They say New York City is the Devil’s Playground.They’re wrong.This city belongs to me.And so does Aislinn Granville. She is a pampered politician’s daughter.A decorative ornament, raised to smile and nod and do what she’s told.Except… she doesn’t. Not with me. Ever.In this city full of thugs and thieves, I’ve kept Aislinn safe.From my enemies.From me.Until now.
O. K… PEOPLE JUST STOP WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW!!
BECAUSE THERE IS A NEW APLHA IN TOWN, READY TO STEAM UP YOUR KINDLES AND GET YOU ALL FLUSTERED AND IN A SPIN.
His Name is DAMON KING… and believe me you want him in your life.
Cruel Sanctuary by Tara Leigh is a fantastic, and delicious read, I devoured it greedily not wanting it to end. I am loving this side of Tara’s writing her dark side is Glorious, I cannot praise this book enough. Phenomenal is just one word to describe this story spellbinding, Hot, steamy, sensual and gritty you will be mesmerised by Damon’s character and intrigued by the connection he has to Aislinn Granville. There is alot of back story there not just sexual attraction, he is the Devil sent to keep Aislinn safe from a threat, caused by her father’s criminal behavior. But who is she more in danger from the outside threat or from her protector the devil himself Damon King.
This is a fantastic story, intelligently written and thought out, it keeps you on your toes and sends you on such a Thrilling ride you don’t want to get off.
I CANNOT WAIT for book two Corrupt Savior, I shall be counting down the days.
I Highly recommend this book.
Amount of sex 4 / 5
How explicit is the sex scenes 4 / 5
Story 5 / 5
Overall: 5 / 5
Cruel Sanctuary is the first book in The Wages of Sin duet by author Tara Leigh. This duet does have a continuous storyline, so be prepared for a doozy of a cliffhanger! The good news is that Corrupt Savior, the second book in the duet, is expected to be released mid-May. Therefore the wait will not be too long.
Cruel Sanctuary tells the story of Aislinn Granville and Damon King. Aislinn is the daughter of James Granville, who is the district attorney in NYC. He is planning on running for Mayor, and there are a lot of people who would like to see him fail. Damon King is a serious bad boy, and I have to admit that he makes me weak in my knees! The storyline has so many twists and turns that I was continually trying to put all of the puzzle pieces together. Everyone seemed to be hiding something which resulted in me being on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book.
I must admit that Cruel Sanctuary is one of my favorite books of Ms. Leigh. It seriously was all that and a bag of chips! The storyline was captivating, suspenseful, and so dang steamy, and I loved every minute of it! I just can’t get enough of Damon, I need more!
It’s one of my favorites books of 2019.
Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Copy!
Wow this was scorching hot from the moment that Aislinn and Damon meet in her apartment.
Aislinn is the daughter of Manhattan’s District Attorney, Damon King is a fixer and the underworld king of New York who gets done what needs to be done. Aislinn is in shock having just learned that her father is not the honest man she always thought he was in fact he is playing a very dangerous game with crime bosses doing business in New York. This has made Aislinn the target of a ruthless Mexican cartel. Damon forces her to stay with him in his heavily guarded fortress very much against her will.
Damon is very much taken with the feisty Aislinn and might have even met his match. Aislinn hates being locked up and left alone so she sets fire to Damon’s bed the first night she is in his apartment, almost making Damon lose his cool!
This is such a battle of wits between these two characters. Damon finds that his dangerous and untouchable facade is slowly being broken down as Aislinn starts to get under his skin while the explosive sexual attraction between them almost melts your kindle!
This was a very sexy, fast paced, thriller impossible to put down and the cliffhanger left me hating that I have to wait for part two! Another amazing story from the amazing Tara who just gets better and better!
This book was so different from Tara’s past books and it didn’t disappoint.
Damon is the perfect anti-hero. He is known for his cruel ways and taking business into his own hands. He answers to himself and doesn’t let others determine his actions.
Aislinn is powerful in her own right, but she has been left in the dark about several things in her life. She is slowly finding out secrets and taking each twist as it comes. Her bravery and strength of being able to tackle these events and situations show what type of person she is.
The attraction between these two sizzles and you can feel that something big is about to happen. As with any amazing duet, this book ends on a cliffhanger. I kind of figured something was up with that particular person, but I never thought they would be that bold. My thoughts an emotions are going to be all over the place until I get the second book.
-An ARC was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.-
“I may be bent, but I’m not broken.
I’ve survived. Hell, I’ve f**king conquered.
And there’s no shame in carrying around battle scars.”
Finally, a book that held my attention from start to finish and broke me out of my reading slump! Cruel Sanctuary is the author’s first foray into the world of political corruption, darkness and anti- heroes but it was a helluva beginning!
Aislinn has been around and in the political world most of her life but she never expected to find her father embroiled in dirty politics and scandal. Now her life is in danger because of his misdeeds and political ambition, and her savior will come in a most unexpected form: Damon King.
Just his name causes unease as he has a well earned reputation for being cold and ruthless in his pursuit of what he wants. In this case, Aislinn is at the top of his most wanted list, and her idiot father and so called boyfriend just served her up to Damon on a silver platter. In his line of work he can’t afford to show weakness, but he can certainly entertain himself with a diversion for awhile, right?
Damon and Aislinn clash in an epic battle of wills from the start but there is an undeniable undercurrent of attraction running through every interaction too. Little by little, Aislinn comes to realize the one man she believes to be her enemy is her only ally and the only person she can trust despite appearances to the contrary. But Damon is still keeping secrets that may just make her re-think her stance when they are revealed.
The author did a wonderful job weaving a tale of blurred lines with unexpected layers and secrets galore- many of which still remain to be fully fleshed out in the next part of Aislinn and Damon’s story. The story closes with moments of panic as the worst case scenario plays out and Damon prepares to shift back into the devil grown men fear. I have a feeling he will be all that more brutal because the woman he has come to love is in the direct line of fire and he will turn that perceived weakness into a source of strength. I can’t wait to find out how it all plays out!
Weeks after devouring Cruel Sanctuary, I’m still floating within the clouds, unable to step away from this enthralling introduction with a clear conscience. Beautiful darkness and enrapturing suspense creeping through this wonderfully written narrative ensnares your attention, pulling you towards its gravity of jaw-dropping revelations and heart-stopping unexpectations. Aislinn and Damon’s sinfully decadent chemistry renders you breathless, totally captivated and utterly wanton.
“Damon King might reign over Manhattan, but I will never bow to him.”
Damon King is my newest obsession, an irresistible dangerous enigma with an imposing and conceited attitude that infuriates you, but also leaves your insides a confused mess of fluttering desire. I’m unable to resist the complexity buried underneath a ruthless anti-hero, one who exudes sweet corruption and merciless intentions, but carefully unfurls an unexpected compassionate side. Witnessing this emotionally detached man quietly obsess over Aislinn’s safety sends the heart soaring and belly fluttering with so many good feelings. Despite walking the fine line between right and wrong in precarious ways, Damon possesses a personally instilled code of honour, a sliver of goodness that balances the darkness inside.
“Damon King is a ruthless bastard. A dark warrior with the soul of a savior.”
I adore a fierce and feisty heroine with an inner strength that conflicts and coincides with the hero’s equally intense personality. Aislinn Granville astounded me—she’s carefully constructed walls around her heart, fortifying them whenever possible, but when those constructs begin to crumble she learns to embrace the darkness surrounding Damon. Her ability to maintain an open mind and caring heart, as well as remaining undeterred and resolute, despite her deeply ingrained ethics being continuously challenged by an infuriating hero is an admirable feat of strength.
“After a lifetime of being the dutiful daughter, the good girl, minding my manners, I am intrigued by the darkness Damon has exposed me to. Tonight, I want to dance with the devil.”
Aislinn and Damon’s connection bursts with hatred filled lust; a type of chemistry with an intensity that crackles seamlessly into a passion filled relationship as they open up to each other. I love this author’s writing—the poetic, almost fairytale-esque nature of it with a hint of darkness to balance the scattered sweet moments throughout. And she writes a brooding asshole so damn effortlessly, you can’t help but love him, even when he is insufferable!
“Darkness is where I thrive. Dark minds. Dark rooms. Dark hearts. Except that my heart doesn’t feel so dark anymore. Aislinn has brought light into my life.”
This was a brilliant, thrilling read!
“The man is a savage dressed in a bespoke suit. A sinfully sexy savage.”
Aislinn Granville is political strategist who quit her job to work for her father, the DA who has his eye on the mayorship for NYC. However, when a potential career-breaking conversation comes to light, everything she believed about her father is brought into question. Furthermore, she’s become a walking target for a dangerous cartel that her father is trying to take down. It seems that the only person who can keep her safe is the mysterious Damon King.
“Aislinn Granville is more than just a tribute from one of my subjects. She is a trophy. A prize.”
Damon King has NYC in his stranglehold. Immensely wealthy and brilliant of mind, he is more powerful than anyone can actually comprehend. He has the city in the palm of his hand, but Aislinn is the ultimate prize. He’s waited years to have her and now it’s his job to protect her. Even if it means that he virtually needs to kidnap her and lock her up in his home.
“I’m trapped here, in this room, by this man. And yet I’ve never felt more free.”
From their first meeting, the chemistry between Damon and Aislinn is immediate. No matter how hard Aislinn denies and fights it, there is no mistaking the sizzling attraction between them. Damon is unquestionably an alpha of the first degree. He is demanding and commanding. He exudes power and sex. He appears to be holding all the cards and all the knowledge. However, Aislinn is no pushover. She pushes hard against his pull. And when she gives in? OMGeeeee, does she give in! These two absolutely vibrate with desire and their intimate scenes are combustible! *fans self*
“With every minute I spend in her company, she crawls deeper beneath my skin, threatening to open my tightly closed heart.”
This story was fast-paced, intriguing, suspenseful, oh-so-freakin’-sexy, and also beautifully tender as the status quo starts to change between Damon and Aislinn. I’m so ready for the conclusion to their story.
WOW! This was so amazing! Dark, sexy, suspenseful. I was captivated from the beginning. I love Aislinn and Damon. They are great characters with amazingly hot chemistry. I can’t wait for more! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!
Intrigue and romance are two of my favorites and combined into one story is a recipe for a great read. Cruel Sanctuary definitely gives me exactly that and more.
Ruthless. It’s a good way to describe Damon King. Principled. Aislinn Granville is exactly that. The two descriptions don’t mix well, but when they come together it’s a perfect swirl that creates a sexy yet tender combination.
Damon is both good and evil. He’s rough around the edges with secrets and a darkness that changes with the presence of Aislinn. He’s the kind of dark knight you don’t want to change.
Aislinn is the kind of heroine that fits perfectly with Damon. She’s tough and doesn’t back down. She may have the princess exterior but her strength is unquestionable.
And since it’s a duet, Cruel Sanctuary has ended with an appropriately suspenseful cliffhanger that I can’t wait to be solved in Corrupt Savior.
Holy hotness!!!!! Alpha male – check, feisty female – check, hot sex – double check, lots of suspense and drama – check. This books meets all the criteria on my list. Damon is the devil in a designer suit. Aislinn shouldn’t want him but its hard not to. The chemistry between the two is undeniable. Both are a bit broken. Fair warning, book does end on a cliff hanger, but it’s totally worth it!!
Absolutely loved this book. It takes you on a roller coaster of emotions. Ainslin and Damon have this push pull romance going on. They both feel this strong connection but don’t want to fall too deep. It’s frustrating since all i want to do is yell out GIVE IN already. This book ends in a cliffhanger and will leave you on the edge of your seat. Definitely a must read! Give it 5 stars and i can’t wait for book 2 to be released!
I love darker stories, where the good meets the evil. It’s forbidden and horrible, yet there is that glimmer that speaks to your soul. And not to forget secrets.
This book has it all and in the end Tara Leigh still has her hooks in us leaving this book to end in a cliffhanger. I’m super excited about the sequel coming soon!
Dark romance is not normally my thing but Tara Leigh and her debut into the darkness has made me question why I have never really picked up many books in this genre. Cruel Sanctuary took over my life I couldn’t put it down but please be aware it does end on a cliff hanger……
This is Damien King and Aislinn Granville’s story and what a tale they have to tell, the daughter of a politician who doesn’t understand why she needs protection and the bad boy turned protector is the jist of this story and that’s all I’m going to say because I believe you need to read this book first hand with no preconceived ideas of where this dark romance will take you …..
This book has it all, characters with sizzling chemistry, twists and turns, violence and passion and this roller coaster of love and emotions will certainly give you all the feels you expect in a great read. This book may end on a cliff hanger but I believe we won’t have long to wait for book 2 Corrupt Savior which is coming very soon.
A tale full of twists and turns in every corner.
Only Tara Leigh can make this dark mafia story incredibly sexy.
Damon King, our dark knight turned savior. A wounded, battered dark soul looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.
Aislinn, a feisty heroine who discovers her true sexuality and conquers the darkness.
Basically Tara leaves us hanging. Like bad. We are left needy and stressed.
I want, no I need more Damon King. Alphahole like no other.
Cruel Sanctuary book was really great and mysterious reading, full of passion between main characters. It captured me from the very first chapter, lost in the maze of secrets, suspicions and all that made me feel a little bit dizzy. If I add a mix of criminal world with powerful and dangerous hot alpha, hate-love steamy romance, you will be as swoony as I was during the reading.
Aislinn Granville life was so perfectly arranged. She was independent successful woman, working as a political strategist. She knew how to handle this, basically, men’s world. She had strength courage, very aserttive attitude and sassy mouth.
But when her world got mingled with dangerous, criminal world and Aislinn stuck in the middle of it , her life became endangered and it seemed that only “devil of the New York”, Damon King can save her.
He was a King of corruption. Everything about him screams power and danger. He was a businessman of the dark world. He definitely wasn’t a man who you could trusted to, but does Aislinn had any other choice?
Maybe they’re not supposed to meet each other, or their fate was written in the stars a long time ago, nothing was certain for sure. Whole plot was surprising from the very first chapter and I was absorbing every one word. Author revealed secrets of the story piece by piece and I was like WOW.
I love books where hero and heroine are strong and complex characters. I loved their hate-love with so much angst. I loved the chemistry slowly burning between them. It was nice to see how this complicated relationship was changing them and waking unfamiliar feelings. I was so curious where this story is heading. So many questions appeared in my head but I was left alone with the huge cliffhanger at the end of the first part. Now I’m waiting impatiently for book 2 Corrupt Savior.
Tara Leigh has created her own special magic in two characters with fractured souls. If they have a chance of healing, they will have to do it together. Aislinn Granville and Damon King are two people who have a lot of responsibility in their work and wield their own power. Aislinn is the daughter of the DA and is running his campaign for Mayor. Damon King, or King, is a fixer who handles unsavory situations in the criminal world. Each is also existing in a dark world of unspeakable pain. They have lived through their own form of destructive abuse and it’s an underlying factor in their thoughts and behaviors. Neither will speak of their secrets. Life takes a turn for Aislinn as she becomes involved in a life of crime thanks to her dad. Her father is working closely with the Los Muertos drug cartel and has not been tough with them in the past. Now that he’s running for Mayor, he plans a crackdown. Word has gotten back to Hugo Cruz, the leader of the cartel, and he is plotting revenge with Aislinn as his target. There is no one better to keep his daughter safe than Damon King, the handler. He works in the shadows, not entirely within the law, battling conspiracy, murder and evil. He’s not the devil he’s rumored to be, but he lets everyone think he is so they fear him. Aislinn is horrified that she is going to be under his control, even if it is for her safety. She refuses to give up her own power and defies him every chance she gets, until she is forced to face the truth. In the time they spend together, Aislinn begins to see the man behind the mask and her trust in him grows. Although he can’t understand it, King is starting to have feelings that he’s never experienced before and realizes that Aislinn is trusting him to share the secrets that he’s never told a soul. She confesses the secret she’s kept since she was a little girl. Trapped in a dark closet, a murderous husband, her nanny, death. With all this honesty, their hearts believe in each other now, but for how long. As King’s phone rings and she sees who’s calling, she reads the texts and knows she’s been betrayed. The only answer is to run and get away from him. As she tries to escape, her world goes black. The End. Unbelievable cliffhanger!
Welcome to the dark side of Tara Leigh. And what a beautiful and amazing place to be in. I don’t want to leave ever. She has written a dark, twisted, passionate and mysterious romance that has left me breathless. My mind is going crazy with all the feelings but I love this sensation so much.
Cruel Sanctuary has an intricate plot with brilliant and captivating story line. Aislinn Granville is the polished and apparently perfect daughter of Mayor Granville. She lives the life of wealthy and powerful. Until a political play goes wrong and her life is at risk. Enter Damon King. The king of New York in the true sense, he wants Aislinn. For keeping her safe and devouring her whole. And so starts the sensual, passionate and intoxicating story called “Cruel Sanctuary “.
Tara Leigh has a way with her words. She has most unique way of story telling with unusual and beautiful expressions. And this book is no exception. And she is in a darker mode here. Every character has layers and secrets. The political world, the mafia world and Damon’s underworld kingdom are colliding. And we don’t know who will be the next casualty. I was gripping my seat hard all through the ride. The author kept on twisting the story in every chapter with shocking revelations. You can bot guess what will happen next at all!
Aislinn is simply amazing. She is a survivor. She is a smart, independent, sexy and sassy woman. And Damon King is perfection. This arrogant, rude, dominating, uber sexy and controlling power house of a man is my undoing. He is just too perfect! A mix of cold ruthlessness while doing business and nuclear hot protectiveness while caring for Aislinn is too hard to resist. The chemistry is flowing from the pages to my mind like an electrifying sensation. The way he breaks the fear in Aislinn’s mind was mindblowing. Aislinn is changing his darkness too. The play of emotions, mind games and bodily pleasure was absolutely stunning. The cliffhanger made me scream in frustration!
The power games. The intense and life changing connection between two broken souls. A scintillating and captivating story line with sensational chemistry. Add Tara Leigh’s perfect musical writing and you have one of the best romance of 2019.
Received ARC for Honest Review
This spellbinding, suspenseful and steamy romance kept me in it’s grasp from start to finish. I went in blind and was blown away with this experience. Aislinn Granville is a political Strategist working for her father. When her life is turned upside down and in danger, Damon King steps in to protect her. Damon is a man who profits from the vices of others. He is mysterious, dangerous, sexy and deliciously dominant. He awakens things in Aislinn she never knew existed. Damon has secrets of his own and Aislinn was never meant to be more than a diversion for him. But she makes him want what he thought was lost to him forever. Their desires are hot and passionate and they heal as much as they gratify. But the distractions could be deadly for them both. This story held me captive and I loved every minute of this poignant, heart pounding, seductively steamy story. The ending left me stunned and I can’t wait to find out what happens next in book #2, Corrupt Savior!
I’m not even sure where to begin with my review. I finished this book late last night and I’m literally still mind blown. Tara has killed me with this book, I LOVED this book so much. It was dark, twisted, the passion and chemistry was so damn HOT it had me sweating and swooning all over the place.
King ohhhh my delicious, alpha, dark, powerful devil is everything….
I love how Aislinn was strong, brave and had such an amazing heart….
I need more of this story STAT, I couldn’t get enough.
Two words.
One name.
Damon King.
This man OWNED me. The “fixer” is not someone you want to mess with and you definitely don’t want to be anywhere near his radar, but in your bed…mmmm yes please. I love a great anti-hero and this man…this unbelievably ruthless, cocky man…is the ultimate! You will love to hate him and his crude ways.
Aislinn Granville is the girl everyone wants or wants to be. She has is all, or so it seems. She’s smart, sassy and beautiful, but full of secrets. When she learns nothing is what she thought it was, Aislinn is swept away by her protector. But not without a fight.
She is the kind of heroine I love to read about. Strong and confident that can hold her own in any situation and will never bow at any man’s feet. As the story progresses we see them both circling each other. Drawn like magnets, unable to resist the pull. Damon walks the line between light and dark, tipping more on the dark side, but Aislinn is his light in the shadows.
I loved the duel POV and the writing was flawless. It’s a page-turner for sure! Cruel Sanctuary is book one in The Wages of Sin duet that ends on a huge cliffy! I cannot wait to get my hands on Corrupt Savior, book two!