Desolation Road

Christine Feehan

Jul 2020 · Torpedo Ink Book 4 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

Take the ride of your life with the Torpedo Ink motorcycle club in this thrilling romance novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan. 
 
Torpedo Ink is Aleksei “Absinthe” Solokov’s whole life. They’re his brothers, his family—his everything. But that doesn't stop him from wanting something that only belongs to him. That’s why the tough biker has spent the last six weeks at the library, reading every book he can get his hands on and watching the prim and proper librarian who makes his blood rush. 
 
For the past six weeks, Scarlet Foley has been fantasizing about the handsome, tattooed man whose eyes follow her every move. She senses he's dangerous. She wants him to get close enough to touch. She wishes she could let him know the real woman, not the one she pretends to be. But Scarlet has a plan to carry out, and she can’t afford any distractions.
 
Absinthe is well aware that Scarlet is hiding something. She’s a puzzle he intends to solve, piece by intoxicating piece….

Ratings and reviews

3.75 stars--DESOLATION ROAD is the fourth instalment in Christine Feehan’s contemporary, adult TORPEDO INK erotic, paranormal romance series focusing on the men and women of the Torpedo Ink MC. This is Aleksei ‘Absinthe’ Solokov, and librarian Scarlet Foley’s story line. DESOLATION ROAD can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary. The TORPEDO INK series is a spin off from the author’s SEA HAVEN SERIES but you do not have to have read the original series to follow Torpedo Ink. WARNING: DESOLATION ROAD contains scenes, and makes reference to voyeurism, graphic violence, rape, murder, torture, child prostitution, and abuse against children, women and men. There are also scenes of animal role play, food play, anal play and the use of other items during sexual activities and therefore, Desolation Road may not be suitable for more sensitive readers. The eighteen original Torpedo Ink members are the sole survivors of a Russian pedophile ring, and as such work towards rescuing children and women in similar situations. Told from several third person perspectives including Absinthe and Scarlet DESOLATION ROAD follows Torpedo Ink’s Aleksei ‘Absinthe’ Solokov as his need for librarian Scarlet Foley helps calm the demons that continually run through his head. For six weeks Absinthe has ‘stalked’ our storyline heroine in an effort to get to ‘know’ the woman that calms the beast but Scarlet Foley is so much more than a sexy librarian, Scarlet is not without some supernatural abilities of her own. Years earlier, a horrific attack against Scarlet, and ultimately her sister Priscilla, led to the loss of Scarlet’s entire family, and in the ensuing years, Scarlet swore vengeance against everyone involved but meeting Aleksei Solokov meant Scarlet was about to place the Torpedo Ink family in danger, a danger the family was certain did not apply. What ensues is the quick building romance and relationship between Absinthe and Scarlet, and the potential fall-out as Scarlet’s past is determined to finish the job. At seventeen years of age, Scarlet Foley lost everything including her innocence, her family and the life she once knew. Years would pass wherein our heroine made preparations to enact revenge against the men who destroyed our heroine’s life, preparations that will now involve the men and women of Torpedo Ink. Aleksei ‘Absinthe’ Solokov struggles with demons, the memories, and the PTSD of a time long ago. With the ability to ‘see’ into the mind of the people he loves, Absinthe is empathic about the pain, the suffering, and the horrendous acts that no child should have ever been exposed but it is the guilt of so many losses that continue to pull Absinthe into the abyss. The relationship between Absinthe and Scarlet is one of immediate attraction; a highly sexual, demanding, intense role playing relationship in which the independent, strong willed and determined Scarlet Avery quickly bends to the will of the man that she loves. As per my warning, Desolation Road contains scenes of animal role play, food play, anal play, and the use of items not necessarily designed for sexual activity. As per my previous reviews, I have remarked on the author’s increasing violent story lines and abuse against men, women and children but in the case of the Torpedo Ink series, the violence is part of their history and lives-ingrained and imbedded –into their very existence, but their need for vengeance is as equally violent and abusive towards their intended victim-eye for an eye and so on. Like the previous instalments, DESOLATION ROAD focuses on the graphically detailed violence, abuse and rape, the sexual torture of children, and in this, I believe the author is going for shock value as opposed to dramatic affect. There is plenty of redundancy and repetition, leading to more fluff (albeit graphic) than substance. At times, the writing style flips as though there is more than one ‘person’ writing the book.

Deliciously Twisted This was one dark, twisted and sexy read and if you can’t handle some crazy s*x play don’t even start because this book is so much more than that. Absinthe was a member of Torpedo Ink who took upon himself to allow his brothers and sisters a little peace of mind at times. He also needed a getaway in order to soothe his own demons and he found that at a library. Only this one time it was the librian who was able to distract him and bring about feelings and emotions he could only dream of after everything that he had been through as a child. Scarlet was on her own mission but when she seen the devilishly hot tattooed man actually reading the books her plan was sidetracked if only while he was involved. She also had her demons she was fighting after going through a horrific event in her past that left her making plans for years as revenge. Absinthe and Scarlet had an extremely special connection not only in their hearts but in their minds as well. It was also another addition for the men and women of Torpedo Ink that brought about immense feelings that had me turning page after page to see if anyone could ever get, not over their pasts but through life as they now have. I have loved every book from this series and always looked forward as to what this author has instore for us next. I highly recommend this series and this book!!

This series just keeps getting better with every book. Absinthe has a power that is horrific I'd say. He feels. When at one of his places of solace he meets her... Scarlet is on the run, so when she meets this huge, dark, powerful biker of a man she finds it hard to let down her guard. However, Aleksei "Absinthe" is one man you don't keep a guard against she will soon find out. Can these two find solace with each other? Each is the light to the dark? Explosive, gripping, absolutely amazing story and I can not wait to find out who gets their story next.

About the author

Christine Feehan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Carpathian series, the GhostWalker series, the Leopard series, the Shadow Riders series and the Sea Haven novels, including the Drake Sisters series and the Sisters of the Heart series.