Consent, Part 2 of The Loan Shark Duet, must be read after its twin, Dubious. It picks up where the Dubious cliffhanger leaves off.

Valentina Haynes is unexpectedly pregnant and terrified of what’s going to happen to her and her baby. She and her brother, Charlie, are on the run from the devil, with no money, no hope, and nowhere to turn.

She doesn’t know what Gabriel Louws did to her. She doesn’t know the lengths to which he would go to keep her alive. She also doesn’t know how deep-seated Magda Louws’ hatred for her goes.

In this fast-paced, exciting, thrilling, and emotional conclusion to Valentina and Gabriel’s story we are gifted with a display of Charmaine Pauls magnificent range. There were mundane moments brought to vibrancy by the description of street food that makes your mouth water along with the characters’. There were quiet scenes that solidify in your memory with the visual beauty of a moonlit night. There is laughter hidden inside circumstances where grief is unbearably pressing down on your shoulders. There were moments when I experienced suspense so intense that I was stumbling over the words that I was reading too fast.

I can’t tell you too much because the surprises and the ups and downs are what make Consent such a masterpiece. Suffice it to say, Valentina and Gabriel suffer much more torment before redemption is possible. But watching their transformation into the beautiful creatures they are meant to be is sublime!

*This is my sincere review of a NetGalley ARC.*

The journey of Gabriel and Valentina was one i have never read before. Their story was so emotional, sexy,and nail biting. I couldn't stop reading and wanting more of it. I wish everyone could experience the love and connection these characters had for each other, it was heartbreaking. I truly loved Valentina's character of being so strong through everything in her life. Her caring nature and bond with her brother was just amazing. Even though Gabriel was darkness he became so much more in the story and I really enjoyed reading how his character developed. I do have to say the banter between the bodyguards was so funny at times, their adoration for Valentina was so sweet. I would love to read this book all over again for the first time it was definitely a more than 5 star rating for me.

My Review of Consent (The Loan Shark Duet #2)
by Charmaine Pauls
My Rating 4.5 Stars
What a Duet!! I thought the first was good, but it only got better in book 2.
This one starts off where Duet #1 left off and I was once again teleported into the story. The author has written this story so well that you can never really tell which direction the story will go, and just when you think you have it all figured out, she goes and throws a wrench in there you didn’t see coming. I devoured this book in one sitting, as I couldn’t get enough if Gabriel and all the feels you will have for him as he has lived through hell and you have a better understanding of this man. The secondary characters in this book were just as important to the storyline and I enjoyed them all. I will honestly be on the watch for more from this author as she can tell a story!
** I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from Author & The Publisher via Netgalley**

This was a fun, unpredictable and sexy read. I enjoyed it, and am really in love with the whole series. Can't wait for more!

“Every living being fights for one thing. Freedom. I claimed a woman and took that away from her. Instead of putting her in a cage, I clipped her wings to prevent her from flying away. In time, some caged creatures are tamed. Some remain wild forever.”

Gah, after the cliffy in Dubious I wasn’t sure which way this book was going to go. Without giving too much away, I will say that I’m glad the beginning of this book didn’t drag it out. The book was well paced and had loads going on, but well proportioned. I didn’t feel like there was too much going on and not once did I find my mind wandering. This author has kept my hooked throughout both books in the duet and I will definitely be going to download some more of her books when I’ve finished writing this.

It’s hard to write a review on a second book without giving anything away, so I’m not going to go into any of the book content.

I will say Gabriel for the win! Yum! New fave!

“I set my kitten free, and she came back to me.”

*copy received via netgalley*

Wow the second in the series and did not disappoint! I look forward to more! It was hot and sexy ! Terrific read !!

Rating: 4.5 stars

ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely cannot come up with enough words on how this duet blew me away! Charmaine Pauls has now become one of those authors whose books will automatically be on my to read list!

I'm so in love with this story and these characters that I didn't want it to end. This duet was simply everything! It will be a top favorite of mine in the years to come for sure. It's not everyday that I manage to get my hands on a story that grabs my attention and keeps me hooked till I reach the very end. It had the perfect mix of emotions, being raw, gritty, angsty and an anxiety-inducing roller coaster.

The captor/ captive storyline that is the highlight of this series was just so beautiful handled by the author- it could not have been more perfect. I was enthralled till I reached the very last page and even then I wanted more words. This duet is EVERYTHING and so much more!

I was on the edge of my seat and the mind-fuck was certainly strong! I was desperately rooting for Gabriel and Valentina to be together! These two are are one of my all-time favorite power couples! They were just fierce and fearless! We saw them evolve as the series continued- their mistakes and actions shaped them and made them stronger. I'm both happy and sad with that this story has come to an end!

The finale is magnifisent.A lot of secrets were revealed.I had dreams and a future and now all I have fears, scars, and insatiable needs. I’m damaged beyond repair. I can’t allow him to break me.The author has out done her self.The book is amazing.When I started reading I couldn't put it down.When I started reading I couldn't put it down. I didn't think I could fall more in love with Gabriel, but I did. This was the perfect conclusion to Valentina and Gabriel's story.
I received a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. I did not think I would like the book but the story caught my attention from the beginning and held it until the very end. Gabriel is Mafia and he has possession of Valentina as payment for a debt. He becomes obsessed with her and then comes to love her. She loves him but he can't believe she could love him after what he has done to her. The sexual content is explicit but a good read. There is a HEA but a lot happens before this comes about. I definitely will read some of Pauls other books because if they are like this one, they will keep your attention and entertained. I would recommend this book.

This is an author that I am going to follow! I loved this book. I am a huge fan of dark erotica and this was perfect. The characters were well developed and believable. If I were going to make any criticism it would be that the introduction needed to include a bit more background and context of the setting. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book!

Consent is the second half of Charmaine Pauls’ Johannesburg underworld The Loan Shark Duology, which focuses on the complex relationship between Gabriel Louw, a powerful mafioso, and Valentina Haynes, the young woman who sells herself to him to pay off her brother’s debt. By the end of the first book Dubious it’s clear that both parties feel more than lust, but when you’ve been brought together by violence and obligation how can you transform your bond to something pure and worthy of protecting?

It’s very hard for me to talk about the events in Consent without spoiling almost everything from the end of Dubious, which is a major plot point to the cliffhanger. I can only say that Gabriel and Valentina are together in book two (it wouldn’t be much of an erotic romance if the main couple became permanently separated now would it), but the plot buys a ticket to Hardcore Crazy Town. If you love the type of twists that crop up in daytime soaps or can at least appreciate them Consent is totally your catnip. I, on the other hand, rolled my eyes so hard they clacked in the back of my head when a presumed faked death occurred, and I was holding my head in my hands by the final pages.

While it’s a minor spoiler Pauls delivers a HEA; it’s just not quite how you’d expect it (Valentina also manages to turn into Too Perfect to Be Real TM, which she bordered on in Dubious but had enough slight faults to avoid). Somehow I plowed through book two despite my disbelief in the sheer amount of crazy sauce delivered (to borrow a term from Smart Bitches, Trashy Books), and I enjoyed the ending even though it left me a little underwhelmed. I wanted a dark, gritty ending for a pair of flawed, damaged people; that isn’t where Charmaine Pauls wanted her characters to end up. If you like fairy tale finales I think you’ll find it sweet and touching, and Consent will be a much easier read that book one.

3 Fire Damaged Wedding Rings out of 5

Valentina ends up pregnant and is afraid Gabriel will make her have an abortion. She runs away with her brother. Gabriel finds her before his mother's goons find her. The journey is a difficult one.

I love me a wild read that’s an emotional roller coaster with some kinky sex. This is that kind of book. I didn’t want to read it and have been holding onto it for a while not wanting this to be the end, but isn’t that always the case with the books you love and obsess about they end too soon.

I was given an ARC for my honest review.

This book is the sequel to Dubious, and this author has become one of my top favourite new authors.

At the end of Dubious, Valentina is running away from Gabriel as she has found out something life changing and doesn't want him to kill her for it.
She gets her brother Charlie and runs off with no money, and no plans for her future only the thought of not dying and protecting her brother.

This story has an amazing plot, I rushed through everything, wanted to know what happened next as there were so many things all at once. Valentina and Gabriel are now one of my favourite book couples, this is a Dark book but it has the perfect amount of romance that makes it another beautiful love story.

Secrets are revealed, betrayals unveiled and a perfect ending.

Thank you so much for this ARC!

Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.

Consent is Book 2 of The Loan Shark series. DO NOT read this book if you haven't read Dubious first. Way too much stuff happens in Book 1 and nothing in Book 2 will make any sense.

The story starts with Valentina on the run. I had two opposite feelings about Valentina running. On one hand, it made total sense. I mean, she's just found out she's pregnant. What else could she do, especially when she thinks Gabriel would be pissed and will kill her and/or the dang baby! But on the other, she assumes what Gabriel would feel or how he would act and that's always dumb when you're the heroine of a romance novel! ;) Valentina had me scared shitless when she was on the run and staying in her car with her brother and those dudes come close to her car... Oh I thought FOR SURE that she was going to get raped and murdered! Luckily, she ends up just fine! Phew!

Gabriel is a little more likable in this book. Well, to be honest, his likability went up towards the end of the first book but whatever. And really, the more he liked and fell for Valentina, the more I liked him. Plus I felt like I got to know him and his back story more and more and that helped a lot. But it made me hate his mom so much. Anyway, I loved how panicked he was when Valentina disappeared, first because screw him, he deserves some pain and suffering, and two because it made it obvious how he felt about Valentina.

The Sexy Time was still the same for me. In fact, I started skipping the Sexy Time sections because there were SO many of them and I still felt Gabriel was manipulating Valentina with sex. I just kind of felt over it a little, I guess. And I was feeling pretty frustrated with Valentina's brother. But then I felt really bad for him. It killed me that Valentina blamed herself for what happened to him and that, more than anything, is what I was hoping Valentina would learn - that it wasn't her fault.

You know, this is a tough book to review. A tough series to review. Most of the characters are shitty, shitty bad guys. They're straight criminals and there's not one redeeming thing about them. But damn it, I learned more about them and felt how they were feeling and I couldn't hate them as easily. And that pissed me off!! LOL! Overall, I felt the Sexy Time was too much. There was too much sex and the too much sex would be fine normally but here, there was a fine fine fine line between sex and rape and I wasn't always sure which one I was reading, you know? But damn, this series was entertaining as all get out. Yes, it was tough to get through but I'm glad I finished it. I probably wouldn't re-read THIS particular series, but I would TOTALLY read this author again!

Received an ARC of Consent by Charmaine Pauls in exchange for an honest review

This book is the second in a duet so you do need to read the first Dubious before diving into this AMAZING story !!!!!

Let me begin by saying how talented Charmaine Pauls is as a writer. This book not only touched my heart but my soul as well - there are several places where I found myself thinking how does this author know how to convey exactly what it feels like for example to be devastated by a loved ones suicide or to be a character that should be so broken by all that has happened & yet always maintain a positive attitude & outlook ....

A few spoilers ahead but they do not give the story away .... Consent starts with Valentina on the run however after exhausting almost all his resources Gabriel does find her bringing her back to live with him where he discovers she is still pregnant with his child. Their story has a number of plot twists & some very unexpected events occur not only for the 2 main characters but also for the secondary characters as well ...

If I rate both book together they are easily 10+ Stars !!! All the details and loose ends are tied up very well in this book with the very important - significance of finding a wedding band ( I won't tell you who's )

This book is captivating - romantic - sexy & you just can't put it down !!! There is an amazing HEA that stays with you ... for me am amazing book is one I would definitely re-read again & again & again keeping with my favorites of all time ! Consent is easily both ✅ It serves as a reminder that true love is always meant to be ❤️❤️

Wooooooooooo! What a wild ride of emotions. I literally could not put it down. I read the whole thing in 24 hours I was so taken by this story and the characters. I have to say this book has given me all of the emotions. Every single one. I have so thoroughly enjoyed these books. Such an amazing story. These books were the first read from this author and they will FOR SURE not be my last. BEST BEST BEST possible end to the story in my opinion. It is going to be hard for me to find another book the way I have enjoyed this one.

I very highly recommend this book to EVERYONE!

So You Must Read the First Book Dubious BEFORE reading this as it is the second part of a Duet and the first book is a Cliffhanger! So Two full Novels, please read in order, or else you are going to be out in left field! Also this is def for 18 yrs and older so be advised, Hot Sex is involved, Nothing that should trigger problems as nothing is ever forced!

Oh Goodness very good storytelling by Charmaine Paul's! She brings you to the brink of thinking you might know something is about to happen and well she spins the corkscrew round and round some more and bam then she lets the string bounce your backwards...I truly loved Valentina, Charlie and Kris and yes even Gabriel and SOME of the side characters grow on ya! Oh something that happens with Charlie and then Valentina is just a wowzer, I was so damn mad....

It is a great love story though and it has a lot of very sad parts to it, and it has people intertwined more than you would have Ever Imagined! The things that happen just make you shake your head and wonder what the hell is wrong with people, regardless of were they live in the country, a gross perverted darkness can grow and fester inside of some people, people you know can be bad but you just never think they can truly be so Dark inside and it makes you wonder what happened in their young lives or yet if it is/was always about Money! Some people show true colors and some like to blend and live into the Grey and to me the worst are those lying blenders....

Gabriel who I do not even think of as The Breaker now, he has been so hurt in life that it just made him Hard as Hell! He truly does try to be as decent a sort of a man to Valentina that he can be in his mothers home. He figures out some secrets she has but not all of them as does Val, but she gets to be so trusting because her body betrays her, she does learn that a woman's body can be trained to Want and want it does! She learns that she got one mighty fine teacher and it is Hot, as in 18 yrs and older advised hot

Gabriel has been led through life to dovery terribly bad and scrupulous things in life and well he is not just Hard as a Shell and he is deeply scarred from it as well. As big a man as he is he has had many things happen to him physically. I am not spoiling those because they belong to this wonderful storyteller to tell you, how he gets them, about an ex wife and their daughter Carly who is well spoiled as she is the only thing not tainted in Gabriels life and her mother, well lets just say her and Magda are two pees in a pod...they are they type of women that get what they want and they want money and that is exactly how they are trying to raise Carly and as a teenager that's lived with her dad she comes to not appreciate her dads rules anymore and well you will learn all about Carly and her momma and well everyone!

And I will be looking forward to other books by Charmaine Pauls as this was my first time reading this authors wonderful work. I thank the author for giving me a chance to read BOTH ebook Advance Copies of this Duet for my honest review I truly enjoyed every minute and I went from one book right into the other the anticipation was Oh so worth it! I know the release of these two will be close so do not fear the cliffhanger it's so worth it, I promise!!! At least it isn't months in between, I have never been given a completes Duet to review and I love that they were finished, she had this thought out well!!! I also thank NetGalley! And I am telling ya folks if you love a Dark Suspenseful Romance, well you Need to read this book, it is Great, Bravo Charmaine Pauls I Loved it!
This book had me so very twisted and torn up and times, you will probably need tissues and might want to throw your Kindle a few times!

I loved the first book, Dubious, and was very excited to read this one. It did not disappoint!
These characters attached to my heart and did not let go. I loved them from the first book, and they kept their character and opinions through the series.
I highly recommend this book if you like erotic and alpha men!

The end to Gabriel and Valentina's story has so many twists, turns, deaths and mystery that it is completely unexpected. Surviving isn't enough anymore. Valentina is in love with her domineering, controlling, tormenting, protective, doting husband. Caught up in an expected pregnancy, she runs from Gabriel and the darkness that he promises. She is certain he doesn't want their baby. He impregnated her in order to save her life. He is completely captured by her. She is in love with him. She knows he won't believe her until she is free and can repeat the words willingly. Then the unexpected happens. The truth about her attack finally comes out. The villains and the length of their betrayal turn everything inside Gabriel dark. He wants revenge. She wants to start over. There is nothing Gabriel won't do for her... Consent is intense, unexpected, heartbreaking, filled with sadness and hope. She knows the truth in her heart and she won't stop until she gets back everything she lost. A new woman arises from the ashes. She is determined to provide for her family, to keep them safe, and to find Gabriel. I loved consent and the HEA that they both deserved.