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The series is now complete!

She sent an innocent man to prison. Now, eight years later, he's returning the favor...

I've been obsessed with Rafe Mason since I was thirteen. The twisted part of this story is that I still want him even now that he's holding me captive on an island.

Rafe has his reasons for doing what he's doing, and if I'm honest, I can't blame him. I'm the girl who sent him to prison for a heinous crime he didn't commit.

But now he's free and the tables have turned...now he's the one driven by obsession.

NOTE TO READERS: Torrent is a dark romance with kidnapping and other disturbing themes. Intended for mature readers. Not for the faint of heart. You've been warned. Part 1 in the Condemned series.

211 pages, Paperback

First published July 21, 2014

1975 people are currently reading
14709 people want to read

About the author

Gemma James

59 books2,574 followers
Gemma James is a USA Today bestselling author of sexy contemporary and dark romance. She loves to explore the darker side of human nature in her fiction, and she’s morbidly curious about anything dark and edgy, from deviant seduction to fascinating villains. Readers have described her stories as being “not for the faint of heart.”

She warns you to heed their words! Her playground isn’t full of rainbows and kittens, though she loves both. She lives in Oregon with her husband and children, a gaggle of animals, and bipolar weather.

Like her on Facebook or sign up for her newsletter so you don't miss out on future releases!

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 877 reviews
Profile Image for Belén.
37 reviews26 followers
July 25, 2015
Worst book ever.
Writers need to stop romanticizing abusive relationships. Seriously. That's not a joke.

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Rafe kidnaps her, rapes her, mistreats her, suffocates her, tries to drown her... He puts Alex naked in a fucking cage, in a dark and cold basement for days... And when she is free to leave, she decides to stay because she loves him and she says she wanted everything she went through??? Are you fucking kidding me??? For god's sake! She could've died!

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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Christy.
4,541 reviews35.9k followers
July 8, 2020
3 messed up stars!

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Don’t you love when you finish a book and you just sit there thinking… what in the actual fuck was that? I’m pretty sure that was my first thought after reading Torrent. Dark, twisted, intense and messed up. That’s the best way to describe this one.
I’m coming for you.

It all starts with a note. When Alex receives this, she knows her life is going to change. She’s just not sure how. After the innocent man she put in prison is out, she knows something is coming.

Eight years. Thats how long Rafe has been locked up. For a crime he did not commit. Now he’s out, but his life has forever been changed. When you’re convicted of a crime like this… it’s hard to come back from that. More than anything, Rafe has questions. He wants to know why. So he takes Alex somewhere no one else will find her. He needs to know, and he’ll use any means necessary to get the truth from Alex.

Alex was weak in so many ways, but to endure what she did, not only with Rafe, but over the years- it showed her strength. Rafe. Most of the book I couldn’t decide if I loved him or hated him. He was violent and brooding, but it was obvious he was in pain and vulnerable after all that had happened to him. Some of the things Rafe did to Alex were dangerous and extreme, but part of me didn’t blame Rafe for doing them. It was intense, but hearing how the last eight years had been for him, and he had absolutely no answers… it was what it was. I’m anxious to see how things will be between them in the second book now that he has some of the truth.

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If you’re looking for dark and hardcore, this is the book for you. It was a wild and torturous ride and had a crazy cliffhanger. Overall, I liked the story. It was original and the writing was awesome. I wish I would have felt an earlier connection to the characters, but I’m hoping since I already ‘know’ them, that won’t be an issue with the second book- which I’m very much looking forward to reading! If you like damaged heroes like me and you don’t mind a bit of a mind fuck, I would recommend Torrent.

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Profile Image for SueBee★bring me an alpha!★.
2,417 reviews15.4k followers
Want to read
May 25, 2015
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FREE on Amazon US today (5/25/2015)
COVERGASM! Torrent (Condemned, #1) by Gemma James Rampant (Condemned, #2) by Gemma James Fervent (Condemned, #3) by Gemma James Vagrant (Condemned, #4) by Gemma James

Part 1 of 4, novellas. Part 4 due summer, 2015.

BLURB:
She sent an innocent man to prison. Now, eight years later, he's returning the favor...

I’ve been obsessed with Rafe Mason since I was thirteen. The twisted part of this story is that I still want him, even now.

Now that he's holding me captive on an island.

Rafe has his reasons for doing what he's doing, and if I'm honest, I can't blame him. I’m the girl who sent him to prison for a heinous crime he didn't commit.

But now he's free and the tables have turned...now he's the one driven by obsession.


http://www.amazon.com/Torrent-Condemn...


FREEBIES are often good for MORE than one day, I have gathered all my FREEBIES on a special shelf: Kindle-freebies (currently over 400 books)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Profile Image for Ashleyjo.
826 reviews522 followers
June 6, 2016

If the line between love and hate is thin, then the lines between anger and lust -and- fear and lust are emaciated.

I didn't dislike this book, but it did leave me feeling senselessly jerked around, purposefully confused, and overloaded with secondary plots I didn't want or need.

The technical writing was fine.

2 1/2 -3 stars.

Him

I got the idea, the premise - he's depraved, capable of heartless shit, and still has the remnants a moral compass.

It's how the author pushed the conflict toward each other annoyed me and felt inauthentic.

He blames, kidnaps, & hurts her because she wronged him eight years ago. He had unimaginable shit happen to him in prison, which he claims unleashed a darkness that had always simmered below the surface. Okay.

But, does this sound like ^that^ man?



"Sorry," I mumbled, then shook my head because I had just apologized to a judgmental broad for simply standing in public. Fuck these people.


Would that dark, angry man cuddle her? Fall asleep with her and almost let her escape? Care if another man degraded her, too?

Basically, the shift between moments of locking her in a cage and leaving her for days in her own filth vs coddling her have no bridges, no moment where the salt and fresh water mix.

One minute he acts like he has feelings for her, empathizes with her, maybe forgives her, and the next ...

"What we shared was pure obsession, nothing more and nothing less, and it was the sweetest madness in hell.


All the above said, this is one of those dark books where you don't blame the MMC for any of his actions, or at least I didn't.

Her

I didn't blame her either.

I felt for her situation. She's been taken advantage of in a way that's left her f'd up and full of self-hate. It's one of those books where you overlook what they've done to each other because you have someone else evil and vile to play villain.

Her stepbrother ruined their lives.

But, like the MMC, there are these huge personality jumps that just don't have any blend time or bridge to help the reader understand her.

She's frightened to death while she spends an equal amount of time sexually frustrated.
She doesn't want to die. She never pauses to think he could kill her in strangling and drowning her. She wants him to fuck her all rough and heavy handed. She's mad because he ruined their first time by strangling her. She wants to and tries to run away. She refuses to leave when told to go.

It's always these polar opposites with no middle work to get you from north to south poles.

Too Much Secondary Plot

The stepbrother, the prison sentence, the history of the relationships, and the current timeline of her being kidnapped IS ENOUGH.

Dissecting his last relationship before prison & the introduction of said OW into the plot line was the beginning of the end for me.



The prison buddy being there felt forced. Like the author had him there simply for the purpose of keeping readers wondering if he'd get in on the action or not.

The final straw was the end.

I feel the author should've skipped a lot of the secondary plot, like the ex OW, and focused on making us understand the FMC & MMC.

Bottom Line

I liked the way it started. By midpoint, I felt it just got too convoluted and wishy-washy by secondary plot. By the end, it was too cliche and soap opera for my tastes.

I like a mindfuck as well as the next gal, but I don't like to feel like every scene involves the author blindfolding me, spinning me, and telling me to hit the mofo donkey's ass.

For other readers...

I will say there aren't many "dark books" that successfully pull of justification and acceptance of the darker elements. This book does do that. So, those readers highly interested in that plot device may want to give this a go.

I got this as a box set on KU, but I think I'll pass the rest of this series by as just not delivering what I wanted how I wanted it.




Profile Image for Debra.
474 reviews2,445 followers
July 24, 2014

★★★ 3 Stars!



Torrent by author Gemma James is one of those books that left me thinking 'what the hell did I just read!?'. It was a mindfuck; that's for sure. It was also a dark, twisted, messed up tale that involves some dubious content, a tortured, damaged hero out for revenge and a troubled, broken heroine with a guilty conscience.

Eight years ago Alex De Luca sent an innocent man off to prison and now that he's released, this man is out for revenge. Rafe Mason has spent eight years of his life rotting away in a prison cell. He's lost everything that mattered to him; his career, his reputation, his friends and family; all because of a lie told by a girl he once used to know so well. But now that he's free, he's determined to give her the same treatment he's been receiving for the past 8 years of his life.

"I'm coming for you."

What Rafe doesn't know though, is that Alex had a very good reason to lie and falsely accuse him of a crime he didn't commit. Still, she's determined to keep that reason to herself and make him think she lied just out of spite, which in my opinion wasn't a very smart thing to do. I found her reasoning a bit frustrating and hard to comprehend. Both main characters's reasonings and ways of justifying what they did came a bit across as farfetched and unrealistic which is the main reason why I didn't enjoy this book as much.

"Too much of me still hated her...but too much of me still wanted her. How much more messed up could I get?"

The other problem I had with the story was that I didn't fully connect with the characters and I didn't really 'get' their connection. Aside from their obvious sexual chemistry and fierce attraction to each other, they didn't seem to share much of an emotional bond. I think if the characters would have spent more time establishing an actual, deeper connection, I would have been able to understand them better and I could have been more invested in their story.

Still, this author has a very easy flowing writing style and while I wasn't always a fan of the plot and character development, the author most definitely kept me hooked with her writing. Once I got into the story, I just had to know what would happen next in this twisted tale and I was unable to put the book down. Also, the story ended with a major cliffhanger, so I already know I'll be reading the sequel as soon as it comes out!



***ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
Profile Image for Pam Godwin.
Author 43 books12k followers
July 25, 2014
Perhaps there’s truth in saying pain can bring healing. But what if it’s applied by the man she wrongfully sent to prison?

Torrent maintains a steamy level of erotic suspense and anticipation that the conflicted characters fulfill with a pleasingly abundant amount of sexy, physical connection.

It's an interesting exploration of two people seeking and accepting a resolution for their remorseful past. This creates a new and fascinating dynamic in their captor-captive relationship.

Rafe teeters on the verge of scary captor but never descends into that domain due to his intense emotional and sexual attraction to Alex. It might be too hot to handle for prudes but then again, it's the kind of story they might enjoy the most.

This is a hard-to-put-down captive empowerment story, with the kind of offbeat cliffhanger you will never expect. It’s as vicious and unpredictable and rapid as a...well, a torrent. Brilliant!
Profile Image for Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen.
1,692 reviews634 followers
July 26, 2014
This is the second time I am posting this...thank you to all the haters who FLAG....if you don't like my gifs or what I have to say....then UNFRIEND ME!!

Book – Torrent (Condemned #1)
Author – Gemma James
Publication Date – July 22, 2014
Type – Part of Series
Genre – Dark
Rating – 4 ½ out of 5 Stars

Complimentary Copy provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.

Review
Wow…now that was some fucked up shit!!  I kept waiting and waiting for the softer side of DARK to rear its angelic face…but HELL NO!  This one kept me on the edge of my seat and ended with my desire for more!  Now off the next question…..when can I get more? 

I enjoyed Ms. James writing abilities and the words flowed impeccably, so much so, that I felt I was watching the scenes play out in my head – she does have a fantastic capacity of imagination with her descriptions.

This ends in the most mind bending cliffhanger that I can’t function until I find out what happens next with Rafe and Alex.

Re-Cap
Alex has a secret – in fact she has many and these aren’t the type of secrets which produce giggles, these are the ones that hurt and can kill.  She lives day by day haunted with the lies she told and the nightmare that she calls “brother”.



Then comes the day where her lies and secrets show up at her door and HE won’t be happy until he learns the truth and exacts his revenge.

Wrap-Up
Gripping, mind bending, fantastical journey through the revenge of a man brought unfairly to justice against the girl who put him there.

Profile Image for Candace.
1,179 reviews5,019 followers
February 6, 2016
From the first line to the last, I could not put this book down. It was that great! Gemma James has mastered the art of writing deliciously-naughty dark romances. This story was sizzling! The chemistry between Alex and Rafe was off-the-charts! The emotions were raw and intense.

I didn't expect so much depth in such a short book. I was blown away by how quickly I got sucked into the plot and how conflicted I felt about Alex's situation as both the villain and victim. Wow, just wow! I loved this dark and twisted story! I cannot wait to see how the next book in the series plays out!
Profile Image for Sonia.
1,297 reviews2,070 followers
June 25, 2020
8 long-years to finally seek get revenge- oh Rafe and Alex

I’ve had this book on my kindle for YEARS! I’m mad at myself for not reading this sooner!

Alex accused Rafe of raping her 8 years ago and he went to jail for it. He is finally out and wants revenge for being wrongly accused. We find out that the reason why she did it is because Alex had been getting raped by her step brother but was secretly (well not so secretly since her step brother figured it out) in love with Rafe, yet her jealous rapist didn’t want her pursuing him. So, he went to jail for it.

When Rafe kidnaps Alex, sparks fly. No matter what he tries to do to her, she feels like she deserves it and is ready to submit- and damn does she ever 🔥. Even though she agrees with Rafe seeking retribution, she still fights him when she can. Although there were instances of non consensual scenes, we are given the perspectives of both characters to actually understand what is going on in their heads. I mean, I didn’t ever feel like I was hating Rafe; the author does a great job letting us in. Plus, Alex has almost been conditioned to take pleasure in many forms of the pain that has been inflected on her for many years. Rafe is very much 🤤 worthy in Alex’s eyes (and ours too).

I cannot wait to read book 2! The cliffhanger has me on edge.
Profile Image for Debra Johnson.
11k reviews179 followers
July 25, 2025
Purchased from Amazon May 25, 2015
Finished Reading October 9, 2015

Torrent by Gemma James
Genres: Adult, Crime, Dark Erotica, Romance, Suspense
4.75 Stars

Not for those of a delicate nature!
It hits on some very HARD CORE and controversial topics.

The things that Rafe & Alex go through is nothing short of horrific.
Their story is gripping and provocative.

Exceptionally well written.
Powerful, intense and DARKLY EROTIC.

The question is,
"Are you man or woman enough to read it?"

This is
Also #1 of
Condemned Series: Books 1-4

Review Shared to;
amazon, bookbub, facebook,
Profile Image for ❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books.
2,619 reviews10.9k followers
June 22, 2014
MY RATING: ☆☆☆☆.5 Stars - TORRENT by Gemma James

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☆ Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review ☆
~ THANK YOU ~

4.5 RAFE THE CHOKER STARS

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OBSESSION

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TORRENT is a new adult dark romance with disturbing themes and explicit content that includes sexual situations and violence.

A DANGEROUS POSSESSIVENESS

My head is kind of all over the place with this book, in the beginning it is very confusing as it jumps from the present to 8 years past, so much happens in the first few chapters that if you aren't focused in on the story you will miss crucial bits and can make for a confusing read.

ONE MANS LIFE DESTROYED

The police arrested the wrong guy and I let them

Alot goes on in this book, it is gritty, not dark so much but that could be because all books that I tend to think are dark I think "Captive in the Dark". But this definitely was fucked up, and did have a few dark parts thrown in for good measure..It's definitely not a book for the faint of heart, it's fucked up at it's best, so you have been warned..

LIES/RAPE/EIGHT YEARS BEHIND BARS/VENGEANCE

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Reading this was left wondering how far one man would alow his demons to push him to get the answers he was after..

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KIDNAPPED/HELD CAPTIVE on a remote island, in a cell like cage, no toilet, shower, bed or bedding or clothes, left naked, cold, scared, hungry A FINE LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE

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*waves* Now if someone could be so kind as to throw me some rope I'd like to climb back up this cliff!!

Profile Image for Mariℓina.
624 reviews202 followers
October 28, 2014
3,5 Stars! For a story about revenge, taboos and the excruciating, deeper thoughts of a wronged man. After being sent to prison for 8 years accused of a vile crime he didn't commit, Rafe is finally free.. And he has some plans for Alex..


Alex, the girl who sent him there, is the bane of his existence.. He wants her, craves her like an addict but at the same time hates her with all of his heart. But it's not that simple. She had to go through an awful life herself. Nothing is what it looks like..


She is a victim herself in more ways than just one, and no matter what happened to her she still harbors very strong feelings for the only man she ever loved and that is of course Rafe..


The story was good, dark, well writen, very cruel and intense. I liked it a lot except a few things like the choking, he did it way too many times, the inability of Alex to tell the truth right away, maybe even Rafe's reasoning for being so hard on her and the whole story with Nikki.


I want to read the next book, because this on ends with a boom and i'm sure there is more 'crazy' ahead of us.. I am also very interesting about Jax.



THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BOOK

- Everything that could have gone wrong with those two, surely went..
- The writer doesn't sugarcote many things.. That is refreshing, the harsh reality is present in so many ways and mostly with Rafe's time in prison.
- Zach, i hated him right away and i can't wait to see what will happen next. I hope for a cruel death or justice..
- Dual POV.. But Rafe's point is more delineate..
- Jax, i think he is a good friend, in a very weird way.
- The ending is something differnt and leaves you with many questions..


ARC provided by the author, in exchange of an honest review. Thank you!
Profile Image for Jamie ♡♡ submits to books ♡♡.
462 reviews170 followers
June 28, 2016
***** 5 "Rafe Please Be My Predator" Stars *****

"Appearances were deceitful bitches that lied and covered the ugly truth."


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After spending the last 8 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Rage is a no longer the good guy he once was. Prison has changed him and not for the better.

"Darkness turned at the core of my being, a turbulent need that had simmered for years."

Rafe has his preditorial eyes set on one person.

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Alex is about as broken of a girl as you can find. Her life is a mess and the huge secret she is hiding as sent the one man that was always there for her to prison. She thought she was protecting Rafe but in the end she broke Rafe and her life will be forever effected by the consequences of her actions.

Revenge will be bitterly sweet when Alex comes face to face Rafe.

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"Finally, after so many fucking years of wanting this girl, I was inside her. The sense of power intoxicated me, as did the discovery that this was more than just sex."

Rafe's plans for revenge are about to be blow to smithereens when outside people step in and nothing will be the same for Rafe and Alex.

ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOKS, RAFE, THIS AUTHOR.

THIS SERIES IS GOING TO BE EXPLOSIVE......I JUST KNOW IT!!!


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RAFE MASON.... YOU! ARE! MINE!
Profile Image for Abby.
232 reviews46 followers
own-or-going-to-own
August 18, 2014
ARC kindly provided by Gemma James. *Thumbs up*
Misha Collins
Profile Image for  Rosebud.
1,052 reviews194 followers
July 25, 2014
Rafe Mason went to prison for a crime he didn't commit. Rape of the teenage sister of his best friend Zach. Nobody believed him when he said he was innocent especially after the testimony of the victim herself, Alex De Luca, named him as her rapist. Eight years later he's served his time and he's back in the town that shunned him. Back for revenge and to finally find out why Lex lied.

Alex has had to live with the fact that she sent an innocent man to prison for eight long years. Hearing that Rafe is back in town, she knows it's just a matter of time before he hunts her down. What she doesn't realize is that Rafe has revenge on his mind and has planned an elaborate scheme to turn the tables on her. The prisoner will now become the jailer.

Warning: This is a dark themed erotic BDSM suspense thriller. For readers with triggers, this book does contain scenes of non-dub-con and extreme BDSM elements.

This is one of those times I don't think I can do justice to my actual thoughts about this read. The story starts with the author providing insight into Alex's life and it becomes very apparent to the reader what's happened and how that has affected her. I mean how DOES a girl live with herself when the man she had a teenage crush on lands up in prison because of her. That's gotta take an emotional and physical toll in some way...

The focus then shifts to Rafe. Eight years lost that he will never get back. Life has moved on but he hasn't. The author also showcases how that has affected him. The question starts to be whether I as the reader agree with Rafe's actual actions. Especially after knowing both sides of the story. This is where I stop as any further thoughts would reveal spoiler info and I like to keep to the nonspoiler code of conduct.

Switching to the adult content. This is a dark BDSM themed book, emphasis on the SM. It does push the envelope which is why I posted the cautionary warning. If, however, you are a fan of dark erotica and appreciate them such as I do, I HIGHLY suggest you check this one out.

One additional caution..... There is a MAJOR cliffhanger ending that really really really urked me. It is so not fair to a reader to end a story of this sort the way the author did. Especially when the next installment Rampant isn't due to come out until possibly October/2014. Some may feel this isn't an unreasonably long time to wait but believe me, when you get to the end of this read you are so gonna agree with me. So be warned but know this is a really good premised book but one star deduction for the cliffee.





Profile Image for ✿kawehi.reviews.
1,453 reviews428 followers
July 3, 2014
☆I received an ARC via the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!!☆

description

Torrent was an unexpected and a mind-boggling read!! Gemma without doubt managed to turn my psyche upside down and make me want to root for the underdog in the story! That’s for sure!

But, there is something I need to bring up and I’m so sorry to mentioning this but after re-reading the synopsis it kind of just came up and stuck.

So, was it just me or did the concept of Torrent kind of remind you of Tanya Holme’s Within Temptation a bit? I mean, the main girl sends an innocent man to jail and then years later he comes back and is not happy with her. But the difference is, is that in Torrent, said convicted gets revenge on the person who sent him to jail and is hell-bent on taking years away from her life and treating her just the way he was treated.

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Then secrets, betrayals, and revelations are unraveled and one man’s quest for retribution is now not what it seems. Could the person who took eight years away from his life in fact be an innocent like him? One thing’s for sure, it’s going to be a bumpy ride for these two and much bigger fish to fry!!

# I highly recommend for those readers who like dark erotic reads and who like a little twist in their shake. It definitely had me hanging at the end with a cliffhanger like that!! Aaah!! I need more!!

description
Profile Image for Amber Rose.
321 reviews840 followers
April 28, 2016
I am one of the Beta readers for this book for about 15% through it.

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I'm a huge fan of Gemma James. I read her, The Devils Kiss Trilogy and feel in love with her writing and the way she developed her characters. She is one of those authors that I will always read regardless what she writes.

I've had a lot of personal shit going on with my life the past 3 months and it's been hard for me to finish my beta reading for Gemma. Finally I got an ARC of the whole book and started reading it and it took me awhile to finish it, not going to lie. Not because of the story but because of the my life issues.

Now onto the story.

Alex, has some major issues and has made some fucked up decisions in her past. Really bad decisions that caused in innocent man to go to prison for her actions. Not saying that Alex, is a horrible person or anything, just that she was young and made some wrong decisions.

Rafe, he is likeable. Yeah I pulled likeable on him. I didn't love him as much as I thought I was going to. I did start to really like him almost love him when I first started to read/beta read, I am not sure if it was just the time difference from me reading it and for me taking so long to actually read it but something happened to my emotions with him. I liked him more towards the end of the book but in the beginning I felt he could have been more broken, or more harsh towards Alex. I felt at times he was hardcore towards her but then I felt he was regretting and questioning everything for a moment. I wanted things different. He did go to prison for a crime he didn't commit and I get that but there was something about him that needed to be more... I can't put my finger on it.

There is a character in the book that I loved!!! I have no idea why I loved him so much when he is the bad guy through out all of this but I don't care. For the life of me I don't get why I liked him so much but I did and it is what it is....

Over all I really enjoyed this book. I loved so many things about it and when it ended I wanted more. I am really looking forward to more from these characters and where its going to take me. There are plenty of sexy scenes in this book. My favorite I must say is in the beginning... Yep, I know I am pretty fucked up. So. Yeah...

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Profile Image for Larry Southwick.
20 reviews2 followers
June 21, 2014
This is a review in exchange for an ARC preview copy of the book. Ms James certainly knows how to write DARK. From the opening scenes of familial rape to later kidnapping and imprisonment and torture, she does dark with an obsessive flair.

The evil done to the two main characters takes a considerable time to be explained, and the angst is a detriment to the book. I could not understand why the female character would not explain herself, and the continuing trauma she experienced, even under torture. Perhaps it is explainable by the endless brutality she suffers for eight long years, that she begins to believe in the omnipotence of her brutalizer, but I was not convinced.

It is quite an extraordinary and beneficial coincidence that the male character's sadistic tendencies and the female character's masochistic tendencies match up so well. Otherwise, falling in love would be futile.

Finally, the "Halloween"-like resurrection of the evildoer, is just a ploy to drag us all along to part 2. Disappointing. As is the male character's mental breakdown at the end. Cliche.

Where was the father in all this? He had no clue what was happening in his own house? For nearly a decade? What about her friends, teachers, coworkers, neighbors, mailmen, etc? It is all too tidy.

I like dark. I like erotic romance. I like bdsm stories. I wanted to like this story, but too many holes, too many dangling strings, too much overkill in the guilt department. Sorry.

Profile Image for Books & Vodka Sodas.
1,118 reviews128 followers
July 20, 2014
This book did me a doosey!

I ain't kidding you! I saw dark romance, and you know, sometimes people say dark romance and all these flowers and rainbows fall down all over the ending, or the Alpha anti-hero turns all whimpy and weepy.

But this book.

WHOA! THIS BOOK!

Let's just say I read it in four hours I started it at midnight with the intention of ONLY reading it until 12:30, and then BAM! It's over, I'm screaming silent rages at my Kindle, and its 4:22am!!!!

I'm gonna give you a warning. This book is DARK! VERY DARK! There are instances of rape, captivity, forced seduction, and humiliation. There are some S&m moments which can push alot of people's hard limits. I happen to be a total freak that totally understands the inner turmoil the heroine in this story is going through. Needing to run from her captor, yet loving that he is giving her everything she needs, yet, what she totally needs is some therapy because of the trauma that she went through with her step-brother.

You could feel her pain, and uncertainty pouring off the pages and I would just start crying randomly while reading it. Even though I knew, in this horrible situation she was thrust into, after trying to run from her brother in the first place, I also knew with Rafe, she was happy, despite his rage. I knew that the truth would come out and somewhere he would realize that he had done wrong by Lex, while also setting her free in a demented and 'different' type of way.

But that ending!

GOOOOODDDDDDDD THAT ENDING!!!!!!

I wanted to punch a vajayjay over that ending!

Just another warning. If you don't like cliffhangers, wait for this whole series to come out first. I know some of you whine over cliffhangers.

As a whole the story was engaging, dark, gritty, the characters were full of life and ripped very real dark and sexy emotions from you as a reader.

Highly recommend for fans of dark romance!

*I received a FREE copy via The Book Enthusiast Promotions*
Profile Image for Aղցela W..
4,517 reviews318 followers
June 13, 2015
This was a really good book. Alex De Luca was just a teenager when she lied and sent her friend, Rafe Mason, an innocent man, to prison for eight years. Instead of speaking up and doing the right thing, she let him rot in a cell while his hatred for her grew into something uncontrollable. Now he's out on parole and he has only one objective. To break her in a way that she broke him. He wants her screams, her tears, and he wants to see her shatter into millions of pieces. Once Rafe has his hands on Alex he tortures her with nakedness, cold, degradation, and withholding orgasms. Alex withholds the truth from him, she is ashamed of the reasoning behind Rafe ending up in prison. Her lies are complex, her pain is real, she has suffered for years in silence, no one ever knowing what was going on behind closed doors. So while Alex is suffering somewhat at the hands of Rafe, there is no way she would ever want to leave, no way that she wants to be delivered back to the devil that she has known intimately for the last decade.
This was my first time reading this author and this book was very well written with no errors in spelling or grammar. This book was dark and twisted and I really liked it. If you like reading dark erotic romance this is the book for you. I can't to read the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Carrie White.
301 reviews29 followers
June 14, 2014
I was gifted a copy for an honest review!
Boy oh boy, where the heck do I even start? I literally just finished and I'm stuck, in a shell shocked trance from the major cliffy I just experienced:(
Karma is a funny thing.....
Alex and Rafe have a past.
One lie changed both their lives together.
While Rafe serves years in prison for something he never did, Alex is left dealing with her own scarred demons.
Rafe has one thing on his mind once released, seek revenge, steel years of her life, treat her how he was treated while in the Jon.
Once everything's in motion, said & done secrets are exposed, changing the course of Alex's fate. Changes them both.
But what if things weren't as they appeared in black & white???
I won't spoil or give any hints how this bad boy ended, you need to experience the
"WTH just happened?" moment for your yourselves.
Karma is a funny thing..
Profile Image for Lashuri Chan.
155 reviews25 followers
April 12, 2015
The story was meh to me. It became clear this is the type of story i would not like. I hate the stories where the heroine is trying to pursue the hero and he pushes her away

The first two to three chapters were promising but after that it all just became cliche. The heroine was annoying and has no personality. She wanted him to let her go but at the same time she still had feelings for him and wanted to have sex with him. Every time she tried to escape she ended up in some kind of trouble and always called for him. I don't understand why she acted like she couldn't tell him why she sent him to prison for a crime he didn't commit early on. She kept dodging the question time he asked and since she never gave a valid reason as to why she wouldn't tell him, it came off a stalling and a filler just to make the book longer.

And then of course, with these types of stories where the heroine purse the hero and he pushes her away, when she finally does tell him he wants to be moral and let her go and then the heroine is all no no. I don't want to go! Since the truth is all out there we can now be together and work through this!

Pathetic. I'm just glad I didn't waste any real money on this.
Profile Image for Philomena Callan Cheekypee.
4,006 reviews431 followers
October 8, 2016
**update** I decided to re-read this BOOK before I read the others. Why? Because having read so many BOOKS after reading this I wanted it to be fresh in my mind. But blimey I engulfed this book. What an ending!! So looking forward to READING BOOK 2.

Wow!!Why have I not read this authors books before. This book was absolutely brilliant. I read this book in one sitting. I seriously couldn't put it down or read it fast enough. My stomach was in bits reading this. This book will take you on a really dark and emotional rollercoster.

Be aware this is part of a series so there is a whopper of a cliffhanger. Hope we don't have to wait too long for more. I'm going to go look at this authors other books as this was fantastic.

**this is a NEW adult dark romance. This book includes disturbing themes and explicit content that includes sexual situations and violence.
Profile Image for Michelle.
232 reviews1 follower
February 16, 2022
3.5 Stars

My heart ached for Alexandra De Luca. I kept turning the pages waiting for her suffering to end. I find myself addicted to this dark and twisted story and will read the next book.
Profile Image for Hazel *Craves the Angst Reviews*.
770 reviews286 followers
June 3, 2017
Find This and Other Reviews At Craves The Angst.

4 Held Captive Stars!
Erotic, Thrilling and Deliciously Dark. I Couldn’t Put This One Down!

The Review:
I totally enjoyed this one. With it’s dark, riveting and intimidating scenes, characters who needed acceptance and forgiveness and found it in each other and the sinister and erotic story line, this one was a “read it all in one sitting” kind of read.

Story...
Rafe Mason has been away for eight long years, stewing in a prison cell for a crime he didn’t commit and surviving a life no one should have to endure. While he was away, life went on without him, leaving him in a standstill to obsess over and plan how he would seek his revenge on the one person he both loved and hated.

Alex has been living in hell for the past eight years, trapped in a silence that's cost more than she could ever imagine. She knew her lies would one day find her but she never expected it to come in such a dark manner... or that it could also be so liberating.

Rafe’s plan in underway but when he takes Alex, their attraction is instantaneous. All those intense, dark emotions combust into an exciting bid for dominance. Rafe has had years to think about what he would do to Alex and in Rafe's hands, Alex finds acceptance.

Characters...
Rafe was a justifiably angry man. He had eight years stolen from him but he still couldn’t obliterate his obsession from his mind, leaving him eight years for that obsession to grow and warp into something complicated but it also unchained him. He was a bit savage and scary but that fundamental part that made him a decent human was still very much alive. Prison had gone a long way in destroying him but his core was still in tact. I loved Rafe!

This story was the very essence of dysfunction for everyone involved. However, Rafe and Alex found something within the darkness they could explore together. And it made what was broken, whole. I loved their chemistry because even when they were tearing up the sheets in a dysfunctional kind of way, it worked for them and their feelings were laying just under the surface, consenting to their desires.

And then there’s the brother... Zach was fixated to the point of insanity. I would love to know what finally snapped inside him. What turned his love and protection for his step-sister into such a obvious betrayal of trust other than he saw a similar darkness in her he had within himself and she was a close, convenient outlet for it. The years of abuse he heaped on her was unrelenting and horrific but it also called to something deep in the both of them. I think he really cared about her but his delusions were just too messed up.

The Wrap Up...
This was my first book by this author and was suggested by a friend. I’m totally hooked. I loved how the author wasn’t afraid to really put her characters through their struggles. And that ending!! Oh wow. I can’t wait to get my hands on book two because the cliffy was killer!

NOTE: Thanks for the recommendation Lorena! I bow before your brilliant suggestions ;)
Profile Image for Diana's.
1,053 reviews126 followers
April 27, 2015
3.5 Dang cliffy stars
All I have to say is I am SO happy I'm late to the game with this one. I would have been pulling my hair out with that ending..
A bit peeved Alexa wouldn't come clean sooner..
Profile Image for Fiza.
355 reviews74 followers
August 14, 2014
´*•.¸(*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´Review´*•.¸(*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*

Rafe is betrayed by someone he considered his friend, Alex, as a result of that betrayal he is sent to jail for a crime he didn’t commit. His sentence, eight years. Plenty of time for Alex to come clean and tell the truth, thus saving Rafe from a terrible future. But she kept her mouth shut. Now she’s got to pay the price.

“I’m coming for you”


I had seen the cover of this book some time ago and I knew this was one I needed to read….yes I am easily persuaded by a hot cover, don’t judge. But aside from the hot cover, “Torrent” truly is a great start of this series. It’s short, fast paced but oh so intense. I love the concept and the way it’s build up, it doesn’t weaken but only gets stronger throughout the book. And the set of messed characters it has is so intriguing, I’m not only talking about the main characters either. Not to mention the sexiness that goes through the roof.



The main characters are Rafe and Alex. Poor, sexy Rafe. He’s filled with anger, anger he has every right to. Eight years have been stolen from him, he has lost opportunities and his credibility has been washed down the drain. Even when he has done his time in jail, once outside he has to face the disgust on people’s faces.

Yes, Rafe wants to make Alex pay for all that. Hurt her. Make her suffer like he has suffered all those years, how he is still suffering.


But hot damn, Rafe. It doesn’t help that she’s a victim herself, or that her body has learned to get off on rough treatment. Though Alex is a victim and I do feel sorry for the scarred woman she has become. I still can’t completely forgive her for keeping her mouth shut, not yet. Maybe I’ll get to that point in the next (few) book(s).

This twisted story is filled with hurt, vengeance and hate. And I really liked it, don’t know what that says about me but okay….


There are some twists mixed in there and unfortunately also a cliffhanger. Gemma James you are one evil woman.


I do have to warn you about the explicit nature of this book. For those who can’t handle or enjoy that, this is not your read. But if you’re like me and you like your reads hot, cruel and a little bit insane then look no further!

*•.¸(*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´Rating´*•.¸(*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´

4 Stars
Profile Image for Heather.
1,023 reviews313 followers
January 8, 2018
I really enjoyed this book! It definitely has some dark moments but I don't mind that. Rafe could be very scary at times but I understood his need to know why he had been betrayed. Alex was no push over either! Even though he kept doing terrible things to her she knew he was a misunderstood bad guy with a heart of gold. Don't we all want one of those? LOL

This was a very quick read and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!
Profile Image for Ashley.
317 reviews28 followers
August 10, 2015
... OF COURSE THATS THE FUCKING ENDING.
I can't.. even.. I JUST CANT FATHOM HOW ANNOYED I AM RIGHT NOW GUYS.
I just can't even review this book.. THATS HOW MAD I AM
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