Review: Epilogue by CJ Roberts

Ahhh... Maaazing.
I can't get over how good this book was- Not that I doubted it would be anything short of perfection. This series is an absolute favorite of mine and this installment just enhanced my feelings about that to epic proportions. I never give away anything in my reviews by adding spoilers and this book is no exception... I don't want to ruin anything for you by going into detail about everything that happened.

Obviously, I have to start this review by gushing about Caleb...
"I'm writing this because you begged.
You know how I love the begging..." ~Caleb 

I mean, can he literally be anymore perfect? My God. The entire series all started because he kidnapped someone on his own accord, but hell... If I knew he really existed in the real world, I'd pay him to kidnap my ass. His character was truly one of a kind and I was so beyond happy that this book was written strictly from his point of view. For starters, he was freaking hilarious. A sarcastic man is the key to my heart, so needless to say Caleb had mine from the first page. I found myself busting out laughing on more than one occasion because of the things that came out of his mouth or the thoughts that ran through his head. You could really see in this story that he was trying to change but struggled with the man he used to be. It was endearing to watch him try to be a better man for Livvie. He didn't begrudge her of the life she had but it was obvious to him on a daily basis that her life was completely different from the only life that he's ever known.

Being back with Livvie again reminded him of how sorry he truly was for everything that he did and he hated that he was unable to erase or take any of it back. He had messed up in a lot of ways that most people couldn't possibly understand; She was the only thing that he cared about anymore and that shined throughout this book.

Livvie on the other hand was strong, smart and driven... But she was also very trusting where her heart was concerned. She certainly had her reservations about the future she had with Caleb- He had hurt her in the worst possible way by leaving and she lived in constant fear that he would do it again. She knew he was the one that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with... She just didn't know if her heart would have been able to handle him leaving her again. I've always liked Livvie's characters and she didn't disappoint me in this book. She did tend to grate on my nerves more than a few times but I was able to look past that because she knew Caleb better than he knew himself and she loved him to the depth of her soul.

Watching the way Caleb and Livvie interacted with each other while trying to come to grips with having a normal relationship kept me on the edge of my seat literally the entire time I was reading. I never knew what one of them would do or say and watching them joke around had me cracking up laughing...

"You manage to say the most romantic things in the creepiest way possible. If I didn't know you, I'd be scared of you." ~Livvie

"What does a former kidnapper/murderer do in retirement?" ~Caleb

...But more than the goofiness between these two, there love for one another grew. Every day they became closer and even more intimate; They were learning more about one another and growing closer as each day that they tried to put their past behind them passed. This book truly was such a treat to read- Hearing things from Caleb's perspective really helped to take this series to an entirely new level that I didn't think was even possible. C.J. Roberts... You're my hero. ♥ ...To say that I was impressed with this book would be an understatement.
★ PS: This book absolutely can't be read as a stand-alone. Be sure to get your hands on Captive in the Dark and Seduced in the Dark before jumping into this masterpiece.

Jerk of My Dreams #6

Jerk. Asshole. Douchenozzle. Admit it- you hate to love the jerks. That alpha male character who is so arrogant and rude but sexy as hell. That foul mouthed douche bag of a man who rocks your traitorous heart. We've all read them and we've all liked them to some extent. In real life you wouldn't touch the man with a ten foot pole. But in the fictional world? Nothing can stand in the way! Everyone would be lying to themselves if they didn't admit that the meaner the man, the further we run... Towards them! *sigh* 

That's what this weekly meme is about- those jerky delicious men! Each Friday this meme will go up, and you can share your jerk anyway you want: review, interview, lines and quotes, giveaway of a book. However you want! All you have to do is sign up and follow the linky. Any time you comment on someones post, leave your link so that person can comment back. 

My, my, how the tables have turned...

It was once Caleb trying to coerce Kitten into his deviant world of pleasure. But now its Kitten’s turn, and Caleb’s falling prey to Kitten’s hypnotic eyes and unconditional love she has for him.

Seduced in the Dark picks up somewhat where the story leaves off with Captive in the Dark. If you haven’t read Captive in the Dark, then you need to do so first before reading Seduced in the Dark.

Kitten awakes in a hospital and has to relive her bittersweet journey with Agent Reed from the FBI. She is a wreck, nearly broken on the inside without her Caleb. Kitten is forced to retell each very humiliating, and sometimes beautiful, memory of what transpired before the slave auction that Caleb was set to sell Kitten at. Kitten came to the realization through these events, that her love for Caleb is real despite how Caleb feels he forced her into loving him. At first it may have been pushed, but Kitten saw the true beauty in him. Some believed Kitten had Stockholms Syndrome, but it definitely was not. She saw the extremely cruel childhood he had and the decisions he’s had to make because of it. She saw the true colors of the people who Caleb believed loved him and the effect it had on him when the truth came out. Even with all his manipulation, Kitten was able to see through his layers of the kind of man he was forced to be and still loved him.



For Caleb though, he took whatever Kitten gave him and when she gave too much, he would abuse her physically and emotionally. He didn’t want to love her. He wasn’t made to love with all the he’s had to endure in his life. Caleb’s plan to sell Kitten to a sex slave ring to get revenge on the one man who he thought ruined his life started to backfire on him. Nothing was going as planned. The ones he thought were closest to him started to turn on him and when he found out the most devastating news he could possibly ever imagine, he snapped. Twelve years of scheming and strategy and all with someone who he called family. To top it off, he was deeply in love with Kitten and didn’t want to let her go. But a promise is a promise…

What a dark and luxurious ride Seduced in the Dark was! Not only was the story incredibly compelling, but the writing was impeccable! I am in awe of this author’s writing- she was born to write.

She kisses my scars as I create new ones for her.

This book took me a bit to get into, but once I got a little taste of what I love then I was hooked. I think the issue I had with this is the constant crying Kitten was doing. I understand her place in this and that she had no opinion or choice about anything, but goodness gracious! Tear after tear fell or were soaked up from the blindfold! I couldn’t take it anymore. Buck up already! You know what’s in store for you, have for some time now, and since you have no say in anything, you need to learn to accept your fate already! Maybe there is something wrong with me...I did sympathize with her, but I had had enough. At about 70% is when it really did a number on me. I forgot about the crying at this point and was shocked at the twists and turns that unfolded in this story! Sweet Mary! Amazing!

I never saw Caleb as a mean or violent man. I was able to see past the facade early on and that’s all that mattered to me. I think he was put in unfortunate circumstances and he had to do what he had to do.

It’s a gritty and painful road for Caleb and Kitten and I never thought I’d see a light at the end of the tunnel, which I’m sure, they thought they’d never see as well. I hate the saying, ‘an emotional roller coaster,’ because it’s so over used, but that’s exactly what this book was. I feel like I can finally breathe now that the story is over. Although, this is a story I won’t ever forget.

Call me crazy, but I loved the wild ride this book took me on. I loved the malicious things Caleb did to and in front of Kitten. In the end, Caleb still loved her and what he did was in an effort to turn Kitten away. He thought he was not redeemable. I loved that even after being separated that she was never able to let go. That is true love.

CJ Roberts’s words are like a sucker punch to the face- you don’t see them coming and they hit you like a ton of bricks. The only difference is that the bruises and pain from the punch will fade, but the impact of the story she embedded through my heart will last a lifetime.

Favorite lines:

"He needed to make her his: unequivocally and irreversibly."

"The first one to look away is a loser."

Review: Seduced in The Dark by CJ Roberts

To sum it up:

(The exciting, titillating, and action-filled conclusion to Captive in the Dark.)

What is the price of redemption?

Rescued from sexual slavery by a mysterious Pakistani officer, Caleb carries the weight of a debt that must be paid in blood.

The road has been long and fraught with uncertainty, but for Caleb and Livvie, it’s all coming to an end.

Can he surrender the woman he loves for the sake of vengeance?

Or will he make the ultimate sacrifice?


★★★★★ 5 BILLION STARS!★★★★★


I literally cannot even… I can’t even… I am unable to even… I have lost my ability to even… I am so unable to even…

I’m in love.
Absolutely.
And.
Irrevocably.
In.
Love.

This book was… It was just so… so…

 Perfect. It was absolutely perfect.


***Even though this is a review for the second book in this series, I’ve given away no real and important spoilers. For those of you who are still iffy about going into these two books, perhaps this review will help to change your mind…***

After reading Captive in the Dark, I was hooked. Nothing about the book was short of perfect, and I instantly bought Seduced in the Dark the second I had finished book one. And dare I say it… but Seduced in the Dark was even better. You wouldn’t think that’s possible though, right? After-all, sometimes sequels tend to fall short from the first books. But not when it comes to this series. I’m not exaggerating when I say that this book was EVERYTHING I crave in a romance novel. It was dark… it was angsty… it was full of emotion… and it made me feel.

No review can even do this book justice. It’s as simple as that- this book has officially become my favorite book EVER. That’s no exaggeration guys… it was that good. After reading Captive in the dark, I was literally dying to find out what was in store for Caleb and Livvie.


"She kissed my scars, and I made new ones for her." -Caleb.


We all want what we can’t have. And for Caleb… it was Livvie. *sniff, sniff* ...He would constantly have to tell himself that Livvie was only plotting her revenge. That she would never care for him. He felt that if he reminded himself enough, that perhaps he could get the truth through his head. So he repeated those words like a mantra. Only, deep down inside himself he knew his feelings for Livvie ran much deeper than he was comfortable with, and the same went for her. This was a hard thing for Caleb to grasp. No one had ever seen him as someone capable of being loved, yet he consistently hurt the one person who did. Caleb was truly such a tortured soul. My heart broke for him, despite his cruelty at times. All he did was ache for the simplicity of his life- a life free of guilt, shame, lust, and sin.

But does cruelty justify cruelty?

Does love conquer revenge?

...These were all thoughts that consistently ran rampant through Calebs mind.

For Livvie, so much was different between her and Caleb from the beginning of her capture. Yet so much remained the same too.. He was still the same man who hired ruthless men to kidnap her. Still the same cruel person who locked her in the dark for weeks… slept with other women in front of her, forced her to become dependent on him… crave him… rely on him… He was also the man who saved her life… and put her in danger. And most importantly, he was still the man who planned to sell her as a sex slave. A whore. But that didn’t stop her thoughts from wishing that she was just a girl, and he just a boy, and they desired each other. She always wanted him to hold her, kiss her, and pretend he would do anything to protect her. But were all of these feelings in her head? Were these feelings for Caleb just her way of surviving? Her head always tried to tell her one thing… but her heart had reserved a place for her tormentor and her solace.

This story isn’t for the weak of heart- It definitely had me questioning my own sick and demented state of mind for actually wanting and craving each and every part of this story with every turn of the page. This series just left me feeling such a rush of emotion… anguish… heartache… survival… lust… and most importantly, love. There was definitely much more sexual scenes involved in this book- but believe it or not, I LOVED every scene I had the pleasure of reading. (No pun intended.) Every steamy scene introduced in this book was done so tastefully. Never once did I get bored, and never once did anything feel like a filler. All I can say, is every intimate touch… every sweet caress… put me on an even more emotional level with the characters.

Suffice it to day, that C.J. Roberts is one heck of a writer- the woman has some undeniable and IMPRESSIVE writing skills. This book was brilliant. Absolutely freaking brilliant. She didn’t hold back when writing this story, and I commend her for that. Not only was this story dark, but it was filled with some truly disturbing things. But through my journey with this series, I’ve learned to open my mind to new and unique things. Because this story not only touched my heart… but it touched my soul. It touched a part of me that no other book has been able to touch before. That takes talent, and it takes one heck of a series that you absolutely don’t want to miss out on.

PS: This book is NOT a stand-alone! Be sure to read Captive in the Dark first!

 

Hot in Handcuffs Giveaway Hop!

Thanks for stopping by! Here is a book that I haven't read yet, but am dying to! My Secret Romance's Alyssa wrote this review for Captive in the Dark by CJ Roberts and I loved it so much I thought I'd share it and give away the book for this hop!

Guys.
This book… 
I can’t even… 
Where do I even… 

*sigh* 


Before I get started on this review, here’s a little insight as to how I pictured my personal Caleb ♥ 

 I don’t know what I was expecting when I started this book. A lot of sex? Definitely. Cruelty and torture? Absolutely. Dominance and submissiveness? You bet. I was actually scared to even start it, and put it off for quite a while because a book filled with nothing but sex is something I stay far far far away from. Not because I’m opposed to it… but too much of it just completely bores me. It’s one reason I avoid the erotica genre- sex being used as a constant filler in books is a huge down-fall for me. I think that’s why you can say I was so iffy going into this story. I mean, c’mon… a book revolving around pleasure slaves? That just screamed book pornography to me. But after seeing so many of my GR friends ranting and raving about this novel, I decided to just throw caution to the wind, and give it a try- and boy, was I in for a complete surprise…

I need to get this out, first hand: Don’t let the fact that this is a dark story throw you off. Initially, I was a little scared to even buy this book because so many of the reviews that I read continuously said how dark this story was… (And I’m a HUGE fan of dark romances, so the fact that this even made me hesitate says a lot.) …I guess some sick and twisted part of me just assumed this book was going to be full of sadistic bedroom play or something. Now don’t get me wrong… this book was dark… but it was a different dark than I was expecting- and believe it or not, there is love and romance in this story. Maybe not the fairytale “fell in love at first sight” Cinderella kind of story… but a romance just the same- just much different than the type of romance that we’re all used to reading about.

Caleb Caleb Caleb… *sigh* …He was such a dark and tortured hero. He had his own personal demons in which only one person in the world knew about. His past may not justify his actions, but they certainly give you insight as to why he does the things that he does. The man isn’t as cold and calculating as you’re probably thinking. He just knew nothing about love long term. For him, Olivia was just his instrument for revenge. Her rebellious nature was something he admired, but wouldn’t tolerate- and he made it his ultimate goal to bring out the submissive that he knew was inside of her. But Livvie had looked at Caleb in ways no one ever has- she looked at him like her life was insignificant without him… but whatever her thoughts were of him… whatever her feelings… it was a concept that he just couldn’t grasp. I’ll be honest ladies, the man was complete perfection. (Minus the whole kidnapping women for pleasure slaves thing.) He was a force not to be reckoned with when it came to getting what he wanted. And he most certainly had that protective streak that makes us turn into swooning school-girls. 

Livvie on the other hand, has been branded a “whore” nearly her entire life- she, herself has her own personal demons that she fought against every day, but never once did that get in the way of her brave and fighting spirit. 


“Where is all your bravery now pet? No clawing, no hissing? Where’s my tough girl?”  -Caleb


However, the one thing that gave her the most struggle during her capture, was Caleb. And I don’t just mean in the physical sense… but mentally as well. Gone were the images she had when she had initially first met him- in her mind, the prince charming that was supposed to come and save her was no longer there. Instead she tried to recognize this entire situation for what it was: Rape… not seduction, and not the fantasy that she’s always had in her mind. Olivia didn’t know what to make of Caleb- at times he was so kind and gentle, and at others, she feared him down to her soul. He was her own personal contradiction- he seemed so capable at times, of something like caring… He could hold her and make her feel safe one minute… but could make her cry and scream and shake with fear not even a split second later. 

It was hard for her to grasp these feelings she had of him- she knew that everything he had done to her had been to manipulate her into doing what he wanted… every kiss… every touch… him telling her how beautiful she was… but she knew it was all a lie. She knew that in the end, she was nothing but a means to an end for him… or so she thought…

I can’t give anything more away to you guys… you just have to dive into this story without any expectations, and enjoy the ride. I honest to God just want to keep ranting and raving to you all about this book- to consistently spend this entire review telling you how much I truly LOVED this story, and convince you all to read it. It’s a book that I can promise you that you don’t want to miss out on- it’s officially added under my “favorites” shelf, and trust me... books don’t make it there that often for me.


So what did I like about this book? EVERYTHING.

What didn’t I like about this book? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.


This story was so believable to me. The characters were believable. The situations were believable. Everything just felt so darn real… as if I was actually in Livvie’s shoes myself. Kidnapped… bounded… and completely in the dark about what my life had in store for me next. I absolutely CAN’T WAIT to start  Seduced in the Dark! It was bought and downloaded on my kindle before I had even finished this story. I haven’t felt this way about a book in a long time… last night was the first night that I actually woke up in the middle of a dead sleep craving more- and don’t think for one second that I didn’t stay up and read page after page of this delicious goodness. I just couldn't get enough... of this story... of these characters… of EVERYTHING. C.J. Roberts is absolutely brilliant, and so was this book. The question I have now is… will Livvie and Caleb ever get there happily-ever-after?


"…Did you think that you could fix me? What’s more, that I could fix you? Well sorry pet, I don’t want to be fixed. Whatever your little school-girl brain told you about men is absurdly wrong. This isn’t a romance. You’re not a damsel in distress and I’m not the handsome prince come to save you. You ran. I went to collect my property. End of story.” -Caleb


*sigh* I can’t wait to find out what’s in store for these two! I haven’t been this giddy and excited for a book in… well… forever EVER. …I’ll definitely be rooting for Livvie and Caleb every step of the way throughout my next journey in Seduced in the Dark. All I can pray and hope for is that they finally find that happily-ever-after together, that they both truly deserve.

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Review: Captive In the Dark by CJ Roberts

Guys.
This book… 
I can’t even… 
Where do I even… 

*sigh* 









Before I get started on this review, here’s a little insight as to how I pictured my personal Caleb ♥ 

 I don’t know what I was expecting when I started this book. A lot of sex? Definitely. Cruelty and torture? Absolutely. Dominance and submissiveness? You bet. I was actually scared to even start it, and put it off for quite a while because a book filled with nothing but sex is something I stay far far far away from. Not because I’m opposed to it… but too much of it just completely bores me. It’s one reason I avoid the erotica genre- sex being used as a constant filler in books is a huge down-fall for me. I think that’s why you can say I was so iffy going into this story. I mean, c’mon… a book revolving around pleasure slaves? That just screamed book pornography to me. But after seeing so many of my GR friends ranting and raving about this novel, I decided to just throw caution to the wind, and give it a try- and boy, was I in for a complete surprise…

I need to get this out, first hand: Don’t let the fact that this is a dark story throw you off. Initially, I was a little scared to even buy this book because so many of the reviews that I read continuously said how dark this story was… (And I’m a HUGE fan of dark romances, so the fact that this even made me hesitate says a lot.) …I guess some sick and twisted part of me just assumed this book was going to be full of sadistic bedroom play or something. Now don’t get me wrong… this book was dark… but it was a different dark than I was expecting- and believe it or not, there is love and romance in this story. Maybe not the fairytale “fell in love at first sight” Cinderella kind of story… but a romance just the same- just much different than the type of romance that we’re all used to reading about.

Caleb Caleb Caleb… *sigh* …He was such a dark and tortured hero. He had his own personal demons in which only one person in the world knew about. His past may not justify his actions, but they certainly give you insight as to why he does the things that he does. The man isn’t as cold and calculating as you’re probably thinking. He just knew nothing about love long term. For him, Olivia was just his instrument for revenge. Her rebellious nature was something he admired, but wouldn’t tolerate- and he made it his ultimate goal to bring out the submissive that he knew was inside of her. But Livvie had looked at Caleb in ways no one ever has- she looked at him like her life was insignificant without him… but whatever her thoughts were of him… whatever her feelings… it was a concept that he just couldn’t grasp. I’ll be honest ladies, the man was complete perfection. (Minus the whole kidnapping women for pleasure slaves thing.) He was a force not to be reckoned with when it came to getting what he wanted. And he most certainly had that protective streak that makes us turn into swooning school-girls. 

Livvie on the other hand, has been branded a “whore” nearly her entire life- she, herself has her own personal demons that she fought against every day, but never once did that get in the way of her brave and fighting spirit. 


“Where is all your bravery now pet? No clawing, no hissing? Where’s my tough girl?”  -Caleb


However, the one thing that gave her the most struggle during her capture, was Caleb. And I don’t just mean in the physical sense… but mentally as well. Gone were the images she had when she had initially first met him- in her mind, the prince charming that was supposed to come and save her was no longer there. Instead she tried to recognize this entire situation for what it was: Rape… not seduction, and not the fantasy that she’s always had in her mind. Olivia didn’t know what to make of Caleb- at times he was so kind and gentle, and at others, she feared him down to her soul. He was her own personal contradiction- he seemed so capable at times, of something like caring… He could hold her and make her feel safe one minute… but could make her cry and scream and shake with fear not even a split second later. 

It was hard for her to grasp these feelings she had of him- she knew that everything he had done to her had been to manipulate her into doing what he wanted… every kiss… every touch… him telling her how beautiful she was… but she knew it was all a lie. She knew that in the end, she was nothing but a means to an end for him… or so she thought…

I can’t give anything more away to you guys… you just have to dive into this story without any expectations, and enjoy the ride. I honest to God just want to keep ranting and raving to you all about this book- to consistently spend this entire review telling you how much I truly LOVED this story, and convince you all to read it. It’s a book that I can promise you that you don’t want to miss out on- it’s officially added under my “favorites” shelf, and trust me... books don’t make it there that often for me.


So what did I like about this book? EVERYTHING.

What didn’t I like about this book? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.


This story was so believable to me. The characters were believable. The situations were believable. Everything just felt so darn real… as if I was actually in Livvie’s shoes myself. Kidnapped… bounded… and completely in the dark about what my life had in store for me next. I absolutely CAN’T WAIT to start  Seduced in the Dark! It was bought and downloaded on my kindle before I had even finished this story. I haven’t felt this way about a book in a long time… last night was the first night that I actually woke up in the middle of a dead sleep craving more- and don’t think for one second that I didn’t stay up and read page after page of this delicious goodness. I just couldn't get enough... of this story... of these characters… of EVERYTHING. C.J. Roberts is absolutely brilliant, and so was this book. The question I have now is… will Livvie and Caleb ever get there happily-ever-after?


"…Did you think that you could fix me? What’s more, that I could fix you? Well sorry pet, I don’t want to be fixed. Whatever your little school-girl brain told you about men is absurdly wrong. This isn’t a romance. You’re not a damsel in distress and I’m not the handsome prince come to save you. You ran. I went to collect my property. End of story.” -Caleb


*sigh* I can’t wait to find out what’s in store for these two! I haven’t been this giddy and excited for a book in… well… forever EVER. …I’ll definitely be rooting for Livvie and Caleb every step of the way throughout my next journey in Seduced in the Dark. All I can pray and hope for is that they finally find that happily-ever-after together, that they both truly deserve.