H. D. Carlton

Who am I?

I've forgotten the answer to that question long ago. Ever since I ran from that house, so desperate to escape, I left with only the clothes on my back and socks on my feet. After that day, I've only ever walked in stolen shoes.

Could I be a girl who is searching for the meaning of life in faceless men? They were all so forgettable. Until he came along. He took me under a waterfall and made me forget my name, and in return, I took his instead.

Enzo Vitale.

An enigmatic man that will only ever love the deep sea. Or rather the predators that inhabit it. Turns out, he's not so different than the monsters he feeds. He lured me onto his boat like a fish in the ocean, seeking vengeance for my crime. Had I realized his intentions, and that a massive storm would leave us shipwrecked, I would've run.

Now, I'm a girl who's seeking refuge in a decrepit lighthouse with a man who loathes me almost as much as he craves me. He wants to hurt me, but the old caretaker of the abandoned island may have intentions far more sinister.

It's no longer a question of who I am, but rather, will I survive?

Does It Hurt?

Claire Hughes

It’s a blessing to be old, and every blessing is a little bittersweet.

Thought I’ve always really liked octopi, so I guess it’ll be nice to have a part of them injected into me. They can disappear so casily, camouflage themselves to blend with their surroundings, and that's all I've really wanted in life.

When have we ever been able to let go of the things that hurt us most?

The ocean is beautiful. But it’s also unforgivable. Within seconds, it can turn against you. Drag you down so violently you don’t know which way is up, and feed you into its cavernous mouth until you drown or end up between the teeth of something mnuch scarier. I inhale again deeply, closing my eyes as I feel the smoke fill my lungs and stick inside of them. Cigarettes are also unforgivable, with the way they eat at you from the inside out. Kill you slowly, and then all at once. I decide I like the ocean, and I like cigarettes. Because I... I am also unforgivable.

Linsey Mombert

“L’oceano era l’unico posto in cui mi sentivo a casa,”

I’m pretty sure women can live just fine without them, yet here they are, still plaguing Earth like cockroaches. A definite hiccup in evolution.

Some days I’m the ocean. Some days I’m the ship. Tonight, I’m the lighthouse: at the edge, alone, and burning.

grayson gruber

“When I met you, you lifted me out of that darkness, and it was the first time I came up for air. You’ve become my oxygen, and I can no longer breathe without you.”

Hannah Green

"No more running, baby. I want him to come looking for you just so I can have the privilege of ending his life for touching what's mine."

"Can you see him, baby? Ask him for forgiveness."

"You're going to ruin me, too. But unfortunately for you, thats where I feel most at home."

Souhaila

LeAnnza

“You taste better than the sweetest wine, and I could fucking drink you forever.”

“You’re going to ruin me, too. But unfortunately for you, that’s where I feel most at home.”

“We’ll cross paths again, Sawyer. Life has a funny way of throwing people into your path when you’re meant to collide. It’s up to you to choose to make it permanent.”

Some days I’m the ocean. Some days I’m the ship. Tonight, I’m the lighthouse: at the edge, alone, and burning.   -Vasiliki

To baby shark, Step aside, Daddy shark is here now.

I’m not into romantic stuff but THIS 🥺

Stephanie 

“Enzo, I don’t expect you to save me.” 

“That’s because no one has ever found you worth saving. They were wrong, baby. You are worth it.”

“I’m a coward,” I tell him, my chest tightening from the truth of it. “Running and hiding is easier. Sometimes, I will say and do anything to get someone to turn their attention away from me. It feels safer that way. Confrontation… it’s never led to anything good.”

What happened to you does not define you. It only forged a new path that will take you to a different version of yourself. But no one can force you to walk that road; only you can determine who you will be once you get there. It’s your choice who you become, Sawyer.”

The fact that he’s a Scorpio just fits 🌝

Because I want to see you suffer. And I will do everything in my power to make sure that happens. If that means keeping you alive just so I can tear you down, so be it.

If he thinks I’m a nightmare, I’ll be the worst one he’s ever had. I’ll be the one keeping him up at night for the rest of his life, waking without me there but always yearning for me.

“Then what do you want to hear?” His tongue darts out, licking along the side of my ear and eliciting a bone-deep chill down my spine. 

“I want to hear what it sounds like when you’re breaking and can’t scream.”

I hate him. I loathe him. If I could physically rip out every word that defines him as an asshole from the dictionary and shove it down his throat, I would.

Does it hurt? Yeah it did reading this. I was uncomfortable the whole time😭 the whole head under the water thing idk it was definitely not my thing 

Gabriela Kondratyuk

The infamous dark romance with ‘that’ shark scene

Rabia Sitabi

When I was about 30% through this book I knew it was going to be under 3 ⭐️, I love a dark romance and normally my tolerance is pretty high for the weird, whacky and dark…however, Enzo was entirely too dramatic, Sawyer was insufferable 80% of the time and I got bored. 

The plot had so much potential, it felt more so like a thriller dark romance which I LOVED however it just fell short for me. 

I love the writing style of HD Carlton so this won’t stop me from continuing and reading her books, but this didn’t tick any boxes for me.

jaz ☁️

When I was about 30% through this book I knew it was going to be under 3 ⭐️, I love a dark romance and normally my tolerance is pretty high for the weird, whacky and dark…however, Enzo was entirely too dramatic, Sawyer was insufferable 80% of the time and I got bored. 

The plot had so much potential, it felt more so like a thriller dark romance which I LOVED however it just fell short for me. 

I love the writing style of HD Carlton so this won’t stop me from continuing and reading her books, but this didn’t tick any boxes for me.

Also that shark diving scene?? Jail. 

I LOOOVED this book I could not put it down. Definitely saved me from my book slump! Forever grateful. Wish I could read it for the first time again.

Heidi

"It's impossible to hate you when you make me feel so alive. And that's exactly why I want to hate you. I was sleepwalking until I met you, and I wasn't fucking ready to wake up."

WOWZA. This was intense. Kind of insane. Definitely a little twisted. And lowkey sinister!

I LOVED IT. Does It Hurt was a spooky thriller wrapped up in a spicy, spicy romance. I couldn’t put it down! I had to figure out what the 

 was going on in that lighthouse 😅 And while I wasn’t really into some of those water kinks ha, I was 100% into Enzo and the healing both him and Sawyer went through. What a fucking journey they went on! I really loved their dynamic overall, but especially so in the beginning and once they were both vulnerable and honest about their feelings later on. And their 👏🏻 passion 👏🏻 together 👏🏻! So good!!

I also totally got Deep Blue Sea vibes with Enzo’s oceanic research facility and I’m lowkey obsessed with that movie LOL. And I LOVE when titles play a huge part throughout the story!

🪦 “I will unalive you if you do anything to her I don’t like”

🌊 lighthouses x oceanic research centers

"I think of you every hour, every minute, every goddamn second."

Don't forget to check the trigger warnings before reading.

Leah | @LeahsLittlePleasures

"It's impossible to hate you when you make me feel so alive. And that's exactly why I want to hate you. I was sleepwalking until I met you, and I wasn't fucking ready to wake up."

WOWZA. This was intense. Kind of insane. Definitely a little twisted. And lowkey sinister!

😱🦈👙🔪🌵🌊⚓️⚰️

I LOVED IT. Does It Hurt was a spooky thriller wrapped up in a spicy, spicy romance. I couldn’t put it down! I had to figure out what the hell was going on in that lighthouse 😅 And while I wasn’t really into some of those water kinks ha, I was 100% into Enzo and the healing both him and Sawyer went through. What a fucking journey they went on! I really loved their dynamic overall, but especially so in the beginning and once they were both vulnerable and honest about their feelings later on. And their 👏🏻 passion 👏🏻 together 👏🏻! So good!!

I also totally got Deep Blue Sea vibes with Enzo’s oceanic research facility and I’m lowkey obsessed with that movie LOL. And I LOVE when titles play a huge part throughout the story!

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
💋 enemies to lovers / hate to love
🛏️ only one bed
❄️ a frosty, frosty MMC
🌞 a sunnier yet damaged FMC
🦈 sharky sharks x stolen identities
🔪 the ocean x other predators
🤫 lies x deception x survival
🪦 “I will unalive you if you do anything to her I don’t like”
⛈️ traumatic pasts x healing
🌊 lighthouses x oceanic research centers
🌟 glowworm caves
💥 obsession x passion
❤️‍🩹 happily ever after!!
🗣️ dual POVs

"I think of you every hour, every minute, every goddamn second."

Don't forget to check the trigger warnings before reading.

INTENSE. this book was off the walls and I loved every second. I finished this so quickly, didn’t want it to end. 

INTENSE. this book was off the walls and I loved every second. I finished this so quickly, didn’t want it to end. 

cave scene…..BOAT SCENE 

Honestly not my cup of tea… there was a plot and TONS of smut but I felt like the smut overpowered the story. Enzo is giving 365 Massimo vibes in a way but not in a cheesy cringy way ifyk what I mean. 

Saray Guzman

really enjoyed Sawyer & Enzo. the whole shipwrecked vibe also was a nice plot change from what i’ve been reading recently. 

hannah groom 

Mila

Smut AND mystery/thriller? Best of both worlds and no medium/slow burn here! 10% in an they were already going at it. I really thought this book was just dark smut but boy was I surprised when things started getting…weird…this book definitely has a lot of dark subjects so read the trigger warnings beforehand. A lot of the darker elements reminded me of Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs as well as the films The Ring and The Grudge. 

Romance (it was intense and possessive) 5/5 ❤️‍🔥

Joselyn

Smut AND mystery/thriller? Best of both worlds and no medium/slow burn here! 10% in an they were already going at it. I really thought this book was just dark smut but boy was I surprised when things started getting…weird…this book definitely has a lot of dark subjects so read the trigger warnings beforehand. A lot of the darker elements reminded me of Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs as well as the films The Ring and The Grudge. 

Spice 5/5🌶

K!nk 5/5 ⛓

Romance (it was intense and possessive) 5/5 ❤️‍🔥

H. D. Carlton is the queen of a push & pull romance 

j ♡

Sven Test

This dark romance thriller had me on the very edge of my seat, almost biting my nails! Its heart-racing plot mixed with the explosion of a smut filled with red flags will have you questioning your morals while also wanting to be at the mercy of our MMC. 😮‍💨

“You will be mine until you draw your last breath, Sawyer. And it will be my hand holding you beneath the surface, introducing you to death.”
HD came back to deliver us a new book boyfriend. He’s not as unhinged as Zade but his desires and lust are just as dark and thrilling.

The plot is so eerie and keeps you on your toes, while also wanting to leave a night light on. The writing is 1000% addicting, the witty conversations had me loving the FMC more, and the spice… THE SPICE!!! Prepare yourselves for it, and even then, you don’t be ready. 🔥

IF YOU LIKE
😠 Enemies to Lovers
😮‍💨 Breath Play
🫦 Degradation
🛏 One Bed
😏 Possessive MMC
🔍 Psychological Thriller

Rachael Wiseman 

"I've been punishing you for something you didn't do—something beyond stealing an identity. I've been making you hurt because I'm hurt, but you're not the one who broke me. And it was never my right to break you."

Whenever I am looking for something dark and twisted, I head for H.D. Carlton's books. She is definitely not scared to dive into the seriously sadistic and dark, and I love that. This isn't the first book I have read from Carlton, and it won't be the last. I can't wait to see what she plots next.

Sawyer has been through the wringer and is a fugitive on the run. Stealing identities along the way she never imagined she would steal from the wrong man, Enzo Vitale. Enzo while hypnotized by Sawyer also seeks vengeance for her betrayal. While exacting that revenge he takes Sawyer out on his research boat against his better judgment and a bad storm comes to pass. Little do the two know that a shipwreck is the least of their worries as the lighthouse they seek refuge in is anything but safe. There are worse things than ghosts that hunt the lighthouse's halls.

Does it Hurt? is a suspense-filled, edge-of-your-seat, thrill of a ride. There is lots of spice, but, reader beware there are darker themes and kinks that may be triggering for some. If none of those things bother you, then I definitely would get a copy immediately. You will not be disappointed.

Abigail Joyann

1 star
if i go back and count how many times bella & bella ladra is used and get a penny for each, i'll be a billionaire.

this book put me into a slump. it took me forever to read. i rolled my eyes too many times to count and burst out laughing during moments where that shouldn't be warranted.

i'm a hardcore Cat & Mouse duet fan and i was expecting a great story as such but was given 13 year old wattpad writing filled with intolerable repetition and many unneeded aspects.

i pushed through because i like H.D. Carlton and i just wanted to see how it ended.

safe to say, it's not worth it my friends.

Daniella Cuesta

There was a lot going on here. 

Some of the triggers, just to name a few were: asphyxiation and breath play, dubious/non consent, off page childhood SA, descriptions of facial mutilation… etc 

I wasn’t sure how to rate this because while all the conflicts were resolved by the end, when I was reading last few chapters I was just waiting for it to end.

Sawyer is a fugitive, which is clear in the first chapter when she purchases the first flight out to avoid a distant family member in fear of being detained. For the last few years of her life Sawyer has been stealing the identity of the men she lures into a one night stand with, to be able to continue running from the police. My main issue with this story was the lack of subtlety. The reasons for her actions are supposed to have been revealed halfway through the book but the audience could already see what it was from the beginning through her POV. I truly can’t tell if the author was trying to surprise us, but if not, the way it was discussed truly made it seem that way.

When Sawyer lands in Australia she meets Enzo. Who I think it supposed to be grumpy but he’s just so rough and mean. As the story goes on and she steals his identity I really don’t think his treatment of her makes sense because it wasn’t that deep lmaooo. Later on he says his treatment of her is because he resents his feelings for her… so, grow up? Idk 

I love a hate to love romance and the smut in this one went fucking crazy, but only if you can deal with the non consent and breathe play aspect which was present in most of their scenes (and they had more than a few!)

Besides that, on his journey for revenge against Sawyer for her actions, they board his boat (this is where they fuck with sharks) and end up getting shipwrecked on this island where only a lighthouse resides. Giving very much the lighthouse with Robert Pattinson energy cause it was just as creepy. This lighthouse is run by a decrepit old man with sinister intentions and how they deal with him is 80% of this story.

Like I said I was really waiting for it to end when we were 70% through even though everyone’s conflicts are resolved. There were some characters that didn’t serve much of a purpose, characterization for Sawyer was a bit strange, and the reveals were expected so… 3 stars (I saw the Vision)

Barbara Lopez

I thoroughly enjoyed this - no one is more shocked than me lemme tell you. Yes, spice is intense. BUT the plot keeps you hooked. I really loved this. I do, however, need a lighter cutesie book as a palate cleanser because this was very dark.

"My heart stops, then restarts, stuttering and tripping over itself in a syncopated rhythm. Butterflies sprout in my stomach, and I decide they’re fucking drunk, too."

This is basically how i felt during the entire read of this book. People, it's dark, check trigger warnings before you consider to read this but if this kind of stuff does it for you, you're in for a ride. I fell head over heels for this book and I'm not even ashamed. 

Our female MC is a hellcat. She's fierce, she's stubborn, she's feisty and wields her words like weapons, sometimes as daggers and sometimes she seems to choose the broadsword instead. During the first couple of chapters she had me relating 

 much to her. If you like the girls who don't sashay into the water, but cannonball in, if you feel with the girls choosing reckless, slightly manic coping mechanisms who still feel human and not completely aloof, you're probably going to love this FMC. I'd give a lot to have one night out with her and we'd wreak havoc, let's leave it at that. 

The whole setting had this perfect lost, vulnerable, no one is trustworthy kind of vibe that made those TV shows on deserted islands with mystery and horror elements so incredibly successful a few years back - but it's well done here. It does not feel forced, it had my heartrate go disturbingly up quite a few times (i'm such a chicken) and you could really imagine where our character were currently at. 

"I fucking hate him. I’m still seething by the time I step back into the lighthouse."

The love interest. People, this love interest. If I could draw a man, he'd be it. Should I seek out a therapist for this one? Probably. He's just it. And the hatred between these two? Finally a proper enemies to lovers arc, not this "I think he hates me"-kind of arc. These two despise each other and they should. Their story is not one of secret attraction and the belief of the other person they are not wanted. This is proper hatred. 

I prefer his fire over ice, his anger over silence, and his hate over indifference.

Do I even need to say more? The spice is top tier, but again, this is 

 romance. There was one scene where even I was like, "Uh, dude, you sure?" but even that one was well written. Maybe not what my dreams were made of (yet) but still. 

My only point of critique would be that the plot, like the actual one, was a little bit pushed to the side during the middle of the book. It wasn't forgotten, I just would have wished for those two to investigate a little more. And the half star is basically missing, because it ended. (Kidding. Am I?)

Enzo's reaction to certain revelations, his (and her) banter, the italian phrases ... I could go on

Leonie

"My heart stops, then restarts, stuttering and tripping over itself in a syncopated rhythm. Butterflies sprout in my stomach, and I decide they’re fucking drunk, too."

This is basically how i felt during the entire read of this book. People, it's dark, check trigger warnings before you consider to read this but if this kind of stuff does it for you, you're in for a ride. I fell head over heels for this book and I'm not even ashamed. 

Our female MC is a hellcat. She's fierce, she's stubborn, she's feisty and wields her words like weapons, sometimes as daggers and sometimes she seems to choose the broadsword instead. During the first couple of chapters she had me relating so much to her. If you like the girls who don't sashay into the water, but cannonball in, if you feel with the girls choosing reckless, slightly manic coping mechanisms who still feel human and not completely aloof, you're probably going to love this FMC. I'd give a lot to have one night out with her and we'd wreak havoc, let's leave it at that. 

The whole setting had this perfect lost, vulnerable, no one is trustworthy kind of vibe that made those TV shows on deserted islands with mystery and horror elements so incredibly successful a few years back - but it's well done here. It does not feel forced, it had my heartrate go disturbingly up quite a few times (i'm such a chicken) and you could really imagine where our character were currently at. 

"I fucking hate him. I’m still seething by the time I step back into the lighthouse."

The love interest. People, this love interest. If I could draw a man, he'd be it. Should I seek out a therapist for this one? Probably. He's just it. And the hatred between these two? Finally a proper enemies to lovers arc, not this "I think he hates me"-kind of arc. These two despise each other and they should. Their story is not one of secret attraction and the belief of the other person they are not wanted. This is proper hatred. 

And still...

I prefer his fire over ice, his anger over silence, and his hate over indifference.

Do I even need to say more? The spice is top tier, but again, this is dark romance. There was one scene where even I was like, "Uh, dude, you sure?" but even that one was well written. Maybe not what my dreams were made of (yet) but still. 

My only point of critique would be that the plot, like the actual one, was a little bit pushed to the side during the middle of the book. It wasn't forgotten, I just would have wished for those two to investigate a little more. And the half star is basically missing, because it ended. (Kidding. Am I?)

Enzo's reaction to certain revelations, his (and her) banter, the italian phrases ... I could go on

“Baby. Shut the fuck up.”

Okay. 



Alison James

H.D. Carlton was my introduction to dark romance with the Cat and Mouse Duet. I was excited to dive into another on of her books.

I got drawn in by a tiktok that mentioned a specific spicy scene in shark infested waters and new I had to read it ASAP. 

SPOILERS
—————-

I love the casual hookup to enemies to lovers plot of this book. I liked seeing the emotions Enzo went through when he realized that Sawyer lied to him and stole his identity. 

I really liked the slow unraveling of all the mysteries. We got bits and pieces of Sawyers past throughout the book that really made you realize that she was a troubled girl who was dealt a really bad life. It’s hard to blame her for the things she did when she was escaping her twin who abused her. 

My only issue was how Sawyer and Enzo didn’t realize that Sylvester was hiding someone in the house. I don’t get how they believed the ghost story, especially when they heard the loud banging and saw the scratch marks. I definitely think they should’ve questioned it when they realized what a creeper Sylvester was and that he was going to kidnap Sawyer… but they still didn’t question it at all.

krisha

samantha youngclaus

i need extensive life long hypnotherapy to recover from reading that scene where they find Kacey and also when he water boarded her in the shark infested ocean during seggsy times

Sara Borden

EDIT: decided on 3/5 because the story felt choppy and lacked fluidity, and it was unbelievable at times. 

i’m having a hard time rating this one, and i usually try to just rate books based on my first initial thoughts. however, this story was so complex and different, so i’m kind of at a loss.
i really enjoyed the two main characters: he never strays from being dark and kind of cruel, and sawyer isn’t exactly an easy character to like. but for me, it made the story so much more enjoyable to read about a couple that couldn’t be read in so many other romance books. 
the horror and suspense aspects of this book were good in certain parts!

BUT i felt like this book could’ve done without all of the sex. who is constantly thinking about their sex life when they’re scared for their life? 
i also tend to cringe every time i read too much sex talk in a book, so there were times i was uncomfortable for sure. this was definitely the raunchiest book i’ve read 🙈

over all, i did enjoy reading something different! it was intriguing, raw, and twisted.

Jenna Crumpton 

This was the book that made me reach my 75 book reading goal for the year and OH MY LORD WAS IT AMAZING!! First of all, Enzo 🥵🔥.. enough said! I really enjoyed the mystery of the book and lord the SPICE 🌶🌶🌶🌶 I'm definitely going to have to read some more books by this author! Definitely a 5 star read!

I love H.D. Carlton’s writing and the way she writes characters is amazing I love them all AND THE SMUT ugh she’s just amazing 

Jade 

I wrote my whole review and then my phone deleted it, so because I’m annoyed I will probably be less eloquent this time around. 

This book is crazy, in exactly the way you want a dark romance thriller to be. The author is able to capture so many emotions without being cheesy and that’s one of the things I appreciate the most. There is a combination of sexiness, romance, mystery, banter and vulnerability that made a pretty great overall package. 

I definitely enjoyed the experience and could not stop reading. 

Megan BV

I wrote my whole review and then my phone deleted it, so because I’m annoyed I will probably be less eloquent this time around. 

This book is crazy, in exactly the way you want a dark romance thriller to be. The author is able to capture so many emotions without being cheesy and that’s one of the things I appreciate the most. There is a combination of sexiness, romance, mystery, banter and vulnerability that made a pretty great overall package. 

I definitely enjoyed the experience and could not stop reading. 



Does It Hurt?

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