Captive Beauty by Natasha Knight

🌟🌟🌟 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

 BLURB

Cilla
The Beast had Belle.
Killian Black has me.

How I got here doesn’t matter, even though he says it does. Says it was my choice. He doesn’t get it, though. It wasn’t ever a choice for me.

And now, he’s changing the rules.

The agreement was one month. For thirty days, I’d be his. He’s no longer satisfied with my body alone, though. He wants my soul, too. Wants every part of me. And even though I can pretend I’m safe when I lie beneath him, this man does something to me. Something wicked.

A thing that will break me.

Killian
Cilla made the choice. She offered the deal. I just took her up on it. So what if I changed the rules half-way in? I’m not apologizing for it.

See, Cilla and me, we’re the same. She’s dark. As dark as me. Something happened to her. Something bad. It damaged her.

But it’s not a hero she seeks. It’s an avenging angel. A dark knight. That, I can do. I’ll slay her dragons, but it’ll cost her, because in return, I want everything. And I’ll take it.

She’s mine.

Author’s note: Captive Beauty is a standalone romance. Think Beauty and the Beast, but twisted and dark in the best, dirtiest ways.
 
GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36568555-captive-beauty

 

^{*Received an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review*}

The blurb is accurate when it says that this is a darker retelling of Beauty and the Beast. There are many similarities but also differences. The book focuses on the captivity of Cilla who agrees to stay with Killian 30 days in order to save her brother. The story is very dark and has sexual situations that may be triggers for people. I don't mind dark romance but I had some issues with this one. I didn't really like Killian because he was a bit too dark. He was not very likable and contradicted himself throughout the book. He said that he would not force anything to happen between he and Cilla but he did and I couldn't get past that. As for Cilla, I liked her  but wished that it would have been established earlier that she had had a rough childhood. When the author explained what had happened to her it made the book flow better and the relationship between her and Killian made much more sense. I thought that the reasoning for Cilla being put in the situation to agree to the deal with Killian was interesting. I liked that change that the author made but I would have liked to have seen more development of that story line more. It seemed like it was initially explained a little but was then left alone for the duration of the book. I was curious about Killian's other activities as well as how Cilla's brother got involved in that world in the first place. 

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EXCERPT
Prologue 1
Cilla
He’s watching me. I know he is. He has cameras everywhere. Why wouldn’t he have one here? In this, the “special” room? He told me he likes to keep an eye on his things. And that’s what I am. A thing. A possession.
His.
Fucking his.
And today I fucked up.
Today he’ll take it out of my skin.
I shudder with the thought. With the knowledge of what I know is coming.
I’ll fight him. I wonder if he expects me to. Wants me to, even. All I know is I can’t submit to him. I

can’t let him break me.
But I am breaking. Little by little.
I wonder if that’s why he took me.
This is a game to him. My life is a game.
I hug my knees to myself. This room is so cold, unlike the others.
I pull the blanket up around me, as much for the cold as for protection. It’s not like I can hide my fear. He knows. He knows the real truth. Knows everything now.
My dress is torn and I’m barefoot. He took my shoes away when he put me here. I guess the heels could be used as a weapon. As if I could somehow manage to overpower him.
I try to swallow but the lump in my throat makes it impossible. I’m scared and I hate it. I don’t want to admit it. Not even to myself.
Tears wet my eyes but before they have a chance to fall, I cover them with my hands and rub them away. I don’t want him to see my weakness. He gets off on it.
I did this. I pushed him. And I can survive this. I fucking have to.
It’s when I’m giving myself that ridiculous pep talk that I hear his footfalls in the hallway. Hear his voice, muffled so I can’t make out what he says. Probably dismissing Hugo, his fucking henchman. Like he needs one.
Every hair on my body stands on end when he slides the key into the lock. When he turns it. And when he pushes the door open, it takes all I have not to crumple. Not to cave.
It takes all I have to stand and ready myself for battle against this beast of a man.
 
Prologue 2
Kill
She claims I took her, but that’s not the whole truth.
I gave her a choice. She made it.
Someone needed to be punished. It didn’t need to be her. She chose this. Chose to be here.
Well, okay, not right here. Not like this. Standing against the far wall, her pretty, jade eyes wide with fear, the delicate skin around them pink from tears.
She’s scared.
And she should be.
She knows what’s coming.
I warned her and she fucked up.
I take her in, pretty in pink. Pretty Priscilla. Even with her hair a mess. Her mascara a black smear across her face. Her dress ruined. She’s scared shitless, but she’s defiant. I like that about her. Like her fire.
It makes my dick hard.

I close the door but don’t bother locking it. No need. She’s not walking out of here tonight. I’ll be carrying her when I’m through.
When I take a step, she makes a sound, something like a frightened little rabbit would make if they could make sound. Her hands are flat against the wall behind her. It’s like she’s trying to melt into it.
“I guess we were always going to end up here,” I say.
She has no response apart from the sudden trembling of her body. She wraps her arms around herself. I can even hear her teeth chatter. She’s too proud to beg though. Beg me for mercy. I respect her for that. But I do like the idea of her on her knees at my feet, clinging to me, pleading with me to spare her this one thing.
I slide off my suit jacket and hang it over the back of the chair. I watch her reflection in the mirror as I take off one cuff link, then the other, and set them both on the table. I’m rolling up my sleeves when I return my attention to her. Her eyes slide to my forearms. My hands.
“I know, Cilla,” I say.
She looks up at me.
“I know everything.”
 
AUTHOR BIO
USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance, Natasha Knight specializes in dark, tortured heroes. Happily-Ever-Afters are guaranteed, but she likes to put her characters through hell to get them there. She’s evil like that.
 
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Ever the Hunted (Clash of Kingdoms #1) by Erin Summerill

🌟🌟🌟 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:

Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam—that is, until her father is murdered. Now outcast and alone and having no rights to her father’s land or inheritance, she seeks refuge where she feels most safe: the Ever Woods. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer.

However, it’s not so simple.

The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.

I enjoyed this book and am interested in the next one to see what direction the author will take the book in. Ever the Hunted leaves off on an interesting note. I'm not sure if I understand or even like how it ended but I am curious enough to read the next book. 
I thought that the premise of this book was interesting because I loved the idea of female bounty hunter. I wish that would have actually been the case but sadly the author did not having her doing that job. Apparently, that position is only for men so the book focuses on her hunt for Cohen while displaying the skills that she had learned from the training her father gave her. I would have liked for the author to have explained some things in more detail like the world that the book was set in. I feel like there was enough information there to get the gist but some things were guesswork on my part.
I think that Britta was an okay character. I appreciated how much she cared for others regardless of their treatment of her as well as her abilities. I would have liked for Britta to be less concerned with whether or not Cohen had feelings for her. I feel like the book focused too much on that aspect over and over. It got a bit tiresome. My favorite moments regarding her were when she was being clever in some way whether that was by showing her skills as a tracker/hunter or her power. I found the idea of the different types of elemental magic to be interesting. I hope that the next book explores that more because I am curious about other things that Britta might be able to do. 

The Rose & the Dagger (The Wrath and the Dawn #2) by Renee Ahdieh

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌗 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:

The darker the sky, the brighter the stars.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad is forced from the arms of her beloved husband, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once thought Khalid a monster—a merciless killer of wives, responsible for immeasurable heartache and pain—but as she unraveled his secrets, she found instead an extraordinary man and a love she could not deny. Still, a curse threatens to keep Shazi and Khalid apart forever.

Now she’s reunited with her family, who have found refuge in the desert, where a deadly force is gathering against Khalid—a force set on destroying his empire and commanded by Shazi’s spurned childhood sweetheart. Trapped between loyalties to those she loves, the only thing Shazi can do is act. Using the burgeoning magic within her as a guide, she strikes out on her own to end both this terrible curse and the brewing war once and for all. But to do it, she must evade enemies of her own to stay alive.

The saga that began with The Wrath and the Dawn takes its final turn as Shahrzad risks everything to find her way back to her one true love again.

I think that this book is one of those instances where the second book exceeds the first. There was much more happening in this book. While there was not a lot of bloodshed or what one might think of as a typical battle, the amount of tension was insane. There were so many points where I was on the edge of my seat wondering if one of the characters that I had come to love was going to meet their end. The Rose and the Dagger helped me to appreciate The Wrath and the Dawn even more because everything that happened in The Rose and the Dagger was set up so well by what was explained in it. 
I loved how the events in this book were laid out. Everything had a timing and purpose behind it which I appreciated. It also made for a more action-packed book with so much happening over the course of the book. I was glad to see that certain characters from the first book were not as prominent in this one. There was one particular character that rubbed me the wrong way and managed to annoy me whenever she spoke. This might be another reason why I loved this book so much more than the first as well.
I would have liked for the pacing towards the end of the book to have been slower. I barely had enough time to grasp one thing happening before another followed quickly after. I think that it might have been better if everything that happened within the last 50-100 pages would have been spread out more so that I could have took it all in better. 

Undefeated by Stuart Reardon, Jane Harvey-Berrick

🌟🌟 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:

When your world crashes down...
When they all say you’re out...
When your body is broken...
I will rise.
I will return.
And I will be undefeated.

Nick Renshaw is the golden boy of British rugby. When a serious injury threatens his career, he starts to spiral downwards, a broken man.

Feeling abandoned and betrayed by those closest to him, he fights to restart his life. Maybe there’s someone out there who can help him. Maybe he can find his way back toward the light. Maybe … not.

Dr. Anna Scott might be the one person who can help Nick, but she has her own secrets. And when Nick’s past comes back to haunt them both, the enigmatic doctor is more vulnerable than she seems.

Broken and betrayed, the struggle to survive seems intolerable. Who will give in, and who will rise, undefeated?

*I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review* 

I loved that this book had a character that played rugby. I've always found the idea of rugby interesting but haven't had the time to devote to learning more/watching any of the matches. I have to admit I've often wondered what motivates people to play such a bloodthirsty sport. They don't have padding like the men that play football and I would be scared of injury. I think that is the reason why I found Nick's point of view in Undefeated to be so interesting. I learned quite a bit about rugby and what might motivate someone to play the game. It made Nick feel electrified and he liked being pounded on by the other players because it made him feel alive. I enjoyed the journey that he went on throughout the book. Anna was fine as a character but didn't really grab my attention. I found her to be a bit bland. I thought that she had poor judgement and I got sick of her push and pull with Nick. I loved the message of the book which was to pick yourself back up even when everything seems lost. There is a quote that is used in the book a few times and I'm not sure if the authors of the book made it up or saw it somewhere but I loved it! It is actually the first portion of the blurb for the book. I thought that the story and the progression of it was just okay. I didn't really like how the book focused on Nick for so long and then all of the sudden Anna was the focus. It was a little disorienting to say the least. I would have liked for the book to have focused solely on Nick because it is already mentioned that Anna had had a low point in her life years ago. I don't feel like she needed to have any more focus on her than that in order to solidify the theme of being undefeated.

The Wrath and the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn #1) by Renee Ahdieh

🌟🌟🌟🌗 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:
One Life to One Dawn.

In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all.

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she'd imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It's an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid's life as retribution for the many lives he's stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?

I thought that this book was well done. I have only read one other book from this author but I have come to appreciate her storytelling skills. She is skilled at drawing the reader into the story and making them want more. I was curious to know what had made the king decide to murder so many young women and why Shahrzad would volunteer to be the bride to such a man. Shahrzad was a force to behold within the story. She showed no fear and pressed forward regardless of what consequences that she might face. She attempted to hide her intentions and emotions behind a clever facade but it was clear to see that she was struggling. She was faced with such conflict and guilt within herself. I felt that she and Khalid were very similar in that way. He had the weight of the world on his shoulders and was forced to make one of the most difficult decisions. I did not envy him of that. I did not realize just how much I was able to empathize with him until parts of him were revealed during the story. I came to appreciate each of the characters in the book such as Jalal and Tariq for their easy smiles and humor as well as their loyalty to their friends and family. I found many of the characters likeable so I cannot say who I am routing for in the race for Shahrzad's heart.
Although the story held my attention, it was a slow burn with not much happening within the pages. This book seemed to be more character driven in nature which was aided by Renee Ahdieh's ability to allow the reader to see into the personalities of each of them without explaining too much about them. Normally, that would irk me but the emotions and motives of the characters leapt off of the pages. It was clear to see that all of the characters had their own set of secrets that weighed heavily on them. Once some of the secrets are revealed, I was surprised by the direction that the author decided to take the story in. The characters did not react the way that I thought that they would. It was a pleasant surprise! The book ends with a feeling of uncertainty, at least for me, by having new alliances and motives of certain characters revealed.

She Asked For It by Willow Winters

BLURB
DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.
You’ll tell me you don’t… but you already think you know what my story’s about.

You have no idea.
Just like the people sitting in this courtroom.
She asked for it.  That’s what they keep saying.

And no, it’s not because my skirt was too short or I was drunk at a party.
It’s nothing like that.  It’s because of what I like and how I like it.

They’re judging me as I sit in the front row, my eyes drawn to the man on trial.
If I’d known it was going to end like this, I never would have gone home with him.
But he’s the type of man I just can’t say no to.

I wanted to feel his lips kiss down my neck.
I dreamed of running my fingers along the rough stubble on his jaw.
I craved his hands on me, pinning me down.
I needed to whisper his name in the dark, late at night.

You still think you know what happened? You don’t.
He’s innocent and I enjoyed every second I was with him.

Let me tell you my story … all about how I asked for it.
 
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AUTHOR BIO
Willow Winters is so happy to be a USA Today, Wall Street Journal and #1 Contemporary Bestselling Romance Author. She likes her action hot and her bad boys hotter. She certainly doesn’t hold back on either one in her writing!

Willow started writing after having her little girl, Evie, December 2015. All during her pregnancy with Evie she continued to read and she only wanted to read romance. She was reading a book a day — sometimes two.

In January 2016 Willow was staying up late with Evie and just thinking of all these stories. They came to her constantly so she finally sat down and just started writing. She always wanted to do it so she figured, why not? Today Willow cannot be happier for making that decision!
 
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The Last Girl on Earth by Alexandra Blogier

🌟🌟 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:
Raised among them.>

Li has a father and a sister who love her. A best friend, Mirabae, to share things with. She goes to school and hangs out at the beach and carefully follows the rules. She has to. Everyone she knows--her family, her teachers, her friends--is an alien. And she is the only human left on Earth.

A secret that could end her life.

The Abdoloreans hijacked the planet sixteen years ago, destroying all human life. Li's human-sympathizer father took her in as a baby and has trained her to pass as one of them. The Abdoloreans appear human. But they don't think with human minds or feel with human hearts. And they have special abilities no human could ever have.

Fit in or die.

When Li meets Ryn, she's swept up in a relationship that could have disastrous consequences. How far will Li go to stay alive? Will she save herself--and in turn, the human race--or will she be the final witness to humanity's destruction?

 

^{I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review}

^{The blurb for this book caught my attention right away. I thought that it was an interesting take on a person caught behind enemy lines. It made me curious about what Li's life would be like and how she would manage to hide amongst aliens for so long without raising suspicion. I also thought that the cover was a nice touch. I liked how prominent the stars on the cover were and how small Li was to denote how small she is in comparison to the aliens she is hiding from and the size of the universe as a whole.} 

^{I thought that the book started off well enough with Li describing what the earth looks like in the aftermath of the extinction of the human race and the aliens taking over the planet. Her point of view grew tiresome after a while because she didn't seem to think, act, or talk much like a human. I wanted to be able to see a distinction in her head as to how different she was from the aliens. I enjoyed the points in the story when her father is training her because she seemed more human. I thought that it was clever of the author to have included this as well as the explanation as to how she was able to blend in physically with aliens.} 

^{I feel like this story was more of a romance with SciFi blended into it. I would have liked for it to be more about Li and her ability to blend and survive. I appreciated the fact that the author didn't do the typical route with a book like this but I could have done without the romance. I also thought that the romance was rushed. It seemed like insta-love to me because Ryn sees her, wants to be with her all the time, and then before you know it they are announcing their love for each other.} 

^{I would have liked more world building. I feel like I was thrown into a world that I didn't fully understand. I didn't know how the alien society worked, why Li wanted the job that she did, and why the aliens wanted to settle on Earth in the first place. The author came up with such an interesting idea and I wanted to know more about the world that I found myself in.}