I bow to no man.The words are tattooed on my skin, just as they’re branded on my heart.But I never planned for Sergeant Lincoln Asher, a man as deceptive as he is cold. His dominance sets my teeth on edge . . . and my body on fire. He won’t stop until I’m his, but I’m not his to take.My secrets bind me—and blind me.I live in the shadows of New Orleans. Hidden and protected in the underworld I … Orleans. Hidden and protected in the underworld I call home. I know who I am.
I vow never to kneel before a man…
Save one.
And he will be my downfall.
Sworn is Book 1 of the Blood Duet. Lincoln and Avery’s story concludes in Defied, which is now available.
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It was a fantastic story. There’s secrets that need unfolded. Both Lincoln and Avery are hiding things. Can’t wait for Defied to learn everything.
Before I even finished this book, I knew it was a five! Mrs. Luis has kicked up the heat and stirred in some darkness. Riveting read! I love everything she writes!
Maria Luis is best known for feel-good, light-hearted rom-coms, such as the NOLA Hearts series. And though I love everything she has written, Sworn fully showcases Ms. Luis’ depth and range as a writer.
Sworn is book one of the Blood Duet, and unlike Ms. Luis’ previous works, it exposes the dark, twisted, and corrupt side of New Orleans.
Lincoln Asher is sexy and brooding, in a dangerous way, while Avery Washington is sassy, strong, and vulnerable. Both are haunted by their pasts. While one has been doing a pretty good job of hiding from hers, the other is quickly learning he may never be able to escape his.
The heat between Lincoln and Avery is scorching, and when they come together…Hot Damn.
Sworn’s one hell of a cliff hanger proves that the cards are definitely stacked against these two! I am anxiously awaiting the release of Defied, and I have a feeling things are about to get a whole lot more interesting!
Maria Luis usually writes Romantic Comedies, but she stretched out into a new area, and she did a great job. It is dark, suspenseful, and full of dirty scenes. Lincoln and Avery are sizzling together.
Wow… This was a wonderfully written book. Mrs. Luis’ prologue did a excellent job setting the stage for the rest of the story. It grabbed my attention almost instantly and the further I read the more captivated I became. The author also did great developing the characters. I loved both Avery and Lincoln. There was so much emotion written into their story that at times I felt like I was right there along side of them. The book ended in a cliffhanger but it’s totally still worth reading and luckily the second part comes out really soon. I can hardly wait to find out what fate has in store for Avery and Lincoln.
Mind blowing!!!!!
That ending…….. I did not expected that ending, I might have imagined everything else but not that. I’m so glad the duet is complete and I can go dive right away into it. I don’t think I could have handle the cliffhanger if Defied was not available yet.
Lincoln and Avery have a chemistry like no one else. Hot, hot, hot!!! This story is filled with secrets, lies, danger, intrigue and some very, very steamy scenes. These two characters have had really hard lives and there seems to be a lot more to their stories than we realize. What a cliffhanger! I loved these two and can’t wait to read more in the next book of the series
Dark and delicious, Lincoln is the best kind of bad boy!
We start with a horrific, tragic scene that scars young Avery and forces her to disappear into the shadows of New Orleans. Years later, she’s making ends meet, keeping a low profile, and pretty much staying off everyone’s radar, all the while collecting information in her pursuit of justice.
Meanwhile, Lincoln has clawed his way from his own unfortunate childhood to a respectable position with the NOPD, even though he knows his respectability is merely a thin veneer. Make no mistake, Lincoln is a man who Gets Things Done. And when he finds Avery reading tarot cards, he knows right away there’s more to her story than she’s letting on.
Thus begins the push/pull, undeniable draw each feels for the other. Along the way we learn more about both, even as they struggle to keep their secrets from each other. The things Lincoln is compelled to do are exactly what we want him to do, but still we’re covering our eyes and hoping he doesn’t actually do it. Avery is one sharp cookie, far more mature than her years, but even she has no idea of the hidden depths to Lincoln’s soul.
This is definitely the dark side of New Orleans, a stark contrast to the lighter setting of the author’s NOLA Heart series. We’re taken into the seedy underbelly of the unofficial power players of the city, where rules change every minute but still must be followed to stay alive.
Just when we think we’ve dropped our jaws all the way to the floor, this Part 1 ends with a pronouncement that makes you rethink everything you’ve read so far! After finding out that bit of information, I had to reread the story again – keeping that tidbit in mind – and seeing the characters from an entirely different angle.
This has a barely-hanging-on-by-one-finger cliffhanger, and I can’t wait to see where the author takes these characters from here. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
My, oh my, what did I just read?
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it’s definitely not my last one.
First of all, because this is part of a duet (so it ends on a cliffhanger, which I love). But also because this book was that good.
And I have to say, this author set the bar really high with this one.
Avery and Lincoln carry so many secrets and their heavy baggage is evidently shown during the whole story. They were compelling and urged me to want to unveil their layers.
Even when they thought they had the upper hand on the secret knowledge they earned (or took from someone), they were also victims of so many other secrets they were none the wiser.
The ambiance and the whole vibe was shady and enthrancing. The plot was intriguing and electric and it kept me on edge the whole time.
Avery and Lincoln were both so powerful and strong, yet they carried this vulnerability about them and sometimes it seemed even they didn’t realize was there.
Their chemistry and connection were so addicting and combustible it was almost palpable.
There are so many things I’m dying to know, so many unanswered questions, even more than when I started the book. And I can’t wait to find them all out.
This book has a bit of everything. You’ve got a girl on the run, a crooked cop, crooked politicians, and a sex club owner. Lots of mystery and intrigue, and the sexytimez are super, super hot. Call me impressed.
I have been a fan of Maria Luis for years.
This Blood Duet series is a totally new twist – Deliciously dark with unexpected twists.
“New Orleans allows you to …shine or …hide” – your choice.
Perchance both – if you are with the right person.
You will want to keep reading without a thought of stopping because you will HAVE to KNOW what is next.
Oh my! Oh my! Oh my!
This book has so many jaw dropping moments.
After this delight, do not defy your need to know, and the joy of “Blood Duet, book 2 – Defied”
Still on the edge of my seat….
I’ve read quite a few of Maria Luis’ books. But this one……this book shows the depth her writing can really take on.
Fans of the Blades series or of the NOLA Hearts series – just know that Sworn is a different breed of book. Don’t let that turn you off of this book, just know that going in. Maria has a dark side…..and it is SO GOOD.
As with all of Maria’s books the characters and setting are rich in detail and pull the reader into the story. Sworn features Lincoln Asher, a cop with a dark side and a dark past. The female lead is Avery Washington….or at least that’s the name she’s using at the time Lincoln meets her.
The book sets us up with a harrowing scene, one that shatters both the reader’s and Avery’s innocence. It does set the tone though. Bold, brash, and slightly unsettling. From there we are brought forward in time to present day. Jackson Square and the French Quarter are the settings for this story. The difference in this book is that Maria drags us away from the lights and the shiny face that N’Orleans puts on and instead strips the makeup of the city off and shows us what the city is; glamour, sure but also – corruption, greed, fear and more.
Lincoln is a Sargent in the NOPD, Avery has set herself up as a tarot card reader in the square. The two meet when Lincoln happens into the square and Avery catches his attention.
This story walks us through the beginning of Lincoln and Avery’s relationship and how they each interact in the city. It is a bit of worlds colliding, but they share similarities that they slowly begin to show each other as the story winds.
Avery is looking for answers regarding her mother’s death. Lincoln is a good cop trying to bury a bad past. Both are fragile within their strengths. Lincoln steps into a situation in order to save Avery and another innocent..which costs him his badge. This leads to his bad past grabbing his ankles and pulling him in again. At the same time Avery has found something of Lincoln’s that makes her question who he REALLY is, and what he may have to do with darker dealings in the city.
The plot of this book takes many twists and turns. Layers are added even as others are removed. For every “ooohhhhhh” moment you’ll find yourself questioning what could possibly come next or be next. Avery’s past is one of similar layers. She’s hiding in plain sight, and apparently Lincoln may be as well.
The only complaint I have with this book is that it comes to a stop at the absolute very second you are reaching for the next page. Trust me…you will NEED to read Defied after this. It will be a compulsion.
While this book is a departure from Maria’s typical lighter, sassy, and witty books, it is no less as good. Her characters grow and contain great depth which they reveal to the reader slowly and cautiously. The setting is amazingly detailed to the point where you expect to find yourself sitting on a balcony in the humid southern air. As with Maria’s other books, some outside characters popped in for a cameo. Lizzie Danvers in this case. (By the way, Lizzie’s own book is rocking!)
I would recommend this read to those who like the suspense/dark romance genre and don’t mind a cliffhanger. Defied, the closure book of this duet, is out..so you aren’t hanging for long. Maria also writes an intriguing mystery. The plot is still gaining speed as Sworn crashes to a halt. The players are all on the table, we’ve seen some opening moves, but the board is still wide open leading into Defied. I’m hooked. I want to know who is REALLY pulling the strings.
Unlike some darker written books, but in true Maria style, all romantic and intimate scenes are completely consensual and only feature adults. There is a scene set in an adult club, but again, all involved are participating of their own free will. I don’t feel that this book requires a trigger warning, but this could be good information heading in.
I really really loved this book. Needless to say, I’m posting this and then immediately opening Defied.
Enjoy!
HOLY HELL!! Maria Luis, what have you just done to me? I can’t hardly form a coherent word. I had been waiting for a break to fit in reading this Duet and now I want to kick my own fanny for waiting. OMG, I could have been having sweet dreams of Lincoln all this time?! SERIOUSLY! That’s just really sad.
Okay… Y’all, I am all about some Lincoln and Avery now. Their remarkable story is so full of suspense and darkness and mystery. It’s raw and gritty. Maria has spun an epic web of lies and deception and at the heart is our two main characters Lincoln and Avery fighting to stay on the outside.
Avery, the gorgeous and captivatingly secretive woman. She knows everyone’s secrets yet shares none of her own. She’s spent most of her life with her guard up staying hidden in plain sight, it’s her way of life and there are deep rooted reasons for it. When she meets Sergeant Lincoln Asher she is overcome with conflicting emotions. She trusts no one and he is cold and calculating, yet she’s still drawn to him. Will his beautiful blue eyes and sinful body captivate her enough to have her forgetting about that carefully crafted control of hers? Will he have her ready to hand completely control over to him? Or just maybe it will just be a mutually beneficial opportunity for more information gathering for them both?
As a cop, Sergeant Lincoln Asher has spent his life in the dark, walking the fine line of good vs. evil. Not necessarily by choice but by circumstances beyond his control. He lives his life trying to do the right thing, trying to make up for the wrongs he’s had to do. When he meets Avery he literally is taken back by his response to her. He wanted her immediately, but she was feisty and he was definitely going to have to work for it. Will he let his guard down because he’s so focused on Avery? The more he got to know about her the more deep down he felt undeserving of her. She saw things in him he couldn’t see in himself and I think that bothered him. He couldn’t care about anyone. He couldn’t allow himself to have any ties. Lincoln Asher, wasn’t a good man.
“The sinner. The executioner. The man who belonged in every circle of hell.”
The setting of this book and all of the supporting characters was phenomenal. Set in the dark and seedy underbelly of New Orleans, Maria Luis took us to a city where many of the cops and most of the elite richest and highest officials were sinister and crooked as a barrel of snakes. Chapter after chapter unfolds murder, lies, suspense, corruption, all sorts of immoral proclivities, this book will suck you in and leave you hanging on the edge of your seat!!
As always Maria’s ability to transport her readers into her book world, astounds me. I recently went to NOLA and even if I hadn’t I’m telling you. I felt it. The sights, the musical sounds and smells of Bourbon Street and Jackson Square. I felt the little hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, at certain parts because her descriptions are So.Dead.On.You forget for a moment that you’re not actually there, before you remember to breathe again. This.book.is.that.phenomenal.
The romance part is what I would call slow burn, because we’re dealing with two people that have led some pretty jacked lives y’all. However there is some serious Insta-Lust going on! There’s some push and pull and disruptions.
But once they start throwin’ down, O-M-G! Panty Chucker Award Y’all! Lincoln is dominating AF and it’s so hot.
This book ends on one doozy of a cliffhanger, like it sucks the breath right from you. But book two is available now so you can jump right into it immediately!
This book is simply fantastic. It really pulled me in from the first page. It’s morning like the previous books I’ve read from this author, its darker, edgier, and just as unputdwonable as everything else I’ve read from her. 5 fantastic stars!
I loved reading this series. It was different in a great way from all the other stories out there. I loved to see the mystery in the story. They had an interesting journey of their friendship. They were both broken souls that were given the opportunity to meet and help each other.
I am an avid reader and am known to put down my fair share of books–mainly romance. This book is a wonderful mixture of nail biting suspense, off the charts romance, and lovability–even if Lincoln and Avery don’t see it… yet. I devoured this book and it’s counterpart, Defied. I had never read Maria Luis before, but she has gotten herself a new fan.
Scorn By Maria Luis
WOW! I was totally hooked from the beginning all the way to the end with that shocking cliffhanger. I couldn’t get enough of Avery and Asher’s story. I devoured each and every detail dying to see what happens next. I loved the use of actual places in New Orleans and the vivid details and characters.
Avery(Laurel) has been on the run and hiding among the shadows since her mother was murdered by her stepfather and his men. She is a survivor, brave,resilient and determined to get information (secrets)on the man responsible for her mothers murder.
Sergeant Lincoln Asher has a history that is anything but easy or good. He’s a cop, a killer, a drug runner yet so much more that even he long forgotten he could be caring.
Their story is complicated, captivating,intense and emotional. Oh and lord have mercy their chemistry is undeniable and off the charts hot!
Five
Sworn (Blood Duet #1) by Maria Luis is a dark, contemporary romance told in first person, dual POV that ends in a cliffhanger. It follows the relationship between tarot reader and runaway, Avery Washington, and NOPD police sergeant, Lincoln Asher. It’s the beginning of a gritty story between two characters with very dark pasts, and many secrets.
This was an addictive read that I had trouble putting down. If it contained a complete story arc, then I would have given it five stars. I’m not a fan of cliffhangers but I don’t mind them leading into the next book as long as the current book contains a complete story (tying up some loose ends while leaving some open for the sequel). This book failed in that aspect because nothing was resolved by the end. Even so, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. The characters were compelling, and I enjoyed reading it.
Lincoln and Avery both have a lot of secrets. Avery tries to live under the radar. Lincoln is a cop. One day Lincoln meets Avery and the chemistry is off the charts. So many twists and turns. Great characters and storyline. Definitely recommend
What a story this was. I’m not going to lie, it did take me a couple of chapters in to figure out what was going on.
Lincoln meets Avery where she does her card reading. He’s drawn to her for some reason, and she can’t even figure it out why.
She’s never been one to bow down to any man, especially after what happened to her when she was younger. But then Lincoln comes along. She doesn’t give into him as easily has he had hoped, but eventually she breaks down.
But there’s something going on with Lincoln and his work, and it involves Avery.
It did take me a minute to put two and two together, and to see why they were connected, and for me, I’m like what does Lincoln want with Avery? Why now, and does he know her connection with a certain someone??
NOTE: IT ENDS IN A CLIFFHANGER.
Some of my fave quotes from the book:
1. And then I saw you hit the pavement, and I was ready to unload my clip into any fucker who touched you. No one touches you, or they answer to me. – YES! He’s so protective over Avery!
2. An orgasm with un-crankify you. – Katie cracks me up!
3. I was more likely to whip out my taser, and stun the hell out of a dude for stepping too close. – I love that Avery can take care of herself!