Last week, my son Marcus managed to build a robot from old household gadgets, and, predictably, it only speaks in riddles and beeps every time someone says the word "shark." My daughter Rebecca decided the robot’s true purpose was to "warn us of danger"—so now, every family game night comes with mysterious beeping and suspicious glances. In the midst of this cheerful chaos, I plunged into Does It Hurt?, a book as full of suspense and dark humor as our living room on a stormy Friday night. It reminded me that sometimes, only fiction can rival the thrill of family inventions gone sideways. Now, every time the robot beeps wildly, I half-expect a gothic lighthouse to materialize in my hallway, courtesy of HD Carlton.
Plot Summary
Does It Hurt? by HD Carlton is a dark and suspenseful contemporary romance that follows Sawyer, a fugitive identity thief seeking refuge in Australia. After a series of misadventures, she crosses paths with Enzo Vitale, a captivating yet dangerous shark researcher, in the coastal town of Port Valen. Their connection turns volatile as Sawyer steals Enzo’s identity, leading to a tangled cat-and-mouse chase that lands them shipwrecked on a remote island with a mysterious lighthouse and the unsettling caretaker, Sylvester. As Sawyer and Enzo battle inner demons and each other, they’re forced to navigate a maze of secrets, psychological tension, and haunting encounters that challenge their survival—and their hearts. The book is a standalone, not part of a series.
Why I Love This Book
I love how intense and unapologetic the story is. The twists kept me turning pages late into the night, and the tension—emotional, physical, and psychological—was both unsettling and addictive. Sawyer’s grit and Enzo’s dark allure made their scenes electric, while the spooky lighthouse atmosphere brought out my love for thrillers. Carlton doesn’t shy from messy, flawed characters, and I found myself rooting for Sawyer even as I questioned her choices. The pacing is relentless, and the unique mix of romance, suspense, and horror feels raw and memorable. If you enjoy stories where survival isn’t just about braving the elements but facing your own shadows, this book will resonate.
Who Will Like This Book
If you enjoy dark romance, enemies-to-lovers, morally complex relationships, and suspenseful settings with an edge of horror, you’ll likely love Does It Hurt?. The book leans into taboo and steamy territory, with themes of power dynamics, manipulation, and redemption. As someone drawn to gothic, unconventional love stories, I found the psychological intensity especially gripping. But tread carefully—this isn’t a gentle read.
⚠️ Trigger warning: sexual assault, dubious/non-consent, abuse, trauma, explicit and graphic sexual content, psychological manipulation, morally gray situations, violence, paranormal elements, and references to incest and pedophilia.
Tagged As
dark romance, contemporary romance, enemies-to-lovers, suspense, psychological thriller, gothic setting, survivor heroine, morally gray hero, taboo, steamy romance, island/lighthouse, trauma, adult themes, indie romance, explicit content, redemption arc, standalone
Steam Level
The steam level is off the charts, with frequent, explicit, and emotionally fraught scenes. The intimacy is intense, graphic, and central to the story’s conflict and the characters’ evolution. Carlton’s writing blends desire, danger, and dark fantasy for a reading experience that’s both provocative and thought-provoking—definitely not fade-to-black.
