Money can buy anything. And anyone. As the head of the Constantine family, I’m used to people bowing to my will. Cruel, rigid, unyielding—I’m all those things. When I discover the one woman who doesn’t wither under my gaze, but instead smiles right back at me, I’m intrigued.

Ash Elliott needs cash, and I make her trade in crudeness and degradation for it. I crave her tears, her moans. I pay for each one. And every time, she comes back for more. When she challenges me with an offer of her own, I have to decide if I’m willing to give her far more than cold hard cash.

But love can have deadly consequences when it comes from a Constantine. At the stroke of midnight, that choice may be lost for both of us.

My Review

This story isn’t like other dark romances I have read where the bully or monster becomes a loving protector by the end of the book. Constantine doesn’t become a better version of himself; instead, he darkens the light of Ash, getting her addicted to his twisted Kink. There is an age gap and opposites trope, but this book dwells on the story’s dark, steamy, and twisted side.

Winston is the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. He is strict, polished, and believes in work to the highest extent. Oh, he is a little vindictive and definitely brings out his rage side, like road rage but office rage.

Ash is a soon-to-be college student. She and her father have been through significant changes in the last 6 months with a new stepmom, three stepbrothers who are twins, and her college fund being depleted.

This book quickly introduced the billionaire businessman, poor maid, opposites, and age gap tropes. Still, the Dom/submissive play is definitely different. I don’t know about this being a fairytale retelling. It is far too kinky for that. It is a bit of dub-con with the bribery happening. I don’t know how I feel about this.

From temporary entertainment to full-time maid and assistant and entertainment, she works herself to new heights. He is a jerk, but he is rich, and well, who doesn’t love a sugar daddy. This book is a messed-up version of Cinderella and 50 Shades of Grey. But I can’t seem to stop reading. This story is like an accident. You know it will be gruesome, but you can’t help but look well in this case; keep reading.
I want to say this is dark and has some bullying about how she is treated. However, it is very kinky and steamy as well.

The depravity in this book is almost perverse in nature. I hope it has a trigger warning, as this story isn’t for everyone. It is dark, degrading, and disturbing. This book and story undoubtedly differ from what I expected from the FB ad I saw about the book that initially caught my interest. This story is filled with dark, disturbing behavior, bullying, and even a mafia-like storyline. While the book was interesting enough to continue reading, I feel this book needs some trigger warning for the level of Kink the characters get into and the bullying by the stepbrothers. This isn’t a lighthearted romance. It is quite the opposite with such dreary undertones; you lose the Cinderella part of the storyline. The humiliation, Kink, assault, and violence in the story give us the damaged MC vibe, even though she tries hard not to be a damsel. The wealthy billionaire is eccentric, but even beyond that, he tortures and is very selfish. If it wasn’t for the new adult and billionaire tropes, I wouldn’t have even read the book with everything else going on in it.

If you would like to read Stroke of Midnight by K. Webster you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Assocaite I earn on qualifying purchases.

If you like some of the tropes in this book and would like to find more books with these tropes you may also enjoy Damaged Mc, Dark Themes and Dark Romance.