3.5*

4/5 stars

This is one of the better anthologies that I've read this year. Some stories were just the right length while others had me salivating for more. Some of the best dark authors in the market and part of what made me buy this particular anthology. The stories are all different and were filled with interesting storylines, varying levels of steam, and intensity. This book was perfect for those times that reading a whole book is impossible but reading a short complete story fits in the time frame.

The Dirty Bargain by Lylah James & Cora Reilly → 4 Stars
I'm usually not an adept of short stories, but I really enjoyed this one. The Dirty Bargain follows Talia, a sheltered young woman raised in the mafia, and the renown Killer. She seeking his help to get her revenge on a man. They're total opposites; innocent and cold-blooded murderer and it's clear she didn't expect his level of depravity. He's a beast who'll use manipulation to get what he wants from her. Killer's filthy mouth, ruthlessness and violence made this read addictive. Under this hard exterior though, some sparks of light shined and showed some humanity in him. I really had a good moment reading this dark tale!

** ARC received in exchange for an honest review **

Full of dark or delicious sinful stories by some of the best authors who write in this genre. Many have co-written or brought out a new solo piece to truly make our dark sides happy. All of these short stories, or snippets of stories on works soon to be released, they are all excellent and I for one wasn't disappointed!!

Here are a few highlights or synopsis of what's inside:
-Sold To The Highest Bidder By Aleatha Romig & Skye Warren 
I haven't had the chance to read all of Skye's books, especially the world this story was inferencing. Whereas I am more familiar with Aleatha's as I'm right in the middle of one of her trilogy's, however, this short story had me highly intrigued to jump into Skye's books. This short story, while short, had lots of twists and turns and was packed with suspense. I loved the plot and it had me wanting to read more.

-Mr. Foster By K Webster & Sam Mariano 
This short story falls on the sinful side of this anthology. An age gap/workplace romance where Chelsea Parker comes to intern at her fathers' best friends PR firm. Mr. Foster does his best to keep things work related, but Chelsea ends up impressing him in and out of the boardroom. I love both of these authors separately and together they bring the sizzle!!

-Stalker By A Zavarelli & Ashley Jade 
A twisted short story involving a stalker and his prey. 

-Poisoned Hearts By Giana Darling & Parker S Huntington 
A dark, mafia short story, what happens when two families are crossed in an arranged marriage.

-Dirty Bargain By Lylah James & Cora Reilly 
A mafia/enforcer short story, who hires who to make the kill?

-Not A Dirty Little Secret By Giana Darling & Sierra Simone 
A MM forbidden short story. 

-Her Christmas Present By Jade West & Lucia Franco 
A sinful age gap short story.

-Forbidden Flaws By Pepper Winters 
A quick taste of an upcoming release by Pepper Winters.

-With This Ring By Natasha Night 
A small sneak peak of an upcoming release by Natasha Night.

-Tyrant Stalker By Isabella Starling
A quick taste of an upcoming release by Isabella Starling.

This is either short stories or previews of upcoming releases from these Arthur's of either dark tales or taboo.

Sold to the highest bidder
By Aleatha Romig & Sky Warren

Cameron and his brother Curtis had a falling out over the family business and Cameron ended up leaving town and even though his brother thought it was because of the business...it was something more and now he's back.

Stalker by Ashley Jade & Ashleigh Zaverella

Let me just say this...Damn what a story of creepy goodness these 2 ladies wrote. Zander has been in love with Violet Sinclair when they were younger, but her boyfriend Scott was the bully and picked on him until 1 day Zander was gone, but now he's back and has a plan. It was so good.

Poisoned Hearts by Giana Darling & Parker S Huntington

Loved this story it had me glued to the pages as Lily is being forced into an arranged marriage that she's already got a plan of action on her honeymoon I have to give her credit I wouldn't have thought of that, but then I'm not from a mafia family lol although I do read enough mafia I could throw something in there, but anyway she's not happy about this marriage and in walks Frankie Amato he's been given the task of doing something that can cause problems for the upcoming marriage. What it is you'll just have to read and find out. Another good story

The Dirty Bargain by Lylah James and Cora Reilly

What a fantastic story from start to finish it held me in it's grip with each word as I turned the pages. Talia has snuck away from her family her Italian mafia family, because she knows if she gets called she will be punished, but that doesn't deter this girl she's on her way to find the one person who she knows will take care of a problem the only thing is he's the enemy, because he's the Bratva's assassin and her only hope of getting revenge who goes by the name of...Killer. such a good story.

Mr Foster by K Webster and Sam Mariano

This was a good dirty taboo story from these ladies that kept me flipping pages to see what was going to happen next.

Not a Dirty Little Secret by
Giana Darling and Sierra Simone

This is a historical M/M story that I was pleasantly surprised to find out as I started reading. James Caldron is the Prime Minister in Her Majesty's Government always doing the right thing trying to do her majesty's work, but this Tobias Talbot-Ullswater and his paisley pink self starts talking about archeological preservation while he could care less he doesn't want to admit it, but he's intrigued.

Her Christmas Present by Jade West and Lucia Franco

This was one dirty taboo quick read that will have you fanning yourself while flipping pages.

Forbidden Flaws by Pepper Winters

Now this book holey smokes those secrets scenes

In short -- this is a porn collection, basically. Almost every story has got sex scenes, and very filthy ones at that.
Not that I mind, really. But what I do mind is the writing style of some. I am very incredibly sorry, but most of these stories read like actual cringe. I don't even like using that word normally, but I found myself not taking anything I was reading seriously. I did find the imagination of some stories entertaining - at some point, it became less about the sex and more about How-To-Create-The-Silliest/Funnies-Situations that eventually lead to sex, basically.

There were one or two stories that I enjoyed reading, but that's about it. So it's really not worth spending most of your time on, except of course if you want to wank off. I guess that's where it kind of does its job (although, the dialogue was corny at times as well).

Short but filled with passion, plot, and heat. I adored this story!

Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I came to the Tales of Darkness and Sin for stories written by some of my favorite authors such as Skye Warren, Ashley Jade, Parker S. Huntington, and more. Born partly from their participation in a Facebook group that deals in dark romance, this anthology runs the gamut of dark romance. From Jade West and Lucia Franco’s super smutty “Her Christmas Present, “ a teacher/student romance, to mafia romances to romances featuring auctions to one night stands turned more to sneak peeks of longer works, if you love dark romance, then this anthology is a must-read. Each turn of the page takes you deeper into the messed up workings of alpha males and their need to possess. Add in heroines who love a man’s darker side, and you find goosebumps woven up your arms. I think my favorite stories of the anthology are Ashley Jade and A. Zavarelli’s “Stalker,” a seriously messed up romance that devolves into a wicked happy ending, Parker S. Huntington and Giana Darling’s “Poisoned Hearts,” a mafia romance between star-crossed lovers with a bit of a twist of darkness to it, K. Webster and Sam Mariano’s “Mr. Foster,” an age-gap romance with an older “daddy” type hero whose interest in his best friend’s daughter feels so very naughty, and Pepper Winters’s “Forbidden Flaws,” a story that piqued my curiosity as there is definitely much much more to the story. By the end of the anthology, I had one-clicked Natasha Knight’s “With This Ring,” because the promise of the intrigue of that book captured my attention through its preview.

I know this book might seem jaded given its controversy, but, honestly, if you love dark romance, every story of this anthology is devourable. Given that the proceeds from it benefit a worthy cause, Tales of Darkness and Sin is a read that will both steam your glasses (or other things) and lead you down the hole of dark, delicious romance.

This is a bunch of short stories. Some authors I have read before and some I hadn't but I enjoyed the stories.

This is a great way to read new stories by authors you already like and find new authors to read.