I don’t know what it’s like to feel.To hurt.The ability was stolen from me in my youth. I consider that theft a gift.Feelings got in the way when you were building an empire. Amassing power.I had the empire.I had the power.Until one night in an alley.Everything that took over a decade to amass was snatched away in a second.He killed for me.But he didn’t save me.
Doyenne
By annemalcom
With a dramatic beginning I knew this book was going to be a killer and it certainly is..and more!
Doyenne – ‘the most respected and prominent woman in a chosen field’- that describes Charlotte Crofton to a tee except there is someone who doesn’t feel like this at all!
Charlotte is such a self-controlled and controlling character that when faced with a character like Wolf Eyes it rocks her, I loved it. From the very beginning I quite liked Charlotte and wanted to peel back the layers that made her her! I instantly liked Wolf Eyes! Oh my..how could you not? His ruthlessness, deadly precision and perfect timing are just a few admirable qualities. He intrigued me and hooked me in like a fish on a reel, I couldn’t wait to discover more about him too.
The chemistry between the two lead characters is deeply intense, they become beasts of passion yet bypass each other’s cold, detached exteriors to become much better acquainted with the real them. More importantly, they accept who they are and each other.
Even though this is a very dark story with its incredible suspense, nail biting action and absolutely heartbreaking sadness, it does have a lighter side to balance the equilibrium-and of course it has a marvellous flaky character..Molly.
I totally recommend this intricately woven story with its twists and turns to everybody who enjoys quality books.
Doyenne is definitely not for the faint of heart… it’s dark and definitely not a typical read. Charlotte is strong and fierce as Jacob is definitely an alpha and mysterious. Both characters have a past that defines and rules them. Add in a suspense element and you’ll be hooked.
I knew from the first teaser Anne showed on social media that this was going to be a different book than most romances. She excels at writing love stories that exist on the edge of a knife, razor sharp clarity of emotions, a slow burn of danger to the plot, and a wicked, strong heroine who demands only the best kind of hero. I nearly cried in some parts of the book, which I rarely do, and I loved the ending for its perfect fit for Jacob and Char!
Whenever I read a novel by this author, I always have to mentally prepare myself. It’s always in the most unexpected moments that I’m grasped by some intense emotion and I just start bawling my eyes out.
I really thought I was safe from that happening with this book. Anne Malcom made me feel safe—or as safe as you can feel reading a dark story. Until she didn’t.
Until one particular event happened that shattered my heart and I shed the tears for Charlotte that she wasn’t able to at that particular moment.
This is definitely a dark romance. Not for the faint of heart. The road entwined between Charlotte and Jacob was so hard! A slow burn that had me feeling the tension A LOT.
The twists and turns in Doyenne were perfection. I honestly had no idea which was things were heading to.
Yes, we know who the bad guy is fairly quickly, but it’s those books that give away the bad guy right away are the ones with the biggest shockers.
I did love how strong Charlotte is.
You don’t always see big CEO women who have bigger balls than men. A woman who went through everything to get everything.
Jacob was such an anomaly. It was extremely hard to get a read on Wolf Eyes. The ones we understand least are the ones we are attracted to most.
Seeing the relationship between Boots and Wolf Eyes was so interesting to read. Having to alphas fighting for who gets the upper hand was comical at times. I truly loved their messed up relationship.
There are so many things going on in this story that anything could be a spoiler. So, I won’t say more.
Definitely another five star read from this author.
I honestly don’t expect any less.
Wow.
This book was beyond epic. The author has blown me away with this one. The depth and layers of this book need to be read to be believed.
This will have you reevaluating every aspect of your life and those within it.
There are so many twists and turns you won’t see coming.
Yet another heart wrenching novel from an author who should be on everyone’s one click lists.
Would give more stars if I could.
“Scripture was wrong, the devils and demons didn’t reside below our feet in the bowels of hell, they lived above the clouds, in ivory towers, controlling humans like pawn, sipping thousand-dollar wine.”
Doyenne is not your typical romance book, there are no puppies and unicorns in this book. This book introduces you to Charlotte and Jacob. Two individuals who have fought to over come so much. Two individuals who are battle broken, however strong and fierce at the same time. Two individuals who come together to save and heal each other, little did they know this would happen.
Charlotte is a fierce kick ass woman who fights for everything she has, and for those she loves. Even though she is empty inside, she is able to show her love and compassion, in her own way, for those she loves. However if you are someone who betrays her, you better be prepared to face her wrath. This woman takes no shit and makes no apologies for it.
Jacob comes into Charlotte’s life to protect her, little does she know he will also save her. Jacob would lay down his life to protect Charlotte, both physically and emotionally.
This book made me cry, made me laugh, gasp and say oh f*%ck several times. If you are wanting a book that grabs you from the first page, that sucks you in, so that you can never turn back, then read this book. Anne Malcolm has once again published a masterpiece that has touched my soul. I honestly believe this is her best work to date.
I have absolutely no idea how to describe this book let alone review it. This was a book I got totally lost in. I’ve never read a female character quite like Charlotte before. A successful business woman she is controlled and calculates her every move eith precision. When she meets the immovable Jacob her life is shaken up. Jason is mysterious with an air of menace. Never have I read two dysfunctional characters who are so right for each other. What draws them together is it love, hate or power. Read the book and you decide.
Charlotte Crofton is a highly successful entrepreneur and extremely dedicated to her career. Driven and precisely controlled, Charlotte has her reasons for being detached, but as she becomes a target, her vulnerabilities are exposed.
“She wasn’t beyond redemption. But she was broken. And beautiful. A fucking enigma.”
Jacob Lucas is an extremely guarded man who comes into Charlotte’s life at a turning point. He offers protection and what she needs even though it is destructive to both of them.
“It’s why you employed me after all, you need a monster to protect you from another monster.”
Told mostly from Charlotte’s perspective, it quickly becomes clear that she has created a hard exterior to protect herself. Knowing what makes Charlotte tick explains her choices and it shows how much she is willing to sacrifice. With Jacob, he sees all of Charlotte – flaws and perfections – but still assumes the risk.
“If there’s anything inside of me that’s able to love, then yeah,” he murmured. “Whatever else there is, is yours too.”
This book has stayed with me for days after finishing, partly because it’s a hard book to classify but also because of its humanity. It isn’t a conventional romance, but rather about two people who are desperately on the edge and quite broken. The path these two Charlotte and Jacob take remain true to their characters and that makes their choices quite moving. I loved their unapologetic ending.
doyenne. is a story about damaged characters who aren’t strangers to sacrifice and loss.
I have finally found the words I want to express how much I loved this book. Anne has a way to find a way to reach her readers in a way that I have not seen in the hundreads of books I have read.
This one is no exception. Charlotte is a self made woman in her world that has typically been run by men. She has worked her way up and changed her life for the better. Her job is her life that she doesn’t have time for anything else outside of the office. Jacob is a man who gets jobs done but doesn’t work for a particular person or company, that is until her finds her in a dark alley on night.
Anne always blows me away with her books that I sometimes feel that she is personally delved into my life in certain parts that I connect with the characters soo much. For this is one of the reasons I adore her writing and would read anything she publishes.
* spoiler alert ** I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was amazing, Charlotte was definitely in line with the strong female characters Anne normally writes. When i started reading this book I had no clue where she was going with this story. I ended up reading it cover to cover yesterday!! Jacob and Charlotte were not your typical couple, They were so much more- animalistic and violent. I loved it. And the ending………..uuugggh. Great read and original story. Definitely one of a kind!!
Charlotte and Jacob story is perfectly imperfect. Don’t be expecting hearts and flowers because in this story you won’t find that.
Anne has killed me with this story story. This is probably my favourite book to date of hers. The emotion,the rawness, the grit, the suspense and the pain anne delivers is what makes this book one beautiful story.
I absolutely loved Charlotte, how bad ass and complex she is. When Charlotte comes into a situation, this is where we meet her mystery man.
Jacob.
Jacob is a guy your going to fall in love with 10x more. His silent, dark and broody self is what drawls you in. From the beginning of this book he is such a mystery and I was hooked like a junkie needing to know all about him.
Anne definitely shows us the true darkness within this story especially the darkness that is living within these characters. You will be so invested in this story with the sadness, and heartache.
I don’t want to give anything anyway but you need to go into this book blind. Expect the unexpected with this book with twists and turns that will blind you.
But remember never trust anybody.
If your into a darker story with a strong kick ass heroine who will bow down to nobody. She is the Doyenne. Then this book is for you, one click this book as soon as its available. You won’t be disappointed.
I loved this story so much. It had all the right stuff, intrigue, emotion, suspense. This is definitely one of my favorite reads this year. It was raw and sexy and so beautiful. Charlotte is this character that you just fall in love with. A must read.
Wow, wow, WOW! I am speechless. I really don’t know what to say. I finished reading this book 3 days ago and I am still thinking it over. I really don’t know what I can say to honestly do this book any justice. The only thing that I can say is that you MUST read it to get the full effect. Don’t worry about any of the reviews, they are only going to fill your head. Just read this book… But be warned it is not for the faint of heart. Doyenne is a story of damaged souls and battling darkness within.
Charlotte Crofton craved control. As a self-made billionaire, she worked hard to never show weakness and clutched power in her manicured hands and flawless appearance. However, being at the top of a ‘mans world’ it was no easy task, but Charlotte wasn’t one to back down to any man or woman. When Jacob Lucas saves her, life as she knew it would never be the same. Charlotte knew Jacob was dangerous, but she also knew he would never hurt he.
I thought that the first of of the book was a little slow, I would constantly pick the book up to read a few pages to put it back down again. But once it picked up around the half way mark I wasn’t able to put it down or think of anything else. I love reading books with strong heroines and Charlotte is most definitely one of the strongest ones I have read of late. Charlotte is not one to let a death threat or two interfere with her being successful, even if it’s all about appearances. Show no weakness or the sharks will Circle.
My heart broke for both Charlotte and Jacob in different ways. Charlotte for all the heart ache, betrayal and loss she has had to suffer and endure. While Jacob for the hell he went through and feeling like he couldn’t be with the ones he loves out of fear of hurting them. The bond and connection between Jacob and Charlotte is so strong and powerful from the first moment they meet. I feel like their ending in this book was a little to face and left with too many unanswered questions. But I really enjoyed reading this book and I believe you will too.
doyenne. is a original book filled with emotion and takes you on a journey into the lives of two very different people. I really, really enjoyed every word that Anne Malcom wrote. It is powerful and makes you think. It is dark and not always easy to read. But it is definitely something that needs to be read and savored. And it is definitely something that needs to be read without knowing the plot. 5 Thought Provoking Stars.
Speechless…..
I have literally just finished this story and needless to say I’m speechless but also feel as though I’ve been ripped apart piece by piece and now I’m left feeling naked and raw on the inside! This story was so much more than I expected it to be but dark, passionate and filled with emotion or like Charlotte emotionless on the surface!
A brief synopsis so I don’t ruin it for others….Charlotte has worked her way to the top of her ivory tower. She is one of the most successful woman but she hides a past and her emotions down deep. When a man intercepts an attempt on her life when she walks home one night, through an alley in New York, she soon realises he has the power to bring her to her knees
Thank you Anne for another amazing story which had me glued to my seat while the pages literally turned themselves Also I leave my honest review for this advanced copy
“You change when something shakes your life to the core”
doyenne. was unlike anything I’ve read by Anne Malcom… this book is definitely on the darker side but honestly its uniqueness is what had me hooked from page one. I couldn’t put this book down….My heart broke (more than once) & I was instantly mesmerized by all the intricate twists & turns as we navigate through Charlotte and Jacob’s story…
I don’t want to give anything away so I’ll just say…Read doyenne. it’s a truly remarkable one of a kind read.
This book is absolutely amazing. Charlotte and Jacob as a couple are amazingly beautiful and broken and this story will touch your heart. A definite must read.
“You’re everything that I shouldn’t want. Shouldn’t crave.”
Mind Blown. That was…. intense. This read felt pivotal, monumental, and took my expectations to new heights. Not just another love story, doyenne. by Anne Malcom is explosive, ground breaking, raw and down right mind blowing. Take everything you know about romance novels and toss it away, you won’t find it here. This book proves that love isn’t always pretty nor kind, and there’s beauty hidden in the ugly and unconventional. Simply described, doyenne. is a must read for lovers of dark contemporary romance, and not to be missed.
There just isn’t away to break this book down without giving its beauty and secrets away, and I’m just not the spoiler kind of girl. I will tell you this book had me reeling from page to page, and going through just about every emotion. It’s captivating, intriguing, and extra dark. These characters are some of the most broken and damaged I’ve read, and I couldn’t get enough of their words.
Author Anne Malcom takes the best parts of her books and melds them into the beauty and ugly we find in doyenne. The hard protectiveness from the Templars, the darkness of Birds of Paradise, and the strong, snarky, badass heroine in Vein Chronicles, combined with parts all its own, makes for one amazing read. If you like it dark, intense, and sultry, this book checks all the boxes. One-click and enjoy, my favorite book babes. xo
Charlotte Crofton is the CEO of a Multi Billion dollar company. After a terrifying night in a NYC alley, Charlotte’s life would never be the same. She is a very strong-headed, hard, independent woman, but she just might need the help of a very mysterious stranger that has saved her more than once. Who is this man…this Jacob? This was a tragically dark story. I can’t say to much as it would give things alway but if you like dark suspense then this is for you. This is my first book by this author I have read. Can two broken souls help each other heal? Sometimes that just isn’t quite enough…Told in dual POV.
Wow such darkness such despair and destruction of what the truth of power really takes to hold on to.
Charlotte Crofton CEO of her own empire in total control of everything and everyone around her, until it comes crumbling down around her.
Jacob -wolf, protector and punisher, death and destruction is what he leaves behind. Damaged with his own demons.
The darkness between these two main characters is all consuming the dark tension palatable. Although with such sadness and heartache that left me in tears throughout. So many emotions are brought forward when I was reading that will stay with me for some time.
Not every romance has a white picket fence and a sweet ending. This story will have you emotionally drained, but so worth the journey.