5 STAR REVIEW

I was fortunate enough to have received an ARC from Netgallery by the author in exchange for an honest review

LOVED THIS BOOK & AUTHOR

This book just happened to pop up on my Netgallery feed. I had not read anything before by this author.

Charmaine Pauls will now be a new favorite & can't wait to read more of her stories !!!!!

The premise of this book is dark. Gabriel Louw invokes payment in all things and for the most part in very deadly ways. He carries the physical and emotional scars for exacting such payment. His name invokes fear of the worst kind. Valentina becomes trapped in a deadly web trying to make amends for a loan her brother owes to the Louw family. She is marked for dead but upon Gabriel's first glance he decides her payment will be as his property. Valentina knows if she does not obey & submit she is risking her own life as well as her brothers.

Valentina is a very strong character - she is a survivor - having survived things that could very easily break a person. Her love and loyalty to her mentally challenged brother is what motivates her in everything she does and her spirit will not be broken no matter how far she is tested or challenged. Gabriel's desire grows quickly for her and he finds himself at odds with the growing feelings he has for her. Valentina becomes the one good and precious thing in his life. Something he realizes early on he cannot give up.

I could not put this book down & read the story in 24 hrs. Within a few days I re-read the entire story again as the feelings it invoked for both of these characters just stayed with me. This book does not end in a HEA but the storyline will be resolved in Book Two. One thought that was running thru my mind was if you love someone with all your heart and set them free - will that person come back to you of their own free will - as love is never a guarantee ....

This book really evokes an emotional connection between the characters and I can't wait to find out what happens in the continuation of what I believe is their love story.

Highly recommend this book and rate it 5++++ off the chart stars !!!!

This book will grip you from the first page till the last. The author paints a picture so vivid that you can't just stop at one chapter. She leaves you desperate for more because you feel for Val but also for the man that Gabriel is and want's to be. At the end you are left shell shocked and wanting nothing but for it to continue so that you know how it ends. I felt at the end of this book that I was left wanting more and now I have to wait!

I really enjoyed this book! I went into it without reading any reviews. Sometimes that works in my favour & other times not so much. Dubious was such a treat! I have a few niggles, but nothing that ruined the book for me. The location was a little unclear to me, but I caught up eventually. Also, the whiplash between Val & Gabriel was a little too much at times.. he tells him she hates him, then sticks her tongue in his mouth? I didn't like their sexual encounters at the start either.. I found it a little bit strange how they have sex once & the second time she's on all fours asking for it harder.. from what I gather her only experience is one time in her past, Tiny shoving himself down her throat & then with Gabriel, yet she's some kind of sex fiend with him.. Carly, Gabriel's 16 year daughter, was a complete head case! I felt like need counselling after her story line! Jeez!! It was really refreshing to read a some what light capture book. Gabriel was throughly intriguing because he didn't shout or beat Val. Might be a little sadistic of me, but I really liked him from the start! I understand this review is choppy, but I have so many thoughts, getting them out is a struggle! Overall, amazing storyline with some witty one liners thrown in, some seriously hot sexual encounters & great characters - Charlie & Val's relationship is adorable! I seriously can't wait for the next instalment! Thank you for allowing me an early copy.

A Voluntary review in exchange for an ARC kindly provided by the Author and Netgalley.......

I was NEVER "Dubious" that this would be a smash hit and I was right !!!. Compared to Charmaine's Seven Forbidden Arts Series this series is darker, more edgy and the story has much more of shock factors bouncing at you from the pages.

Its Valentina and Gabriel's story and its quite the taboo love story, a love affair born from what should have been the end of Valentina's life at the hands of Gabriel. Sounds ominous.......well you'll have to grab yourself a copy when its released to find out more. Ah yes I hear the screams now at how evil I am . But seriously, I would not want to spoil this one for you. It will have you at the edge of your seat.

I will definitely be counting the days (or more realistically the months *sniffles into tissue*!!!) until the next book in this new series from Charmaine. I want more from this dark, passionate world !!!

Amazing start to a series Charmaine.

5 "Let me be your light" Stars From Me !!

Many thanks for this opportunity x

Later peeps xxx

Gabriel was someone others feared. One look or misdeed could be a death sentence. As a notorious loan shark he had one job. Settle a debt by killing Valentina and her brother Charlie. When it came time to pull the trigger he hesitated and fell prisoner to the pull Valentina had over him. He would stop at nothing to protect her and keep her safe from harm while making sure she works off her brother's debt. Each day her innocence and fighting for others can be seen and he admires her dedication and pride to do all she can.

I have never read any of Charmaine Pauls books and now I wish I had.
Dubious leaves you wanting so much more and makes you impatient for the second instalment.
Having read a number of gangster/mobster books, I started this wondering what to expect but the story captivates and guides you through the traumatic life of Valentina and her brother Charlie. Valentina is a determined character who has many secrets but the love of her brother and a quirk of fate leads her in to the path of Gabriel a loan shark.
Valentina must pick up the debts of her brain damaged brother and Gabriel expects her to pay.
What transpires is a heart racing page turner.
The scenes between Gabriel and Valentina will leave you fanning yourself and championing Valentina's struggle.
The dynamics between Gabriel and his mother Magda have you on edge with an air of unpredictability.
And there is more to come from Gabriels' ex and his daughter.
You really do need to read this book.
5 incredible stars

Thanks to Netgalley,the author and publisher for providing this book for an unbiased honest review.

Very well written. The chemistry between Val and "The Breaker" was amazing - I felt like I was in the room. I love the way that Val works so hard for her dreams (and to protect Charlie) and in such a way that she doesn't sell her soul. I loved this book.
The only negative is the cliffhanger. Nothing to do but wait.....

of course, this isn't a grand piece of literature, so I won't judge it with the same ruler as those intense pieces of work, however, as a free novel I was very impressed and found that I quite liked this novel. In fact, I could say I loved it as a simple, casual read

This novel has the potential to be a best seller if given the chance. It offers a lot of twists and bends that ultimately prove to make and provide this novel with exceptionally entertaining content, making it more exciting to read and digest. The storyline provides curiosity as to the final chapter of the novel and allows the reader to remain engaged with the book which enables them to enjoy the full potential of the storyline and possibly even seeking further instalments due to it being so thoroughly entertaining. A book that you can visualise and envision within your imagination, is in my opinion, a successful novel that will go far.
I strongly recommend this novel with 5/5 stars. It is truly a pleaser.

This was so good. I am really looking forward to the resolution of the storyline in the next book. What a cliffhanger :)

Overall a unique storyline. Good overall writing and romance.

Loved this book

I first thought it might be too dark for me but I love the two main characters. Not so much the mom! Can't wait. To read more!