DNF Series Review: Indebted by Pepper Winters

DNF December Review Blitz — Day #2: I’m sharing my thoughts on some book series that I have marked as incomplete as I have never finished the first novel in the series. Find out why these weren’t for me:

Synopsis for Indebted (from Goodreads):
“I own you. I have the piece of paper to prove it. It’s undeniable and unbreakable. You belong to me until you’ve paid off your debts.”

Nila Weaver’s family is indebted. Being the first born daughter, her life is forfeit to the first born son of the Hawks to pay for sins of ancestors past. The dark ages might have come and gone, but debts never leave. She has no choice in the matter.

She is no longer free.

Jethro Hawk receives Nila as an inheritance present on his twenty-ninth birthday. Her life is his until she’s paid off a debt that’s centuries old. He can do what he likes with her—nothing is out of bounds—she has to obey.

There are no rules. Only payments.

Series: Indebted
Author: Pepper Winters
# of Books: 6 (View Full Reading Order here)

There are a few novellas.

Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Adult, Dark, Erotica, Contemporary, Romance
Heat Rating: unsure
Point of View: First Person, Alternating
Publication Dates: August 2014 – November 2015
Source & Format: Own–Kobo

Note: I stopped reading Book 1, Debt Inheritance, at 43% (start of Chapter 10) and marked the series as DNF. Find out why…

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

I’ve had this series on my TBR for a long time, and every time I contemplated removing it, reading the synopsis would draw me back in. I love dark romances so I enjoyed the concept of Nila being the debt payment for Jethro and the mystery behind why that was the case.

I was in a reading funk when I picked up Debt Inheritance but I had hoped that the shorter novel length would allow me to binge the series and get out of my funk.

What I Liked:

–Mysterious Origins of the Debt–

I liked the concept of a long-standing family debt. It wasn’t just some in-the-moment bet or repayment plan but something with history and intrigue.

What I Didn’t Like:

–Aimless Plot–

Where this story started to fall apart for me: I think the last 75 pages I read basically covered a 1 hour span of time in the book where we rehashed the same 2 sentiments over and over.

I also craved some hints or insights into what was actually happening plot wise but I couldn’t dedicate myself to another 150 pages of aimless plot.

–Nila Had More Chemistry with Her Brother–

Nila was weirdly in love with her brother? (Like she legit says she would marry him if she could). I had hoped for some forbidden chemistry between her and Jethro (like I hate you but I can’t stop thinking about you) them but I think Nila had more chemistry with her brother…I just couldn’t get invested in her relationship with Jethro.