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Destruction (A Dark Romance) (Fragile Ties Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,034 ratings

Vengeance and destruction are all he has left.

Lianna Mercier has everything. She’s beautiful, well-educated, her father is rich, powerful — and she works for him. The perfect little princess, raised to be just like daddy.

But it’s all a lie.

A bloody, screwed up lie, and David Gethen is about to tear it all down and destroy Lianna in the process. He wants revenge, he wants to finish the plan his father started years ago — but after he takes her, after he tortures her, he begins to realize just how wrong he may have been.


Publisher's Note: This book is a dark romance that contains intense scenes, graphic language, and capture fantasy which may be disturbing for some readers. Please choose another book if this is not your cup of tea!

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Another dark as the depths of hell romance from Jennifer!" - Cari Silverwood, NY Times & USA Today bestselling author

"No one writes Dark Romance quite like the enigmatic Jennifer Bene.
The perfect dubcon down to its slippery core, and just the right brand of dark." - Addison Cain, USA Today bestselling author
"Wow, this book was one hell of a ride!
Intense and dark, but still somehowsexy, I haven't enjoyed a book like this since CJ Roberts' Dark Duetseries. Just wow!" - Kendra C., Amazon
"
Twisted. Menacing. Heart pumping. Chilling. Destruction was a psychological thriller with elements of mayhem, vengeance, lies and secrets that decimated my soul." ★★★★ - The Romantic Angel Blog

"If you like your books
dark, twisted, beautifully crafted and deliciously non-con, this is the book for you!" - Maren Smith, USA Today bestselling author

"
Dark, suspenseful, frustrating... If you like it dark then I promise you won't be disappointed. A tale of revenge, regret, and heartbreak that will make you feel everything the characters feel." ★★★★★ - Amazon Reviewer kshifflett16

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0784LJ3WW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (November 26, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 26, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.0 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,034 ratings

About the author

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Jennifer Bene
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Jennifer Bene is a USA Today bestselling author of dangerously sexy and deviously dark romance.

Don't miss a release! Sign up for the VIP Reader List and get new release alerts and access to free books, bonus scenes, and exclusive giveaways at: https://www.jenniferbene.com/newsletter

Living in Texas with her daughter and their three dogs, Jennifer spends her days avoiding the heat and writing about bad boys and brave girls while drinking wine. She’s known for her intense, dark stories, dangerous villains, dominant heroes, and feisty heroines. Whether she’s making you laugh, cry, or sweat through a sizzling scene, Jen always delivers a twisty, spine-tingling journey with the promise of a happily-ever-after… eventually.

You can find her online throughout social media with username @jbeneauthor and on her website: https://www.jenniferbene.com

She also writes dark paranormal / fantasy / omegaverse romance under the pen name Cassandra Faye.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
1,034 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They describe the romance as explicit and erotic, with some really sexy scenes. The character development is amazing and flawless, with the characters connecting well with one another. Many appreciate the strong, unafraid heroine who surprises her lover with her strength. However, opinions differ on the story quality, with some finding it full of twists and turns and mesmerizing, while others say it's brutal and not for the faint of heart.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

24 customers mention "Readability"24 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the book. They found the dialogue sharp, witty, and to the point. The book kept them interested throughout, with an engaging plot that kept them hooked until the end.

"...Overall, I'd say that this is pretty good if you enjoy the genre...." Read more

"...The language is intelligent, the dialogue is sharp, witty and to the point. The way she builds up the plot with surprising twists and turns...." Read more

"2.5* Interesting read but felt something was missing. Overall, extremely dark read." Read more

"...Thank you for all you do for your readers new and old, keep up the good work and showering us your readers with your wonder...." Read more

17 customers mention "Writing quality"14 positive3 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book. They find it brilliantly written, intriguing, and thought-provoking. The language is intelligent and the dialogue is sharp, witty, and to the point. Readers feel they understand the main characters and the storyline well. Overall, the writing style is smooth and engaging.

"...The language is intelligent, the dialogue is sharp, witty and to the point. The way she builds up the plot with surprising twists and turns...." Read more

"...I find her writing to be page turning, intriguing, thought provoking, shocking, and sometimes even a bit heart tugging...." Read more

"I like the writing in this book even if the dark side of this romance is a little beyond my comprehension...." Read more

"Jennifer Bene is an exceptional writer, who is able to take DARK, DANGEROUS and NON-CON and use them to wrap your emotions into a whirl-wind of..." Read more

11 customers mention "Romance"11 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the explicit romance in the book. They find the story engaging with sexy scenes and an intense plot. The author is described as an expert at writing dark erotica.

"...This twisted dark romance is more twisted and dark, than romantic and you do well to heed the warnings...." Read more

"...This is a dark and dirty romance. Everything I expect from a dark romance. I won’t go into the story since that has been done by previous reviewers...." Read more

"...most other books, but in this one its methodical and explicit in all its romantic dark glory...." Read more

"...And after that you don't want to stop reading ends up being a good enemy to lover story...." Read more

8 customers mention "Character development"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the character development in the book. They say the characters are well-developed, and you can connect with the main characters. The way the true selves of the characters are revealed is flawless. The story is complex and layered with a great antihero.

"...Both David and Lianna are strong characters and the more time they spend together, the more obvious it is that one is the light to the other’s..." Read more

"...The other great thing about book is you can really connect with the 2 main characters. The character development in this book is amazing!..." Read more

"...I am so enjoying meeting and learning about this amazingly gifted author...." Read more

"...Characters are pretty well defined, and I don't think I found any editing errors. Overall, a very entertaining read." Read more

4 customers mention "Strength"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's strength. They find the characters strong and naive, surprising David with their strength and innocence. The story is gritty and dark, but also mesmerizing.

"...She surprises him with her strength, her innocence, her refusal to crumble and be his victim...." Read more

"As with most books by this author, I enter with caution. Always gritty, usually dark and every time mesmerizing in its storytelling, this book is no..." Read more

"...I love how unafraid to go to the limit and then blow right past it Ms. Bene is." Read more

"...Lianna is so strong and naive. David is dark and mmmmm hot!!!! Bene keeps you sucked into this story it's a struggle to put this book down...." Read more

33 customers mention "Dark tone"20 positive13 negative

Customers have different views on the tone of the book. Some find it engaging and gripping, while others need a shower after reading it.

"...Thank you, Ms. Bene, for yet another deliciously dark and convincing story showing us just what being human is all about...." Read more

"...Always gritty, usually dark and every time mesmerizing in its storytelling, this book is no exception...." Read more

"...Interesting read but felt something was missing. Overall, extremely dark read." Read more

"This was my first book by this writer and it is dark. David wanted revenge on the man who ruined his family’s life...." Read more

31 customers mention "Story quality"21 positive10 negative

Customers have different views on the story. Some find it engaging with interesting twists and turns, drama, and intensity. Others feel the storyline is brutal and not for the faint of heart, with few redeeming qualities.

"...The way she builds up the plot with surprising twists and turns...." Read more

"...I find her writing to be page turning, intriguing, thought provoking, shocking, and sometimes even a bit heart tugging...." Read more

"...Alternately filled with rage, fury, hopelessness, despair, and the ever growing realization that she might never escape from this chamber of horrors..." Read more

"...Another great story and a beginning of a series that once again makes me think about just what could happen when you least expect it." Read more

11 customers mention "Emotional content"7 positive4 negative

Customers have different views on the emotional content. Some find it intense, amazing, and thought-provoking. Others feel it dives into too much brutality, rage, fury, hopelessness, despair, and nonconsensual acts.

"...turning, intriguing, thought provoking, shocking, and sometimes even a bit heart tugging. Enough of that and on to the book...." Read more

"...This book is brilliantly written and will keep you captivated until the very last word!" Read more

"...Alternately filled with rage, fury, hopelessness, despair, and the ever growing realization that she might never escape from this chamber of horrors..." Read more

"WOW!! What a wonderful rollercoaster of emotions you evoked in me !..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2017
    SPOILER ALERT: THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN MILD SPOILERS.

    Lianna Mercier lives a charmed life, or so it seems. She seems to have everything. Rich, famous, a fabulous job at her father's company. Then why does she feel abandoned and alone? She's her daddy's princess. He tells her often enough. But she feels left out, pushed aside. She may be her father's princess, but she doesn't have his respect. She thought working for her father might at least gain her the recognition she's rightfully earned. How could it not? But as her father breaks yet another promise and shuts her out again, she begins questioning her choices, weighing other options. Alone, uncertain, vulnerable, locked in her penthouse apartment, a man in black, from his mask to his gloves to his boots, appears out of nowhere and attacks. She fights, kicking, screaming, trying to take him down, but she's no match for his strength. She's soon out like a light. When she awakens, she's in hell. But why? Why her? She's never harmed anyone. As she soon finds out, nothing is as it seems, and her nightmare has just begun. Alternately filled with rage, fury, hopelessness, despair, and the ever growing realization that she might never escape from this chamber of horrors, can there be any hope? Even when the identity of her captor is revealed, there's no recognition, no understanding, and no way she can escape. Her kidnapper doesn't just want her. She's a pawn, a means to an end. He seeks cold-hearted revenge, and she's the one to pay the price. There's an agenda, a perceived reason, behind the madness into which she's been thrust. Decades of planning to take apart lies built upon lies. But can Lianna believe anything this apparent psychopath says, especially after the torture and agony he's put her though? How do you reason with a madman? Who's telling the truth? Can she believe anyone or anything? One thing is clear. If Lianna is to survive, she's going to have to reach deep within herself, look at everything her life's been, and make decisions she isn't sure she's capable of making. Her very survival is at stake.

    Jennifer Bene is one of my favorite authors. Very few can write dark erotica the way she does. Destruction takes you to the heights and depths of what the human soul can conceive of and the darkness and light inherent inside each of us, even if we're unwilling to admit it. Lianna's story is full of conflict on every level. Her relationship with her father is one of great love and yet great need as well. Her captor is filled with blackness, hatred, the very definition of evil. Yet even he has reasons, justifications, for his actions. To say this story is complicated would be an understatement. Yet in the end, Jennifer Bene has scored another winner by showing us the intricate complexity of humanity. All of us have light and dark in our souls. This story highlights that no one is totally innocent, nor is anyone totally evil. I love how the dark and light play off each other, slowly growing, changing, coalescing into something far beyond what you could expect from any of these characters. Ms. Bene has again shown her brilliance in this genre. I absolutely loved this story from beginning to end. It more than deserves five stars. Thank you, Ms. Bene, for yet another deliciously dark and convincing story showing us just what being human is all about.

    One final note. Please be an informed reader and consumer! This is an ADULT book. It contains explicit language and some extremely dark, nonconsensual sexual scenes. If you don't enjoy this genre, think hard before buying any book you know you won't enjoy. There are book synopses and reviews available on Goodreads and all booksellers' websites. Use these resources. DON'T LEAVE A NEGATIVE REVIEW WHEN YOU KNOW YOU WON'T ENJOY THE BOOK. It's not fair to the author. She works extremely hard to provide a quality work product. If you know you'll object to the book's subject matter before you buy it, you're doing yourself and the author an extreme disservice.

    Thanks for reading my review and happy reading
    83 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2021
    It was the pace that made me slow my roll to the finish line. Almost from the very beginning, until right around the middle- the plot didn't just unfold. It came at you like a fright train and I was happy to go along for the ride. Both of the main characters were extremely self-assured, and convinced they knew the truth. Once they realize that they're wrong, that's when the story starts to get bogged down.
    Overall, I'd say that this is pretty good if you enjoy the genre. I know this book lays the groundwork for the next 2, but I wish the middle and the conclusion managed to keep me swept up like the beginning. I'd still recommend this to anyone who wants a little sexual thriller on the side of their erotica.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2017
    The Angel of innocence meets the angel of vengeance. Light and Dark - two sides of the same coin. This twisted dark romance is more twisted and dark, than romantic and you do well to heed the warnings. If you're looking for romance with a little kink, pick another book. If, on the other hand, you have a thing for pitch black twisted love, capture fantasies with extra kink on the side - then this is absolutely the book for you. I loved it. I've loved all her work. Ms Bene writes dark twisted romance like nobody else. The language is intelligent, the dialogue is sharp, witty and to the point. The way she builds up the plot with surprising twists and turns. I don't know how she does it - it's magic and it is what makes her my favorite author.

    She doesn't disappoint with Destruction. Lianna has lived a pampered life, like a princess, working hard to be the perfect daughter to her father - the only family she knows. David has lived a life planning revenge for the man who killed his mother and ruined his father and their entire life. He won't stop until he succeeds. Their meeting is not pretty and it does not go well for Lianna. Daddy's little princess loses her ignorant innocence and then some. David brings all kinds of violent horror into her life and she hates him. It's just that somewhere inside her a dark spark has been ignited, a dark spark that craves him and even worse; craves the depraved things he does to her. Intrigued? Want to know more? You know what to do...
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2017
    2.5*

    Interesting read but felt something was missing. Overall, extremely dark read.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Lisa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Heart Racing
    Reviewed in Canada on December 10, 2018
    This had me on the edge of my seat the perfect mix of darkness along with psychological elements that will have you saying all kinds of things. Lianna was in a whole new world and David was going to make her pay with the outmost punishment of her fathers sins and believe me he did not go easy but she was so strong. This is filled with so much vengeance and lies your not gonna know what hit you. Fantastic characters development and very well written I loved all the words.
  • Emmanuelle
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best dark romance
    Reviewed in France on January 1, 2020
    My heart kept racing, looping in my cage. It was real good interesting, sounding real. It wasn't too much nor too poor. This book will remain one of my favourites for a while.
  • Louise H - "Life In The Book Lane" Book Reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars I'm obviously as messed up as Lianne to also fall for David
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 3, 2019
    I have had Destruction sitting on my kindle, waiting to be read for quite some time. Life, arc reading and buying too many books has meant that I just hadn't gotten around to reading it. However I do know the author is working on completing the second book, so I decided it was time I got myself caught up.

    The title is very fitting in so many ways, including the devastation to my soul. This is a pretty dark read, with non-con (albeit it's enjoyed, but she definitely says no), sadism, violence and what is possibly a healthy dollop of Stockholm Syndrome.

    David is an antihero of the first order, doing bad things for misguided reasons. He and Lianne share some very warped but extremely hot chemistry. There are passages that make for uncomfortable reading - because you really shouldn't be turned on by such depravity but you are. Lianne is very easy to like and connect to, their is a very natural and likeable feel to her character. I disliked David for so much of the book, but that's because he is written to BE hated, until you don't.

    The writing held my attention, the characters interested me, whilst the plot and suspense was well paced so as to hold my attention. I was huddled in the corner of that dank, concrete cell. I was chained across that thin, worn mattress. The skill of the author put me into the middle of the story, had me screaming in the dark and crying in misery alongside Lianne.

    If you're looking for your next dark erotic read then you've found it here.
  • Ally's Book Blog
    4.0 out of 5 stars Sucked in and couldnt put it down
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 28, 2017
    *Spoiler FREE*

    A new author and a new book. I had no idea what to expect. I went in totally blind and didnt even read the blurb. I did not expect to be ragged into the dark side of fiction and taken on a wild ride of kidnap, captivity, sex, intrigue and revenge.

    I loved the mystery of the captor and the unknown element. It created a rather dark atmosphere and upped the fear factor a whole bunch.

    Dark romance is my go to genre and I find it very hard to find new books and authors that I havent read before with original stories. I thought it was a cleverly written story and I really enjoyed reading it.

    It was a bit of an odd experience reading this books dual pov written in the third person but it managed to work but wasnt my favourite withe this authors style. However the story and the characters sucked me straight in and I couldnt put it down. Jennifer Bene is going on my to-read author list. I'm definitely going to find more of her books to read!
  • JMP
    4.0 out of 5 stars intense
    Reviewed in Australia on July 31, 2022
    I was wondering how Lianna and David would end up together without it being Stockholm syndrome! But JB worked it in there and I f’en loved it. Didn’t see that coming with her dad either. Great story lines. Strong non consensual sex scenes not for the faint hearted but I loved it.

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