Take the ride of your life with the Torpedo Ink motorcycle club in this thrilling romance novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan. Torpedo Ink is Aleksei “Absinthe” Solokov’s whole life. They’re his brothers, his family—his everything. But that doesn’t stop him from wanting something that only belongs to him. That’s why the tough biker has spent the last six weeks at … spent the last six weeks at the library, reading every book he can get his hands on and watching the prim and proper librarian who makes his blood rush.
For the past six weeks, Scarlet Foley has been fantasizing about the handsome, tattooed man whose eyes follow her every move. She senses he’s dangerous. She wants him to get close enough to touch. She wishes she could let him know the real woman, not the one she pretends to be. But Scarlet has a plan to carry out, and she can’t afford any distractions.
Absinthe is well aware that Scarlet is hiding something. She’s a puzzle he intends to solve, piece by intoxicating piece….
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“Torpedo Ink was his identity. His life. His family–brothers and sisters–and their lives were woven together like an old tapestry, and nothing could take them apart…..”
Desolation Road is the fourth book in the Torpedo Ink Series and it follows the story of Absinthe & Scarlet. Absinthe’s life revolves around Torpedo Ink and nothing means more to him than his biker family. But, that doesn’t stop him from wanting a love of his own. So, when he stumbles upon Scarlet at the library, he is hooked. There is just something about her that pulls him in and now he’ll do anything to make her his….
Overall, I thought this book was an ok read. I was pulled in from the beginning and was intrigued by Scarlet and Absinthe’s story. There was more to Absinthe than meets the eye. He’s not just your typical biker. He’s a huge fan of books and the written word. He’s fiercely protective and isn’t afraid to do the work when he wants something. And then there is Scarlet. Scarlet’s past has forever changed her and she’s not the kind of want to forgive and forget. And while she may seem like a prim and proper librarian, she’s got a thirst for vengeance. Together these two made a really interesting couple. I thought they had really great chemistry and they certainly steamed up the pages together.
While Desolation Road is the fourth book in the Torpedo Ink Series, this book can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone novel. Desolation Road is filled with intrigue, action and romance. I thought Desolation Road was an ok read and even though it’s not my favorite in this series, I still had a great time getting swept up Absinthe & Scarlet’s story…
3.75 stars–DESOLATION ROAD is the fourth instalment in Christine Feehan’s contemporary, adult TORPEDO INK erotic, paranormal romance series focusing on the men and women of the Torpedo Ink MC. This is Aleksei ‘Absinthe’ Solokov, and librarian Scarlet Foley’s story line. DESOLATION ROAD can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary. The TORPEDO INK series is a spin off from the author’s SEA HAVEN SERIES but you do not have to have read the original series to follow Torpedo Ink.
NOTE: Most of the characters including Torpedo Ink club president Victor ‘Czar’ Prakenski, and his wife Blythe Daniels were introduced in the final instalment of the author’s Sea Haven Series BOUND TOGETHER.
WARNING: DESOLATION ROAD contains scenes, and makes reference to voyeurism, graphic violence, rape, murder, torture, child prostitution, and abuse against children, women and men. There are also scenes of animal role play, food play, anal play and the use of other items during sexual activities and therefore, Desolation Road may not be suitable for more sensitive readers. The eighteen original Torpedo Ink members are the sole survivors of a Russian pedophile ring, and as such work towards rescuing children and women in similar situations.
Told from several third person perspectives including Absinthe and Scarlet DESOLATION ROAD follows Torpedo Ink’s Aleksei ‘Absinthe’ Solokov as his need for librarian Scarlet Foley helps calm the demons that continually run through his head. For six weeks Absinthe has ‘stalked’ our storyline heroine in an effort to get to ‘know’ the woman that calms the beast but Scarlet Foley is so much more than a sexy librarian, Scarlet is not without some supernatural abilities of her own. Years earlier, a horrific attack against Scarlet, and ultimately her sister Priscilla, led to the loss of Scarlet’s entire family, and in the ensuing years, Scarlet swore vengeance against everyone involved but meeting Aleksei Solokov meant Scarlet was about to place the Torpedo Ink family in danger, a danger the family was certain did not apply. What ensues is the quick building romance and relationship between Absinthe and Scarlet, and the potential fall-out as Scarlet’s past is determined to finish the job.
At seventeen years of age, Scarlet Foley lost everything including her innocence, her family and the life she once knew. Years would pass wherein our heroine made preparations to enact revenge against the men who destroyed our heroine’s life, preparations that will now involve the men and women of Torpedo Ink.
Aleksei ‘Absinthe’ Solokov struggles with demons, the memories, and the PTSD of a time long ago. With the ability to ‘see’ into the mind of the people he loves, Absinthe is empathic about the pain, the suffering, and the horrendous acts that no child should have ever been exposed but it is the guilt of so many losses that continue to pull Absinthe into the abyss.
The relationship between Absinthe and Scarlet is one of immediate attraction; a highly sexual, demanding, intense role playing relationship in which the independent, strong willed and determined Scarlet Avery quickly bends to the will of the man that she loves. As per my warning, Desolation Road contains scenes of animal role play, food play, anal play, and the use of items not necessarily designed for sexual activity.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, broken and determined secondary and supporting characters including most of the Torpedo Ink family of survivors, who endured but barely survived years of torture, abuse and rape of the body, mind and soul.
As per my previous reviews, I have remarked on the author’s increasing violent story lines and abuse against men, women and children but in the case of the Torpedo Ink series, the violence is part of their history and lives-ingrained and imbedded –into their very existence, but their need for vengeance is as equally violent and abusive towards their intended victim-eye for an eye and so on. Like the previous instalments, DESOLATION ROAD focuses on the graphically detailed violence, abuse and rape, the sexual torture of children, and in this, I believe the author is going for shock value as opposed to dramatic affect. There is plenty of redundancy and repetition, leading to more fluff (albeit graphic) than substance. At times, the writing style flips as though there is more than one ‘person’ writing the book.
DESOLATION ROAD is a story of family, friendships, betrayal and revenge; of survival and loss; of heart break and love. The premise is dark, haunting and gritty; the romance is tragic and intense.
Dark, Dangerous and searching for peace. Thank you Berkley and Net Galley for the arc. If you have read this series you understand the Torpedo Ink Club comes from horrible back grounds and this is shared in every book. IF not, please be aware this for adults and is very, very intense. I enjoyed Aleksei going to the library and “reading” various books so he could check out Scarlett. You see things from Aleskei’s view and from Scarletts. There are surprising twist, some new characters and you just know there is going to be trouble down the road in other books. So yes no matter what I will definitely be reading them. I was amazed at Scarletts strength, and after the honeymoon, when *it* really hit the fan, (trying not to do spoilers is so hard) and she was yelling and crying…. that was such an honest emotion. I am not in her league, I would have been screaming that way sooner, even knowing they had been through hell. As someone else said, this book needed more balance. Once they hooked up I kept struggling to find the story line it got lost in the pages and pages of sex. I don’t personally care if its kinky or g rated, I can skim, but there has to be story left to read. There was, just not enough for me. This is a dark erotic book with triggers for many. The plot itself twisted my heart, like wringing out a wet towel, than provided some hope, some light peeking through. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were unsolicited.