My past is a poisoned prayer... Whispered to me by a devil with an angel’s smile. Twelve years ago, he stole me from the streets, Only to leave me stranded in a nightmare.
Luca Esposito isn’t just a painful memory. He’s a front-page headline—an accused killer. And I’m the public defender who set him free.
Once again, I'm trapped in his web with blood on my hands. But I didn’t crawl out of the fire to be tossed into an inferno. There’s a new nightmare coming, And this time we’ll be stranded together.
They cast the first stone… We’ll cast the last. My Heaven. His Hell. Our final sin.
Cast Stones is an extremely dark and taboo romance novella with multiple triggers such as sexual assault (not by the hero) and referenced child abuse. This book is not for the faint of heart. If you are easily offended or triggered, PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. Remember, you have been warned.
Cora Kenborn is a USA Today Bestselling author of over thirty-two multi-genre novels, including the Carrera Cartel Trilogy.
While best known for her dark and gritty romances, Cora infuses sharp banter and a shocking blindside in every story she writes. She loves a brooding antihero who falls hard for a feisty heroine who stands beside him, not behind him.
Although she’s a native North Carolinian, Cora claims the domestic Southern Belle gene skipped a generation, so she spends any free time convincing her family that microwaved mac and cheese counts as fine dining.
Oh, and autocorrect thinks she's obsessed with ducks.
Dark, twisted and all-consuming - don't say you haven't been warned when it comes to Cast Stones.
It's absolutely for the best that you go into this blind, it'll have your heart racing and pulse pounding. Madi and Luca's story isn't for the faint of heart but don't let that deter you. The story is phenomenal.
I'm a well documented Catherine Wiltcher fan-girl, but I'm pretty new to Cora Kenborn. Needless to say I'll be starting her series next!
Nothing, and I mean, nothing can prepare you for how incredible this story is. It was written by two powerhouse authors who completely blew my mind with this dark, depraved, dirty and oh so perfect story about two lost souls. Luca and Madigan are such complex characters who even with all their darkness, you can’t help but fall in love with them. They met under unusual circumstances of which changed both of their lives forever.
It’s hard to say too much without giving it all away, but if ever there was a book to read, this is it. Keep in mind, this is not your everyday kind of romance. It’s so much more and once you start reading, you won’t put it down until every word is read. I give major kudos to these authors as they knocked this one right out of the park! Bravo ladies!
It’s Catherine Wiltcher. Anything from her, I read. So when she offered me a free copy to read, I dropped everything to read this in one sitting. She warned me, it’s dark. I love dark. 😈
This story was perfect! I only wished it was longer!
Madi was 16 when she was abducted into a religious cult and horribly abused. Inside those walls, she met and fell in love with the son of one of the higher up men in the Divine Disciples of God. “You were my captor and my tormentor—the sweetest pain I’ve ever known.”
Do you like dark revenge seeking cult escaping stories?! Read this. It’s dark and brutal. And the sex scenes are 🔥🔥🔥. “You’ve been living a lie for so long, my sweet Rose. Don’t you know? Our truth is even sweeter.”
Dual POV. Goes back and forth between past and present. A definite HEA
I’ve never read anything by Cora Kenborn but I’m definitely going to start after this! 💕
Beautifully written by the dynamic duo of Cora Kenborn and Catherine Wiltcher, Cast Stones will take you on a dark and twisted journey with plenty of surprises along the way. Your emotions will get a fantastic workout while you live through Madi and Luca's extraordinary story. Fans of Cora and Catherine will swoon over this novella, and new readers will get a real taste of the genius of these talented authors.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy for an honest and voluntary review by Cora 💙
After reading this story, my jaw is still on the floor, and I’m still saying “WHOA!!” This story is dark, twisted and steamy 🖤🔥🔥 Cora and Catherine took a story of unfortunate issues that really happen in this world, and made me fall in love with the darkness!! It’s so much more than darkness, it’s about two lost souls (Madi and Luca ♥️) trying to find their way, after the traumatic childhood they both shared in a cult. Madi and Luca went through hell together!! After trying to escape the cult together, a misunderstanding separated them, then brought them back together as adults. Unfortunately not for a happy reunion. My heart literally broke for these two!! This page turning story gave me so many emotions as I was reading. Just because this isn’t your typical romance, doesn’t mean I didn’t fall in love with this story or these characters ♥️ I really enjoyed this gem 💎 by the dynamic duo of Cora and Catherine 💙 I highly recommend this book!!
Darkest of dark lurk here. Unbelievably and utterly depraved and haunting. Heed all warnings before you open this story. It’s not for the faint of heart. The tangled webs were intricately woven creating the perfect plot. Genius.
Absolutely enthralling dark twisting tale of betrayal, lust and murder. Madi is was taken as a teenager and held by this zealot cult. Luca has been raised in this and doesn’t know better. After meeting Madi he begins to question everything he’s ever been taught. So they devise a plan to escape together and live . On the night of the escape things turn deadly Madi escapes on her own thinking Luca has died. But life has a funny way and years later after she has reinvented herself who comes back into her life but her one and only Luca his name is different but he is the boy she loved who is now a man. He is behind bars being charged with heinous crimes that bring back Madi’s darkest nightmares. Will she be able to save him or will they both be lost o the darkness together. Must read edge of your seat thriller! These authors collaboration is outstanding and looking forward to more from both of these very talented ladies!
Let me tell you. you ain't ready for this story! heed the trigger warnings with this story! But let me tell you it is twistedly amazing!! You aren't ready for Madi and Luca. These two characters have to my depth to them it isn't funny! The way Cora Kenborn and Catherine Wiltcher write the story just comes to life. You won't want to put it down until the end! This story had me all messed up! I read this in like an hour! I couldn't put it down, I had to finish it and see what happened to Madi and Luca. These two authors are two of my favorites and with this melding of minds, Cast Stones is so amazing! It really twisted and for me that's something that I don't read much, far out of my scope but this story grabs you and doesn't let go until its over.
IF YOU HAVE TRIGGERS - BE WARNED. This books is DARK, DEPRAVED, and DIRTY but absolutely 100% DELICIOUS! This is the kind of story you read and it stays with you for several days as you marinate upon all the different facets this book contains. The attention to detail the power house authors elicited throughout this book is nothing short of amazing. Luca is the boy your mom warns you about and becomes the man you fall hard for even though you know you shouldn't. But in return Luca loves like no other. However, beware! As strong as Luca loves he can also destroy...
This book was fantastic please read the trigger warning before you start this book. This isnt your typical romance book it has a lot of twists and turns in it and it is dark. But ill tell you this if you have no triggers this will be an amazing read for you once you start reading you won't stop until the book is finished.This book was written by two fantastic authors who's books are out of this world massive well done to catherine Wiltcher and Cora Kenborn on this book i absolutely loved it. Luca and madigan go through a lot of stuff together they are not your normal sweet couple but you get to understand why when you get further in to the book i couldn't believe the twist thou WOW.I love luca the way he protected madigan through it all. Its really hard not to give anything away in this book
Prepare yourself for a walk into darkness that will consume you. One girl taken at age 16 by a boy with black eyes. He delivers her to a religious cult that is anything but religious. Now he is her savior and she is a woman who has to defend him in court.
The twists and turns are just out right crazy. This book had me on the edge of my seat trying to decipher everything and see what I had missed that was the reality of this book. Ms. Kenborn is a remarkable writer who knows how to pull you into her madness.
I was completely blown away with this story these 2 brilliantly talented authors crafted. Throughout the entire store I was on the edge of my seat with my mind whipping around with what I thought the outcome was going to be. This Story isn't for the faint of heart, if you can't handle intense dark stories this ay not be for you, But if you love getting dragged into the darkness with the characters you will fall in love with these characters.
Wished the author went deeper into Jackson and the cult as well as Madi’s family. I felt that there should have been a bit more with her job as well but it was a novella so that’s fine. I can still wish. It was a good, very dark story.
Cast Stones written by the prominent Catherine Wiltcher & Cora Kenborn was just what I was looking for in a fast dark gritty read. It’s hauntingly beautiful, raw, and filled with violence. These two authors know how to throw one hell of a punch when it comes to writing a love story set in the dark underbelly. It’s best to go into this book blind, and I don’t want to give too much away but Luca & Madi’s story will rip your heart into two. But together they keep the darkness at bay.
This collaboration between Wiltcher & Kenborn is definitely one you don’t want to miss! It was exceptional. No phenomenal. Cannot wait for what these two have in store for us next.
DARK, GRIPPING TALE!!! Let me start by saying that Cora and Catherine are two phenomenal authors who have come together to bring us one hell of a story. Cast Stones is one of those books that you'll want to devour from page one. You won't be able to put it down. Madi and Luca's tale is not for the faint hearted. There are trigger warnings you'll definitely want to read before diving into this one. Their story is dark. It's vicious and wickedly sinful. These ladies are sure to captivate you with this mind-blowing tale.
Omg!!!! I devoured this in hours. I just couldn't look away. This may be classed as novella length but boy does it pack a punch, making you wish that you didn't have to say goodbye so quickly. This was everything that I love in a book. It was dark, raw and gritty, and with bombshells that I never saw coming till it was too late. This definitely is a co writing duo that I hope work together for years to come, as however they do it works deliciously. I hope we get to see these characters again too as loved everything about them. Definitely recommend!!
Warning: Do not proceed unless you are into dark stories (pretty much the same warning I read on all the other reviews). There's rape and more rape , cult of gross old men who sexually preyed on boys and girls, sick 'supposed' hero
Went in with no expectations whatsoever; broadening my horizons against my usual 'taboos'. Or at least, I tried so hard to. It was extremely difficult to let my conscience go and tried to enjoy the story but I trudged on.
Madeline was a public defender, hiding her painful past when she was abducted and forced into a cult. Luca was the one who abducted her, he took pleasure in watching her break down into pieces. I hated him the instant I knew it was him who started this nightmare. Fast forward to now, he still feasted on her fear.
Yes, I finished the book. But I couldn't stomach its content. I loathed it. Luckily I didn't puke or anything despite just finished my dinner. Yes, it was interesting in a sense, but it was so sick I couldn't appreciate it. Sorry, Cora, I tried. I honestly did. This was just not my cup of tea.
I’m not going to lie if you have triggers... well good thing there’s a trigger warning page because Cora and Catherine go dark dark in this crazy awesome novella! I feel like if I mention any specific details then it’ll take away from the experience that is this story... I tried to go in as blind as I could and I’m so thankful for that because I was thrown into the deep end with this story and the troubling waters created while reaching the shore made everything so much more significant. Madi and Luca will have you feeling conflicted, angry, surprised, intrigued and overall in awe of their kind of damaged love story.
Good god!!! What a powerful story with such beautifully written darkness! My black heart is blown away. I'm not sure I've read a story with this much impact at just over 100 pages. Bravo, ladies, bravo!
So often I read dark books with dark scenes that lack reason or purpose and whose sole purpose seems to shock. Most all the darkness here felt organic and necessary to the story, with one exception. This scene that felt injected and really, a bit cheap. I won't go into the detail about the scene because honestly, this story deserves to be read regardless.
Be prepared this book is definitely not for the faint of heart. This book is truly a dark romance. Luca is terrifying and Madigan is a tortured heroine. How she makes it through with her sanity in tact is a marvel. This is not a flowers and candy kind of book, it’s a grip you by the throat and keep you on the edge kind of experience.
I am blown away and have no words. You both left me speechless. It was dark especially the last few chapters. Must read. I really have to say one my top three reads so far of 2021. Wish I can give it more then 5 stars because I would
Wow!! First of all, this is now for the faint of heart. This is dark. That being said, it is an amazing tale with 2 unlikely characters. There should only be hate between yet somehow there is more. This story just sucked me in and spit me out with a plot twist that I didn't see coming.
Cast of stones is very very dark but If you are a dark romance lover you are in for a treat. I could not put it down. It is brilliantly written. It's twisted, depraved, enticing I really loved Luca worth more than 5* But please read trigger warning before reading
An outstanding very dark novella telling a story of revenge, violence, faith and deprivity. It is not for the faint of hearts, but it reminds us of the true evil in the world. Madi is sixteen when she is abducted by Luca as a virgin offering in a cult. Twelve years later she is asked to defend Luca in a muder. There are twists, secrets, and revenge dealt to those who deserve nothing less. Loved it!
This a truly dark and twisted tale of corruption in an evil cult. Omg. I couldn’t put this book down. Luca and madi are lovers born of an evil religion. Sooo good.
"In the end, there was a boy who stole me from a sidewalk. One who bound me tighter to him than any ribbon."
A fast paced, engrossing, sexy romp with an enemies to lovers mafia romance that I read from beginning to end and didn't want it to end! This couple was fire! Intense, exciting, and addictive!
"My fragile rose has grown thorns. While my cursed soul longs for the soft innocence she once possessed, I have to admit, this version ignites a new obsession. One that stirs a perverse longing I’ve kept locked away for over a decade."
Take the books warning seriously. This book is not for the faint of heart. This is a hauntingly beautiful love story wrapped in mystery and violence. When I think dark romance, this book meets all the criteria for me. Amazing storytelling, graphic depictions and a haunting love story make for a perfect read.