Wanderlust by Skye Warren Review & Giveaway!

Can love come from pain?

Evie always dreamed of seeing the world, but her first night at a motel turns into a nightmare. Hunter is a rugged trucker willing to do anything to keep her—including kidnapping. As they cross the country in his rig, Evie plots her escape, but she may find what she's been looking for right beside her.

Wanderlust is a dark erotic novel which explores dubious consent, captivity, and power play. Please do not read this if you're uncomfortable with the subject matter or under 18 years of age.

Holly's Review

This is one of those stories that make you, as a human being, question what you sometimes know to be right or wrong, acceptable or unacceptable, crazy or normal. 

I know every time I pick up a Skye Warren book it is going to nudge me out of my comfort zone and that is what I love so much about her books. I love the way there hero is not necessarily a hero and the bad guy is not necessarily all bad guy, well he is but you learn to love around that. I know that sounds crazy but that is exactly how you feel when you finish! I fell in love with Hunter, not sure if I was supposed to, but I did. 

Like Alice, I had stepped through the looking glass into a whole new world, foreign and sinister 

This is how I felt as I read the story of Hunter and Evie. What starts out as a dark tale of a young girl traveling alone, kidnapped and brutalized (sort of) by a trucker ends up being a story of self-discovery and eventually love, albeit with some rough reading in between. But that’s what makes it a great story. 

My mother had lived in fear, and she was safe – but she was still afraid. I was the opposite of safe here, but I didn’t have to be afraid. Maybe that was the ultimate freedom.~ Evie 

Evie is one of those girls that was sheltered but also experienced some awful things at the hands of her mother’s boyfriends. She thought she was prepared for what she would find in the outside world, I mean, what could possibly happen to her traveling alone to Niagara Falls!? She was a bit naïve, bit life and her mother had made her that way. Yes, when Hunter kidnapped her I was scared for her but as the story progressed I realized Hunter for the enigma that he is and holy crap I kinda fell in love with him. 

There were some men you didn’t say no to 

Hunter was my favorite thing in this story, I know, you would expect me to care more for the poor girl he helped himself to but nope! That is why I love these stories. Hunter is the ultimate victim of his circumstance. Now, don’t think I condone kidnapping and rape and get all crazy on me I just see, like Evie did how Hunter became the kind of monster he believed he was. 

This wasn’t about right or wrong, love or hate 

Without giving anything important away, because you REALLY need to experience this story to come away with your own feelings and opinions, I will leave you with my favorite line of the story, one I believe sums up Hunter and Evie!!

He was the god of thunder, retreating from the world who had rejected him. I was the maiden he’d caught going over the edge, who he had secreted away in his lair beneath the falls 

I have to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to Skye Warren for providing me this ARC to enjoy and review! YOU ROCK WOMAN! KEEP THE GRITTY STORIES COMING! I LOVE THEM!

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Hear Me (#3) By Skye Warren

She doesn’t remember her past, only her training. She can’t talk, not that a good slave should speak out of turn. None of that matters when she wakes up in the warm, rustic room. Her new master is distant but kind. There’s only one problem: he doesn’t want her.

Longing for the shackles of safety, she pulls from the last dregs of her will to prove her worth as a slave. It seems to be working. He responds first to her body and next to her submission. The secrets of his past haunt the cabin, fraying the tightening bond between Master and slave, but it is her own memories that may finally unravel it.

This book contains a bonus short story Escape, set in the same dark erotica world.

WARNING:
This book contains explicit scenes of sex, including dubious consent and captivity situations. The BDSM does not conform to literary conventions, making it sometimes more realistic, and other times not. This is a work of fiction not appropriate for anyone uncomfortable with these situations or anyone under the age of eighteen.

Thessa's Review:


May I just state that I’m a huge fan of Skye Warren and her Dark Erotica Series. She is such a talented writer and these series, though short in length, packs quite an emotional punch. They are not for everyone, mind you, so be aware before you decide to pick it up. These stories are filled with dark subject matter that might push one’s comfort level. These series involve non-consent sex, slavery, and psychological torture. However, if you’re like me and are not bothered by the graphic nature that these subject matters often create, then you will find this series just as intriguing.

She paid her keep with obedience.

After reading Trust in Me, book two in the series, which I could not put down, I was anxiously waiting what was next in the series. From what I previously knew about this series, the opening scene where a woman is escaping was not a surprise. She’s running from her captors. She knows she’s on an island and spots a small boat, untied and bobbing on the shore. After climbing in, she passes out. When she awakens, she finds herself in new situation.

Her training kicked in. It didn’t matter how she had ended up here in this strange, comfortable room at the mercy of this strange, sinister-looking master. She knew what to do. Her limp body slid from the bed and dropped to its knees. The movement awakened a thousand new aches, but it couldn’t be helped. She bowed low, praying she looked properly worshipful.

Who is this man standing in front of her? Is he her new Master? Why is he being so kind? The longer she stays and the more this man shows her kindness, she wants nothing more than to stay with him. However, there’s something her new Master is hiding. Why doesn’t he want her?

Sam found this woman and wants to help her, but there’s one big problem: She’s not speaking. No matter how hard he tries, she won’t make a sound. There’s something about her submissiveness that’s provoking his Dom side. He tries to suppress it, especially after what happened in his past. Plus, he knows what she is, so her behavior towards him is just a result of her training; There’s no way she wants him of her own will, right?

It amazes me that this story packs such an emotional punch in a short amount of time. This story veered off a little from the previous two books. I was waiting for a certain villain from the previous two books to reappear, but nope, nothing. This could certainly be a stand alone, at least in my opinion. The ending also threw me for a loop. I had to read it twice to get it. I wasn’t expecting it and am still left a little confused as to how everything tied up. No worries, though. It didn’t ruin the story and everything turned out the way it should. I can’t wait for the next installment of this dark series.

 

Hear Me Blog Tour With Skye Warren

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Title: HEAR ME

Author: Skye Warren

Length: 32,000-word novella

Genre/Heat Level: Dark erotica

ISBN: 9780988363205

Blurb:c

She doesn’t remember her past, only her training. She can’t talk, not that a good slave should speak out of turn. None of that matters when she wakes up in the warm, rustic room. Her new master is distant but kind. There’s only one problem: he doesn’t want her.

Longing for the shackles of safety, she pulls from the last dregs of her will to prove her worth as a slave. It seems to be working. He responds first to her body and next to her submission. The secrets of his past haunt the cabin, fraying the tightening bond between Master and slave, but it is her own memories that may finally unravel it.

This book contains a bonus short story Escape, set in the same dark erotica world.

WARNING:
This book contains explicit scenes of sex, including dubious consent and captivity situations. The BDSM does not conform to literary conventions, making it sometimes more realistic, and other times not. This is a work of fiction not appropriate for anyone uncomfortable with these situations or anyone under the age of eighteen.

Book Trailer:

http://youtu.be/HsAdyjitG3E

Author Bio:

Skye Warren writes unapologetic erotica, where pain and sex and love collide. She has been called "a true mistress of dark and twisted erotica" and her dark erotica series has reached the bestseller lists at Amazon and been a Night Owl Reviews Top Pick.

Author Links:

Website: http://skyewarren.com/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/skye_warren

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skyewarren

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hear-Me-Dark-Erotica-ebook/dp/B009BUR5QM

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hear-me-skye-warren/1112922458?ean=2940015690354

All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-hearme-943870-144.html

Images:

Blog tour graphic: http://www.skyewarren.com/images/hearme-blogtour.jpg

Large book cover: http://www.skyewarren.com/images/hear-me-cover.jpg

Small book cover: http://www.skyewarren.com/images/hear-me-cover-small.jpg

Excerpts:

Three distinct excerpts are provided to help keep the tour content fresh. My expectation is that you will only use one of the excerpts in your post. Also, a rating is provided so that you can decide how “spicy” your excerpt will be—the last one is the tamest, if that’s what you prefer.

Excerpt 1 (strong sexual content)

Her training wasn’t about how to stand or to suck, not really. She had become an expert at reading expressions, at decoding body language. He was a formidable cipher, but she only needed time.

Meanwhile, she knew well enough what those heavy lids and flattened lips meant. She saw the tinge of red on his cheeks. All of that would have told her, even if she hadn’t seen the bulge in his wet jeans. He wanted to take her and this time, it wasn’t in his sleep. It wasn’t in some awkward moment, born of pity—no. He had initiated this. He had brought her to this magical place. No dream.

He seemed to like her forwardness, like a release valve to the curious guilt he had about her status, so she tentatively reached up to sweep a wet lock of hair from his forehead. He remained still for her touch, his expression one of approving forbearance. But when she went to stroke down his neck, he caught her wrist.

“I’m going to ask you something, and I want you to say no if you don’t want it too. I’m afraid you can’t. If I were better—stronger—I wouldn’t even make you choose, but I…” He sighed. The moisture in the air beaded on his eyelashes. “It’s been so long. I’ve waited so long.”

He pulled her in deeper, until the water climbed her thighs and lapped at her cunt. They followed the wall of the cave until it opened up onto a small beach that was completely enclosed by cool stone and reflective water. Barely enough place for both of them, but she knew that was the point. Here even the white noise of the water was reduced, and all she could hear was her breath and his.

“I never imagined a submissive as perfect as you,” he said lowly, but the words were as commanding as she’d ever heard him. “I keep thinking you’re not real, that I’ll wake up and find myself alone again. But this isn’t real, is it? You aren’t really like this. They made you this way.”

Don’t make me think about it. Just want me.

“Jesus Christ,” he said. “When you look at me, so damn trusting. It’s not right. I know that, but I can’t stop. Will you let me, subby? Can I hurt you?”

Excerpt 2 (Some sexual references)

In a reckless burst of courage, she reached out and put her hand directly on his cock. At first it felt like nothing, just the flat stiffness of his jeans. But then, there, it jumped beneath her palm, lengthened.

This was solid ground. She could arouse him, then she would get him off. Any way he wanted it, she had probably done it before, or she could learn. He would see her value then. It wasn’t exactly obedient to grope your Master without express orders to do so. The opposite, really, but she was desperate.

He put his hand on the top of her head, not pushing her closer or away. It was sweet, his hesitation, and she thought for a moment that he would let her get away with it. God, she would do anything. Please.

He gently pushed her hand away.

She wanted to live. How pathetic.

Tears fell in hot tracks down her cheeks.

“Someone really did a number on you, didn’t they?” he asked.

At his words, she looked into his eyes. Amazingly, they were filled with something like understanding. It was probably better that she couldn’t speak then, because she would have begged for him to help her. But she didn’t deserve his benediction. She’d failed.

“Here’s what we’re going to do.” He slid his hand around her neck, grasping her firmly from behind. She melted into the firm touch. “You’re going to sleep now. Stay off the floor. Nod for me.”

She nodded vigorously, her eyes downcast in joy.

His fingers still curled behind her neck, he swept his thumb along her cheek, then down over her neck. Back and forth, he caressed her. She stayed still, watching as her breath ruffled the dark hairs on his forearm.

He moved his thumb against her mouth then pushed it inside. She closed her lips around it, eager to suck it. He tasted of salt and earth and hope. This was her chance to touch him, to please him, to show him badly she wanted this.

She swirled her tongue around the tip, worshipping his thumb like she wanted to worship his cock. Like she wanted to lick every part of him, if it meant she could stay. The soft wet sounds filled the room, tangling with the harsh sounds of his breathing.

She begged with the warmth and wetness of her mouth. She implored with the skill of her tongue. Every swipe promised pleasure, if only.

He pulled his hand away.

Excerpt 3 (No sexual content, little-to-none explicit language)

Even the earth conspired to keep her. Branches grabbed at her skin like talons; the beach was quicksand, dragging her down. Hope was too abstract to compete with the sound of men shouting behind her. Even her fear was drowned by the ragged beat of her heart.

“Melody!” The voice sounded closer than the thrashing of leaves and branches.

Run, run away, don’t look back.

Her eyes, already stunted by lack of food, filled with grit and precious moisture. If she made it to the water, she could float away. Even if only to drift down to the bottom, entombed in sand castles and chained by seaweed. They would take her prisoner; they would keep her safe.

A battered person was cracked soil, but dreams were like weeds. She could survive this. That was the goal she set for herself, huddled in the cold, damp cell. She had clung to it as they touched her, beat her. Trained her.

The line of frothy water was in her sights but disappointment seared her. She was too far away, the sand too thick.

An extra burst of energy propelled her two more stumbling steps. Her legs gave out. She clenched and released fistfuls of sand, not even sure she was actually crawling forward.

Coolness lapped at her fingertips, surprising her. Her mind, tired and rusty, turned that information over. She had made it. Water. Safety? No, freedom.

A slow, steady thwapping noise drew her gaze upward. A small green boat bobbed in the shallow water. Gentle waves flicked its hull, almost soothing, like the caress of a flogger. The rhythm thrummed through her. Even without the sting of impact, her mind began the slide.

No. Subspace meant security but not today. Right now it meant death, and she refused to die.

She blinked away the salt in her eyes and clawed through the water to the boat. With a strength that surprised her, she climbed over the edge, tumbling into the grimy bottom. It rocked gently with her weight then settled back into the gentle bob.

The boat wasn’t tied down anywhere, but there wasn’t an oar. Not that she had the strength to use one or a place to go.

Never mind. Her wish had been granted. She would drift out to sea, like a message in a bottle.

Her head lolled against the rim of the boat. She breathed in the pungent smell of earth and moss. Her last thought before she drifted off to sleep was fanciful. She imagined a giant plucking her from the water, unfurling her like a scroll, and reading the lines slashed into her skin.

She wondered what they would say.

Giveaway:

   

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Skye Warren is giving away a $100 Amazon gift card and four $25 Barnes & Noble gift cards on this tour.Fill out the rafflecopter down below to enter for the chance to win the giftcards,then,enter to win her novel,by leaving a comment below. What do you enjoy about reading dark books?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Skye Warren, author spot and giveaway

We are welcoming Skye Warren to our blog today.  She is an erotica author, contemporary, and DARK.  We have read her dark erotica and have enjoyed her.  If you enjoy your erotica dark, gritty, and at times disturbing stay tuned for the excerpt, and there will be a chance for a giveaway as well. 

Please welcome Skye Warren!

Sneak Peak from Hear Me by Skye Warren

Thanks to Sam, Elena and Rhonda for hosting me at their very awesome blog today! I hooked up with them back when Rhonda reviewed Trust in Me. Hear Me, the sequel, is coming out later this August and I want to share a special sneak peak excerpt with you fine ladies. This excerpt is exclusive, for Sam, R’s and R’s Awesomeness reader eyes only. But first, here’s the blurb:

She doesn’t remember her past, only her training. She can’t talk, not that a good slave should speak out of turn. None of that matters when she wakes up in the warm, rustic room. Her new master is distant, but kind. There’s only one problem: he doesn’t want her.

Longing for the shackles of safety, she pulls from the last dregs of her will to prove her worth as a slave. It seems to be working. He responds first to her body and next to her submission. The secrets of his past haunt the cabin, fraying the tightening bond between Master and slave, but it is her own memories that may finally unravel it.

WARNING:

This book contains explicit scenes of sex, including dubious consent and captivity situations. The BDSM does not conform to literary conventions, making it sometimes more realistic, and other times not. This is a work of fiction not appropriate for anyone uncomfortable with these situations or anyone under the age of eighteen.

 This excerpt is near the beginning when she has woken up in this stranger’s home. And, go:

For as long as she could remember, which albeit wasn’t long, she had wanted to be owned. Not in the compound amid the huddle of slaves and litany of trainers, but by one Master. Now she stood on a precipice between a generic slave and one with hope. She wanted this Master.

She flipped through the ways she knew to please and placate, all of them sexual. Her body was torn to bits, not pretty or sexy right now, if it ever was. She had no feminine wiles – none. Her body was too skinny, all the trainers berated her for it. Scrawny, weak.

In a reckless burst of courage, she reached out and put her hand directly on his cock. At first it felt like nothing, just the flat stiffness of his jeans. But then, there, it jumped beneath her palm, lengthened.

This was solid ground. She could arouse him, then she would get him off. Any way he wanted it, she had probably done it before, or she could learn. He would see her value then. It wasn’t exactly obedient to grope your Master without express orders to do so. The opposite, really, but she was desperate.

He put his hand on the top of her head, not pushing her closer or away. It was sweet, his hesitation, and she thought for a moment that he would let her get away with it. God, she would do anything. Please.

He gently pushed her hand away.

She wanted to live. How pathetic.

Tears fell in hot tracks down her cheeks.

“Someone really did a number on you, didn’t they?” he asked.

At his words, she looked into his eyes. Amazingly, they were filled with something like understanding. It was probably better that she couldn’t speak then, because she would have begged for him to help her. But she didn’t deserve his benediction. She’d failed.

 “Here’s what we’re going to do.” He slid his hand around her neck, grasping her firmly from behind. She melted into the firm touch. “You’re going to sleep now. Stay off the floor. Nod for me.”

She nodded vigorously, her eyes downcast in joy.

His fingers still curled behind her neck, he swept his thumb along her cheek, then down over her neck. Back and forth, he caressed her. She stayed still, watching as her breath ruffled the dark hairs on his forearm.

He moved his thumb against her mouth, then pushed it inside. She closed her lips around it, eagerly to suck it. He tasted of salt and earth and hope. This was her chance to touch him, to please him, to show him badly she wanted this.

She swirled her tongue around the tip, worshipping his thumb like she wanted to his cock. Like she wanted to lick every part of him, if it meant she could stay. The soft wet sounds filled the room, tangling with the harsh sounds of his breathing.

She begged with the warmth and wetness of her mouth. She implored with the skill of her tongue. Every swipe promised pleasure, if only.

He pulled his hand away.

Her lips were still parted, damp from his ministrations. She stayed perched on the bed, in supplication. A bulge rounded his jeans. His nostrils flared with what she recognized as arousal.

He turned and left the room.

She stared at the door for what felt like hours, until her limbs ached and her eyelids grew heavy. No trick. She sank into the clean bed.

She caught the slight sound of crickets outside, serenading her under the window. He had been surprised to learn about her defect, but he had worked around it. Nod for me. Maybe he would keep her after all.

As you may have guessed, they have some ways to go. The slavers present an immediate danger and he’s got a tortured past, but it’s something else that will threaten everything she’s learned to hold dear. 

 Be sure to read Trust in Me before Hear Me releases. And to that end, I’m offering one free copy of Trust in Me to a commenter from below. What did you think of the excerpt? Got any hot guesses about how it’s going to go down?

Below The Belt by Skye Warren

Black belt Abe Montgomery is focused on winning gold. But at nationals, Abe meets Paris, a beautiful, mysterious woman. Paris Rivera has sworn off men and martial arts. Her black belt cost her more than years of dedication and sweat. The fight of Abe’s life looms ahead, with his dreams of owning a school and his future with Paris hanging in the balance. He may dominate on the mats, but he’s fallen hard for her. When the time comes for them to part, he may not be able to let go. 

Rhonda's Review

Below the Belt by Skye Warren

I read  my first Skye Warren novella a few weeks ago, and got a glimpse into the darker side of her mind in Trust In Me.  Now I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the softer side of Skye Warren in Below The Belt.  The things that have held true on both sides is her ability to convey believable human emotion.  I really enjoy her writing style, and in Below the Belt I got to see a little of her humor that came through in her characters.  I also enjoyed the setting of the story. My brother is a 3rd degree black belt in taekwondo, and I’m familiar with the ceremonies, and competitions, so this came across realistic to me. 

Abe Montgomery is a martial arts black belt competing at nationals in Seattle.  A night out and bantering with the guys spurs a wager for Abe Montgomery that involves getting into some girls’ panties.  Well Mr. Montgomery didn’t have to look very far. Just beyond the table of groupies to the beautiful girl sitting alone in the shadows. Paris Rivera seems to be a bit of a challenge at first, but she quickly concedes to the charming Abe Montgomery.  I can’t say that I blame her, I would have been throwing my panties at him too.  It takes no time for Abe to determine that Paris is the kind of young lady he would like to actually get to know,  but Paris isn’t so sure that’s such a good idea.

Abe is striving for a gold medal, the ticket to making his dreams come true.  While Paris is striving to get as far away from the martial arts world as possible.  Along the way, Abe realizes that the gold medal he has been working so hard toward may not be the only ticket to his happiness. And Paris realizes that second chances are deserved, even for her.

I enjoyed the H/h in this little story.  Abe is, sweet, charming, compassionate, and oh so sexy!! (Purrr)  Paris is so cute, and caring, and sassy, I enjoyed her a lot as well.  The possibilities have been left open for a sequel to this story, so I hope there will be. 

Trust In Me (#2) By Skye Warren

Mia longs for the daily torture to end, but one last task keeps her holding on. In a betrayal of the crime lord who pulled her from the gutter, she’ll free the shipment of human cargo, and if she’s lucky, die in the process. The alternative is unfathomable, even to a woman well-versed in erotic torture. But luck abandons her yet again when she meets the security expert in charge of the shipment and finds herself face to face with her childhood crush. The man she once begged for help. The man who failed her.

Tyler Martinez is an undercover FBI agent with one chance to right the wrongs of his past. Thrust deep into the seedy world of human trafficking, he must put aside his guilt over abandoning Mia all those years ago in order to save her now.

Someone’s pulling the strings in this sadistic play on trust, but Tyler and Mia may not live long enough to see the curtain fall. Trust in Me is a story of erotic pain and incipient romance, spiraling ever faster toward betrayal or redemption.

WARNING:
This book contains explicit scenes of dubious consent, graphic violence and sex. It also depicts abuse and captivity situations. Not appropriate for anyone uncomfortable with these situations or anyone under the age of eighteen. This is a work of fiction.

"Dark, disturbing, haunting, and beautiful, Skye Warren will take you into the depths of depravity but bring you home, safe in the end." -- Kitty Thomas, author of "The Last Girl"

Holly's Review:

 Not sure where to begin here, I have spent the last 2 days working on putting my thoughts together to review this book. I have given this book 4 stars but it doesn’t feel right to say I enjoyed it because the nature was so painful to read. So, I will start by saying this, this book is about a woman, Mia, who is in the middle of a human trafficking/slave ring. She was saved from the streets by the man who is now her master but even though she says he saved her, that is not the word I would use, as now she is his slave. The hardest part of reading this book, was not necessarily the, what I felt as rape and abuse of this woman, but the knowledge that she felt that she deserved this and was not worth anything more, that she was simply now a whore and that her life was not worth anything.

Enter Tyler Martinez, when Mia sees Tyler meeting with her master she is shocked to see him all these years later. She doesn’t believe for one minute that her teenage crush could be involved with these monsters and she is right, Tyler is an undercover FBI agent there to save Mia in a way that he was unable to do all those years before, in addition to helping shut down this leg of the sex trafficking ring. He needs to prove to Mia that he can be that savior she needed all those years ago.

I think what hurts me most about reading a book like this is that even though this is entirely a work of fiction, what takes place within is anything but. We all know that these monsters exist and this kind of abuse is actually out there. But that said, this is a work of fiction and I took a line from the book synopsis that is the best description of this story I have seen - Trust in Me is a story of erotic pain and incipient romance, spiraling ever faster toward betrayal or redemption.

This book is definitely not for the faint of heart and as I said before, it feels wrong to say I enjoyed this book but the writing was fantastic. Any book that can pull such an emotional response from me in just 100 pages I have to say a big thank you to the author!