500+ PAGES OF “CAPTIVATING” AND “UTTERLY CONSUMING” STANDALONE ENEMIES-TO-LOVERS ROMANCEOnce upon a cold, dark night, a Russian killer stole me from an alley.I’m dangerous, but he is lethal.I escaped once.He won’t let me do it twice. The revenge is his. The betrayal is mine.But so are the lies to protect the ones I love. We’re cut from the same twisted cloth. Both merciless. Both damaged. In his … same twisted cloth. Both merciless. Both damaged.
In his embrace, I find hell and heaven, his cruelly tender touch destroying and uplifting me at once.
They say a cat has nine lives, but an assassin has just one.
And Yan Ivanov now owns mine.
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An amazing read. It has kidnapping, secrets, and sex. What else could you want? It was so emotional, I was talking to the characters as something happened than almost crying when I come to a realization ( whether the right one or not you’ll have to read to find out). This author duo is amazing!!!
If you’re like me and you were intrigued by the twins from the Tormentor Mine Series, then you’ll love catching up with them in this book. This centers around Yan as the Hero, but you also spend some time with his team – Ilya, Anton and even Peter, briefly (that’s one of my favorite parts about following the authors’ books, you never really leave a character behind. They’ll reappear – even if just for brief moments – so you don’t forget them). This book was everything you could want in a romance – the heroine is strong, independent, & willing to do whatever it takes, but also has a good heart and when those walls around it come down, well it’s amazing to watch. The Hero is dark, dominant, & used to getting his way, happy to remain unattached to anyone other than his brother; but of course, someone comes along that turns his world all around. Let’s just say when the two of them collide it doesn’t look like it is going to go well for the heroine but then something changes. Of course, I’m not going to give the book away, but I will say that this book threw some unexpected curveballs and I’m still processing. The ending was everything I had hoped it would be but wasn’t expecting I’d actually get.
I snatched this book up as soon as I could because I absolutely love everything that I’ve read from author Anna Zaires. And while I hadn’t previously read anything from author Charmaine Pauls, I can say that absolutely will that fact be changing. The two styles blended so well I couldn’t tell it was written by a pair of authors. This is a longer book – so when you pick it up you need to be ready for a time investment – but it is so much packed into the pages. I’m a fast reader and can usually finish a book in a few hours but this one took me a couple days (only reading about 2 hours a day). However, the time spent immersed in the world of Yan and Mina will be worth it. I didn’t feel like I was reading a book, but instead that I was involved and invested in the story, hopeful for a certain outcome but doubting I would get it. I don’t know if I can say enough good things about the book, at least not enough to accurately describe how intense and amazing it was.
*4.5 stars – I was offered a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It is always a bonus when authors team up to co-author a book and this one is off the charts! If I could give it higher than a five, I would. I have been an avid reader of Anna Zaires for years and now I have a new author to delve into, Charmaine Pauls. This is Yan’s story, who readers met in Tormentor Mine as he was part of Peter Sokolov’s mercenary team.
“Ours is not a sweet romance. It’s larger than love. Darker than love. And it’s hers. All hers.”
Yan and the rest of his team is in Budapest discussing plans for their next operation in a bar. Mina is a waitress at the establishment who accidentally gets caught between a rock and a hard place when she winds up being able to overhear Yan’s conversation. Playing it off as if she does not understand, she believes the men are placated when they leave. She could not have been more wrong as Yan, along with his twin brother Ilya, kidnap Mina to detain her. From the first time Yan noticed Mina, there was a connection and he is adamant that his brother keep his hands off of her without fully understanding the reason why. There is something that calls Mina to Yan and the two spend a night of passion together only to have Mina escape the following morning. Fast forward a few months and the shock of Mina leaving is the least of Yan’s concerns when he gets intel that she was the one involved in Peter’s ambush that killed his in-laws. What ensues is a gripping tale filled with drama, lust, betrayal and revenge. Anna Zaires and Charmaine Pauls are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to crafting a dark romance. From the beginning, the reader is thrust into a world where the characters come alive showing their strengths and weaknesses yet somehow manage to connect through their flaws and all.
“We are what we are. We came together like our natures dictated: in violence and forced submission, in hatred and retribution. What we have now, though, is all the stronger for the obstacles we’ve overcome.” I highly recommend this book. I volunteered to read an advance copy of this book.
#MUSTREAD
Anna Zaires & Charmaine Pauls are amazing on their own but together they’re brillants : This book is fucking amazing !!!!
I’m not gonna say anything about the story because you HAVE to find out for yourself, because you HAVE to read it to feel the deepness of this love…
That’s what i love about the madmen: they are raw, dangerous, and they love in the same way .. fiercely, madly, darkly
Another great read by Anna Zaires! The story pulls you in immediately and is very hard to put down. I like how multifaceted the main characters, Mina and Yan, are portrayed. The intrigue and situational development adds to my attachment to them. Hopefully, Anton and Ilya will also get their own stories.
What can be more enjoyable if not two masterminds writing together? It was an amazing
story,full of ups and downs,funny moments and amazingly well characterized heroes!!
Pauls and Zaires are a dynamic due…this is enemies-to-lovers done right.
I highly recommend you don’t miss this one!
Great collaboration!! Super faced paced with tons of drama and twists
Hot, Intense, and Satisfying-
Darker Than Love is the most well written collaboration I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Yan and Mina’s story kept me turning the pages well past my bedtime! I became completely invested in Yan and Mina’s everchanging dynamic. Watching these characters evolve and change was so powerful. I appreciated learning more about Yan and his twin brother. I so hope Ilya and, their other team member, Anton get their own books or novellas . Darker Than Love was nothing short of full circle – it was hot, intense, and left me smiling.”
Darker Than Love is steamy. You may experience a need to be kidnapped. If you find yourself trolling dark alleys and seedy places in hopes of reenacting this book, please take yourself to the closest library in order to get a fix. Mina is a trained professional. Do not try this on your own.
Darker Than Love is vengeful. If you feel the need to go on a vigilante spree harming dirtbags from all over the world, I suggest a gaming system to curb your blood thirst.
Darker Than Love is hiding a giant Russian teddy bear that could and would also savagely rip you apart. Please don’t wander into a zoo and try to hug the bears. Do not go into Little Russia and try to hug the scariest mother lover there. Your safest option is a toy store or a tame house pet.
I could keep warning you to avoid dark and dangerous things but I feel like I’m tempting fate. Just know, Darker Than Love, even in its darkness will give you sly smiles, warm fuzzies, and an increased….respiration. Every word, connection, and look will conspire to make you twitch, squirm, and writhe. Don’t say I didn’t warn you! Also beware…because Darker Than Love has an HEA you won’t be able to resist.
Dark and Twisted with a Whole Lot of Sexiness!
DAMN THIS STORY IS HOT! It gave me everything I wanted from a dark and twisted story. There’s action, suspense, intrigue and a freaking amazing amount of intense sexy moments. The story is gritty, raw, devious and twisted. It took me on one intense emotional roller coaster ride from beginning to end!
Mina is extremely fierce and strong. She experienced incredible pain and loss at a very young age, which continues to haunt her. She somehow focuses this pain and loss into determination and strength in order to survive. Mina is also one kickass woman who knows how to handle herself in very tough situations. I was cheering for her every step of the way!
Yan is the ultimate alpha male, obsessive, controlling and utterly ruthless. He’s also very dark, gritty, ferocious and savage. Once he gets his sights on Mina there is no way he is ever letting her go. What he wants, he takes and doesn’t give back! There is something about Mina that calls to him. Was it fate that they met or was it their souls crying out for each other! She’s definitely the yin to his yang!
Mina and Yan were meant for each other. Their chemistry is mind-blowing and highly combustible. And the sex is earth shattering (and kindle melting)!!
This story is absolutely phenomenal! These two amazing authors give us such dark, emotional characters that we can’t help falling head over heels for. A must read story for 2020!
WOW!!! When I found out that Anna Zaires and Charmaine Paul were writing this book together I knew it was going to be an awesome book. Anna Zaires and Charmaine Paul are an instant read for me and they knocked it out of the park. Yan and Mina are awesome characters. The storyline was great. Enemies to lovers with all the twists and turns included and filled with suspense. This is a must read book and if I could I would give it 10 stars!!! BRAVO
Unpredictable and very moving
The word romance is not necessarily the first that comes to my mind in the first chapters because the link between Mina and Yan seems to be abusive. However, the authors have managed to mix the different strengths of the characters, in a scenario full of twists and turns, unpredictable. It’s sometimes a little difficult to read, but there too, they have managed to build a filigree romantic line that grows throughout the rather chaotic narrative.
The characters are excellent, and although their profession is neither legal nor sympathetic, I get to have a lot of empathy for their situation.
Mina has a very complicated past and when she is spotted by two Russian killers, when she herself pretends to be a waitress, she thinks they will kill her, but Yan, on the contrary, is strongly attracted. He takes her off and he sleeps with her then she manages to run away. However a few months later, Yan and his team find her because she would have been the one who, on command, attacked them. When he understands that she is not a waitress, he keeps her locked but their feelings and hatred, as well as what they are, create an explosive chemistry , all in an atmosphere of doubt, manipulation and criminals.
I really like the ending in which the characters stay themselves.
OMG! A book from Anna Zaires and Charmaine Pauls together? Yes, Please! Yan and Mina’s enemies-to-lovers story is intense, very suspenseful, breathtaking, and filled with drama, and twists and turns. Yan is handsome, dark, alpha, possessive, protective and ruthless. Mina is a wonderful strong woman. Her past is heartbreaking. I love their sizzling chemistry and the instant attraction. This story isn’t for the faint-hearted! I love the perfect ending! The secondary characters are great and intriguing. I would love to have Ilya’s story. I need more! Shirl Rae and Sebastian York did an amazing job with the narration. I enjoyed it, and I highly recommend it!
Darker Than Love can be listened as a standalong, but I highly recommend to read/listen to the interconnected series in this order:
1) The Twist Me Trilogy (Julian and Nora’s story)
2) The Capture Me Trilogy (Lucas and Yulia’s story)
3) The Tormentor Mine Series (Peter and Sara’s story)
and then Darker Than Love
Finding their love in the dark was beautiful and perfect. 5 stars
After reading Peter & Sara’s story (you can read this book as a standalone), I wondered how these authors were going to help me sympathize with Mina. I shouldn’t have wondered, because they did it heartbreakingly in the prologue. Then I started on a dark, dangerous, intense and captivating journey between Yan and Mina. They are instantly attracted to each other, and they are fire together. As the story unfolded with all its gasp-inducing twists and turns and ups and downs in their relationship, all I know is that I wanted Yan and Mina together because they were perfect for each other. They thought they were both numb and emotionless, but it was a beautiful and emotional journey that found them finding love in the darkest of places. Yan and Mina’s relationship was darker than love, as the title says, and it was a perfect and fascinating read.
I received an advanced copy of this ebook from the authors for my honest review.
Darker Than Love is an outstanding 5 ++++ read !!!!!
ARC received from authors Charmaine Pauls & Anna Zaires in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own & have not been influenced in any way.
This book was one of the most anticipated reads for me after devouring it’s prequel Sweeter Than Hate ….. ( STH is part of Darker Than Love so no need to purchase it separately )
WOW strap yourself in for one amazing ride – I already want to re-read this book! I read Darker Than Love in one sitting just could not put it down.
This book definitely is a genre I am growing to love & I guess I like things slightly darker
*** My check list for this amazing read ***
Enemies to lovers standalone
Plot twists & more plot twists
I WANT MORE OF YAN & MINA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This book is a top favorite of mine and it’s only January. I am already planning a re-read ….
Great secondary characters who I hope might also get their own books !
Sizzling OFF THE CHARTS CHEMISTRY , true love with the most amazing & heartfelt HEA what could be better than that …..
Smart snappy dialog & a kicking your butt heroine Mina is a highly trained / skilled assassin I absolutely loved everything about her character … flawed & yet so relatable ….
This is a collaboration between 2 amazing authors and I certainly hope they write more together. Without giving anything away there were several plot twists I just did not see coming …
Thrilling Action & Suspense
Angst & more angst
Amazing & sizzling chemistry – my E-Reader luckily did not go up in flames !
Ultimately one of the BEST love stories
Emotional & thought provoking
You travel to some amazing destinations
Disguises & we find out that Mina is quite the expert at creating – LOVED THAT – not just physically but acting the part needed as well !!!!
I actually feel a bit at a loss to put into words just how much I really loved this book …
I also want to mention the book cover – which grabs your attention & for me was spot on as Yan
Highly recommend this book and I am new to Anna Zaires work so I will be checking out her backlist & adding to my TBR list !! If you have not read anything by Charmaine Pauls please start immediately ….
What an outstanding collaboration between these two authors !!!
I devoured this fabulous and darkly compelling story in one sitting and though it’s a cliche I really couldn’t break away from Yan and Mina’s story except for iced coffee and bathroom breaks! I suffer with chronic migraines and my throbbing head and nausea were forced to the back of my mind because of the life and death drama unfolding before me. This mind blowing roller coaster ride of retribution and sexual gratification was intense, addictive and skillfully plotted from beginning to end with excellent character development, a heart pumping storyline and characters that I will never forget.
Utterly Fantastic!! 5 Listening Stars + 5 Reading Stars
This exciting, titillating, dark, captivating, unpredictable and intense enemies-to-lovers, romantic standalone is packed with everything that’ll keep you hooked from start to end.
Darker Than Love has the perfect blend of angst, passion, and all the feels that’ll make of this book an unputdownable. The chemistry between Mina and Yan is off the charts, it goes beyond the lust, and physical attraction they have for each other. Will they be able to succumb to the new found feelings completely?
The characters are amazing and perfectly developed, you’ll fall in love with them, even the ruthless ones will have you on the edge of your sit and flipping the page until you reach the end.
This is for sure a fabulous read is filled with danger, violence, steamy sex-y scenes, ruthless people, and twists and turns you won’t see coming. Spoilers are a nono for me, and since you already had plenty on some reviews, this is all I’m going to share.
Lastly, I can’t recommend it enough. My Anna Zaires & Charmaine Pauls read experience was priceless, and if you like audio, do yourself a favor and pick up the audible version of it. The narration is absolutely fantastic.
I absolutely loved and enjoyed Shirl Rae and Sebastian York’s brilliant performance!
4.5 Stars
Ever since I read the Tormentor Mine series by Anna Zaires I have been intrigued by the twin team members of the hero of that series (Peter) so I was ecstatic to find out this would be Yan’s book – and that it is co-written by another of my favorite dark romance authors, Charmaine Pauls. That being said, you don’t need to read that series before this one – it stands on its own.
Yan and Mina have an insta-lust connection – which they explore enthusiastically and repeatedly (insert sly grin here) – but the story runs deeper than that, with complications arising from their respective jobs in the mercenary world, and from Mina’s past. I loved Mina’s back story and the troubles she was facing in this book and of course I was ecstatic over Yan’s extreme possessiveness and jealousy. There is a tad bit of predictability but not enough that it detracts from the reading experience. Reading Yan’s emotional evolution was a huge plus, as well as all of the appearances by his teddy bear twin, Ilya. (Will he get a book too? Please? I would also love to see Anton brought down by love LOL)
What a story! I was captivated from the first page. Yan and Mina are forces to be reckoned with. The way they meet, their “jobs”, their pasts are so ingrained in each other. They are truly a perfect fit for each other. Yan stole my heart little by little until he wouldn’t let it go. His revelation about what Mina meant to him was so special. Even if he showed it in his own warped way throughout the whole book, it was great reading how he finally realized it. And Ilya…he is a big teddy bear. My heart broke for him a few times when he talked to Mina. And Mina, her past and what she went through, heartbreaking. But what an inspiration she is. This is such a fantastic collaboration of two genius writers. Please give us more of your twisted, yet sweet stories.