Readers will be holding on for dear life in this exhilarating and erotically-charged tale that kept me turning the pages frantically. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Corrupt Savior by Tara Leigh, along with my impressions of it, then add this second installment in the Wages of Sin duet to your bookshelf too!
I am the monarch of Manhattan’s underworld.
A corrupt king, ruling a sinful empire.
I wasn’t born to the crown.
Nevertheless, I wear it well.
Aislinn Granville is the Crown Jewel of my empire—my queen.
To my enemies, she’s my Achilles heel—a perfect pawn.
Without her, I am a wounded warrior.
A ruthless, relentless beast.
There is nowhere she can be taken that I won’t find her.
No adversary I won’t crush to get her back.
Even if I have to burn this city to the ground.
EXCERPT:
My heartbeat is an erratic, distracting pitter-patter against my ribs as I take in the stark beauty of the man standing in front of me. He looks like the same man I ran from. Almost.
The same rich black hair and inky eyelashes. The same strong, shadowed jawline and high, elegant cheekbones. The same spark of intensity lighting up those dark, dark eyes.
But now there are smudges beneath them. And faint horizontal lines, like the silvery remnants of a shattered spider web, crossing his forehead.
Damon is glaring at me like an adversary he’s torn between spanking or fucking. There is yearning in his gaze, a faint glimmer of tenderness beneath his infuriated expression.
I like it. A lot.
The panic and fear and pure terror that filled my veins just a few hours ago hasn’t yet evaporated. Those intense emotions are still there, like toxins that have yet to be flushed from my system. I don’t want to be treated with kid gloves. Not by Damon King.
I need his intensity now more than ever. I am desperate to revel in the raging storm Damon and I create when we’re together. The kind of storm that deserves a name. Deserves to be written in history books for its power...and for the toll of its destruction.
I want the shocking illumination of lightning. The ominous energy of thunder.
I want to give and take.
Clash and break.
Writhe and shake.
“Damon.” I say his name like a warning. I need the savage who claimed me as his own. My savage king.
He presses a firm kiss to my forehead, his fingers lightly pushing into the hair at the base of my scalp. “Tell me this,” he says. “Is there any hurt I can’t kiss better?”
The throaty rumble of Damon’s voice is like a liberal pour of molasses on my frayed nerves. “No.” My nose is flush with his chest and I breath deep that scent I didn’t think I would ever smell again. Wood and whiskey and raw masculinity. So damn intoxicating.
He sweeps his tongue along the rim of my ear. “Is there any hurt I can’t lick better?”
The tension in my shoulders eases as I flatten my palms against his chest. “No.”
Damon lifts my chin, our eyes locking on each other. “Is there any hurt I can’t fuck better?”
My cheeks warm as I draw my lower lip between my teeth. Then I shake my head slowly, “No.”
He smiles that darkly seductive grin and my stomach flips. “Let’s go take a shower.”
I nod my head eagerly. A long hot shower sounds perfect. A long hot shower—with my savage king—sounds downright exquisite. By the time the water is running, my borrowed bathrobe is just a white smudge of bad memory strewn across the tile floor.
Damon begins unbuttoning his shirt and I eagerly reach for his belt. When he is as naked as I am, he cups my chin between his thumb and forefingers and tips it upward. His kiss is hard but not punishing. The perfect amount of pressure.
I moan low in my throat.
He growls in return. And when we pull apart, we are wearing matching lust-drunk grins.
“Do you trust me?” he asks.
“I thought you said I shouldn’t trust anyone who has to ask.”
“I’m asking now.”
The truth falls from my lips. “With my life.”
FIND AT GOODREADS here.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
In a story that picks up immediately after the jaw-dropping conclusion of the first book in this duet, readers will find themselves on edge and frantically turning the pages as the danger and suspense picks up steam. With the love of his tarnished life missing, the King of the Underworld—Damon King—leaves a trail of blood and bruises behind in a tale that balances his personal desires with his obligations to his kingdom. When the reason behind Aislinn Granville’s kidnapping is revealed though, Damon will face even more danger as a mole has worked their way into his organization and it’s clear that no one can be trusted.
The relationship between these two characters, a relationship between two people on very different sides of the law, just started to flourish in the previous book which makes the pain of their separation here even more painful. Their separation though is a defining event for both of them as it shows just how much they mean to each other. For Aislinn, it’s a time of endless fear and uncertainty too. She wants to be brave but remembrances of the past weigh on her and have her questioning every move she wants to make. She’s no shrinking violet though and is constantly looking to make her move to freedom and when a surprising ally arrives she takes a bold stance that had me cheering. On the outside Aislinn seems like a pampered princess, but this story shows a much stronger side to her. It’s a side that makes her a formidable match to Damon and brings out her protective side as well. Knowing that danger has entered Damon’s organization has her going on a hunt that had everyone looking guilty and had me guessing until the very end. Along with a strong will comes a calming influence over Damon as he’s quick to bring his perceived enemies to heal while she gets him to use his brains instead of his brawn in moments that felt like a beauty taming the beast. Together they’re a crackling couple with an exhilarating journey to HEA that kept me glued to the action both in and out of the bedroom.
Damon’s a compelling hero, one clearly not always the good guy, but one who’s protective of who/what he considers his. He’s been drawn to Aislinn for years, ever since seeing her photo and living on the periphery of her life. In her he saw someone very different from himself and it’s her goodness that he wanted to indulge in and it’s what drives him to keep her safe. With her missing at the start of this book, Damon becomes a man on a mission, a man frantic with worry who will do whatever necessary to get her back and make those who took her pay. There’s a feeling of fear and desperation permeating this story early on and it kept me on the edge of my seat waiting breathlessly alongside Damon. In many ways Damon’s an anti-hero, one who’s willing to bloody his hands and take a life when needed, but I’m still drawn to him. He has a definite code of honor, is a champion of those in need of help, and his strong protective side feels very heroic. He has a commanding presence too, oozes sex appeal, but there’s a little boy hiding behind that strong-willed facade that had him feeling unworthy of Aislinn’s love. Those moments were some of the most heartbreaking and Aislinn’s reassurances had me liking her all the more as he needs someone on his side wholeheartedly...and she definitely proved herself.
On a whole this was an erotically-charged romance full of pulse-pounding twists and turns featuring an unforgettable couple and their epic romance. Ms. Leigh doesn’t sugarcoat Damon’s actions as he looked for Aislinn and it made for some rather grim scenes throughout the book. These gritty scenes were a good balance though to the more tender scenes between Damon and Aislinn and were a vivid reflection of the world Damon inhabits. Alongside this larger-than-life main couple came an intriguing cast of secondary characters with lots of secrets of their own that came out at unexpected moments. Amongst those who most caught my eye was Damon’s right hand gal Finley (who has her own connection to Aislinn) and Sebastian (the younger son of the Los Muertos cartel) who’s surprisingly sympathetic. The secrecy surrounding the mole in Damon’s organization was also well done by Ms. Leigh and lent an air of suspicion to many of the characters. Readers who enjoy complex characters, scorching encounters, and non-stop intrigue will definitely want to add this duet to your bookshelf as it’s one heckuva roller coaster ride!
The relationship between these two characters, a relationship between two people on very different sides of the law, just started to flourish in the previous book which makes the pain of their separation here even more painful. Their separation though is a defining event for both of them as it shows just how much they mean to each other. For Aislinn, it’s a time of endless fear and uncertainty too. She wants to be brave but remembrances of the past weigh on her and have her questioning every move she wants to make. She’s no shrinking violet though and is constantly looking to make her move to freedom and when a surprising ally arrives she takes a bold stance that had me cheering. On the outside Aislinn seems like a pampered princess, but this story shows a much stronger side to her. It’s a side that makes her a formidable match to Damon and brings out her protective side as well. Knowing that danger has entered Damon’s organization has her going on a hunt that had everyone looking guilty and had me guessing until the very end. Along with a strong will comes a calming influence over Damon as he’s quick to bring his perceived enemies to heal while she gets him to use his brains instead of his brawn in moments that felt like a beauty taming the beast. Together they’re a crackling couple with an exhilarating journey to HEA that kept me glued to the action both in and out of the bedroom.
Damon’s a compelling hero, one clearly not always the good guy, but one who’s protective of who/what he considers his. He’s been drawn to Aislinn for years, ever since seeing her photo and living on the periphery of her life. In her he saw someone very different from himself and it’s her goodness that he wanted to indulge in and it’s what drives him to keep her safe. With her missing at the start of this book, Damon becomes a man on a mission, a man frantic with worry who will do whatever necessary to get her back and make those who took her pay. There’s a feeling of fear and desperation permeating this story early on and it kept me on the edge of my seat waiting breathlessly alongside Damon. In many ways Damon’s an anti-hero, one who’s willing to bloody his hands and take a life when needed, but I’m still drawn to him. He has a definite code of honor, is a champion of those in need of help, and his strong protective side feels very heroic. He has a commanding presence too, oozes sex appeal, but there’s a little boy hiding behind that strong-willed facade that had him feeling unworthy of Aislinn’s love. Those moments were some of the most heartbreaking and Aislinn’s reassurances had me liking her all the more as he needs someone on his side wholeheartedly...and she definitely proved herself.
On a whole this was an erotically-charged romance full of pulse-pounding twists and turns featuring an unforgettable couple and their epic romance. Ms. Leigh doesn’t sugarcoat Damon’s actions as he looked for Aislinn and it made for some rather grim scenes throughout the book. These gritty scenes were a good balance though to the more tender scenes between Damon and Aislinn and were a vivid reflection of the world Damon inhabits. Alongside this larger-than-life main couple came an intriguing cast of secondary characters with lots of secrets of their own that came out at unexpected moments. Amongst those who most caught my eye was Damon’s right hand gal Finley (who has her own connection to Aislinn) and Sebastian (the younger son of the Los Muertos cartel) who’s surprisingly sympathetic. The secrecy surrounding the mole in Damon’s organization was also well done by Ms. Leigh and lent an air of suspicion to many of the characters. Readers who enjoy complex characters, scorching encounters, and non-stop intrigue will definitely want to add this duet to your bookshelf as it’s one heckuva roller coaster ride!
My rating for this is an A-
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
BUY LINKS FOR THE FIRST INSTALLMENT IN THE WAGES OF SIN DUET, CRUEL SANCTUARY: AMAZON (US) | AMAZON (UK) | AMAZON (AU) | AMAZON (CA)
AUTHOR INFO:
Tara Leigh is a multi-published author of steamy contemporary romance. A former banker on Wall Street, she graduated from Washington University and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, but she much prefers spending her days with fictional boyfriends than analyzing financial spreadsheets. Tara currently lives in Fairfield County, Connecticut with her husband, children, and fur-baby, Pixie. She is represented by Jessica Alvarez, of Bookends Literary Agency.
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