KillShe is a means to an end.Half my size and and ten times as innocent.The job is simple. Ruin Meisie. Destroy her mother. Keep my business.It’s the target who is complicated.She’s broken. Scarred. Away with the fairies.And everything I never knew I needed.She wants to go home?I’ll make sure she never leaves.MeisieHe’s a nightmare parading as a dream.He lured me in with the promise of a … leaves.
Meisie
He’s a nightmare parading as a dream.
He lured me in with the promise of a one-night-mistake.
If only I could have stayed that naive.
Cillian Hendry is a dangerous man, and I’d do my best to never forget that.
So why have I told him my darkest secrets?
Why am I walking down an aisle towards him?
I thought being abducted by the man they call Kill was a death sentence.
Turns out I’m wrong. Loving him will kill me.
And he’ll be there, like always, to twist the knife.
Beautiful Scars is a dark captive romance with mafia themes.
This book is intended for mature audiences only as some scenes may be triggering.
This is the first book in the Cruel Heroes series, but can be read as a standalone.
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Two people brought together.
This was a wonderful story that has two people brought together for dark reasons but soon find that they are meant for each other. Cillian does want legalization of drugs and Maisie’s mother does. He gets her there under a different name and captured her hoping to use her against her mother to change her stance on drugs. These two started of bad but after being together they are strongly attracted. This was a dark romance but so good! I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Dark Romance, Age-Gap, Mafia, Non-Consent, Taboo Romance
First Person, Dual-POV
This is book #1 of the Cruel Heroes series, but it can be read as a standalone.
Contains issues and situations some may find triggering.
I’m all for shutting it up. If a woman wants to enjoy the good times with multiple men, then that is her God-given right in this fine century.
By Cillian
MY THOUGHTS
Wow! Double, triple wow!!!
This book was amazing!
When I decided to read it, I didn’t know that Ariana Black was pen name of Esme Devlin and Logan Fox writing together. After finding that out, it totally explained how this could be so magnific. Both authors are superb dark romance writers and together, they were FIRE!!!!
I would like to point it out that this is DARK. Nowadays we see so many romance called dark that ended being light, not this romance. This one has a lot of dubious-consent situations. So, it may not be for every reader, but if you are like me that loves the cathartical experience of something so out-of-your-confort-zone, dive in! You won’t regret!!!
Crazy, surreal love!!!!
33.5/35 STARS – 5 STARS (between 33.5 stars and 35 stars)
Addictiveness: 5 Character: 5 Cover: 4.5 Freshness: 4.5 Plot: 4.5 Romance: 5 Writing Style: 5
Action 3/5 Angst 5/5 Darkness 5/5 Humor 1/5 Romance 5/5 Suspense/Mystery 3/5
Would I recommend? Yes, for all readers of dark, twisted romance!
Would I re-read this book/series? Yes!
Would I read more from the author? Definitely!!!
WHAT HAS REALLY WORKED FOR ME
Addictiveness: 5/5 This was a pretty long book and I didn’t even feel the time passing. It hooked me from the beginning and I was unable to let it go. I lost a good night of sleep, finishing this story in one sitting. No regrets! As addictive as chocolate!!!
Character: hero 5/5, heroine 5/5, secondary characters 5/5, growth 5/5, real 5/5 Multifaceted characters with great background stories and amazing personal growth.
Meisie was an amazing heroine. She was very strong and powerful, and at the same time, she had a lot of inner monologues that made her character real, quirky and funny. She was so young and had already been through so much, that she felt very wise at times.
Cillian was a wonderful antihero. He was cold, mean and very logical. He was also very hot. He found in Meisie his kryptonite and she truly humanized him. I loved his story arch and character growth.
Secondary characters This story was never about lovable sweet characters, but about twisted, dubious, shady characters. Nobody was all good or bad, they all had goodness and flaws. They were all well constructed and interesting to learn.
Villain/antagonists In a book filled with antiheroes and dubious characters, I have to say most characters felt like antagonist for a few chapters. There is one clear villain maybe. Everybody felt pertinent to the plot and subplots of this book.
They were all about tough love, but lovable and somehow connectable!!!
Cover: art 4.5/5, title 5/5, color-font 5/5, subtitle 0/5, background 5/5 buy 5/5 I’m obsessed with book covers. I love to find snippets of the stories within the art. I always try to be true to myself, I buy so many books because of the cover and I have skipped many because of not very appealing art. Covers are part of the experience for me and I do like to understand them. This one was a great one, but I still missed something more personal. The art is gorgeous, and the sleeve of tattoo beautiful, but I don’t really think it matched Meisie. The title was beautiful and fit the story perfectly. I loved the colors and background used. I would buy this book by its cover without needing to read the blurb.
Freshness: 4.5/5 Yes, another dark romance with captivity, but still fresh. I loved how it was not rushed and it grew accordingly. I also loved how the Stockholm syndrome felt almost like reversed. The authors know their craft and gave a unique vibe to the story. As fresh as mint tea when you are dealing with a bad cold!
Plot: believable 3/5, conflict 5/5, dialogue 5/5, ending 5/5, enjoyment 5/5, opening 5/5, pace 5/5, setting 5/5, subplots 4.5/5, twists 5/5 Amazing opening with an incredible ending. Superb plot, with well written dialogues and intense pace. Great setting, a few really good subplots with unexpected twists. High level of enjoyment!
This story was intense, twisted and it kept me on the edge of my seat. I liked the story created for a serious matter as legalization of drugs and its probable repercussions.
Romance: 5/5 Some would say not very romantic :). I love a twisted, angsty, dark love story. It was intense, shocking and hot as hell. The smut had wonderfully descriptive scenes and the main couple was explosive together. There is such a tiny line between love and hate and the authors explored it well here. Explosive romance!!!
Writing Style: 5/5 I believe this was the first book of these two together and I already can see a bright future ahead. Crazy, twisted plot, multidimensional characters and hot smut in a clean, cohesive writing style. Work of a wordsmith (in this case, two)!!!
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
Because I try to be very analytical and I don’t really believe in perfection…
I’m a person that always get stuck on all tiny details and I think I would have liked a better picture of the Alex subplot. I don’t know, because the book jumps a lot back and forth, I don’t think I was able to glue all the pieces of this puzzle yet.
You MAY read this because you follow the authors; you SHOULD read this because you like dark romance; you MUST read this because it is raw and emotional!!!
PHENOMENAL TWISTED Read!
Incredibly gripping, dark and demanding every bit of your attention twists that keep you infused riding wave after wave of emotions that shock delight entertain and hunger for more as the suspense keeps the pages turning at lightning speed. The chemistry is dark and steamy with angst and sass. I loved this read and can’t wait to read more on this series.
This is one of those books that pull you in from the start and make you want to keep reading but at the same time, you don’t want the story to end. This book had it all and then some. I would so recommend this book
I am blown away with how much I liked this book.Wow!! This book was steamy hot!! This book portrayed captive romance, which probably shouldn’t but highly turns me on. The slow burn of the events are what took the book by storm. I couldn’t put this book down, I just had to know more. Part 1, gave you a nice start as to what was gonna happen. Then part 2, gave you the happiness you craved! I honestly love this story so much. I was hopeful a lot of the time and the outcomes were so great.
The characters, Cillian and Meisie, were so intriguing! I was instantly drawn to them and wanted to know more right after the first page. The chemistry between them is instant fire. I love the roles the supporting characters also add to the story. The relationship between Cillian and Meisie progresses perfectly. Just when you think its gonna go one way it goes differently and it add character to the book.
I honestly can’t find the correct words for describing not only how much I love this book but how truly great of a story it was. This book may not be for all, but I think everyone should still give it a shot and see if they like it. There are a ton of good meaning behind some of the points in the book that could help in real life. This book is one I could for sure reread.
He’s the twin without a heart, or is he?
Cillian and Cole Hendry didn’t have an easy childhood and neither one of them are the type for love and kindness. The owners of a popular night club, Asylum, businessmen of questionable dealings, Cole and Cillian are determined to get the First Minister to reverse her bill that will legalize drugs in Scotland. They have a plan in place to convince her that the bill is not a good idea, but what they don’t know is that she is just as determined as they are and maybe a bit more ruthless than them too.
Meisie Ford has returned to Edinburgh from South Africa, where she was living with her father. She finds herself in Asylum looking for someone that does not exist. Little does she know she has been set up and her life is about to be turned upside down, again.
This story is twisted, sad, and a bit dark. It is also entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see if things could get any worse for Meisie than they were. They can but then Cillian is there to rescue her and protect her. Two unlikely people that find themselves falling for each other and finding a way for their worlds to combine and them to have a life together. They will have to deal with a lot to get to where they want to be, and their life together does not start out as a fairy tale love story, but it will end that way. I give this story a 4.5-star review and highly suggest it to readers who like twisted, dark, psychological thrillers, and stories where the Hero is an unlikely character. I really enjoyed the story and I look forward to more in the series to come.
Part One:
This book was so intense and the tension between both characters is so tangible as a reader you can feel it bleed off the pages. It does contain triggers that some readers may not like, or it may not be something they grab instantly but omg the alpha hotness is too hot to resist. Cillian is a hard working “business man” that protects his brother and is out to make money, he is also an unemotional man which knows wrong for right but will not hesitate to do things wrong or right if it benefits him. He and his twin brother pretty much run their city running drugs, owning nightclubs, and doing what it takes to make money. Where Cillian is emotionless, his brother Cole is a mean ruthless, drug addict that will not hesitate to hurt someone just because he can. So, when Cole comes up with an idea to kidnap the First Minister’s daughter since she is interfering with their drug business, Cillian goes along with it just to make sure nothings goes wrong or Cole doesn’t go off the rails. Meisie has been through a lot in her life and is hidden away from the world so she cannot be hurt or interfere with her mother’s business. She just wants to be normal but that plans gets derailed when she is kidnapped by the Hendry brothers. Cillian finds himself feelings things for Meisie even if he knows things will not end well but that does not stop him from getting close to her while also having to hurt her. There were so many twists and turns and unexpected things that came up it had me on the edge of my sit waiting to see what would happen next.
Part Two:
In the second half of this book we pick up where we left off in Part one and we still see Meisie trying to resist and fight off Cillian, but in a way, she is becoming more and more immune to him. Cillian doesn’t realize it that he is slowly falling for this chick because he has never felt this way towards anyone before. The struggle between Cillian and Meisie is intense and all over the place with tension and drama, but the one she is most afraid of is Cole. There are so many twist and turns while Meisie tries to rationalize her attraction to the man who had her kidnapped, but we get to see different sides of Cillian he shows no one not even his brother and it makes you fall in love with him too. At times I wasn’t sure which direction this story would take or if I would get the ending, I wanted, but the author’s brought everything together nicely. The world of Cillian is dark and cold, but through glimpses and Meisie we see his humanity shine through.
I was blown away with how much I enjoyed Beautiful Scars. So much happened here, I just could not stop reading until the end. Oh what an ending it was too.
Cillian and Meisie’s story was one that was all over the place for me. I was on a rollercoaster most of this read. Do I like Cillian? Do I hate him? He really is a bad guy, do I really want to get behind his alpha a-hole attitude of he can do whatever he wants?
Meisie I really did root for her, even though at times I was like wtf is happening with her and her attitude. She had me confused, which I am sure how the author wants you to be. But I do know that the characters have a twisted screwed up relationship that has me on board though by the end.
So Beautiful Scars is one twisted read that will have you not able to stop reading until the end. What an ending that was too. This is a great read though and one I would recommend.
OMG! OMG!! OMG!!! Beautiful Scars by Ariana Black was a freaking PHENOMENAL story!!! I was immediately drawn in and hooked from the first page!!! It’s the Story of Cillian and Meisie (thanks for giving the proper pronunciations!!) Theirs is a complex story. She meets him online and he tells her he works at a bar. She decides to meet him there….but, things aren’t always what they seem…and she’s about to get the shock of her life. Not to mention the fact that his brother is involved. There’s much, much more to this story than I can possibly tell you here…but, this is an excellent story!!!
This story is dark, menacing, intense, romantic, and emotionally charged. I could not put this book down!!!! It ends on a fairly major cliffhanger…but, we were warned about that, so no problem. I HAVE GOT TO READ THE NEXT BOOK!!!!!!! WAITING IMPATIENTLY FOR IT!!!!!!
I am volunteering to leave a review for an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
A very dark conclusion to a dark story, wonderful. How far will Cillian go with Meisie, everything is a knife edge especially being around Cole, how to do the right thing but what is the right thing. I’m still trying to get out of the rabbit hole, this touched on all and everything which made it such an exciting read, I definitely want more please I voluntarily reviewed this book.
A well written intriguing drama of intense attraction and love built out of the the ruins of two fractured people. The danger is palpable in this story. It plays out with an intensity that kept me glued to the pages. Sometimes I thought it went a little too fsr but then the story reined itself in as the authors added additional layers of mystery surrounding the characters. I found this story enjoyable, entertaining and engaging. It is dark so take heed.
Part One
I am very vocal about how I feel about Logan. She is my author bae and I will read anything she writes.
But her and Esme did not come to play!
Cillian and Meisie’s story is sooooo good. There is so much we get to see from both perspectives while also being pretty much in the dark about a lot of the plot. Meisie is strong but also a little broken while Cillian seems empty but fearless.
It was a rollercoaster from the beginning and there is still so much left to find out.
Part Two
Logan and Esme (or Ariana Black) have created a masterpiece here.
I didn’t know what to expect or where they would go when it came to Meisie and Cillian. They are both very raw characters.
We see more of Cillian and (unsurprisingly) we understand and love him. His possessiveness and controlling personality keep Meisie as safe as he’s able to. But there are threats even he couldn’t imagine. But he kept the promise he made to Meisie at the end of part one. He promised to break her and the put her back together so that she’d be fearless.
And fearless Meisie is an entire vibe. She fought so hard against Cillian and even herself. Her nightmares weren’t as haunting and she stopped being a victim. She became the perfect fit to Cillian’s darkness.
This was just amazing all around! I cant wait to read more for the amazing Ariana Black duo.
*I received this novel for free from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review *
The story is well written and has beautifully developed characters. It is a story that draws you in and doesn’t let go. There is drama, suspense and a bit of action. It will have you laughing and crying throughout the story. You find yourself really liking Cillian and his mind works. It is a slow burn but the ride to get there is definitely worth it. This is one story that you will definitely want to read and will not disappoint.
Wow! Cillian And Meisie’s Dark And Twisted Story Takes You On A Beautiful Ride! Trigger Warning.
Cillian And Meisie’s Story Is About Two Severely Damaged People, One A Criminal And One A Victim Of Crime, Who Begin To Inadvertently Heal One Another When Circumstances Force Them Together And She Becomes His Captive. They Have Great Chemistry, And The Suspense Keeps You On Your Toes Throughout!
Trigger warning: this is a dark story that includes captivity, drugs, issues of consent, and violence.
This is the first book in the Cruel Heroes series by Ariana Black, which is the joint pen name for authors Logan Fox and Esme Devlin. The book is a stand-alone, but the story is divided into two parts; part one was previously published as Fearless by Esme Devlin and Logan Fox.
For Logan Fox fans, expect all the same dark and twisted attributes characteristic of her writing. This, however, isn’t rooted within her fictional world, but is set in Scotland in an unrelated world.
Club Asylum is one of the hottest clubs in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Hendry twins, thirty-two, opened it three years ago to rinse their dirty mafia money, but thanks to the GBX music and hypnotic atmosphere, it has become a success in its own right. Despite the club’s popularity, twins Cillian and Cole aren’t happy. The new First Minister, Helen Ford, is determined to make changes that will impact their bottom line. She has proposed to legalize drugs, setting Scotland’s underworld into a tailspin.
The twins had a rough start in life. Their mother abandoned them when they were small; they have no memory of her. Their father was a monster. He died when they were ten, and they were part of the system afterward. But they have one another, and despite their differences they are very close. They had made a promise to one another in their youth – they would never let another person get in the middle of them – and it helped them go from nothing to jointly running a hugely successful criminal organization.
Cole is the designated ‘clean’ twin, meant to stay out of trouble, although he is nearly always under the influence of drugs and leaves a trail of trouble behind. Consequently, his emotions sometimes run amok, and he is prone to wild and manic behavior. He lives the party lifestyle and goes through a new girl every month or two, never satisfied with anything. He is the planner in the partnership, but his plans are often drug-inspired and crazy.
Cillian is the brother designated to do all the dirty work and is sometimes referred to as the country’s most violent criminal. He rarely shows emotion and is not motivated by right and wrong, but by instinct. He lives in black and white, which makes it easier to be the emotionless bad guy that his job requires. He learned years ago that vices – alcohol, drugs, and women – might aid him in feeling emotion, but he has given them up because he always feels just as empty or worse once the vice has run its course. Cole needs him, and Cillian likes to be needed. And he always gets the job done even if Cole’s ideas are sometimes over the top.
Meisie Ford, nineteen, wants to have a night of wild and rough sex with a stranger. That is what brings her to Club Asylum in search of Justin, the young man she met on a dating app a few weeks ago. Her therapist has suggested that she face her fear in order to get over her PTSD, and since Meisie’s one and only one night stand had turned into an endless nightmare, replacing that memory is the way to go. She needs to finally get Alex Du Toit out of her head. Her entire life has been controlled, and now she is determined to take that control back. She never does find Justin, but Mr. Tall, Dark, and Arrogant – Cillian – has promise.
After three weeks of catfishing, Cillian’s target enters the club. Cole’s plan is simple enough. Get Helen Ford’s daughter. Once the First Minister drops her plans, Meisie will be released. When he sees Meisie in the club with a lost look in her eyes, Cillian connects with her, which isn’t part of the plan. She needs some kind of help, and he wants to oblige.
Cillian and Meisie are an unlikely pair, but once they shut out the outside world and begin to connect on a personal level, things are no longer black and white. They both have felt abandoned by their mothers, and both are severely damaged. They feel awakened by one another, but too much uncertainty remains for either to trust anything, let alone their feelings.
When Helen Ford fails to make a deal with the twins, Meisie’s release is not an option. In a moment of inspiration, Cillian proposes a plan of his own in an effort to spare Meisie from Cole’s demented ideas. A marriage. To embarrass the First Minister, Cillian will marry her daughter, Maisie. But the marriage introduces a whole new world of trouble. The First Minister is riled. The publicity puts Meisie in the spotlight. And when Cole finally meets Meisie and notices that for the first time a woman actually prefers Cillian to him, it has him paying close attention. The couple eventually earns a wonderful HEA. The second epilogue is a heartwarming glimpse about ten years into the future, which is necessary following the wild ending!
Cillian and Meisie’s story is about two severely damaged people, one a criminal and one a victim of crime, who begin to inadvertently heal one another when circumstances force them together. They have incredible chemistry, and the suspense keeps you on your toes throughout. It is well-written, though part two of the ARC version had a few editing issues which will likely be cleaned up in the final copy. The plot is complex and layered. The characters are carefully crafted and three dimensional. Both Cillian and Meisie’s characters are beautifully developed. Cillian’s transformation is incredible, and Meisie’s personal growth is admirable as well. It is easy to fall in love with them both! The story is written in first person. The POV alternates between Cillian and Meisie, with one chapter in Sarah’s POV. I rate this book a full five stars (presuming the editing issues are cleaned up in the final copy), which is something I rarely do.
I received a free advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Like attracts like in this series. What starts out as a kidnapping of Meisie (FMC) to force her mother around to their way of thinking spins off in a different direction completely. Being held captive by crime boss Cillian brings a lot of buried and unresolved hurt to the surface for both him and Meisie. Two broken people that find an unlikely attraction to each other but trust is in short supply by both of them. Add to that Cillian’s twin brother Cole. Who’s not only on drugs hes also a loose cannon. A dark romance with plenty of different facets to it as well as lots of steamy scenarios. With Meisie and Cillian’s backgrounds it was hard to see how they might get their HEA but i honestly loved that ending. In my opinion grab a copy of this duet of books if you like your books a bit darker it will be so worth it. Just a totally knockout book
What a roller coaster ride of emotions and this is only part 1! you’ll want to laugh and cry your way through Cillian and Meisies story. Filled with secrets, suspense, hungering lust and more. when the Hendrey brothers devise and plan to get the attention of the first minister in order to reverse a new law that will see their illegal business crumble, the last thing Cillian expects is to find a tortured soul in Meisies the first ministers daughter. But when these two are thrust together who is really calling the shots and in charge of who? Well written with a mixture of laugh out loud moments mixed with emotional turmoil. Cant wait for part 2