From GoodReads: For college student Emily Sheppard, the thought of spending a summer alone in New York is much more preferable than spending it in France with her parents. Just completing her freshman year at Callister University, Emily faces a quiet summer in the city slums, supporting herself by working at the campus library. During one of her jogs through the nearby cemetery while visiting her brother Bill’s grave, Emily witnesses a brutal killing-and then she blacks out. When Emily regains consciousness, she realizes she’s been kidnapped by a young crime boss and his gang. She is hurled into a secret underworld, wondering why she is still alive and for how long.
Held captive in rural Vermont, she tries to make sense of her situation and what it means. While uncovering secrets about her brother and his untimely death, Emily falls in love with her very rich and very dangerous captor, twenty-six year- old Cameron. She understands it’s a forbidden love and one that won’t allow her to return to her previous life. But love may not be enough to save Emily when no one even knows she is missing.
Review…
I love this cover because it’s dark, edgy, unique and it fools the reader into thinking that it’ll be a twisted story but what lies in between the pages of this book is quite the opposite and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. But if you are the mood for what you think this book might offer, just know you won’t get that. I guess it’ true when they say, don’t judge a book by its cover.
This was an entertaining read, really it was but I had a few concerns. There was almost too much stuff happening and not enough substance to back it up. Some of the characters lacked a certain something and it could be complexity or realness, maybe both. The insta-love certainly didn’t help matters. I’m trying to figure out my thoughts without it sounding like one big rant because I like to keep reviews positive despite the fact if I have concerns.
First, a 19-year-old virgin? Really? Note to authors: it’s okay for a young woman to have sex and enjoy it before she meets the male lead. I’m not saying the heroine needs to be a total tramp but for christ sake’s, a virgin?? Emmy felt much younger than 19 based on her actions alone, her commentary garnered an eye-roll more than once and I wanted to connect with her plight but I just couldn’t.
Next, Cam. *sigh* Cam I wanted to love you but you were too damn nice (even if you did kill a few people) to be Crime Lord with a heart. You just weren’t complex or dark enough for me to believe in your character but it’s not entirely your fault so I won’t completely blame you. He needed more grit, plain and simple. And yes, I said grit.
Things that worked well: the general drama and action had me interested enough to keep reading and the ending was an EPIC cliff-hanger. Holy plot twist!!! It’s that very plot twist that has the potential to make book 2 in the series absolutely awesome!
“Whoever said that love hurts was wrong. Love is excruciating, especially when you can feel it slipping through your fingers and there is nothing you can do about it.”
I live for fiction and can suspend my disbelief easily but if the fictional world doesn’t have a solid foundation, I will have issues with the overall execution of the story even if I did enjoy it.
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