Romance book reviews. Reviews of books that make my heart race, have a beautiful love story, and a happy ending.

Romance book reviews. Reviews of books that make my heart race, have a beautiful love story, and a happy ending.

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Book Review – Consequences (Consequences #1) by Aleatha Romig

Book Review – Consequences (Consequences #1) by Aleatha Romig

by · 86 Comments

Warning: This book made me swear. A lot.

And I’m pretty sure this is my longest review. Ever.

4.5 stars. Spoiler-free review.

HOLY. FREAKING. MIND FUCK.

WHAT DID I JUST READ ? ? ?

That ENDING!!! I mean … just … ummm… *speechless*

What a roller-coaster!

I have lost sleep. My mind has been utterly toyed with.  And I still have no freaking clue how I should feel about Tony Rawlings.

To the rest of the world, Anthony Rawlings was a mega-successful self-made billionaire who donated to charity, was always perfectly presented and never put a foot wrong. To Claire Nicols, he was her captor. Her abductor. Her tormentor. And also the man she was falling for.

This book is about a young, sweet woman, Claire, who meets a charming man, Tony, after work one day who sweet talks her into dinner and then abducts her. Just takes her straight from her life to live in decadent captivity at Rawlings mansion. There is no ‘easing’ into this story. Cut off from every part of the outside world, she is violated, raped, physically abused and loses every possible measure of control over her life. Every single thing she now does happened by the will of her captor, and by his will alone. We hate him from the start – he is cunning, cruel, manipulative and controlling.

He toys with her mind and her heart. And yet! There is more to him beneath the layers… a spark of something… genuine? Real? Humanity? Enough to make me able to ride out of the waves of the book, able to consider seeing him from another side – a less predatory side… but still… I’m not yet completely sold on his humanity. But I have high hopes for it. Truly, I don’t want him to be as evil as I think he might be.

This book perfectly captures that feeling of literally not knowing what to expect, not knowing what is coming next. Just when I was *sure* I’d found my footing and got a *feel* for the story, it just yoinked the rug RIGHT out from underneath me.

Tony. ohhhhhhhhh Tony Rawlings. *deep breath* Man? Monster? Mastermind? Predator? Hero? Broken hero? Anti-hero? Villan? I don’t know. I didn’t know the whole time I was reading and honest to goodness, I. Still. Don’t. Know. This is the crux of the mindfuck. Are his actions those of an intrinsically sadistic man? A man with a hidden purpose? A tortured hero who is *trying* to heal in the only way he knows how? Or is he maybe really just a straight-up phychopath?

Honestly, I couldn’t decide if he was creepy, deranged, clinically insane, just plain fucked up or had some bizarre highly intelligent higher purpose behind everything…. but then if he *did*, it still wouldn’t justify the horrible things he did so really… ok. I have to stop myself. Literally, I can debate that in circles nearly endlessly.

I’m still on the fence about him but I have to say that judging from the sum total of what I’ve seen to far, I do NOT love him. I’m leaning towards hate at this point, but with an open mind… I don’t know, I *sense* a spark of something else in him. I think. Or, maybe that’s just the part of me desperate to redeem the “hero” of my book? Or maybe I’m getting Stolkholm Syndrome too? God. I don’t know.

He started chillingly sadistic, cruel and creepy. It almost made it worse that he was ever polite and gentlemanly. He was abrasive, brutal, violent and often irrational. He shocked me. Disgusted me. And then… just when you were SURE that he was a deranged asshole who deserved to have his nuts slowly ripped off, he would show this tender, caring side of him that was impossible not to fall for…

“I have spent most of my life only concerned with myself. I’m truly trying even if it does not always appear so… Perhaps I’m afraid of losing you, afraid you if you truly know me you will not want to stay with me.”

He had a deep rooted obsession with control – with having it, keeping it, losing it, and maintain absolute power over everything and everyone in his life.

The more I read about him, the deeper the mindfuck went. The *moment* I’d come within a whisper of thinking one thing that *maybe* I had a handle on him, he’d just swing the other way. Like 180. He’d go from suave to nice to creepy and sadistic to potentially understandable to downright fucking mental.

I need to *show* you what I mean by this… here are some of my updates while reading:

31% – Could this be??? A spark of … sweet?? *hopes*

38% – The fuck???? So unfair!!! I hope he feels FUCKING GUILTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

39% – WHAT?????? SERIOUSLY?!?? Fucking rat asshole bastard fuck shit DAMN YOU TONY RAWLINGS!!!!!!!!

40% – *huffs*

41% – *grumbles* why why WHY am I actually considering forgiving him now??? What is WRONG with me???

43% – Ooooo I’m liking this insight into the real Tony…. Do I sense a whiff of actual romance perchance?? *hopes*

44% – Waaaaaaiiiiiiittt…. W H A T ? ! ???
*speechless* …. *still speechless*
Wo-hoahhhhh I did NOT see THAT coming!!! O_O

Throughout the story we get alternating POVs. Thank GOD!!!! It was just sheer relief to see that because I seriously needed to get inside that man’s head. Seriously. THE FUCK WAS HE THINKING????

Clearly something in his past made him unable to functional in a normal loving relationship and yet, in some ways, you see HIM begin to crack a little. Almost as if he has reverse Stolkholm Syndrome. Against everything he believes in, despite the fact that he captured her for HIS purposes, he does begin to soften…. ish. For a time I wondered if he wasn’t so much a cold-hearted bastard, but more of a supremely messed up individual whose need to hold complete control preceded EVERYTHING else, even his morals (if, indeed he had any).

But eventually I got to a point where I no longer thought he was evil and didn’t hate him. Yes, I wanted to beat the ever loving shit out of him more than once, but I didn’t hate him.

And JUUUUUUUUST when I was thinking that, he pulled a totally all-out SLIMY, and just plain COLD move that basically just reduced me to a violently shaking wreck. The fucking NERVE on that guy. I mean REALLY????? At that point I just wanted to SLAP myself for even considering “understanding” him. To the fucking gallows with that one!!

I wavered back and forth with Claire’s character. I guess I both understood where she was coming from and yet really wished she’d fight more. But then, I could also get why she wouldn’t. I mean, I really didn’t understand some of her decisions – especially a lot of the ones surrounding their first meeting and then first outings together. I mean, she *had* an out. She had several… and yet every time I thought mayyyyyyybe she’d do something, no. She didn’t. But then again, okay, not everyone’s logic works the same way, so maybe in her mind she was doing the best/most right thing? hmmm I don’t know. What I do know is that despite sometimes wanting to shake her, really, I just felt badly for her.

“She actually thought she would walk out of this twisted nightmare. However, it wasn’t a nightmare, twisted or otherwise. It was reality. Her mind searched for a way to survive and escape.”

However, despite it being told in third person, and having some insight into Tony’s perspective, most of the story is told “through” Claire’s eyes. And you really experience things along with her. You freak out. Feel violated. Justify. Theorize. Rationalize. Try to find a way out. Until you reach a bit of a “lull”, so to speak, of *acceptance*… and juuuuust when you start to get comfortable, or at least, acclimatized… —  YOINK!!

Every possible shred of her privacy is stripped away bringing everything back to HIS complete and utter control and domination of every minute facet of her life.

And everything came back to HIM. To Tony. Him. Him. Him. What he wanted. What benefited HIM. What suited him. What pleased him.

Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING is about appearances and consequences. How do things look to the outside world. Every action has a consequence. Some can be good. Some, very very VERY bad.

I have to give the author major props for this book though. It was clearly VERY well thought out. From the quotes at the beginning of the chapter, to the way everything tied in at the end… just amazing!

There are these little hints that are dropped throughout the book that really nailed down the “chilling” backstory behind what was going on.

This book was long. But, it had my attention from the first page straight through till the end. There were a few parts that slowed a little due to detailed descriptions and the such but the *feeling* the book gives you makes you pay attention to everything and honestly, I didn’t want to stop.

There were a few ‘lulls’ and even a point about 2/3 of the way through where I really wasn’t sure where the story was going but then as it all started to come together at the end, it really built into something I never anticipated.

At 80% the events that took place just SLAMMED right into me. I’d been teased, I’d been toyed with, I been made to theorized, but now… I KNEW. I got full. body. CHILLS. Like literally starting at my head and going down to my toes. The REALITY of what the event’s implications meant just FLOORED me. Like HOLYYYYY SHIT. Here was my reaction:

WOAH FUCK WOAH FUCK WOAH FUCK
He didn’t???
He COULDN’T??? Right???
Seriously. FUUCKKKKKKKK. NONONONO.
That is just….
Too. Far.
No.
No? Right??
That didn’t happen….
RIIIIIGGHTTTT???????

O_O     That’s it. I’m gonna need therapy after this.

For all you readers who are hesitant to start this, first of all, I encourage you all to take the plunge!!! Go for it!! If it helps to know this, the book is NOT graphic. There is sex. There is violence. There is brutality. But none of it described at length. You get just enough details to fully understand the situation but not enough to leave you grossed out. Truly this is a MIND fuck. It messes with your brain. Makes you question everything you are thinking, feeling and experiencing. But it is not a graphically disturbing book. This is not a BDSM book. This is not a kink book. Its just extraordinarily mind-fucky.

The ending is a complete cliffhanger but don’t worry!!! Book #2 “Truth” is out right now and you can dive right into it when you’re done this one.

Now I *know* you guys who have read book #2 all tell me to “just wait” because I’ll fall in love with Tony. At this point I’m kinda just looking at you guys warily and wondering how are all you crazy people in love with this dude??? Seriously??? He’s a freaking psychopath!!!!!

Okay. *deep breaths*

I promise to reserve judgment until after Truth.

And so, these are my final comments based on the ending of Consequences.

I now need therapy. (Ms. Romig, please expect a bill for my therapy sessions in the mail.)
Tony needs a fucking padded cell.
Claire needs a hug and then a good shake.

Ok. That is all. I’m going to dive right into Truth now because I just NEED to know more!!!

Here is my entire review summed up in one image –> CLICK HERE

4.5 stars

CASTING:

SERIES READING ORDER

Book #1 — CONSEQUENCES
My Review | Kindle | Paperback

Book #2 — TRUTH
My Review | Kindle | Paperback

Book #3 — CONVICTED
My Review | Kindle | Paperback

  

************

SERIES SALE BUNDLE

This bundle includes all 3 books for $9.99 (savings of $3 overall)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

What inspired you to write Consequences?

I’d always wanted to write a book.  It was a bucket list type thing.  In 2008 my husband lost his job, it was in construction materials and the economy tanked! He began working a third shift job.  Our two oldest children were off in college.  Our youngest was going to bed about 8:30.  That left a lot of alone time.

I had this idea of a woman in a room… I decided to sit down and see where the story would take me.  I didn’t write Consequences to publish.  I wrote Consequences as therapy or escape from my life.  I could totally manipulate and control the lives of these characters.  It was more than I could do for myself.

What was the hardest part of writing Consequences?

The hardest part was deciding how much detail to put in my manuscript. My original draft had more detail.  It was so disturbing to my mother and sister-in-law that they couldn’t read the story.  So, I decided to employ more of the “fade to black” technique.  Honestly, I still have people who think my reading is too disturbing and others who want more detail.  I’ve come to the conclusion; you can’t please everyone – so please yourself.

Do you expect your readers to view Tony as a villain or a hero?

I have NO expectations. I love receiving messages or reading reviews where people say he is both! When a reader says they HATED him, usually threatening some sort of bodily harm, and then turns around and says, they LOVE him, despite their better judgment, I believe I’ve done something special.

How would you classify Consequences’ genre? 

I think I’ve invented my own genre: Contemporary Dark Romance / Psychological Thriller.  Obviously, Consequences by its self isn’t a romance. However, since it is the relationship of Claire and Tony that propels the series, I’ve been told that makes the series a romance. Now, that said, I definitely believe it qualifies as dark and psychological thriller.

Comments

  2. Gahhhhhh…….I love your review of this. It’s being moved to the top of my TBR. Thanks so much for an amazing recommendation. I want more.

    Reply

  8. There aren’t words for how obsessed I am with this series! You nailed your review!!! One way or another, this book will find it’s way to my shelf… but signed!?!? I’d love it!!!

    Reply

  10. You’ll still want to shake Claire in truth…. Yet Tony you start to “like” him but I still keep waiting for the shoe to drop lol

    Reply

  19. I can totally relate to your review!! I read both Consequences and Truth and LOVED it!!! Mind-f*cked me senseless and left me emotionally spent!!

    Reply

  24. OMG I’m so excited to read this one, it’s on my to-read list.
    Looks like I have to prepare myself for this.

    Reply

  26. I just made sure that Consequences is on my Goodreads “to read” list because of your review! Thanks for the chance to win it! 🙂

    Reply

  34. I am STILL thinking about this story and it’s been two weeks since I read it. I could NOT put it down until I finished it… and the ending really mind jabbed me. I hated him, I started to like him, I hated him more, I thought MAYBE… and then she ripped the rug from under me and I SERIOUSLY hated him.

    Great book!

    Reply

  37. I’m totally apprehensive about reading this, but I’m going to dive in anyway. Who should I tell my therapist to make the bills out to? 😉

    Reply

  38. Hi Aestas,

    Do you think I might win one of your awesome giveaways? What about this one? LOL! Thank you for the chance and love ya 🙂
    xoxo

    Reply

  42. I was so excited when you started reading the book and I couldn’t wait for your review. Totally agree with you, complite mind f*** and Truth is even crazier. Kept me going from disgust, to hate, to love, to more hate, I should seek therapy for all this crazy feelings, and for extra therapy for loving a book that makes me feel this way.. Lol! 😀 Can’t. wait for Convicted.Great review and enjoy Truth
    Thank you for all the amazing. giveaways!!! xoxoxo

    Reply

  43. OMG ive read this book already and damn just reading your review it brings the love hate relationship for Tony right back to the front of my mind. If you make it through this book with scruples attached and working then your going to be in for a hell of a ride in book 2. (yes ill admit i was caught by my kids yelling at my kindle thinking i could talk or should i say scream sence into both Claire and Tony)

    Reply

  46. LOVE YOUR REVIEW! I’m about 60% in right now… things have been “good”… can’t wait to see what’s coming next (actually, I’m a little scared to see what’s coming next)

    Reply

  49. Great review. I LOVED this book too, but I had to wait a few months before starting the second. The first one messed with my mind so much that I’m just now reading Truth. I need to see what’s going to happen next and can’t wait for the next book to see how it finishes.

    Reply

  52. This book messes with your mind…in the most delightful way! It’s like sticking your head in a blender and seeing what happens….total mind f***! AHHH….not for the weak of heart though that’s for sure!

    Reply

  53. Thanks for the review and giveaway! I’ve been scared to read it because I really did think it was going to be too graphic for me to handle…but if you say it’s okay and to just do it, I’ll do it. But you may need to hold my hand during some of it!

    Reply

  57. Wonderful review. It sounds like a challenging read. Thank you for the giveaway chance.
    jeepforme1923(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply

  58. Thanks for the indepth review! I have heard alot about this book & the second one & will be adding them to my TBRs. I actually cannot wait to read them.

    JessieL62 at comcast dot net

    Reply

  61. I’ve been putting off reading this series…it’s hard to know going in that you’re gonna get mind fucked.

    Reply

  63. I loved your review.. and I also found out yesterday that the rafflecopters don’t acknowledge some mobile devices ie. Kindle, so I went to http://www.rafflecopters.com and done some research there is a mobile friendly button when you are installing the rafflecopters now that they use to not have. I’m just trying to help 🙂

    Reply

  66. Wow…you’re reviews are a big reason my to read list is so darn long! Lol. Thanks for hosting such a great giveaway! *fingers crossed*. 🙂

    Reply

  67. Loved this book! I haven’t read Truth yet however, I’m too scared after the ending of Consequences!! Hopefully you’re review of it will tempt me to dive into it!!

    Reply

  70. I almost always agree with your book reviews, and although your review of this book is good, I can not agree that this book is worthy of 4.5 stars. I found that the book was longer than it needed to be. The author, in my opinion, would ramble on and on about every little thing and I kept thinking it would be important and then it wasn’t. I figured it out way early in the book and kept thinking maybe there’s a twist I haven’t seen, but unfortunately there wasn’t. I do, however, LOVE the casting choices you made.

    Reply

  71. Loved both “Consequences” AND “Truth” and I LOVED reading your reviews on these books–I couldn’t have said it better myself!!

    Reply

  74. Okay, you got me hooked, how could I not want to read this book.
    Thanks for the review, it is on my wish list now.

    Reply

  76. I LOVED your review! I’ve had this book for awhile in my TBR stack, but it’s definitely going to be read next! Looking forward to the mindf*ck, I must be sick. lol

    Reply

  77. Great Review!!!!! I can’t wait to read it! It’s been on my kindle forever!
    I love dark books! It sounds like a cross between The Dark Duet and Comfort Food – both of which I loved!

    Reply

  78. Hi! I read these books too and I’m loving them…sometimes I want to kill Claire because I can’t understand how can she love Tony when he had hurt her, manipulate her, rape her, kidnapped her, left her in jail…The books are simply amazing I can’t stop reading them…at this moment I’m reading #3 Convicted and I’m in shock because I didn’t expect the events I’m reading right now, I’m 53% done with the book I can’t wait to see the end!

    Reply

  79. I am so ready to start this series!!! Thank you for the review. I seen it a lot on Amazon and got the first in the series, hoping I get hooked. By the reading of this review, I think I will. Time to finish this book I am now and start the Consequences series!

    Reply

  82. I’m nearing the completion of Part 3 of Book 1 [part 06 of Consequences] I cannot imagine Tony ever being LIKED; what a control freak aka narcissistic bully even after marriage. Claire once a strong woman has been broken! I hope in the next books Truth / Convicted she has a backbone and gives him the “heave ho”! Love your reviews and will use your blog on future purchases!.

    Reply

  83. In what universe is this not graphic? In what universe is this entirely, clinically textbook account of the cycle of abuse not textbook? This book makes 50 shades of gray look like a placid, tame courtship. At least he gives her a safeword even if he’s coercive. The worst part is, the writing in this book is good. It’s a good read, and it really does capture the sense that someone in an abusive situation has of sinking deeper and deeper into lowering your expectations, which is what the cycle of hurting and love-bombing is designed to do.

    If you’re fantasizing about this, get help. I like some really dark shit, and I am telling you, get some help. There is a line.

    Reply

    • 1. Be kind to other readers.

      2. Graphic is subjective. Compared to a lot of other books I’ve read, this one is not in fact graphic. (Like the difference between a psychologically scary or a gory horror movie. I would consider this book closer to a “scary” movie, not a “gory” one. But regardless, that’s my opinion, which I’m entitled to. Not a statement of universal fact. You are also entitled to your own opinion, even if that is completely opposite to mine. However, I won’t judge you for yours.)

      3. Nobody said anything about fantasizing about anything in this book. I’m pretty sure that if you actually read my review, you’ll see I said the _book_ is good, not that the content should be used as a guide for ‘how humans should behave’.

      4. If you find the content of this book too much to handle, that’s totally fine, but again, please be polite to other readers.

      Reply

  84. I’ve had this series on my to be read list for over a year. Every time I thought about reading it, I’d put it off. I’d always say, “It sounds too dark, I don’t want to hate the male lead, is it really that good”? I’d always put it aside til later. I found your site about a month ago and LOVED so many of your reviews and your database. It was your review that FINALLy tipped me over the edge and made me want to give it a try.

    I won’t lie, I DID want to throw my iPad across the room MANY times! Your review helped me keep going. I’ve just finished the 2nd book and I’m SO happy I finally gave in!

    Thank you for bringing this book to me and I can’t wait to demolish other favorites you recommend

    Reply

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