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Captive
With a twist that literally takes your breath away!
Just a few days away from their civil ceremony, Hugo and Ben's lives couldn’t be more perfect. Hugo is a talented assistant curator at a local art museum, while Ben is a successful advertising executive. Everyone views them as the 'dream couple' - with the exception of Ben’s snooty, disapproving mother.
Their long awaited honeymoon vacation to South Africa had finally arrived and it had become everything they'd hoped for. Then on their last day, the two handsome men find themselves lured by adventurous sexual fantasies - surrendering to the temptation of extramarital affairs. Unfortunately for Ben, it costs him his freedom.
Torn apart by a kidnapping, an abductor that wants payment beyond the usual monetary ransom, Hugo’s world is turned upside down as he tries all he can to locate his man.
Slowly, he becomes exposed to a world of crime and BDSM tucked beneath the murky shadows of beautiful Cape Town. But with the help of new friends, Hugo has the strength to remain hopeful and optimistic that he’ll soon see Ben again.
The story of Hugo and Ben will have you continuously guessing as it takes you down the most unexpected paths. This book is a journey of love and heartbreak, with a twist that will literally take your breath away. Be prepared to become ensnared in a mysterious web of intrigue as one man’s search for his husband leads to self-discovery and tragedy.
Just a few days away from their civil ceremony, Hugo and Ben's lives couldn’t be more perfect. Hugo is a talented assistant curator at a local art museum, while Ben is a successful advertising executive. Everyone views them as the 'dream couple' - with the exception of Ben’s snooty, disapproving mother.
Their long awaited honeymoon vacation to South Africa had finally arrived and it had become everything they'd hoped for. Then on their last day, the two handsome men find themselves lured by adventurous sexual fantasies - surrendering to the temptation of extramarital affairs. Unfortunately for Ben, it costs him his freedom.
Torn apart by a kidnapping, an abductor that wants payment beyond the usual monetary ransom, Hugo’s world is turned upside down as he tries all he can to locate his man.
Slowly, he becomes exposed to a world of crime and BDSM tucked beneath the murky shadows of beautiful Cape Town. But with the help of new friends, Hugo has the strength to remain hopeful and optimistic that he’ll soon see Ben again.
The story of Hugo and Ben will have you continuously guessing as it takes you down the most unexpected paths. This book is a journey of love and heartbreak, with a twist that will literally take your breath away. Be prepared to become ensnared in a mysterious web of intrigue as one man’s search for his husband leads to self-discovery and tragedy.
211 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 24, 2013
The perfect couple marry and go off on a beautiful honeymoon in South Africa. Hugo and Ben are a gay "power couple". They are in their mid-twenties and life is good. They love each other. They have great jobs and they are getting married! What more could they want from life?
With a set up like this, how can it go wrong? This story is just messed up for me. I'm not a big fan of cheating. It's one thing if it is an open relationship. Poly relationships are fine and actually quite arousing. In this one, it almost feels like a one-upmanship which is unappealing. Hugo and Ben come across as flirty sluts. With them being young, gorgeous and well hung, it's understandable. It also makes them rather shallow.
The characters in this story don't do it for me. I'm neither a fan of Hugo nor Ben. It's not that they make mistakes or that they aren't perfect. It's their lack of respect and consideration for their lover which is disappointing. They play into the perception that gay males are not able to commit because they will fuck anything in sight.
The plot of this story is what makes it interesting. The twists and turns do generate a good suspense. It keeps the reader guessing and wondering what will happen next. Some of the behaviours of the characters don't make sense. Hugo's behaviour with a hotel staff member and then later on at a club seems out of character. The secondary characters are also odd. Why would anyone offer up their home to a stranger to stay in? This is just bizarre to me.
The BDSM part is more to illicit shock than anything else. The gang banging and bondage scenes are definitely non-con. They fall in the spank bank fantasy world because these can't actually be done for this period of time without serious injury or death. There does happen to be death because one of the scenes is snuff play. Snuff is not one of the fetishes I enjoy. Reading about it doesn't arouse me. It's obviously popular as there are a plethora of BDSM snuff free fiction available. Not my kink.
While the BDSM scenes of torture can be considered graphic, they don't actually cause much emotion. This is because it's written in a manner which is a bit boring. It comes across as IKEA sex. Slip A into Slot B. Slip C into slot D. This is especially apparent in the spit roasting of Ben. Where's the emotion? Where's the dirty talking? If Ben were to describe his horror or if the "evil" kidnapper were to express their arousal at the depravity, it would have been more interesting. Perhaps describe physically how Ben feels as his ass is pummeled over and over again. Does his anus feel ripped up like glass shards stabbing into him? Does he feel his anal rim pulsing due to being swollen from all the hard thrusting? What about fisting? Does his eyes roll back and he scream raggedly as a thick meaty fist punches into his gut? Does he cry out as he feels the hard edges of a ring on a guy's fist as his raw insides are scraped bloody? No, no such details are provided. For a kidnapping rape-fest, this is rather mild with common sexual fantasy glossed over and fading into black.
This tale almost felt like two disjointed stories taped together. There's Hugo's sexual awakening after his marriage and life without Ben. Then there is Ben's kidnapping and mental breakdown. While these two characters are tied together by marriage, there is very little interaction between them to present a couple in love. They say it repeatedly, but it's not apparent. Because it doesn't feel as if Hugo and Ben are so closely bonded, their separation loses the emotional impact required to generate angst in the reader. This can be seen through Hugo's actions. Within days of Ben's disappearance, he's jacking off into a huge crowd at a nightclub and sleeping with other men. This is within a week of his marriage.
This story's resolution is a bit out there. While the journey from beginning to end is curious, the ending is a letdown. It's not a happily ever after which is fine. I feel disillusioned with Ben's behaviour, who he ends up with and how another happy couple's life is wrecked. And yet, Ben ends up with a good life. This m/m kinky tale is for those who enjoy unusual suspense with a dark undertone.
*provided by BDSM Book Reviews
With a set up like this, how can it go wrong? This story is just messed up for me. I'm not a big fan of cheating. It's one thing if it is an open relationship. Poly relationships are fine and actually quite arousing. In this one, it almost feels like a one-upmanship which is unappealing. Hugo and Ben come across as flirty sluts. With them being young, gorgeous and well hung, it's understandable. It also makes them rather shallow.
The characters in this story don't do it for me. I'm neither a fan of Hugo nor Ben. It's not that they make mistakes or that they aren't perfect. It's their lack of respect and consideration for their lover which is disappointing. They play into the perception that gay males are not able to commit because they will fuck anything in sight.
The plot of this story is what makes it interesting. The twists and turns do generate a good suspense. It keeps the reader guessing and wondering what will happen next. Some of the behaviours of the characters don't make sense. Hugo's behaviour with a hotel staff member and then later on at a club seems out of character. The secondary characters are also odd. Why would anyone offer up their home to a stranger to stay in? This is just bizarre to me.
The BDSM part is more to illicit shock than anything else. The gang banging and bondage scenes are definitely non-con. They fall in the spank bank fantasy world because these can't actually be done for this period of time without serious injury or death. There does happen to be death because one of the scenes is snuff play. Snuff is not one of the fetishes I enjoy. Reading about it doesn't arouse me. It's obviously popular as there are a plethora of BDSM snuff free fiction available. Not my kink.
While the BDSM scenes of torture can be considered graphic, they don't actually cause much emotion. This is because it's written in a manner which is a bit boring. It comes across as IKEA sex. Slip A into Slot B. Slip C into slot D. This is especially apparent in the spit roasting of Ben. Where's the emotion? Where's the dirty talking? If Ben were to describe his horror or if the "evil" kidnapper were to express their arousal at the depravity, it would have been more interesting. Perhaps describe physically how Ben feels as his ass is pummeled over and over again. Does his anus feel ripped up like glass shards stabbing into him? Does he feel his anal rim pulsing due to being swollen from all the hard thrusting? What about fisting? Does his eyes roll back and he scream raggedly as a thick meaty fist punches into his gut? Does he cry out as he feels the hard edges of a ring on a guy's fist as his raw insides are scraped bloody? No, no such details are provided. For a kidnapping rape-fest, this is rather mild with common sexual fantasy glossed over and fading into black.
This tale almost felt like two disjointed stories taped together. There's Hugo's sexual awakening after his marriage and life without Ben. Then there is Ben's kidnapping and mental breakdown. While these two characters are tied together by marriage, there is very little interaction between them to present a couple in love. They say it repeatedly, but it's not apparent. Because it doesn't feel as if Hugo and Ben are so closely bonded, their separation loses the emotional impact required to generate angst in the reader. This can be seen through Hugo's actions. Within days of Ben's disappearance, he's jacking off into a huge crowd at a nightclub and sleeping with other men. This is within a week of his marriage.
This story's resolution is a bit out there. While the journey from beginning to end is curious, the ending is a letdown. It's not a happily ever after which is fine. I feel disillusioned with Ben's behaviour, who he ends up with and how another happy couple's life is wrecked. And yet, Ben ends up with a good life. This m/m kinky tale is for those who enjoy unusual suspense with a dark undertone.
*provided by BDSM Book Reviews
August 5, 2013
I'll make no bones about it, Captive is a dark and disturbing tale. I'm not surprised that it only rated 2* on a M/M romance website, as the two main characters certainly don't walk off into the sunset, hand-in-hand, to live together happily ever after. It was clever of the author to base the story in Cape Town. As someone who lived there for some years, I can attest to the unease of living there, and the dark undercurrent that Ellis paints is only too believable. There's a great deal of sex in the book, some almost uncomfortably visceral, but there's also tenderness. There's a sweet sub-plot that runs through the book of Hugo and his academic pursuit of the French artist Poussin, which I thought was an effective counterpoint alongside all the twists and turns of the plot. Ellis brings his background as a doctor realistically into various clinical scenes; he's also done his homework into police procedural matters. The final denouement is chilling and left me in no doubt about who was really pulling the strings. I finished the book with a feeling of uneasiness, which isn't the most comfortable feeling; a bit like a Holywood movie without a conventional happy ending. Captive isn't a great book, but it's certainly a very good read. Snip, snip...
August 4, 2013
David Ellis' novel Captive is remarkably different from most thrillers written for the popular marketplace. For one, the story is told from the perspective of a gay man in a committed relationship with his life partner, to whom he has just married. Even today, as homosexuality becomes more accepted throughout western societies, there is still a tendency for even left-leaning publishers to steer clear of such material, regardless of the fact that millions of gay men worldwide provide an excellent opportunity to market this type of fiction. So it is refreshing to see the thriller genre that has become somewhat stagnant in recent years, receive a healthy infusion of originality and energy that Ellis' book provides.
On the surface, the plot seems simple enough. While honeymooning in South Africa, Hugo's husband Ben goes missing. At first, the distraught Hugo doesn't know what to do and relies on the help of authorities in order to try and locate his missing lover. When it becomes apparent, however, that there are more sinister forces at play, Hugo has to investigate the matter for himself. As a thriller, this novel works excellently because we see as Hugo struggles with learning the basics of investigation, uncovering information, and deciding where to proceed for the best results. We empathize with his initial setbacks and feel his jubilation when he finally makes hard-earned breaks in the case.
As with many modern thrillers, Captive is a dark and seedy story that concerns an underworld foreign to most readers. Hugo's descent into the darkness, as he learns more of Ben's fate, is a riveting experience for the reader. It is a journey through crime rings and underground BDSM clubs that eventually leads our hero to his own outcome and the story's conclusion. The whole journey is like a wild roller coaster ride that rarely relents and transforms this work into a thrill ride of sex and violence.
Gay men, in particular, will no doubt find much to enjoy from the story. Those who are married or have life partners will certainly see similarities between themselves and the characters of Hugo and Ben. This ability to relate to these characters is what ultimately makes Captive such a powerful story. Ellis expertly builds up the relationship between the two men so that when Ben eventually goes missing, Hugo's sense of urgency and obsession with finding out what happened helps to accelerate the intensity that carries on through to the novel's end. Simply put, if you're sick and tired of reading boring thrillers that exclusively have hetero characters, then Captive may be an excellent choice for your summer reading list.
On the surface, the plot seems simple enough. While honeymooning in South Africa, Hugo's husband Ben goes missing. At first, the distraught Hugo doesn't know what to do and relies on the help of authorities in order to try and locate his missing lover. When it becomes apparent, however, that there are more sinister forces at play, Hugo has to investigate the matter for himself. As a thriller, this novel works excellently because we see as Hugo struggles with learning the basics of investigation, uncovering information, and deciding where to proceed for the best results. We empathize with his initial setbacks and feel his jubilation when he finally makes hard-earned breaks in the case.
As with many modern thrillers, Captive is a dark and seedy story that concerns an underworld foreign to most readers. Hugo's descent into the darkness, as he learns more of Ben's fate, is a riveting experience for the reader. It is a journey through crime rings and underground BDSM clubs that eventually leads our hero to his own outcome and the story's conclusion. The whole journey is like a wild roller coaster ride that rarely relents and transforms this work into a thrill ride of sex and violence.
Gay men, in particular, will no doubt find much to enjoy from the story. Those who are married or have life partners will certainly see similarities between themselves and the characters of Hugo and Ben. This ability to relate to these characters is what ultimately makes Captive such a powerful story. Ellis expertly builds up the relationship between the two men so that when Ben eventually goes missing, Hugo's sense of urgency and obsession with finding out what happened helps to accelerate the intensity that carries on through to the novel's end. Simply put, if you're sick and tired of reading boring thrillers that exclusively have hetero characters, then Captive may be an excellent choice for your summer reading list.
August 5, 2013
Ellis writes a compelling story where two gay men are celebrating their honeymoon in Capetown. But Ben cheats on Hugo during their stay. This won't help disprove the perpetual stereotype that gay men are promiscuous, but I digress.
There are some very graphic yet brilliantly written sex scenes but the plot has so much more than just that.
Ben's infidelity costs him dearly. And without giving the plot away, the author weaves the reader in and out of where you think the story is going next. That made reading this book fun.
There are some very graphic yet brilliantly written sex scenes but the plot has so much more than just that.
Ben's infidelity costs him dearly. And without giving the plot away, the author weaves the reader in and out of where you think the story is going next. That made reading this book fun.
tbr2_read-now_tip-top-pile
October 17, 2013Grabbed from Lulu.com along with a PL Nunn comic art book. I am excited. :D
September 24, 2013
Let’s start with the warnings. Some readers might find some of the scenes in this book disturbing. If you don’t want to read about cheating, rape, kidnapping, torture, or murder, you should not read this book. You also shouldn’t read this book if you are in the mood for a romance. Captive is erotic and does center around the relationship between Hugo and Ben, but I would not call it a romance.
I’ve probably lost the majority of potential readers with that first paragraph, so I’m going to assume the people still reading are open to the possibility of reading a book like this. I don’t want anyone to walk away thinking that I gave Captive a low rating because I only review romances. Obviously, I read a lot of them, but my love for reading began with suspense and thrillers. I would even say psychological thrillers are a favorite of mine. I’m not a proponent of murder, cheating, or rape in real life, but I have no issues reading about any of them in fiction. I generally enjoy books which are too dark and disturbing for most readers. The lack of focus on a romance had nothing to do with my rating. I actually thought the premise of the book was very good. I took issue with the characters, their reactions, and their conversations.
I liked Hugo and Ben when I first met them. At first glance they seemed to be the perfect, idyllic couple, but that illusion was quickly corrected as their reality set in. They were a normal couple under a lot of stress and dealing with their own problems. I was enjoying them right up until the time Hugo noticed Ben was missing. It was at that point where I started feeling Hugo’s reactions were unnatural. I found his actions in the hours and days following Ben’s abduction to be unbelievably strange, and therefore lost any connection I had going with him. His lack of emotion was probably the biggest downfall in my opinion. I wanted to experience the horror of Ben’s situation, but it was conveyed with too much cold detachment when seen from his point of view. I understand why Ben was portrayed in such a way, I just wish Hugo had brought forth some of the emotional anguish the situation called for.
The side characters didn’t fare much better with me. I think that in real life most people are a mixture of both good and bad. My issue with the characters was that they came off as being either extremely bad (Ben’s parents) or extremely good (Hugo’s mom). They were too one-dimensional. If they had been more developed, they might have had more depth and been more balanced. That would have gone a long way to making them more believable for me.
Another thing which seemed odd to me was that just about every man involved in the investigation of Ben’s kidnapping was gay by the end of the book. I felt like I had been thrown into a fantasy world where everyone was gay. I’m not opposed to gay fantasy worlds, but I do like them to be somewhat believable. To make matters worse, you would think insta-love is a communicable disease with how often it happened for them.
The conversations between characters were another problem. I was constantly being pulled out of the story because of them. They came across as being disjointed and stilted. I absolutely could not see real people speaking to each other like that.
When I combined all of that together, I came to the conclusion that it was the writing style I had the hardest time getting over because it made the overall flow of the story too awkward. The initial premise was good, but my issues with the writing style were quick to overshadow that. I wanted to feel invested in the story and have some connection with the characters, but I never got there. I’m sorry to say it, but this was a very disappointing read for me.
1.5 stars
I’ve probably lost the majority of potential readers with that first paragraph, so I’m going to assume the people still reading are open to the possibility of reading a book like this. I don’t want anyone to walk away thinking that I gave Captive a low rating because I only review romances. Obviously, I read a lot of them, but my love for reading began with suspense and thrillers. I would even say psychological thrillers are a favorite of mine. I’m not a proponent of murder, cheating, or rape in real life, but I have no issues reading about any of them in fiction. I generally enjoy books which are too dark and disturbing for most readers. The lack of focus on a romance had nothing to do with my rating. I actually thought the premise of the book was very good. I took issue with the characters, their reactions, and their conversations.
I liked Hugo and Ben when I first met them. At first glance they seemed to be the perfect, idyllic couple, but that illusion was quickly corrected as their reality set in. They were a normal couple under a lot of stress and dealing with their own problems. I was enjoying them right up until the time Hugo noticed Ben was missing. It was at that point where I started feeling Hugo’s reactions were unnatural. I found his actions in the hours and days following Ben’s abduction to be unbelievably strange, and therefore lost any connection I had going with him. His lack of emotion was probably the biggest downfall in my opinion. I wanted to experience the horror of Ben’s situation, but it was conveyed with too much cold detachment when seen from his point of view. I understand why Ben was portrayed in such a way, I just wish Hugo had brought forth some of the emotional anguish the situation called for.
The side characters didn’t fare much better with me. I think that in real life most people are a mixture of both good and bad. My issue with the characters was that they came off as being either extremely bad (Ben’s parents) or extremely good (Hugo’s mom). They were too one-dimensional. If they had been more developed, they might have had more depth and been more balanced. That would have gone a long way to making them more believable for me.
Another thing which seemed odd to me was that just about every man involved in the investigation of Ben’s kidnapping was gay by the end of the book. I felt like I had been thrown into a fantasy world where everyone was gay. I’m not opposed to gay fantasy worlds, but I do like them to be somewhat believable. To make matters worse, you would think insta-love is a communicable disease with how often it happened for them.
The conversations between characters were another problem. I was constantly being pulled out of the story because of them. They came across as being disjointed and stilted. I absolutely could not see real people speaking to each other like that.
When I combined all of that together, I came to the conclusion that it was the writing style I had the hardest time getting over because it made the overall flow of the story too awkward. The initial premise was good, but my issues with the writing style were quick to overshadow that. I wanted to feel invested in the story and have some connection with the characters, but I never got there. I’m sorry to say it, but this was a very disappointing read for me.
1.5 stars
July 11, 2013
2 - 2 1/2 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
WARNING: Some readers may find some scenes disturbing, Kidnapping, Rape, Murder.
Ben and Hugo are looking forward to their wedding and honeymoon, with only one or two niggles bothering them. Enjoying their honeymoon to the fullest the pair have a great time until the last day, when both men succumb to temptation but one of them lands in great danger. Hugo’s world is turned upside-down as Ben’s predicament becomes known. Someone from Ben’s past is pulling the strings for their own amusement and monetary gain and he has no plans on letting Ben slip through his long reaching grasp. As Hugo searches for husband and prays for his safe return he meets new friends. As the journey is continued love and loss are discovered.
Okay this story shows the dark side of BDSM, it shows people who prey on others and it shows, that sometimes, love just isn’t enough. Even though Ben loves Hugo he is very much led around by his dick, Hugo isn’t happy with Ben’s promiscuous behaviour but he loves the man so lets it go. On their honeymoon Hugo gives into temptation when Ben is sunning himself by the pool, but Ben is far from innocent as he slinks off for a tryst only to find himself bound and gagged. As Hugo frantically searches for his husband he makes new friends who help and support him, but as Ben’s captivity unfolds Hugo has to wonder if he will ever get his man back. Ben is used, abused and drugged and his recovery is far from over but the psychological effect are what everyone worries about and they are right to be concerned when his unconscious actions lead to tragedy.
I will be the first to admit that this story wasn’t for me, I don’t like cheating so it started on the wrong note for me when Hugo is thinking of Ben’s indiscretion with his best man before the wedding, it doesn’t get much better when Ben is openly suggesting threesomes and sleeping with other people. I also couldn’t understand what a man like Hugo was doing with such a self-centred prick but each to his own. The story got better as it delved into the psychological effects of the kidnapping and abuse and the glimpse it gave us of Ben and his actions after.
The writing was a bit stilted so it didn’t quite drag us into the horror of what is happening. The storyline left a distinct bad taste in my mouth for how all the men wanted to sleep with others and how they fell in love at the drop of the hat, I also found the last parts of the book harder to swallow and hated Ben for his lack of compassion and grief. I will also warn you that the loving couple at the beginning isn’t the same loving couple we find at the end. I will admit that the story premise was a good one but there were too many things that I personally found distasteful, especially the characters who had the emotional commitment of a gnat.
I will recommend this to those who love dark BDSM, kidnapping and sexual abuse, an interesting story premise and a happy for now ending.
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
WARNING: Some readers may find some scenes disturbing, Kidnapping, Rape, Murder.
Ben and Hugo are looking forward to their wedding and honeymoon, with only one or two niggles bothering them. Enjoying their honeymoon to the fullest the pair have a great time until the last day, when both men succumb to temptation but one of them lands in great danger. Hugo’s world is turned upside-down as Ben’s predicament becomes known. Someone from Ben’s past is pulling the strings for their own amusement and monetary gain and he has no plans on letting Ben slip through his long reaching grasp. As Hugo searches for husband and prays for his safe return he meets new friends. As the journey is continued love and loss are discovered.
Okay this story shows the dark side of BDSM, it shows people who prey on others and it shows, that sometimes, love just isn’t enough. Even though Ben loves Hugo he is very much led around by his dick, Hugo isn’t happy with Ben’s promiscuous behaviour but he loves the man so lets it go. On their honeymoon Hugo gives into temptation when Ben is sunning himself by the pool, but Ben is far from innocent as he slinks off for a tryst only to find himself bound and gagged. As Hugo frantically searches for his husband he makes new friends who help and support him, but as Ben’s captivity unfolds Hugo has to wonder if he will ever get his man back. Ben is used, abused and drugged and his recovery is far from over but the psychological effect are what everyone worries about and they are right to be concerned when his unconscious actions lead to tragedy.
I will be the first to admit that this story wasn’t for me, I don’t like cheating so it started on the wrong note for me when Hugo is thinking of Ben’s indiscretion with his best man before the wedding, it doesn’t get much better when Ben is openly suggesting threesomes and sleeping with other people. I also couldn’t understand what a man like Hugo was doing with such a self-centred prick but each to his own. The story got better as it delved into the psychological effects of the kidnapping and abuse and the glimpse it gave us of Ben and his actions after.
The writing was a bit stilted so it didn’t quite drag us into the horror of what is happening. The storyline left a distinct bad taste in my mouth for how all the men wanted to sleep with others and how they fell in love at the drop of the hat, I also found the last parts of the book harder to swallow and hated Ben for his lack of compassion and grief. I will also warn you that the loving couple at the beginning isn’t the same loving couple we find at the end. I will admit that the story premise was a good one but there were too many things that I personally found distasteful, especially the characters who had the emotional commitment of a gnat.
I will recommend this to those who love dark BDSM, kidnapping and sexual abuse, an interesting story premise and a happy for now ending.
December 21, 2013
This review was originally written for Joyfully Jay Reviews.
2 stars
Wow. This book was unlike any I’ve read before. Originality can be a good thing, and was one of the reasons I chose this book, based upon the creative yet strange premise. First of all, I can accept and, in fact, relish a whole lot of kink. For a lot of people, they wouldn’t have gotten past the first 10 pages. There are a lot of hot-button issues here that could alienate a significant number of readers. There’s an awful lot of cheating, and I mean cheating between two people in a committed relationship days after they tie the knot. There’s abuse, torture, rape, and all manner of horrific sex crimes performed and described in detail. I suppose there’s a HFN, but it’s not at all what you’d expect, and is not very satisfying.
Read Amy's review in it's entirety here.
2 stars
Wow. This book was unlike any I’ve read before. Originality can be a good thing, and was one of the reasons I chose this book, based upon the creative yet strange premise. First of all, I can accept and, in fact, relish a whole lot of kink. For a lot of people, they wouldn’t have gotten past the first 10 pages. There are a lot of hot-button issues here that could alienate a significant number of readers. There’s an awful lot of cheating, and I mean cheating between two people in a committed relationship days after they tie the knot. There’s abuse, torture, rape, and all manner of horrific sex crimes performed and described in detail. I suppose there’s a HFN, but it’s not at all what you’d expect, and is not very satisfying.
Read Amy's review in it's entirety here.
February 11, 2021
This was a refreshing tale, and I adored the dark and ominous thread that unsettled me but continued all the way through to the end. A M/M ‘romance’ with BDSM, crime, thrills and more – this is a difficult book to place in any particular genre.
A story that shows the stark truth of life: that sometimes you need more than love, this is a book that resonated with me. Gritty and real, I found myself truly caring about the characters and what would happen to them. Hugo and Ben are the dream couple, but can their relationship survive betrayal?
I recommend this to those that don’t necessarily want the happy-ever-after, and want more of a realism to their tale.
Smooth writing and great prose makes this an easy technical read.
August 4, 2013
A good read but definitely in the dark, psychological thriller category rather than M/M romance. The author has clearly done his homework and the sex scenes leave little to the imagination, although to good effect. As a gay man in a civil partnership, the book got me thinking a lot about relationships and how easily they can be upset by outside influences. In some ways I identified with both Ben and Hugo, but ultimately decided that the mysterious Greg was the character that impressed me most. In short, I think it's a very good book and I'd recommend it to anyone with an open mind.
October 5, 2013
So I bought this book and: This is my opinion and my opinion alone, and I have the right to express my opinion. because yeah, I paid for it!! (And something about freedom of speech I think)
I dont even know where to start..hmmm.. well I didnt finish it.. Stupid characters and stupid characters and i did not believe it. Nothing made sense really, partner disappears-> well why not have sex with the staff or something?....
Im very disapointed and wish refund was possible on kindle :(
I dont even know where to start..hmmm.. well I didnt finish it.. Stupid characters and stupid characters and i did not believe it. Nothing made sense really, partner disappears-> well why not have sex with the staff or something?....
Im very disapointed and wish refund was possible on kindle :(
September 7, 2016
2 Stars. Review to Come.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews