A Dark Captive Romance (Beauty & The Darkness Book 1)

5 unbelievable dark and twisted stars! This is not a typical romance and although it does have some romance undertones, it is a book about the obsessive unhealthy side of love. This type of love that consumes you and leaves you raw and broken. This entire book will bring you through the ringer emotionally and leave you filled with anger, while trying to hold onto a bit of hope that things will change.
Ava has always taken care of herself, from the time that she was a little girl, now with her dad dying she is looking for a little more time to take care of him. With having no money to make that happen, she makes a deal with the devil himself. With the day of reckoning coming up she just wants one night to be herself. But she could never understand the ramifications of that one night. All of her dreams are laid out in front of her but the nightmares rip it away. Now she must learn how to suffer silently or else everything she holds dear disappears forever!
I highly recommend this book if dark and gritty is your thing! I can’t wait to read the next one!

This book. Wow. Extremely dark and tragic and yet beautiful in its own way. The author is able to weave a tale of heartache and pain that sucks you in and doesn’t let you go until the very last page. I felt everything that Ava went through. Most of the book was in her POV, with the little snippets of Gavin’s (the hero) POV. He has his own set of demons as well. So I use the term hero kinda loosely. He is in fact the “good guy” in this one. Where the antagonist is pure monster. But yet this author is able to somehow make him somewhat human in a way as far as how he came to be the way he was. Can’t go into detail without giving anything away. Just know this is an emotionally tumultuous ride that will leave you with a book hangover. But so worth it. I can not wait for the second book to come out! Be warned, there are a lot of triggers, this is NOT for the squeamish or faint of heart. But I highly recommend this and will definitely read the next.

I loved this book the characters and the writing is beyond amazing, its perfectly well done but prepare yourself its dark, raw and twisted and steady with everything you could possibly want in the darkest of dark stories. Ava is one of the strongest women I have ever read about and has the biggest heart willing to do anything to keep what she loves safe and omg she so does that and more and I loved her so much and your heart will hurt for her and you will pray for this beautiful girl .
Now Shayne I want to hate him because he is sadistic and mean but I feel so much for him going between hate and love back and forth wanting him to hurt but I cant not yet anyway, Gavin well we see both sides of him and I cant wait to see him full on mode I'm so excited for the conclusion to see the full on war that's coming. Theres no words to explain how good this is its Perfection.

This debut novel was fantastic and did not disappoint. I love, LOVE dark reads, the darker the better and this was DARK. Iris Ann Hunter is now a top author of mine and I cannot wait to read what she has coming next. I feel like it can only get better from here. For this being her debut novel she did fantastic. Heed the warnings people, they are there for a reason! If you don't like pitch black reads then I wouldn't suggest you read this.

I know, I am being vague but I don’t want to give anything away! I do promise you won’t be disappointed. Ava, Shayne and Gavin (swooooooon) are all amazing characters. Yes, even though I HATE Shayne, the author made him the perfect villain. There were times I actually felt bad for him but just like Ava did in the book, I would remember all he did to her and hated him all over again. I devoured this book as quickly as I could and I want MORE. If I could, I would give this book 100 stars! It is THAT good.

This book is incredible!! This author can write!! This story is dark and twisted and will have you on the edge of your seat. I couldn’t put this book down. The emotions that I had while reading were all over the place. I got mad, I cried, I had to stop to just breathe!! This story will stay at the edge of your thoughts for days! Must read! Will definitely be on my best of 2018 list!

No way!!!! The author must be insane. This book takes sick and disturbing to another level. I would rate it 0 stars if possible. I skimmed through it just to be able to finish the book. It's the type of book that gives you nightmares. Please do not read!!!! All the positive reviews make me sad.

Wow! What an amazing writer! I have mixed feelings about this read. First of all it's a roller coaster of a ride! She had me feeling so many feelings. I was happy, then mad and confused then so angry i wanted to throw my Kindle across the room! The character's in this book effected me so much! I liked it, but did not love it. It's very dark and i love dark, but maybe its too dark for my taste? Anyways it was very well written and very dark so if you like that i'd say please read it cause the author is amazing and that's why she gets 5 stars!

I definitely need to read something sinfully sweet & romantic after this! Wow!! Tragic Beauty had me in tears at least 3/4 of the book. It's more than a nightmare on the best of days and a straight shot into hell on worse days. Ava was put through the most depraved acts but given incredible strength to not let another soul defeat her. The monsters in her life & in her mind don't get to win and it's a beautiful heart like that, that wins me over.
For a freshman novel, the caliber of writing is off the charts fantastic. The book comes with tons of warnings and should be heeded if you have any triggers related to sex, abuse, kinks, or even family dramas. This story is powerful! Looking forward to the next book, I think.

Okay... where to start.. this story was kinda hard for me to read.. a friend recommended it.. its suppose to be darkish and romance.. but honest.. this was way dark.. and I felt bad for the main character.. but also thought she was stupid..

TRIGGERS!! there is rape.. and some other dark stuff..
be very careful I sometimes had to skip some scenes am I going to read the next book.. prob not...

Beautifully written and a roller coaster of emotions. This book left me with a hangover for two days! I liked both Gavin and Shayne and felt for both of them. Ava is a sweet girl who loves deeply and literally gives all of herself to those she loves. This author has quickly become one of my must read authors with this book. This is her debut novel and she blew me away with it. If you enjoy your books a tad dark and slightly twisted, read this. You will not regret it.

Wow just wow. I read dark books, dark twisted books that most will cringe at. This book challenged me, making me wonder if I could continue reading because of the torture so liberally doled out. But I continued because the story is so compelling that it's difficult to put down. And for a debut book, it is quite well written. And while it's the first of a series, there is enough resolution by the end of this book to keep you from cursing the author for leaving the story open. I must say that this is one of my top dark twisted reads thus far. Kudos to Iris for launching such an incredible debut read! I'm looking forward to seeing what the next books of the series bring (no pressure at all...haha!)

I was completely blown away by this book. This to me was definitely a 5+ stars read. The way the author pulls you in from the first page and keeps you engaged all the way through is amazing. Don't plan on getting anything else done once you start this book. I have no words to describe how amazing this book is and how well it's written. You will be put through a gamut of emotions. I don't want to give any spoilers but I can not wait for this author's next release.

Tragic Beauty is an absolutely stunning dark tapestry of intertwining lives, destiny, love, obsession and cataclysmic suffering. This book is not for the faint of heart but if you enjoy dark romance and heart rending tales, you won’t want to miss Ava, Gavin and Shayne. It’s a story constantly in motion that is very hard to put down, especially when the direction of the book becomes severe and heartbreaking. The villain is perfect in his extreme level of evil and the hero has just enough of a dark side to make him the right kind of imperfect. This book had me reading into the night unable to put it down! I can’t wait for the next chapter in the series.

An amazing debut novel!

Two major warnings! One, there’s no joking when it says dark read and second it is part of a trilogy so just let that sink in!

I’m still fairly new to the romance world and especially dark romances and I found myself having to take breathers. it’s a story that definitely provides a punch! Once you start there’s no turning back because you have to see just how life will play out! Again it’s a dark read so be prepared to have yourself thrown all over the place! Can’t wait for the next books because I want so badly for rainbows and butterfly’s for these tormented characters!

Well that was a wild ride....certainly no rainbows and unicorns here!

This is the story of obsession by one character and his actions drive the story. Ava really has the kindest of hearts and sacrifices herself for others constantly. Gavin has a darkness inside of him that he tries to control, occasionally the darkness escapes. Shayne has patiently waited years for Ava - there is no one else for him.

I experienced so many different emotions while reading this....I even felt bad for the "villain" at one point! I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

**Possible slight spoilers**
First of all.. Heed the authors warning. This is a dark book, there are things done to Ava that goes beyond the imagination. Saying that, I could not put this book down. Yes it's a story of darkness this young woman finds herself in but also of courage and strength that has you mesmerized. She holds on to a memory that shows her some light in her dismal world to help her get through unspeakable acts. My heart went out to this character, Ava. Now.. I I find myself waiting, as patiently as possible, for the next book in this dark but heartfelt story.

Tragic Beauty is a dark read, something that needs to be stated. If you do not like dark reads, I wouldn't recommend this book.

Ava dives into the darkness to assist her family, making a deal with the devil himself known as Shayne McAllister.

Shayne has a soul black as the night, and then Ava finds another dark soul who wants her. This book is filled with raw and tragic emotional twist and turns. The book, in my opinion, is about finding some light in the darkness. How far are we willing to go for someone we love? How far will Ava go to protect those that she loves, and will she break in the process?

Tragic Beauty by Iris Hunter

What a SWEET book !! BY that I mean great, there is nothing sugary about it! It is dark at its best. Iris Hunter is new to me but I will be reading more of her works.

This book is dark, gritty angst at its best. Shane is a really bad man, do you love him or hate him, Gavin is the good guy. Shane waited a long time for Ava to grow up and when she made a mistake hell and evil prevailed. Now no spoilers you have to read to enjoy !! Then stay tuned !! ….pat….

I don't usually read dark books, some true crime, but not often. They bother me, I won't lie. They will mess with you. This one is no exception, but, even though Iris goes into some serious detail, you can't put it down. She makes you want to continue to see how it all plays out. I cried, blubbered, can't imagine being in that kind of situation. And yet, somehow, you feel like you are right there with Ava, you start to actually feel bad for Shayne, given what he went through, you get it. All I'm gonna say, I can't WAIT for the next one to see what happens!!!!!

Tragic Beauty isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s brutal and devastating! I wasn’t sure I was going to make it through, this is one tale that will turn your stomach and leave you emotionally drained. I hurt for Ava, I cried for her and kept on going for for! It’s so terrifying you have to know what’s going to happen next. And hope, I was hoping and wishing and screaming! I wasn’t prepared for the twist and the truths that surfaced. This was a well written dark masterpiece!

A twisted story of obsessive love and an all consuming love of epic proportions. Tragic Beauty will leave you gasping for breath and hanging on to your seat as you follow the twisted and obsessive love story that Iris Ann Hunter has created. A well written masterpiece that is a must read ... if you dare....
I voluntarily received an ARC of this book .....

Tragic Beauty was tremendously outstanding!! The characters in this book are soo twisted, soo intriguing, soo complicated that you're torn between loving them one minute and disliking them the next. Shayne is my favorite, he just took my emotions on the craziest ride ever! No matter how twisted it is you will not be able to stop reading, so buckle up for wild ride I grantee you'll never forget! Iris Ann Hunter you have gain another devoted reader. Now I need to make room for more of your books lol

This book was twisted and savage. But this book was soooo good. The character development is so strong. You find yourself sympathizing for the evil in this story. Honestly, this book is not for the faint at heart but the writing is too good. But be aware, the 2nd book is not out and I cannot find any information on a release for it. However, the next books is not necessarily required. I felt closure with this first installment.

This story blew me away. The depth of the characters hooked me from the start. Their chemistry jumped from the pages. The character development was so perfect that I even found myself feeling things I didn’t even know were possible and questioning what really is the difference between bad and good. To love is to sacrifice and sometimes real love hurts the most. The story is so dark and gritty. I loved every second of it, but you’re sensitive to pain I wouldn’t suggest it.

After all the buzz surrounding this book, I finally read it. Usually when there's a lot of buzz about a book, I'm left disappointed. Not this time.

I'm pretty sure this one is labeled a dark romance, I may be wrong there, there is no romance. At least not yet. This is part one of a series. This one's dark, it touches on things that are not ok, but it's beautiful. There's hope in this book.

I urge you to give it a try. You won't regret it.

Tragic Beauty is a extremely dark and twisted book that will leave you breathless! Intense and on the edge of your seat story! Obsession at its finest! Fantastic dark read that will grip your heart and soul!!

I love this book. He caught my attention from the beginning of the first chapter. I like that Gavin was a beast but had a tender side of him. Ava was so strong for so many people and made it through. This was just a whale Richard story and flowed just nicely. Just can't wait for book 2. Great story Iris looking for for the Nextbook

I absolutely loved this book it's everything I expected and more this book is very dark and taboo Shaynes dark obsession with Ava is horrifying!!! This being this authors first book she captured all my emotions

Wow- this book was amazing!! Please heed in the warnings before reading as this is a very dark read. I read the book in 1 day as I could not put it down and to know how it ends. I am very anxious for her next book to be released to know how the journey continues. This book is must read!! Iris Ann Hunter amazing work!!

Knocked my socks off. I ignored my family to finish it! ;-) I would recommend it for sure to my friends if I could only be brave enough to let my friends know I love these dark, twisted books! So, since I can't... my fellow the store friends... get the book! I will definately read more from this author and pray the next is as good as this one!

One brave woman and two beasts. Please heed the warnings for this book. It is not for the feint at heart. Iris Hunter knows how to drag the reader through one emotional roller coaster ride. I can’t wait to see what she has store for us in the future. One fantastic read, although I wanted to strangle Shayne!

Litteraly sobbing for this poor girl. She deserves a happily ever after.
Captivating. Could not put it down. A must read if you are into dark romance. Hands down the best book I've ever read, and I read a book a week. Read it, you won't be able to put it down either. Can't wait for the next one!

After reading the Consequences series, I have been looking for a book like this! It is a bit darker than I thought it would be but I'm glad for that. I crave the books that are dark, psychological, thriller romances and they seem to be getting harder to find. I will warn you, this book is not for the faint of heart but if you don't mind (or even crave) the darker side of things, this is a must read. I can't wait for the next book to come out! Who does Ava choose? Who do I want her to choose? I feel so conflicted!

This book will definitely make you fall in love with Ava. She’s a very strong headed women. I command her for her fierceness, not giving up ever! Iris Ann Hunter, congratulations! I look forward to reading the next chapter on Ava’s journey. I hope you don’t keep us waiting too long ?.

Iris Ann Hunter has written a magnificently dark and stormy debut novel! It is not for the reader who wants something light and frilly. However, if you want your books dark, twisted, gut wrenching, heart breaking and soul sucking, then you've found your next read right here!

Hugely by surprise. I’ll be honest, as I started reading, it grabbed my attention but 4 or 5 chapters in I wanted to stop. I don’t read books like this but I’m so glad I didn’t stop reading. This book brought out every emotion I can think of. Sorrow, anger, lust, rage, love and so many more. I laughed and cried and did both at the same time.

I found myself identifying with the heroine more than I want to admit but that’s what kept me enthralled. The writing was amazing. The flow of the plot and development of the characters. It was all just amazing when it all came together.

Wow. Just wow. I am blown away by everything that happened in the book. My heart hurts for Shayne despite all he did. I felt he thought Ava was his salvation. How will Gavin be able to get them through everything that happened?? I cannot wait to read the next book

Wow, what a ride. Gavin. Shayne. Ava. These three make up one great series. Must read. It was definitely hard to read at times, the things Ava has to endured were horrific. But she has two beasts to fall back on. But one may be more evil the the next?!

So well written. The characters are well thought out and complete. Backgrounds are revealed slowly, yet thoroughly. You even grow to have empathy for the villain. Amazing! If you like dark, don't miss out on this great story.

This book is really, really dark....Hot and sexy, but DARK. It is definitely not for the faint hearted. I was glad the ending was positive and that the main character, Ava, was finally safe and protected.

Absolutely riveting book. Great job. It really shows you the side of the abused woman. The things she goes through when in an abusive relationship. Most people dont understand and ask why doesnt she just leave that loser but if you've ever been in an abusive relationship you know it's not that easy. The things they threaten you with the things they promise. Could've done better with the typos but otherwise very good.

Sometimes the road to a 'happily ever after' winds through dark places, devoid of light and hope. Iris Ann Hunter takes us there, to be teased and tormented against our will, to cry out with each stroke of the cane, to wonder if love and hope are gone forever. This is a story that will haunt your dreams long after you close the book.