Blog Tour and Review - Monster by Francette Phal

Accidental Gold digger.

Circumstance forced Eden Mercer to sell herself to Dominic Armstrong for half a million dollars and in return she is to play the dutiful wife in public and submit to him completely behind closed doors.

The Tyrant.

Dominic is Ruthless, manipulative and sadistic but Eden is determined not to break under his cruelty. But how does one persevere when in the clutches of a Monster?

                           

My Rating = 4.5 Monster Stars!

*ARC provided by the author in exchange for my honest review

Primitive. Yes that was my impression on reading the first half of this book. It was deeply dark and extreme erotica that was so riveting. But then the book takes a turn into a whole different type of experience that gave a wonderful twist to the darkness it at first alluded.

Dominic Armstrong (even the name gives off vibes) is an extremely sadistic, domineering, emotionless, and cold man who is ruthless in his intent and does not let anything stand in his way of taking what he wants. When he first sets eyes on Eden it was inevitable she would be owned by him.

Eden has struggled all her life and has constantly searched for a way out of her dour existence. She takes her fast ticket out of there when Dominic tells her she is to become his. It’s at this point you see the spark we that will eventually take flight later in the book, as Eden insists on marriage. Little did she know what a life of depravity she would be putting herself in. However after four years of ‘marriage’ and one despicable act that outshines all the others, Eden makes her escape.

I really loved the darkness of the beginnings of this book, it was so extreme and shocking it was fabulous to read. I really should have been waging a war on Dom as the depraved way he treated Eden was vile. She was like his personal whore and when he ordered her to do what she did on that last night before she ran was utterly abhorrent but still it pushed me to read on and devour.

It’s not until I had read the whole book and sat back and thought about it that the full impact of the story came at me in waves. It was the initial judgement of both characters of each other that gave the read more punch and angst that was evident once the breakthrough takes place, when the ice in Dom’s heart finally starts to thaw. His hatred of women was apparent from the onset but as the reader is enfolded into the back story it makes sense of his actions and mind set. He is a great character and the type of one you love to hate and hate to love but love him I did! Eden is an extremely strong female lead yet at first she appears weak. Why would she stay and be objected to such cruel and depraved actions against her? Why did she not fight or run before? I totally got it why she didn’t though but then that got me questioning my own reaction to that. WTH? When she stands on her own again her strength just shines though, no longer under the watchful eye of her dominant husband she is able to be true self again.

I loved it when the tables were turned on Dom and he found himself the follower and not the leader. The little chips of ice breaking with the object of his affection drawing that out (huge spoiler so I won’t go into that!) was a complete gear changer in the book. It was so unexpected from what the book blurb gave the impression of what this book could be about, but it was a delight to read. I loved the whole darkness and light this brought to the book.

The writing was very poetic and extensive and yes I will admit some descriptive prose was a little excessive (at least I knew what Eden’s skin looked like) but that didn’t detract from the amazing skill the author has. It really drew me in and kept me entranced with the pace and flow of the action.

Monster was an interesting title to give this book but was Dominic Armstrong a monster? No I don’t think so, he was a man misunderstood with a haunted past that eventually realised what he needed to do to eradicate that darkness. It was a joy to read.

I can’t wait for the next book Until it Hurts featuring the hot and hunky Carver. Hmm I wonder what past he is hiding. Well if it’s as good as Monster then I’m in for a treat as this was an amazing read. 

 

****Warning the following excerpt is for 18+ only****

“Soon, sweetie, I promise,” he soothed. She moaned softly as he licked her ear, dropped soft warm kisses across her shoulder blades, he moved down her back, a wet tongue and hot mouth traced and kissed each vertebrae, making a slow and steady progress down her spine. It was a torturous progression that boiled the blood in Eden’s veins as she waited in bated anticipation. Breath stilled in her lungs, eyes widening when he drew apart her butt cheeks and ran his tongue down the wet crevice, from clit to the puckered rosebud of her hole and back again. It was undoubtedly one of the most erotic things he’d ever done to her body, and Eden didn’t know how to breathe properly. She gripped the sheets beneath her hands and bit down hard on her bottom lip to keep from screaming.

It was like a shot of adrenaline straight into her vein. It was blood vessels dilating, her heart galloping uncontrollably in her chest, it was gasping for breath when the air she drew in wasn’t enough. He owned her body, ate it like sun ripened peaches and drank the flowing juices of her weeping womanhood with his rapacious tongue. There were fingers there, slipping between the folds to dive deep into her blistering heat, while his thumb worked at her puckered hole, his wicked, wicked mouth showing Eden exactly how very little she knew her of own body. There was nothing but the explicitness of this act, the hyper awareness that made her feel like each inch of her body was struck by lightning, that killed her and gave her life all in one electrifying jolt. He was merciless and perfect, inviting her to shove her hips back and ride his face.

Death was imminent, sweet cataclysmic death seduced her into the gaping, welcoming arms of her orgasm. She plummeted, shattered into delicious little pieces on his tongue and fingers. Recuperating wasn’t in the stars for her as he gripped her hips and plunged into her depths in one long stroke. Pulling her arms and folding them at the small of her back, he held them there with one large hand as he sank in deeper, so deep that it hurt so good. Ass high in the air, face down in the sheets, Eden was at his complete mercy, filled to absolute capacity with his cock, and she whimpered, the vulnerability of her position giving her a sweet high.

“I’m going to beat this pussy, Eden, and you’re going to scream my name.”

And she did, a promise made completely true as he fucked her like a porn star. She screamed like the world was falling, his repeated strike against her G-spot making her see stars. It was too damn much, his jarring thrusts so deep that she could taste him, spurred her fall and she orgasmed on every inch of his cock.

Francette lives in Massachusetts with her amazingly supportive husband of ten years and her darling two year old son. Reading amazing books has led her to writing and she’s dabbled in fan-fiction before self-publishing her own works. She’s constantly thinking up new stories to write and does her best work when music is playing in the background. Romance is where she’s most comfortable but she hopes to one day venture in mystery novels. She has a weakness for coffee ice cream, tropical fruits and a good glass of wine.