Captive In The Dark by C.J. Roberts

Captive in the Dark (The Dark Duet, #1)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-Low
Series-The Dark Duet #1
Reviewed by Kay

Well, I wouldn’t classify this as a romance. It’s a dark suspense novel in my opinion. It has been all over a review site I frequent and I assumed there was something more to it than it’s blurb. I have had it on my Kindle for awhile and decided it was time. Anne and I spoke about this book months back and thought it was too dark. After reading it, I think we were right.

Caleb is a flesh peddler. A human trafficker. A horrid, horrible person. His only feelings are those of revenge. It is what he lives for and for what happened to him, I feel his desire for revenge is justified. However, he is a despicable human being.

Livvy is an eighteen year old high school senior. All she wants is an escape from the life she leads through a college scholarship. She’s innocent, inexperienced and beautiful. She somehow captured Caleb’s attention. God help her.

Livvy is to become the instrument of Caleb’s revenge against the man who wronged him. She is to be a submissive, willing to do whatever is asked of her. Caleb needs to break her down to make her into a virginal prize on the trafficking market. As they spend more time together, Caleb feels more and more for Livvy.

I’m not saying anything else regarding the outcome of the book but know there is a second one out there. This is a dark, gritty, powerful and life changing novel. I sat my twenty year old daughter down and told her about this book as a warning. C.J. Roberts has penned an excellently written novel. I certainly hope this book doesn’t try to make this more romantic because this man in my opinion is beyond any sort of redemption.

Croc and the Fox by Eve Langlais

Croc And The Fox (Furry United Coalition, #3)
Grade: B+
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Shifter/Paranormal

Series: Furry United Coalition #3
Reviewed by Kate


Project is bored with her life in the science lab.  As a test subject she is stuck in her little cell, unless they’re experimenting on her.  Having no memory of life outside the lab, when excitement comes in the form of the Furry Unite Coalition overrunning the lab and freeing the test subjects, Project is terrified.  When Viktor, a croc shifter, unlocks her cage, Project latches on and doesn’t let go.  While the croc should make her run, he makes her feel protected and safe instead.  Renaming her Renee, Viktor finds himself smiling at her more in a few days than he has smiled in his entire life.  But the evil scientist is still on the loose and looking for Project/Renee.  How can Viktor protect his little fox if he’s too busy trying to fight his growing attraction for her?

This book had many burst-of-laughter moments.  Viktor’s attraction to Renee allows her to cross some of his boundaries that no one else has-like cuddling.  Renee struggles to feel comfortable outside of the lab-darn big, blue sky is scary when you’re used to a ceiling over your head.  Through it all, Viktor and Renee are a couple you can’t help but cheer for.

Lush by Lauren Dane

Lush
Grade: B+
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: None
Genre: Contemporary

Series: Delicious #3
Reviewed by Anne

Mary is a caterer and phenomenal cook.  Her good friend is marrying a famous rock star, and through their wedding preparations and celebrations, Mary meets, Damien, rock star drummer.  Their attraction is immediate, and they have a one night fling.  Neither expects more than a night.  They are both very busy and successful in their own ways.  However, they start texting each other and really look forward to meeting again at a concert Mary and her friends were invited to.  

That’s really all there is to the plot.  Once they see each again, they start making ways to see each other.  The story is about how they realize their feelings for each other and how they work out their physical distance and busy schedules.  I really liked it.  I’m certainly love a low conflict romance, and this series by Lauren Dane fits the bill perfectly.  This was another solid entry.  I also enjoyed seeing the friends and couples from the books that came before this one, both in the Delicious Series and the Brown Siblings series before this one.  The characters from these previous books make cameos, but some have pivotal best friend roles, and I think you’d enjoy the book more for having read at least the Delicious series.

From the previous books, I knew I liked Mary and her friends.  Damien and his brothers were a delightful surprise in these books.  I especially liked Damien’s confidence.  He knows he’s lived a pretty wild life.  He’s cut back lately and is making more changes after meeting Mary, but he’s not ashamed about the life he lived before.  Mary is also confident in herself and comfortable with how much she likes sex.  I enjoy reading confident characters, especially confident women.  Yet neither Damien nor Mary is perfect, and watching them make mistakes and recover makes for an even better story.  I really want to pick it up and read it again!