Dayum, this romance was compelling, it kept me hooked to the last page. Zara Cox’s riveting storytelling took my breath away, I was consumed by the story of Axel and Cleo, two childhood sweethearts doomed from the start by their parents' greed. Black Sheep is epic, amazing, intoxicating!

Axel Rutherford is haunted by demons from his past and by Cleo’s betrayal. She was his one true love but she chose his father, Finnan Rutherford, over him. Eight years later, Axel is worth billions but money didn't bring him happiness or redemption. He is bitter, tortures himself with his longing for the woman he can’t have and is plotting his revenge. He intends to dismantle his family’s business, linked to the violent world of underground crime and trafficking. This character is fascinating, calculating, intense and multilayered! His need for punishment was heartbreaking.

Cleo is nothing but a pawn in Finnan’s Rutherford twisted game to regain his son’s cooperation. Finnan is cruel and manipulative, blackmailing and abusing her. She complies but is bent on revenge and is biding her time. Axel and Cleo are bitter enemies, but their hatred for each other is based on false perceptions and deception. Cleo is convinced that Axel killed her parents in cold blood and Alex can't forgive Cleo’s betrayal. There is however a fine line between love and hate.

Axel is cunning, dominant, powerful but under his compelling exterior, he is utterly vulnerable. Cleo is his weakness, his addiction and he can’t break her, even if he wants to. For years, he has tried to shut off his emotions, he feels exposed and raw. Cleo and Axel’s feelings are unchanged and their reunion really packed a powerful emotional punch! Their sexual chemistry is intense, dark and highly erotic.

I was mesmerized by the deep layers of emotional complexity, palpable tension and angsty feels throughout this dark and mysterious story. Black Sheep is the second installment in Zara Cox’s Dark Desires, but it can be read as a complete standalone. I highly recommend it and will read anything this author comes up with next!

Axel Rutherford considers himself the blackest sheep in a family full of them. He’s ruthless in his management of his business, surgical in his strikes against his family and domineering with his lovers. Axel is just as ruthless in his demands upon himself. His primary target is his father, Fallin Rutherford, who's been involved in all the atrocities that Axel has had to endure and his father and his business must be destroyed. He’s been plotting and planning to avenge those that have been wronged in his life, even it’s to the detriment of himself and the only woman he’s ever loved, Cleo McCarthy.

Cleo has been living under Axel’s father’s roof and endured his cruelty to protect herself and her own secrets. She’s under his control—a control Fallin holds tightly to because while he “loves” Cleo in his own way, Cleo knows she’s merely a pawn in his game. A game she can’t lose, can’t give into because her life isn’t the only one in the balance.

Black Sheep was so much more than I expected. Dark and dirty but also sweet and sexy AF! The relationship, a lovers to enemies to lovers, between Axel and Cleo is so well developed and seamless and panty melting hot. Seriously. If you like your male leads to truly exude those over the top alpha traits, you will not be disappointed with Axel. And Cleo is no doormat. She’s smart and snarky and awesome. While a darker read than my norm, I fully enjoyed my time spent with Axel and Cleo.

I received Black Sheep by Zara Cox in an ARC in exchanged for a honest review. I am giving this book 5 stars because the author did a wonderful job in creating such a twisted book. This was my first time reading a book from this writer, but she did an amazing job making me a fan of her work. I am a big mafia buff, so I know my mafia books. And what I loved most was how she didn't drag the story along. From beginning to end she kept me so captured in these two main characters who all they wanted was each other. But not only do you see them struggle with their feelings for one another, but they also have so many hurdles they need to go through before they can find their happy ending. What I also like about this story was how Cleo was such a fighter she never back down especially when it came to Axel even though she still loved him so much she never let him walk all over her. I think that's what made them so perfect for each other because they balanced each other out. And even though Axel dad is doing everything possible to make his life a living hell by taking Cleo away from him that's not stopping him. Axel is letting not only his dad know, but his family know that they may think his the rotten egg of the family, but when it all comes down to it. He not only can hold his own but he is also so much stronger than they are. If you love mafia books or stories that start and end with a bang then this is the book for you.

Riding off the high of reading the first book in the Dark Desires series, I knew immediately Black Sheep was going to be a must read for me. While it didn't have quite that hot shock sparkle, it still made for a hard-to-put-down read.

So as the title suggests, Black Sheep is about, well, the family non-conformist, Axel Rutherford. Axel's sperm donor, Finnan, is a uber scary dude who runs his mafia-ish family business with an iron fist. All his sons are expected to fall in line and of course, Axel has other plans. He wants to live his life with his sweetheart, Cleo. His father is not having it so of course, Finnan intervenes, destroying everything between Cleo and Axel. Flash forward - Axel is now a man of his own with his own fortune with one goal in mind; to destroy his father! His father has an ace up his sleeve in Cleo and tells her to bring in Axel or else!

Whew! There quite a lot of secrets to discover with both Axel and Cleo. There's lots of hate between them which ties all back to Finnan, a gimme from the beginning although the whats were not immediately obvious. As everything begins to unfold, we really begin to see what kind of a monster Finnan really is. Prepared to be shocked because just when you think you know what is going to happen next, Ms. Cox takes everything and twists it around.

Now the real story, outside of Finnan's ugliness, lays between Axel and Cleo. A powerful love, turned into a powerful hate based on lies, revenge and a second chance at love. I get why Axel hated Cleo. Here he thinks she has betrayed him and is with his father, just doesn't think but has video proof of it. ICKS! Equally, Cleo is shattered by Axel's betrayal (video proof again). Both begin to fall in love again. Okay, Axel may be more obsessive about his lost love than she was of him but still, as much as they hate each other, they still were carrying candles deep in their hearts.

Twist, turns and deceit kept everything moving at a fast pace. Frankly, I gobbled this book up in one sitting into the early morning hours because I had to know how the story would play out. How would Cleo and Axel react when they find out the truth? Does Finnan get his just rewards? And the biggest question of all: What is B's story! Definitely worth losing sleep over.

reviewed by Jac

When love turns to hate what do you get? A Great Revenge Story!!

Axel Rutherford was willing to give up everything to be with Cleo McCarthy. I mean, he loved her to the end of the world and back!! He thought she felt the same way and, I thought she did also. But, when your evil father has planned out your life, things change! Axel didn't know that his life was going to be shattered!

Everyone has a weakness, everyone can be bought for a price! Cleo was no different! I didn't know who to feel sorrier for, Cleo or Axel. Axel was trapped in the past, reliving his private moments with Cleo! I felt for him! I mean, I Really did!!! But, Cleo, on the other hand, had things far worse than Axel!! I felt that she ended up the real looser here! Stuck with a controlling and sick man, Finnan!! Axel didn't have to worry about people dying if he stepped out of line!! He was free to do whatever he wanted to! Poor Cleo was stuck between two men one she hated, and one that she wanted to hate! I just couldn't wait to see her revenge meted out!!

I Loved this story!! Revenge And Thrills all served up with a side of Sizzling Hot Romance!

~ Wendy

This review is short and sweet.

This story is well thought out. The plot line flow and the main characters are perfectly imperfect. I love how this book doesn't fit a "conceived notion" and that it is unique.

Unique is the reason I adore the story. The characters and everything about it.

Read it!

Black Sheep may be the second installment in Cox's Dark Desires series, but it is so loosely related to the first book (I, Porn Star), that you do not have to read that title before jumping right into this one.

Jumping in is exactly what I suggest you do! Black Sheep mixes second chance romance, a dirty talking hero, and scandalous deceptions with an easy expertise.

Axel is the estranged son of a mob boss. His father is desperate to bring him back to the fold, by any means. Including tempting him with the love of his life, Cleo, who left Axel's bed in the worst sort of betrayal. Axel has plans of his own, however, and Cleo and his father sit in the center of them. You get a bit of a Romeo and Juliet - star crossed lovers - feel with the added danger of mobster lifestyles.

This story moves fairly quickly, but is full of twisty secrets. Cleo hates Axel for reasons he doesn't know. Axel hates Cleo for reasons she doesn't know. Neither has the full story, they've been fed lies and half truths for so many years. The hatred, though, only feeds the sexual tension that still sizzles between them, which leads to some steamy sex scenes. Even though the story is a bit rushed at times, you still feel the depth of the secrets and the hurt of the betrayals. I found it very easy to like both Axel and Cleo, right from the start. Seriously, Axel's dirty talk was an A+, for me!

The ending could have been fleshed out a little more to my liking, but overall Cox vastly improved in style and emotion from I, Porn Star to Black Sheep. Which has me eager for round three, Wicked S.O.B., due out this August.

Title: Black Sheep
Author: Zara Cox
Series: Dark Desires book 2
Publisher: Forever
Reviewer: Mollien
Release Date: March 14, 2017
Genre(s): Romance
Page Count:320 Pages
Heat Level: 4 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:



In a family of cold-hearted black sheep,
I, Axel Rutherford, am the blackest.
My father has hated me since the day I was born. The feeling was mutual. In the shady underworld that was my legacy, Cleo McCarthy became my light. She was beautiful, passionate, and my whole world. So naturally my father had to destroy us. First he sent me away. Next he claimed Cleo as his own. But now I've returned, and nothing will stop me from taking back everything that is rightfully mine.

He was the love of my life - when my life was still my own.
We were young enough to believe we would last forever, Axel and I. But neither of us realized how cruel life - and our families - could be. Now I'm trapped in a gilded cage: desired by Axel, who must never know the full truth, and controlled by his father, who would sooner see me dead than free. And I wouldn't even care, except that it's no longer only my life at stake.





Review:
This is the second book in the Dark Desires series. Each book is a stand-alone story that can be read in any order. It is a dark story that is based on obsession, addiction, and lies. Axel is the black sheep of his family. Sent away to get experience in the military by his father. The experience that he will use to take his revenge. Axel’s father is a ruthless man who used power and fear to amass his vast fortune. A fortune built on the blood of others. Refusing to play by his father’s rules. Axel has built his own empire and his ultimate plan is to destroy his father. Caught in the middle of the war between father and son is Cleo. Axel was in love with Cleo and she was in love with him, but when Axel received a video of Cleo with his father his love turned into hate. In an effort to bring Axel back into the family business and stop him from destroying his father’s business, Axel’s father sends Cleo to bring her former lover home. If she fails, Cleo will lose the only thing important to her. When Cleo and Axel are together again, the hate that they have for each other can’t stop the passion that they still have for one another. Realizations of how evil Axel’s father really is may be just enough to bring this tragic couple back together. The chemistry between Axel and Cleo is intense. Once they get back together there is no stopping them. This is a pretty fast-paced story with some explicit violence, intense action, and drama. With all the cruelty there is still a happy ever after giving this story a good ending. There is a slow build-up to the character development unraveling years of deception. This was a really good book that left me feeling drained in a good way.



PLOT 4 Stars
CHEMISTRY: 5 Stars
PACING: 4 Stars
ENDING: 5 Stars
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 5 Stars

Review Copy of Black Sheep provided by the Forever I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by Mollien from Alpha Book Club

"I'm caught between the rock of a merciless father and the hard place of a demon son."

When I read the first book in this series, it rocked my world. I fell in love with the author, and nothing has changed. I'll be at the front of the line for any new works, because this author is a word wizard that slays me with every book. They are filled with pain & passion, love & lust, secrets & suspense.

Axel is one of three brothers. They have no love for each other, having been raised by a cold father that pitted them against each other. He got his jollies by watching them suffer. While that behavior might be favored in the underworld that he lived in, it did nothing to instill respect or love from his sons. At least not the good kind. The kind of respect he received was based on fear of failure and the punishment that would result.

Axel and Chloe where teenage sweethearts. They lived next door to each other and only had eyes for one another. Though they were young, their feelings and their passion were beyond their years. Their connection was so intense that they believed nothing could break it. Until something did.
This mind-bending, spell-binding, heart-stopping story had me in it's clutches from the get-go. I was caught up in the drama, locked in, desperate to learn more, but reluctant to get to the end. I fell hard for Axel. He's cocky, bossy, and filthy rich with a filthy mouth. And did I mention sexy? "A naked Axel Rutherford is worthy of so many accolades. None of which can definitively describe the perfection in front of me." Yeah, reading in multiple POV, being inside the head of both characters...sensual overload. But I'm not complaining. I have plenty more panties in the drawer.

I feel like shouting from the rooftops how much I love this author. Where did she come from? How did I not know about her until recently? She's like the best kept secret that deserves to be shared. Here's me telling you, you need to read both books in this series, ASAP! You can thank me later...

Black Sheep by Zara Cox is the first book I have read from this author. After reading the blurb I was hooked and couldn't wait to start reading. It was everything I was hoping for, dark, seductive, and deeply twisted! A heart breaking romance that brought me to tears.

I went into Black Sheep expecting a dark and twisted story...and that is exactly what I got!

This book excelled in everything I wanted it to. A heartbreaking romance, lots of drama and twisted secrets. It's probably one of the darkest stories I've ever read and I loved that.

For me, this book was a vast improvement over its predecessor. The romance is stronger thanks to a great backstory and it tugs on your heartstrings from start to finish. It is also a source of great drama and intrigue as well. Unlike the previous novel, I found the story never truly lagged. There were great plot and dramatic twists along the way that this book was always suspenseful.

This was a highly addictive read for me and one that met every expectation!

After growing up with his overbearing and manipulative father, and being forced to follow the plans laid out for him Axel Rutherford has developed a bit of black sheep complex. As soon as he was old enough to walk away from the family he did, and he never looked back, the expectations his father had for him were never expectations he had for himself, and they cost him a lot... even the woman he loved! Leaving behind everything he knew was rough, but little by little he has found successes in life, even owning several night clubs, but the hatred he has for his father is always there in the back of his mind, and now he is ready for a little revenge... he wants his father to pay for all that he put him through! He has stolen businesses right out from under his father, found multiple ways to piss on the family name, and now after seeing the lengths he went to to succeed on his own his father wants him back with the family. Axel has no intention of falling back into that trap though...but his has an offer that he can't really refuse... his ex Cleo!

Cleopatra “Cleo” McCarthy found herself being pulled into the Rutherford family after losing her own and she has paid dearly for it every step of the way. Finnan Rutherford is a ruthless man, who has kept her under his thumb, toying with her and her emotions, and has used her as a pawn in his games, and now he is using her to lure his son back into his world. For so long she has believed that the love of her life took the lives of her parents, and the hatred she has developed for him and his father has lead her to want to exact a little revenge. But when she finds out that what she has believed for so long is a lie she begins to doubt everything...

This addictive little read pulled me in from the first page and had me flying through the pages as fast as I could turn them, and staying up well past my bedtime to see how it would all turn out... and boy what a story it turned out to be!! The story line was packed with edge of your seat action, toe curling love scenes, and gut wrenching emotion... and I loved devouring every single word of it!! Ms. Cox has truly outdone herself with this one, I highly recommend you pick this one up, you will NOT be disappointed!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.

5 stars
Sometimes the darkness is that dark all light fades away...
"You belong to me. I don't care who created you. You are mine.
No one else is fucking allowed to touch you.
No one is allowed to take you away from me, do you hear me?"
Axel Rutherford is one deep complex character! I have been waiting for this book for a long, long time and was beyond myself the minute I heard it was available for pre-reading.
Once I started reading there was no other way out but to finish it in one go. The book is a standalone even if we got to meet Axel in Beautiful Liar (Book 1 in Dark Desire Series, also a standalone) and already then and there I knew I would love Axel. Writing was very well and satisfying, story plot was great and so much more than what I expected. A fast paced book that kept through events at me page after page.
"She knows who I am. She knows what I am.
I know how she is.
Her sins have loomed very large in my mind for a very long time.
But I never stopped to imagine how mine would look to her. "
I don't think there is anything I didn't like about this book or if I missed something. If there was I would have to think long and hard about and still might not come up with anything. My heart was breaking ALL THE TIME mostly for Axel and later on even for Cleo. Both of them were victims of their ruthless fathers who valued their shady business and let their greed blind them. My favorite parts were from their past when they were young and hopeful of a bright and happy future together. Those parts were so sweet and promising of something bigger and better.
"Why does he keep sending Cleo back to me? I bark into the phone
Because she's your fucking Achilles heel brother.
Always has been. Always will be."
I can't really write anything more about it without giving away spoilers and I really wish for you future readers to experience this on your own terms and with an open mind about it all.
This story was worth all the wait and I am happy that I got the chance to read it and liked it so much. I would definitely recommend this but do have in mind that it is into the darker reads.

----
Review to be posted on the release day

"Because what’s the point of having a black soul, of making choices that leave your hands permanently soiled in evil, if you don’t fucking own it?"

This novel is all about temptation and obsession. Add in a little mafia and danger, and this was one intense read!

Axel Rutherford calls himself the Black Sheep of his family. He’s no longer willing to play his father’s power games. So, when his father tries to use Axel’s past to bring him to heel, his father has another think coming. Axel’s end goal is in sight, and he’s ready to take what’s his.

Cleo McCarthy is knee deep in the Rutherford family. The last thing she wants is Axel in her life again, but she doesn’t have much choice. The pawn in their family dynamics, Cleo finds herself captive to the man who broke her heart and her trust. But what if there’s something she doesn’t know? And will it change anything if there is?

"She never needed a gentle knight in shining armor. So I become her marauder."

Dang, was this romance a dark mass of gray areas. I mean that in the best possible way! Axel holds a billion dollar empire of nightclubs. As such, he’s very self-possessed, but he’s mysterious and secretive. He also believes he deserves punishment. It’s all a devastating combination that captured and kept my attention. Axel has layer upon layer upon layer. Heck, even his layers have layers! I was turning the pages much too quickly. I wanted to know what makes this man tick.

But his one weakness? Our lovely, but haunted Cleo. Axel hates her, but he’s drawn to her nonetheless. His whole family is steeped in addiction of all kinds, but Axel’s poison is his rampant obsession with Cleo. He straddles the line of being too far gone, but that’s what makes this such an intriguing read. How far is too far?

Cleo finds herself as the trophy, the tug in the tug of war between father and son. This girl isn’t weak; she’s been bred not to be. I admired her strength because dang if these men haven’t tried their best to break her. She has as many secrets as Axel, and there’s so much pain in her feelings for him. And yet, Cleo just can’t stay away. Her soft heart simply won’t allow it. I loved seeing her challenge our dark prince, Axel.

The sex is often and burning hot, I’m pleased to say. It did become rather repetitive, and I ended up skimming over some scenes. Black Sheep has such a dangerous bent and with the imminent collision between Axel and Cleo, I was drawn in again and again.

This was a super quick read for me! The chemistry is crazy hot, the characters are damaged but redeemable, and the plot twists and turns until the last page. A good, escapist novel.

***ARC received in exchange of an honest opinion***

This book was a pretty quick read. I'm glad it's a standalone, but I feel like something is missing from the story. It all happened too fast and I would have liked more, the same story, but more developed.

The main characters have a previous relationship from before the story starts and I wanted to see more of that, because even with their past connection, it felt like insta-love to me.

The plotline is good, but the fact that it wasn't as developed as it could have been, make it unsatisfactory and rushed. It felt like things kept happening and, even though the book has a complete end, it jumped to the next thing without continuity. Even the bad things that should made us horrified, doesn't because it was all explained too fast and rushed.

It was hard connecting with the characters because of all that. I wish there was more to the story, because the premisse is good.

Zara Cox has officially taken second chance romance to an entirely new level!! Black Sheep is gritty and heart-pounding novel, with a large side of steam! This fast paced read will most definitely keep your attention the entire way through--love that! My heart went out to both Axel and Cleo for all they had been through and what was more heartbreaking was the fact that their "family" was at the root of it all! I've read Zara Cox before, so I was pretty confident I would like the outcome...and I loved it!! Black Sheep is a 4.5 star book that everyone should be reading!! I can't wait to read whatever Ms. Cox comes out with next!