to do of course because she had to keep fighting. I understand but how dare she! Bad girl! Tisk Tisk.
It was her own fault what happened to her because of her actions.
Spoiler
I understand but at the same time don't understand. After being raped by such an awful stranger would you really want to be fucked again? Maybe for Tess, yes. Maybe for us no. Tess was a twisted character to begin with. And in the book it did help her remove the negative to Q's positive.And then IT happened
Why....... STUPID ESCLAVE >.>
All your fault Tess. For i don't know how many pages i suffered. No more Q. It was awful....... Or maybe i am just twisted.
The ending was great. I can't wait to read the next book. No cliffhanger but i am curious to see what these two monsters will do!
A beast who would turn savage on those who wronged her- Q
DNF. I got to about 60% but I honestly couldn't buy her reactions, which left me with a perpetual grimace and desire to throw my kindle.
2 Sad Stars
I was so excited to read this, thinking it would be a very dark romance. To call it a romance is a stretch.
The characters are both awful and theres literally nothing redeeming about Tess. Q could be argued to be redeeming but I really don't think so. The plot is such a mystery that I literally lost interest. It is just like [b:Buttons & Lace|32585677|Buttons & Lace (Buttons, #1)|Penelope Sky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476217949l/32585677._SY75_.jpg|53162890] except I hated it and loved Buttons & Lace. The sex scenes were barely fun and were just about pain, not riding on the edge of pain and pleasure. There was almost no intimacy at all. No aftercare. You have to really get into the stockholm syndrom for this book to sweep you away. And even IF you can escape into this world, Tess flips over and over, hating and loving Q and bringing out all the awful things about her situation.
Tess paints herself as a fighter, but every time something bad happens she just accepts it as fates punishment. She is insufferable! Let me walk you through Tess's inner monologue in the book:
SPOILERS AHEAD
It should be noted that Tess cries. A lot. At everything. I hated this book. I hated that the CNC scenes were so much like rape, as the lack of consent was there and they fought. When they brought out safewords and were both on the page of fighting, I loved the scenes. But I want that safety. When Tess was scared for her life and sobbing for the loss of hope and her life, I was not turned on by Q.
Fuck this book.
I was so excited to read this, thinking it would be a very dark romance. To call it a romance is a stretch.
The characters are both awful and theres literally nothing redeeming about Tess. Q could be argued to be redeeming but I really don't think so. The plot is such a mystery that I literally lost interest. It is just like [b:Buttons & Lace|32585677|Buttons & Lace (Buttons, #1)|Penelope Sky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476217949l/32585677._SY75_.jpg|53162890] except I hated it and loved Buttons & Lace. The sex scenes were barely fun and were just about pain, not riding on the edge of pain and pleasure. There was almost no intimacy at all. No aftercare. You have to really get into the stockholm syndrom for this book to sweep you away. And even IF you can escape into this world, Tess flips over and over, hating and loving Q and bringing out all the awful things about her situation.
Tess paints herself as a fighter, but every time something bad happens she just accepts it as fates punishment. She is insufferable! Let me walk you through Tess's inner monologue in the book:
SPOILERS AHEAD
Spoiler
Holy hell, did I invite this by wanting to be rougher with Brax? Did my fate decide I had a life too perfect and granted my sick desires in the worst way possible?
I hated my stubbornness, my fight. I did this. Because of my stupidity, I ran into a situation that broke me.
I belonged to Q, yet he never stepped over the line from tormentor to rapist
I had to fix it. If I didn’t please Q, he’d throw me back to men like Brute and Driver. He’d withdraw his protection. His comfort. I didn’t know what to do.
Q hit me, fucked me, and turned me into a possession, yet somehow unlocked power inside me I didn’t even know was there.
Tears slid down my face. Running away had been a disaster. Anger flared toward Franco. This was all his fault. If he kept a better eye, I would never have been able to leave. He should’ve caught me, before I ruined so many lives. My thoughts jumped to Brax. Guilt engulfed me. How had the last months been for him? He must hate me for breaking my promise—I said I would never leave, and I did. The first time not on my own accord, but the second time—that was all me. I willingly sliced him from my thoughts, my heart, and made room for my master. Images of Brax, distraught and heartbroken, made my heart twist. My brain short-circuited refusing to think about him. Q consumed once again, and I slid down the wall, drawing my knees up to wrap my arms around them. What if the police had taken him into custody already? I would never see him again. Oh, God. Would I be made to testify? I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. No doubt, he would hate me for all eternity, wishing he’d let Brute kill and bury me with the potatoes. My heart died. I wanted everything from him. I wanted the domination. The anger. But I also wanted love. I needed the connection he offered only half an hour ago.
“Yes,” I breathed, and just like that, I became Q’s whore. His doting, willing, eager little whore.
Tears waterfalled and I sobbed. Sobbed for my past with this man. The knowledge I had changed completely, and could never go back. I would always live with Q in my heart; there was no longer room for Brax. But I had to pretend.
It should be noted that Tess cries. A lot. At everything. I hated this book. I hated that the CNC scenes were so much like rape, as the lack of consent was there and they fought. When they brought out safewords and were both on the page of fighting, I loved the scenes. But I want that safety. When Tess was scared for her life and sobbing for the loss of hope and her life, I was not turned on by Q.
Fuck this book.
DNF 20%
I really tried to enjoy the writing style but the hyperfixation the heroine had on being dominated allowed for nothing else in the story.
From the get go Tess thinks about her vanilla relationship with her boyfriend and what they get up to in the bedroom and that alone established where the story was going. I knew the book was going to be heavily focused on sex but I didn't want it to be the foundation of the book. I anticipated more from Tears Of Tess but maybe this form of story telling isn't up my alley.
I really tried to enjoy the writing style but the hyperfixation the heroine had on being dominated allowed for nothing else in the story.
From the get go Tess thinks about her vanilla relationship with her boyfriend and what they get up to in the bedroom and that alone established where the story was going. I knew the book was going to be heavily focused on sex but I didn't want it to be the foundation of the book. I anticipated more from Tears Of Tess but maybe this form of story telling isn't up my alley.
what would you do if someone kidnap you on your vacation? That is exactly what happens to Tess. After struggling with her kidnapper, she's been sold to Q, who is supposed to be this bad guy but turns out to be her savior. The sex is rough and kinky, Tess and Q have a thing for rape fantasy. The only ick I had with the story is when she was captured (I thought it would have been harder or messed-up). The ending is different but a good ending