Anger and pain brought them together, but their passion might just set them free.
Dimitri wants only one thing: revenge. His stepfather, Hendrix, has caused him nothing but pain and heartache. At last Dimitri can take something—someone—important to Hendrix and make him pay: Jess.
Jess is feisty and strong headed. Her past haunts her and connects her to the dangerously dark Dimitri in an unexpected way. Dimitri keeps his secrets locked deep inside, and Jess is drawn to this broken man like no one before.
With little to cling to besides their haunting pasts, both could have been doomed to lives spent raging against the darkness that holds them prisoner. Instead, it seems that as their pain draws them closer together, it is their desire that will set them free.
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18625453-enslaved-by-the-ocean
Darkness lies within everyone; it’s just what they choose to do with it that separates those who choose to succumb to it and allow it to consume them and those who choose to fight back and work through the darkness in order to reach any light they can to hold on to.
Both Dimitri and Jess have gone through traumatizing experiences that have scarred them deeply, but the paths they have chosen to take is what separates them. Dimitri’s quest for revenge on Hendrix, the man he believes is responsible for his fate, has sent his life spiraling into the darkness. It controls him and requires him to do its bidding. He is the Angel of Darkness…Mr. Black. He is simply a soulless vessel hell bent on retribution by any means necessary. That strategy has Dimitri kidnapping Jess off of Hendrix’s ship and holding her captive so that she’ll give Dimitri all the information he needs to bring Hendrix to his knees, dispelling his demons once and for all.
Jess is just as broken as Dimitri is, but when Hendrix saved her and she received another chance at life – one without abuse – she grabs hold of that chance and finds the strength to crawl through the darkness and seek the happiness she deserves. Since she’s been with Hendrix, Jess has come into her own. Living on a ship with a bunch of badass pirates is not easy, but Jess feels a freedom out on the water she hasn’t felt in such a long time and she appreciates every minute of it. When she’s taken by Dimitri, she refuses to give into his demands, protecting the man who saved her with everything that she is. But the more time she spends with Dimitri, the more Jess realizes that they come from similar backgrounds; both tormented and tortured. Both hurt in ways that others can’t begin to understand. Jess finds a kindred spirit in Dimi; too bad Dimitri runs the show most of the time and his lack of trust prevents Jess from getting too close to the man who for some reason ignites something in her that she never thought she would feel after the abuse she endured.
Dimitri and Jess’ relationship is not easy. Despite his attraction to Jess, Dimitri refuses to give in to his feelings because he simply sees her as a means to an end. That’s the way he has to see her in order for his plan to work out. But as Jess starts chipping away at the darkness that surrounds his heart, and he learns the truth of Jess’ past, Dimitri starts to understand that he had a choice to give into the darkness that now consumes him because Jess went through a similar situation and chose a much different path. With his newfound perspective, Dimitri gives himself to Jess, but there are outside forces lurking in the shadows, threatening to send both Dimitri and Jess back to hell on earth when a devious plan is set in motion and trust is seemingly broken.
I love how original Bella Jewel’s Criminals on the Ocean series is. Its unique setting allows for a different kind of romance story to take place. Jewel has always written kickass heroes who, for much of the time, seem like anti heroes, but then she crafts the story in such a way that the male leads step up and show who they really are deep within. Her female leads are independent women of extreme strength and intelligence. They don’t back down and Jess definitely epitomizes those characteristics. There’s nothing easy about the relationships that exist in this series, but that’s what makes them worth the fight. Dimitri and Jess’ connection is there from the start, but they’re on opposing sides for quite a bit of the text, which impedes anything from happening. Their personal issues also make the relationship tenuous, but as they work through their individual concerns together, they’re able to release some of that darkness and find the feelings of love and hope that lie within.
I definitely recommend this book as well as all other stories by Bella Jewel. She’s one kickass writer!
A complimentary copy was provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 poison apples
Bella Jewel is a self published, USA Today bestselling author. She’s been publishing since 2013. Her first release was a contemporary romance, Hell’s Knights which topped the charts upon release. Since that time, she has published over five novels, gaining a bestseller status on numerous platforms. She lives in North Queensland and is currently studying editing and proofreading to further expand her career. Bella has been writing since she was just shy of fifteen years old. In Summer 2013 she was offered an ebook deal through Montlake Romance for her bestselling modern day pirate series, Enslaved By The Ocean. She plans to expand her writing career, planning many new releases for the future.
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