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Absolution

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Dominic Price believed he had a future with Juliana Rutherford until one dark night, she goes missing, and her affluential father has him arrested for her disappearance. After spending nearly two years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, he is acquitted and has one goal in mind - Revenge.

Whitney Greene is content with her life until a voice invades her thoughts. It is a woman, and she needs help that only Whitney can provide. Her world now off its axis, Whitney is about to be tested when sent to help the one man with the power to destroy them both.

Dominic is powerful, wealthy, and so close to exacting the vengeance he sought when a ghost from his past emerges, only she's claiming that she isn't the one who'd set him up for a fall before. Whitney tries convincing Dominic that she isn't Juliana, but he isn't fooled. The timing is too convenient and the taste of betrayal still too bitter.

Deciding to use her as an additional pawn in his deadly game, what ensues is a series of events causing each of them to question themselves, question each other, and reveals a force more sinister than either could've ever imagined. When the dust settles, will absolution finally be found?

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2024

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Taylor L. Ray

10 books5 followers

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5 stars
89 (55%)
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54 (33%)
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12 (7%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
243 reviews16 followers
January 16, 2023
This story broke my heart a few times. I was immediately pulled into it. I love a rags to riches and now coming back for revenge story. There was also mystery, suspense, ghosts, psychic abilities and two love stories being told. The romantic feels ran high in this one.

I got a few chuckles when Whitney first heard Juliana as well as when she was practicing what she could do with her gift. Unbeknownst to Dominic he was her guinea pig.

There was a lot of sexiness but it was weaved into a lot of plot. When a major plot point was resolved and there was still quite a few chapters left, I was worried that this would be a good story that dragged on at the end. I was luckily wrong and I was engrossed until the very end.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Indie.
58 reviews1 follower
January 2, 2023
𝓐𝓫𝓼𝓸𝓵𝓾𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷
𝑀𝓎𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓎, 𝒫𝒶𝓇𝒶𝓃𝑜𝓇𝓂𝒶𝓁, 𝒯𝒽𝓇𝒾𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓇, 𝑅𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒, 𝒜𝒹𝓊𝓁𝓉, 𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝓎, 𝒮𝑒𝒸𝓇𝑒𝓉𝓈

✧*̥˚ 5 stars *̥˚✧

It’s a bit impossible for me to not RAVE about how fantastic this book was! I was unable to put it down for more than a few minutes at a time because it was THAT good!

Enter the world of Dominic, Juliana and Whitney, all intertwined by the single thread of fate in very unexpected ways. Prepare to have your mind simply blown away with intricate plot twists that just leave you begging for more. That’s how I felt - completely in trance! All within the same day of receiving this ARC, I completed it and I just could not wait to sit down and talk about how good this book had me.

Just remember to have a check of the trigger and content warnings to ensure you are comfortable entering the dark world Dominic has to offer...

It has elements to tug you in, pull at your heartstrings and keep you guessing. The spiciness is definitely there! It was so well executed alongside a one-of-a kind plotline.

Dominic curates his revenge against the one woman he’s only ever loved, yet when faced against her and one who shares very uncanny features, maybe revenge isn’t the only thing he wants.

If you think you are going to expect anything that will be thrown your way, spoiler alert: you won’t!

Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, disclaimed: you don’t!

Absolution is just, amazing. I enjoyed every single page of it and what it had to offer. You should definitely pick this up, especially if you love when thriller and mystery mixed with pleasure, lust and feelings.

Thank you to the team from BookSirens for providing me with an advance review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily!
Profile Image for Talia Vacias.
7 reviews
January 12, 2023
The blurb of this book had captured my interest. I wanted to know about Dominic and how things were going with Whitney Greene in his life.

The first few chapters were strong and gave me insight into Dominic, Juliana and Whitney. Unfortunately, after that there was almost no story in this book without smut. Everything revolved around that.

Fine if smut is a main topic, but these scenes were totally unappealingly written in my opinion. There was a lot of repetition, which was totally unnecessary.

In addition, the twists were also predictable to me. The last twist didn't really add any value to the story either.

Such a pity that smut claimed all the attention in this story, because the idea was very good. Unfortunately I can not give more than two stars.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Emily.
5,369 reviews520 followers
February 15, 2023
Dominic Price thought he had found the woman who was meant to be his, only to have her go missing and being framed for it. Spending time in prison has changed Dominic, he has started over but he doesn't trust women as far as he can throw them.

Whitney Greene is living her life but when a voice speaks to her to seek out Dominic, she acts on it. Dominic is furious when he meets Whitney, but then he decides to use her to get the answers he wants. What happens when the shell around his heart begins to crack the more time he spends with Whitney?

This was different than what I expected. I thought this was fast paced and was pulled in right away. I liked Whitney a lot, she is an intriguing character who really tries to prove she was not involved. Dominic's character is spot on, I thought his emotions were what I would believe they would be if in the same situation. Well written, great book.

Profile Image for Pat.
1,059 reviews35 followers
January 23, 2023
Warning: Triggers be mindful of!

Intense dark romance, with a Ghost reminder- she is dead and reaching out to her love. In this she was murdered and he framed. Intense feelings and sexually violent encounters. The go between so a dead ringer for his murdered lover. Storyline moves along with dual pov. Expertly woven together in way that makes sense. *I was given a copy via BookSirens and am voluntarily giving my honest review.
Profile Image for Victoria Shelton.
697 reviews14 followers
February 2, 2023
Well, this book has revenge, ghost, steam and lots of interesting characters. Some scenes may cause triggers for some others will love this book. Is written with plots, twists and turns, revenge on the wrong person. Whether you believe in ghosts, this book will keep you turning the pages and guessing till the end. Would recommend this book.
Profile Image for Silje.
268 reviews18 followers
January 22, 2023
First of all, I liked the book, the rating is closer to 3.5 than 3, but it didn't quite reach 4 stars for me. Some SPOILERS are included in the review and aspects of the story itself might be a trigger for some.

The story focuses on Dominic's revenge for being wrongfully accused of murdering his girlfriend, Whitney's need(?) to help the nagging ghost, who is his girlfriend and her doppelganger, and the sizzling/slightly disturbing connection between the three of them (yes, ghost included).

In the beginning, Dominic is cleared of all charges regarding Juliana's disappearance, but the time in jail has made him obsessed with revenge on the people he thinks are responsible for putting him there. He becomes wealthy and a man to reckon with in business, and thrives in the gray areas of life. Enter Whitney, a girl who suddenly can talk to ghosts, a gift inherent in her family. She is visited by an annoying ghost, Juliana, who looks just like her, demanding that she find Domonic and explain to him what really happened to her, and help him heal.
So no surprise, when Dominic sees Whitney, he thinks she is Juliana, which means she must have participated in framing him. He wants revenge on her, but he is still attracted to her. Cue some chapters with cruel behavior from Dominic, some seriously hard-to-believe coincidences that put Whitney in his way, and a dose of steamy foreplay/kink/BDSM.
Eventually, Dominic believes Whitney, and together they venture to find justice for Juliana and absolution for Dominic. Action, drama, and sex are included, as well as a very dark and surprising reveal about Juliana's death.

The characters, at least the main characters, have depth, perhaps Dominic more than Whitney. The rest of the cast is very superficial.
I was positively surprised by how well-written the story was. It has a nice flow, the conversations are good, and the wording doesn't feel unnatural. However, in my opinion, the story could have been shorter, 10-20 pages or so. It drags out, many inner monologues are repetitive, and you get tired of hearing about revenge and how "the axe forgets; the tree remembers."
The intimate scenes are steamy and intense; they can absolutely make you hot and bothered.

The ghost and Whitney's psychic powers made me a bit skeptical about this story. We get a brief explanation for why she suddenly sees ghosts, but after that, you simply have to go with it. It also seems like that from one page to another, she has full control of her new powers.

There were some scenes and actions that felt unreal to me throughout the story. For instance, how Dominic turned on a dime regarding believing Whitney and almost had a personality change after that. Or how Whitney just went along with Dominic's cruel treatment of her.

The threesome-ish aspect is slightly confusing and can be hard to believe, especially since one is a ghost. The scene where Whitney is possessed was a bit weird, how could all of them be so ok with it? It is also hard not to think that Whitney is a replacement for Juliana, given that they look the same. It is definitely a psychological factor here that was, to me, difficult to get a clear grip on.

There aren't any surprises in the story. You quickly guess the murderer (though probably not how she was murdered), and I predicted the truth regarding Juliana and Whitney from the first scene they met.

All in all, a good read, but some aspects of the story, as well as the length, made it 3.5 stars for me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
389 reviews7 followers
January 31, 2023
Suspenseful. twisty and passionate!

Buckle up for addictive dark romance which combines so many of the genres and tropes I love: suspense; paranormal; enemies to lovers; mistaken identity and revenge. The central romance is between Whitney and Dominic, but there is also the ghost of Juliana, Dominic’s ex, the daughter of a powerful man, which adds a mysterious element to the book. As a young man Dominic was falsely accused of her murder by her father. He spent a long time in prison before a jury found him innocent and is committed to making his accuser pay.

Businesswoman Whitney, who has no connection with Dominic, discovers she has a gift which enables those who have passed to communicate with her. Juliana’s spirit contacts her to help her seek closure for Dominic on what he went through. It took me a few pages to accustom myself to the inner dialogue between Witney and Juliana, in what is otherwise a contemporary style read, but once I did, I found it added an entertaining element to the book.

Dominic, now a rich and influential man, lives to enact revenge on Juliana’s father who was so keen to pin the murder of his daughter on him. When he encounters Whitney, whom he mistakes for Juliana (she turns out to be her doppelganger), he is furious, thinking she not only tricked him in the past, by faking her death, but is out to trick him again. He seeks to punish her and use her in seeking revenge.

I found the book to be an entertaining and emotional read on a number of levels: Whilst Dominic and Juliana cared for each other in the past, Whitney is her own person and the attraction between Dominic and herself results in some scorching and at times highly erotic and emotional scenes. Dominic goes all out to seek the truth as Whitney struggles to comes to grips with her gift and tries to convince one very angry man that she is not his deceased lover and had no knowledge of the past events that blighted his life. The book has plenty of twists which I did not see coming and has some dark elements which may be triggering for some.

I loved the read and the many questions it poses, not least in relation to Whitney’s gift, and why she resembles Juliana so much given she has no connection to her. Will Dominic believe her and if he does how will his enemies react when they see the woman who is supposed to be dead back on scene and in Dominic’s orbit? Who are these powerful enemies, and will Dominic and Whitney survive? Will the couple find their HEA and will Juliana finally find peace and be content to let them forge their own future...

Highly recommended to readers of romantic suspense/thrillers who love enemies to lovers trope with paranormal elements.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 20, 2023
Absolution is a dark romance with bits of mystery and paranormal elements woven throughout.

Dominic was from the wrong side of the tracks according to his young girlfriend’s father. He would never be good enough for her, but Dominic didn’t care. He was in love with the beautiful Juliana Rutherford. It appeared that they had a bright future ahead of them despite her father, that is until she disappeared after arguing with Dominic. Of course, he is accused of the crime until nearly two years later, he is found not guilty, but he was still in prison while awaiting trial. The one thing that got him through those dark times was revenge and making Juliana’s father pay for trying to ruin his life.

Whitney Greene lives a pretty good life, but she has a secret that she keeps trying to run from. She has psychic abilities that she tries to deny. Yet, one ghost just won’t leave her alone, and that happens to be Juliana. She needs to reach Dominic and give them closure so that they can both move on. Whitney is the key. She just has to get her to listen.

When Whitney first meets Dominic for the first time, it doesn’t go well AT ALL! He accuses her of being Juliana and helping her father in trying to destroy him. Yeah, Juliana failed to mention to Whitney that they both look exactly alike. Not only is Juliana’s father on his revenge list, but now Whitney is. She somehow has to convince him she isn’t his first love and get Juliana’s message across to him.

If you are looking for a sweet romance, this one isn’t for you. It’s dark, but Anise Storm still managed to tap into my emotions as well. Dom was not someone I easily liked at first. I admired him for his tenacity and strength. However, he had a coldness and darkness to him, and I could somehow understand that because of what happened to him. So, seeing him melt a little with Whitney actually helped me like him a lot more by the end of the book. He is the quintessential alpha male.

I liked Whitney from the very beginning, and some of my favorite chapters were her chapters. I enjoyed seeing her learn to use her newfound powers. It was a bit reminiscent of the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness, but Anise Storm made this her own heroine and her own story. I can’t not mention Juliana. She was a character in her own right. In the beginning chapters, I wasn’t such a fan of hers either. I felt like she didn’t love Dom in the way in which he deserved to be loved. However, there were layers that still would be revealed about her throughout the book as well. It just goes to show that I should never judge a character at the beginning of a book.

The plot was fast-paced. As I said, there was some darkness to it. There is a lot of sexual content, but I actually enjoyed the twists and turns with the paranormal elements more than I enjoyed anything else.

If you are looking for a book that is a quick read with some darkness and a lot of spice, along with some GREAT twists and turns, this is just the book for you.
3,231 reviews29 followers
January 29, 2023
This is an enemies to lovers revenge romance story and it is Dominic and Whitney’s story and omg it is definitely a must read. When Dominic was young and penniless he met Juliana and they fell so much in love with each other but one night after a argument she disappeared and he was charged with her murder even though no body had been found so when he finally got acquitted he started a new life and now a very wealthy man he had big trust issues but he was determined to get revenge and destroy Juliana’s father and take everything away from him just like he did with Dominic and being a patient man he would know when the time was right until a blast from the past knocks him sideways making him angry as he thinks that it is Juliana coming to plead for her father but he couldn’t be more wrong. Whitney suddenly had something wake inside her and she started hearing voices and connecting with people’s conversations so when Juliana started asking for help Whitney decided to get to the bottom of what was happening but when she eventually meets Dominic everything goes sideways because he doesn’t believe her and humiliates her until she eventually makes him see sense and is telling the truth. There are twists and turns that you definitely didn’t see coming along with danger, betrayal, murder, dark themes, secrets, strong chemistry that sizzles off the pages, love that knows no bounds, revenge, paranormal scenes, forgiveness, hope, love and situations that have you in tears and yet I still couldn’t put this book down as it was a real page turner that had you on the edge of your seat and so addictive that I read it in one sitting until the early hours of the morning. I definitely recommend that you read this book and you will be just as hooked as I was and I can’t wait to read more books in the future.
Profile Image for Kerry  carr.
1,537 reviews17 followers
February 11, 2023
Wow this book was a great read. I loved the twists and turns in it. It is a very steamy romance with loads of danger turns along the way I was kept on the edge of my seat not knowing what was going to happen next.
I loved the characters. Dominic has had a hard life from early on and it go even worse when he was accused and put on trial for the disappearance/ murder of his then gf Juliana. He was found not guilty and has moved on with his life all the while set on getting revenge on the people that fasley accused him. Fast forward and he has made himself a success. But his need for revenge and answers about what happened to Juliana still remain. His life was going along fine until he bumps into a woman who changes his life.

Whitney has a special gift. She can communicate with spirits. So when she hears a voice inside her head as much as she doesn't want to she needs to help this spirit. The dangerous part is she has to cross Dominic. To make matters a million times worse she is the spitting double of Juliana and because the last person Dominic ever wants to see again.

What follows is a tale which will have you on the edge of your seat and feeling like your on a rollercoaster of emotions as Juliana trys to communication via Whitney and explain what really happened to her.
The chemistry between Dominic and Whitney is very strong and sizzles off the page but what they uncover is a situation full of danger, lies, and murder.
Is Dominic just feeling things for Whitney because of her likeness to Juliana? Or will that make things even worse when she trys to convince him she's not Juliana come back to cause him trouble. Will Dominic be able to move on and find closure once the truth is out there or will it make his need for revenge even stronger?

It is definately a book you will not be able to put down.
Profile Image for Marissa.
305 reviews2 followers
February 14, 2023
This book went in a different direction than a typical story by the author with whom I am most familiar. Sure, there were the usual themes of revenge, drama, organized crime, fighting for justice of women that were used for the sport of their men, and steamy scenes. But the special gifts were an interesting twist. Not bad, just interesting.

Whitney started hearing voices about a year ago. As she grows ever closer to 30, her grandmother says that her gifts will improve. The grandmother is willing to train her to use her gifts. RIght now, she has a pretty insistent voice telling her that Whitney has to help her, Juliana, bring closure to Juliana’s ex-boyfriend. When Whitney agrees to help Juliana, Whitney discovers one small problem.

Dominic has never had an easy life. After his neglectful mother finally left him on his own at 16, he managed to survive. Dominic met a woman that he loved when he was 20. Juliana was everything to him but her wealthy father didn’t approve of Dominic. When Juliana disappeared, her father did everything to blame Dominic, even having jailed and tried for her murder, although a body was never found. Now Dominic isn’t a kid anymore and has more money and power than Juliana’s father ever did. Dominic has long planned to ruin Juliana’s father.

Enter Whitney. One look, one word and Dominic is thrown off his game. How could Juliana be there, in the lobby of his office building? Except, she is claiming not to Juliana, that her name is Whitney. Cue mayhem, revenge, ghosts and bad men popping out of everywhere. Whitney helps Juliana with the closure that she needed, but will it help Dominic?

I am in whenever Anise is writing. So far she has not led me astray. I am there. It is good. This was no exception. Taylor is growing on me. Don’t stop!! I am there for the next outstanding collaboration!!
Profile Image for Heidi Sturgess.
851 reviews11 followers
March 12, 2023
Good grief if the cover alone was anything to go I’d tell you now to get your ice chips and fan on hand so that you don’t melt 🤣🙈🔥

This is the second read , different author , that I started and restarted after i redefined a word which adds a whole new dimension to the title and story within … well it made a difference for me ❣️📚


Whitney has a gift of sorts , she’s inherited it from her grandmother, anyhoo she can hear peoples thoughts and she can help them heal and there’s a woman’s voice that reaches out to her for help , a voice that needs to set the record straight, a voice that needs to heal a vengeful heart , a voice that needs to heal the hurt …..


Juliana came from an affluent and powerful family so her father was not in favour of the love she shared with Dominic so when disappears after an argument it’s easy for “ daddy dearest” to blame it on Dominic and despite the fact that he’s found not guilty 2 years later , Dominic had not only lost the love of his his but he’s also lost 2 years of life , he’s determined to crawl his way to the top and with a full of vengeance it makes for riveting reading and a man I would not want to upset …..


Whitney looks so much like Juliana so when her path crossed with that of Dominic she tastes his ire firsthand and he doesn’t hold back , he’s hurt , he’s angry , he’s cruel and Whitney better have her wits about her , Dominic is not an easy man …,


I had mixed feelings about Dominic …. First I lived him then I hated him and then I just fell in love with him again ❣️😂🙈 as for Whitney , she’s a strong , patient , compassionate and brave woman she was a healing balm of sorts 🫶🏼


A hot , spicy , twisted read that earns every star of its five star rating 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
143 reviews1 follower
June 8, 2023
I enjoyed this book as I read through it from the beginning to the end of it. The book starts off very similar to many books with a young couple in love, a girl from a rich family and the boy from a poor family. Where this story differs is Dominic Price, the poor boy, end up in jail for Juliana Rutherford's, the rich girl, murder.

Dominic managed to get out of prison after a couple years and was set on two things, one to make a lot a money so two he can get his revenge against Juliana's dad, Mr. Rutherford. He didn't murder Juliana, but he knows Mr. Rutherford framed him for her murder.

Nine years have passed, Dominic has become a billionaire with everything going to plan and on track until he saw Whitney Greene in a lobby and she showed up to one of his private parties. Oops!

Whitney has a copy unique qualities. One being she looks exactly like Juliana and two, she can hear Juliana talk to her about Dominic. You see, Juliana's soul or spirit hasn't left this earth because she wants Dominic to be able to move on so she can leave.

One big problem, Dominic doesn't believe Whitney that she is not Juliana. The more he fought with Whitney, their sexual chemistry crackles more between them. It's just a matter of time and wills!

The book has a lot to offer. You will find arguments, fights, pain, lost, action, suspense, secrets, betrayals, revenge, drama, pain, trust and mistrust, surprises, tragic, anxieties, intrigue, and hot steamy romance. To see how Dominic and Whitney weave their way through all of this and manage to end up together you will have to read the book. You'll be entertained!

I received a free copy of this book for an honest review and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
438 reviews5 followers
February 3, 2023
What a twisted story! But let me tell you how much I loved it!! I read it straight through and couldn’t put it down. There’s a lot going on in Absolution with some twists and turns. Especially emotional ones. The author doesn’t let up at all. Putting the reader through the ringer. At the same time making you fall in love with the characters as well. I figured the two big twists out before reveal but it was worth the mystery and suspense of it all.
If you don’t mind spice and you can look past it to get to the meat of the story, you’ll be hooked. The spice is just an added bonus. You’ll be the one trying to solve the mystery and get closure. You’ll be emotionally invested that you will need to finish. That you will want to know if you’re right or wrong. It’s the challenge of figuring out the puzzle that keeps one glued to the pages.
Whitney has an uncanny resemblance to Dominic’s ex-girlfriend Juliana. So uncanny he thinks she’s here back to torment him. Her family put him through the ringer when she disappeared and now he was prepared to get his revenge. Which means she must be here to disrupt his plans. It’s too much of a coincidence.
Whitney on the other hand, at Juliana’s insistence, is the only one who will be able to bring him closure. It’s just a matter of how? Especially when Dominic loathes her, for someone he believes she is.
I drew a lot of comparisons when reading this story. For one spicy romance, which meets Count of Monte Cristo revenge, sprinkled in with a supernatural element. If that does intrigue you, I don’t know what will.
My parting words for anyone who comes across this book. READ IT! And TRUST me when I say, you won’t be disappointed.
Profile Image for Jessica Stone.
55 reviews
February 17, 2023
Absolution by Anise Storm & Taylor L. Ray - Review by Jessica Stone

This book threw me for a complete loop! I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but how interesting! This is a lovers to enemies to lovers? Mystery, romance, suspense, spooky, ...honestly I'm not even what genre to label it but spicy masterpiece.


Dominic was dealt a pretty bad hand in life, always working multiple jobs for what he needs from a young age, the one bright light in his life was Juliana, that is until one terrible night Juliana goes missing. She's presumed dead, and Dominic is blamed for her murder After spending some time in jail, Dominic is aquifer and released but when he gets out he has one thing on his mind, revenge for those that have wronged him, and taken everything from him. That is, until he meets her...
Whitney is just a normal girl, works a good job, content with her life, that is until one strange day she starts hearing a voice inside her head, and that voice is begging her for help.


Without giving away too much this story just dives right into the deep end, I was a little hesitant at first but within the first few pages I fell in love with the characters. I've laughed and she's a few tears, the emotions that the characters, Dominic, specifically feel in this book are gut wrenching. Let's be real Dominic and Whitney's connection is so fierce it's palpable, had me blushing more than a few times and sighing with happiness by the end of this story.

What a Wonderful read.


Absolution, Anise Storm, Taylor L. Ray, Review, Itsy Bitsy Book Bits, Dark Romance, Suspense, Romance, Jessica Stone, February 2023
1,336 reviews10 followers
January 29, 2023
“The axe forgets; the tree remembers.” Dark, steamy, rough romance…
Love the cover; perfect Dominic except there are hints that the man is a priest…??? Dominic couldn’t be farther from being a priest. Dominic started life basically taking care of himself as soon as he was old enough. His mother was willing to let him go at 16yo for a man. But Dominic had high hopes until he fell in love with the wrong girl, Juliana Rutherford. She was among the elite class with lots of money and a father who didn’t like Dominic being around his precious daughter. More on that later…
Whitney periodically would get these weird sensations or events like she hears what people are thinking. Then she encounters a girl whose voice will not leave Whitney alone. She is a spirit trying to make things right. Whit visits her grandmother and finds out they share a significant skill: they can feel spirits, read other’s minds and Whit can actually heal. What happens when Dominic’s and Whitney’s lives collide? Could it be because she is the perfect image of Juliana, his missing and presumed dead girlfriend? Wow! Sparks fly when they meet and not in a good way.
This book started off with a Bang! and never stopped. There will be twists, some I guessed and others I didn’t. The steam will go on for pages during scenes of intimacy. There will be difficult moments, great moments and a satisfying ending. If you like dark romance with necessary cautions between a self-made billionaire and an independent feisty woman, try this book. I volunteered to review an ARC of it through BookSirens.
Profile Image for Sreeprada.
43 reviews8 followers
February 24, 2023
' the axe forgets , but the tree remembers'

Absolution by Taylor L Ray and Anise Storm is muder mystery combined with erotica romance involving ghosts pat girl friend and an anonymous disappearance set in the city of Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The story revolves around Dominic Price who is a powerful businessman rose from hardship and 18months of prison under false charges and Whitney Green Marketing Executive in company called Eclipse. They both cross path when Whitney is haunted with the spirit of Dominic's ex- girlfriend Julianna Rutherford who also happen to be her lookalike. The way Whitney convinces Dominic and find out the how Julianna disappeared seven years earlier , in the course Whitney falling in love with Dominic and major twist of events in the end is what Absolution is all about.

Overall its a good book , with some vivid description of the erotic scenes .., which later seems bit repetitive and unnecessary. The romance between Dom and Whitney is good and the authors could have played more around developing it. The book keeps you hooked in the earlier chapters but as you progress it kind of becomes Predictable and even the twist in the end..though wasn't necessary didnt bring much change to the course of story. It could have been a even better book if they have added some more characters and events in the muder mystery aspect and focused a bit less on the romance. ✌️

Rating -⭐⭐.5

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Michelle Mulvey.
991 reviews13 followers
February 12, 2023
This book was a rollercoaster from page 1 to the VERY END! I loved it all.
Dominic Price was absolutely Inlove with his girlfriend, Juliana Rutherford. They were from different social circles. Juliana was a rich princess and Dominic was working at country club where her family attended. They had a great relationship and her father hated it and went as far as having Dominic fired.

One night after the couple gets into an argument, Juliana goes missing. Of
Course Dominic is blamed and even get charged with her disappearance. He vows as of that day, he will do everything in his power to get even with Juliana and her dad thinking they set him up.
Many years later, Dominic has done very well for himself. He doesn’t have to want for anything. He’s got everyone and anyone he will ever need In his pocket.
When Whitney Greene shows up looking exactly like Jules, he hates her and tries anything he can to stay away from her but she is always there. She has some information for him but being she looks
So similar to Jules, he cannot even speak to her without getting angry. She even shows up at one of his private parties and he goes so far to embarrass her. Only she is not Jules. She is Whitney. I don’t even know what to say except you need this book. Who is Jules, who is Whitney, where did Whitney come from and why? Better yet, what happened with Jules and where is she. This book was such an emotional rollercoaster with so many things that you don’t expect. Grab your copy today!
Profile Image for E.
24 reviews1 follower
February 6, 2024
Tropes: Enemies to lovers; Rich x Poor; Redemption; Bully; Mistaken Identity; Tortured hero; Psychic/Ghost haunting; Murder Mystery

Absolution is full of twists and turns that make your head spin while giving a romance story that gives all the giddiness and steam. Warning: maybe don’t read certain chapters in public.
The concept is a wild one, a psychic that hasn’t quite accepted is contacted by the spirit of her doppelgänger and given a task of unfinished business: contact the love of her life and give him closure. Sounds easy, right? Except said love of life, Dominic, has a chip the size of Las Vegas on his shoulder and doesn’t want to listen, instead working out his demons on poor Whitney, thinking he’s been screwed over. Eventually, the twisted love story turns into a murder mystery with a hunt for a killer, truth revelations, mistaken identities, sex parties, kidnapping at gun point, etc.

Dominic is very intense, but his story arc was wonderful to play out, especially when he finally just GIVES IN. We all love a bad boy that eventually accepts his inner gooey cinnamon roll.

The only reason this isn’t 5 stars is because, to be honest, I had to shake my head at Whitney a few times in the beginning. I felt like that girl kept making bad decisions that screamed mistake, but I suppose it all worked out in the end! I also would have loved to have heard from the grandmother more!
Profile Image for Jenni Bishop.
4,093 reviews45 followers
February 2, 2023
3.5 stars
Beware of the trigger warnings.

Anise Storm & Taylor L. Ray have collaborated again to give us another dark, dark tale. And what a tale it is. The story is a complex one where not everything is as it seems. With lies and secrets, struggles and suspense, emotions run high.
It is an interesting premise with paranormal elements. I wanted to be wowed but I wasn’t. I liked this story but didn’t love it. It has a lot of potential to be a great story but didn’t make the mark for me. There is a lot of unnecessary information/details and a lot of repetition which interferes with the flow of the story. There are twists and turns some you don’t see but others you do.
You will definitely question Dominic and his ways. He is domineering, rude, crude and ruthless and at times I wanted to do away with him but in others I wanted to hug him. The other characters were interesting but the whole ghost thing needed much more development and narrative as far as the sudden “gift”.
There is much more to the journey than what they realise. He is cruel and out for revenge and nothing else matters. She just wants to deliver a message.
There are elements of Kink and BSDM, death and doppelgängers, ghosts and murder, sex trafficking and much more.
This is an emotional read with a lot going on.
Profile Image for Rosanna Ingram.
590 reviews4 followers
February 6, 2023
Dominic was in love with Juliana. When she disappears, he finds himself behind bars and charged with her murder. When he is released. he knows he must get away from Las Vegas and the man determined to make him pay for a crime he didn't commit.

Whitney has a gift that she isn't quite sure how to control just yet. When she begins hearing the voice of an insistent woman in her head, she just wants her to go away. But the voice wants Whitney to help a man find closure and provide the answers he has been looking for.

What follows is a story of love, heart break, murder, betrayal, and truths that will change everyone's lives. Dominic and Whitney are determined to figure out what happened to Juliana, but feelings get muddled along the way. Can they ever be more than people who worked together to solve a crime? Or is their connection fragile due secrets they don't even know about?

This was an interesting book that I enjoyed reading. I figured out the secret pretty early on...but didn't know how it would come out. The story has a paranormal element that I found entertaining. Dominics anger was felt coming off of the pages...as was Whitneys determination to prove she was who she said she was! The back and forth was entertaining while the "bedroom" scenes were H-O-T! Overall, a good book.
Profile Image for Lorralei Hoerner.
795 reviews23 followers
February 10, 2023
4 Stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Wow this story was truly dark and twisty....and not all love stories end in happiness....or so to speak.

Dominic Price only ever wanted was to give Juliana Rutherford the world....his love for her was truly impeccable...forbidden as well. Juliana comes from a rich family and her father is very powerful and Dominic is not good enough in Grant Rutherford's eye for his daughter. When one fateful night of love turns into a fight and things being left unsaid between Dominic and Juliana......Dominic leaves and that departure comes back to haunt him. Juliana goes missing and Grant Rutherford points his fingers in the direction of Dominic...leaving Dominic to fend for his life.

A few years later...Dominic is truly ruthless, cunning, dark.....hatred in his heart for the one man who destroyed 2 years of his life for a crime he did not commit...but when Dominic meets Whitney Green, whom totally resembles Juliana, there is so much hatred.........is Whitney playing games with Dominic when all she wants is to help Dominic and deliver a message from Juliana? Will Dominic see past his hatred and let Whitney into his heart and mind?

This story had me all twisted up...it was a roller coaster of emotions......hatred, ruthlessness, rough, twists that I did not see coming for sure. This story definitely had some "dark" moments that are true triggers just a warning.
Profile Image for Angela.
5,758 reviews73 followers
February 11, 2023
3.5 Stars

Absolution by Anise Storm and Taylor L. Ray is a dark romantic suspense with plenty of mystery, drama, danger, intrigue, action, agendas, angst, intensity, murder, revenge, steam, agendas, emotion, complexity, and a bit of a paranormal twist. Trigger Warning -->Be aware that there are some darker subject matters included in this story which could be triggers for some readers, so be aware ( --> abuse, graphic violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, DubCon, murder)
Dominic thought he had found the girl of his dreams, someone who he could picture spending his life with. Then all he hoped for crumbles before him when Juliana goes missing and he is imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. He’s had plenty of time to think, and to plot his revenge- his plans are coming together, and he can’t wait to see the results. Until Whitney turns up with quite a tale to tell. Is this just another ploy to tie him up in knots? He won’t be fooled again…. but he can use this to his advantage. And a deadly game begins, so buckle up for quite a wild ride as things take a dark, dangerous, and intriguing turn…
As expected, these two authors have delivered a tense and climactic read. Looking forward to seeing what they do next.
Happy Reading,

Thank you, Anise Storm & Taylor L. Ray!
192 reviews1 follower
February 28, 2023
I'm rating this book 4 stars overall, but I feel a bit mixed about doing so. While the writing and editing were very good, the story itself I am less a fan of (more like a 3 star). Trigger warnings should be taken very seriously. There are very graphic scenes which border on not being consensual.

Dominic is a man seeking revenge. Being wrongfully accused of killing is girlfriend, Juliana, at a young age, once acquitted he seeks to learn the truth and punish those who set him up. He meets Whitney who looks exactly like his dead girlfriend. She has been sent to him by Juliana who is communicating with her from the dead. Whitney's grandmother also has the ability to communicate with the dead, but doesn't fully explain to Whitney what she will all experience. There are many twists and turns. Ultimately Dominic with Whitney's help sees the men who killed Juliana brought to justice.

There are missing pieces in this book for me. Whitney's grandmother is introduced, but we don't learn much about their relationship. There is reference to Whitney's mother, as well as unanswered questions for Whitney's mother that aren't answered in the book. Other than a physical attraction, the relationship between Dominic and Whitney is a bit lacking too.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Brandi Pearson.
31 reviews3 followers
March 25, 2023
Absolution is a novel that follows the story of Whitney as her fate tangles with Dominic Price's and his obsession with the girl who got away. To set the scene - Dominic was once just a boy with nothing - in love with a girl who had everything. Juliana. After Juliana goes missing and Dominic is arrested for her murder, he builds himself up from scratch and makes a new life for himself. Whitney, on the other hand, can hear Juliana's voice in her head - and she is telling her to find Dominic Price.

I truly enjoyed this read and found the spice level to be extra hot! While that was a great part of the read, I wish that the author had leaned more into the plot of the novel which was fascinating and fresh! The book's pace was quick and it seemed like every event was happening all at once but for me personally, it just added to the thrill. There were some parts of the novel so good that I had an external visceral reaction to them. While some of the plot twists seemed predictable. For this book to get 5 starts, I would have loved to see this book as more of a mystery or thriller, rather than hardcore romance and smut. Even still, the concept was incredible and I thoroughly enjoyed the read.

I would like to thank BookSirens, Taylor Ray and Anise Storm for this eARC of Absolution for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Dawn.
825 reviews
February 10, 2023
Dominic is in love with Juliana when she disappears. Presumed dead, her wealthy father blames Dominic and has him arrested.
Years later, Dominic runs into Juliana, only she claims to be Whitney. Dominic doesn't know what to believe because she looks exactly like his Juliana. All he knows is he is extremely angry for everything he went through. When Whitney ends up having a special skill that can help him, he must get past the anger at Juliana, even if he still believes the two women are one in the same.
Opinion
This book has some trigger warnings at the beginning for a very good reason. It goes down a rabbit hole so dark that it is not for everyone. If you do not like dark romance (and I do mean dark), this book is not for you.
That having been said, the story was captivating. Following along with Dominic and Whitney/Juliana kept my mind spinning with possibilities of what happened. The book does end in a good light but it did get pretty dark and sketchy for a while.
I will give a warning of my own. This book has a lot of intimate scenes. I would say they happened every two to three chapters, with the first one in the prologue. If that is not your kind of book, this book is not for you. If it is your kind of book, make sure you read it while your partner is in town.
156 reviews4 followers
February 17, 2023
This book is absolutely dark and twisted. Dominic loves Juliana and only wants to give her the world but on the night of one of their worst fights she disappears and her dad convinces everyone that Dominic is the one that had her killed. Dominic bets on himself and wins his verdict of not guilty though having spent years behind bars and he comes out a hate filled man bent on revenge.

Just when it seems everything is falling into place for his revenge on Grant Juliana’s father, the man who had him arrested, in walks Whitney. Who just so happens to be the spitting image of Juliana and waltzes back into his life at what seems to be too big of a coincidence. Now Whitney is working on using her gift to convince Dominic that she is not Juliana. What extremes is Whitney willing to go to for this mysterious voice in her head? Can Dominic separate the woman he once loved from Whitney who just wants to help Juliana?

There are so many dark, twisted spots in this book that I almost cringed reading them. If you like dark and twisty romance novels then this may be right up your alley. Be forewarned though that this book is dark, with a huge emphasis on dark and their are some big trigger events that occur that may not be for everyone!
January 18, 2023
Thank you to Book Sirens, Taylor Ray and Anise Storm for this ARC!

When I read the synopsis, I was very intrigued about this book, I wanted to read it right away! Dominic Price is a man set on a revenge plan against his former girlfriend’s dad for accusing him of killing his daughter, but then he meets a woman who is a dead ringer for her. I delved right in, but when I got to Whitney’s “gift” I was a bit unsure if I was going to like this story because it’s not usually my kind of thing. I kept reading and found out that it really gave the story meaning… that is until later when Dominic was able to have it too?? The twists and turns of this story really didn’t make it dull that’s for sure! Beware of the trigger warnings because there are scenes where you will wince at the disgust you’ll fell for Dominic and the pity you’ll feel for Whitney. Juliana’s story was heart wrenching to discover throughout the book and her willingness to see the man she’s in love with go at it with her doppelganger it sure wasn’t easy. All-in-all, the plot of the book is very interesting and engaging and you will feel yourself reading more and more to find the next plot twist!
Profile Image for J.
3,022 reviews14 followers
January 31, 2023
4.5 stars - this book was SO good! Written by author duo Taylor and Storm.
I've read Storm before, but Taylor is new to me. I was completely captivated from the very beginning and Dominic captured my heart! The perfect good bad boy he is out to make something of himself and make a future for his love Juliana. They were so young, and Juliana was really not my favorite character - she came off as a spoiled rich daddy's girl. After her disappearance where her father was set to have Dominic take the fall, Dominic swears not only to make something of himself but seek out his vengeance. Dark secrets come to light which put Juliana in a different light and Whitney is the vessel thru which Dominic can obtain his vengeance.
I loved the storyline and while I'm not really sure about the paranormal stuff - I thought it worked well for this book. I also thought there was some repetition that could have been minimalized but again I still very much enjoyed this. Strong characters love the kink and steam level. Definitely looking forward to more!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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