Title: Black Author: Aria Cole
Series: Sexy Modern Fairy Tale #1
Release date: May 8, 2016
(Sub)genres: Alpha, Contemporary Romance
Pages: 106
Buy: Amazon US ~ Amazon UK
Rating:
A beast, alone with the horrors of his past, the scar on his face a constant reminder of the man he’s become.
A beauty, on the run with her life in a tailspin, finds herself on his doorstep seeking protection.Deeply misunderstood and dedicated to his life of brooding solitude, Maxwell Black is hesitant to let Elle McKellan into his home where his hideous secrets hide. But he’s unable to resist the allure of this desperate stranger.
Soon the magnetism between them is undeniable, the temptation unbearable. Elle, reluctant to risk losing her heart to this dark and broken man, struggles against the sexual tension, only to surrender to the combustable heat between them.When Elle’s life catches up to her and threatens to tear them apart, Maxwell will protect the precious love he’s found by any brutal means necessary.
Black is a sexy, modern spin on the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale and is intended for mature audiences.
Every now and then I have to indulge myself with ‘guilty-pleasure’ reads; way over-the-top books with insta love, a ridiculous possessive Alpha and a young damsel in distress. Having read numerous of these books, I’m always open to new authors in this subgenre. Aria Cole is such an author. Although I have some issues with Black, for a first-time author it’s a nicely written story.
“He slowly moved his hand, brushing his fingers ever so gently along my arm. His touch felt like an artist’s brush and my body a blank canvas for him to mold. I was nothing and yet his touch made me feel like a priceless work of art.”
Maxwell and Elle are both damaged people. Maxwell’s scars are visible on the outside for everybody to see; an incident has left him permanently marked. To this day he lives a solitary life above his library, having as little contact with other people as possible. Elle has grown up with a horrible father who put her down at every chance he got. Surrounding himself with seedy criminals, she didn’t feel safe, always had to look behind her. While on the run for her father Elle seeks a job to support herself and meets Maxwell.
“I needed her. And I sensed something in her. Something that needed protecting. I felt it deep in my bones, and my cock didn’t mind having her around either.”
Although Maxwell is a stranger, Elle feels safe with him and Maxwell’s inner Alpha male comes to life the moment he sees her. All he feels is an overwhelming need to make Elle his, to have sex with her and never let her go. Feeling unsure about himself, he isn’t sure she will want him, but that doesn’t stop him making his move. Elle on the other hand has a bit more common sense. Yes, she’s very attracted to Maxwell, but she doesn’t let her hormones completely rule her decisions.
Black is your typical way over-the-top insta love story; an obsessive hero, a sweet innocent heroine and some twists and turns. But while I like Elle, Maxwell feels a little off. In order to make an insta love story really work for me, it doesn’t need an insecure hero who hides in a bathroom after the heroine tells him some pretty vital information. That was one big ‘no’ for me. Will I read future books by Aria Cole? Yes! Her new book White sounds very interesting, and I’m curious to see how it will go.
“But you didn’t even know me. I was nobody to you!” “Not true.” He laughed. “Not true at all, Elle. From the moment I saw you on my library steps, I felt something down deep in my stomach. Something pounding through my blood that told me I needed you.”
Black is my typical ‘guilty-pleasure’ read, but due to my issues I give this book 3 stars.
~~ Black was provided in exchange for an honest review ~~
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