ARC Review: One Dirty Night by Pepper Winters

 

I am a sucker for all things circus, so when I saw that Pepper Winters was releasing a new book centered around a sexy circus, I couldn’t wait to read it! It was everything I was hoping for! One Dirty Night centers around the Spectacle of Secrets and a sexy set of roommates, looking to spend one night fulfilling fantasies they’ve kept under wraps. When the circus sets up in their town for one night, the last thing they expect is to run into each other. But what starts out as a night to scratch an itch for each of them, soon turns to more when a sexy stranger helps them uncover secret desires neither of them had ever embraced.

If you are a fan of Pepper Winters, you know that she writes in several genres. This one is on the super sexy side, and what I would classify on the erotica edge. This book features high spice, with BDSM scenes, and a MFM scene (MF after). If that isn’t your thing, this one might not be for you. I absolutely loved seeing this from Pepper and couldn’t put this book down! This one started with the heat right away, and I loved seeing how Ella and Nick explored their sexuality and the connection between them. I also really loved Hunter and his role in helping these two out. 

This book was exactly what I was looking for. It contained so much heat and chemistry and was one of the spicier books I have read in quite some time! It also had a genuine connection between the characters that I loved seeing grow and change as truths and desires were discovered and embraced. I truly hope that Pepper Winters continues to write books in this world as I would love to get stories for some of the characters we met here! Giselle and Hunter would be amazing to get more of, but I also believe that this world holds so much potential and who wouldn’t fall in love with a traveling sex circus? If you like your books on the dirtier side and aren’t afraid of a little kink and heat, I highly recommend this one!

**ARC Provided by Valentine PR**

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ARC Review: Dollars by Pepper Winters

Dollars is Part 2 in this series. It begins where Part 1 ends. I reviewed Part 1 as well, you can find that on the site somewhere. I gave Part 1 5 stars (I think) and I'm giving this installment 3 stars for the same reason- the writing. Winters' writing is so good that I'm giving this book a decent rating even though I have some serious criticisms of the story line.  When I say Winters' writing is good, I don't mean, 'oh she tells a good story' I mean she exhibits amazing literary prowess. Her skills as a writer exceed the romance genre, she's just a damn good writer. The imagery she presents his amazing. The nuances of the characters in this book is unexpected and keeps you enthralled. And just in general, the word selection puts you inside the story.

I assume you have read Part 1 of this book. If not, stop reading this review here because there will be Part 1 spoilers. Pim is taken from Alrik by Elder. She is half dead, her tongue is half cut out and she is full blown emotionally unstable. Elder takes Pim to his home at sea and commits himself to nursing her back to health. Elder repeatedly alludes to the risk that he will unleash his "true nature" on Pim. The onboard doctor who nurses Pim back to health even warns Elder about his harmful natural tendencies. As for Pim, even after she starts to heal and she can talk, she refuses to talk to Elder. Pim is stuck in a cycle of trying to figure out Elder's plans for her, the trauma of her (totally effed up) past and a deep rage at everything around her. Elder keeps telling Pim that what he wants from her is her secrets but he expresses a great deal of physical attraction towards her anyway. 

I don't know guys. I have so many thoughts. First, this book is hella repetitive. The emotional cycle that I describe above that both Elder and Pim go through his repeated throughout the entire book. I honestly found it difficult to read the book because nothing really happens beyond a lot of emotional angst. When the book ended, I felt like everything the author accomplished in this book could have been done in a quarter of the pages. Also, both Pim and Elder started to wear on my nerves. You have to get through almost this whole book without Pim talking. That means that all of her interactions with other people are one sided where her responses are purely mental. We went through that in book 1. I was really hoping for some dialogue in book 2. If you are like me, don't get your hopes up because you'll wind up disappointed. The other thing that started to really wear on me was the giant build up to Elder's past with NO RESOLUTION. We get through the whole book and we get no answers about who Elder really is or what he did that led to him being exiled from his family.  And because of that we have no answers as to why Elder can't just let Pim go.

By the end of this book, I was just emotionally exhausted. I don't really feel like I got much out of this installment. I really wish Winters had moved the plot forward faster or made this book way shorter.

**ARC provided by TRSoR Promotions**

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ARC Review: Pennies by Pepper Winters

I usually do not write reviews the second I finish a book. I try to let some time, let the story sink in and gain some perspective. But you know what? I don't want this shit sinking in. I would like to forget this book ASAP so I need to go ahead and get this review off my chest.

I honestly don't think that there is a valid way to give this book a star rating. This book could be between 1 and 5 stars depending entirely upon where your gag reflex is located. So you can look at the rating I will eventually choose but in this case, the actual review is far more important.

First, I think I should explain something about the timing of me reading this book. This is the second kidnap/human trafficking book I read in the past couple of days. Timing is important because this is an extremely taboo subject matter that goes to the very hear of darkness in the human soul. Reading two books in a row on this topic might have an impact on my own gag reflex and how I was able to cope with this book.

Second, Pepper Winters' writing is insanely good. Winters' is writing on an entirely different level than a good 90% of "romance" writers. Her use of the English language is compelling and intriguing. The words this author uses make the book an experience, the imagery is so precise she makes the real world fall away and transports you into the story. The problem is that the story is utterly horrifying. I've read a lot of dark romance, this installment in this series (which is the first of a 5 part series) is not just dark, it's bleak, desolate, hopeless, __________ (insert other word that means you need several hugs when you are done with this book). I read Pepper Winters' Monsters In The Dark Series and some of the Debt Inheritance series. In my opinion this is more.....brutal than the other Winters' books I've read.

I don't know if you can tell from the synopsis but the story in this installment is fairly simple. Pim is kidnapped at the age of 16, sold into slavery to a perverted sick "human" being. After being sold, Pim is tortured in every despicable way you can imagine for years. The only solace for me is that most of the abuse is not described in great detail. It was a small solace because there is still a lot of abuse which is described and it is so ugly, I had to skim over some of the pages just to get through it. The thing about this book that elevates it above just gratuitous violence and abuse is the two main characters- Pim and Elder. Pim is either really brave or just a complete idiot, I still don't know. Elder is either a hero or a monster, don't know the answer to that either. What I do know is that the way that these two communicate with one another and the complexities between them are some of the most interesting descriptions of two characters I have ever read. That's all I can really tell you about the plot without spoilers.

Should you read this book? Maybe. Pepper Winters offers a warning at the beginning of the book, READ THE WARNING, BELIEVE THE WARNING. Don't expect any reprieve from ugliness in this book. Maybe it is coming down the road in the series, but don't look for it here. If you feel like you want to read this book AFTER you read Winters' warning and this review, you've been duly warned. For that reason, i decided to give this book 5 stars. Winters' is honest with her readers about what this is. If you decide to read the book anyway, I assume you can handle all of that darkness and despair and engage in the superior writing and character interactions in this book. If that is you, good luck to you. I need a fucking drink.

**ARC provided by TRSoR Promotions**

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ARC Review: Je Suis a Toi by Pepper Winters

Je Suis a Toi is the newest addition to the Monsters in the Dark series by Pepper Winters. This novella takes place after the first three books in the series and continues the story of Q and Tess. If you have not read the previous books in this series, you will need to start there. Q and Tess are married and happy enjoying the life they have made together. They have the same desires and needs, and have figured out exactly what works for them. But when Tess can tell that something is bothering Q, she will do whatever it takes to discover his secret and fix it. But Q struggles to let her in and as he begins to pull away, Tess begins to wonder if she can fix it before things get worse. 

It was so great to see more of Tess and Q. I love when we get to see couples down the line into their HEA. There are always things that come up in relationships, and I enjoy seeing how they work through those things and function as a couple. So to see these two happy yet still wanting more and figuring out how to make that work was fascinating to me. I will say though that Q frustrated me beyond belief pretty much the entire way through this story! I seriously wanted to shake him at times, but I have to hand it to Tess for how she handled it. The love between these two is so unique and special, and Tess knew exactly what Q needed. These two are absolutely meant to be, and I was so glad that Tess was able to be patient with Q while also pushing him when he needed it. 

Overall, this was a great installment into Tess and Q's story. Fans of the Monsters in the Dark series will love this one and find this novella to be a must read. Not only do we get more Tess and Q, but we also got to see several familiar faces here as well. It was great to get more of each of them and see how their lives were playing out as well. Pepper Winters is a great writer, and this novella really felt like the cherry on top of what is already such a fantastic series. Je Suis a Toi was just that little bit extra that you didn't know you needed, and I am so glad that Pepper Winters gave these characters the ending that they deserved.

**ARC Provided by TRSOR Promotions**

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ARC Review: Sin & Suffer by Pepper Winters

Sin & Suffer is the second book in the Pure Corruption MC series from Pepper Winters. Since S&S picks up after the events of Ruin & Rule and is the continuation of Cleo and Kill's story, these need to be read in order. If you haven't read R&R yet, make sure you start there and be aware that there could be some things spoiled for R&R in this review. I couldn't wait to get more of these characters after how R&R ended, and I loved Cleo and Kill so much. Sin & Suffer was a completely different experience for me than Ruin & Rule was, and unfortunately seemed to be missing some of what I had loved so much at the start of this series. 

S&S picks up where we were left at the end of R&R, with Dagger Rose having taken Cleo from Killian. Kill has been carefully planning his vengeance for years, and is more committed that ever to making those responsible for all of his and Cleo's suffering pay. Knowing what needs to be done, Pure Corruption find themselves in a war with Dagger Rose. 

I had absolutely loved Cleo and Kill in the first book, and I still liked them both here. But I have to admit that I didn't love them as much as I had before, and these weren't the same characters that they were before. Cleo seemed to have lost her spark in S&S, and she just felt like a shell of her former self. Yes she was strong and a survivor, but she also seemed a bit meek and mild compared to the woman we had previously known. She had moments where she seemed to get some of that back, but for the most part she let Kill get away with keeping her in the dark despite knowing that he was constantly lying to her. Kill didn't let Cleo in at all here. He had agreed to let her in and that they needed trust, and I thought that would be the turning point. However he just continued to hide everything from her as the book progressed, and honestly I didn't see the need for it. Cleo was by his side no matter what, and with how supportive she was I just couldn't really see his justification for his actions. 

I also had an extremely tough time getting through this book from 30% to about 70%. It was so slow and overly detailed that I found myself wanting to skim because I had lost interest and was bored. Not a lot happened, and there was so much that could have been condensed. As much as I love steamy scenes, there were so many that just seemed unnecessary during that portion, and I didn't even find those catching my attention. I think that this book easily could have been shorter, and it would have flowed much better and been the second book that I had been hoping for. As much as I had been looking forward to getting more of these characters and seeing how things would go for them, I ended up pretty disappointed after forcing myself to finish just to find out what happened. While I love Pepper Winters and will definitely read more from her, I am sad to say that this wasn't my favorite of hers.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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Interview with Author Pepper Winter and Giveaway

Meet Pepper Winters, author of Sin & Suffer.

Pepper Winters is a New York Times and USA Today international bestseller. She loves dark romance, star-crossed lovers, as well as the forbidden and taboo. She strives to write a story that makes readers crave what they shouldn't, and delivers complex plots and unforgettable characters that keep readers talking long after the last page is turned.

On a personal note she loves to travel, has an addiction to creme brulee, and is married to an incredible Canadian who puts up with her endless work hours and accompanies her on signings. She's also a firm believer that the impossible can become possible.

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ARC Review: Ruin & Rule by Pepper Winters

I am a huge fan of all things Pepper Winters, so I could not wait to read Ruin & Rule. There is absolutely no one else like Pepper out there, so I know that with each story I am in for a unique story that will be unlike anything I have read before. Ruin & Rule definitely lived up to that, and I cannot even begin to tell you enough why you need to be reading Pepper Winters. If you like dark and unique stories, she is a must read author. 

She has no idea who she is or how she ended up where she is. All she knows is that she will do anything to find answers. He is the president of the Corrupt, and will do whatever it takes to get vengeance for all that he has lost. Can she find her answers from the one man who might be her biggest enemy? Can he let go of his vengeance long enough to have a chance at redemption?

It is really hard for me to give too many details about this book without giving a ton away, so this review will be fairly vague. The heroine of this story has no idea who she is and all she wants is to find out what has happened to her and about her life. She feels a strong connection to Kill, but she doesn't know why. These two had so many questions and things that they were in the dark about, and yet there was clearly a connection between them. Kill didn't let others close, and he didn't have time for any distractions. But yet he also knew there was something between them, and he had a tough time fighting it. I loved these two, and honestly the more I got to know the more that was true. Each of these characters had demons, and yet when they were together it was absolute perfection. They were different than any characters I have read before, and I couldn't get enough of them. 

This was another one of those books from Pepper Winters that I just couldn't put down. Once I started I had to keep reading, because like the characters in this book I was dying for answers. There is so much going on here, and with each new piece of the puzzle revealed I became that much more hooked. Pepper Winters is the queen of twists and turns, and I never knew what was fully going on or who was worthy of trust here. But that is what makes each of Pepper's books so great, and I honestly would not have it any other way! This book does end in a cliffhanger, in true Pepper fashion, and I am dying for more as I try to patiently wait for Sin & Suffer. If you are a fan of Pepper's, you will definitely want to check this book out. If you are new to Pepper Winters, I highly recommend this or any of her books because you really can't go wrong with anything that has her name on it!

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Third Debt by Pepper Winters

Third Debt is the fourth book in the Indebted Series, and these absolutely have to be read in order. If you haven't read any of the previous books in this series make sure that you start there before reading this book or review. This series gets better with every single book, and I honestly have no idea how Pepper Winters does it! She weaves everything together perfectly, giving us just enough to drive us mad and keep us reading! This installment was honestly the best yet, and it absolutely brought out all the emotions! I have no idea what will happen next, but I can't wait to find out! 

Nila Weaver and Jethro Hawk are no longer the same people they once were. The debts have changed them, and they find themselves torn between what they have known all their lives, and what has happened since finding one another. With so much on the line, they find themselves facing dangers and punishments far worse than they have ever experienced. Now they must try and prepare themselves for the next debt, and it will test them more than any of the previous debts have. 

I love these characters so much, and we have honestly seen so much change in them over the course of these four books. Jethro struggles so much with what he is and how Nila affects him, but he also still craves approval from his family. We really see a lot more to him in this book, and finally begin to get some answers about what makes him the way he is. Nila is strong and yet she has also figured out that she has no control over her feelings for Jethro. She loves him and wants to be there for him, but she also struggles with everything that is surrounding them and what he must do. But for me, this book was an eye opener when it came to Kestrel. I have always liked him, but I absolutely fell in love with him in this installment. He is so much more than we have ever seen, and I found myself hoping for more and more of him as the story continued. 

To me, this installment was the most intense one yet. Things started off a bit slow with the aftermath of the previous book and where we were left after the second debt. But then things started to change and as the third debt approached, I knew we were in for something shocking. I felt so bad for Nila and all that she was going through, because she was completely blindsided by the third debt. She had no idea it was coming, and it was heartbreaking to watch. I have no idea what awaits these characters as they still have the fourth and ultimate debts left, but I know that the ride is far from over. I think that this cliffhanger is by far the worst of the series, and it really might kill me to wait. That ending left me reeling, and I have so many questions. As much as I had hated Cut before, I absolutely loathed him after this installment and I really hope he gets everything he deserves. I need the next book in the worst way, and I know that things are not even close to over. Knowing Pepper Winters, we still have many more dark and twisted things to come before we get to the end. I am still hoping for some kind of HEA, but I know that whatever the ending is it won't come easy and the journey is far from over.

**ARC Provided by TRSOR Promotions**

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Review: Monsters in the Dark Box Set by Pepper Winters

After reading the first three books in the Debt Inheritance Series by Pepper Winters, I couldn't wait to read more by her. So I jumped at the chance to read her Monsters in the Dark Series. I had heard so many good things about this series, but it was honestly one that I just hadn't gotten around to reading yet. I cannot believe that it took me this long! Seriously this series sucked me right in from the start, and I cannot get enough of Tess and Q! 

 Tears of Tess

Tess has noticed that her sex life has been a bit stale with her boyfriend Brax, so when he surprises her with a vacation to Cancun she thinks it is the perfect time to spice things up a bit. She never expects to be kidnapped and taken to France to the estate of Q Mercer. At first Tess believes that Q will be just as bad as those that took her, but she quickly realizes that things are different with him. Though she knows it's wrong, she can't help but be drawn to him. Tess finds herself changing the more time that she spends in Q's home, and before long she starts to see that Q is not at all like she thought he was. Will Brax find her and take her home, or will Tess be forever changed before she has a chance to return to her home? 

Q and Tess were such complicated characters, and I found myself loving them as soon as they were introduced. Tess wanted more from her life than what she was getting with Brax. While he was sweet and treated her well, she was bored and found herself with desires that he was unable to fulfill. I loved how strong Tess was and I really enjoyed seeing her fight back. She wasn't going to just accept her fate and let others do what they pleased, and I was glad that she was so feisty. That being said, she was also capable of letting go and relinquishing control when she wanted to. Her connection with Q was instant, and these two were the perfect match for one another. They completed each other in a way that no one else did, and I found it so interesting how they just understood one another. Q was such a mystery at first and though he started off looking as bad as they come, I really enjoyed seeing how he really was beneath the facade. With each new layer peeled back we got to see him in a whole new light, and it was easy to see why Tess would be so drawn to him. These two had insane chemistry and were so hot together. They were exactly what they needed and wanted when it came to their physical desires, and I loved the passion between them. 

I could not put this book down, and a lot of that was because of the connection that was forming between Q and Tess. Though these two came together in such horrible circumstances, it was clear that they were meant to find one another. I loved how Pepper Winters showed the reader that sometimes the road is a difficult one, but that we will somehow get to where we need to be. Beyond the darkness there is light, and sometimes we find ourselves in places that we never expected. Pepper Winters is a fantastic writer, and I love that I can never tell what will happen next. She masterfully weaves her stories together in a way that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. Her stories are raw and gritty, and are not for everyone. But I love that they are so unique and different, and I am a huge fan of hers. I cannot wait to get more of Q and Tess, and see what happens next for these two. 

Quintessentially Q

Quintessentially Q is the second book in the Monsters in the Dark series, and this book picks up right after the end of Tears of Tess so make sure you start there first. Tess and Q have found that they belong to each other. The complete each other in ways they never knew before finding one another. Though their path to each other wasn't easy, they knew that they were meant to be together. But now that they have embraced their desires and each other, they must learn how to deal with everything that means. Though their relationship is unconventional, it works for them. But sometimes finding each other is the easy part, it is working through the obstacles that can make or break a relationship.

Tess and Q are some of my absolute favorite characters, but this book was so hard at times for me. The way these two came together should have been the worst thing that they would ever go through, and yet they had even more thrown their way in this book. I loved Q and Tess together, and though most wouldn't agree with how they were with one another it worked for them. Tess and Q couldn't be defined by most people's standards, and I loved that they embraced their desires for one another and accepted each other as is. They both wanted to own one another, and it was clear that they did. We really got to see such different sides of them in this book with everything that they went through, and at times it really broke my heart. I was glad that we got to see a whole new depth to their relationship though, and it was clear that things had progressed so far beyond just the physical for these two. They still had the passion and chemistry, but they also had this undeniable connection that is so rare and hard to find. 

This book was again proof of Pepper Winter's fabulous writing. I couldn't put it down, and though it was hard to get through I devoured it. I had so many emotions while reading this book, and I have to admit I was kind of all over the place. This book really messed with my mind. It was dark and raw, and I honestly didn't know what would happen from one chapter to the next. I hoped that everything would come out for the best with Q and Tess, but there were times that I honestly worried for them and the relationship that they had found with one another. Vengeance is never easy, and the affects it had on these two was profound. I honestly cannot wait to see what happens next in this series though and I really liked where we left off with these two. I am curious to see what else Pepper has in store for these characters. This series is quickly becoming a favorite of mine, just as Pepper Winters has become a new favorite author for me as well. 

Twisted Together 

Twisted Together is the third book in this series, and it picks up after Tess is back home with Q again. Though she is back home and with Q, she is still not the same as she was. Tess no longer craves the pain that her and Q have always found pleasure in, and though she loves Q she doesn't know how to get back to where she was before. Q would do anything for Tess, but he no longer knows how to deal with her nightmares. As Tess tries to pretend that she is fine, she continues to struggle with the aftermath of everything that has happened. Just when it appears that Q is able to break through to her, they are once again thrown into a situation that they hoped to never finds themselves in. But can they face their demons once again and come out on top, or will this be the one that breaks them for good? 

Q and Tess have gone through so much. They have both suffered and in each other they found the means to survive. But this book again finds them starting over and having to face more horrors that they shouldn't have to experience again. The one thing that has never changed throughout this series is the intense connection that Q and Tess share. They have been drawn to each other from the very start, and the bond they share has only grown stronger. But Q and Tess weren't connecting physically as they had before in this book, and that had a huge effect on their relationship. I wanted them to figure things out so badly in this book, as it was clear that their love for one another could never be broken. I knew that these two had to find a way to get everything back and move forward with their lives because they were meant to be together. 

While I did enjoy getting more of Q and Tess, I have to say that this book wasn't what I had been hoping for. It was extremely long, and I felt a lot of it was unnecessary. There were huge portions of the story that seemed to rehash things from the past and I felt like it had a tendency to drag. I found myself wanting to skim parts of their story for the first time in this series, and it made me sad because I absolutely love these characters. I think I just got lost in so many details, and the constant struggles that Tess was going through. I felt like we had already dealt with so many of them, and I thought that she was better after the last book. It seemed like we were back to square one and I didn't want to read the same thing I had before. I also felt like we were constantly getting a rehashing of the past with her constantly falling back inside her head and what she had experienced before. She kept remembering the same things from her captors, and I didn't need to hear it over and over to remember what had happened. Though I did enjoy seeing how things turned out for them, I honestly felt like that could have been done with far less words and a shorter book. I know there is a novella coming as well, and while I want to read it for more Tess and Q I am worried that I will have the same problems as I did here. I am really hoping that it will be something new for them and not be the same thing repeated again with a few changes. While I did struggle to get through this book, I still think that this series is worth reading. Tess and Q's story is one that I have been captivated with from the start, and I have loved how different and unique it is. These two are so different from any other characters I have ever read, and their connection is unlike any I have seen before. 

Overall

Overall, I will definitely be reading more from Pepper Winters in the future. I highly recommend her if you are looking for something different. Her stories are on the dark side, and are always raw and intense. Though some will have some issues with the things that happen, I also love that they are unpredictable and deal with things that are not commonly written about in romance.

**Review Copy Provided by As the Pages Turn**

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