*** Now a USA Today bestselling series! ***From USA Today bestselling author Willow Winters comes a heart-wrenching, edge-of-your-seat gripping, romantic suspense. I should’ve known she would ruin me the moment I saw her. Women like her are made to destroy men like me. I couldn’t resist her though. Given to me to start a war; I was too eager to accept. But I didn’t know what she’d do to me. That …
But I didn’t know what she’d do to me. That she would change everything.
She sees through me in a way no one else ever has.
Her innocence and vulnerability make me weak for her and I hate it.
I know better than to give in to temptation.
A ruthless man doesn’t let a soul close to him.
A cold-hearted man doesn’t risk anything for anyone.
A powerful man with a beautiful woman at his mercy … he doesn’t fall for her.
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I knew Carter’s story was going to be a little twisted but I didn’t see it going the way it has. Such a powerful & dangerous man. Aria a beautiful broken soul. These two are going to tell a powerful story. I’m still reeling over this one! Another gripping story from Willow Winter’s.
MERCILESS – IS POWERFUL – DANGEROUS – DARK – PASSIONATE & STEAMING-HOT! I was transfixed to this story which held my absolute attention until the dramatic conclusion. Inside; suspense, action, intriguing dialogue, emotional moments, and intense sensuous romance.
As the head of his family, Carter is protective; his glare potent and his orders must be followed to a T. He is also traffic-stopping hot, wise and seems to always get what he wants; he wants the doe-eyed beauty Aria a mafia Princess to be totally his. Aria and Carter have a history unknown to her and she also has a past that haunts her nights. Their story is life-changing and as the two become closer their wants and needs intensify.
STIRRING read and passionately written by a truly gifted author. The characters are praise-worthy and engaging. I loved the backstories of both Aria and Carter and the vivid scene descriptions are dynamic. I feel that Carter and Aria are a great match. Aria proves to be a strong woman and though Carter is powerful and his guard is always up there is a caring side that bubbles in his soul for her. I relished this story and found it to be a most gratifying read so {of my own volition without any stipulations, I reviewed an advanced copy.} Without any reservations, I recommend this read.
Merciless by Willow Winters was captivating, suspenseful and a very thrilling ride. I was drawn to the story from beginning to end. A dark romance full of lies and deceit. How will it all end?
Carter is a very dangerous man. He was domineering, possessive and very sexy. He was also merciless and had a heart of stone. Aria Talvery was a pawn in a very dangerous situation. She was broken and lost and now the captive of Carter. Even so she had strength and boldness when needed.
Carter has Aria in his possession. His intention was to use and break her, but he was also captivated by her. There were times when he was very cruel to Aria. There was so much push and pull between them throughout the story. Though Merciless was suspenseful and thrilling, there were times it was very emotional as well.
Carter was the type of man we love to hate. I am hoping to see more of his feelings for Aria in the next book and see a stronger and more determined Aria. I cannot wait to see how Carter and Aria’s story ends in Heartless.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
This book was fantastic!! I couldn’t put it down and I’m dying to read part two to find out how these two get their happy ending.
Wow! Another amazing book. Entertaining, captivating and interesting sexy read. I could not put it down. Wonderfully written with strong, intriguing characters. I want to read more from this author. I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I have been anxiously awaiting Carter’s story since we caught a glimpse of him in Possessive, Daniel’s story. Carter’s story is dark and intense. Carter is driven by a need to do what he must for his family no matter how that affects others. Enter Aria, she appears to be just a pawn in Carter’s game, but we have much to learn. Carter is a tough character to like, he can be cruel and cold. I feel like we have so much more to find out about him and I am eager to learn. Aria is a complex character, she is stronger than she appears even while, even while she is being broke down. I think that Willow has a way of writing these male characters that are so complex and you know you just shouldn’t like them…somehow you start looking for those redeemable qualities. Carter is that for me. This is a darkly delicious story and I can’t wait for more!
This is the story of Aria and Carter. It is a beautiful love story of two broken hearts struggling to overcome the past to come together to heal each other. It’s a captivating story the keeps you anxiously waiting to read the next chapter. Willow does an excellent job with imagery and making you feel as if you’re right there with the characters. Her characters are well-developed, and her books always flow easily (even with the page-turning twists and turns). I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next book!
4.5 Stars
What happens when a merciless, cold, calculating man with an iron control on his life and emotions meets a broken woman with a traumatized past? Magic! That is a perfect way to describe the relationship between Carter and Aria. I was instantly taken by Carter. I always have a soft spot for hard, seemingly cruel and heartless men who thaw once they meet the right woman. Carter initially wants nothing to do with Aria. He is to only be her captive, but the longer he spends with her, the more he starts to think it will be impossible to ever let her go. A woman like Aria and the emotions she stirs in him could be the ruin of a man like him. He knows that, but it doesn’t matter, she weaves a spell he cannot escape from. Aria has a strength that contradicts the horror of her past. She comes from a world where women are only seen as pawns in the games the ruthless men they encounter play. She is broken because of her past, but Carter begins to heal her in unexpected ways. This is packed full of actions, suspense and angst and the ending has me chomping at the bit for the conclusion in the next book.
Willow Winters has outdone herself with Merciless. Carter is the oldest of the Cross brothers and the one who leads the family business. He has set his eyes on Aria, the daughter of one of his enemies. Carter has set in motion a war that has been brewing for many years between the Romano’s and the Talvery’s. However, neither family knows that he is doing it for selfish reasons, Aria. She has captured his dark soul, his every thought, his every breath. Carter was once innocent, dragged into this life by his lowlife father. One night changed him, the night that he learned of Aria. The night that she saved him without even knowing it.
Aria hates what her father represents, hates the life she has, but that is all she knows. Witnessing her mother’s death, Aria is haunted with that memory. Her saving grace is her sketch book, timeless hours drawing and most importantly the picture of her mother that lingers in the pages of that sketch book. So when that sketch book is stolen, she stops at nothing to reclaim it, even her own safety. Kidnapped and held against her will, Aria’s strong will and defiance only lasts so long. Although she hates Carter with every breath she takes, he slowly breaks her will and Aria starts to crave Carter. Oddly, she feels safe in his presence and seeks it. She knows it is unhealthy, but she also knows that underneath all the coldness lies a tender man. She knows in order to survive she needs Carter to believe that she is weak and needs him. But is at all a facade, or is Aria really starting to have feelings for her capturer?
Carter knows he needs to break Aria’s will to rebuild her. She is his kryptonite, but he can’t let her see his tenderness and weakness for her. She will willingly submit to him, he just has to wait patiently. Everything he does is planned and well thought out.
What a story Aria and Carter have. As much as I want to hate Carter for what he is doing to Aria, I find that I am falling for him. My heart cries for him and what he has been through in life to become the man that he is today. He is craving love and I believe he can find it with Aria. Aria is his savior, whether she knows it or not. When Aria finally gives all of herself to Carter I know it will be the most beautiful LOVE between two people.
5 deep, dark MERCILESS stars.
Merciless by Willow Winters is yet another dark, and twisted tale of love and maybe redemption. It’s a truly exceptional story about Carter Cross and Aria Talvery.
Aria is a mafioso’s daughter, one of the biggest crime lords around and she becomes a hostage when she’s captured by an enemy of her father and given to Carter with the intention of starting a war between the disgruntled factions.
Carter is a top notch alpha male, he’s powerful, sexy and very, very dangerous.
Aria tries to fight the forbidden attraction she starts to feel toward this often cold and calculating warrior, but they’re just something about him.
Carter knows he shouldn’t have feelings for this girl he’s trapped but whenever they’re together, his heart just grows bigger and bigger. And yet, he won’t let her go.
When lust and desire become love, will he have the strength to finally free her, and will Aria want to escape from his loving clutches?
Told in dual POV this was a angsty, thrilling suspenseful story and I was thoroughly captivated myself. I was sorry when the end came as Carter and Aria drew me in with this passion and chemistry. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.
Grab your copy today.
Carter is King & I’d Kneel for Him
Of all the Cross brothers, I can’t imagine I’d like anyone of them more than Carter. He exudes confidence and is tough yet loving toward Aria, the daughter of his rival drug cartel that he had kidnapped to keep her safe… oh, and also to break her and make her his! Oh the feels. Confusing, almost Stockholm Syndrome type feels. How can I adore this guy when he’s such a bad guy?!? Maybe because he has such a soft spot for Aria?!? Merciless has a HFN (Happy For Now) satisfying ending that begs to be continued in Heartless. I can’t wait for Heartless!
MERCILESS is exactly the right title for this book. There is little to zero romance in this story. With three violent crime families at war, there is plenty of tension and intrigue to make you keep turning the pages. And among all this fighting is a broken young woman that is caught between it all.
Her name is Aria Talvery and she is the daughter of the most violet crime family of them all. Her mother was murdered in front of her when she was only eight years old. She has never been okay since. Her father is a crook, but has kept her safe. She loves to draw, and hides away in her room. Away from all the madness and danger. But one day someone stole her precious drawing pad that held a picture of her deceased mother. She left the safety of her home and father’s protection in hope of getting it back. That was the day her life changed forever!!
Carter Cross is the oldest of the four Cross brothers and head of a drug cartel. He took over the territory from his father, and along with his three brothers Jase, Daniel, and Declan rules with an iron fist. He never shows mercy and is plain heartless. He is domineering, controlling, and extremely possessive. He wanted nothing to do with the war between Talvery and the Romanos. He felt it had nothing to do with them. What he did want and was going to get was Nicholas Talvery’s daughter Aria as his own. He took her from her family. Locked her in a room and told her in simple words that her former life was over and she belonged to him.
Carter and Aria’s story is far from over and doesn’t end with this book. Their story will continue in W Winters next book HEARTLESS.
Intense, powerful, dark, dramatic, and scorching hot!! Carter and Aria are complex characters, with sizzling chemistry, and a very, very complicated relationship. This book is sure to engage all of your emotions with its edge of your seat drama, danger, forbidden attraction, strong emotions, and the explosive passion. A bad man with a dark plan. An innocent woman caught in the crossfire. A game changing attraction. An inferno of heat and the unexpected seeds of love. This book is a stunning read!! I absolutely loved it. This is my honest, voluntary review. Carter and Aria are complex characters, with sizzling chemistry, and a very, very complicated relationship. This book is sure to engage all of your emotions with its edge of your seat drama, danger, forbidden attraction, strong emotions, and the explosive passion. A bad man with a dark plan. An innocent woman caught in the crossfire. A game changing attraction. An inferno of heat and the unexpected seeds of love. This book is a stunning read!! I absolutely loved it.
Be advised this read does end on a cliffhanger. Carter is a character that is hard to love but underneath you just know he has some redeeming qualities. Aria has been through so much and I believe Carter does want to make her stronger. Although I do wonder how she feels about him, it seems most of what she does is based on fear. The story is intense and fast-paced, the Cross brothers are an entertaining group. I look forward to finding out more. Steamy, dark and intense.
5 HEART POUNDING STARS!! PHENOMENAL storytelling!! This book is heart pounding, gut wrenching, dark and believe it or not, loving. Carter and Aria story is hard, dark and beautiful, you will hate Carter and love him. W Winters has another hit on her hands, her writing gets better with each book I read. I can’t wait for the second book, I need it now. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
I’m in a love/hate relationship with Carter. He’s a sick, twisted and demanding a**hole. There are some flecks of compassion but not many. Aria, oh what can I say about her. I’m not quite sure how I feel about her. Can’t wait to read Heartless, hopefully we don’t have to wait too long.
Carter is an unforgettable character. He will love on in your dreams/nightmares long after the book’s end. He is obsessed with Aria. He sets things in motion for her to become his. He owns her. Aria is broken. She doesn’t come to him willingly. She is his prisoner. She fights him even though she wants to give in. The fact that all this is going on during a backstory of vengeance between two criminal factions makes it a more tense read. Waiting to see how this one turns out in the next book.
I have officially jumped down the rabbit hole that is angsty, kept me teetering on the fine line between love and hate, understanding, and confusion, darkness, and light that is W. Winters– and I am not quite sure if I am ready to come back out yet!
Holy mind wreck!
A gripping tale of the darkness in two lost souls, this romance is not for the faint of heart.. Ms. Winters draws a compelling, detailed, heart twisting, sometimes maddening relationship between the individually different, broken pair- Carter and Aria.
Intricately detailed, with so much heart gah! This storyline keeps sucking me in.. I am fully invested now- more than ever!
I eagerly await the next book!
#ONECLICK MATERIAL
Willow Winters knows how to take your emotions into the dark and Merciless did it again for me. My heart sped up, slowed down, and then stopped with this book. Carter….you want to hate him but you can’t. He is calculating and cold. He has a job to do and Aria was the plan. But when he does not expect is that Aria is a plan, but not what he originally expects.
Merciless is dark, but you get wrapped up in all and see the Romance for what it is. The for me brought it all the emotions. Love this book and definitely recommend it!
Wow!!! Talk about ALPHA MALE!!! I don’t think anyone can beat out Carter as definition of alpha male. He is completely and utterly in charge and will make dang sure he gets exactly what he wants, at all costs. Aria is a broken girl that can’t shake the literal nightmares of her past. Carter just might have the ticket to helping her escape her past and being the strong, confident woman he knows she can be, with a little bit(lol) of guidance. Can’t wait to read the continuation.