IS HE A HEARTLESS MONSTER?The more Juliana is subjected to his charms, the deeper she falls under Damien’s spell. But the promise of protection and security may come at a higher price than she’s willing to pay… precarious house of cards crashing down…
Will their bond survive the chaos?
Or will they both be destroyed in the end?
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A Taste Like Sin, (Painted Sin Book Two) by Lana Sky
Juliana Thorne still wears a mask of fake smiles and lies except from one. She can’t seem to keep it in place when it comes to a man that wears his own.
Damien Villa has been after revenge for his family for so long that he almost ruins what’s right in front of him. A woman that makes him want to protect instead of destroy.
Juliana has made a deal with the devil that wears a blindfold and smells of sin. Damien will protect her and all he wants in return is her soul. Juliana has been lied to for so long by the one person that promised to protect her, to love her. When another promises to protect her from the monster that hides in the shadows with dark promises, can she let herself believe in him? Damien has been fueled by vengeance for so long that he hasn’t foreseen possible casualties. She sees the man and not the monster he hides from her. The monster that when set free can destroy them both. He promised to protect her but who will protect her from him? When he must choose between vengeance for his family or her, which will he choose?
I loved these two characters so much! You felt their pain, joy, and fear throughout this series. Juliana has grown so much from the first book and continued through this one. She was able to ask for what she wanted instead of others telling her what she needed. She no longer ran but she stood up for herself. No longer the meek girl that hid from monsters and thunderstorms. He gave her strength and showed her how to use it. Damien comes off cold and calculating, which he is to a certain point, but he doesn’t have to be with her. He is so used to people wanting things from him that he holds the real Damien back, and she won’t let him. She constantly challenges him. She makes him work for her and sometimes, beg. She has always wanted someone to listen to her and Damien does. These two can let the masks drop and just, be themselves.
Just.. wow. It keeps me on the edge of my seat, eager to find out what happens next. Lana’s books have never failed to make me awe-struck and this second installment to the series definitely lives up to that expectation. The twists in the story and turmoil we see within Juliana and Damien just feels so real and grasps me in it’s hold. The development of the characters as the story goes on is simply riveting to read about; it’s very unique and interesting. This is definitely a series worth remembering.
Wow! What a wonderful, dark read. You must read ‘A Touch of Dark’ first and I am sure by the time you read that first book you will immediately try to get this one as well to find out what happens. Damien and Juliana are both a little broken from things that have happened in their past are are trying to make sure they are going to be okay. This book had so many twists and turns that it kept me excited and guessing what would happen. This story was dark but not as dark of some of Lana Sky’s other stories. The characters and situations were intense and I kept falling asleep in the wee hours of the morkning trying to finish my reading. Definitely a recommended read for anyone who loves a romance with dark and twisted characters that the reader ends up loving by the end of the series. I received a review copy of this book and am leaving a voluntary honest review.
Lana Sky is an author that has NEVER ever disappointed me. Her writing is different and twisty and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I knew book two of this duet was going to make me yell, WTF to myself.
My father. He’s dying. He’s lying.
And without him I have no one. Damien Villa may be a fitting diversion now but for how long will he stay?
How long until I bore him?”
Juliana it’s getting closer to finding out the truth on who her adoptive father really is and what exactly was his role in the abduction of her and her childhood friend along with her childhood friends murder. Who also has been her tormentor for many many years.
How do you love and hate someone at the same time? You have someone who was an amazing father figure in your life, who is now in the hospital under questionable circumstances. And you want to love him. And you want to hate him too. Who is he really?
Juliana is staying with Damien. The price of his company was her virginity. But Damien develops feelings it could be seen as caring and loving. Make no mistake, this is not a simple love story. There is no I love you’s.
“I expect you quivering and fearful beneath me. Maybe then I could draw the real woman lurking behind the polished façade. I’d make her talk to me.”
This was a really great suspenseful storyline. We do get answers on who has been Juliana’s tormentorand it is not anyone that you would expect or figure out easily. There are some definite twists that I did not see coming. Everyone has a role to play and it all comes down to who is the smarter piece on the board?
5+
I received an Advanced Reader Copy for an honest and voluntary review
This book is a fantastic conclusion to this series!! I loved the way everything played out!! Lana Sky is a master story teller!! This mysterious murder/stalker mystery had me guessing until the very end, and then had me saying “WHOA!!” Juliana and Damien had some decadent delicious chemistry that was hottttt and steamy With that being said, Is Juliana safe with Damien?? Does he want to keep her safe?? Damien is a powerful, strong, brutally violent man whom wears a mask of calmness. What happens when that mask slips?? I very much enjoyed Juliana and Damien’s story!! I highly recommend this book!!!!
This is book two of the Painted Sins Duet. Vengence or Happiness? Can one get both? Julianna and Damien’s story continues. The twists and the turns continue, leaving you guessing and turning pages way later into the night then you should be reading. This author’s stories are addicting and you may be surprised how dark and twisted you really are. As always, I loved the journey, the ending and everything in between, even the wait for this book. Enjoy!
A Taste Like Sin
Painted Sin, Book 2
By: Lana Sky
Narrated by: Amber Bray
After listening to the first book in this series, I was excited to start this one. I needed to know what was going to happen between Juliana and Damien. Their story continues as Juliana is trying to figure out if Simon is still stalking her, and what her father has gotten himself into. Is Damien involved? Why can’t she seem to resist him? Is he really the dangerous man he appears? Can she trust him? There are so many instances where I really just didn’t like Damien, but still felt that pull to him that I could completely understand Juliana’s attraction to him. He is charming, demanding and dangerous. And the twists and turns, revelations and confessions that come out of this one kept me so interested in the outcome. It’s a fantastic story, make sure you grab both. It is dark and seductive with suspense to keep you guessing.
Amber Bray finishes out the duet with an incredible narration. She outdoes herself with her insight of the characters, giving them the perfect voices and inflections. She kept the suspense high and the passion hot. A fantastic performance!
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This story continues to be gripping, mysterious, intriguing, and dark. In this story, it is found out that Damien is not the only one that was playing psychological games with Juliana Thorne. Her night terrors continue, but Damien with his smooth voice always calms her. He met his match in Juliana. Unlike other women, she knows what she wants and definitely lets him know. She Challenges Damien, and he enjoys her strong personality. There is a lot going on that kept me riveted to this story: twists and turns, attempted murder, secrets revealed that were unexpected.
Amber Bray showed Juliana at her strongest, weakest and most vunerable. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Amber Bray is phenomenal in her narration. Her voices and personalities for each character were spot on! Her ability to transition from one character to the other is flawless.
#audiobookobsessionreviewer
Juliana Thorne’s life has been turned upside down by secrets that her father kept from her and now she finds safety and truth with his enemy, Damien Villa.
But when her father ends up in the hospital will Juliana be able to find the answers to the secrets she has been after and will digging up the past actually put her in danger?
Who will Juliana be able to trust the most when her life is on the line?
This is such a good book and I really enjoyed this duet from start to finish!
I loved Juliana and she had such a difficult past with what she had been through from her childhood until now. She began to find out that her father knew more about her past than he let on but who was he protecting and why? I loved when she began digging into the past all of the secrets she began to discover different clues to what was happening.
I wasn’t surprised at how things progressed between Damien and Juliana. He was extremely mysterious with his intentions towards her. In this book you see even more of a shift of him realizing how much he really cares about her and how he wants her in his life. I was shocked at what I learned about Damien’s own life and the way he grew up and what was done to him.
There was one person who gave me the creeps from the beginning, and I was glad that I was right about him. There was just something about the things he wanted to do that made me uneasy thinking he was after something.
I was a little worried at the end about Juliana ready to risk her own life to bring out the guilty party. I hoped someone would help her and I was glad she was finally able to get some answers.
The end was good and I really hope Juliana and Damien are able to work on a future together!
4.5 Stars
By Rebecca
The author gained a new fan
This book had at 1st so many bad guys, as a lover of redemption some I could not belive, with the targets of a father, the new lover and the monster under the bed this suspenseful read had me on edge and defending my bad guys until answers where revealed.
The slow seductive progression had me hooked not only do I recommend but make this duet a must read.
Excellent conclusion to a fascinating story peopled with intriguing characters, a mesmerizing plot that keeps the reader on tenterhooks, a murder mystery & stalker that keeps you guessing until the very last.
The author does a wonderful job luring the reader deeper into her complex story peppered with trauma, fear, terror. It surrounds the reader with deceptive ever increasing darkness, like a fog that swirls thicker & thicker until you aren’t able to see your hand before your face.
You WANT to like, to trust Damien, that he does care for Juliana; that her protection & safety are paramount. But, does he? Is it? He remains a wonderfully mysterious man in this story & the author is stingy with her peeks into his psyche & goals. But we are fascinated by his power, his strength, his calm that masks a brutal violent man. Who is a stellar artist who is blind.
And Juliana is an astoundingly empathetic heroine: desperately tortured by past trauma, past decisions — her own as well as those of others. She balances constantly on the razor’s edge of shattering or remaining outwardly the strong confident beautiful woman her adopted father raised.
This story contains murder, betrayal, trauma, terror & the potential for love. As you read you are invested in Juliana, Damien, Julio, Heyworth & you find yourself worried, concerned, fearful, shocked & ever hopeful. But I do not foresee being bored in any way. There were NO parts I skipped or wanted to, I needed to understand & feel everything related to Damien & Juliana’s journey no matter how deep the darkness became.
A excellent dark, mesmerizing read that will pull the reader in & not let go.
Captivating, and Emotional!
This is the second book in the Painted Sin Duet, and the conclusion to Damien, and Juliana’s story. As Damien, and Juliana start to get closer, they peel back their layers, and share things, that explain how they became the people they are today. As their connection grows, and they start to understand each other, they develop an intense need for each other. This was a great read, dark, twisted, intense, gripping, emotional, raw, and steamy!
I finally got my hands on the duet and I loved it so much!!! I read it in less than 24 hours and I. Am. Obsessed. It was an unexpected yet completely fitting ending for the two main characters! Their dynamic developed so much throughout this second novel and we get to se a completely different side to their relationship that we didn’t in the first novel. Lana once again gave her readers another excellent read!
OMG I have never wanted to read a duet so fast in my life but when I got this bad boy on my kindle I put down my other book I was reading to start this one because I needed to know what was going to happen to Juliana and Damien. I needed to know where they were going to go and if they would end up together or would the monster ruin it all……
Juliana amazed me in this story because she is no longer the scared little girl but the strong grown woman she needs to be. She knows what she wants and goes after it and doesn’t stop either. Even when their were road blocks in her way she crashed right through them and went for broke.
Damien what can I say about him…… so much because he is a strong loving protector but at the same time he has his own demons he is dealing with and the thought of vengeance to him sounds so sweet but will he get his vengeance or will he chose to find love and happiness?
This is the second book in the Painted Sin Series. I love Lana Sky’s writing! This is an amazing, beautifully dark, and twisted Series. The storyline is captivating, dark, and intriguing. The characters are great. Juliana is a strong and beautiful character. Her story is heartbreaking and traumatizing! Damien is an intriguing character. Ruthless and powerful, but also caring and protective. This is a great conclusion to this duet. I enjoyed reading this Series, and I highly recommend it. I will read it again, and hope to have this Series it in audiobook.
This was the 2nd Book of the “Painted Sin” series and I was totally hooked with the great character and storyline development that as each and every page that was turned I felt like Juliana and Damien pulled me right into their story as it unfolded!
Blind, scarred, dark, and sinful, Lana Sky continues to bring characters together that you would never guess to bring together. She has crafted a slow and steady roller coaster ride with lies, suspense, and steamy actions where the big drop never seems to come but once it does it’s the most thrilling ride of your life. A Taste like Sin, is just that a taste.
Juliana and Damien’s story was full of darkness, grit, suspense and raw emotion that will have you scratching your head trying to figure out what’s going to happen next. Juliana is stuck between a rock and a hard place confused as to who she can trust and who is being honest with her or not. Perfect conclusion to this duet.
I voluntarily reviewed a advanced readers copy of this book
Intense – Raw – Beautiful
Sky brings suspense and romance to a new level with Painted Sin
Juliana firmly believed she found the way to take back control of her life to no longer be a pawn to the whims of her family. A chance to trade the one thing that was truly hers in return she would finally be the one in control.
May not be all she bargained for – Then again it could finally be the catalyst that truly opens her eyes to a world she has never seen but always been a part of.
This felt like a journey of self-discovery and a chance to heal for Juliana. So many lies built the foundation that was her life. She had such strength and perseverance to her but she was unable to see it. She was a survivor she just needed someone who could show her the brighter side of the darkness … Enter
Damien sought revenge but what he achieved, in the end, what he acquired was so much more.
A broken toy he began to covet.
A darkness he needed to own.
Damien had a lot of his own demons and like Juliana he needed control but he found his by his own hand.
Wait till that hand is shown…
Damien’s brother? His bodyguard? Juliana’s adopted mom?
Just some of the characters you might want to keep an eye on or not.
This came together in such a profound way. As the layers were slowly peeled back and the true villains were exposed I admit I was a bit more than shocked. I originally was going in another direction.
This was a slower journey than a lot of Sky’s previous works. We spent a lot of time with Damien and Juliana getting to know them -Watching them dance around their need of each other – Neither quite sure of the next step.
It was true art.
This book is a masterpiece. Lana did a wonderful job with this characters. No one is who they seem to be and piecing together all the clues is so exciting. I love the way Damien is: no pretending, no hiding, just the raw truth. And Juliana, she is no victim, she is a fighter,a survivor. I love them both. Thank you Lana for this amazing book.