She takes my breath away; she is so beautifully damaged. Yes, I had broken her, ravished her life and destroyed her happiness. I brought her to the ultimate despair.
I was responsible for all the pain and suffering that now brought her to her knees in front of me.
Broken.
Hopeless.
Reckless in her agony.
She is a mirror of my own tortured soul.
But what I took away I can give back, in … soul.
But what I took away I can give back, in ways she cannot even begin to imagine .
She is everything right in all my wrongs.
She loves me. She needs me.
She has no idea I’m the one who wrecked her life.
** Vandal is a dark romance with light BDSM. He is emotionally damaged and manipulative, but still wants love. This book deals with death, grief, deception, substance abuse, depression, and graphic sex. If this is not your thing, you can skip this book and move onto the next in the series and you will not be lost. Vandal is not the sweetheart that the other guys in Ashes & Embers are – but even the dark and damaged deserve to be loved, right? **
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Loved it. Most F’d up set-up ever.
“Sometimes, we can’t trust what we do know, and we have to trust what we don’t.”
Carian Cole’s Vandal is a twisted, dark romance with light BDSM, and is book two in the Ashes & Embers series. And Vandal Valentine is one force to be reckoned with, that not even Tabitha can refrain from. However, please note the trigger warnings; this book may be skipped, or read as a stand-alone.
When one heartbreaking tragic night turns fatal for Vandal Valentine, the despair and darkness leaves him wanting to rectify the tragedy of his actions. As for Tabitha Bennet, surviving a night that took the life she knew in a single moment, leaves her lost with guilt and grief. And when darkness consumes you, deceit, lies, and survival take hold to making sense of the unreasonable. Vandal promises to revive her, while also secretly atoning, but can they survive each other?
“You are my heart. I am your armor.”
As noted by the author, Vandal is emotionally damaged and manipulative, but still wants love. This book deals with death, grief, deception, substance abuse, depression, and graphic sex. If this is not your thing, you can skip this book and move onto the next in the series and you will not be lost. Vandal is not the sweetheart that the other guys in Ashes & Embers are – but even the dark and damaged deserve to be loved, right?
This rating is for the unique plot, haunting storyline, great world building, tragic resolve, and intense characters. Honestly, I hope to see more of the two in subsequent books, and see if a true HEA is granted. As a well-written story, I look forward to discovering the remaining members of the band by reading additional focal novels in the series.
Carian Cole
Oh Vandal…this man broke my heart, and Tabitha’s story broke me right along with his!
Vandal is the second book in the Ashes and Embers series by Carina Cole, and if I thought I loved this first book, this book completely took first place.
Vandal has always lived his life in the darkness. His life was rough and his tastes are firmly on the kink side. He had one bright spot in his whole life and when he loses the light he…well let’s say he goes completely off the rails.
Enter Tabitha, she thinks that their meeting is by chance but she has no clue that her darkness is so connected to his…
If you have read Storm, you will have an idea of what’s coming, but this story is devastatingly beautiful; it is hard and emotional and a book that I completely devoured. It can be read as a standalone but you will see previous characters from book one.
Highly recommended!! Grab your copy and get started!
I GOT “VANDALIZED”!!!
I read this book as part of the Ashes & Embers Boxed Set…..
Vandal Valentine, famous rock bass player for Ashes & Embers, is self destructing….He has a daughter he loves more than anything, and he gets paid lots of money to do what he loves to do….And, then, one tragic moment in time, changes the rest of his life….
Tabitha Bennett has her own tragic moment in time when she loses her husband Nick in a car accident, and her life will never be the same……
Vandal and Tabitha meet in the cemetery when she is visiting her husband’s grave….And that’s as far as I’m going with the story…..
I loved VANDAL…..the book and the character…Vandal and Tabitha need each other more than even they realize….they have sizzling chemistry, and there are more twists and turns in this book, than a mountain road….
But, secrets and lies still remain….I hope we get the rest of their story….this book ended too soon with some problems unresolved….
Vandal is a little different from the other Ashes & Embers series. Did that make it better or worse? I don’t know. As I read his story, I understood his pain, and I felt for him as he debated what was right and what he wanted. And the surprise at the end? I don’t know that I could have seen that coming, and I see a lot coming. Definitely well worth the read!!
freaking love me some Vandal!
OH EM GOODNESS!!! VANDAL!!! Another one I loved, loved, loved! From start to finish, Carian Cole pulls you in and keeps you hooked. She is a genius; the way she makes you feel everything her characters feel is ahhh-mazing!! Get your box of tissues ready for this one!
The beginning of the book held so much promise. I thought I was going to like Vandal at some point but I didn’t. After the first disappointment I skimmed through to see what was up and he doesn’t get better. Not for me, anyway. I find BDSM disturbing. To each their own but I don’t want to read about it. I should have read the blurb and the reviews but instead I just finished Storm and went right into Vandal. The dude on the cover is really hot but he doesn’t match the description in the book very well. I will be skipping Lukas, too. I don’t care for age gaps. This author is talented and I will gladly read other books by her. There are some plot devices and quirks that she repeated in both books but it is minor. I hope she doesn’t do it in other books. I am giving this one three stars because I can’t rate a well written book because it has things I don’t like in it. Give it a try. You may love it.
I absolutely loved Vandal!!! He was heartbroken and destructive after an accident changed his life forever. His heartbreak and guilt over Katie made me want to cry for him. Who doesn’t love a sexy dom Rockstar?
That ending completely pissed me off though. I really hope Carian Cole writes their second book soon. I really want to know what happens with them.
Vandal deserves to be happy after all the pain he has suffered.
Style: Dark/ Rockstar
Enjoyment: 5/5
Dark Level: 2.5/5
Sexual Level: steamy af
Triggers: Yes
Violence: No
Male: possessive alpha dom
Series: Book 2
Pages: 314
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Heat: 5/5
Writing style: 5/5
Overall: 4/5
“Our love will never be pretty. It will always be tarnished by the past. Those ghosts will always haunt us. We are both so damaged by our pasts, by ourselves, by our lies, and by each other. It’s who we are, and it’s bound us together forever.”
WOW! This is a very dark, full of twists and turns BDSM story.
This books is fascinating, emotional, heartbreaking and damn hot
Before you think that this is just one of many erotic stories amount many, let me assume you that this book is a lot more.
This book describes the slow, painful and difficult way of grieving.
The social isolation, depression, suicidal thoughts and suffering after losing the loved ones.
The guilt that plagues the characters because sometimes survive seems worse than dying.
Yeah, that’s just the beginning of this complicated tangled story.
And as if that wasn’t enough, the lies and secrets that have accompanied this story from the very beginning make the whole situation even worse.
Gosh! So much drama and heartbreak in one story.
What a story…
This is the 3rd book in the series that I’ve read so far and I couldn’t say which one of the characters I love the most if I tried. All the books can be read as standalones, but I would recommend to read them all in order to have all the background information.
Vandal and Tabitha have both been through the worst imaginable tragedy. They are both broken to the point they may never heal. Carian Cole has once again taken a situation that isn’t sweet and pretty and dropped these amazing characters into it. Vandal will take your emotions on a ride. I love Carian Cole’s ability to take these tough subjects and bring a story that totally pulls you in. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
This book slayed me!! So different from book 1! It was sad, heartbreaking and so tragic but it was also very sexy and passionate with some light BDSM. Vandal and Tabitha’s story was very raw and emotional. So many times I was a sad mess but I’m so happy that they found a way out of their darkness together for an amazing HEA! And that twist at the end I was not expecting at all!! Carian is an amazing writer! You can tell she put so much love and care into this book. Vandal is my favorite out of this series.
Wow! I am extremely picky about my antiheroes! I was a little concerned about Vandal, but I was completely blown away! I’m not sure how I feel about the storyline, but the characters and writing were amazing. This is a little twisted, but it was still a decent read.
This book is incredible…
…Vandal, had a presence, that would leave you speechless..
His attitude, his personality, his arrogance
…then his love for his daughter made him an enigma, to me.
My Heart broke for him, but his story wasn’t an easy one,
…it is definitely not forgettable!!! A must read!!! ~wtmo
This story is fantastic but tragic on a lot of levels. Vandal is a shattered, needy soul who makes a lot of mistakes and a big one that changes his life and the life of Tabi!
Fate is a fickle witch who likes to stir the pot of our lives and for some that is what feels like your whole life. Vandal has not had it easy for his whole life and how he had that affect his adult life is not surprise. With the help of Tabi however, he starts to change some of those habits he has had. He has secrets he is keeping from her and that will not be a good thing for him or her.
Tabi finds something with Vandal that is unlike her past life. She surprises herself with the acceptance and peace she gets from it.
The story does have a little surprise at the end that makes you want another story for them, even if it’s short!
Not one thing I didn’t like about Vandal and Tabi’s story!
Oh my gosh the anguish is so real, my heart just about broke reading this incredible story.
Vandal and Tabitha tell the story and it’s through their points of view that you learn more about each character, developing a deeper understanding of how they feel, think and why they do what they do.
Their story is built from a foundation of heartbreaking sadness and shattered love, it’s unconventional and darkish at times but it works. The story flows well and the passion is red hot. There are many twists and turns that keep you entertained and on your toes.
Emotionally, this story is a huge roller coaster ride with the full gambit of feelings from despair and anger to excitement and happiness. Another fantastic book by this incredible author.
Total Vandal-isation of the senses! A glimpse into the aftermath of ruined existences much like a bombed out city where people are dead and the living are struggling.
“Life is a series of mistakes, regrets, bad decisions, tragedies, and occasional good luck”
My heart was crying for this broken damaged man. Having had a glimpse of him in Storm, I was super intrigued by his back story. Boy! Carian doesn’t believe in pulling any punches at all. A huge fist right in the solar plexus in the first chapter itself, hoof!! And I doubled over
It’s a horrendous event that changes the life of Vandal Valentine. He’s a tattooed bassist who likes rough sex, fast cars, loud bikes, pain, music, ink, and little blondes on their knees
It starts of with a bitchy ex throwing a tantrum and him reluctantly trying to do what’s best….
An hour later the world turns upside down and he is devastated. Before the night is over, two lives will forever change. The ripple effect grows larger and in the ensuing days EVERYBODY associated with him feels it’s effect.
“Grief is an ugly monster that will eat you alive”
They All lose him in one way or another. Broken hearted, he turns to the only place his heart finds a tearful respite. But there’s somebody else more grief stricken than him there and she’s sobbing!!
Tabitha Bennett is a sweet girl full of life. She likes soft music, reading, art, angels, nature, photography and her small life
She doesn’t know it yet but her tormentor who victimized her has come to rescue her. But paths to closure need total annihilation before rebuilding starts
“She thinks life betrayed her, but it’s actually just the work of some asshole who made a bad decision that in turn destroyed her life”
This is the story of vandal-isation of hearts, lives, souls and inhibitions. The power of grief is often not fully grasped till a person has lived through it. Victims turn to self harm physically and emotionally and the after effects can ruin their friends, families and loved ones just by association
It strikes a chord somewhere deep in my heart and I was teary eyed at many places.
Beautifully written, sensitive & brutal at the same time. There’s beautiful love, burning desire and utmost care on one page and the next page is full of pain, confusion and regret.
This book will scrape you raw till you feel their pain and agony.
“They say a relationship can’t last if it’s built on lies, but I refuse to believe that. Maybe the truth doesn’t always matter, and protecting someone from heartache is more important”
Something in the last chapter confounded me. there’s a Lie left unfolded. It stays hidden deep under the layers and wrinkles left deliberately by carian. Maybe she’ll come to it later or maybe it’s to remind us about the complexities of little white lies. Better let the sleeping dogs lie…… No point in digging up old skeletons.
5 stars for master who belled the Tabicat
3.75 stars-VANDAL is the second instalment in Carian Cole’s contemporary, adult ASHES AND EMBERS erotic, rock romance series focusing on the rock band Ashes and Embers. This is Ashes and Embers’ bass guitarist and tattoo artist Vandal Valentine, and Tabitha Bennett’s story line. VANDAL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary.
WARNING: There are scenes of Domination and submission, including some light BDSM scenarios; drugs, alcohol and talk of suicide and death.
Told from dual first person point of view (Vandal and Tabitha) VANDAL follows the building relationship between Ashes and Embers’ guitarist Vandal Valentine, and Tabitha Bennett. Months earlier Vandal’s life imploded and the fall-out affected his life with the band. On forced sabbatical, Vandal will meet a grieving young woman, a woman about whom he knows more than he reveals. Hoping to forget about life, Vandal makes the stranger an offer she doesn’t refuse. Enter Tabitha Bennett, and the woman with whom Vandal will fall in love. What ensues is the Dom/sub relationship between Vandal and Tabitha, and the potential fall-out when the truth is revealed.
Vandal and Tabitha’s relationship is predicated on dark secrets, and dangerous lies. Vandal’s connection to our story line heroine is painful and heart breaking but Tabitha appears oblivious to the who, what and how of their damaging past. Vandal is a Dominant who demands trust from a woman with whom he hasn’t been honest, an honesty that will be revealed through betrayal and revenge. For all intents and purposes, Tabitha presents as uninformed and blind to Vandal’s fortune and fame, and easily accepts everything Vandal offers including weeks as his very own personal submissive.
We are reintroduced to Storm Valentine and his fiancé Evie (Storm #1), as well as the other members of the band: Asher Valentine, Vandal’s brother Lukas, Aunt Aria Valentine; Sydni and Piper from the all girl band Sugar Kiss, and groupie Jill.
VANDAL is a heart breaking and emotional story of grief, guilt, acceptance, and love. The premise is captivating; the romance is dark, erotic and intense; the characters are broken, wounded and lost. . There is a bit of a twist you won’t see coming, at the very end.
Top 10 Recommended
Goodness gracious this series is tearing me apart and Vandal wowza. This is not your vanilla romance which just makes it better. Carian Cole shows us a dark side of love that I didn’t think could be good. In some ways it is exactly what Tabitha needs to get past what she lost. Now Vandal just went straight to my heart. On the outside he is all tough and definitely shows us the rockstar attitude but dang inside is a man in need of some good loving. Loved it and definitely a series readers should get into.
“I received an eBook copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own.”
This is Vandal’s story the second book in the Ashes & Embers series. I had some expectations going into this one however what I wasn’t ready for was the gut wrenching heartbreak. No word of a lie the start had me in floods of tears. Carian has that knack of writing tortured bad boys that you can’t help falling for. This a darker book than book 1. The grief not only affects both main characters but we see how all the family are affected. The characterisation for both Vandal and Tabitha was superb, I really felt like I knew them. The whole story flows and even though it’s emotionally heavy I couldn’t stop reading. Carian has written another amazing book this series just gets better and better.
Reviewed for United Indie Book Blog