A scream sticks in my throat, but my reflexes work perfectly. I hit the intruder with the only weapon I have – my vibrator.“OMG. THIS. BOOK! Amazing start to this new series! This book had it all and I couldn’t help fall in love with the characters. This author has managed to get me hooked to another great series again. It got steamy, teary, angry, and swoony from page one. Not to mention major … mention major LOL moments!” Reviewer
Six years he’s been gone, and then he falls straight into my bed. Literally. And I know my torment is only beginning.
I waited my whole life for Zee St. James to open his eyes and see me. But Port Clover’s official bad boy would never view me as anything more than his best friend’s little sister.
He shattered my heart into thousands of pieces when he left. And I spent years trying to forget him. Trying to banish the memory of that one kiss.
I thought I’d moved on. But when he comes crashing back into my life, or rather my apartment – the one he still owns – I’m defenseless against him.
Just when I think I might finally get my happily ever after, a web of secrets and betrayal threaten to unravel the hope I finally found in his arms.
And I’m faced with the soul-baring question: Is loving Zee worth the torment he inflicts?
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WooWeee! This is one giant roller coaster ride! It just like a roller coaster I had my hands up and a giant smile on my face. Enjoying every little second of it. This is my first book by this author and I can easily say I have more in my future. She steam rolled me with emotions…the good the bad and the ugly ones.
I loved all the characters here. Of course Zee because he is dark broody and redeems himself. Quinn because she knows what she wants and goes after it. Her brothers are…just great! Each one has their own uniqueness that makes me hope we get their stories too. The Wild Irish and McKenna (Quinns cousin)were mentioned and I haven’t read those but I am looking forward to it. I can’t wait to hear more of that Irish Brogue.
Speaking of..I listened to this on audio. Gunnar Qualen and Jenna St. Claire did an amazing job. I loved how they split up the reading. Plus Gunnar doing his Irish Brogue is something to look forward to. Hopefully these two did that series as well!
This is just perfect all the way around the board. I even liked how Saints and Sinners name was born. See…every little detail..check!
Torment (Savages and Saints, Book 1) is a second chance romance with a best friends little sister twist. A beautiful tale about love & family unveiling the truth about the past. Character’s are compelling with complex personalities. The history, secrets and lies along with supporting character’s bring tons of angst. The writing style is expressive. The ending happily ever after trails into book two which is Cades love story. Looking forward to listening to the next audio in this series.
Narators Gunnar Qualen, Jenna St. Claire duet narration was perfect. This was my first time listening to these two narators and I am looking forward to listening to more audiobooks narated by them. Gunner’s inflection is deep and gravelly which fit the narrative. Jenna’s inflection is passionate & sweet smoothing with all the right sentiments. Tranquil listen.
KU. Parts of this were good, other parts not so much. I’m rounding to 3 because I feel like 2 is too harsh ~ but it’s more like 2.5.
The “big secret” wasn’t hard to figure out (I saw it coming in the first chapter) which made having to read 70% of the book for the confession and another 10% to get the truth… way. too. long.
Zee & Quinn have sex. Multiple times. But there’s *nothing* building an actual relationship between them. They don’t actually date, and if you remove internal dialogue ~ they barely talk. One or two confessions doesn’t make up for all the damage or the 6 years of no contact. The author does very little to prove that Zee has truly healed and has a good shot at being what Quinn needs. Frankly, I’m on “Team Abbott” in regards to having huge reservations that this is a good idea.
As far as the “grand gesture” ~ it’s still just throwing money at past mistakes. Which is all Zee has done to atone for all the wrongs he’s committed. With the abrupt wrap up, this feels like a HFN instead of a HEA.
Some of the secondary characters are pretty compelling and I might continue with the series. I’m feeling fairly invested in Kane.
OMG! This book! This was such a great way to start a new series! A spin off from the Wild Irish series, you just can’t help dive off the cliff into this one.
This book has it all, steamy scenes, awesome character building, fantastic loving moments, angry rawness, even better humor and best of all, it’s a SERIES, so we know there is more coming!
Zee and Quinn are that couple we all secretly want to be growing up, but also are kinda scared to hope for. Zee is the screw up, always running from his past and the mistakes he has made. Quinn and Zee, along with both of their families grew up together and Quinn has always been in love with Zee.
When he shatters her heart, she is lost, and when Zee takes off, she is even more so.
What happens when years go by and he returns home?
This book has everything you could possible want in it. Bad boy turn good, girl next store, family drama, and the best steamy moments anyone could as for. It’s a one click for sure!
I love it! A perfect love story where there is still some self growth needed and found by the end. There was a big twist in the middle that threw me for a loop but was super happy with the outcome. Definitely a must read!
QuinnZee! Great Story & Audible Listen 4.5 Stars
Torment
Savages and Saints, Book 1
By: C. M. Seabrook
Narrated by: Gunnar Qualen, Jenna St. Claire
This is my first C.M. Seabrook book and I enjoyed her writing style, her story captivated me from from start to end. Her storylines are interesting, there is plenty of drama, angst and emotionally charged moments, as well as some laugh out loud moments and some hot romance. There is also some secrets and twists that have the power to change lives. The characters in this story are complex and well developed. Quinn crushed on her older brother Kade’s best friend Zee but he upped and left without a word. Zee is a tormented soul, beaten down most of his life he feels he is not worthy of anything. He has screwed up in the past and he comes back to make mends and do the right thing. I loved how the story played out and it all unfolded, loved the way things ended too. I highly recommend this angst filled romance! C.M Seabrook thank you for this great story and the emotional rollercoaster ride.
I listened to the Audible edition, Gunnar Qualen and Jenna St. Claire are wonderful narrators and voice performers. They bring the story to life, give each character their own voice and personality as well as heart and attitude. They are awesome at projecting the emotions of the characters and the drama of the story into their performance. Both are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another great listen
4*
Quinn has fancied Zee her brother’s best friend since she was young but he’s older.
Zee up & left 6 years ago no goodbye & no explanation he’s now a member of the band autocorrect but needs to make amends for errors in his past?
But can he rest his demons & is there forgiveness?
This book has a true ending & is a standalone. Great character lots of personalities.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
Good start to a new series
This was my first C.M. Seabrook’s book, and won’t be the last. This is the first book in the Savages and Saints series, and a spinoff of the Wild Irish Trilogy. Unfortunately, I haven’t read this trilogy yet. This is a great second chance to love, well written, and filled with secrets, lies, twists and turns. Zee and Quinn’s story is beautiful, and I love their happy ending. They are both wonderful characters. The secondary characters are also really interesting. Gunnar Qualen and Jenna St. Claire did an amazing job with the narration. They both have a great voice. I enjoyed my listening. Now, I can’t wait for the next book in the Series, Gravity, Kade and Sophie’s story. I received this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily written this review.
Torment is an angsty, brother’s best friend romance.
Quinn has been in love with her brother’s best friend, Zee, for as long as she can remember. He’s like a member of the family, but she sees him as something more, something she can’t help but see him as. But, Zee thinks of her as his little sister. Or does he? Because he lays a serious kiss on her one night, then disappears for years. Until he comes back home and stirs all those feelings up in her again. Feelings she doesn’t want to still have, but doesn’t really fight.
I wanted to love Torment, but I just couldn’t. I liked the premise, brother’s best friend is so my thing, but I just couldn’t get into the whole push and pull Zee put Quinn through. I’m afraid that I never felt their connection to be strong enough for Quinn to put herself through the torment of loving Zee. I knew she loved Zee, but I never felt it, and I definitely did not feel Zee’s feelings. Sure, what they had is hot, but love? Not sure about that, at least not on Zee’s part.
I liked Quinn, but she was entirely too much of a doormat for Zee. And Zee was a dick. Not purposely, but still, he dicked Quinn around so much, and even when he knew he was hurting her, he didn’t stop. His running away when things got tough got really old, really quickly. I felt bad for his inner torment, but I didn’t like him and I didn’t like the way he treated Quinn.
Still, although I didn’t connect with Quinn and Zee and their story, the world they inhabit is interesting and I’m looking forward to more of this series. At the very least, Quinn’s brothers should be more entertaining than Quinn and Zee were.
Quinn and Zee have both had trials but their paths have finally brought them back together. Quinn life is filled with her overprotective brothers, boring dating life, and dreams for something more. The minute she kissed Zee St James all those years ago and he turned away from her and left town and never looked back, she lost the man she loved and the life she dreamed of with him. Zee can only classify his life as a exercise in screwups. One colossal mistake after another has shaped his life and now it’s time to own up to faults. Back home for the first time in years he knows that he his revelations are going to blow apart his sleepy hometown. The moment he sees Quinn again every single emotion he tried to bury resurfaces. Something about her brings him peace, something he craves but doesn’t deserve. He knows he has nothing to offer her, but he is helpless to ignore the passion he feels for her. But with the his secrets and demons what hope does he have at keeping her?
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book.
With a name like Zee St. James you just know he going break your heart. Quinn Savage has always loved the tortured soul of her brothers best friend Zee. She knew he was trouble but loved him anyway. Zee up and leaves six years ago with not even a goodbye, he returns after finding out some pretty shocking news, but he has changed, he is Sober , and wants to come clean from his past sins. He falls right into Quinns bed. Quinn still wants Zee anyway she can have him because she knows he going leave again. With everyone in town against Quinn falling for Zee especially her older brothers , she goes with her heart and wants to help Zee see the good in himself.
Zee is definitely a tortured soul, he was making me feel down, Their was a huge secret surprise to his return that I guessed pretty quickly, and I thought Zee and Quinn together was a beautiful thing. I thought that Quinn was a little puppy dog-ish just wanting Zee to give her anything. She was a lot less spunky in this read than in Taming Irish. I really excited for the next in this series Kade deserves his HEA. With a name like Zee St. James you just know he going break your heart. Quinn Savage has always loved the tortured soul of her brothers best friend Zee. She knew he was trouble but loved him anyway. Zee up and leaves six years ago with not even a goodbye, he returns after finding out some pretty shocking news, but he has changed, he is Sober , and wants to come clean from his past sins. He falls right into Quinns bed. Quinn still wants Zee anyway she can have him because she knows he going leave again. With everyone in town against Quinn falling for Zee especially her older brothers , she goes with her heart and wants to help Zee see the good in himself.
Zee is definitely a tortured soul, he was making me feel down, Their was a huge secret surprise to his return that I guessed pretty quickly, and I thought Zee and Quinn together was a beautiful thing. I thought that Quinn was a little puppy dog-ish just wanting Zee to give her anything. She was a lot less spunky in this read than in Taming Irish. I really excited for the next in this series Kade deserves his HEA.I happily and gratefully read this beauty to share my thoughts
Emotional Second-Chance Romance.
Torment is a brother’s best friend, and an emotional second chance at love story. It is book 1 in the Savages and Saints series which is a sort of spin off of the Wild Irish series, but can be read completely as a standalone.
“Already I can feel my darkness pulling its heavy weight across my soul. If only there was a way to live in the sun.”
Zee St James ran off abandoning 18 yr old Quinn leaving her with only the memory of his kiss. He left with burdens and when he returns he arrives with more secrets to be revealed.
“I can’t love someone who, despite his confession, doesn’t love me. Because love fights. It struggles. It perseveres through the worst storms and comes out stronger.
The only thing Zee has to offer me is torment.”
I was able to listen to this on audiobook and really enjoyed the narration. It definitely brought the story to life for me.
-4 Stars-
Zee has been away from hometown for a while. Now he is back and he is going to shatter the lives of all the people he really cares about. He needs to come clean telling the truth that torment him.
Quinn has been in love with Zee since she was a teenager. Everybody knows but they think it is just a teenage crush. However, she is an adult now and she still feels the same when he sees him.
C.M. Seabrook is a talented writer who has a way of describing feelings and emotions that goes deep in your mind and heart. Her characters are bad boys and broken but at the same time caring and tender deep inside. Love is the strongest force on earth and we can see that in all her novels. It has the power to mend all the broken souls and made them better people just for the sake of their loved ones.
An absolutely fantastic book I highly recommend.
Really loving Seabrook’s well written stories and characters!! Looking forward to the rest of this series!! Can’t wait for Kade!!
Quinn has loved Zee her whole life and despite the hurt and the six-year separation, she can’t seem to shake her feelings. No man she dates can measure up, no man tears her up or torments her heart the same way. And when she finds him in her bed one night she can’t deny that despite him making her crazy, she’d like to keep him there.
Zee knows Quinn has had a crush on him for most of their lives and somewhere deep inside he knows that it’s her adoration that lights his heart. But he also knows that the darkness eclipses everything and ruins everyone he touches. His penchant for running away is the only thing that can truly break her heart and he’ll do it because the one thing he knows above all else is that he’s unworthy of love.
They’ve led a long life together but always on the periphery of one another. With the two families intricately connected it was inevitable, but what wasn’t was the fallout after the St. James patriarch’s death. Zee doesn’t handle it well and his mistakes are all catching up with him. Even after six years of being gone there’s nowhere else he can run without trying to make it up to everyone he’s hurt. Except no matter how hard he tries he seems to only be successful at mucking it all up and then pulling a runner.
If it weren’t for Quinn he’d be out the door right away but there’s something about her that keeps him there. He won’t admit that he yearns for her but with her permission he’ll give her all the passion she craves with the caveat that it can’t be permanent. Quinn accepts because she’ll take anything she can get from the man who could very easily become her whole world.
I liked these people. Quinn was full of sass and stubborn as an ox but so very full of love. Through everything it’s her love and willingness to see beyond the pain that makes me love her. She’s immature at times but that kind of adds to her charm. Zee is such a martyr. But he doesn’t even martyr well. He’s full of self-loathing and a lot of it is with good reason. He needs a lot of help to work beyond all that to right his wrongs. I like him because he’s redeemable and the way he is with Quinn when he’s not being a prick is so tender and full of hope. I’m looking forward to seeing them on the periphery of the rest of the series. As the first coupling from these families they’ve brought together the Savages and Saints in a way that will provide fodder, angst, and incredible feels throughout the subsequent books.
Torment is about a boy who not only experienced the tragic loss of someone he loved at young age but also endured the abuse of a parent. It’s about a boy who grows into a broken man that doesn’t believe he’s worthy of anyone’s love. Zee has been running from his past and burying his sorrows in alcohol and drugs. Finally hitting rock bottom Zee decides it’s time for a change. This decision has him going back to his hometown to face the people he’s hurt and try to right the wrongs of his past.
Quinn has loved Zee ever since they were children. Nothing ever happened between the two growing up because Zee was her brother’s best friend. That was until one night they shared a kiss and then Zee disappeared. Six years later and now Zee’s back in town. Quinn is angry with him but still loves him. Seeing past the facade Zee puts on makes Quinn realize just how much pain he’s in. Now she’s determined to get him to open up to her and show that he is worthy of love. Also to show him that he doesn’t need to carry his burdens alone.
I really enjoyed Quinn and Zee’s story and can’t wait for the next book.
OMG. THIS. BOOK! Amazing start to this new series! This book had it all and I couldn’t help fall in love with the characters. This author has managed to get me hooked to another great series again. It got steamy, teary, angry, and swoony from page one. Not to mention major LOL moments!
“A scream sticks in my throat, but my reflexes work perfectly. I hit the intruder with the only weapon I have – my vibrator.”
Really enjoyed Zee and Quinn together with their banter and the sexual tension was off the charts hot. Definitely a must 1-click especially if you’re already a fan of Wild Irish, which is the series of which this spin-off begins. Torment is a total standalone, but you first meet the sassy and strong minded, Quinn, in Taming Irish. Amazingly written in dual POV with its own HEA. A bonus for me in every book is when an great book includes an epilogue, which of course Torment does. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
“The man has an uncanny ability to disappear. It’s like his damn superpower. But it’s also my kryptonite.” ~ Quinn
Love Zee and Quinn’s book. I was captivate from the first page till the last. A great read that will leave you wanting more of Savages and Saints.