My dream of becoming prima ballerina is dead. Dropped by the Royal Ballet, I return home to my empty house in Cornwall with nothing but ghosts, and memories of a past I am desperate to forget. It takes months of depression before I pull myself out of the bleakness and attempt to start living again. With a new job as an assistant to the wealthy but elusive Sachov family, I find myself caught up … myself caught up in a tangled web of desire, pain and sexual awakening that will either destroy me entirely or bring me back to life.
My name is Rose, and I am their muse.
COMPLETE SERIES – READING ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
#1 Steps
#2 Strokes
#3 Strings
#4 Symphony
This is a why choose romance for 18+ readers and contains suicide, self-harm and other topics that may be difficult for some readers. Read at your own discretion.***
more
This has got to be one of my all time favorite book from Bea Paige. This book is so beautifully dark with an intriguing storyline. The intense emotions, the heartbreaking pain and the mentally complicated characters. The brokenness and demons each character has to deal with is heart wrenching. They need each other in the worst way. Ivan and Rose’s story is so eloquently written, the detail throughout the whole story is superb. Also Holy Hotness Bea Lady! I loved the introductions to each of the men of Browlace Manor. Each of them dealing with different mental illness and the descriptions put forth throughout the entire story are fantastic. I also love how Rose gets introduced to Anton and Erik and she figures out or was told some of their issues but the main focus of this book is on Rose and Ivan’s story. That epilogue was EPIC and I can’t wait to see what is going to happen next! I will be impatiently waiting for book 2!
I loved this book!!!!
Great book. The characters are wonderfully complex and their relationship is dark, but turns out to be just what they need to start healing. The story is full of drama and wonderfully written.
So I am going to be completely honest, I wasn’t sure how Bea was going to pull off a dark contemporary series after reading her other books. Her other series have flashes of darkness, but not the darkness she was going for in a completely dark contemporary RH.
I can tell you she hit it out of the freakin park!! I was mesmerized the entire time, the story, characters, budding relationships drew you in and wouldn’t let you go. I connected with the hurt and darkness the characters exuded. I felt for the pain their bodies felt and their minds endured because of their haunting pasts. The way they handled themselves was sometimes deprave, but so real that you couldn’t stop reading. There were times Bea’s descriptions of the characters’ inner demons made it feel like it was actually a paranormal story, because they were sometimes consumed by them. In reality, we all go through that or know people who have. Bea captured what we as people deal with and have to battle with on a daily basis, some more than others. I cannot express in words how much I loved this story. I think this is one of my top 5 reads of 2018 and that is saying something, with the fabulous RH stories that were already published this year.
I love how feisty Rose is, that she doesn’t take crap from the other characters. Yet, she is vulnerable and opens herself up a little bit at a time to try and connect and help the 3 men who are now in her life: Ivan, Anton, and Erik. I thought I was going to like Erik the most, but Ivan totally won me over. His inner turmoil with his past (holy crap those flashbacks hit me right in the feels!!) and how Rose made him feel, was beautiful to read about and I could imagine it perfectly in my head. I just want to hug Erik and Ivan so much, they are so broken but Rose will help them piece themselves together, and they will do the same for her. Anton to me is the total wildcard. You think you know whats coming, but you really don’t. Its refreshing to read. The end of this book, the transition to Anton’s story in Book 2 is pretty mysterious and sorta ominous and I CANNOT WAIT!!! I wish Bea could be a full-time writer so she could crank out Anton and Erik’s stories haha. Unfortunately thats not the case, but I know Book 2 and 3 will be just as epic as Book 1.
I highly highly highly recommend Steps. If you are looking for butterflies and rainbows, I would think twice about this book. There are dark themes, amazingly steamy/tense moments that don’t even require the characters to take their clothes off, and angst like you wouldn’t believe haha. We get to see some light through the darkness, some sweet moments, but know that this story is going to knock you in the stomach, make you stop and think because of the depth of the characters and their back story, and make you fall in love with characters with more flaws than most. Favorite series of Bea’s by far. I think she has found her niche writing these darker themed books. She can really channel those feelings and interactions that are paramount in these types of books. Well done, Bea! I hope others take a chance on this book and see how much work you put into it and fall for Rose and her men as much as I did
Holy wow! The cover is stunning, the writing enthralling and dark, and the characters are unforgettable, addicting and bury themselves in your heart. Bea Paige has outdone herself with this dark and and heartbreaking story of three broken men and the woman that is unknowingly strong enough to build them back into the men they once were.
These men have demons riding them hard and only someone that understands demons can help soothe their inner beasts. Paige constructs worlds, storylines and characters that are so believable, easy to relate to, and burrow into your mind and heart. This book touched my heart and will not leave my mind, the way Ivan let his guilt overtake every aspect of his life, Rose and her drive and fight using that to fight back Ivans darkness.
I very much look forward to reading more, and digging deeper into Anton’s past, and reading of his demons, and the darkness we got hints of in this book. As well as the real story behind Erik’s PTSD, because I got the impression there is a lot more to that story. I highly recommend this beautifully written, haunting, thought-provoking and powerfully compelling story.
No spoilers of any kind included.
This book was freaking awesome!
This story dragged me in after reading the first two paragraphs and I couldn’t climb out until I had gotten to the end of the book.
I haven’t read too many stories by Bea Paige I’ve read a few short stories in a few anthologies that she was in but this is my first full story that I’ve ever read by her and I must say I absolutely love her story weaving.
I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next book in this series because I’m hooked on this series already.
So yes you got it I most definitely do recommend this book to anyone who’s searching for a fantastic story to get lost within.
But fair warning this book is kinda dark and there may be some scenes in it that some people may not be able to handle.
What an outstanding work. It pulls you in and just won’t let go. A dark and haunting take of damaged people who find ways to navigate their darkness together. Slow build harem but plenty of steam. Looking forward to the next in the series.
A great introduction to this series. Three broken friends, live in Browlace Manor where things are hidden behind locked doors. At times I found the book was a bit slow but in hindsight it was setting the scene for what was about to unfold. These characters were so different but somehow fitted together perfectly, they had me intrigued and I needed to know their stories. Steps was unpredictable and I can’t wait to get my head stuck between the pages of Strokes.
Rose hid her behind the darkness of her past and I guarantee it’s not whatever you are imagining. On her return she keeps to herself, hiding in the shadows, until a job opportunity lands in her lap. A unique interview, with circumstances that can only be described as very unusual had my warning signals straining. Her need to find out what’s behind the locked doors may be her unravelling or will Rose blossom with these damaged men?
Rose is desperately looking for a job, and finds one being a Personal Assistant to a wealthy man. She has been through so much in her life, but will this job save her and finally end her?
This story had such intrigue and was gripping from page one. It wove between past and present, wants and needs, desires and fears and I need to read more!
Steps is dark and twisted and utterly broken and beautiful. I was drawn into this world as soon as I turned the first page. There are so many secrets swirling beneath the surface that I am anxious to uncover as the series progresses. Every character in the story is broken in his or her own way. They all have vastly different issues that all need someone else to help put the pieces back together. My heart broke as pieces of the characters became revealed. I was swept away by the darkness.I can’t wait to see how all of them come together.
Dark. Contemporary Romance. Rh. 3 guys. Duel POV (it’s only one of the guys). This heroine is so strong and smart. I think I love her. Rose has demons, these guys have demons, will they all destroy each other or will they heal. The MC is a switch. Ends in a minor cliffhanger. BDSM aspects. No rape. No cheating. Loved it.
Holy crap this book is good! Once I started I couldn’t stop. This book is about people dealing with their inner demons. The characters all have their own different demons to deal with, yet they are all one in the same. This is the first book of this series. The story is intriguing and captivating. This book does contain sexual scenes. Overall great storytelling!
Rose danced to live, she danced to survive and when her dancing was taken away, her past threatened to overcome her. Months of mental depression and physical pain took over her world. Finally, she resurfaced to take a job as the personal assistant to the mysterious Ivan Sachov. She immediately discovers that the Sachov family holds secrets as dark as her own. Sex, violence, pain, and desire. The Sachov’s each hold demons as dangerous as Rose’s. This job will either bring her back to life or destroy her once and for all.
***Warning: This is a dark story that contains suicide, self-harm and other topics that may be triggering. Read at your own discretion.***
I have enjoyed Bea Paige’s Brother’s Freed and Sisters of the Hex series. I had an idea of who she is as an author. I had an incomplete image of her talent. Steps is an enthralling story. This is her best work to date in my opinion. Set in Browlace Manor, more a prison than a home under the watchful, cruel eyes of Ms. Hadley, Rose comes to know Ivan, Anton, and Erik. Three men consumed by inner demons, broken by violence, loss, and a need to hurt others. Rose’s own darkness immediately recognizes and claims them as her own. The question will be, is she strong enough to survive? Can she help them and herself or is this her end?
This is a dark, disturbing book, full of pain. Damaged men who want to control, to harm, to destroy women. I was haunted by each page. I am not usually drawn to the darker human elements but I am drawn to the broken. These men know what they do but they only think they understand why. Their damage rules them. They do what they must to survive. Just as Rose does. There is a definite beauty found among the broken pieces. The story-arc wraps up in a sense and the epilogue gives a frightening glance at what is next in the continuing nightmare of Browlace Manor’s men and their muse. I eagerly look forward to this second book.
I’m not big into dark romance, but Bea Paige wrote this story beautifully. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down and I can’t wait for the next book to be released. She created amazing characters, all with their own twists and I love how the FMC finds her place among the men.
I loved this book. Love Rose, such a strong women. Couldn’t put it down can’t wait to see what happens with Anton and Erik.