What do you think?
Rate this book
Empathy #1
Empathy
Blake:
I am a brother
I am a police detective
I am a contract killer
I don’t want to love
I don’t want to feel
I don’t want … EMPATHY.
They say some people are born with decreased activity in the front central lobe causing them a deficiency in empathy. Maybe that’s true about me but whether I was born this way or created in a moment of evil, empathy was something I didn’t possess until her green eyes met mine in the mirror and I couldn’t take her life.
I didn’t want to feel, didn’t want this woman in my life complicating how I lived but she was there at every turn. Sent to haunt me for my sins. Her light so bright she provoked a shadow from everyone she touched. When a job turns bad quickly altering my life forever I’m forced to feel. When nothing is making sense I’m forced to face truths I never would recover from. When life drowns you in its cruelty you don’t know which way the current will drag you or who you’ll become once you re-surface.
Melody:
I was a daughter
I was a student
I was a victim
Did I have his love?
Did I make him feel?
Did I have his empathy?
When the actions of a soulless killer forces sorrow into my veins I never dreamed the man healing my wounds would be the one to leave the worst scar. His love would scar my soul. Scars are permanent; I will never feel the relief from them. Will I learn to live with them, remember why I have them and learn never to let him close enough to inflict more? Will I eventually cover them… like tattoos coating them with new memories, new love and new starts? I didn’t know these answers because the pain was too suffocating, the only thing I knew was they will always be under the surface lingering. He had scars too, from his sins. There is nothing that can cover them, they were too deep, too ugly, too dark and they marked us both forever.
Warning: This book will mess with your mind. It is a very dark, sexy, twisted romance novel. 18+ only.
I am a brother
I am a police detective
I am a contract killer
I don’t want to love
I don’t want to feel
I don’t want … EMPATHY.
They say some people are born with decreased activity in the front central lobe causing them a deficiency in empathy. Maybe that’s true about me but whether I was born this way or created in a moment of evil, empathy was something I didn’t possess until her green eyes met mine in the mirror and I couldn’t take her life.
I didn’t want to feel, didn’t want this woman in my life complicating how I lived but she was there at every turn. Sent to haunt me for my sins. Her light so bright she provoked a shadow from everyone she touched. When a job turns bad quickly altering my life forever I’m forced to feel. When nothing is making sense I’m forced to face truths I never would recover from. When life drowns you in its cruelty you don’t know which way the current will drag you or who you’ll become once you re-surface.
Melody:
I was a daughter
I was a student
I was a victim
Did I have his love?
Did I make him feel?
Did I have his empathy?
When the actions of a soulless killer forces sorrow into my veins I never dreamed the man healing my wounds would be the one to leave the worst scar. His love would scar my soul. Scars are permanent; I will never feel the relief from them. Will I learn to live with them, remember why I have them and learn never to let him close enough to inflict more? Will I eventually cover them… like tattoos coating them with new memories, new love and new starts? I didn’t know these answers because the pain was too suffocating, the only thing I knew was they will always be under the surface lingering. He had scars too, from his sins. There is nothing that can cover them, they were too deep, too ugly, too dark and they marked us both forever.
Warning: This book will mess with your mind. It is a very dark, sexy, twisted romance novel. 18+ only.
201 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 27, 2014
About the author
Ker Dukey
71 books4,773 followersKer Dukey is an International bestselling author based in the United Kingdom.
Genres include:
Dark Romance, Psychological Thriller, New Adult Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Erotic Romance. Ker, is an international bestselling author, with over thirty titles published. Her titles have held multiple #1 bestseller banners and have had rights sold to numerous countries.
In addition to being an author, Ker is an annoying wife and a mother of three children + one dog (who thinks he's human.) She has a passion for reading and binge-watching crime documentaries.
Find her on social media, where she loves interacting with her readers.
My readers' group: http://bit.ly/darKERgroup
My newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KerDukeyauthor
Website: http://kerdukeyauthor.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerdukey/
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2kuKWJl
Bookbub: https://tinyurl.com/y68uazav
PA: terriesin@gmail.com
REPRESENTATION:
lbla
lorella belli literary agency
54 Hartford House
35 Tavistock Crescent
Notting Hill
London W11 1AY
tel. + 44 (0) 20 7727 8547
fax. + 44 (0) 870 787 4194
info@lorellabelliagency.com
Genres include:
Dark Romance, Psychological Thriller, New Adult Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Erotic Romance. Ker, is an international bestselling author, with over thirty titles published. Her titles have held multiple #1 bestseller banners and have had rights sold to numerous countries.
In addition to being an author, Ker is an annoying wife and a mother of three children + one dog (who thinks he's human.) She has a passion for reading and binge-watching crime documentaries.
Find her on social media, where she loves interacting with her readers.
My readers' group: http://bit.ly/darKERgroup
My newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KerDukeyauthor
Website: http://kerdukeyauthor.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerdukey/
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2kuKWJl
Bookbub: https://tinyurl.com/y68uazav
PA: terriesin@gmail.com
REPRESENTATION:
lbla
lorella belli literary agency
54 Hartford House
35 Tavistock Crescent
Notting Hill
London W11 1AY
tel. + 44 (0) 20 7727 8547
fax. + 44 (0) 870 787 4194
info@lorellabelliagency.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,125 reviews
September 9, 2014
4-4.5 INSANE stars!
If any book deserves a huge what in the actual fuck was that? after reading, it is this book. It was twisty, turny, and a crazy wild ride, but it was entertaining as hell! I was completely engaged the entire time I was reading. So much mystery, suspense and things happening that were completely unexpected. Empathy really threw me for a loop!
This story was about Melody and two brothers named Blake and Ryan. Melody’s a college student with supportive and caring parents. She has a good life, a happy life. That is until the choices made by these two guys change it forever.
It’s hard to let you know what happens in any way without spoiling this story… so guess what- I’m not going to talk about the actual story. I will talk about the characters. Melody is a very likable heroine. She was the victim in this story. but she also had a tremendous amount of strength. She is kind, compassionate, but she also is kick ass when need be.
Ryan and Blake… there were times I loved and disliked the both of them. Most of the time, I loved them. Yes. I know. It’s insane. What can I say? I LOVE THE CRAZY ONES. The one time I really disliked one- was .
One is a ‘friend’ to Melody. One is a love interest. One has has her best interests at heart for the most part. The other has too many issues to give a shit about her or anyone else. Who’s the guy who cares? Who's the one who's too far gone to come back?
There is murder, mystery, suspense, sex and even some romance thrown into this crazy book. I really enjoyed it. It completely held my attention and made me think. My mind was running all over the place. I loved the originality and writing style. The intensity and fuckedupness. Overall, it was a great read for me. I’m really looking forward to the spin off book that this author is writing ;)
My advice for reading this book- go in as blind as you can and just enjoy the wild ride!
If any book deserves a huge what in the actual fuck was that? after reading, it is this book. It was twisty, turny, and a crazy wild ride, but it was entertaining as hell! I was completely engaged the entire time I was reading. So much mystery, suspense and things happening that were completely unexpected. Empathy really threw me for a loop!
This story was about Melody and two brothers named Blake and Ryan. Melody’s a college student with supportive and caring parents. She has a good life, a happy life. That is until the choices made by these two guys change it forever.
It’s hard to let you know what happens in any way without spoiling this story… so guess what- I’m not going to talk about the actual story. I will talk about the characters. Melody is a very likable heroine. She was the victim in this story. but she also had a tremendous amount of strength. She is kind, compassionate, but she also is kick ass when need be.
Ryan and Blake… there were times I loved and disliked the both of them. Most of the time, I loved them. Yes. I know. It’s insane. What can I say? I LOVE THE CRAZY ONES. The one time I really disliked one- was .
One is a ‘friend’ to Melody. One is a love interest. One has has her best interests at heart for the most part. The other has too many issues to give a shit about her or anyone else. Who’s the guy who cares? Who's the one who's too far gone to come back?
There is murder, mystery, suspense, sex and even some romance thrown into this crazy book. I really enjoyed it. It completely held my attention and made me think. My mind was running all over the place. I loved the originality and writing style. The intensity and fuckedupness. Overall, it was a great read for me. I’m really looking forward to the spin off book that this author is writing ;)
My advice for reading this book- go in as blind as you can and just enjoy the wild ride!
We live in a moment that’s so quickly taken, it’s like it was never even ours. Time is borrowed; you need to capture everything you can before it’s just a fleeting memory of someone you used to be.
March 29, 2017
4.5 Cereus Stars
Blake is positive he is born with a dark space in his brain where his meant to hold his emotions. There is only one person he cares about and that's his younger brother Ryan.
Melody is called home from college for a 'family' meeting only to find everyones worst nightmare.
What she doesn't know is who is behind the horrific mess or that she already knows them.
From the start of the book you can tell Ryan is a VERY dark person, granted he has reasons to have issues but it goes far beyond that. So it was interesting that through the book you see Ryan become more depraved and psychotic as the story progresses. The opposite happens with Blake who goes from evil callous killer to someone who actually cares. Melody is slowly breaking through his 'dark' but he has no idea how to cope with all these new feelings.
All the while poor Melody is trying to just live and come to terms with the fact she didn't die and find a way to move forward.
So within this story filled with horrific acts and very morbid thoughts, there is three separate journeys going on which made it so much better. One thing for sure was the heat between Blake and Melody is undeniable and some of their scenes are super hot.
This is a 'dark' read with both graphic violence and mentally disturbed people, so if you're thinking of reading it don't say I didn't warn you.
What a fantastically twisted ending that kind of slaps you in the face and left me thinking 'wow, didn't see that coming'. It is not a cliffhanger but leaves you intrigued enough to want to read more.
They say some people are born with decreased activity in the brain; a cold spot in the front central lobe. Where most people have activity, a hot area giving them feelings, emotions and enabling them to love, there are a rare few who have a cold spot, affecting their ability to feel emotions, empathy.
Blake is positive he is born with a dark space in his brain where his meant to hold his emotions. There is only one person he cares about and that's his younger brother Ryan.
Melody is called home from college for a 'family' meeting only to find everyones worst nightmare.
Venturing further into the house, the blood from my palm trickles, leaking down my fingers leaving a dripping path like the breadcrumbs trail from Hansel and Gretel, only this trial leads further into a nightmare, fitting that it be blood.
What she doesn't know is who is behind the horrific mess or that she already knows them.
From the start of the book you can tell Ryan is a VERY dark person, granted he has reasons to have issues but it goes far beyond that. So it was interesting that through the book you see Ryan become more depraved and psychotic as the story progresses. The opposite happens with Blake who goes from evil callous killer to someone who actually cares. Melody is slowly breaking through his 'dark' but he has no idea how to cope with all these new feelings.
All the while poor Melody is trying to just live and come to terms with the fact she didn't die and find a way to move forward.
So within this story filled with horrific acts and very morbid thoughts, there is three separate journeys going on which made it so much better. One thing for sure was the heat between Blake and Melody is undeniable and some of their scenes are super hot.
This is a 'dark' read with both graphic violence and mentally disturbed people, so if you're thinking of reading it don't say I didn't warn you.
What a fantastically twisted ending that kind of slaps you in the face and left me thinking 'wow, didn't see that coming'. It is not a cliffhanger but leaves you intrigued enough to want to read more.
January 14, 2015
** 5 ++ "born this way" STARS **
"Changing someone's life is a powerful thing. Watching people unravel, pushing them so far into my depravity, making them question if it's their own is an insatiable need. The only thing that drives me is possessing and destroying others inside and out, body and soul.
I want to strip them bare so they're empty like me."
F*CK.
That was something else, dude.
There's no way I can give you a summary of the story without spoiling it all for you, HELL, I can't even talk about the characters because we get to know the REAL them as the story unravels. You see, there's no single paragraph that you can just skim through in this book. Nope, you've gotta read everything with your full attention, because every little detail from before ties up together and makes complete sense at the end.
And HOLY SHIT, I wasn't expecting that last thing at the end, AT ALL!
In a single day, Melody's life is turned upside down and can never be the same again. Two men are responsible for everything. Ryan and Blake. Both damaged. Both crazy. Both walking on the line of the silver blade that is "evil". Both with no emotions, no care, no empathy. But for only one of them, it's too late. Will Melody be able to save the one for whom there's still some hope?
I am in love with this author's style! Her writing was so flawless that I highlighted the whole book vigorously! No one can judge me though, because there were just too many wonderful quotes about choices and consequences, human psyche, what love really is and the crossroads of life... Seriously, my copy of the book looks like it's a coloring book belonging to an 8-year-old. Not even gonna comment on the originality of the story, I'm sure you've got the hint by now ;)
Now the wait for Book#2 begins! Only 20 days left! YAY!
OVERALL:
“Some people are born predestined to become evil, to mark the world with their darkness. Some paint the world in technicolor.
I paint in red, BLOOD RED.”
~ maybe BLAKE, maybe RYAN... I won't tell! *evil laugh*
August 31, 2014
[image error]
Melody comes from a background of love and support from her adoring parents. She has known true love with her high school boyfriend and now has embarked on her college career where she is struggling to fit in.
Broody Ryan (bdsm obsessed) catches her eye in class. He’s dark and aloof yet she can’t resist him. Within a matter of time she then bumps into Blake who is a police detective (who also does contract kills on the side) and Ryan’s big brother. Here is where the story goes dark… both brothers claim no empathy, no emotions BUT one is more gone than the other.
[image error]
One brother will be her friend. One brother will win her heart.
One brother will murder her parents.
Overall, a good entertaining original dark read that was sexy, horrifying and will keep you thinking that everyone is insane… RUN MELODY).
November 6, 2016
Genre: Dark Suspense
Type: Book 1 of 3 from Empathy series
POV: First Person - Multiple
Rating:
Damian Blake Braxton grew up in a traumatic childhood. He assumed parental position and protected his brother Ryan, making sure everything set for his future. He also protected the people as a police detective. But behind the hero persona, he was also the villain whose side job was contract killing, and his latest hit ended up in unnecessary complication.
Melody Masters was a college student from a happy wealthy family. But all that was shattered when her life unexpectedly took a violent tumble. She found a friend and a lover in time of need, not knowing the enemy that laid within.
After wanting to read this book for a while, I'm glad I finally met Blake and Ryan. They were certainly special... lol!
I like how Blake had opposite personality when it came to his job vs his private life. And I like both sides :p
Ryan was the opposite of his brother. He was a recluse, never bothering to be accepted by people around him.
For someone whose life turned upside down, Melody had her moments of both strength and weakness. I like how with her own issue, she wasn't selfish in her misery.
The story was intriguing. And even though some things seemed clear cut, I'm glad there was still a certain degree of unexpected revelations.
Empathy is a story of nature vs nurture and how one live with it. This fast pace story would appeal to fans of dark suspense.
Books in the series:
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
Type: Book 1 of 3 from Empathy series
POV: First Person - Multiple
Rating:
Damian Blake Braxton grew up in a traumatic childhood. He assumed parental position and protected his brother Ryan, making sure everything set for his future. He also protected the people as a police detective. But behind the hero persona, he was also the villain whose side job was contract killing, and his latest hit ended up in unnecessary complication.
Melody Masters was a college student from a happy wealthy family. But all that was shattered when her life unexpectedly took a violent tumble. She found a friend and a lover in time of need, not knowing the enemy that laid within.
After wanting to read this book for a while, I'm glad I finally met Blake and Ryan. They were certainly special... lol!
I don’t want to love, I don’t want to feel, I don’t want empathy.
I like how Blake had opposite personality when it came to his job vs his private life. And I like both sides :p
Yes, I’m well above average in looks and intelligence but I can’t help but wonder how broken these people must be to see something in me worth loving or wanting.
Ryan was the opposite of his brother. He was a recluse, never bothering to be accepted by people around him.
Every thought of him leads me to fantasizing about him taking me, and when I’m around him, God, I lose all ability to ward off my vagina’s impulses.
For someone whose life turned upside down, Melody had her moments of both strength and weakness. I like how with her own issue, she wasn't selfish in her misery.
The story was intriguing. And even though some things seemed clear cut, I'm glad there was still a certain degree of unexpected revelations.
Empathy is a story of nature vs nurture and how one live with it. This fast pace story would appeal to fans of dark suspense.
Books in the series:
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
January 19, 2020
HOLY CRAP, What the hell was that?!?! 😱
This book surprised me... And believe me, it's not an easy thing to do! 😂
Can circumstances change us? Can the evil doings of others dim our light, making us cold, dark and evil...?
📚 “𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲? 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗱𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀. 𝗜𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂.” 📚
Melody's life is perfect. She's a college student and has supportive and loving parents - but everything changes after a she meets the two brothers, Ryan and Blake. Their choices will affect her life forever... 💥
I won't give any spoilers, - I'll just say that despite the book's name, they both have NO empathy at all! 😂
📚 "𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹, 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿, 𝗜 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗱; 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗱." 📚
As the story progressed, I couldn't imagine any romance in it and I was totally ready to be disappointed, but... Fucking hell! 😱😱😱
Dark, mysterious and full of surprising twists... This book was a crazy ride. And the end? God damn it, HELL NO! 💥😈
However, this book was short (less than 200 pages) so accordingly, there were some developments that happened too quickly to make them reliable... Still, I enjoyed every twisted minute. 💙
📚 “𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂.”
“𝗡𝗼, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗲.” 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵. 📚
So if you want to read a dark and twisted story that will make you feel shocked to the core, I totally recommend this book! 😈
▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️
📖 ᖴOᒪᒪOᗯ ᗰE Oᑎ IᑎᔕTᗩGᖇᗩᗰ: 🎉 https://www.instagram.com/the_romanti...
📖 ᐯIᔕIT ᗰY ᗷᒪOG ᖴOᖇ ᗰOᖇE ᖇEᐯIEᗯᔕ: https://books-romance.com/
August 11, 2014
MY RATING ☆☆☆☆☆ STARS: Empathy by Ker Dukey
☆ Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review ☆
~ THANK YOU ~
This review will also be without or with very little spoilers
My birth name is Damien "You're the devil's son," I go by Blake now, it's my middle name, chosen by the midwife who brought me back from the dead.
I DON'T HAVE FEELINGS LIKE MOST PEOPLE DO
I'M THE DEVIL'S SPAWN
I found this a wee bit all over the place confusing as all hell in the beginning but as soon as my blond headed brain caught up with the story I was a goner..
It's the kind of book that keeps you sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for the next hit of craziness to bombard you..
MY EMOTIONS ARE CORRUPTED
CONTRACT KILLER
Anything from this author I pretty much jump on, what I love the most about this author is always that element of guessing what is to come next, how she entangles you in her web of story telling, and without a doubt you know you are going to be in for one hell of a crazy mind fuckery ride each and every time you jump into any book from this author..
I don't want to love, I don't want to feel, I don't want empathy
☆ Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review ☆
~ THANK YOU ~
This review will also be without or with very little spoilers
My birth name is Damien "You're the devil's son," I go by Blake now, it's my middle name, chosen by the midwife who brought me back from the dead.
I DON'T HAVE FEELINGS LIKE MOST PEOPLE DO
I'M THE DEVIL'S SPAWN
I found this a wee bit all over the place confusing as all hell in the beginning but as soon as my blond headed brain caught up with the story I was a goner..
It's the kind of book that keeps you sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for the next hit of craziness to bombard you..
MY EMOTIONS ARE CORRUPTED
CONTRACT KILLER
Anything from this author I pretty much jump on, what I love the most about this author is always that element of guessing what is to come next, how she entangles you in her web of story telling, and without a doubt you know you are going to be in for one hell of a crazy mind fuckery ride each and every time you jump into any book from this author..
I don't want to love, I don't want to feel, I don't want empathy
September 2, 2014
Well. That was... Crazy. Entertaining. Creepy. And somehow, funny....
He slaps her across the face with his dick. “I'm not here to fucking woo you! Fucking shut your mouth unless you're eating my cock.” LMAO :P
Melody's life has taken a turn, and the two current men in her life are the cause. While dealing with the aftermath of her parents' murders, she finds herself leaning on Blake and Ryan. But they are both a little off. Blake is a contract killer/police officer and his younger brother Ryan, is a college student with a bdsm fetish.
Blake and Melody's relationship consist of a lot of back and forth in the beginning, but they can't fight the attraction.
All the while Ryan is...well being his twisted little self. He was my favorite :p
You shone real bright and I wanted to watch you unravel. I wanted to see how much darkness it would take to dim that light.
Empathy was a quick, entertaining dark read. It was full of twist and turns. Was it OTT? Yes. But, I liked it ;)
September 26, 2017
This was an awesome read that takes you on so many twists and turns you won't know what exactly is going on until the very end!
Ker Dukey captures my attention again with "Empathy!" I can't wait to see what evil comes in book two!!!! And of course love too!!!!
Ker Dukey captures my attention again with "Empathy!" I can't wait to see what evil comes in book two!!!! And of course love too!!!!
January 14, 2015
★★★ 3.5 Stars ★★★
I am rating this book 3 and a half purely for the entertainment factor. For me, it was a highly enjoyable and crazy read, if a bit OTT and full of plot-holes.
Melody is a college student, she is feeling lonely having fled the nest of her loving home but things change when one day she returns home to find her parents brutally murdered.
Ryan is the boy who is labelled a 'freak' that she takes upon herself to befriend and Blake is his big brother who she hates upon first sight due to his rude manner. What she doesn't know is that Blake is not only a Police Detective but a Contract Killer on the side.
Now, it's best I don't go into the plot too much because this really is a story that needs to take you by surprise. The prologue was fantastic, it drew me in and I was excited for a dark read that I was sure to follow. Don't get me wrong, it definitely wasn't a fluffy read but I don't think it was particularly dark either, a bit depraved maybe and a bit sick and twisted.
As much as I enjoyed reading this, the things that bothered me were:-
- Instalove-ish - One minute she hates him because he is a rude oaf, and he hates her because she' s making him 'feel' and the next they are a couple. I needed more build up if I'm honest.
- Melody had a golden Vagina (oh and the word vagina was used once to describe her pussy, please authors, don't do this), 4 men had a thing for her in this book.
- The writing was a bit sluggish at times, over descriptive sentences and sentences that didn't flow right. I'm not an expert writer but I am an expert reader and sometimes things didn't sound right in my head.
Other than that though, I have to say this was a great idea for a story and I will definitely be reading the next book to see if 'he' can redeem himself. I highly doubt it though.
Also,
I am rating this book 3 and a half purely for the entertainment factor. For me, it was a highly enjoyable and crazy read, if a bit OTT and full of plot-holes.
Melody is a college student, she is feeling lonely having fled the nest of her loving home but things change when one day she returns home to find her parents brutally murdered.
Ryan is the boy who is labelled a 'freak' that she takes upon herself to befriend and Blake is his big brother who she hates upon first sight due to his rude manner. What she doesn't know is that Blake is not only a Police Detective but a Contract Killer on the side.
Now, it's best I don't go into the plot too much because this really is a story that needs to take you by surprise. The prologue was fantastic, it drew me in and I was excited for a dark read that I was sure to follow. Don't get me wrong, it definitely wasn't a fluffy read but I don't think it was particularly dark either, a bit depraved maybe and a bit sick and twisted.
As much as I enjoyed reading this, the things that bothered me were:-
- Instalove-ish - One minute she hates him because he is a rude oaf, and he hates her because she' s making him 'feel' and the next they are a couple. I needed more build up if I'm honest.
- Melody had a golden Vagina (oh and the word vagina was used once to describe her pussy, please authors, don't do this), 4 men had a thing for her in this book.
- The writing was a bit sluggish at times, over descriptive sentences and sentences that didn't flow right. I'm not an expert writer but I am an expert reader and sometimes things didn't sound right in my head.
Other than that though, I have to say this was a great idea for a story and I will definitely be reading the next book to see if 'he' can redeem himself. I highly doubt it though.
Also,
September 5, 2014
4 Unexpected Stars
Everything changed for Blake when he witnessed his brother, Ryan, being attacked - he becomes a killer.
Melody, born into a life of privilege, is on her way home from college when her parents are brutally murdered. Nothing will ever be the same for Melody she has lost her only real family. She returns to school and become friends with Ryan, Blake’s brother.
Like most books that are recommended to me I go into them blind, and I am really glad I did. I wasn’t really sure what type of book I was getting into, but I was eager to turn the page and see what would happen next. I loved the twist and turns this story took me on, I loved being shocked and confused then finally having my aha moment.
Empathy is a suspenseful story with some romance, so yes we do get some pretty hot scenes with our dirty talking leads.
This story is a quick read with a lot of punch. I highly recommend it, and cannot wait to read more from this Ms, Dukey.
Everything changed for Blake when he witnessed his brother, Ryan, being attacked - he becomes a killer.
Melody, born into a life of privilege, is on her way home from college when her parents are brutally murdered. Nothing will ever be the same for Melody she has lost her only real family. She returns to school and become friends with Ryan, Blake’s brother.
Like most books that are recommended to me I go into them blind, and I am really glad I did. I wasn’t really sure what type of book I was getting into, but I was eager to turn the page and see what would happen next. I loved the twist and turns this story took me on, I loved being shocked and confused then finally having my aha moment.
Empathy is a suspenseful story with some romance, so yes we do get some pretty hot scenes with our dirty talking leads.
This story is a quick read with a lot of punch. I highly recommend it, and cannot wait to read more from this Ms, Dukey.
December 21, 2020
Juvenile, with a plot so dark it eventually became parodic. Moreover, the characters lacked depth and the romance involved multiple instances of dubious consent. No thanks.
May 29, 2017
4.5 stars
There are loads of amazing reviews about this book already posted so I won't summarize, but this was a great story! The editing issues should've overshadowed my reading experience, but the writing style and captivating characters grabbed me--hook, line, and sinker! The dialogue became slightly cheesy at the end, but I loved these characters! En-joyed!
There are loads of amazing reviews about this book already posted so I won't summarize, but this was a great story! The editing issues should've overshadowed my reading experience, but the writing style and captivating characters grabbed me--hook, line, and sinker! The dialogue became slightly cheesy at the end, but I loved these characters! En-joyed!
December 17, 2015
Stay tuned for inappropriate use of Chapstick.
2.5 stars. Trigger warning : violent sex and murder.
With better editing, Empathy probably would have been a 3 star read. There was a good framework in place, but the need for clean-up killed the vibe. No pun intended.
...and I have to emphasize the word probably because I wrestled with how I regarded this book, as well as the series in general. It took me forever to read Empathy because I was frustrated with the amount of errors, as well as the fact that I never warmed to the main characters, but there was a spark of something which kept me stuck to the pages, wanting to know more. By the time I got to the end of book 1, I had to keep going because I KNEW something big was coming down the road, and I was right. So in about a fraction of the time that it took me to read the first book, I devoured the rest of the series. And I turned out to like the secondary characters better, but I'll bring that up in my reviews for the following installments.
But let's get back to this book and its awkwardness. Melody (the chick worth obsessing over) was channeling Katy Perry because she tasted like cherries and it made wonder if she ate her own Chapstick. Her pants echoed throughout the room, and for a moment I wondered why her clothing made noise. Her beauty had a flavor, and I didn't even have to guess what it was because...duh...CHERRY.
Side note : what the hell are those women doing on the bottom of this pic?
But whatever. 99% of women in books are nothing more than beauty products waiting to be worshipped. I'm used to it.
Empathy was dark. The male characters were sick in the head. Expect that. If you can't handle women being disrespected and dehumanized, even for the sake of proving how damaged a character is, be sure to make a wide berth around this book.
Let's cut to the good :
It doesn't matter whether you did or did not guess the twist (I did, but it wasn't right away this time), this was a well-executed twist. And that right there was what changed my mind about reading book 2. So there we go.
*insert the BUT here* Sorry folks, I have to spoiler tag this part. There's no way to describe my feelings without giving too much away.
Because of the twist
And really, all of that was fine. But we can't forget that he IS NOT normal. And therefore, (sorry I'm inappropriately starting sentences with the words 'and' and 'but.') he really shouldn't be
I just didn't prefer that method of ushering in Ryan's story. But I can't argue with the results either because Ryan's story was stronger overall.
Conflicted, I am. Nothing new to see here.
2.5 stars. Trigger warning : violent sex and murder.
With better editing, Empathy probably would have been a 3 star read. There was a good framework in place, but the need for clean-up killed the vibe. No pun intended.
...and I have to emphasize the word probably because I wrestled with how I regarded this book, as well as the series in general. It took me forever to read Empathy because I was frustrated with the amount of errors, as well as the fact that I never warmed to the main characters, but there was a spark of something which kept me stuck to the pages, wanting to know more. By the time I got to the end of book 1, I had to keep going because I KNEW something big was coming down the road, and I was right. So in about a fraction of the time that it took me to read the first book, I devoured the rest of the series. And I turned out to like the secondary characters better, but I'll bring that up in my reviews for the following installments.
But let's get back to this book and its awkwardness. Melody (the chick worth obsessing over) was channeling Katy Perry because she tasted like cherries and it made wonder if she ate her own Chapstick. Her pants echoed throughout the room, and for a moment I wondered why her clothing made noise. Her beauty had a flavor, and I didn't even have to guess what it was because...duh...CHERRY.
Side note : what the hell are those women doing on the bottom of this pic?
But whatever. 99% of women in books are nothing more than beauty products waiting to be worshipped. I'm used to it.
Empathy was dark. The male characters were sick in the head. Expect that. If you can't handle women being disrespected and dehumanized, even for the sake of proving how damaged a character is, be sure to make a wide berth around this book.
Let's cut to the good :
It doesn't matter whether you did or did not guess the twist (I did, but it wasn't right away this time), this was a well-executed twist. And that right there was what changed my mind about reading book 2. So there we go.
*insert the BUT here* Sorry folks, I have to spoiler tag this part. There's no way to describe my feelings without giving too much away.
Because of the twist
And really, all of that was fine. But we can't forget that he IS NOT normal. And therefore, (sorry I'm inappropriately starting sentences with the words 'and' and 'but.') he really shouldn't be
I just didn't prefer that method of ushering in Ryan's story. But I can't argue with the results either because Ryan's story was stronger overall.
Conflicted, I am. Nothing new to see here.
February 9, 2017
3.5 STARS
Empathy is definitely a dark read. Gritty with some intense parts, this book is a great romantic psychological thriller.
Melody is a gorgeous college girl who has a beautiful, caring family. She doesn’t have any friends so when officially meets Ryan she is happy to have someone to talk.
Ryan is quiet, dark and mysterious. He also has an appetite for BDSM.
Blake is a police detective and he also is a contract killer. Blake is also Ryan’s brother. Like his brother he’s dark and he has no empathy. He’s messed up. He’s bewitched by Melody, she makes him feel.
Both Ryan and Blake will change Melody’s life forever – one will become her lover and the other who is a psycho will destroy her home.
This book kept me of the edge of my seat. The premise was fantastic and very original. It has many twists and turns and some of them I didn’t see them coming.The characters in this book are crazy…everybody is crazy here, everybody is intense, everybody is messed up.
I really wish it was longer!!
“Where most people have activity, a hot area giving them feelings, emotions and enabling them to love, there are a rare few who have a cold spot, affecting their ability to feel emotions, empathy.”
Empathy is definitely a dark read. Gritty with some intense parts, this book is a great romantic psychological thriller.
Melody is a gorgeous college girl who has a beautiful, caring family. She doesn’t have any friends so when officially meets Ryan she is happy to have someone to talk.
Ryan is quiet, dark and mysterious. He also has an appetite for BDSM.
Blake is a police detective and he also is a contract killer. Blake is also Ryan’s brother. Like his brother he’s dark and he has no empathy. He’s messed up. He’s bewitched by Melody, she makes him feel.
Both Ryan and Blake will change Melody’s life forever – one will become her lover and the other who is a psycho will destroy her home.
“I don’t have feelings the way most people do. I may be one of those people /psychopaths. I don’t know.”
“I love pushing a person’s thresholds. I love to degrade them.
…
I like pain, and pushing someone to inflict it is the only thing I gain satisfaction from.”
This book kept me of the edge of my seat. The premise was fantastic and very original. It has many twists and turns and some of them I didn’t see them coming.The characters in this book are crazy…everybody is crazy here, everybody is intense, everybody is messed up.
I really wish it was longer!!
January 6, 2020
How can I accurately express how messed up this story was? Messed up and
glorious!
If you're looking for a dark and twisted read, something that will push your boundaries and have you wondering how you can possibly be fascinated with someone so effed up (it can't only be me), then you've come to the right place.
Blake had never been a 'normal' person. His upbringing was bull, his life was bull, everything was just... bull! The only semblance of decency in his eternal darkness was his little brother, Ryan. A brutal assaut changes Blake's life forever, forcing him to live a life of duality - protective, caring guardian and police detective... and natural born killer. One 'job' turns into a disaster and Blake ends up leaving a survivor behind. Something about her draws him out, touches his cold soul. And he hates it. Melody became the bane to his existence... and his salvation.
Ryan was a huge surprise and even though I knew he was hiding something scary, I had no idea how deep his evil really went. Dude was immoral, apathetic, deceitful, and dangerous. I don't know why I found his perspective so hilarous, but he was just so good at making me laugh. Honestly, there should have been nothing to laugh about in this book. People were dying. Blake and Melody were entangled in such a disturbing way and were having hot sex to boot. And then there was Ryan... manipulating, instigating, and causing mayhem wherever he went.
Empathy is one seriously insane read that has left me itching for more of its depravity, its darkness, its absolutely delicious wickedness. I'm off to continue this story with Desolate.
Find the full review HERE
Some people are born predestined to become evil, to mark the world with their darkness. Some paint the world in techno color, I paint it in red; blood red.
Blake had never been a 'normal' person. His upbringing was bull, his life was bull, everything was just... bull! The only semblance of decency in his eternal darkness was his little brother, Ryan. A brutal assaut changes Blake's life forever, forcing him to live a life of duality - protective, caring guardian and police detective... and natural born killer. One 'job' turns into a disaster and Blake ends up leaving a survivor behind. Something about her draws him out, touches his cold soul. And he hates it. Melody became the bane to his existence... and his salvation.
“She's breaking inside, the fragile pieces coming away with the water as it pours down on her. Her sorrow is so tangible, it's as if her pain summoned the storm”
Ryan was a huge surprise and even though I knew he was hiding something scary, I had no idea how deep his evil really went. Dude was immoral, apathetic, deceitful, and dangerous. I don't know why I found his perspective so hilarous, but he was just so good at making me laugh. Honestly, there should have been nothing to laugh about in this book. People were dying. Blake and Melody were entangled in such a disturbing way and were having hot sex to boot. And then there was Ryan... manipulating, instigating, and causing mayhem wherever he went.
Empathy is one seriously insane read that has left me itching for more of its depravity, its darkness, its absolutely delicious wickedness. I'm off to continue this story with Desolate.
Find the full review HERE
November 23, 2015
Empathy delves into the lives of two brothers who believe they are predestined to be evil. Blake is the devilishly handsome older brother police detective. Ryan is the mysterious and aloof college student who is strikingly good-looking as well. Due to a gruesome accident years ago, their paths irrevocably change and ever since darkness pervades the their souls.
Melody is a college student who has a normal life until she suffers a terrible tragedy. The circumstance of this event brings Melody closer to Blake and Ryan. As her relationship develops with Blake, she remains friends with Ryan but begins to question just who she can trust.
“Her sorrow is so tangible it’s as if her pain summoned the storm.”
“Seeing her helpless, her soul on the verge of disappearing into the storm, shifts everything I’ve been hiding from into focus.”
For this book, you really need to experience for yourself, as revealing any plot details would be spoilerish. The tension mounts from the beginning and the author makes you wonder if destiny can be changed or does evil win every time? What does it take for one to overcome? Additionally, the plot is so tightly woven that I couldn’t read this book quick enough. The characters are so well written and the alternating POVs contribute the understanding of each character. I was surprised at the twists and I appreciated how the author was true to each character.
I highly recommend this book for those in search of a dark and twisty read!
January 26, 2015
This book was a standout for me, in a good way. It was different… the kind of different where the H is psychotic but that's okay because you kind of want him anyway. This author pushed boundaries, had smoking hot sex, and made it all work in the end and I really enjoyed it. I loved her writing, her style, and the storyline.
I'd recommend for anyone looking for a non-cookie-cutter romance!
I'd recommend for anyone looking for a non-cookie-cutter romance!
November 5, 2019
If this wasn't such a mind-blowing, holy hell, what did I just read book I'd probably give a detailed summary but many have already done that and the book jacket gives some away too. Hell, I don't even want to name the characters - but I will. You've got Melody, college student, Ryan, college student she befriends and Blake the older brother who's a cop on the side to cover his real job. And that is all I've got for you. I honestly didn't see how the romance in this story could possibly ever work out and I was ready to be let down but wtf? Just wtf and Holy Jesus Hell!
So, the only other thing I'll add, is my note I jotted at the end stretch:
I'm actually surprised! I have never read a book in the romance trope where I didn't see what was coming or at least have a good guess or know what was later going to bite someone in the ass. Even the most fulfilling, BUT this one? I didn't see for miles, I didn't even expect anything like it. I cannot even fathom how the author did this. Surprised? Gross understatement. Amazed, appalled, shocked, confused and totally blindsided? Hell yeah.
5 absolutely, completely, overwhelmingly deserved Stars*****!
So, the only other thing I'll add, is my note I jotted at the end stretch:
I'm actually surprised! I have never read a book in the romance trope where I didn't see what was coming or at least have a good guess or know what was later going to bite someone in the ass. Even the most fulfilling, BUT this one? I didn't see for miles, I didn't even expect anything like it. I cannot even fathom how the author did this. Surprised? Gross understatement. Amazed, appalled, shocked, confused and totally blindsided? Hell yeah.
5 absolutely, completely, overwhelmingly deserved Stars*****!
August 30, 2014
Genre: Dark NA Romance
Cover: 8/10
Writing: 8/10
Heroine: 5/10
Hero: 5/10
Humour: 1/10
Hotness: 4/10
Romance: 5/10
Extra book Details: Heroine, Hero & Bad guy POV; 1st person. Stand-alone. Approx 158 Kindle pages.
When Melody visits home after being in college, she discovers her parents dead and bloodied bodies. Swimming in grief and feeling alone, her friendship grows with her weird classmate Ryan. And her feelings grow for Blake, the asshole stranger she keeps on bumping into.
Blake has been confused ever since Blake encounters Melody at her parents home, she makes him feel, but he believes he doesn't feel emotions.
'I don't have feelings the way most people do. I may be one of those people/psychopaths. I don't know. What I do know is I can fuck the woman who claims to love me and leave her before the sweat's even dried on my skin. I can supply my mother with cash to fund her drug habit, hoping this will be the final hit to send her to the afterlife and... I can kill without remorse. My emotions are corrupted, have been since my life changed in a single night. My ability to give a shit is absent. I don't care about anyone with the exception of my kid brother, who is the sole reason I became a killer to begin with.'
Ryan, Blake's younger brother, starts going off the deep end, Melody and Blake grow closer. But Melody doesn't know Blake was hired to kill her parents.
'Empathy' has violence, lust, grief, obsession and betrayal, it's gritty and dark, a little romance, no mystery.
The book started off good, but lost me little by little as time went on....
I understand there's a fine line between unrealistic and ridiculous, for me, this book was smack in the middle.
For a start, Blake... he could 'hack pretty much any network' and he became a hired killer & homicide detective to protect his brother. Money and safety for his brother were the reasons for this life-style. It was unconvincing to me.
Then there was the contract on her parents lives, I don't know where the money came from for that, how they could afford £300,000?
Then there's the fact that Ryan, Markus (Melody's half brother) and Blake ALL liked BDSM. Though Blake was unofficially into it, he had the kinks.
THEN those three were ALL also obsessed with Melody and I was unconvinced to why, they saw something in her, but I didn't.
Melody and Blake... well there was so much going on in the 150 pages, it didn't leave much room for them to fall in love. But they apparently did. 'Empathy' did a lot of 'telling and not showing' the reader.
I actually weirdly, liked Ryan – the bad guy the most. He was a real psycho character. He craved other people's humiliation and misery, he enjoyed messing with other's lives. He was really wicked too.
'He slaps her across the face with his dick. “I'm not here to fucking woo you! Fucking shut your mouth unless you're eating my cock.” He rams his dick down her throat making her eyes water. Light flashes. “Smile for the camera.”'
So, I gave Empathy a 3 star. 1 for the wonderfully wicked Ryan, 1 for pure entertainment, 1 for the writing. No more, because of the fact that I was unconvinced towards a lot of the story.
August 22, 2015
“When the sun sets, you can’t hold on to the dying light as the darkening shadow approaches. You either hide from it or become it. I can’t make excuses, you know them all anyway. I’m not a perfect person, not good enough for you by a long shot. I have done some horrible shit and witnessed evil in its truest form but you awoke a side of me I didn’t know existed anymore. You reassembled a part of me I thought disintegrated into dust.”
- Blake
Prepare yourself to have your mind blown. The story is crazy, twisted, gritty, raw, erotic and so amazingly good!
It centers around three people, Ryan, Blake and Melody. Ryan and Blake are brothers. Ryan is a college student and Blake is a contract killer/police officer, and the older of the two. Melody is also a college student, born in a privileged family.
The double murder of Melody’s parents, her accidental meeting with their killer, her brother’s lack of grief over the deaths of his parents and his unscrupulous effort to gain his inheritance, all these make her so vulnerable and lonely. Her life will never run smoothly again.
Ryan and Blake’s presence is a consolation to her. They are both two damaged and dangerous men. Blake has no emotions, no care, no empathy. He is spurred to action only by his self-interest; he is arrogant, cocky, self-assured and aggressive. He runs a double life, between raw evil and lawful normalcy. He’s overprotective over his younger brother and is willing to sacrifice everything in order to offer him an easy life. Ryan seems to be really clever and calm but also unbalanced and weird.
These two guys are going to change Melody’s life forever. But, who’s really the victim, who’s the freak and who’s the survivor?
I loved the characters; they felt so realistic that it was somewhat scary. Blake and Ryan appeared to be slightly creepy and confusing. The triple POV made me love being inside the mind of people who are fighting different types of demons and understand the depraved thoughts and needs of these troubled heroes. This tale was suspenseful, mysterious and lightly dark. The erotic scenes were pleasantly graphic and VERY.VERY.SEXY!
The twists and turns were riveting and my enthusiasm stayed till the end.
These men are going to mess with your mind, but you’ll enjoy every minute of it!
Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Prepare yourself to have your mind blown. The story is crazy, twisted, gritty, raw, erotic and so amazingly good!
It centers around three people, Ryan, Blake and Melody. Ryan and Blake are brothers. Ryan is a college student and Blake is a contract killer/police officer, and the older of the two. Melody is also a college student, born in a privileged family.
The double murder of Melody’s parents, her accidental meeting with their killer, her brother’s lack of grief over the deaths of his parents and his unscrupulous effort to gain his inheritance, all these make her so vulnerable and lonely. Her life will never run smoothly again.
Ryan and Blake’s presence is a consolation to her. They are both two damaged and dangerous men. Blake has no emotions, no care, no empathy. He is spurred to action only by his self-interest; he is arrogant, cocky, self-assured and aggressive. He runs a double life, between raw evil and lawful normalcy. He’s overprotective over his younger brother and is willing to sacrifice everything in order to offer him an easy life. Ryan seems to be really clever and calm but also unbalanced and weird.
These two guys are going to change Melody’s life forever. But, who’s really the victim, who’s the freak and who’s the survivor?
I loved the characters; they felt so realistic that it was somewhat scary. Blake and Ryan appeared to be slightly creepy and confusing. The triple POV made me love being inside the mind of people who are fighting different types of demons and understand the depraved thoughts and needs of these troubled heroes. This tale was suspenseful, mysterious and lightly dark. The erotic scenes were pleasantly graphic and VERY.VERY.SEXY!
The twists and turns were riveting and my enthusiasm stayed till the end.
These men are going to mess with your mind, but you’ll enjoy every minute of it!
Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2017
4 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was a pretty dark read that featured some messed up people. Through it all, the h and H find love that seems to be strong enough to come out of all the bad. I didn't fully feel the connection between them, but I understood it at times (if that makes sense). They both had some heavy things going on that it was understandable that hey turned to each other and found comfort and even love. It was an unique storyline that I found engaging and interesting. I'm not sure if it'll go down as one of my favorites, and I definitely don't think I'll read it again...but I do think it'll be memorable.
Storyline: This is Melody and a Blake's story (and Ryan's too).
This is pretty impossible to summarize without spoilers. I will include a basic summary here, but know they are spoilers...
POV: This alternated between Melody, Blake, and Ryan's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. No slow parts that I skimmed, and even though it was definitely instalust I wouldn't say it was instalove.
H rating: 3 stars. Blake. He was definitely damaged to think he lacked empathy (but he really didn't) and to do all that he did, but I ended up rooting for him in the end.
h rating: 4 stars. Melody. She was a sweet girl that had some horrific things happen to her, but she was strong and lived.
Sadness level: Some majorly sad themes, but I didn't feel the need to cry.
Heat level: Moderate/high. I would say story took the primary role over the sex, but there was a good bit of it.
Descriptive sex: Yes.
Sex scene with OW or OM:
Cheating:
Possible Triggers:
Closure: It had a cute epilogue that made us get a HEA for the couple through all their mess. BUT...there was another epilogue that made me question if there was another book...interesting (and kind of unsettling).
Worth the $?: it was part of kindle unlimited, so yes. Even if it wasn't, I still think it'd be worth the $2.99.
Overall Opinion: This was a pretty dark read that featured some messed up people. Through it all, the h and H find love that seems to be strong enough to come out of all the bad. I didn't fully feel the connection between them, but I understood it at times (if that makes sense). They both had some heavy things going on that it was understandable that hey turned to each other and found comfort and even love. It was an unique storyline that I found engaging and interesting. I'm not sure if it'll go down as one of my favorites, and I definitely don't think I'll read it again...but I do think it'll be memorable.
Storyline: This is Melody and a Blake's story (and Ryan's too).
This is pretty impossible to summarize without spoilers. I will include a basic summary here, but know they are spoilers...
POV: This alternated between Melody, Blake, and Ryan's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. No slow parts that I skimmed, and even though it was definitely instalust I wouldn't say it was instalove.
H rating: 3 stars. Blake. He was definitely damaged to think he lacked empathy (but he really didn't) and to do all that he did, but I ended up rooting for him in the end.
h rating: 4 stars. Melody. She was a sweet girl that had some horrific things happen to her, but she was strong and lived.
Sadness level: Some majorly sad themes, but I didn't feel the need to cry.
Heat level: Moderate/high. I would say story took the primary role over the sex, but there was a good bit of it.
Descriptive sex: Yes.
Sex scene with OW or OM:
Cheating:
Possible Triggers:
Closure: It had a cute epilogue that made us get a HEA for the couple through all their mess. BUT...there was another epilogue that made me question if there was another book...interesting (and kind of unsettling).
Worth the $?: it was part of kindle unlimited, so yes. Even if it wasn't, I still think it'd be worth the $2.99.
November 5, 2014
3.5-4.0 *fucked up* stars
Oh My God! just by finishing this book I am going insane. This book is just...a...I am speechless, I really don't know what to say.
This book had mystery, romance, madness, murder, condition,funny parts, and a whole package of *fucked up*.
Oh god, I couldn't stop laughing on the Christian grey part:) I laughed so hard that tears came.
"Oh my God. “It’s a red room, isn’t it?” His brow furrows. “It’s painted white.” I stand and he walks to his bedroom with me hot on his tail. “A Christian Grey red room, Blake!"
Oh My God! just by finishing this book I am going insane. This book is just...a...I am speechless, I really don't know what to say.
This book had mystery, romance, madness, murder, condition,funny parts, and a whole package of *fucked up*.
Oh god, I couldn't stop laughing on the Christian grey part:) I laughed so hard that tears came.
"Oh my God. “It’s a red room, isn’t it?” His brow furrows. “It’s painted white.” I stand and he walks to his bedroom with me hot on his tail. “A Christian Grey red room, Blake!"
August 28, 2014
Okay, where to start.
I'm going to begin with... HOLY SHIT BALLS!!!
What a god damn intense book, not only did it keep me flicking page after page after page, it scared the hell out of me lol. Blake... He's a definite alpha, everything we all love to read about... hot in the sack, vocal with what he wants and very dominant in the bedroom but Ryan, well Ryan is just the ultimate in sin and I bloomin' love him!!!
I'm in awe of Ker's writing skill. She entraps you and refuses to let you go, even at the end. It's one hell of a ride that will captivate you and make you salivate for your very own part in this story.
The story flows, the characters talk to you personally and the style is just beautiful. But beware, this book isn't for the faint at heart, however if you're like me and beg to be shocked and brutalized by an epic story then this is definitely one for you.
I'm going to begin with... HOLY SHIT BALLS!!!
What a god damn intense book, not only did it keep me flicking page after page after page, it scared the hell out of me lol. Blake... He's a definite alpha, everything we all love to read about... hot in the sack, vocal with what he wants and very dominant in the bedroom but Ryan, well Ryan is just the ultimate in sin and I bloomin' love him!!!
I'm in awe of Ker's writing skill. She entraps you and refuses to let you go, even at the end. It's one hell of a ride that will captivate you and make you salivate for your very own part in this story.
The story flows, the characters talk to you personally and the style is just beautiful. But beware, this book isn't for the faint at heart, however if you're like me and beg to be shocked and brutalized by an epic story then this is definitely one for you.
April 28, 2016
Shutters came down inside me, closing over the windows to my soul, changing me forever.
When a book has this type of warning it pulls me in right away.
WARNING: This book will mess with your mind. It is very dark, sexy, twisted romance.
Should be a no brainier for me right? Pretty much as everything I love about dark twisted books. Bring in some sexy and we are good to go. I love having my head fucked with in books.
But sadly this was sure not the case for me on this book. The first 30% was great.
It slipped away from me quick. This book was suppose to fuck with my head and I was waiting for it but NOPE never came.
Melody-
At first I was like okay. She is okay. But then I hated being in her POV. I wanted someone to either kill her off when they had the chance or just stop being in her POV. She was nothing special at all. Kept being told in the book how beautiful she was, legs going on forever. BLAH BLAH BLAH. Gag me already.
Blake-
Then you get Blake, it's in his POV as well. He kept repeating his self too many times when he came to his feelings. I started skimming when it came to his chapter. I just couldn't like him. My main problem with him is that he switched his emotions very quickly for my liking when it came to Melody. It was too much.
Ryan-
Let's move on to Ryan....
I liked him. He is the only character that I actually liked. Of course he has to be the one that is the most fucked up one of them all. LOL. But really I thought it was an awesome character and his POV's kept me interested.
I really wanted to give this book 1 star. I decided to give it 2 stars, the 2nd star is for, Ryan. I started skimming this book more till I found out what the whole big thing was, and it wasn't nothing that shocked me. I kind of expected it. Besides Ryan, there wasn't nothing that jumped out at me through out this book. Nothing made me connect to the characters.
November 8, 2014
My review for Empathy ❤️
What the fuck did I read today??? If I could go back in time to when I one clicked this book I would have said to my past self 'Wow there bitch tits, are you sure you want to do that? I've seen the future you and she is not in a good way. I think you have totally fucked her up and made her want to attend church every Sunday for the rest of her life'.
I do not regret the choices I have made. I made a choice to one click this book, I was told it was a mind fuck....and I loved ever fucking minute of it! I've read some fucked up books in my time but this one takes the absolute piss out of them all. It's so hard for me to say what this book was about because you can't without giving anything away. One minute I'm all, ermm ok that's a little odd, then I'm like ok I think I know what's going on and then, ok maybe not and then BOOM! HOLY SHIT BALLS!! I seriously contemplated going to church for my sins after I finished this book. MIND FUCK at its best! I want to get inside this authors head and have a little wonder around. It would probably give me nightmares but would be so worth it.
Now for the characters in a nutshell:
Blake: a hot moody detective with a filthy mouth *cue me sitting on his face*
Ryan: Not only did you have me laughing my fucking arse off most of the time but I should be put away forever for my feelings for you.
Melody: I loved you, you feisty little bitch. At times i wanted to hug and cry for you but other times I wanted to shout, YOU LUCKY BASTARD!
If I could pick three words to sum this book up it would be, WHAT THE FUCK....in the most fucking amazing way!
5 'MIND FUCK' Stars for Empathy by the AMAZING Ker Dukey Love, you rock my fucking world!
September 11, 2016
Twisted Sisters Book Reviews
PURE GOLD! UNPREDICTABLE! I LOOOVED EVERY WORD! A THRILLING RIDE THAT LEFT MY MIND SPINNING!
5 Puya STARS!!!!
I had no idea what to expect from this. I had no idea I would still be completely enamored with this story a day later. I had no idea Ker Dukey was such a AMAZING STORYTELLER! I devoured this in one sitting, this story grabbed me and didn't let go. My very first book by Ker Dukey. What in the HELL have I been missing?? The character development was spot on, the writing was engaging. The plot, the twists, left me totally flabbergasted. My mouth was left hanging wide open. I feel like I got played, And I loved every minute of it. OMG! This book was like a dream come true for me. I loved all the little turns in the plot, I was squealing with delight. I WAS LIKE WOAH, WHAT?!?! Laughing to myself about how insane this all is. I never knew what was going to happen. The characters were off the dang charts crazy and some completely insane. (Really insane) I'm still running everything over in my head.
The story is told from three different perspectives, Blake, Ryan, and Melody. I can't tell you too much without spoilers.
Blake is the character that sucks you in, I was intrigued to say the least. He's empty. A professional killer without emotion. The way he's written is phenomenal. I wanted to stay in head. Melody worms her way into his soul. Can she make him feel? Is he really a shell without remorse?
"They say some people are born with decreased activity in the brain; a cold spot in the front central lobe. Where most people have activity , a hot area giving them feelings, emotions and enabling them to love, there are a rare few who have a cold spot, affecting their ability to feel emotions, empathy. There are theories that serial killers have this cold spot. Psychopaths. That’s why they lack the ability to connect, to care."
And then we meet Melody, the all American good girl from a well to do family. Till her world crumbles... (Sorry, can't say more.) Ryan is there for her in a weird sense. Does he like to witness her pain?
"My tears blending with the coating of the rain. I want to cry out the hurt but there aren’t enough tears to convey the pain, so powerful it leaves a physical ache surrounding my heart."
Ryan is Blake's brother, a classmate of Melody. He's dark, he's a complete mystery, and a bit scary. Your in his mind but you have no idea what he's up to. At least I had no idea. He's closed off much like his brother and maybe even empty too. But something about Melody makes him tick. Does he care for her? I gotta tell you, I LOVED being in Ryan's head even more than Blake's. I can't find the right words, so I'll go with UNSETTLING.
"I can see her eyes have darkened; maybe hers are even darker than mine. She’s troubled, haunted and I want to delve into her darkness and swim in her hurt, but I’ll wait."
I thought at one point this was going to be a triangle with two hot mysterious brothers and Melody. AND IT KINDA IS! Well, you will see!
I could go on and on about this story and never do it justice. YOU HAVE TO READ THIS!!! OMG!
PURE GOLD! UNPREDICTABLE! I LOOOVED EVERY WORD! A THRILLING RIDE THAT LEFT MY MIND SPINNING!
5 Puya STARS!!!!
I had no idea what to expect from this. I had no idea I would still be completely enamored with this story a day later. I had no idea Ker Dukey was such a AMAZING STORYTELLER! I devoured this in one sitting, this story grabbed me and didn't let go. My very first book by Ker Dukey. What in the HELL have I been missing?? The character development was spot on, the writing was engaging. The plot, the twists, left me totally flabbergasted. My mouth was left hanging wide open. I feel like I got played, And I loved every minute of it. OMG! This book was like a dream come true for me. I loved all the little turns in the plot, I was squealing with delight. I WAS LIKE WOAH, WHAT?!?! Laughing to myself about how insane this all is. I never knew what was going to happen. The characters were off the dang charts crazy and some completely insane. (Really insane) I'm still running everything over in my head.
The story is told from three different perspectives, Blake, Ryan, and Melody. I can't tell you too much without spoilers.
Blake is the character that sucks you in, I was intrigued to say the least. He's empty. A professional killer without emotion. The way he's written is phenomenal. I wanted to stay in head. Melody worms her way into his soul. Can she make him feel? Is he really a shell without remorse?
"They say some people are born with decreased activity in the brain; a cold spot in the front central lobe. Where most people have activity , a hot area giving them feelings, emotions and enabling them to love, there are a rare few who have a cold spot, affecting their ability to feel emotions, empathy. There are theories that serial killers have this cold spot. Psychopaths. That’s why they lack the ability to connect, to care."
And then we meet Melody, the all American good girl from a well to do family. Till her world crumbles... (Sorry, can't say more.) Ryan is there for her in a weird sense. Does he like to witness her pain?
"My tears blending with the coating of the rain. I want to cry out the hurt but there aren’t enough tears to convey the pain, so powerful it leaves a physical ache surrounding my heart."
Ryan is Blake's brother, a classmate of Melody. He's dark, he's a complete mystery, and a bit scary. Your in his mind but you have no idea what he's up to. At least I had no idea. He's closed off much like his brother and maybe even empty too. But something about Melody makes him tick. Does he care for her? I gotta tell you, I LOVED being in Ryan's head even more than Blake's. I can't find the right words, so I'll go with UNSETTLING.
"I can see her eyes have darkened; maybe hers are even darker than mine. She’s troubled, haunted and I want to delve into her darkness and swim in her hurt, but I’ll wait."
I thought at one point this was going to be a triangle with two hot mysterious brothers and Melody. AND IT KINDA IS! Well, you will see!
I could go on and on about this story and never do it justice. YOU HAVE TO READ THIS!!! OMG!
February 22, 2017
What a book! This is what they call a mind-f*ck!
For most of the book, I thought I had everything figured out. I thought I understood the actions and the motives of the heroes. I couldn't be more wrong! Ms. Dukey built an amazing, mysterious, dark story from the prologue until the epilogue of this book. Please taking the warnings seriously! This is a dark, twisted story!
The book is written by 3 POV's (Blake's, Melody's and Ryan's). The plot is original, dark, twisted and intense. I started reading the book and I couldn't put it down! I was hooked! I cannot praise Ms. Dukey enough for her originality and darkness! Both qualities that I appreciate.
Melody used to be a happy young woman and after certain events became broken. I love her. It was impossible not to. She is broken and she tries to go through her life. She is feeling lost but she is so much stronger than she thinks. Really, I love her but I don't pity her. I can't pity someone that strong and brave!
Blake is dark. He knows who he is and what he is capable of. I love him too. He thinks he has no emotions, that he is empty inside and still his actions say otherwise. I also love how he changed. I would have been attracted to him too although dangerous guys are not my cup of tea. Blake is a power that you cannot ignore.
Their interactions were intense! I loved what they said to each other and what they didn't say! I loved their intimate scenes as well! So powerful, so intense, so perfect for them!
The end of the book took me by surprise on so many levels! There were answers needed and action, lots of action! Ms. Dukey is simply brilliant! The epilogue was such a tease. I don't call it a cliffhanger but a real tease for what is to come!
I definitely recommend this book to everyone who love an intense, twisted, mysterious, dark story! Trust me, you won't be disappointed but take the warnings seriously!
For most of the book, I thought I had everything figured out. I thought I understood the actions and the motives of the heroes. I couldn't be more wrong! Ms. Dukey built an amazing, mysterious, dark story from the prologue until the epilogue of this book. Please taking the warnings seriously! This is a dark, twisted story!
The book is written by 3 POV's (Blake's, Melody's and Ryan's). The plot is original, dark, twisted and intense. I started reading the book and I couldn't put it down! I was hooked! I cannot praise Ms. Dukey enough for her originality and darkness! Both qualities that I appreciate.
Melody used to be a happy young woman and after certain events became broken. I love her. It was impossible not to. She is broken and she tries to go through her life. She is feeling lost but she is so much stronger than she thinks. Really, I love her but I don't pity her. I can't pity someone that strong and brave!
Blake is dark. He knows who he is and what he is capable of. I love him too. He thinks he has no emotions, that he is empty inside and still his actions say otherwise. I also love how he changed. I would have been attracted to him too although dangerous guys are not my cup of tea. Blake is a power that you cannot ignore.
Their interactions were intense! I loved what they said to each other and what they didn't say! I loved their intimate scenes as well! So powerful, so intense, so perfect for them!
The end of the book took me by surprise on so many levels! There were answers needed and action, lots of action! Ms. Dukey is simply brilliant! The epilogue was such a tease. I don't call it a cliffhanger but a real tease for what is to come!
I definitely recommend this book to everyone who love an intense, twisted, mysterious, dark story! Trust me, you won't be disappointed but take the warnings seriously!
August 8, 2014
Ooooooooh holy hell!!!! Where do I even begin with this review? This is me now ................................. Yep reads like a great review right? LOL There is only so much I can say about this book as well without letting the cat outta the bag. But from the start I was hooked. Page one I.WAS.GULED. Sat and read it in one sitting. As I do with Kers books. Because lets face it THERE AMAZING!
Okay *Deeps breathes* Lets start with Melody. She's a fabulous looking young girl in college. Comes from money, and has went threw heartache. Like a lot of people at the age of 19 I suppose. But this girl is special. She just doesn't know it right now. In her lies something that will awaken a beast one she never saw coming. And all because one night her life is turned upside down with a simple trip back home.....
Then there's Blake who lets face it is all kinds of messed up. BUT O.M.G is he hot! He has so many demons in him from the poor life he led. Or should I say the way his mam brought him and his younger brother up. And at the age of 18 his life is changed forever. But he accepts it. Hell he nurtures the demons in him. And now at 25 doing what he has done for years and not feeling a thing he doesn't think anything will change him from doing what he's doing and looking after his baby brother Ryan. Then his hole world explodes when Melody falls into his lap(Not literally).
I wanna say SO MUCH on this book. BUT no matter what way I go to say things I end up saying something that blows the whole book open. So just take my word for it. This book is a MIND F**K. Which you will LOVE! And you will get to the end of the book and be like HO-LY CRAP BALLS! I kid you not. I'm like that now. And I pretty much just messaged Ker that my review would be ......................... Because that's how I feel! So just one click this! DOOOOOOO IT!
And thank you Ker for giving me the chance to read this before it comes out <3
Okay *Deeps breathes* Lets start with Melody. She's a fabulous looking young girl in college. Comes from money, and has went threw heartache. Like a lot of people at the age of 19 I suppose. But this girl is special. She just doesn't know it right now. In her lies something that will awaken a beast one she never saw coming. And all because one night her life is turned upside down with a simple trip back home.....
Then there's Blake who lets face it is all kinds of messed up. BUT O.M.G is he hot! He has so many demons in him from the poor life he led. Or should I say the way his mam brought him and his younger brother up. And at the age of 18 his life is changed forever. But he accepts it. Hell he nurtures the demons in him. And now at 25 doing what he has done for years and not feeling a thing he doesn't think anything will change him from doing what he's doing and looking after his baby brother Ryan. Then his hole world explodes when Melody falls into his lap(Not literally).
I wanna say SO MUCH on this book. BUT no matter what way I go to say things I end up saying something that blows the whole book open. So just take my word for it. This book is a MIND F**K. Which you will LOVE! And you will get to the end of the book and be like HO-LY CRAP BALLS! I kid you not. I'm like that now. And I pretty much just messaged Ker that my review would be ......................... Because that's how I feel! So just one click this! DOOOOOOO IT!
And thank you Ker for giving me the chance to read this before it comes out <3
March 23, 2024
It started off so strong and had sm potential but unfortunately I lost interest at the 60% mark.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,125 reviews