All I can say is buckle up for this continuation of a ride with these amazing stories. This series and these books made this author into a one-click one because when she creates a story she is not afraid to dip her toes into the darkness.

Devastate
4.6 Sweet Jesus Stars

This book. I was not prepared for this book. I didn't think anyone could top Van's place in this series. I was wrong. Tate. Sweet holy titfire. This man-made me believe in love again. The things he endured for Lucia. I cannot even. I loved watching his character grow as he came to heal from his time being a victim. I enjoyed watching his connection with Van grow into something more than a painful past reminder. I lived for their interactions. My heart broke for both of them at one part in particular. I enjoyed Lucia and her resilience to overcome also. She lost a lot in this story and that saddened me. It is a testament to her character that she didn't break doing what she was forced to do.

The story paved the way for where it was going next and I look forward to those characters. Definitely a great series but I differ in my opinion from other reviewers. I do not think this could be read as a standalone. I think it is important to build on the foundation of this story and see how far the characters have come (especially Van) in order to atone for what they have done in the past or what they had to endure.

Take
4.7 stars

it is official. This author is a wizard. She made me feel for the devil incarnate, Tiago. After the last book, I didn't think that was even possible. Yet, She cast a spell and let me see about this complex man. I shouldn't be surprised considering that she was able to redeem Van but good lord this man was not a good man...or so I thought. Even in the moments when I wanted to truly hate him he still had a certain Je ne sais quois charisma about him. His devotion to Boones and Arturo was also surprising but it added to his depth. Kate. That sweet girl. I liked that she never gave up and that in the end, she discovered a sense of peace that she had been long since missing.

I am getting more and more intrigued by Cole. I need to know more. I am hoping that he gets his own book. This series is definitely not for anyone that doesn't have the stomach for the darker side. Yet, even though this story delves into the darker side of things that happen in real life, the author still manages to give hope and that is part of the draw for me. It is done with a sense of authenticity.

Manipulate
4.4 stars

This series. My heart hurts. I am glad that even amongst all the darkness and heavy topics that this author still manages to give me, the reader, something to connect with. The backstory of Martin was awful but it explained so much about why he was the way he was and what Van alluded to with Ricky. Petula and Ricky had their own issues so combined with Ricky it made sense that somehow they would all heal together.

The ending had me a little perplexed. The whole story had been building up to this moment and I didn't feel like it got the attention that it should have. It felt rushed. I still enjoyed the story and am curious as to know what happens next with Luke and Vera. ( )

Anthology 5 of 5 stars

Heat 5 of 5 stars

Books included: Devastate, Take, Manipulate

Devastate 5 of 5 stars

Tate Vades mother was a whore and when she died the other whore's raised him. He loved each of them and became a whore himself. At fourteen he was raped and later he was kidnapped and sexually tortured by Van. He's a sexual dominate and a survivor of abuse.

Tate has loved Camila since she rescued him from the human slavery ring. Knowing Camila is forever out of his reach he is determined to find her lost sister Lucia. When an investigator finds Lucia, Tate is determined to rescue her, even if that means accepting Van as his back up.

Lucia Dias was kidnapped into a slave ring, but after a bus accident was believed dead. In actuality she was taken in by sadistic psychopath who's business is to kidnap people and ransom them back to their loved ones. She's forced to participate in the operations until she meets Tate and he gives her hope.

Both of these two have had rough and ugly in their lives, this is another dark tale with rape, torture and abuse, but it also has this amazing love story. What would you do for love? This couple will find out and be taken far beyond what they ever imagined. I don't often cry for characters but I cried for these two. In addition seeing Van and Tate with all their ugly history together was beyond words. Pam Godwin doesn't sugar coat life she peels back the glittery to making you see not just the good but also some of the ugly reality and still find humanity.

Take 5 of 5 stars

Tiago Badell is a crime lord, a rapist, a kidnapper and a sadist. He kidnaps Kate as payment for Tate taking Lucia from him. He will fuck with your mind.

Kate was kidnapped before and viciously trained to be a sex slave before she was freed, being kidnapped again could have broke her. Kate is such a fighter she will not let Tiago take her down!

This story will take you all over the map, from the horror Kate relives being kidnapped again, unknowing her fate, to her rape and struggles with her attraction to her captor. Tiago is a sick bastard, I honestly didn't think Pam Godwin could win me over for this guy. But in the end there is something compelling about a man that becomes so devoted that he's willing to make such significant changes for the woman he loves.

I loved Kate's strength and that she fought Tiago all the way. These are two fierce people that are perfect for each other, even if I don't get all their kinky ways, I get that it works for them. This isn't an easy read but if you like dark romance it's deliciously dark.

Manipulate 5 of 5 stars

Oh My God!

From the first chapter Pam Godwin drops you into the underbelly of the Mexican Cartel and corrupt militia/police force. I swear I could feel every thing Tula was feeling, from her initial carefree, indulge herself feelings in the beginning to her anger and worry for her sister and then the horror when she was taken and tortured.

That first chapter…. OH MY LORD!!!!! I saw it coming and I thought I new what was coming and I was wrong!!! I had no idea, it felt so real and intense that every time I think about it, I still shiver. Even after everything she endured, I loved that she didn't give up, she kept looking for ways to survive, and fight through this story.

Ricky and Martin were both kidnapped and enslaved, now they work with others to take out sex traffickers. They go undercover in one of Mexico's worst prisons to get all the information they can to take out the La Rocha Cartel and it's leaders.

Ricky is openly bisexual and wants Martin so badly but Martin has been celibate since escaping slavery seven years ago.

Martin was horribly abused as a boy and the kidnaping and slavery damaged him in ways that he's afraid to be intimate.

It is heartbreaking to know that these sorts of things are happening out in the real world, Pam Godwin doesn't sugar coat anything, she brings you in, makes you feel all of it. As a survivor of abuse sometimes these things are difficult to read, but the way she does it has real meaning for the story and I appreciate that it wasn't just an ugly scene tossed in to shock readers. I love the idea of the Freedom Fighters working to end human trafficking and I loved how these three connected and in turn took care of each other under impossible circumstances.

There's so much happening in this book and surprises coming at you along the way that, if you can take the heat you'll not want to put this down, plus the foundations for the next book which I can't wait to read.
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