“Bonnie and Clyde meets Kill Bill.” – Jenna, GoodreadsHis name is Beat, and I should hate him.Bound, blindfolded and bruised, I’m tied in his basement, waiting for the men who stripped me from clothes and humanity to collect his debt to them. Me.His name is Nate and I should hate him, but I don’t.I’m not supposed to know his real name, even worse, I’m not supposed to care. He is nothing to me but … supposed to care. He is nothing to me but means to an end. The plan is simple: break free, collect the pieces of my broken soul, kill the bastards and run away.
His name is Nathaniel Thomas Vela, and I’ve never seen his face, though I hear that it’s beautiful.
Behind the rugged and handsome exterior, there’s a quiet murderer, a killer who thinks guns are for pussies and ends people with his bare hands.
His name doesn’t matter, neither does his face, but what does matter is my heart. And right now, sadly, it’s his.
Blood to Dust is a standalone, full-length novel. It contains graphic violence and adult situations some may find offensive.
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While it wasn’t as dark as I thought it was going to be, considering the blurb, Blood to Dust was full of the off-the-wall craziness I’ve come to look for in my dark reads. Prescott was a puzzle that I still haven’t been able to solve. She was a woman burdened by pain, betrayal and secrets. The life of horrors that she had to live was not for the feint of heart. Good thing this girl was a survivor.
Nate had never had it easy. He suffered through childhood, finally freed himself only to be tried and judged as a criminal. Never really fitting anywhere, this too-pretty-for-his-own-good man carved his own path. When his boss tasked him with holding onto Prescott, keeping her prisoner until his son could ‘fetch’ her, Nate planned to do just that. Only Prescott had other plans. And when he heard her story, when he found out why she was such a hot commodity, he realized how truly alike they were. His heart, that organ of his that knows the difference between right and wrong, switched sides.
And then it was utter chaos. Granted, what Prescott and Nate did defied imagination. None of it was realistic, but it was still tons of fun to read. She got her own brand of justice and through blood and more pain, these two kindred spirits found their own happily ever after.
All the elements of a great romance novel are here: a unique meeting, heart-stopping love, down and dirty sex scenes, and a happily ever after. Yet the story is also dark. Extremely dark. There is angst, action, crime, death, and other unspeakables. This book is not for the faint of heart. But it still delivers that once in a lifetime love story between two broken people who would go to any lengths, give up anything, to take care of each other.
visually bloody
I’m not sure how to give this one more than 5 stars, I don’t think I can, but if I could, I would.
“We’re beautiful and ugly and broken… and whole.”
Where to start, where to start?? I read this book for the first time a little under a year ago and I’m still speechless when I think about it. Nate and Pea(or should I say Delaware and Cockburn) aren’t perfect for each other. They are so, so wrong. But sometimes, you don’t need the pieces of another person that fit against yours perfectly. You just need someone to be broken with you.
Prescott Burlington-Smyth aka Pea aka Tanaka Cockburn’s life is more complicated than all her names. Her personality is too. She’s tough, but soft. Caring, but hard. Everything, and less. Nothing, and more. She used to be perfect, the perfect daughter, the perfect sister, the perfect friend; have the perfect life. Until it was robbed from her by a man she gave her heart to.
Nathaniel Thomas Vela aka Nate aka Beat is a convicted felon. He is very secretive. Very mean. Ultra Asshole. Until Pea finds his secret diary in his basement(where she unfortunately lives for now). She wants to hate him. But, it’s difficult to hate someone who is so, refreshing…
That’s all I’m going to say for now(because I’m EVIL, now go read the book). This couple has my heart, along with many of Shen’s couples, but their piece is a little bigger. A little more jaded. A little more crazy. A little more everything. Like Pea and Nate. I’d give absolutely everything to forget I ever read this book and read it again.
This story had all the signatures of an L.J. Shen book. The best LOL moments. The best cry moments. And some of the best TAKE-ME-NOW moments. All in short, some may not like this one, it has triggers and some dark moments. But for me, this was a top read.
TL;DR – If you aren’t triggered by rape or violence or (how do I say this, vigorous sex?) then this is your read!!
“We’re polar opposites. He’s peace looking for color, and I’m a storm looking for serenity. And somewhere between my chaos and his peace, we found each other.”
I went into this book blind. I read the blurb, which intrigued me, but I didn’t fully realize what kind of ride I was in for exactly. This was a suspenseful, darker read, with romance and steamy scenes. It was different from the other books I’ve read by her, and I really enjoyed it.
“I love her like a slave, I kneel in front of her like a subject, I crawl back to her at night like a drunk and I worship her like a believer.”
Even though it was a little on the darker side, there was still that wit I love in her writing. The MC’s are broken beings, trying to find their way in the world trying to escape their past. The way they come into each other’s lives is under dark circumstances. This plot was interesting, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. Prescott is a strong, determined, manipulative heroine, and in order to survive, she has to be all those things, even when she’s feeling hopeless. Nate or ‘Beat’, tries to keep his distance from Prescott – Pea, Silver Spoon, Country Club – in order to do the job, but there’s this pull to her he can’t deny. He’s caring, protective, and will do anything for her to keep her safe.
When the two finally get together, it’s explosive, and everything starts to move really fast. They’re in a race against time, in order to outrun their enemies and come out alive.
“The dust has settled over the blood we’ve shed.”
L J Shen writes beautifully brutal angsty books, and I cannot get enough of them! Every book I read by her I just think ‘wow’, because they are unlike any other books I read.
I love that some of her books will not be for the faint-hearted due to gore, abuse, violence etc, but I love that they’re all realistic and vivid, and Blood to Dust was no different.
The book is about Prescott, a twenty eight year old woman who is hustling to earn money to get by. She has been abused, tortured and is alert at all times, fearing her life as her abusers run free.
When she is abducted, she can’t help but be fearful of what will happen, will she even survive? And when she is held captive by two thugs Best and Ink, in a mould ridden basement, she is determined to have a plan of attack and to escape. But what happens when one of your captors ends up captivating your heart?
Nate is a newly released felon, trying hard to make ends meet and to keep a steady job and his home that he shares with Ink. He hates the life that he’s in, but there’s a target so big on the back of his head, that working for The Arches, a despicable father and son, is the only guarantee for protection.
When he is instructed to keep a woman captive in his basement, he is instinctively determined to be the one to keep an eye on her. But what happens when his eyes remain on her for too long.
A gripping read with lots of twists and turns and moments of humour and pain. It was a perfect blend of everything I want as a reader and is a certainly memorable read.
I’d recommend to all angst book lovers, and those who like to read books more on the hotter/edgier side.
“Time. It moves differently according to circumstances.”
Holy shit.
I don’t know how I feel right now. I’ve careened between stress, triumph, anxiety, laughter, cringing and love through the pages of this perfect storm of a book, through the peace at the eye of it and back out again.
Damn.
5 stars and a stress ball.
Prescott is my hero. She’s strong, brave, and unstoppable. Her story is not pretty, tender, or romanticized. It is honest and grimy. And it was amazing and devastating to go on the journey with her. I love her story and truly believe LJ Shen can NOT write something bad. Read this book!!!
This story captivated me from the very beginning all the way to the end, this is a little bit darker filled with many emotions, from joy, to anger, but really enjoyable.
I despise the villains of the story, I wanted them to suffer because of all the things they did to Prescott were horrible.
I loved Pea and Beat, the way Pea makes Beat open up to her and win him over little by little was brilliant.The relationship between them is great because they complete each other perfect.
The angst of this book is pff… let’s just say my anxiety levels were at its most LOL.
Even though it has rough and had some dark moments, it also has some really funny ones that lighten the story , and sweet ones that makes it even more great.
5 stars for Blood to Dust by L.J. Shen. Of this book , where do I even start. I will say this is a dark romance. Prescott has had it rough. She is out for revenge and to find her brother. She wants to make Godfrey, Seb, and Camden all suffer. Unfortunately she gets caught and is going to be help captive by the men Beat and Ink. “They underestimate me. That’s exactly how I like my rivals. They think of me as a rich b****, a frail little toy. Little do they know that I’m not a toy, I’m a storm. And I’m going to rip their lives apart.” Beat/Nate is recently out of prison and has people out to get him. He goes to Godfrey for help even though he knows he can’t trust him. The more these two are together the more they get to know each other. These two have a connection but what will Nate do about it. I love LJ Shen and how her writing can make me feel like I am part of the story. This book was a journey into the minds of people out for revenge, people filled with quilt and criminals. I loved the characters and everything that came along with it. A great dark romance that is worth reading.
***4,25 “Storm & Peace / Guns are for pussies!!!” stars***
“This is the story of a boy and a girl fighting storms and trying to find peace in the most unexpected place. They try and find it in each other.”
Wow!!! This book was fucked up, but in a way it was brutally beautiful!!!!
I finish this book two nights before, but i’m still feeling that i had been stolen from the right words… I will try to make an effort, but I’m not really sure if i can do it!!!
Firstly, i want to point out that L.J. Shen is one of my favorite authors, and i hadn’t read until now only two of her books…
Secondly, i have to emphasize that this story was much different than all her others, but not in a bad way, only in a more twisted, dark and fucked up way….
Thirdly, i enjoyed and this book very much!!!! Furthermore, what could possibly write this woman that i would not ever like??? Ugh????
“Broken people do things better; we learned how to make it in life without the missing parts other people have. Because when you’re in the dark, you appreciate everything that shines.”
Well, this was Prescott’s story…. a dark and with many nasty bumps story…
This girl lived too many ugly things in her little years upon this earth… and yet, the book started with her being captured by her enemies in order to be punished from the person that hurt her more than anyone else…. (Hmmm, he wasn’t the only one… He was the one of the three bastards!!!)
So, now she is forced to be living as a prisoner tied and blindfolded to a shitty basement with only two men with masks to watching over her…
One of them, Beat is the one that is more cruel and ruthless, but at the same time is the only one who is showing her a little kindness and respect….
“They underestimate me. That’s exactly how I like my rivals. They think of me as a rich bitch, a frail little toy. Little do they know that I’m not a toy, I’m a storm. And I’m going to rip their lives apart.”
“I’m getting to know Nate. Getting to like Nate. It’s horrible, to feel positively about your captor. But I do. Can’t help not to. He is broken, just like me. Life has fed him heartbreak, just like it fed me.”
Beat or Nate as his real name is, had a shitty life…. Unfortunately, in some point of his life, he murder his asshole of a father and got to prison for five years…
Now, he is finally out and he would love to live a better life, but firstly, he have to fullfill a dept… And his dept is to keep a young woman as a captive in his basement for thirty days… The only rules that he has to follow is to never let her go and never fuck her….
“I have the chance to redeem myself by saving a good one. But it’s not that simple. My neck is on line here, too. And the fact that I want to fuck the shit out of her? Another complication that can backfire in my face. Do I want to help her or do I simply want her?”
Beat and Pea are having a strange relatioship from the first moment…
He has to stay the fuck away from her, even though he is the only woman that makes his d**k twitch and Beat is for her a mean to an end… She just have to seduce him and make him freeing her… But maybe, her tricks won’t work their magic in him…
So, what will happen when they got to know each other and can’t longer resist to this savage pull between them???
“No, he is not like those men who took. Because he also gives. Nate gave me the one thing I almost forgot how to feel. He gave me hope.” {Prescott}
“I can have any pussy in the world… and the only one that I want is as toxic as poison ivy.” {Nate}
“Make peace to me, Beat.” I call him by his nickname purposely, my smile sly and cunning.
“Make fucking storm to me, Pea,” he says, doing the same.
Well, i loved this couple very much…
They were fucked up and toxic, but in a way they were so beautiful together..
They both had seen and lived too many ugly things…
Yep, Beat was a murderer but he was always fair… Those scumbangs deserved what they got after all… But deep down inside, his soul was pure and beautiful as his face…
Prescott from other hand, was seeking revenge for all the ugly things that she had to live in the dirty hands of her captors… And she had also to find her missing brother…
Those two were polar opposites, but in a way so same… They were good for each other, even though they were intense and twisted…
“I don’t want us to part ways yet. I want us to flip hourglasses. To stir up chaos. To start a blood bath.” {Prescott}
“You’re crazy, uncalculated and lethal for me.” I take a step in her direction. “So yeah. Being by your side is exactly where I should be.” {Nate}
“We’re polar opposites. He’s peace looking for color, and I’m a storm looking for serenity. And somewhere between my chaos and his peace, we found each other. Even crazier- we want to save one another.”
Well, honestly, i don’t know what more to say to you without making spoilers…
I loved this couple very much, but beside them, there weren’t many people that i liked in this book… Only one, i think!!!! Bahaha…. All the others was deserving to have the worst fate upon them…
I also liked the quotes and the red diary and all those nicknames…. I liked how real both Beat and Prescott felt…
And i loved how badass they were both, especially Prescott, since she were a woman and all…. The girl knew how to kick asses!!! LOL!!!
I also loved every single flaw and virtue upon Nate…. He was so awesome!!!!
“I’m not a victim, I’m a goddamn survivor.”
“My fault, my failure, is not in the passions I have, but in my lack of control of them.”
Honestly went into this book blind. It had been on my kindle for a while. So I figured I’d give it a shot. Blown away, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. This is not an easy read. It’s a love story involving drugs, murder, and several other unspeakable acts. Leigh creates the characters in way that you know what they’ve done and why. Yet, you hope they somehow have a happy ending.
Blood to Dust is written by LJ Shen,, one of my favorite authors. Dark, a little twisted, and so dramatic. This one was a page-turner that kept me glued to the pages. I couldn’t put it down and read it in one afternoon. What a great plot.
SO unpredictable. Such a thriller. It really has you wondering what happens next while you heart pumps. Amazing love story, but don’t be fooled. This little baby is DARK. Amazing book!
Wow! Another Great dark read form L.J. Shen. She knows how to draw you in and keep you on the edge of your seat. I loved the darkness of the story! This is such a dirty love story and will have your e-readers fogging up with the hotness. This is filled with so many emotions. If you like dark reads this one is a MUST!!!
Happy Reading Everyone!!
I absolutely loved this book. Rich and beautiful Prescott is kidnapped, bound, gagged and given to Nate/Beat to watch. She should hate him but, she does the opposite. I was so intrigued with this book that I stayed up all night reading it. This was my first book by L. J. and I am in love with her writing.
Start the clock because time is of the essence. This is a dark thriller that I was completely in awe with from the very beginning, Prescott, a silver spoon daughter was kidnapped by Godfrey for a debt that was unfulfilled. Throughout the story we’re filled with twists and turns that have you on the edge non stop, Nate is one of the men alongside Godfrey but Prescott slowly starts making a connection with him. Just when you think things couldn’t get more interesting then they already are we’re given a mix of a sexy raw romance mixed in. I just couldn’t believe the events that took place, absolutely incredible read.