“Raw, dark, yet achingly tender, Dark Notes is a scorching-hot masterpiece as beautifully written as the music within.” ~ Anna Zaires, NY Times Bestselling Author
They call me a slut.Maybe I am.Sometimes I do things I despise.Sometimes men take without asking.But I have a musical gift, only a year left of high school, and a plan.With one obstacle.Emeric Marceaux doesn’t just take.He seizes my … plan.
With one obstacle.
Emeric Marceaux doesn’t just take.
He seizes my will power and bangs it like a dark note.
When he commands me to play, I want to give him everything.
I kneel for his punishments, tremble for his touch, and risk it all for our stolen moments.
He’s my obsession, my master, my music.
And my teacher.
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It’s been a while since I read a Teacher/Student and with all this darkness, I was intrigued from beginning to end. Honestly this is my first book by Pam Godwin and it wouldn’t be my last.
Want to first start off by saying I love Pam Godwin’s books! She is an amazing writer and I enjoy her stories because they are dark and it’s nice to get away from something I don’t always read.
I really enjoyed this book and it’s story. Again a dark romance and it’s not for everyone especially because of the age difference with the two main characters, but that didn’t brother me really bc it’s a book and it just kinda didn’t worry about it.
I really enjoyed the chemistry and love scenes between Ivory and Emeric bc well who doesn’t love a good dom!
All I can say is if you love book like this and Pam then this is a good story for you!
Ivory Westbrook Her life not glamours in the last few years before he died he sold everything to to let her go to the most elite music school in the state, Le Moyne Academy. When he died so did she her life changed for the worst her mom blamed her for her dad leaving them with nothing. Her bro also blamed her and his best friend took everything else that she had left. Shes hated in school buy girls they all think she a slut and all the boys treat her like one. What shes been doing to keep from losing everything isnt her finest moments. She not rich like everyone else she had to figure out how to pay for books, keep her house, and feed her cat.
Her final year left in school shes hoping to make it through to go to Leopold. Leave and start anew.
she been dreaming of this forever to be the best pianist player ever to be on a stage and play. Her dream is now harder to get now that her new teacher has promised to someone else.
Emeric Marceaux hes the Hot new piano teacher this year at Le Moyne but he was also only hired to help The head master son get in to Leopold. When Emeric meets Ivory he thought she was a teacher. Now he finds shes his student and he has no idea how hes going to be able to teach her.
They both find out they feel drawn to each other. He loves she scared , broken but theres a fire in her.
She find hes scares her but feels something she has never felt in a long time. Safe
Emeric taste is different he test Ivory every chance. He becomes obsessed fast hard and finds she is going to have slow with her to make her bend and beg for him. Those have only took from her. She has never willing given. The more the try not to they cant help but cave to the craving.
They cant get caught. The both could lose everything. Just when they think one problem is solved another arises a CRESCENDO.
Hot and heavy this book Once he claims her. No one can have her he will stop at nothing for her.
HOMOPHONY
“Human beings are miserable disasters.They make mistakes. Do the wrong things.”
“Beyond my hunger for discipline and pleasure,I feel this deep aching desire to provide for her in all ways.”
“Sometimes you love people you shouldn’t, and in the endless space of that love, nothing else matters.”
“Christ, this girl…She’s my music, my place in this life, my part in it all.”
“I died somewhere between my release and his. And now I know how it feels to be alive.”
“Now I know why you’re illegal.”
“Well..I was in heaven.” I reach up and caress the day-old scruff on his jaw.”Until the devil showed up.”
“I thought you didn’t like shaved pussies.”
“High school teachers have a way of falling fast and ignorantly in love.”
You know those good readss that you can’t put down…the ones that you wake up in the middle of the night to finish? This book is one of them!
I love the dance between Ivory & Emric. They fine line they walk to be together. May they continue to live happily ever after!
One of my dearest book friends has been recommending this book to me ever since we first realized we both shared a love of Pam Godwin’s writing. As is the case with all things so-many-books-so-little-time, I hadn’t gotten around to reading this particular forbidden romance involving a seventeen-year-old piano prodigy and the lone scholar in a renowned academy and the brand-new head of the music department ten years her senior who becomes committed to teaching her a thing or two about discipline–of her instrument and her body. Dark Notes isn’t my first teacher-student romance–nor, I highly suspect, will it be my last–but it is the first that goes beyond the usual innocent flirtations and flourishing infatuations that later become intriguing when identities are further revealed. From the get-go, Ivory Westbrook and Emeric Marceaux are more than aware of the position each plays in the other’s life. But that’s the thing about this novel–it’s more than just about the main characters being student and teacher. This is a story about finding love and passion and fighting for it regardless of the consequences; it’s about love and lust and everything else in between, of letting go and ultimately discovering your truest and home. Dark Notes was Pam Godwin at her very best. Five-plus stars!
I loved it, it over took me and I set life aside to read it once I started…. and then I had to sit back and absorb it all before I could think about reviewing. This book was too good to not review though, so I had to come back for it!
These characters, their story, it kicks you in the gut. That being said, the faint of heart need to stay away, there are things those of us who like the dark, twisted or painful, carry on. It skirts all sorts of lines, and the backstory definitely crosses them, but it shaped and guides our heroine and is so essential. She had a good life, then it all fell apart, and is still cracking, when our hero steps into the scene
From the first contact, he knew it was wrong, he knew he couldn’t have her, but he was too far gone from the beginning. While he is trying to figure things out, she is still trying to survive. The deeper he delves, the more he knows, he can’t stay away. He has to have her, and his intentions are blurry, but it goes with it and ignores his inner warnings
There are so many things that can go wrong, and they do, with some painful consequences for them both. Their only saving grace is that they have each other, and work through their pain, their anguish, together. Our hero pulls it together in the end, and our heroine comes out as her own person and stronger than ever
The warning, the real warning, is that this book will leave you with a HUGE book hangover! It has been two weeks and I am still a little shaky from it, it left that much of an impact. Ivory broke my heart, with every piece of her life she lived, with everything she revealed, she broke my heart. But through all that, her strength and drive that kept her going, that had me in awe. It also had me completely on board with Emeric’s anger and frustration, his lashing out and complete coddling of her whenever he could
Needless to say, I was wiped out by the book and loved every word of it
Poverty can hamper most people from achieving their dreams. For Ivory – her education and future was a product of her situation. As a scholarship recipient at a prestigious private school, Ivory knew her time at the high school was under a microscope. Ivory certainly didn’t fit the ‘mold’ for the student population. There were no new shoes each year, clothes that came with price tags or the luxury of a cell phone. Those were only things that Ivory dreamed of having. The reality was a life on the wrong side of the tracks that Ivory hoped to ultimately ‘escape’.
There was one thing that Ivory had that her fellow students didn’t…..TALENT!! It was the force that drove the young beauty to devote so much time to her craft. A connection to the father that she lost too early in life. The one thing that secured her spot in the school. Well….that was the case until this school year. Now her favorite teacher is gone and Ivory’s future hangs in the wake. A fate that that rests solely in the hands of Emeric Marceaux…..Ivory’s new music teacher.
Emeric is certainly not at this school for the thrill of it. His tattered past has led him on this course. One that would introduce him to the student that captivated Emeric from the moment she stepped foot in his class. A chemistry was instantaneous, but certainly forbidden. After all – Emeric had obligations that threatened Ivory’s future. The only question was if Ivory was worth the risk.
Oh my word……why in the world did it take me so long to read this book???? Clearly I was missing out!! For those that are skeptical of a student/teacher romance….put those reservations aside. Dark Notes is unlike any taboo romance. Written with a unique story plot that kept me engaged from the very first page. A tale about love that clearly is unlike any others.
The writing in this novel was so intense. The descriptions and plot made me feel like I had a front seat to this tale. One that kept me hooked from beginning to end. It’s a story about the choices we make when faced with hardships, judgments, and the love of a lifetime. A true piece of literary work that should not be missed!! Pam Godwin just moved to the front of my ‘must read’ author list!!
I received an arc of this book and am leaving a voluntary review. This book was very dark and disturbing with many triggers. And it was AWESOME!! This book the best book I have ever read. Ivory is a pianist who comes from a horrible abusive home. She meets Emeric who is a new teacher at an elite musicians school who has an attraction towards her. The two get involved in a student-teacher relationship, and Emeric takes such good care of Ivory. Can’t give anymore of the story away. But trust me, this is a definite must read book!!!
Well well well. This was one exhilarating and very erotic story. My first by Pam Godwin and definitely not the last based on this book. I have to admit I was a little apprehensive when it came to Ivory and Emeric’s age difference. Not that ten is a lot in this day in age but that she was seventeen and him twenty seven.
Pam Godwin did an amazing job writing Ivory. She was very mature for her age and she had also experienced a lot to give her that maturity. The sad part was that these experiences had only been traumatizing and nothing a seventeen year old girl should go through. So my doubts about their relationship was put to rest.
Emeric was an enigma. Very mysterious yet sexy and dominant as hell. I enjoyed that side of him but most definitely also his possessive and protective side towards Ivory, who tried her best to keep her pride and take care of herself. Not in the most healthy ways.
When Ivory and Emeric crashed together in just a look or touch I became hypnotized. There was so much intensity and lust between them. The scenes were exquisitely sensual and delicately written. I was pulled in felt it all.
I seriously loved Pam Godwin’s writing. So flawless and she used music references and metaphors beautifully. Definitely a top and a must read!!
Wow this book was amazing. Dark Notes by Pam Godwin has been on my radar for a while now, but I have been putting it off until I got in a dark read kind of mood. See I love me some Dark reads but I have to be in the right mood for them. But now that I read this book I wish I wouldn’t have waited so long. It wasn’t nearly as dark as I thought it was going to be. Don’t get me wrong it’s dark. About a 6 or 7 on a dark scale of 1-10, 10 being the darkest, but I have read darker. I really enjoyed Pam Godwin’s writing style. She captivated me from the start and made me fall in love with the main couple. Besides being a darker read it was a taboo read. You have a forbidden teacher/student love. The hero is 27 the heroine is 17. Very naughty and right up my alley!
Emeric was extremely sexy. I loved his over the top protectiveness. The way he loved and took care of Ivory. He was all dominant, but was still supportive, comforting and sweet. He was also a bad bad boy! A kinky, naughty teacher tasting the forbidden fruit. I loved that he knew she was worth everything. He didn’t fight his feelings long. She was his and he would have her period! I love that!!!! Emeric was like her Dark knight he comes and he saves her and then spanks her. Ivory has had a bad life ever since her dad died. Abused by her mother, brother and raped repeatedly. Ivory does what she has to, in order to survive. She has a plan and she is going to overcome. She may have been beaten down many times but she was so strong and it shined through the pages.
There was some major sexual tension in this book. I’m a sucker for the whole student/teacher love stories. Emeric and Ivory had major chemistry. The heat was rising from my kindle because not only is there the whole taboo age/teacher/student thing going on in this book, but Emeric is all Dom and there is a generous sprinkling of bdsm kinkery too. Their relationship wasn’t all kink though. This book didn’t just have sex scene after sex scene filler there was a nice relationship build up. They don’t even have full on sex until like the 80% mark. They also have a supportive, sweet, loving, and playful relationship. They don’t judge each other. For a dark book I found myself laughing a lot. Like the part where she throws the marker at Emeric and it bounces off his forehead and leaves a mark, I could actually picture it in my head.
I know some will have a problem with their ages, but I didn’t. I also found that I really enjoyed the fact that Emeric’s mom and dad were so supportive of him. They didn’t look down on Ivory, didn’t treat her bad. I loved that he could be 100% honest with them. I hated Ivory’s mother, brother, and her brother’s best friend Lorenzo. I read a few reviews where readers didn’t like what happens with Lorenzo. Not me I was glad, I would have liked more pain, I know I can be a bit bloodthirsty, but I own that! I also felt her mom and brother didn’t get their comeuppances and it really disappointed me. Just sayin’ how they gonna get off after all they put Ivory through. Emeric and Ivory’s HEA was super sweet and well deserved. Overall I loved this book and can’t wait to get my hands on more Pam Godwin books. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves dark, taboo, love. I would tell anyone who has issues with rape not to read this book, because this book get real rapey!
I looooved this book. My first by Pam Godwin and I can’t wait to read another. Everything in this book came together beautifully. I’m not much into submission/domination, but the feelings and emotions were exquisitely explained. I understood the need on both sides. My first student/ teacher forbidden love that wasn’t college level. I want to read more in this genre but I can’t imagine another living up to this gem. Dark Notes is definitely one of my all time faves.
This dark taboo romance was truly a heartbreaking story for me. Irvory is the 17 year old girl who is the center of this book. She is truly talented on the piano but is taken advantage by her family and her peers. Emeric is her teacher and savior. The story does contain BDSM elements. This is my first book by Pam Goodwin and I look forward to reading more of her books.
I think out of all the teacher/student stories that I’ve read, this one might be my favorite. Emeric and Ivory’s story pretty much consumed me. It was kinda messed up but I couldn’t stop reading about them. Damn, Ivory broke my cold dead heart. That girl had some desperate times, so it called for some desperate measures. Girls gotta do what she can to survive. I loved that even though she had a lot of rough times, she was still driven and focused on her goals. That girl had to grow up pretty fast.
And then there’s super uber dominate Emeric. Boy was the kink strong with that one. I loved the way he loved and took care of Ivory. Oh yeah, there was sexual chemistry all over the place. They couldn’t get enough of each other and dang was it hot! I thought this was a fantastic story!
“He’s it for me. The zenith of my happiness. All roads, however perilous and winding, lead to this man, my teacher, the music of my soul”
This is a intense dark romance. This complex story of a student/teacher romance is filled with deep and powerful emotions and themes. Be aware that this book does have content that could be triggers for some and others will just find objectionable (older man/younger woman, student/teacher, BDSM, physical abuse, sexual abuse and drug use). I was completely captivated by Ivory and Emeric’s story. I found it to be poignant, painful, beautiful and heartbreaking. Not for everyone but if you enjoy dark & forbidden romances you should give it a try.
Well this book starts out wonderful, but the ending is the stupidest POS I’ve ever read. You have an extremely dedicated character that seems to flip a switch and become a totally different character in the last 20 or so pages of the book. Disappointing.
Ivory has had a life no thirteen year old girl should start living. She’s beautiful and talented and in her last year of school at the best music school in New Orleans. She’s got a plan and nothing is standing in her way. She does what she has to to survive, to support her mother and brother, and buy her school supplies. Her home life is horrible. She’s the punching bag for her brother and his best friend is the worst. Determined to live her dream Ivory sets out to keep her head down and finish by ending up in college at the best music conservatory in the country. Ivory however isn’t expecting her new piano instructor to be male let alone the most beautiful make she’s ever laid her eyes on.
Emeric Marceaux is in his first year at this new school in New Orleans. He’s ten years Ivory’s senior and has worked his way up in the ranks of school administration until he’s caught in a compromising position and fired. Now determined to return to his passion of teaching he makes a deal with the Dean of the new school never expecting to be in a compromising position again. Not until he sees Ivory. She’s everything he’s ever wanted and so damaged he know that he can gain her trust and her love, but is it worth risking his career for?
This book is absolutely a journey. A experience. A book you get so lost in the rest of the world just seems to float away. I couldn’t put Dark Notes down and was so invested in the characters I just knew my heart would explode it if it didn’t go the way I needed and wanted it to. Full of dark themes that wil shatter your heart for Ivory and a very dominate Emeric there just no way you won’t be invested in their lives. Ivory has got to be one of the strongest female characters I’ve read about. I don’t think most of us could survive the things Ivory has been through or so the things she had to to survive. I wanted to just wrap her up and keep her safe. I found myself many times cringing when it came to the things that happened to her. Emeric is alpha and controlling and such a great man. The way he cares for Ivory will melt your heart. It’s a book you do not want to miss.
Pam Godwin has done an amazing job with Dark Notes. I owe a huge thank you to my book bestie Carla for loaning it to me. I knew the second I saw this book I had to read it. Thank you Carla for letting me read it. I owe you big time
A Talented Dominant Maestro .
A willing submissive Pupil.
Their bodies and souls entwined in a perfect Etude .
Ivory Westbrook is a destitute, abused, fallen angel trapped like a doe in company of wolves. They beat her, grab her,feast on her, eat her alive and she hides in the Black Mass of Scribian . The music her safe place to hide from pain, torture and rape.
“When she was thirteen, she sold her body to a tattoo artist for a permanent keepsake of her dead father.”
Emeric Marceaux is a a disillusioned and Disgraced Music teacher , running from scandals of his past. He finds a perfect disciple in Ivory. In flesh and in music.
“The cadence of our breaths plays a soft song of want and hunger and desire in the background, and while those sexual undertones aren’t necessary in our silent communication , they add rhythm and flavor to the heart of our music.”
Pam creates Magical notes to which their love plays symphonies .
Ivory ‘s heart starts to beat in sync with Emeric’s Breath and heartbeat – Dark and Hypnotic.
Music brings them together, binds them forever, providing a refuge for both of them and as their Lust turns into Love, the crescendo keeps climbing higher and higher, till she realises that her dreams of Leopold are just out of her grasp .
Here comes the epiphany ! Stepping back , looking at the bigger picture , she finds a bigger dream, a bigger purpose in life than just going to the Best Music Conservatory in the country. She finds the perfect Master to tutor her. Protect her, keep her safe and tethered while letting her talent fly !!
“The tick of your watch. The harmony of your breaths. The tempo of your heart. The notes I feel whenever you’re near.”
It’s spellbinding, mesmerising , hypnotic story, with two characters created so synchronised with each other, it’s difficult to say where Ivory finishes and where Emeric starts.
Their ultimate tabboo relationship is attacked fom all sides. The heinous acts of violence that Ivory had to endure, the utter neglect and squalor from where this beautiful angel had to be rescued from isn’t letting her go easy. Combined with the black spot on Emeric forehead and the blackmail he has to endure.
This story is undoubtedly a bestseller.
Pam has written in her indomitable style.
Laden with Lust , angst, torture , abuse, tender soul searching love, and above all uplifting music.
The music is omnipresent , in the background, in the foreground, in their lovemaking, in the rough sex, in their heartbreak, in their tender moments, in her torture, in her salvation, in his guilt, in his rescue.
In both their souls.
In their story.
In our hearts.
Filling us with love
it’s a heady combination of music, sex, love, dominance and submission.
I wish I was Ivory , Tied up on the piano, waiting to be played expertly by Emeric’s contrasting doubles, both gentle and rough
An exceptionally breathtaking teacher/student novel like no other. Impeccably written and utterly captivating. Pam Godwin spins this dark romance love story with precision and notches up the forbidden level and the slow burn between two kindred souls. The attraction, the lust, the want, the NEED….all of it was palpable. And the moment it all came together….COMBUSTIBLE! This novel will be on my TOP student/teacher favorites list for a long! If you are into dark romance, forbidden love and some Dom/sub elements, then THIS is the book for you!
5 stars!
Check out my Pinterest novel board for DARK NOTES: http://bit.ly/2HqvJoQ
A sinfully addictive read!
She’s his Ivory…
He is her darkest note…
She’s his student…
He is her teacher…
The emotions. The rawness. The darkness. All of it blends and gives you a novel that will haunt you till the end of time.
A sinfully wicked read that will dominate you. That will hook you. That will leave you in a daze.
Full of music, passion, honesty, rawness, emotion, danger, trust, forbiddeness and a dark romance.
Perfect for readers of forbidden romances.
Another superb writing from one of my go-to authors and when it comes to dark romance genre, Pam Godwin always delivers. Forbidden romance (student-teacher) theme is one of my favorite, because I like the twist, the suspense, the angst, and Dark Notes have it all and so much more. And you know when its illicit affair the sexy scene are just oozing with so much hotness, I expect no less from this author when it comes to that and she didn’t disappoint.
Ivory Westbrook is not your typical 17 year old high school student; she’d experience so many unpleasant things in life. No one cares about her well-being, emotionally and physically, she’s alone to face whatever life throws at her. But one thing I like about Ivory is her determinations to be out of this bad situation once she gets accepted to a prestigious music school that will hone her (piano playing) talent and eventually give her the kind of life she wanted. But sometimes life didn’t turn out the way we planned it.
Emeric Marceaux is the new music teacher, alpha-male, dominant, and charmed by the beauty of Ivory. After knowing the kind of life Ivory is living, Emeric is wholeheartedly set on to helping her. No matter what the consequences of this forbidden affair are, he’s the kind of man that will see to it that Ivory will always be his priority.
Ivory never felt this loved by anyone, until Emeric comes along. After she’d been through she never thought anyone could love her unconditionally. The romance between these two people is just amazing. I doubt if you won’t fall in love with Emeric and admire Ivory after reading this book.