A Wicked Lovers Novella (1001 Dark Nights) - Forever Wicked

I have loved every book in this series and this one didn't disappoint, when someone asks for a good read I always say, The wicked series series and am always thanked when they read them. I read this so fast, it was so good I couldn't put it down

Forever Wicked (written by Shayla Black) happens to be the first story that Scheherazade tells the King in the 1001 Dark Nights series. It’s a great intro to the 1001 Dark Nights books. I have not read the other books in Shayla Black’s Wicked Lovers series though, but it was not confusing, when listening to Forever Wicked. I need to rectify reading those books soon since after listening to Forever Wicked, I definitely want to learn more about the Wicked Lovers by Shayla Black. I also like to read in order.

This is why these books in the 1001 Dark Night series are great because they introduce readers to other authors and their books. Just a warning…this means your TBR pile may get bigger.

Here are the good things about Forever Wicked:

– Billionaire Jason Denning is one sexy guy. I really liked him in the book, even when it was not a long book at all.

– The storyline of him looking for his wife that he married a year ago. He wants to find out what happened, so he’s determine more than ever to make his marriage work out.

– I love the scenes between Jason and Gia in the story. Very steamy! Jason is definitely dominant. ?

Now onto what I did not like:

Gia’s character. I did not connect well with her at all, especially after finding out why she left her husband for a year. I definitely felt there was not really any love from Gia to Jason. Jason definitely felt it too, but kept trying to win her over. If Jason would have ended up with another female character that maybe I would have enjoyed the story more. Although, I did have a bullet above on the scenes between Jason and Gia that I liked, it was mostly Jason winning me over.

Overall, I give this book 3 stars and if you’ve read the Wicked Lover series already then I recommend reading this book. If you haven’t read any of the books yet in the series then this is a great teaser to the series.

4.5 / Top Pick

A cautionary tale but a hopeful one as well. Jason and Gia have a sexual relationship first that quickly changes into something more and they marry spontaneously. But Jason is a jaded billionaire and Gia is a family person and that puts up a wall the minute tragedy strikes Gia’s family.

Jason was suave and sexy and an emotional void until he met Gia. But he couldn’t, or wouldn’t, put a name to what he was feeling and instead focused on possessing her. Big mistake. On the opposite side, Gia felt true deep emotion for Jason but after her brother’s death refused to let him into her inner circle. No wonder things went to hell in a hand basket so quickly.

The story starts with the one year anniversary of Jason and Gia’s marriage approaching and them having only spent one night together, their honeymoon. Jason wants his possession, or rather wife, back and is willing to make a financial deal to get it. It’s what he’s seen all his life so he figures that is the way to go. He gets what he wants and then is upset about Gia being attracted to the money, something he never thought she was interested in. Contrary attitude to say the least!

Gia wants to help her family and thinks of everyone but herself. As time goes on it becomes, in her mind, an impossible hurdle to introduce her husband to her family. I liked Jason and Gia, at the heart of it, but the persona that Jason was wearing wasn’t attractive initially. He actually says he can’t love, or at least doesn’t understand it, and that is what every move Gia makes is based upon.

It was messy and painful to read at times, but as things progressed layers were peeled back and the true connection was revealed for what it always was. Jason just had to be taught and Gia needed to learn to let him in to her inner sanctum. She trusted him with her body but never her honesty about how she felt. The end gave me closure that these two learned a lot the hard way to find each other, and once they did nothing would tear them apart.

Disclosure: Free review copy from the publisher/author for an honest review.
Review by: Chris

This was a very good book. It had romance, heartbreak, rough patches, eye opening experiences (for the characters), and sex. Surprisingly the poor little rich guy doesn't just give up on the girl. That was refreshing. There were a few spots I wanted it to move faster but the author was laying the groundwork upon which to build the story. The main character, Gia, is a police officer coming from a family of police officers. With the typical, I have to excel because I'm a woman background, she gets into BDSM and finds it satisfies her needs. She ends up with a Dom who is a very wealthy businessman and he falls for her (although he denies it's love). He marries her in a whirlwind weekend in Vegas during which she receives a call that her brother has been killed in the line of duty. She rushes home but doesn't allow her new husband to be involved because she doesn't want to stress her family more with the news that she's married outside her faith and ethnicity (Italian catholic). She has many family burdens as her sister-in-law has fallen apart after delivering her baby. She isn't coping so Gia steps up to be mother and father as well as support to them. She sells her house to help pay for her sister in law's house so she doesn't lose it too. A year passes during which the husband looks for her but cannot find her then he finds out she's revoked her membership at the BDSM club they met at. From here it becomes a challenge to bring her back. With the help of the club owner Gia agrees to meet with him and he guilts her into agreeing to live with him until their anniversary, agreeing to submit to him unconditionally. In return she can have the 100,000 that was setup in a prenup if she chooses not to stay with him. She needs the money to finish paying for her brother's house, but she doesn't tell him that. You need to read the rest of the story, so much occurs with many surprising twists, a synopsis doesn't suffice. I didn't think I was going to like the story but the underlying romance had me hooked.

At first glance, Gia Angelotti and Jason Denning seem to have nothing in common. She's a cop, responsible for keeping the peace in the city of Dallas, TX. Jason is a billionaire, a shrewd businessman used to having whatever he wants, whenever he wants it.

The truth, though, is that Gia and Jason want the same thing. She's looking to express her submissive nature, and Jason, Dom that he is, is more than happy to help her. When they meet at Club Dominion, their passions lead them to each other. Their undeniable attraction and growing love leads them to 'I do,' but tragedy strikes and rips them apart.

I had not read any of this series, and was not sure that this book would be my cup of tea. But as more is revealed of the characters and their motivations, and we see the inner dialogue that draws them to each other despite themselves, the more I became invested in seeing Gia and Jason get to their happy place. And, yes, there's plenty of steamy sexy bits, as well!

The one thing that threw me off just a little bit was that it seemed like the back story for Gia and Jason was explained elsewhere, because there seemed to be an assumption of knowledge of their story. I would guess that it would help to read 'Theirs To Cherish,' which is the story of Callie, Sean, and Mitchell, also members of Club Dominion. That aside, I enjoyed 'Forever Wicked,' and look forward to reading more by Shayla Black.

The Wicked Lovers series by the fabulous Shayla Black is an all-time favor of mine. Like all fantastic series, we find we have our favorites within, the ones that stand out, the ones we’ll read over and over, the ones that stay with us long after we’ve finished, and Forever Wicked falls right into these categories. I loved this story of Jason the billionaire and Gia the blue collar cop who meet and become attached after sceneing with one another at Club Dominion, the local BDSM club. They subsequently marry but Gia is forced to leave on their wedding night after a tragic incident involving her brother. The story begins a year later near their one year anniversary, and they are on the verge of divorce. Though it wasn’t an easy road, it was so satisfying to watch this unlikely couple discover the promising potential of their future together.

Jason is so used to women falling at his feet, mainly because he’s so wealthy but when Gia doesn’t seem interested in his money he realizes there is something different about her. What I loved about Jason, well besides he’s an ALPHA male and will do anything to make his wife happy on top of keeping her safe and satisfied, is his determination. I love it when a guy will do whatever it takes to win his woman back and I fell in love with him fighting for her and for them. He truly WANTED to be married to her. He was raised by some really cold people so he’s a little warped when it comes to love. In his world, money buys affection but since Gia isn’t interested in his money, it thows him off. However, it doesn’t stop him from trying to show her how he feels and that he enjoys buying her nice things, taking care of her, spoiling her, and helping her family.

Gia is a stubborn but lovable character. She’s Italian, doesn’t that explain it all? She’s loyal, to the extreme, and willing to sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of the people she loves. She can’t understand why a person like Jason would want to be with her and feels she doesn’t bring very much to the table, but being the lovable guy he is, he shows her how much she means to him. It takes a few nudges from Jason to help her realize maybe she went about things the wrong way. I mean, she’s not the only one to blame for their issues but it takes her longer to figure it out. This book was really emotional for me. There are two places that stand out, one is a wonderful scene towards the end with Gia and her mother at the restaurant where her mother shares some wise words. And the second was a scene with Gia and Jason in his car when everything is on the line. I really felt bad that Jason had such awful parents but Gia’s family totally makes up for them. Her family was great and I enjoyed reading their heartfelt moments.

Even though this is a novella, Shayla Black has crafted a second chances story that feels like a full length book. It is chock-full of emotion with the SB signature sex scenes that cause those little zings through all your girly parts. Her alpha males always end up on my book boyfriend lists. They are to die for.

Review copy provided for an honest review.

Gia and Jason's story will warm your heart. For the past year, since they married, she has been working to catch her brother's killer and supporting her brother's wife and children at the expense of her own marriage. She loves Jason with all her heart but doesn't want to take advantage of his resources for her family. Jason, a billionaire, loves his wife -- although he has a distorted concept of relationships that excludes love -- and has no idea how to win her back so he tries to buy her heart as their first anniversary nears. Their journey is hot, entertaining, heartbreaking and heartwarming as they traverse a rocky road to their HEA.

I recently bought this book. I have to say that I love Shayla's work. I haven't read one book of hers that I haven't enjoyed. This was no exception.

In this book Mr. Denning is out to get his wife back. His wife has left him for the past year, in a misguided attempt to protect herself and her family. Her thought that is due to the whirlwind romance they had, she shouldn't bother him with her problems. He's on a mission to show her that she's wrong.

It's short, sweet, sexy and a definite must read!

A short read- but gut wrenching and heart breaking all together. It perfectly displayed the give and take in a relationship; especially one composed of complete opposites. This is a must for a quick but intense read!

This was a short story, I am not sure if the setup was from another book, but I did not get the whole separation thing at first. I did not like Gia at all, she was too mercurial in temperament but at the same time some sort of saintly do-gooder. I felt bad for Jason and so this story did not really work for me. Not one of SB's best, unfortunately, a bland read.

The Wicked Lovers series by the fabulous Shayla Black is an all-time favor of mine. Like all fantastic series, we find we have our favorites within, the ones that stand out, the ones we’ll read over and over, the ones that stay with us long after we’ve finished, and Forever Wicked falls right into these categories. I loved this story of Jason the billionaire and Gia the blue collar cop who meet and become attached after sceneing with one another at Club Dominion, the local BDSM club. They subsequently marry but Gia is forced to leave on their wedding night after a tragic incident involving her brother. The story begins a year later near their one year anniversary, and they are on the verge of divorce. Though it wasn’t an easy road, it was so satisfying to watch this unlikely couple discover the promising potential of their future together.

Jason is so used to women falling at his feet, mainly because he’s so wealthy but when Gia doesn’t seem interested in his money he realizes there is something different about her. What I loved about Jason, well besides he’s an ALPHA male and will do anything to make his wife happy on top of keeping her safe and satisfied, is his determination. I love it when a guy will do whatever it takes to win his woman back and I fell in love with him fighting for her and for them. He truly WANTED to be married to her. He was raised by some really cold people so he’s a little warped when it comes to love. In his world, money buys affection but since Gia isn’t interested in his money, it thows him off. However, it doesn’t stop him from trying to show her how he feels and that he enjoys buying her nice things, taking care of her, spoiling her, and helping her family.

Gia is a stubborn but lovable character. She’s Italian, doesn’t that explain it all? She’s loyal, to the extreme, and willing to sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of the people she loves. She can’t understand why a person like Jason would want to be with her and feels she doesn’t bring very much to the table, but being the lovable guy he is, he shows her how much she means to him. It takes a few nudges from Jason to help her realize maybe she went about things the wrong way. I mean, she’s not the only one to blame for their issues but it takes her longer to figure it out. This book was really emotional for me. There are two places that stand out, one is a wonderful scene towards the end with Gia and her mother at the restaurant where her mother shares some wise words. And the second was a scene with Gia and Jason in his car when everything is on the line. I really felt bad that Jason had such awful parents but Gia’s family totally makes up for them. Her family was great and I enjoyed reading their heartfelt moments.

Even though this is a novella, Shayla Black has crafted a second chances story that feels like a full length book. It is chock-full of emotion with the SB signature sex scenes that cause those little zings through all your girly parts. Her alpha males always end up on my book boyfriend lists. They are to die for.

Review copy provided for an honest review.

Gia and Jason's story will warm your heart. For the past year, since they married, she has been working to catch her brother's killer and supporting her brother's wife and children at the expense of her own marriage. She loves Jason with all her heart but doesn't want to take advantage of his resources for her family. Jason, a billionaire, loves his wife -- although he has a distorted concept of relationships that excludes love -- and has no idea how to win her back so he tries to buy her heart as their first anniversary nears. Their journey is hot, entertaining, heartbreaking and heartwarming as they traverse a rocky road to their HEA.

I recently bought this book. I have to say that I love Shayla's work. I haven't read one book of hers that I haven't enjoyed. This was no exception.

In this book Mr. Denning is out to get his wife back. His wife has left him for the past year, in a misguided attempt to protect herself and her family. Her thought that is due to the whirlwind romance they had, she shouldn't bother him with her problems. He's on a mission to show her that she's wrong.

It's short, sweet, sexy and a definite must read!

Spicy romance in the Dominance/submission style, otherwise a standard story of boy meets girl, they fall in love, problems from girls background pop up, girl leaves boy to go solve them on her own, boy hunts girl down and solves her problem to show how much he loves her. Happy ending. Adult language. Enjoyable quick read.

A short read- but gut wrenching and heart breaking all together. It perfectly displayed the give and take in a relationship; especially one composed of complete opposites. This is a must for a quick but intense read!

This was a short story, I am not sure if the setup was from another book, but I did not get the whole separation thing at first. I did not like Gia at all, she was too mercurial in temperament but at the same time some sort of saintly do-gooder. I felt bad for Jason and so this story did not really work for me. Not one of SB's best, unfortunately, a bland read.

1001 Dark Nights novella was a great way to continue the Wicked Lover Series. It is amazing how Shayla brings her characters to life. This novella was an amazing catch up on how Jason and Gia’s story continued.