*** 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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Ms. Winters…What can I say??? Another fantastic, emotional read. I have been waiting to read Carter’s story since Possessive came out. I wondered if you could top Daniel’s story, and lady, you did not disappoint. My heart was pounding in my chest the whole time I was reading Merciless. You bring characters and their world to life in a way I wish it were easy to describe.
Carter and Aria…two souls aching and needing. Two people wanting something that is more than just physical, but not knowing what it really is. Two hearts filled with demons that only the other can release.
Carter…there is so much to him. He is the head of a family who do questionable things to even more questionable people. The demons inside him bring out a darkness in him that is screaming to find the one who is a perfect compliment to him and his needs. He is obsessive in his feelings for Aria. He wants her submission and obedience ( I so hate that word ). He wants to save her from the war that is about to start, free her from the demons of her past, and yet wants her tethered her to him all at the same time. Carter wants Aria bound to him…to need him and want him as he does her.
Aria…living in a world she has no choice to live in because of her father. A traumatic childhood that has shaped her into the unbelievably determined woman she is now. Carter takes her from that world, and she wants her freedom from him so badly…so she thinks. She wants to escape, to go back to her family to warn them, and yet she doesn’t want to disappoint Carter. Aria has a strength in her she doesn’t believe she has.
I went through a gamut of emotions reading this story. Anger, concern, sadness, excitement, and frustration (that feeling is because I want to read the next book right now!). Willow Winters draws her readers into a world that no one ever wants to leave!
What a wonderful book. The way Ms Winters is able to weave so much into a story is amazing. Carter and Aria are awesome. Carter definitely has a dark side to him and Aria is so sheltered to what the world she lives in is all about. Yes, she knows her father is not a good man but she knows little else. She is damaged from what happened to her mother and doesn’t even know it. Carter has his own past he is dealing with in regards to Aria’s father and what happened to him and how it involves Aria. Something she isn’t even aware of. Deep down Carter only wants to protect and love Aria. He feels a strong connection with her and at times he doesn’t seem to understand what it all means. Carter desperately wants Aria to not fear him and to trust that everything he does he does for her. Once I started reading their story I could not put it down. I can not wait to read the rest of Carter and Aria’s story. It seems that it can only get better from here.
If you’ve been following my reviews in the last 6 months you may have noticed I majorly threw myself in the deep end with these dark reads! I went from avoiding dark books like the plague, not even reading MC, to reading whatever dark books I can get my hands on.
Merciless changed my perception of what a dark book really is. Because the hero? Yeah he’s also majorly the villain. I hated him even as I was addicted to reading more about him, even as I was hoping that everything would work out for these two, my latest ship. Merciless is truly a merciless book, with merciless characters, and a merciless journey that tore my heart out, trampled all over it like an elephant wearing my favourite pair of stilettos, and then handed back my still beating, ravaged heart, expecting me to carry on with my life. Merciless is the exact word that summarises this unpredictable, mind f***ing, messed up, plot twisting savage of a book. And for some insane, probably a bit masochistic, reason I loved every second. I was hooked, the story completely and utterly gripping my soul and I couldn’t wait for more!
And that ended? That ending, that damn cliffhanger that Willow Winters is torturing us with? It’s the most merciless thing of all! I need book 2 like I need a cuppa on a rainy day, and a bar of chocolate when I’m perioding. In other words, I need it on a soul deep, never resting until I have it in my hands kind of way. You feel me?
W.Winters is an exceptional & I love her work. When I read Possessive I thought how can she outdo this but boy did she ever. I can’t even put into words just how good this book is. Carter & Aria’s story is hot and I can’t wait to see how their story continues in Heartless.
Wow, this book had me hanging on the edge of my seat and left me wanting more. Carter is the hot alpha male who has taken ownership of Aria to prove to her family that war is inevitable when it comes to drugs and their turf. The dominance over Aria had so many layers it left the reader wondering what exactly the end result will be. Can love conquer all in the end? This story had beautifully written characters and I cannot wait for the rest of it in the next book.
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OMG!! Willow once again leaves me speechless and has outdone herself with Merciless. Carter and Aria are a dark couple that had me on the edge of my seat waiting for their story and once I got my hands on their book it was so worth the wait. Suspenseful, mind gripping and with an alpha that knows exactly what he wants and will do anything to get her. Breaking Aria is his goal, protecting her is his ambition and having her is his dream. Loved, loved, loved Carter!!
Whew. Talk about a rollercoaster. I knew from reading the back of this book that the story was going to be good but dang. I didnt realize that I was going to start by not liking the characters. Not the characters themselves but their actions but as the book went on I couldn’t put it down with such anticipation as to what was to come! The next book CAN NOT come fast enough!
With a history unbeknown to her, he becomes intrigued by her for reasons of his own. When things around them get chaotic, he does what he thinks is best. While their story is a VERY complicated one, it’s a good one!
Carter and Aria OMG! This was the best most intense Willow Winters book to date. I couldn’t read their story fast enough and it ended way too soon. Please ma’am may I have some more? The sizzle the steam the sex the love! I need more of Carter and Aria it’s going to take a long time for this one to leave me. Aria is the daughter of a rival mob boss who is kidnapped to be given to Carter who is the head of his “family”. Aria fights Carter with all her strength and will until she can’t fight herself anymore and finds herself falling for him just as deeply as he is falling for her. It’s not about fighting and punishment anymore. Theirs is such an intense story with so much passion and emotion: then the last chapter, holy crap. I need more of their story right now! I loved this book. I am happily reviewing it and only wish I could give it more than five stars.
I was pulled into this book from the beginning.
Once I started reading I couldn’t put it down.
I was drawn to Carter just by Aria’s description of his voice.
He’s a sexy man. But as arrogant and a man I really want to hate and sometimes punch in the face.
Carter is also a bad man in a bad business. He’s also is the domino effect that will pit two other crime families against each other. Counting on the result he will be the last man standing.
Aria is a fragile innocent young woman. She’s the daughter of one of the two crime families Carter is looking to destroy. I really felt for Aria. She’s always frightened and scared of her own shadow.
I can’t blame her wishing everything she’s seen and lived through that would be her natural state of being.
When Carter demands the kidnapping of Aria and for her to be delivered to him,in return for help with the war that’s being waged,I think the plans he had for her changed the minute he got her.
She has a pull on him that no one knows about but him.
Aria is drawn to Carter. I’m not yet sure if it’s because of the things he did to her or because of her loneliness. But she definitely feels a physical attraction to him.
I really liked the pull Aria had on Carter without her even realizing it. I think with the power she holds over him she can bring him to his knees.
I was also in awe,after what Carter put Aria through,what lengths he went to to give her peace for her broken spirit. The ending was jaw dropping!
The writing is brilliant.
Everything flowed perfectly.
It’s fast paced,it’s captivating and pulse pounding.
Can’t wait for the rest of Carter and Aria’s story!
“All of her. Every piece of her is mine and she knows it.”
~Carter~
You can feel the sadness and despair from Aria, and the conflict from Carter, even as they both try to deny what they feel and want from the other. Carter wants her, but he doesn’t know for what exactly. He says he wants to own her, but he doesn’t know if it’s more than in a sexual way. He doesn’t want to admit the depth of his feeling for her. As for Aria, the first time she saw Carter she thought he was going to save her. Didn’t take long for that perception to change, but it didn’t stop her from wanting him. She doesn’t believe it to be right so she fights it, fights him. On one hand at times, she wants nothing more than to escape, then the other she wants to kneel at his feet and do as he asks, as he commands. While they have undeniable chemistry, and Aria can submit to Carter, and he can command her like she craves, it’s hard for them to find a balance in between what they want and what has to be done. Carter for his family and his business, Aria for her sanity and safety. Willow Winters knows how to write a dark, angsty book that keeps you flipping the pages to see how the story plays out, and this one is a twister. This book isn’t the end of Aria and Carter’s story, and I know I’m going to be waiting on the edge of my seat for the next part. I’m glad I got to review this book for Willow and I hope you pick it up to read. It’s one I highly recommend.
Merciless is the second book in a wonderful series,I could not put it down, Well written, steamy, I am so hooked on these, and I am in love with Carter.I can not wait for the next book
Merciless is an intense dark read that keeps you hooked from page one. Carter wants one thing and that’s Aria but Aria won’t go down without a fight. Carter & Aria I really enjoyed their story and of course seeing the Cross brothers. I can’t wait too read more of Carter & Aria’s story and hoping it will be out soon because the ending damn. Another amazing read that I didn’t want too put down.
Wow! Willow Winters has outdone herself with Merciless. A combination of angst, drama, domination, brutality and more that keeps the pages turning.
Carter Cross is the oldest of the Cross siblings and head of their business. Aria Talvery is the daughter of his enemy and now she’s his. He is Dominate and in control. He will do anything to break Aria down and make her realize where she belongs. Aria doesn’t see herself as weak and broken until she’s given to Carter. The longer they are together, the more she becomes his.
This isn’t your typical romance, but Carter and Aria draw you in from the beginning. I can’t wait for their story to continue in Heartless.
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend…”
Aria Talvery is the daughter of the most violent crime family around. She becomes a casualty when she is abducted and then given to Carter Cross to start a war.
Carter sees an opportunity to get everything he’s ever wanted when an enemy of the Talvery family approaches him. He agrees to help the faction but only IF they meet his demand.
“The best laid plans…”
Carter does not do anything without a reason. He is cold calculating and merciless. But, he starts to change his plans the more time Aria spends as his unwilling captive. He realizes how broken she is but he cannot and will not let her go. As days pass, Aria works her way under his skin. His cool demeanour thaws while the passion between them explodes. But, passion does not equal love or freedom and that’s what Aria needs and wants most.
Will Carter ever become merciful enough to set her free?
This book was phenomenal! It is a darkly thrilling, exciting and engaging read. It is told in dual POV. The pace is perfect and the story flowed so well, upping the angst and the thrill as it progressed. I was riveted. It is a little different from this author’s normal writing style, leaning more towards “romantic thriller”, but I relished it nonetheless. It is also the second book in a series of standalones that are interconnected.
Time ceased to exist as I read this book. I was consumed throughout. There was so much tension in this book that you could cut it with a knife. The desire between the characters was palpable.
The writing pulled me in and kept me engaged. In alternate parts of this book, my breath came ragged and shallow due to the anticipation while others I held in my breath with dread. Not to mention fanning myself from the scorching hot sex scenes!
As for the characters, Carter was a sexy, obsessive and possessive man. He was more of an antihero but I loved his character and his possessiveness. Aria is broken from a past trauma and she is a strong as she can possibly be, considering. Her character was well-written and I found myself feeling for her plight and having my stomach drop in fear for her.
This is an all encompassing read about setting yourself free and facing your fears. The story resonated with me. What Carter does for Aria and how this author wrote it was masterful. I absolutely loved it!
At the end of the book, I felt at odds with myself. I didn’t want this story to end and I guess I got what I was looking for because of the cliff-hanger ending but GRRR!!! I don’t want to wait! I’m so excited to continue their story in the upcoming book Heartless!
Recommended to those who like passionate romance with a dark thrill.
I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Amazing. Love Carter and Aria. Cannot wait to read more of their story in Heartless.
Favorite quote: Carter to Aria ~ “You can’t collar a songbird, Aria, but you can tether one or Cage it. The choice is yours.”
Another amazing read from Willow Winters. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat. Throughout the book I hated then loved then hated Carter again! I can’t wait to see where the relationship between Carter and Aria will go, but I’m sure it will be worth the wait!!
This was suspenseful, dramatic and AMAZING
Carter and Aria’s story is way dark and intense. And not over. So much of this is waiting as she slowly breaks- this girl is super strong-willed and fierce. A good match for him. These brothers are really something, quite a power family. I hope they all get a story!
Carter can be pretty ruthless and scary. I wouldn’t mess with him. There is so much more we need to know about him, their connection, the war, just everything! The end of this book was way shocking! I hope I don’t have to wait too long for the next book and find out how everything turns out for these two.
I can see how this story took on a life of its own! This book held me in its grip and just would not let go! It was a slow burn to a mind-blowing ending, yet it’s not over by far! To show mercy in Carter and Aria’s world is to admit weakness. Aria is unwittingly dragged into a war as the ultimate prize, but can she survive the fallout? I love the twisted mind games Carter played, and Aria may have been damaged, but she was tough as nails. She has her own demons to battle, and I loved how she was forced to confront them. There is darkness, but there is also light, and things aren’t always as they seem. I hated that this book had to end, and I can’t wait for more!
Willow has done it again! I read this book, walked away to settle my emotions, then turned around and read it again….it is THAT GOOD! Carter is so much more than I expected. He is haunting, dynamic, sexy as sin and broken in the right way. I love to hate him, hate to love him and still love him all the same. Aria is his undoing and she is amazing. I’m not going to lie, Carter makes this story, the angst, passion, hate, love, and everything in between. I will be impatiently waiting for Heartless because well, more Carter! I know Aria and Carter’s ending will be epic beyond belief. Thank you Willow for never disappointing!