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Vanity
Vanity: excessive pride in or admiration of one's own appearance or achievements.
Eitel
I was living, but barely. Losses had left me broken. My mother couldn't care less. The only thing I had going for me was my looks. When an opportunity was thrown at my feet, I couldn't say no. I was going to be famous. Except, not everything was as it seemed.
Drugged. Kidnapped. Forced into a world I never agreed to.
My dream had become a nightmare.
Shepard
All I wanted was to live a quiet existence. I never expected a girl to appear in my backyard. Her body was battered and lifeless. I thought she was dead. My instincts kicked in, and I had to save her. But my world wasn't built for two. I wanted her gone, yet...
I didn't want to let her go.
Eitel
I was living, but barely. Losses had left me broken. My mother couldn't care less. The only thing I had going for me was my looks. When an opportunity was thrown at my feet, I couldn't say no. I was going to be famous. Except, not everything was as it seemed.
Drugged. Kidnapped. Forced into a world I never agreed to.
My dream had become a nightmare.
Shepard
All I wanted was to live a quiet existence. I never expected a girl to appear in my backyard. Her body was battered and lifeless. I thought she was dead. My instincts kicked in, and I had to save her. But my world wasn't built for two. I wanted her gone, yet...
I didn't want to let her go.
Unknown Binding
Published January 19, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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July 22, 2025I'm so excited for Vanity! This book is hitting me hard. I'm eager to share it with everyone.
I'll share an excerpt soon, but for now, a quote:
“Pride is a wound and vanity is the scab on it. One's life picks at the scab to open that wound again and again. Among men it seldom heals and often grows septic.”
-Michael Ayrton
I'll share an excerpt soon, but for now, a quote:
“Pride is a wound and vanity is the scab on it. One's life picks at the scab to open that wound again and again. Among men it seldom heals and often grows septic.”
-Michael Ayrton
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a hard review for me to write since I like Leah Holt's books but Vanity? Just didn't hit the spot for me. At all.
Some things I was not a fan of:
The length of the chapters.
While reading, there were several moments in most chapters that felt like perfect and natural endings for that particular chapter.
Instead the chapters continued. The arc for that part of the story was finished but instead of starting with the next part the story kind of flatlined for several more pages. To me it felt like I was being forced to hold my breath past the point of comfort.
Second thing was the ratio between narration and dialogue.
Obviously every review is subjective but especially this part. I'm just a big fan of the ratio leaning more towards dialogues. In my opinion it just makes for a smoother and livelier reading experience.
Vanity had too many parts in which I felt like I needed to force myself through an overlong narration to get to the next dialogue.
And a third thing: Am I a bad person because I expected Eitel to be a victim of a trafficking ring for a certain amount of time before she is able to safe herself (based on the blurb) ... And then I was disappointed because she escaped way sooner than I thought she would?
I guess what I want to say is that I expected this book to take us to way darker places then it did. I also think it would've made her into a more interesting character. The way the story went, (in my opinion) she remained this oblivious and very immature young girl until the end of the book. And I just couldn't relate to that level of nativity.
I guess if you're able to overclock these three facts, than you're good to go. But if you're used to characters with more depth than this might not be the book for you.
Some things I was not a fan of:
The length of the chapters.
While reading, there were several moments in most chapters that felt like perfect and natural endings for that particular chapter.
Instead the chapters continued. The arc for that part of the story was finished but instead of starting with the next part the story kind of flatlined for several more pages. To me it felt like I was being forced to hold my breath past the point of comfort.
Second thing was the ratio between narration and dialogue.
Obviously every review is subjective but especially this part. I'm just a big fan of the ratio leaning more towards dialogues. In my opinion it just makes for a smoother and livelier reading experience.
Vanity had too many parts in which I felt like I needed to force myself through an overlong narration to get to the next dialogue.
And a third thing: Am I a bad person because I expected Eitel to be a victim of a trafficking ring for a certain amount of time before she is able to safe herself (based on the blurb) ... And then I was disappointed because she escaped way sooner than I thought she would?
I guess what I want to say is that I expected this book to take us to way darker places then it did. I also think it would've made her into a more interesting character. The way the story went, (in my opinion) she remained this oblivious and very immature young girl until the end of the book. And I just couldn't relate to that level of nativity.
I guess if you're able to overclock these three facts, than you're good to go. But if you're used to characters with more depth than this might not be the book for you.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dark Romantic Suspense!
Eitel is a naive young women hoping to create a better life. She gets an invitation to become the next top model. She jumps at the chance and drives cross country to the southwest dessert. She is to meet her contact in a very seedy, rundown bar. It is isolated and there are only two people there. Eventually a man comes to meet her but it isn’t who she expected. He convinces her to go out into the desert for a photo shoot. She finally starts to get worried when they tell her to put on a see-through negligée. They take numerous photos until the sun is setting. She accepts a bottle of water and instantly becomes woozy. When she awakens she is locked in a seedy room with no windows and a mattress on the floor. When a woman comes in she explains in a sneering and cruel way the Eitel is now her property and she is to be sold to the highest bidder. We’ll better late than never. Eitel gets auctioned to an older scary man. When he takes her to another room she manages to get away. she runs for miles into the desert. She is realizing that she is going to g to die. But wakes up in a strange man’s home. He found her just in time. Can she trust him? Is he part of the trafficking ring?
This story gripped me from page one. I was yelling at her all the way. “Turn back!” “Don’t go with him!” My poor cat thought she was in trouble.
I thoroughly enjoyed every twist and turn. The danger and suspense kept me reading into the wee hours.
Eitel is a naive young women hoping to create a better life. She gets an invitation to become the next top model. She jumps at the chance and drives cross country to the southwest dessert. She is to meet her contact in a very seedy, rundown bar. It is isolated and there are only two people there. Eventually a man comes to meet her but it isn’t who she expected. He convinces her to go out into the desert for a photo shoot. She finally starts to get worried when they tell her to put on a see-through negligée. They take numerous photos until the sun is setting. She accepts a bottle of water and instantly becomes woozy. When she awakens she is locked in a seedy room with no windows and a mattress on the floor. When a woman comes in she explains in a sneering and cruel way the Eitel is now her property and she is to be sold to the highest bidder. We’ll better late than never. Eitel gets auctioned to an older scary man. When he takes her to another room she manages to get away. she runs for miles into the desert. She is realizing that she is going to g to die. But wakes up in a strange man’s home. He found her just in time. Can she trust him? Is he part of the trafficking ring?
This story gripped me from page one. I was yelling at her all the way. “Turn back!” “Don’t go with him!” My poor cat thought she was in trouble.
I thoroughly enjoyed every twist and turn. The danger and suspense kept me reading into the wee hours.
January 19, 2026
Eitel has been beautiful all her life. She always wanted to be a model. Her mother is an alcoholic who tells her she won’t make it. Eitel has been working as a stripper in Rhode Island when a man approached her to recruit her as a model. Eitel went to Texas and she was drugged and kidnapped and was sold. Eitel jumped out a window after running away from the man who bought her. She ran through the desert and ended up getting stung by a scorpion. Eitel woke up in a cabin with a man she didn’t know. Shepard is running from his past. He has lived in the desert for years. He was out hunting for rabbits when he saw Eitel. Eitel was close to death but Shepard saved her, he used to be a doctor in another life. Eitel didn’t trust Shepard and he didn’t trust her. The more time they spent together they grew to love each other. One night Eitel woke up to what she thought was rain but it was actually Leslie the woman who had sold her. Leslie is Shepard’s sister. Will Leslie take Eitel back? Was Shepard working with his sister the whole time? Will Shepard be sucked back in with Leslie? Will Shepard and Eitel find love and happiness together?
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Splendid Romance!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Splendid Romance!
Review of advance copy
This book grabbed me and held on to me until the very end. Eitel is a young and naive young lady, with dreams of becoming more. When she was told she was selected as the next top model, she goes off to meet the prime so she can change her future. But when she comes upon a seedy joint, she’s starting to worry. Only two people there. Her contact meets her and takes her off to the desert. After hours of photos she grabs a drink of water and gets dizzy. Waking up in an another seedy place to only be told by a woman that she owns her and auctions her off to a nasty old guy. She’s able to get free and runs. But it’s hot, she has no idea where to go.
Shepard funds her in his yard. Takes her in and brings her back to health.
This book emotionally wrecks you. It shatters your heart. You get angry at her decisions, but have to remember how naive she is and how easily it is to dangle an amazing future in front of young persons eyes. This tugged at my heart strings. I was hurt and angry. I felt my heart clench so many times.
This was a truly emotional but amazing book.
Shepard funds her in his yard. Takes her in and brings her back to health.
This book emotionally wrecks you. It shatters your heart. You get angry at her decisions, but have to remember how naive she is and how easily it is to dangle an amazing future in front of young persons eyes. This tugged at my heart strings. I was hurt and angry. I felt my heart clench so many times.
This was a truly emotional but amazing book.
Review of advance copy
With this story the author took you on one wild ride. Eitel only wanted to be a model and to get away from her mom but stardom comes with a cost. She was approached at her job as a stripper by a man that stated he could make her a model. Gave her his card and told her to call him. And that's where the rollercoaster ride begins. First she's doing a photo shoot for her portfolio and the next thing she knows she's waking up in an unknown house tied up. First chance she gets she makes a run for it the only thing is there's a desert in between her and freedom. She unexpectedly meets Shepard who saves her life and she gets a second chance at living. Little did she know she still wasn't out of the woods yet. Shepard knows Eitel is lying to him and keeping secrets but he will do anything to keep her safe from the demons that are chasing her. This was a fantastic book one that will keep you on the edge of your seat and definitely has some twists and turns. I highly recommend this story. It was so good.
January 20, 2026
Contains triggers (human trafficking and some graphic violence) 18+ recommended.
I wasn't quite sure where this story was going to lead but then the pieces fell into place. Eitel was as naive as she could be, but she was stupid and just in denial. As I read Eitel's story, I was trying to understand how Vanity was the title. As I read I began to understand a little bit, but understood how she felt this way.
She escapes and is found by Shepard. He has his own story, but he takes care of Eitel even though he likes his solitude. After Eitel tells her story, he's furious and will do anything to protect her. Why because his past is going to intrude on his present.
Two broken souls that maybe were meant to be together? Or not. 🤔
Leah is a great writer. I was captured from the beginning. She knows how to catch the reader and keep them intrigued. Easy to follow and a wonderful storyline (minus the bad stuff).
~ARC provided in return for an honest review~
I wasn't quite sure where this story was going to lead but then the pieces fell into place. Eitel was as naive as she could be, but she was stupid and just in denial. As I read Eitel's story, I was trying to understand how Vanity was the title. As I read I began to understand a little bit, but understood how she felt this way.
She escapes and is found by Shepard. He has his own story, but he takes care of Eitel even though he likes his solitude. After Eitel tells her story, he's furious and will do anything to protect her. Why because his past is going to intrude on his present.
Two broken souls that maybe were meant to be together? Or not. 🤔
Leah is a great writer. I was captured from the beginning. She knows how to catch the reader and keep them intrigued. Easy to follow and a wonderful storyline (minus the bad stuff).
~ARC provided in return for an honest review~
Review of advance copy received from Author
At first I'm not sure I liked Eitel, she just seemed so naive I wanted to yell at her thru the pages how silly she was being. But I guess when you believe in a dream, you will believe almost anything. I feel sorry for these poor girls that get sucked into a life thru lies. She saved herself tho, and made it out at the best possible time, only to be saved by Shepard. Thru saving her and nursing her back to health it seems she saved this man that wanted nothing to do with anyone at all. There is one crazy twist at the end I definitely was not expecting. What a great read!
January 19, 2026
Eitel is young and naive and when approached with a lucrative contract to be the next model she jumps at the chance only to find herself at the mercy of horrible people and being kept hostage and sold to the highest bidder. Her luck is looking up when she escapes and ends up in Shepard’s yard and he brings her back from the brink. Shepard will do anything to keep her safe, but she’s not being honest with him. Their story is a rollercoaster ride of emotions, thrilling and suspenseful and you won’t see the ending coming. Must read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Eitel was like so many thinking her dream had come true only to discover it was her worst nightmare. While this is not a story for the faint of heart it is compelling and in some respects a cautionary tale. Rescued from certain death in the desert by Shepard a love story begins but it is not your typical love story. Tte twist at the end I did not see coming but made perfect sense and the epilogue wa heartwarming.
January 19, 2026
I've not read anything by Leah for a while so was chomping at the bit for Vanity.
From the start I was glued to the pages, it's been years since I've read anything like this and it's reminded me why I love it so much.
The thrill and suspense had me on the edge of my seat
The ending knocked me on my arse and there's not much that surprises me but that. I did not see coming.
Definitely worth the read.
From the start I was glued to the pages, it's been years since I've read anything like this and it's reminded me why I love it so much.
The thrill and suspense had me on the edge of my seat
The ending knocked me on my arse and there's not much that surprises me but that. I did not see coming.
Definitely worth the read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
My first by Leah Holt. What a unique story and name for the FMC, Eitel leaves Rhode Island naively for a model opportunity. Now without her doing it she would not have met Shepherd and fell in love but really there were so many red flags. She had reservations but ignored them. Leslie was a vile woman. Good intro read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews