I'd done so many unspeakable things to hundreds of innocent people.
As a result, my death was as gory and as gruesome as I'd imagined.
There was a knife. Blood. Swearing and screaming.



Beard is the unapologetic guard and executioner in an off-shore prison located in rural Venezuela. Mercy is definitely not his middle name. When he meets an alluring woman during rest in Miami a business deal is set in motion. Little does he suspect- everything isn’t as it seems. Animal is a spin-off from Prisoned featuring Beard and his story.

Beard had been my name for enough years. It had started when Inmate #326, Kyle Lang, came into my prison. She was the only captive who had ever left my jail alive.



Another storyline follows Beards’ seamlessly; Tyler is a young college student and finds a job that is too-good-to-be-true. Tyler becomes a female worker for an elite and illegal organization after being recruited by her roommate Wynter. Both storylines happen in present and as flashbacks and you won’t guess how the two come to be connected!

I must be honest while reading this I thought DAMN this is sooo good-so much better than the first! In my opinion nothing like the first book- I would 100% recommend reading this as a standalone. I connected with the characters and plot 10x more with this one than the first. The action and surprises were non-stop. I found the organization Tyler joined to be completely unique and my heart was pounding as she discovered what it was she was truly supposed to do. This book didn’t let up during the entire ride!!

I clung to the screams for a few more seconds, letting the noise fill my body, like it was liquid.

The ending.
WHOA. That was intense. I had an inclination a few people involved weren’t who they said they were but damn- I was impressed with how gruesome this got!

The epilogue.
Okay- I’ve been racking my brain- I don’t understand the newest twist. I truly thought over and over to any hints about the twist and could not figure it out! It didn’t make sense. I felt this epilogue was added for shock value instead of connecting to the actual plot. How? When?? Where?? Hmm… hopefully there will be another book to explain this. *Hmpf*

Tell me about Shank...


*Received an arc in exchange for an honest review*

My flower's thorns were already dripping with the blood of her enemies.



Conrad Mercer watches the pretty little florist from a distance-a safe distance- or so he believes. When his florist, Charlie, is stolen by men out to get him Conrad surges forward to rescue the damsel he admires. Charlie knows there’s a man in a black Audi watching her but for some reason, she feels safer with him out there. When she ends up in a dingy basement with bad men she is thrust into the life of the mysterious man.

He was a battlefield, his story told with blood and scar tissue.



Once the door is opened it can’t be closed. Conrad may have found the missing piece he was always looking for but Charlie has dark secrets of her own.

Celia Aaron is definitely becoming a comfort read for me- her characters are flawed yet lovable and she totally nails the classic dynamic in dark romance. I absolutely love the fierce yet vulnerable heroine- she’s soft yet guarded and the perfect match for her total Alpha male who’s a bad boy with redeeming qualities. *drool*

Her soft breaths created a soundtrack that could soothe even the most vicious beast, myself included.



What put this as a 4.5 versus a 5-star rating depended on the fact that were soooo many opportunities to really gut the reader. Multiple times I felt at the brink for the action to get really DARK- which the dark and sadistic reader in me wanted. I totally understand this isn’t the writer’s style but I did find it a little unbelievable the heroine would be in the jaws of danger and narrowly escape unscathed each time.

Also, wow. There were some incredible back stories in this book! Completely unique and new- I want Charlie’s story BEFORE Conrad- now that’s a plot line I’m talking about it! Sorry can’t say it’s spoiler-y…

Also I would love to read Nate’s story going forward. Please pretty please!!

Overall, LOVED loved it- grab your glass of Chardonnay and curl up with a fur baby this is one that’ll make your heart sing ♥.

*Arc received in exchange for an honest review*