I was his gift. He was my downfall.They say your parents are the two people who are meant to love you and keep you safe.So what does that say about mine?My father gave me to a man as a gift.A man who wears many masks.A man who terrifies me.Why then do I want to know what lies beneath?Why does a single touch send shivers down my spine?I know what he wants.My body. My words. My mind.I can’t run. I … send shivers down my spine?
I know what he wants.
My body. My words. My mind.
I can’t run. I can’t hide. And I can’t give in to him.
My name is Liora Stewart.
And Dante Benson is my Master.
The spin-off to the Corrupt Empire series.
You’ve had Avery and Aiden’s story, now you’ll have Dante’s.
If you like dark romance, dive into Provoked for a twisted, pulse racing tale of deception, debts and long forgotten secrets.
Author note: I recommend you read the Corrupt Empire Trilogy before starting on this series, but it’s not strictly necessary as this is a standalone and not a continuation.
Corrupt Empire Series
Betrayal #1
Sacrifice #2
Revenge #3
Benson Siblings Series
Provoked #1
more
What an engaging start to the spin-off series from the Corrupt Empire trilogy! Yet again, the author has created two characters with such sizzling chemistry and steamy, heartfelt pillow talk, that my heart melted over and over!
I will admit that the beginning had me a bit puzzled. In 2019, it seems a bit strange that a college graduate would just do as her father told her and ride off with a stranger, no questions asked. (If my dad asked me to do that, I’d be like, um, thanks, but no thanks, buddy! LOL). But, in dark romance, this is all very standard and the main characters had to meet some way, right? So, why not have a mysterious set up where the heroine briefly meets the hero and then, three years later, she’s sent to fulfill the terms?
Once the characters connect, the author draws the reader in with her phenomenal writing. Seriously, Sarah Bailey is one of the best, if not the best, dark romance authors writing today. She weaves the words on the page so that you feel the angst and struggle inside Liora and Dante. They both try so hard to deny their physical attraction but–spoiler alert–it’s impossible. Liora’s shy, submissive personality is perfect for Dante and they find themselves lost to passion. But, more than that, they eventually show each other their true selves and fall in love. Sigh. The sizzling dialogue between them, as well as the sweet moments toward the end where they really embrace their feelings, were just magical. Another fabulous book by Mrs. Bailey and I’m looking forward to the next one!
If you enjoyed Bailey’s Corrupt Empire series with Aiden and Avery, then you will definitely enjoy Provoked; Dante and Liora’s story. It is a dark, dangerous, twisted tale of love, devotion, family, and sacrifice and it is full of lies, secrets, manipulation, pain, devastation, past sins, forgiveness, new beginnings, and a soul-deep bond of trust and love. Like the CE series, this book is not for the faint of heart but if you enjoy dark romance, this will be an enjoyable read.
I have to say Dante really took me by surprise. He was not at all what I expected and my heart broke for him and his tortured past. He was a fabulous character. Liora was also a pleasant surprise. She was level-headed and centered and understanding, considering the dire situation she ended up in. Regardless of what was thrown her way, she faced it head-on. She and Dante made a terrific couple in the end. This story was both heart-breaking and heart-warming, filled with a gripping suspenseful storyline and engaging characters that will capture your attention from the start. For a couple starting from terrible beginnings and ending with a beautiful HEA, they had an amazing journey of growth, revelations, and love.
Provoked is a stand-alone read, though lightly connected to the Corrupt Empire series as they are set in the same environment with cross over characters. Whereas Aiden and Avery’s journey in CE continued over the 3-book series, Dante and Liora’s concluded in this one. However, since this new spin-off will be the story of the Benson siblings and their family, there should be a few more additions coming our way and hopefully we will get more of Dante and Liora in those, as well. Since James Benson was in the CE series (Avery’s best friend) and made appearances in Provoked as he and Dante started mending their past, I am really hoping his story will be the next to come.
*I received an ARC of this book from the author and I am voluntarily providing my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.
I loved Liora and Dante’s story. Liora is a great character and even with the circumstances she’s put in she faces it head on. I loved Dante and he was a fantastic character. Together they made a perfect couple. This book is dark and twisted story of love, filled with secrets, lies, sins, and forgiveness. A definite must read.
She was betrayed by one person who was suppose to protect her. Liora Stewart’s father gave her away as a gift to man who scares her yet Intreges her. Dante Benson wants to control everything about he. He is her master.
This is a dark contemporary romance with many twists, deceptions and dark secrets. This book is sexually explicit and deals with abuse so it is definitely not suitable for those under 18. It was a hard book for me to me to read because of the heart breaking cruelty that the characters had to endure. The characters were interesting and very complex. Liora and Dante both had abusive pasts thar greatly impacted their behaviour. Having the story told from both their points of view helped to fill in their backstories, understand their emotional states, and their motivations. The use of sex and pain was an outlet for both of them as they were working through their tenuous situation and their intense attraction to each other. This story pulls at your heart strings as they work through their issues. I liked how both the characters showed a great deal of strength. This book could be read simply as a sexual exploration of two people but it is so much more as it explores the damages of cruelty and abuse. It is a story of reliance, strength and the capacity of the human heart.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A great storyline! Hard to put down! Intense and Emotional! Hot Chemistry! I truly enjoyed this read! Get it and Read it!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A Start to another Fantastic Dark Series……….Provoked!
Provoked by Sarah Bailey is the first book in a new series, Benson Siblings. All I can say is this opening is fantastic and if the rest of the books in the series are like this then Sarah has another winning series like Corrupt Empire.
This book is filled with all sorts of dark and fast paced goodies. It is exciting, intriguing, romantic, volcanic chemistry, good characters, a great story-line and a wonderful ending. The book is stand alone but I suspect that we will see Dante and Liora in the other books in the series.
I would definitely recommend Provoked to anyone that wants to read a dark and satisfying story…………like eating good dark chocolate it just hits the spot.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are all my own.
This is the first book I have read from this author and it’s a doozy. This is a dark romance with the female lead character, Liora being given to the main male character Dante. What makes this betrayal even worse is that it’s Liora’s father who is the one who makes the agreement and gives his daughter away to Dante to be his pet. Dante himself has a terrible father and has many scars due to his dysfunctional family life. Liora and Dante have amazing chemistry, but it doesn’t really make their relationship any easier for either of them. The author has written a wonderful story with scarred characters and made it a page-turner dark romance that is intriguing from start to finish.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ms. Bailey does a great job with writing storylines that flow smoothly and the characters are well developed and engaging from page one till the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was so glad for this book to come out and the author didn’t disappoint. I have read the series and this book gives us the story into James family and a story that I could put down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the first book in the Benson Siblings series, and the story of Dante, and Liora. Dante had set his sights on Liora when she was 16, and made a deal that she would become his in 3 years. Liora graduates from school, and finds out her fate a Dante’s pet, while out to dinner with her father. She is forced to leave the restaurant with him. This was a great read, the characters are well written, and they hot chemistry. This book was dark, steamy mysterious, intense, and emotional. I can’t wait to read the next in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Loved the book it was great the story was well written and the characters were interesting. Liora has graduated from college, the celebration did not happen they she had thought it would. She was to be given to a man called Dante and his father as a pet, he was waiting for her outside the gates to take her home.
Thank you for allowing me to review this book it was great.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Hard to describe this compelling dark and brutal romance. Dante’s demon of a father was at the root of his lifelong abuse and torment. Responsible for his siblings protection from their evil father, Dante’s life was held hostage with no end in sight.
When Liora crossed his path, Dante knew he wanted and needed her beyond reason.
My heart broke for Dante and his painful backstory. It made his relationship with Liora even more miraculous as he struggled to find his way back to sanity and freedom from his father, Zach.
Intense, graphic, and erotic scenes between the main couple as they navigate through the controlling evil influence of Zach.
A well written page turner that will play with your emotions and mind.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book starts as a dark, but compelling, story heavily themed with BDSM. The characters of Liora and Dante are quite confusing and puzzling in the beginning, but as they develop, understanding them becomes apparent. This is book one and I hope Dante’s siblings are covered in others. I really did enjoy this emotional, complex, psychological, steamy, and great read!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is book one in the Benson Siblings series. I have read the Corrupt Empire series with Aiden and Avery and loved it. I could not wait to read Danta’s story, here it begins. Dante sees Liora and makes a deal to have her be his when she is done school……three long years. Liora now graduates school and has a boyfriend named Harrison, she has her own thoughts and plans now that she’s graduated. However, a lunch with her parents changes everything. Her father tells her that she is leave with the man across the room with no fuss or muss. Liora is not sure what is going on but knows that this is terrifying and exhilarating at the same time as she recognizes Dante. Let the adventure and games begin!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
At the age of eighteen, Liora Stewart attends a business meeting with her father Augus Stewart. Her father had been extremely private regarding his business dealings and it surprised her when she was asked to attend his specific meeting. Liora had always been quiet and obedience in regards to her parents. Fast forward three years later after her graduation from college and celebrating with her parents, she is asked to go with a stranger and not to cause a scene. Her collector is Dante as she was given to him as a gift, his pet. Dante world is complex and dangerous where he is caught between Liora and his disturbed father with deadly secrets.
The story is filled with many well kept dark secrets and abuse thatI even questioned Liora sanity a lot of times. Will the secrets tear them apart or bring them closer together?
******I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and voluntarily leaving an honest review******
A stand-alone that out of this world.
This book has excellent characters and the author has written them in such a way that it is easy to be emotional about what you are reading. There are parts that may have some people feeling uncomfortable, but love a book that draws the reader outside the box so to speak. Expect it to be dark and gritty with secrets and suspense that will keep you reading. Pick up this twisted and marvelous love story you will be glad you did. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
This book was an awesome read. It is dark, twisted and hot too! I enjoyed the story but I really enjoyed the connection between Dante and Liora. Their chemistry was palpable and so hot!! I like reading about characters overcoming adversity and in this case their screwed up childhood. It was a great read. I’ll definitely read books by this author again.
Provoked is a spin-off of the Corrupt Empire series. I recommend reading them first before starting this one. Really love Sarah Bailey stories. I could barely put it down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Provoked is a gritty, dark romance spin-off of Corrupt Empire which I highly recommend reading first. Not that it’s necessary as this is a standalone book, but I just loved CE.
Dante was not at all what I expected. He was a broken man who sacrificed so much for his brother and sisters from the time they were young. That alone won my heart. He’s far from perfect, but his love and devotion ran deep and Liora was just the gift he needed to set him free. I really enjoyed their story!
A note to my sensitive readers: some BDSM that may make you uncomfortable.
*Thank you to the author for the advance copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.*
Loved this dark twisted tale.
This is an excellent story and I love that Dante and Liora are absolutely perfect together! Dante decided three years ago that Liora was the one for him. So he made a deal with his father and his father made sure Liora would be Dante’s when she finished school. Three years later and Liora is graduating and plans to celebrate with her boyfriend, Harrison. But during lunch with her parents she’s informed by her father that she needs to go with the man who is waiting outside and she’s not to cause a fuss. Liora is delivered to Dante and told she is his gift, his pet. Grab this wonderful book today and find out what happens when this head strong girl is left in the hands of a very dominant man. Great read with some twists thrown in, I loved this story and I highly recommend it!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.