My life is one long fevered dream, balancing between being killed or killing.The name Harley Crow is one to be feared.I am an assassin. A killer.The villain.I own it. I choose this life. Hell, I crave it. I hunger for it. The smell of fear makes me hard and is the very reason the blood runs through my veins.Until I meet her… Masters.
Her darkness matches my own.
In my twisted world of dancing along the jagged edge of the blade…
She changes everything.
No weapon can protect me from the kind of death she will ultimately deliver.
*Villains & Vodka is a dark billionaire romance. If you don’t like a splash of shock, a dash of taboo, and a heavy dose of dirty, then don’t take a sip of this TOP SHELF cocktail.
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WHO’S AFRAID OF THE DARK?
Once again, Ms. Alta Hensley has penned a story that is spine-tingling, on-the-edge-of-your-seat, I can’t look, but I can’t look away page-turning tale. There is a unique cast of characters, some you will hate, some will have you hot and bothered, and some, you just aren’t sure about. The characters and situations are explicated detailed. The story is not for those who want wine and roses with a sweet storyline. The story is raw, edgy, dirty, painful, intense, explicit and erotic. This is dark erotic horror.
Marlowe Masters has reinvented herself from the girl she was, raised by a father that headed up an MC group in Oregon. When she graduated school, she left and never turned back, moving to New Orleans. While she tried to make it playing music, that just wasn’t paying the bills, and with the help of friends, she will get a job waitressing at the Spiked Rose, an exclusive gentleman’s club.
Harley Crow is one of the owners of the Spiked Rose and is a man to be feared. He is a known assassin, a killer, the epitome of a villain. He is heavily tattooed and thrives off of the fear he sees in others.
The club is hosting a Tasting, and they require all the owners to be present at this one whether they chose to participate or not. Harley has never attended before but will appease the other owners and attend. Marlowe has had a secret crush on Harley and will be one of the women who will be available for a contract at the Tasting. She is hoping to catch the eye of Harley Crow. “He was my dark. He was my light.” “I hear him; I smell him, I taste him, I feel him. The senses of sin. To the edge.”
The plot will have Harley and Marlowe enter into a contract from the Tasting for the “Who’s afraid of the dark?” theme that could include knife play, breath play, ropes, cages, chains, etc. He will push her limits in an attempt to have her safeword, but she surprises him with her stamina for his depravity.
“It’s a balance of control. A wicked game of give and take.”
For Marlowe, she will open up and reveal things about herself she hasn’t told another soul because she feels a deep connection with Harley.
“I had never craved as badly as I did right now. There was absolutely nothing I wouldn’t do for this man. I was at his mercy in every possible way. He was pushing my limits. He wanted to see how far I would go. I would go as far as he took me.”
Dark, evil, and intense are part of the game, and maybe Harley pushed the limits of the game and the contract. The weekend will turn to a life and death fearful situation. When the truth is revealed, the true pain will shatter her.
“If I had only realized how much pain I would cause. This had nothing to do with fear, control, or dominance. This had nothing to do with the Tasting. I’d damaged an innocent girl who deserved so much better.”
“My demons danced with his. A morbid tango of torment and terror had occurred that very moment our eyes had locked. He got me. I got him. Flawed in the worst of ways, yet our darkness blended so perfectly.”
The story and sex scenes are explicit and dark. The story also has self-cutting. This is the second book in the series, and next will be Scoundrels and Scotch. This is an ongoing saga, but each story will read as a stand-alone.
Vodka is my drink of choice, and now Harley Crow is my Spiked Roses owner of choice. He is one twisted soul, he can take things too far, and he is super intense. Without giving anything away, let me just say that Marlowe had better stay on her toes.
Each of the co-owners of the Spiked Roses brought a specific skill to the table. Harley Crow’s was fear. Fear because it was no secret he was a paid assassin. It definitely kept things in the gentlemen’s club peaceful. Marlowe Masters had lusted for the man for over a year without him ever noticing her until the night of the “Are you afraid of the dark? Tasting.” Negotiations were made between the two, the gauntlet thrown down so to speak, the BDSM contract that would last the weekend was signed. This would change everyone’s lives as they knew it. Alta Hensley has written such a dark, terrifying romance that is like nothing I’ve ever read before. Her characters took me on such a twisting rollercoaster ride of emotions that pulled me right into the midst of things. Love them or hate them, you won’t be able to read this book without a genuine reaction and isn’t that the sign of a great author?
I loved this dark twisted tale of Harley and Marlowe! Great character development and an intense read. I could not put it down! So far a great series. Thank you Alta for a great story! You are evil and dark – and I loved every minute of it!
In this next installment, we get the higher gun Harley Crow. The man I would be most afraid. He is a killer through and through and makes no qualms about it. He makes no excuse about what he is and how he makes his living. However, he does not want to bring anyone else into it. He knows his life is dangerous and for that purpose, he takes steps so that no one around him can or would get hurt.
Marlowe Masters has her history of the dark and dangerous past. When she decides to take Harley on for a Tasting Room weekend, Marlowe thinks she knows what she is getting. I mean what else can Harley do to her that Marlowe that hasn’t already done? Little does she know that Harley’s darkness runs deep into his soul.
This book has some twist and turns in it that I did not expect. Kudos Alta!
Villains & Vodka is the first book I’ve read in this series and I can say it was not what I expected but it was a great story. It was steamy, dark and twisted. Tennessee is a trip and I enjoyed his character a lot. Marlowe has wanted Harley for a long time but is she really ready for the deadly assassin. Marlowe swears she’s not afraid of the dark but is she really ready for the darkness within Harley and is she ready to not only risk her body but her mind? Harley will take her places she has never imagined and will bring fear to her she never expected. I kind of guessed what was going on with the kidnapping but at one time this story had me second guessing myself. It was such a good and twisted read that I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series.
Alta Hensley writes the best dark twisted books that pull me into the story holding onto me until the last page. I love the way this author brings the characters to life for the readers. Spiked Roses is a twisted playground for the very rich. Marlowe and Harley are perfect for each other and exactly what the other needed. If you are looking for a dark twisted read full of twists, turns, angst, drama, a lot of naughty and a little nice then Villains & Vodka is the book for you.
Villains & Vodka was better than the first book in this series but not by a whole lot. I was expecting to love this book because I was immediately interesting in how dark and dangerous Harley Crow was. He is an assassin and seemed to be into some pretty dark stuff while also being mysterious. I also like Marlowe and his obsession with Harley. She seemed to be a pretty strong character who had experienced some bad things in her life. So when she goes into the Tasting Room to secure a contract with Harley I was very excited. I loved the night they spent together. It was very hot and sexy. I liked finding out parts of their pasts and how Harley became an assassin. That’s about all I liked after they spend the night together.
What I didn’t like was that these two are in so much instalove/lust its not even funny. They fuck and all of a sudden their in love. WTF? I’m all for a bit of instalove every now and then, but this one was hard to believe. Especially since Harley does something evil to Marlowe like the next day. Nope. Not cool. Then that somewhat strong Marlowe I started to like turned into a puddle of soft pudding. And then the book pretty much ended.
I thought Harley’s life as an assassin would come into play, but it didn’t. I wanted Marlowe to slowly unmask the man beneath the darkness. I wanted more detail about Marlowe’s family. This book was too short to get any real substance out of it. So as much as I like Harley’s character in theory, I felt he didn’t live up to his hype. And I am a bit disappointed in this series again.
Villians & Vodka (TOP SHELF #2) By Alta Hensley was the first thing I have read by this author and It was an instant hit for me.
So I am going to start this review by saying I am loving this whole top shelf vibe, very catchy indeed. This series does have some fabulous titles and also what terrific covers are involved, Totally fangirling here.
So villains & Vodka what did I think?
Well, I went in with my expectations so-so and got a pleasant surprise. This was a very entertaining read that explored aspects of the forbidden and Taboos in a very satisfying way.
In this case, That Taboo was Fear Itself.
This story tells the tale of Harley Crow and Marlowe Masters.
(Gotta say totally adoring these names there so swoon-worthy.)
Harley is an Assasin, a hired killer that’s a little Jaded with the job at hand.
Marlowe Is a waitress at spiked Roses (a club Harley is part owner of).
Marlowe watches Harley from afar, totally giving off the stalker-vibe and finally gets her chance to pounce on the latest clubs tasting night.
These evening’s all have a theme and as I said earlier the taste of this theme is Fear.
After signing a contract for the weekend they both retire to Harley’s amazing home on the bayou for fun and games or in Marlowe’s case fun and Fear.
So without giving too much away the weekend is all about Harley getting Marlowe to feel that fear.
It’s something he really gets off on, that scared terrified look.
I must admit I did kind of guess where this was going and I was proved right.
That really didn’t spoil this for me and I still found this a good solid fun experience.
This was a quite a quick read, everything happening over a weekend and it was also quite insta-love another pet peeve of mine.
I did actually find myself mainly overlooking these facts due to the uniqueness of this tale.
this was also quite low angst and there was no OM/OW involved either.
The two do have great chemistry and even though there is only the one heavy session it is very apparent that these two do just get each other.
But for myself, I really would have liked to have seen some more interaction between the pair as I felt I didn’t quite get a full sense of them both. The above are my main reasons for removing a star.
This just needed that extra oomph behind it to push it up a star and it didn’t quite achieve the full house from me.
One last observation from me, I really would have liked Marlowe to leave Harley to stew in his juices a tad longer, what he did was unforgivable and I do feel he got off a bit lightly, just my opinion, but I wish she’d made him squirm more.
Villians & Vodka By Alta Hensley gets a big thumbs up and despite being a relatively quick read it packed a big punch.
I must say I am looking forward to the next instalment I’m quite intrigued with Victor and his doll’s the mind does boggle.
thank you to the author for providing an ARC.
This is my own free and honest opinion.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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*Bows down to the Author* I highlighted so many passages in this book, it was insane!! Like hypnotic, dark poetry, Harley Crowe is my absolute favorite type of book boyfriend!!
“I felt he would dance naked around my fire with wild abandon. Naked and howling at the moon as he did so. I just needed a chance to show him where I burned.”
As always, the limits are pushed, right is wrong, and wrong is right *raises eyebrows* oh so right. I question my sanity when I fall head over heels for a villain, but Harley did not disappoint!! Unexpected, towing the line, and twisted enough to make my little dark heart dance!!
“He was the dark, and I wanted to be engulfed in it. Surrounded in it. Conquered by it.”
Not your average turn of events, not even your average couple, but it worked!! They are made for each other, and the Author paints their pasts and weaves them together like it was written in the stars, even when you are screaming at your kindle for them to run in the opposite direction. Again, if you aren’t a fan of the dark and twisted, stay out of the pool, but those of you that are fans like I am will absolutely understand the draw that these type of characters have. They entice you right in and hold you hostage….
“My demons danced with his. A morbid tango of torment and terror had occurred that very moment our eyes had locked. He got me. I got him. Flawed in the worst of ways, yet our darkness blended so perfectly.”
Yes!! A million times yes!! Nothing is hotter than a vulnerable villain in the hands of a woman he fought to deny, so I am one happy reader with this story!! I thank the Author for providing a copy to review!!
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
I wasn’t happy that the rest of the books cost money and you couldn’t find out how it ends unless you bought them. I don’t like that sort of business practice.
This is the second book in the Top Shelf series by Alta Hensley. I have also read the first book in the series, ‘Bastards & Whiskey.’
I love the characters in this book. They are dark. They are lonely. They need each other. But there are times when I feel like the story contradicts itself.
Harley Crow is an assassin. He kills people and gets paid to do so. He does not care for anyone but himself which makes him all the better at his job. He is ruthless and feared. And loves every minute of it.
Marlowe Masters is a cocktail waitress in an upscale club, Spiked Roses, which is known for servicing clients with more than just a stiff drink. Harley Crow is part owner of the club and Marlowe has her sights set on him. Something about his darkness intrigues her.
I wish Alta had extended parts of the book and cut out others. The end of the story seemed rushed.
Harley Crow is never the hero in a story . . . he’s the assassin . . . the villain. He loves the smell of fear. It’s what gets him off. He chooses to live his life this way, until he meets the one person who makes him feel and want something very different.
Marlowe Masters has lusted after Harley Crow since she began working at the Spiked Rose. He doesn’t even see her, however, until one night at a Tasting event changes everything for both of them.
They both have secrets and very dark pasts. They are contracted to play for one weekend, however neither expects the weekend to play out the way it does. As they dance around their sexual cravings and lust as well as feelings that were never supposed to come into play, both know they can never go back to the way things were before. It remains to be seen, however, if they will both come away from the weekend physically and emotionally intact.
Alta Hensley takes readers on a dark and sinful trip in her latest installment of her Top Shelf series. Both Harley and Marlowe harbor extremely dark pasts filled with secrets. It’s what draws them into such an extremely intense physical and emotional encounter from their first meeting on. They both have flaws and demons haunting them that call out to one another and bind them together. Harley really is a villain, but for the first time in his life wants to be something more. Marlowe ran away from a life filled with villains, but wants nothing more than to be drawn back into that world by Harley.
Their dance is wicked and wild and definitely not for the faint of heart . . . but it’s a sinfully delicious ride for readers who enjoy a darker read. 5 stars!
I wanted to read this series from the little blurb Alta Hensley put in the synopsis for this series.
*Villains & Vodka is a dark billionaire romance. If you don’t like a splash of shock, a dash of taboo, and a heavy dose of sex, then don’t take a sip of this TOP SHELF cocktail.
Villains and Vodka is Marlowe Masters works at Spiked Roses and is going to the Tasting Room because she heard that Harley Crow was going to be there. Marlowe is fascinated by him. None of the owners of Spiked Roses are squeaky clean.
Spiked Roses is an exclusive gentleman’s club that caters to the insanely rich. They have everything and anything that they want. They can afford the taboo that they crave.
Harley is an assassin and seems to have no problem letting others know what he does. His fetish seems to be that he wants his women scared. He thrives on it. And, what he did to make her scared was so wrong! I can’t tell you what it was because I don’t want to give a spoiler away. But, wow it is wrong.
Marlowe also has something in her past she is hiding. We find out what it was after Harley does his part to have her pushed past her limits.
I love this series. It is dark and twisted and make sure that you read the warning. If you don’t like this kind of book don’t pick it up to read. But, I did love the story and I am going to give it 4.5 stars. Bring on the next book coming out next week. Scotch and Scoundrels and will be Victor Drayton’s story. I picked this book to read from Kindle Unlimited.
Villains and Vodka is the book I was looking forward to the most in this series as the main character was Harley Crow. I mean who doesn’t love a bad boy?
I fell so hard for Harley! He’s an assassin and one of the owners of Spiked Roses. As the resident bad boy he makes no excuses for who he is. He’s the perfect mix of dominant, dark, and villainous.
Marlowe Masters has worked at Spiked Roses long enough to develop an obsession for the resident bad boy owner. She has tried to catch Harley’s attention and has been quite unsuccessful until a “Who’s Afraid of the Dark?” themed tasting party takes place.
Once Marlowe catches Harley’s eye their dark and twisted journey together begins. Both Marlowe and Harley enjoy pushing their limits especially in the bedroom and how the sparks fly! They both toe the line of their comfort zone and kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved both Marlowe and Harley. They were both damaged and lost in their own way but together they were perfect.
Villains & Vodka has upped the ante for this series. I was captivated by this deliciously dark and suspenseful read and devoured it as quickly as I could. The writing is fantastic and the plot and characters will enrapture you with their story until the very end. I can’t wait for the next addition to this amazing series!
While I love regular, HEA Contemporary Romance, I tend to lean to the Dark side a lot, and I’m fortunate when I come across a books I loved that fits in this particular sub-genre. Villains & Vodka, the second book in the Top Shelf series, fits this little niche quite nicely. Any book that features NOLA as a setting gets extra points, in my book, there’s just something almost mystical about The Big Easy. This book features Harley Crow, one of the owners of the Spiked Roses, a private Fetish club, and Marlowe Masters.
Harley Crow’s a paid assassin and he makes no apologies about it. He’s a loner, and he knows his days are numbered, and that someday someone will come looking for him. The same way he targets his hits.
“The name Harley Crow was one to be feared, and I took f*cking pride in that fact. The more people who feared me, the more money I made. Fear also kept me safe…or safer. Don’t’ mess with Harley Crow they say, and my reply was always damn straight.”
He bought into the Spiked Roses fetish/BDSM private club that caters to a “particular taste” and extremely well-to-do members, a legit business, thinking he might want to retire soon. What he doesn’t like is socializing, but every now and then he has to do his duty, as an owner he has to help out. And when he’s scheduled to join the Tasting Room, an event that pulls in the wealthiest members, he thinks all he’ll do is attend and not partake.
Marlowe Masters works as a waitress at the Spiked Roses club. She’s been running from her notorious family and the road led her to New Orleans, dragging some seriously heavy baggage with her. She’s been fascinated by Harley for a while, but hasn’t been able to catch his attention. Marlowe doesn’t fear him in the least, on the contrary, she’s attracted to him like a moth to a flame. But she should be fearful. Get too close to the flame and a moth can easily get burned. She knew what Harley did for a living and didn’t care. He was her personal version of the boogieman and instead of being frightened by him, the more she observed, the more he fascinated her. When she finds out the next Tasting Room theme is “Who’s Afraid of the Dark?” she signs up when she finds out Harley will be there.
“You had to like my fire. I was the type of flame that burned with thick black smoke swirling around it. The kind that burned your lungs and watered your eyes. I was the flame that most wanted to extinguish rather than stoke.
But Harley Crow…I felt he would dance naked around my fire with wild abandon. Naked and howling at the moon as he did so.
I just needed a chance to show him where I burned.”
When Marlowe catches Harley’s attention he’s drawn to her and they draw up a contract for the weekend. After insisting there’s nothing he can do to frighten her, she’ll soon live to regret her words. And so will Harley.
This book has a HUGE twist that took me for surprise. I honestly fell for it and wanted to howl and beat someone on the chest when it was revealed! This series is going to be an instant 1-click, it’s a sure thing that the next book in the series will be just as gruesome and intriguing as this one was. I. Can’t. Wait.
Intense, dark and thoroughly seductive!
This fast paced read was hot, twisted and full of holy mother of dragon moments, that had me hooked and reading it in 1 sitting.
This is Marlowe and Harley’s story. Marlowe is a feisty and badass bartender at the Spiked Roses Bar, and Harley is the owner, who has a past as dark as the night.
A weekend themed party turned into more than they both imagined. Their connection was hot, erotic,and totally unpredictable!
Even though the characters were sexy, and seductive, something happened and there didn’t seem to be enough character development for me to fully connect with them.
However, on the other hand, there’s something that has peaked my curiosity and I want to know them more!!
…bring on January!!
Yanno how you keep the best liquor on the top shelf ? Thats how these stories are. In here we get to drink Chilled Vodka, straight up ! Harley Crow is one of the owners of Spiked Roses , bdsm/fetish club . He’s as chilled and potent as the vodka he drinks. And there’s a girl lusting after him from afar, Marlowe Masters . She gets her chance with him in the Tasting Room and she grabs it!
Her daddy always told her, Never get into a car with a stranger . Yet she does and she pays for it
The story has two Jaw-To-The-Floor surprises. I was like WTF Alta!!!!! There’s intense heat , and I found a new toy to play with too
Harley is an assassin. Heartless, ruthless, aloof. Nothing touches him, he doesn’t touch nobody.
His profession has made him the Devil. To be feared and avoided at all cost.
“Because the first time I pulled the trigger of the gun and stole the life from someone else, I opened the door of Hell and walked through. Once you step over that threshold, there is no way to exit. You are there. You have no choice from that point on to take it back.
When Marlowe gets what she wished for,she’s over the moon, but careful ! Wishes can turn into nightmares with a flick of the finger . She does expect some rough sex and some fetishes , but nothing prepares for what lies ahead !
You can’t rattle the cage of the animal and not expect to unleash the fury.
I wanted to read more actually, about Layla, about the Quarrymen , about her journey to New Orleans . Such is her writing ability, nothing is enough and it left me wanting !
I’d say wear your garters and dive in the story. Harley will “Hook” you like nobody else !
Wow this book was freaking everything!
Was it good,no it was off the charts fantastic!
Although Villians & Vodka is a standalone I would highly suggest reading Bastards & Whiskey first.
You wouldn’t be sorry you did because that book also is great and you get to meet all the players and characters.
This book is Harley and Marlowe’s story.
Harley is an assassin and has been since a young age. His only legit business and income is from the Spiked Rose in which he is one of several owners.
Marlowe works at the Spiked Rose and has always been infatuated with Harley.
There’s a major event taking place at the Spiked Rose and all the owners need to be in attendance.
On this night is when the lives of Harley and Marlowe will forever change.
This book is brilliant!
Written with pure genius and a wicked mind.
It’s filled with passion and sexy scenes that are tantalizing and intense!
It also has darkness and pain that just grippings at the heartstrings.
Villains & Vodka is a captivating suspenseful read.
It’s a drama filled edge of your seat omg what’s going to happen know now read.
Can a bad man find a little light and redemption in a soft kind woman?
Can a woman feel safe and secure in the arms of an assassin?
Maybe maybe not.
When being cold and calculating is part of who you are and darkness has seeped into your soul and you’re just waiting for death to knock on your door you’ll find yourself lost in the pits of hell and nothing is off limits.
This book is written spectaculary!
The storyline and plot are jaw dropping!
The characters are fascinating and and intriguing.
To be Villains & Vodka is so beyond a 5star rating
This series is getting better and better I can’t one for the next one!
Alta Hensley has once again brought out the best booze off the highest shelf with Villain and Vodka. We’re once again brought back to NOLA and Spiked Roses. Only this time, we’re visiting the scary Harley Crow.
Harley is the storm crow that circles Spiked Roses. He’s an assassin and brings fear to the table. It’s him and his reputation that makes sure that no one comes to mess with the club. He’s held himself aloof and not had any kind of relationship with any of the women at the club. He hasn’t even gone to any of the Tastings, preferring to just come in and get his vodka.
Marlowe is a waitress at Spiked Roses. She never gets to work the tables where Harley drinks, but that doesn’t stop her from drooling over him every chance she gets. She has always been attracted to the darkest, scariest, and baddest of the boys, and that is Harley to a T. When she hears that he is finally going to go to a Tasting, she knows it’s her chance, so she makes sure that she is signed up.
OMG, this book. This book was amazing. I had no idea what was going to happen from one second to the next. It was so cool. It was dark and all-encompassing and I loved every dark and filthy moment of it. I think I am madly in love with Harley Crow and he is definitely going to be on the top of my book boyfriend list, even if I do kind of want to punch him once or twice, just because. But, I’d still love to get in touch with his dark edge.
I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. They can’t come soon enough.