Mirage by C.M. Radcliff

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-- Horrors in the gilded cage --

"I'm not some damsel in distress, Axel, and I don't need your protection."

Girl, stop lying!

Jaslyn grew up with it all - a loving father, wealth, a lavish home, and all the pretty things life has to offer. When her father dies, she's wrecked and turns to the one person who offers her some comfort - Jasper. Unfortunately for her, Jasper is not the man she thought he was. All too soon, he has her completely under his thumb with a ring on her finger and a wedding date looming, looking to tie her down in darkness and devastation forever. Then Axel enters her life. He's an underground street fighter and a knight in shining armor. He quickly sees the abuse that Jaslyn tries to hide and he's willing to do just about anything to save her.

It's a mistake getting in bed with the enemy, but maybe it will get Jaslyn out. She's paralyzed by her fear of him and she deserves to be free.
And I will make a million mistakes to make sure that that happens.

This is the first book I've read from the Sinister Fairy Tales Collection that ends in a cliffhanger. While I've never tried this author before, she quickly wooed me with her words and her fearlessness in describing even the most horrific of scenes. I still don't understand Jaslyn's reasons for staying with Jasper, as her excuses and rationalizations for her actions and rude behavior weren't justified, and in the end, she suffered the fate that was foretold from the start. I adored Axel and even Rush so you better believe I'm looking forward to how this story ends!

-- About the Book --

Painted in gold, Jaslyn was born into a life of luxury with the world at her feet.
After the death of her father, his empire became hers and the princess became a queen.
Her fortune was sought after and deception and deceit had a ring around her finger.
But with the ring, came the accessories that money can’t buy.
At the hands of the new king, the empire began to crumble as Jaslyn’s world spiraled out of control.
Through the bars of her prison, she watched life pass her by.
Hope was fading quickly… until she met him.
Axel was the glimmer that she needed to survive.

From the wrong side of the tracks, Axel’s life was never easy.
He worked his way through the blood and sweat and went from rags to riches
When you’re on top of the world, one mistake is all it takes to lose it all.
And getting back up is always harder than the fall.
Getting his life back came with an offer he couldn’t refuse and he would pay the cost.
Jaslyn wasn’t part of the deal, but she was a temptation that he couldn’t escape.
She was his endgame and he would fight to the death to get to that finish line.

Together, they roll the dice and risk it all for love.
But when you gamble in the game of life or death, you pay a price.
And sometimes, that price could cost you everything.

-- About C.M. Radcliff --

C.M. Radcliff lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two demon children. Known as the Psycho Queen, she speaks fluent sarcasm, dark humor, and has the mouth of a sailor. If she isn't reading or writing, she's probably on an adventure with her little family.

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