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King's Captive
For three years, I've belonged to Julius King.
Some people would think being stuck on a private island is heaven, but this is my hell.
Because I'm not here as a guest. Not even close. I'm a prisoner. I'm his.
Julius King. Powerful. Wealthy. Dangerous.
There are parts of me he wants that I can't give him. When he looks at me, there are times I swear he sees someone else. And the scary part is that sometimes, when he touches me, I think he may be someone else, too.
Though my body might be tempted, and he might control everything else, I can't let him have any piece of my heart. I won't. But every day, the fight gets harder, and Julius manages to slip past my defenses in the most unexpected ways.
I have to find out the truth about Julius King. Even if it destroys me.
Some people would think being stuck on a private island is heaven, but this is my hell.
Because I'm not here as a guest. Not even close. I'm a prisoner. I'm his.
Julius King. Powerful. Wealthy. Dangerous.
There are parts of me he wants that I can't give him. When he looks at me, there are times I swear he sees someone else. And the scary part is that sometimes, when he touches me, I think he may be someone else, too.
Though my body might be tempted, and he might control everything else, I can't let him have any piece of my heart. I won't. But every day, the fight gets harder, and Julius manages to slip past my defenses in the most unexpected ways.
I have to find out the truth about Julius King. Even if it destroys me.
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2017
87 people are currently reading
1213 people want to read
About the author
Amber A. Bardan
15 books732 followers***Join Newsletter for GIVEAWAYS and updates http://eepurl.com/DvVUP***
Amber is a #1 Amazon Bestselling, award winning, author, and member of Romance Writers of Australia, Melbourne Romance Writers Guild, and Writers Victoria.
After spending years imagining fictional adventures, Amber finally found a way to turn daydreaming into a productive habit. She now spends her time in a coffee-fuelled adrenaline haze, writing romance with a thriller edge.
She lives with her husband and children in semi-rural Australia, where if she peers outside at the right moment she might just see a kangaroo bounce by.
Find out more about Amber by visiting www.amberabardan.com
Amber is a #1 Amazon Bestselling, award winning, author, and member of Romance Writers of Australia, Melbourne Romance Writers Guild, and Writers Victoria.
After spending years imagining fictional adventures, Amber finally found a way to turn daydreaming into a productive habit. She now spends her time in a coffee-fuelled adrenaline haze, writing romance with a thriller edge.
She lives with her husband and children in semi-rural Australia, where if she peers outside at the right moment she might just see a kangaroo bounce by.
Find out more about Amber by visiting www.amberabardan.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
September 26, 2019
“See, I knew we could get along.”
I rest the cup back on the saucer with matching painted flowers.
He speaks like a friend. That’s the worst part.
He smiles at me as though he’s any other guest at my eighteenth birthday party.
As though we’re not having tea amongst corpses.
As though the ground’s not littered with bodies.
As though on the other side of the table, my father’s not bound and gagged.
And this is just the prologue of this book.
Sarah has been kidnapped during the party of her 18th birthday. A party that has ended up in a bloodbath.
Now three years after, she is still a prisoner in an isolated island. A prisoner of the notorious Julius King. A man that knows exactly what she likes and he provides everything before she asks.
Everything except her freedom.
For the first half of the book, Sarah is trying to convince herself and the readers that Julius is a really bad man. And that she is not attracted to him. That she is repulsed every time he touches her and that she only stays there in order to save the most important person in her life.
Julius is only taking what Sarah is giving him. He does not ask for more.
Sarah thinks that Julius is just playing with her.
Julius is absolutely sure that Sarah is playing with him in order to convince him to free her.
Lots of mind games are going on.
For the second half of the book, Sarah will take a trip down memory lane. Huge surprises for her and for the readers. Facts from the past will be revealed. Can she really handle the truth?
The story is mainly said by Sarah, but there are a few passages with Julius point of view that mostly were confusing me than making me understand.
The time frame is three years and the events that happened at Sarah’s birthday party are often described – although they will make sense only towards the end of the book.
I have to admit that I have changed my mind several times about what Julian hides and what he wants.
I know that I have just read an awesome book, when I start reading it again the second I have finished it – I don’t even wait an hour- and I start searching for clues that I did not notice before.
If you love stories with the Irish mob, gun dealers, abduction, Stockholm syndrome, isolation in tropical islands, pirates, twists and turns; this book is for you.
Personally, I think this is the best book of 2017 that I have read during these first four months of the year.
Ok, the only clue I can give you is that nobody cheats in this book.
And that Julius always speaks the truth :)
Highly recommended!
I rest the cup back on the saucer with matching painted flowers.
He speaks like a friend. That’s the worst part.
He smiles at me as though he’s any other guest at my eighteenth birthday party.
As though we’re not having tea amongst corpses.
As though the ground’s not littered with bodies.
As though on the other side of the table, my father’s not bound and gagged.
And this is just the prologue of this book.
Sarah has been kidnapped during the party of her 18th birthday. A party that has ended up in a bloodbath.
Now three years after, she is still a prisoner in an isolated island. A prisoner of the notorious Julius King. A man that knows exactly what she likes and he provides everything before she asks.
Everything except her freedom.
For the first half of the book, Sarah is trying to convince herself and the readers that Julius is a really bad man. And that she is not attracted to him. That she is repulsed every time he touches her and that she only stays there in order to save the most important person in her life.
Julius is only taking what Sarah is giving him. He does not ask for more.
Sarah thinks that Julius is just playing with her.
Julius is absolutely sure that Sarah is playing with him in order to convince him to free her.
Lots of mind games are going on.
For the second half of the book, Sarah will take a trip down memory lane. Huge surprises for her and for the readers. Facts from the past will be revealed. Can she really handle the truth?
The story is mainly said by Sarah, but there are a few passages with Julius point of view that mostly were confusing me than making me understand.
The time frame is three years and the events that happened at Sarah’s birthday party are often described – although they will make sense only towards the end of the book.
I have to admit that I have changed my mind several times about what Julian hides and what he wants.
I know that I have just read an awesome book, when I start reading it again the second I have finished it – I don’t even wait an hour- and I start searching for clues that I did not notice before.
If you love stories with the Irish mob, gun dealers, abduction, Stockholm syndrome, isolation in tropical islands, pirates, twists and turns; this book is for you.
Personally, I think this is the best book of 2017 that I have read during these first four months of the year.
Ok, the only clue I can give you is that nobody cheats in this book.
And that Julius always speaks the truth :)
Highly recommended!
May 10, 2021
5 Absolution Stars ⭐
"I say yes—yes, Julius—of course, Julius."
It’s kept me safe and healthy and well looked after. Pampered like a prized pet.
After witnessing her father's assassination at the hands of Julius King, Sarah has been held hostage on his island for almost 3 years. At this point we really don't understand the motives for both incidences, but the clock is ticking...
There’s only one month left.
One month until he makes me marry him.
As this story moves from past to present we begin to gain an insight as to why they're in this predicament. With time against her, Sarah can no longer remain silent. Her pretence of being an obedient girl is unravelling and the need for answers will be her undoing.
I live that wickedness again—drown in the urge to surrender to ruin.
To have my sorrow bled out of me by something wild and capable of consuming all that pain.
It's clear that you don't mess with a man like Julius King even if you're clueless to what he's peddling. He exudes power and danger which is completely contradictory to how he treats Sarah. There is no doubt he is besotted with her but don't mistake it for weakness.
"If I wanted to use you, I could have had you the day I took you.
If I wanted to toy with you, I’d have made you my pet."
Sarah might be there against her will, but she can't deny the unexplainable attraction for Julius that's existed from their first meeting. And when he finally touches her, the game will change and she'll have to concede that she really is his, or is she?
I must say I have only ever heard good things about this book and I cannot believe it's taken literally years to read it. King's Captive was a cracker. This story was complicated and wonderfully twisted. I never knew how it was going to pan out and it kept me completely enthralled. I adored Julius with all his secrets and that Sarah was no wallflower. One of my faves, definitely!
"I say yes—yes, Julius—of course, Julius."
It’s kept me safe and healthy and well looked after. Pampered like a prized pet.
After witnessing her father's assassination at the hands of Julius King, Sarah has been held hostage on his island for almost 3 years. At this point we really don't understand the motives for both incidences, but the clock is ticking...
There’s only one month left.
One month until he makes me marry him.
As this story moves from past to present we begin to gain an insight as to why they're in this predicament. With time against her, Sarah can no longer remain silent. Her pretence of being an obedient girl is unravelling and the need for answers will be her undoing.
I live that wickedness again—drown in the urge to surrender to ruin.
To have my sorrow bled out of me by something wild and capable of consuming all that pain.
It's clear that you don't mess with a man like Julius King even if you're clueless to what he's peddling. He exudes power and danger which is completely contradictory to how he treats Sarah. There is no doubt he is besotted with her but don't mistake it for weakness.
"If I wanted to use you, I could have had you the day I took you.
If I wanted to toy with you, I’d have made you my pet."
Sarah might be there against her will, but she can't deny the unexplainable attraction for Julius that's existed from their first meeting. And when he finally touches her, the game will change and she'll have to concede that she really is his, or is she?
I must say I have only ever heard good things about this book and I cannot believe it's taken literally years to read it. King's Captive was a cracker. This story was complicated and wonderfully twisted. I never knew how it was going to pan out and it kept me completely enthralled. I adored Julius with all his secrets and that Sarah was no wallflower. One of my faves, definitely!
January 13, 2022
To all the readers,
Who have unconditionally loved Captive by R.J Lewis (which bdw is getting pretty famous day by day), I warmly encourage you to read this book not just for the similarities of the theme but also for the great unconditional love that has been portrayed through the heroes.
Who have unconditionally loved Captive by R.J Lewis (which bdw is getting pretty famous day by day), I warmly encourage you to read this book not just for the similarities of the theme but also for the great unconditional love that has been portrayed through the heroes.
June 23, 2020
3.5 STARS!
Wow, so I DEVOURED King's Captive. This book got its claws into me and didn't let go until the very end. I absolutely had to know how everything would turn out . . .
Having said that, I will also admit to reading it with a constant, little furrow between my brows.
There was a lot of this going on for me in the first 60%:
Then I got hit with the mother of all twists! WOW, I did not see that coming!
But suddenly my math equation had upped itself to:
A HUGE thank you to LANA for reading this one with me and putting up with my inordinate amount of questions about WTF was going on, LOL!
There's one path to salvation, and it's paved with sin.Now that was a CRAZY-ass thrill ride!
Wow, so I DEVOURED King's Captive. This book got its claws into me and didn't let go until the very end. I absolutely had to know how everything would turn out . . .
Having said that, I will also admit to reading it with a constant, little furrow between my brows.
There was a lot of this going on for me in the first 60%:
2 + 2 = 5I had so many questions that needed answering . . . and not the easy ones, but the ones that begin with WHY.
Then I got hit with the mother of all twists! WOW, I did not see that coming!
But suddenly my math equation had upped itself to:
2 + 2 + 2 = 752My original questions were somewhat answered but a whole new crop showed up. And by the end? My brain looked like this:
2 + .9324 (7 - 8.3%) = 3.5And I'm rounding that final sum up, because numbers never lie. 😂
A HUGE thank you to LANA for reading this one with me and putting up with my inordinate amount of questions about WTF was going on, LOL!
June 23, 2020
3,5 stars
Buddy Read with Melanie, who patiently waited for me to read it and explode about things that did not need exploding, ha.
Jeeez, what a ride.
Did I like the characters? Yes.
The chemistry? Oh, it burned!
The writing? It was fluent and the story went fast enough for me to not want to skip anything.
The execution? I honestly can't say.
The jumping from moment to moment in the past (at times not chronologically) made me dizzy. Getting through this story felt like crossing a river, jumping from one stone to the other - and losing too much in the water, because way too many questions still went unanswered.
The major twist though? Well, for those of you who already read it and know what I'm talking about, let me just say, it's one of my personal nightmares. I had horrible dreams of something similar happening to me and it still terrifies me... So damn, did I feel for Sarah and Julius, all of it made me unexpectedly emotional and I will not forget it easily.
I will definitely read more by the author.
Buddy Read with Melanie, who patiently waited for me to read it and explode about things that did not need exploding, ha.
Jeeez, what a ride.
Did I like the characters? Yes.
The chemistry? Oh, it burned!
The writing? It was fluent and the story went fast enough for me to not want to skip anything.
The execution? I honestly can't say.
The jumping from moment to moment in the past (at times not chronologically) made me dizzy. Getting through this story felt like crossing a river, jumping from one stone to the other - and losing too much in the water, because way too many questions still went unanswered.
The major twist though? Well, for those of you who already read it and know what I'm talking about, let me just say, it's one of my personal nightmares. I had horrible dreams of something similar happening to me and it still terrifies me... So damn, did I feel for Sarah and Julius, all of it made me unexpectedly emotional and I will not forget it easily.
I never know what I want more, to pull her apart piece by piece or beg her to put me back together. Neither will be gentle.
- That's Julius.
The way he is and the way I am now, if this is love, we can’t just push the boundaries between us—we have to burn them down.
- That's Sarah.
I will definitely read more by the author.
May 15, 2017
This has been a very interesting read, something different from what I expected after reading the blurb.
• The story starts with a lot of mystery and it is intriguing. It makes you wonder what happened.
• It surprises you. It shocks you. Especially, the main plot twist was something I never expected. It is a really good one!
• The book has a good plot line and the concept is really good but the execution of it has many flaws.
It could have been an amazing read if the writing was more skilled.
Plot:
Our heroine is stuck on a private island as the prisoner of Julius King, who seems to be involved in illegal activities. She has been there for 3 years and Julius promised not to touch her unvited so there is no rape or abuse.
There is a physical attraction between them but she also hates him for keeping her there and accuses him of turning her 18th birthday to a bloody one.
The book has flashbacks to a “Bloody birthday” when the heroine was 18 years old. These past flashbacks are given every now and then but they are always the same day, only with different hours such as 15:30 or 13:20 of the same day, which is her birthday when many people died including her father.
The more we read, the more we learn about the characters and their past. The thing is the obscure part is too long and kind of boring. During that time, the heroine acts annoyingly, going between trying to escape from him and lusting for him (hot-cold-hot-cold). Besides, she is sometimes cruel even after she learns the truth and how much he suffered.
His behavior also doesn’t make sense for a long time because all their interaction on the island for 3 years was close to nothing at all. Eating with other people around, talking one or two sentences and sleeping in different buildings. It doesn’t make sense. Why would someone waste 3 years like that? What is the point?
Super plot twists!
I think the book is worth reading just for the awesome plot twists. Especially the first big plot twist was really good and unexpected.
After these plot twists, things start to make sense but still I wondered why the hero didn’t choose another way rather than what he did for 3 years.
Even though he is not the one to blame for what happened, there was definitely a better way to deal with what happened than what he did. If you ask me, these 3 long years was a stupid waste of time.
He wants her to trust him and believe that it is not a game but he doesn’t explain why she should trust him. He speaks in riddles and she believes what she wants to believe in this case.
For her, he is the bad man and for whatever stupid reason, for 3 years, she doesn’t ask any questions that may solve the puzzle. She just tries to seem detached, showing no real feelings or reactions. She plans her escape and hopes for a savior to come...
I think this behavior of both the hero and the heroine for 3 years was a little bit of illogical and unbelievable.
After the plot twists and all the revelation, I was expecting some emotional and hot times but it suddenly turned into a thriller and things got out of control.
Ending & Epilogue:
The ending is a total mess and the Epilogue doesn’t answer all the questions. It is far from being satisfying. If you ask me, it ends abruptly. It is not an unhappy one but a very disappointing happy end and a very obscure one, still with many questions left unanswered!
I really didn’t want to believe when it said “The End”…
Writing:
• The book is 95% told by the heroine’s point of view whereas few parts of it are told by the hero. This dual writing is not applied very successfully in my opinion. It just doesn’t flow.
• The story telling mostly depends on the inner monologues of the heroine and her summarizing of the past events. I would definitely prefer more dialogues.
I really wish the story was laid out in a better than what I read because it had such a good potential.
Here are a few excerpts...
"Every day I didn’t die, I didn’t die for you.”
***
I’m stealing love from another life. And he makes me wish it were mine.
***
I’ve loved her for so long. Loved her without her understanding how or why. Loved her when there was hope and when there was not. Loved her even when loving meant destroying everything else.
***
I hate Julius. ... Hate him.
But hate is passion—a bitter kind of love.
Obsession.
The truth is I’m obsessed with Julius. He is all I think about.
***
She’s so damned pleased with herself. It almost kills me to have to burst her bubble.
***
I’m playing a game I can’t afford to lose. We’re playing with life and death.
• The story starts with a lot of mystery and it is intriguing. It makes you wonder what happened.
• It surprises you. It shocks you. Especially, the main plot twist was something I never expected. It is a really good one!
• The book has a good plot line and the concept is really good but the execution of it has many flaws.
It could have been an amazing read if the writing was more skilled.
Plot:
Our heroine is stuck on a private island as the prisoner of Julius King, who seems to be involved in illegal activities. She has been there for 3 years and Julius promised not to touch her unvited so there is no rape or abuse.
There is a physical attraction between them but she also hates him for keeping her there and accuses him of turning her 18th birthday to a bloody one.
The book has flashbacks to a “Bloody birthday” when the heroine was 18 years old. These past flashbacks are given every now and then but they are always the same day, only with different hours such as 15:30 or 13:20 of the same day, which is her birthday when many people died including her father.
The more we read, the more we learn about the characters and their past. The thing is the obscure part is too long and kind of boring. During that time, the heroine acts annoyingly, going between trying to escape from him and lusting for him (hot-cold-hot-cold). Besides, she is sometimes cruel even after she learns the truth and how much he suffered.
His behavior also doesn’t make sense for a long time because all their interaction on the island for 3 years was close to nothing at all. Eating with other people around, talking one or two sentences and sleeping in different buildings. It doesn’t make sense. Why would someone waste 3 years like that? What is the point?
Super plot twists!
I think the book is worth reading just for the awesome plot twists. Especially the first big plot twist was really good and unexpected.
After these plot twists, things start to make sense but still I wondered why the hero didn’t choose another way rather than what he did for 3 years.
Even though he is not the one to blame for what happened, there was definitely a better way to deal with what happened than what he did. If you ask me, these 3 long years was a stupid waste of time.
He wants her to trust him and believe that it is not a game but he doesn’t explain why she should trust him. He speaks in riddles and she believes what she wants to believe in this case.
For her, he is the bad man and for whatever stupid reason, for 3 years, she doesn’t ask any questions that may solve the puzzle. She just tries to seem detached, showing no real feelings or reactions. She plans her escape and hopes for a savior to come...
I think this behavior of both the hero and the heroine for 3 years was a little bit of illogical and unbelievable.
After the plot twists and all the revelation, I was expecting some emotional and hot times but it suddenly turned into a thriller and things got out of control.
Ending & Epilogue:
The ending is a total mess and the Epilogue doesn’t answer all the questions. It is far from being satisfying. If you ask me, it ends abruptly. It is not an unhappy one but a very disappointing happy end and a very obscure one, still with many questions left unanswered!
I really didn’t want to believe when it said “The End”…
Writing:
• The book is 95% told by the heroine’s point of view whereas few parts of it are told by the hero. This dual writing is not applied very successfully in my opinion. It just doesn’t flow.
• The story telling mostly depends on the inner monologues of the heroine and her summarizing of the past events. I would definitely prefer more dialogues.
I really wish the story was laid out in a better than what I read because it had such a good potential.
Here are a few excerpts...
"Every day I didn’t die, I didn’t die for you.”
***
I’m stealing love from another life. And he makes me wish it were mine.
***
I’ve loved her for so long. Loved her without her understanding how or why. Loved her when there was hope and when there was not. Loved her even when loving meant destroying everything else.
***
I hate Julius. ... Hate him.
But hate is passion—a bitter kind of love.
Obsession.
The truth is I’m obsessed with Julius. He is all I think about.
***
She’s so damned pleased with herself. It almost kills me to have to burst her bubble.
***
I’m playing a game I can’t afford to lose. We’re playing with life and death.
February 7, 2017
3.5-4 'Baby' Stars!
Wow, this was a seriously intriguing story. There were so many plot twists that I just did not see coming. The best way to describe this story I guess would be Stockholm Syndrome with a twist...
The story begins with Sarah falling into the clutches of the elusive, and dangerous Julius King - she isn't completely sure what he is after or what he hopes to achieve but she is prepared to fight him at every turn, despite her physical attraction to him.
I gave this one star less because it is a bit of a slow start and took a while to get into. But once things got going it was hard to put down! Also I found Sarah's character to be slightly annoying - I understood her hesitations about Julius in the beginning but once she found out the truth I found her reaction to be a bit cruel despite knowing everything he's been through.
As for Julius I fricken loved the guy. He was such an interrsting and mysterious character. I loved the chapters that were his perspective because we could glance into his thoughts. He was so devoted to Sarah and constantly made efforts to gain her love. Definitely my type of alpha H.
"And there's absolutely nothing I haven't lost or wouldn't lose for you."
There is so much I want to say about the 'whos' and 'whys' of Julius King but I would just be ruining the whole story. So if you're looking for a bit of mystery with your romance than give this one a whirl! This definitely wasn't my usual read and I expecting completely different from the description but overall I did enjoy it! :)
ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, this was a seriously intriguing story. There were so many plot twists that I just did not see coming. The best way to describe this story I guess would be Stockholm Syndrome with a twist...
The story begins with Sarah falling into the clutches of the elusive, and dangerous Julius King - she isn't completely sure what he is after or what he hopes to achieve but she is prepared to fight him at every turn, despite her physical attraction to him.
I gave this one star less because it is a bit of a slow start and took a while to get into. But once things got going it was hard to put down! Also I found Sarah's character to be slightly annoying - I understood her hesitations about Julius in the beginning but once she found out the truth I found her reaction to be a bit cruel despite knowing everything he's been through.
As for Julius I fricken loved the guy. He was such an interrsting and mysterious character. I loved the chapters that were his perspective because we could glance into his thoughts. He was so devoted to Sarah and constantly made efforts to gain her love. Definitely my type of alpha H.
"And there's absolutely nothing I haven't lost or wouldn't lose for you."
There is so much I want to say about the 'whos' and 'whys' of Julius King but I would just be ruining the whole story. So if you're looking for a bit of mystery with your romance than give this one a whirl! This definitely wasn't my usual read and I expecting completely different from the description but overall I did enjoy it! :)
ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2017
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
The King's Captive is a stand alone and the most latest release from this author. Now I wasn't sure what I thought of this book, however after reading some positive reviews, they convinced me that I needed this book in my life. So this story takes us into a love story that is exciting, edgy, epic and emotionally driven that it will put the reader to tears. This story is not what you expect AT ALL and wow this author really surprises you. I mean honestly, there were so many unique twists to this story that you don't see coming. I don't want to reveal too much about this story which is why my layout for review is a bit different. Our heroine is scared but also drawn to her "captor" who she promised three years to if she agreed to marry him at the end of those three years. It almost toward the end of those three years where she will have to hold up to her promise. But not everything is as it seems including King's intentions toward her. At first we view him as a sort of villain, and there are flashbacks so at first you have a 'sketchy' feel to his character. You aren't sure where you stand on his character. However you slowly see how much he truly loves her. Despite how many times she lies to him or deceives him or breaks her promises, he never loses faith in his love and devotion to her. And when you find out the real truth, you sympathize with him. Our hero has been through hell and back, and he may seem all bad in the beginning, but the reader realizes that he is a hero you can get behind. Its a story of love and loss, of true devotion and commitment and even though there are some things that the characters take action on....you can't resist the pull of their love story and seeing them connect and find their HEA in the end. I was completely pulled in by this book, and I can tell you that this author is rare talent in creating a story you will fall head over heels for!!! The mixture of emotions that impacts the reader is stimulating and vivid and wrung me like a dish towel in heart wrenching ways but also in empowering and memorable moments. Definitely a book you don't want to miss out on. A SUPERB ROMANCE
February 20, 2017
ARC received for review
4.5 stars (a little bit of a slow start)
Oh my, what kind of twisted fuckery did I just read. It started out I was thinking this dark and he's going to be all kinds of nasty. And he was (and so were others) but not in the way I was expecting. My mind is just blown. It was a great story with lots of twists and hot sexy scenes. Then mind blowing revelation. Go along, more secrets come out...and what?!?! Just all kinds of good stuff. She did annoying me just a wee little bit, but over all loved it.
4.5 stars (a little bit of a slow start)
Oh my, what kind of twisted fuckery did I just read. It started out I was thinking this dark and he's going to be all kinds of nasty. And he was (and so were others) but not in the way I was expecting. My mind is just blown. It was a great story with lots of twists and hot sexy scenes. Then mind blowing revelation. Go along, more secrets come out...and what?!?! Just all kinds of good stuff. She did annoying me just a wee little bit, but over all loved it.
October 20, 2022
Okay let me start this by saying I went into this blind. I didn't read any reviews, but went off a rec by my friend Isabella that she gave someone else for dark, held captive romances. This is the first book I've read by this author.
So I loved wound up Julius. All that primal energy just wanting to explode out of him. Mmmm 🤌.
He was so sexy with his intense eyes and soft lips. Dimples, y'all....he even had dimples. He was no sweet choir boy though.
Sarah was this chaotic mess of rage and pain and hatred and revenge all warring her growing pull and desire for Julius. She hates him but she can't escape him, and more and more she doesn't know if she really wants to. Sarah doesn't know what fuels and motivates Julius she just knows things are changing and she's scared of what the future brings.
I did not see the twist coming. I saw the end but the big reveal I was caught off guard. I'm not gonna say what it is but I enjoyed the story and the continuing build up and we finally got answers. Talk about the perseverance of love.
Now this probably would have been a five star for me. I'm pretty easy. If I'm entertained enough to let my kids devolve into anarchy while I read this then it gets two thumbs up. But one of my pet peeves is purple prose and this is kind of an offshoot of that. For most of the first half of this book, the writing was trying to be mysterious and enigmatic. Where so much is alluded to, that we aren't privy to yet. Twisty and descriptive without really telling us the full picture, of feelings, of actions, of all of it. So I as the reader end up feeling like I'm too dumb to pick up the crumbs she's leaving....and I hate that feeling. Like you're the one left out at a party. Plus there is flashbacks throughout which also adds to the feeling of "what am I supposed to be getting here" where we don't find out until the last flashback that there's a twist in what she's shown us in the flashbacks too. Making us intentionally think one thing, leading to the chaotic jumble of emotions Sarah goes through and us. So when there's this overly tricky writing after a while it gets a little annoying and tedious.
So even though I really liked the story and felt it was different. I hated slogging through the first half feeling like a dullard. I mean you can write a mystery thriller with clear concise salient points that still builds the suspense or intrigue. So it's got a star docked, but still really good. Also, I've never read another book with this premise so it's original and different and I would still recommend it.
So I loved wound up Julius. All that primal energy just wanting to explode out of him. Mmmm 🤌.
He was so sexy with his intense eyes and soft lips. Dimples, y'all....he even had dimples. He was no sweet choir boy though.
Sarah was this chaotic mess of rage and pain and hatred and revenge all warring her growing pull and desire for Julius. She hates him but she can't escape him, and more and more she doesn't know if she really wants to. Sarah doesn't know what fuels and motivates Julius she just knows things are changing and she's scared of what the future brings.
I did not see the twist coming. I saw the end but the big reveal I was caught off guard. I'm not gonna say what it is but I enjoyed the story and the continuing build up and we finally got answers. Talk about the perseverance of love.
Now this probably would have been a five star for me. I'm pretty easy. If I'm entertained enough to let my kids devolve into anarchy while I read this then it gets two thumbs up. But one of my pet peeves is purple prose and this is kind of an offshoot of that. For most of the first half of this book, the writing was trying to be mysterious and enigmatic. Where so much is alluded to, that we aren't privy to yet. Twisty and descriptive without really telling us the full picture, of feelings, of actions, of all of it. So I as the reader end up feeling like I'm too dumb to pick up the crumbs she's leaving....and I hate that feeling. Like you're the one left out at a party. Plus there is flashbacks throughout which also adds to the feeling of "what am I supposed to be getting here" where we don't find out until the last flashback that there's a twist in what she's shown us in the flashbacks too. Making us intentionally think one thing, leading to the chaotic jumble of emotions Sarah goes through and us. So when there's this overly tricky writing after a while it gets a little annoying and tedious.
So even though I really liked the story and felt it was different. I hated slogging through the first half feeling like a dullard. I mean you can write a mystery thriller with clear concise salient points that still builds the suspense or intrigue. So it's got a star docked, but still really good. Also, I've never read another book with this premise so it's original and different and I would still recommend it.
October 9, 2019
I feel like Bardan jumped off the pages and struck me in the face!!
This is absolutely not what I thought is was....complete shocker! I have sat here and written this review over and over trying not to give to much away, trying to make this spoiler free. Easily one of the most riveting never saw it coming storylines I have ever read.
The MC AND FMC have undeniable chemistry and a high level of secrecy regarding their relationship. You can feel the hidden secret by 15% into the read. Naturally I look for clues page by page. Analyze secondary characters. Re-read interactions between Julius and Sarah for crumbs of elusive agendas. Once it is all laid bare for the reader.....shock and awe. Slack jawed I read the revelation three-four times. Unbelievable.
So glad I saw this on a friends feed!
Happy reading! DD
This is absolutely not what I thought is was....complete shocker! I have sat here and written this review over and over trying not to give to much away, trying to make this spoiler free. Easily one of the most riveting never saw it coming storylines I have ever read.
The MC AND FMC have undeniable chemistry and a high level of secrecy regarding their relationship. You can feel the hidden secret by 15% into the read. Naturally I look for clues page by page. Analyze secondary characters. Re-read interactions between Julius and Sarah for crumbs of elusive agendas. Once it is all laid bare for the reader.....shock and awe. Slack jawed I read the revelation three-four times. Unbelievable.
So glad I saw this on a friends feed!
Happy reading! DD
June 7, 2021
3.99999999 stars
No regrets for reading this after Nenia’s amazing review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I loved the first 60% or so, where the heroine was planning on her escape (and you couldn’t get a grip on whether or not she was a reliable narrator or not) and it was more like a mystery/suspense novel with smoking sexual chemistry between the h and antihero 🥵🤩 than a “dark-ish” romance book.
But then alas the mystery was resolved and although I appreciated the intense obsession he had for the heroine, it became a run of the mill romance book.
The author does write well and I will definitely be interested in any future books of hers.
No regrets for reading this after Nenia’s amazing review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I loved the first 60% or so, where the heroine was planning on her escape (and you couldn’t get a grip on whether or not she was a reliable narrator or not) and it was more like a mystery/suspense novel with smoking sexual chemistry between the h and antihero 🥵🤩 than a “dark-ish” romance book.
But then alas the mystery was resolved and although I appreciated the intense obsession he had for the heroine, it became a run of the mill romance book.
The author does write well and I will definitely be interested in any future books of hers.
December 14, 2021
2.5-stars
MEH or the BAD: ***SPOILERS***
Good premise & moments of angst but needed good editing due to inconsistent writing & basic typos that made things confusing (i.e., H at 1st said that the car accident that occurred 7 years ago was "7 months" ago). Slow/boring/kinda confusing for 1st 16% with 21yo(?) h's hate-filled & escape- obsessed thoughts about her mystery-captor H who held her captive in her island (along with his men) the past 3 years since her 18th bday when he unexpectedly showed up & killed her mafia-type father & some of his men. Would've been better if the 1st 6 chapters was shrunk into 1 chapter for better pacing/romance development/excitement. Romance/action/S chem/emotionality only began developing after 20%. But still mostly slow-burn until about 40% when H&h's shared past finally emerge.
h was annoying to keep fighting H, even after he told her the truth (i.e., they're actually already married & had been for 3 years. h is actually 29yo & not 21yo like her dad & family told her she was for the past 7 years. They've been dating since they met during her trip to Ireland when she was 18 & he was 20. h became amnesiac from the brain injury from the car accident 7 years ago while H almost died from suffering burns & other physical injuries from it. Her dad also took their then-2yo son with amnesiac h but told her he was her brother. h's family prevented H from seeing/contacting her until he bursts in her supposed-18yo-birthday party 3 years ago.). She was much more loyal to her deceased-dad than H, even after he told her some of the hardships he went through because of her dad's involvement with their car accident & her amnesia. She was self-asbsorbed/ungrateful/suspicious & had no problems using H for sex. And seemed almost-dismissive about his pain & heartache from losing her & their son and from her totally misjudging him during her 3 years with him in his island. She disrupted the
The GOOD:
Loved H's character & his obssessive-patient devotion to h. He waited 4 years to get her back while doing what he could (even illegal things) to get her & their son back. Then, he waited 3 years per his promise to h to marry her (again due to her amnesia) before she has sex with him. He was patient with her hate/lies/plans to leave him so as not to mess with her psychological state as an amnesiac. Very self-sacrificial. All angsty moments were from H's deep pain over h not remembering him & pushing him away, when he loved her so desperately. It was h's self-absorption & continued attempts to be disloyal to H that would break the angst.
sexual history—no info on h's past before H. She allowed OM to kiss her once briefly to lure him to help her. She let some other guys kiss/touch her during the 4 years she was separated from H when she had amnesia. H may have been a virgin with h based on what he said to her. He was celibate during their 7 years apart since he was so in love with her & his religious stance.
MEH or the BAD: ***SPOILERS***
Good premise & moments of angst but needed good editing due to inconsistent writing & basic typos that made things confusing (i.e., H at 1st said that the car accident that occurred 7 years ago was "7 months" ago). Slow/boring/kinda confusing for 1st 16% with 21yo(?) h's hate-filled & escape- obsessed thoughts about her mystery-captor H who held her captive in her island (along with his men) the past 3 years since her 18th bday when he unexpectedly showed up & killed her mafia-type father & some of his men. Would've been better if the 1st 6 chapters was shrunk into 1 chapter for better pacing/romance development/excitement. Romance/action/S chem/emotionality only began developing after 20%. But still mostly slow-burn until about 40% when H&h's shared past finally emerge.
h was annoying to keep fighting H, even after he told her the truth (i.e., they're actually already married & had been for 3 years. h is actually 29yo & not 21yo like her dad & family told her she was for the past 7 years. They've been dating since they met during her trip to Ireland when she was 18 & he was 20. h became amnesiac from the brain injury from the car accident 7 years ago while H almost died from suffering burns & other physical injuries from it. Her dad also took their then-2yo son with amnesiac h but told her he was her brother. h's family prevented H from seeing/contacting her until he bursts in her supposed-18yo-birthday party 3 years ago.). She was much more loyal to her deceased-dad than H, even after he told her some of the hardships he went through because of her dad's involvement with their car accident & her amnesia. She was self-asbsorbed/ungrateful/suspicious & had no problems using H for sex. And seemed almost-dismissive about his pain & heartache from losing her & their son and from her totally misjudging him during her 3 years with him in his island. She disrupted the
The GOOD:
Loved H's character & his obssessive-patient devotion to h. He waited 4 years to get her back while doing what he could (even illegal things) to get her & their son back. Then, he waited 3 years per his promise to h to marry her (again due to her amnesia) before she has sex with him. He was patient with her hate/lies/plans to leave him so as not to mess with her psychological state as an amnesiac. Very self-sacrificial. All angsty moments were from H's deep pain over h not remembering him & pushing him away, when he loved her so desperately. It was h's self-absorption & continued attempts to be disloyal to H that would break the angst.
sexual history—no info on h's past before H. She allowed OM to kiss her once briefly to lure him to help her. She let some other guys kiss/touch her during the 4 years she was separated from H when she had amnesia. H may have been a virgin with h based on what he said to her. He was celibate during their 7 years apart since he was so in love with her & his religious stance.
February 16, 2017
Full review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
King’s Captive is one epic, delicious mind fuck of a book. I started it after finishing another book at 11 p.m. and read it in one glorious sitting (Bad Decisions Book Club, y’all) and when I was done I needed a cigarette. And I don’t smoke.
So first of all, this book is total crazysauce but the best kind of crazysauce. I was totally invested in what was happening. I gave up many precious hours of sleep for this book, and I love sleep almost as much as I love chips.
It’s hard to discuss this book without revealing anything, and I really think that it needs to unravel organically to really get the delightful buzz I got from reading it. I will say this: part of the fantasy of the book is that it’s a captivity story. The Captive Heroine has been a staple of romance from way back when, and generally speaking, it’s problematic. King’s Captive turns that narrative on its head and allows readers to enter that fantasy without feeling icky or exploited on behalf of the heroine.
Also the sex scenes are hot as hell. Like wake your husband up in the middle of the night hot.
The way everything wraps up in the end is stretched my credulity a bit, but I was so invested in the wild ride up until that point, I didn’t really care. If you like darker romance or like me love a good psychological thriller, King’s Captive is so much your catnip. If you prefer your hero to be squeaky clean, then maybe steer clear.
- Elyse
King’s Captive is one epic, delicious mind fuck of a book. I started it after finishing another book at 11 p.m. and read it in one glorious sitting (Bad Decisions Book Club, y’all) and when I was done I needed a cigarette. And I don’t smoke.
So first of all, this book is total crazysauce but the best kind of crazysauce. I was totally invested in what was happening. I gave up many precious hours of sleep for this book, and I love sleep almost as much as I love chips.
It’s hard to discuss this book without revealing anything, and I really think that it needs to unravel organically to really get the delightful buzz I got from reading it. I will say this: part of the fantasy of the book is that it’s a captivity story. The Captive Heroine has been a staple of romance from way back when, and generally speaking, it’s problematic. King’s Captive turns that narrative on its head and allows readers to enter that fantasy without feeling icky or exploited on behalf of the heroine.
Also the sex scenes are hot as hell. Like wake your husband up in the middle of the night hot.
The way everything wraps up in the end is stretched my credulity a bit, but I was so invested in the wild ride up until that point, I didn’t really care. If you like darker romance or like me love a good psychological thriller, King’s Captive is so much your catnip. If you prefer your hero to be squeaky clean, then maybe steer clear.
- Elyse
February 7, 2017
*ARC received from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review*
First off to Amber A. Bardan...
This is the second book I'm reading from this author and I must say I'm wondering what I've been missing.
How this book felt? Well....
The author kept breaking my heart, only to stitch it back up and break it again. I don't want to give away too much, but geesh, how do I explain how good this book was?
Going into the book I expected for Sarah to be the girl who developed stockholm syndrome and fell in love with her captor.
Although she feels something for Julius, escape is always on her mind. But I wanted her to stay. Call me crazy, but I got really upset when she tried to leave the island.
Ok back up.... Julius...
He was soooo freaking sexy. It just oozed off the pages. The tattoos, the danger, and the dimpled smile. Sigh. He was a big mystery at first, but one thing you could tell, he genuinely loved Sarah (even if you can't understand why at first).
So as I was saying, I got mad when Sarah tried to leave. Julius freaking had a level of trust for her and was all
And Sarah was all
I wanted to slap her and scream
But whether she loved him or not, she was certainly attracted to him, and LET ME TELL YOU, their sex was hot, hot, HOT. Rough, gentle, and lets just say, Julius was a real giver. The actual sex took a while to come, but it fit the storyline. And there's a whole lot of scenes to tide you over.
Now from the previous book I read from this author, I expected a big plot twist. Even being on the lookout for it, I never guessed the twist.
It was crazyyyyyyy, but made so much sense I wanted to smack myself for not seeing it earlier. Like I said, I don't want to give away too much (I hope I haven't), so I'll leave it at that. Great read.
First off to Amber A. Bardan...
This is the second book I'm reading from this author and I must say I'm wondering what I've been missing.
How this book felt? Well....
The author kept breaking my heart, only to stitch it back up and break it again. I don't want to give away too much, but geesh, how do I explain how good this book was?
Going into the book I expected for Sarah to be the girl who developed stockholm syndrome and fell in love with her captor.
Although she feels something for Julius, escape is always on her mind. But I wanted her to stay. Call me crazy, but I got really upset when she tried to leave the island.
Ok back up.... Julius...
He was soooo freaking sexy. It just oozed off the pages. The tattoos, the danger, and the dimpled smile. Sigh. He was a big mystery at first, but one thing you could tell, he genuinely loved Sarah (even if you can't understand why at first).
So as I was saying, I got mad when Sarah tried to leave. Julius freaking had a level of trust for her and was all
And Sarah was all
I wanted to slap her and scream
But whether she loved him or not, she was certainly attracted to him, and LET ME TELL YOU, their sex was hot, hot, HOT. Rough, gentle, and lets just say, Julius was a real giver. The actual sex took a while to come, but it fit the storyline. And there's a whole lot of scenes to tide you over.
Now from the previous book I read from this author, I expected a big plot twist. Even being on the lookout for it, I never guessed the twist.
It was crazyyyyyyy, but made so much sense I wanted to smack myself for not seeing it earlier. Like I said, I don't want to give away too much (I hope I haven't), so I'll leave it at that. Great read.
February 26, 2017
3 Stars!
This one started off really good. I read the sample and then didn't even flinch when I seen it was 3.99. I always hesitate paying 4.00 for a new to me authors book but I didn't with this one. I was really loving it. I needed to know what was going on, who was bad and who was good. Why was Sarah being held by Julius. Was he really a bad guy? Why he would only call her baby? What was going to happen in three years? Why did we have to wait three years? Ugh! So many questions and at 50% I'm still wondering about my questions. Then around 70% we start to get a few answers but by then....I'm already annoyed and guess what? I found myself not caring about any of it.
I started skimming. The plot twist just didn't work for me. This book was seriously confusing!! I'm finished and I'm still left looking like this!
So there you have it. I'm not going to say I hated this book but I for sure did not love it. I'm so glad I had my buddy Kirsten to chat with about this! If you decide to try it I hope it works better for you!
This one started off really good. I read the sample and then didn't even flinch when I seen it was 3.99. I always hesitate paying 4.00 for a new to me authors book but I didn't with this one. I was really loving it. I needed to know what was going on, who was bad and who was good. Why was Sarah being held by Julius. Was he really a bad guy? Why he would only call her baby? What was going to happen in three years? Why did we have to wait three years? Ugh! So many questions and at 50% I'm still wondering about my questions. Then around 70% we start to get a few answers but by then....I'm already annoyed and guess what? I found myself not caring about any of it.
I started skimming. The plot twist just didn't work for me. This book was seriously confusing!! I'm finished and I'm still left looking like this!
So there you have it. I'm not going to say I hated this book but I for sure did not love it. I'm so glad I had my buddy Kirsten to chat with about this! If you decide to try it I hope it works better for you!
September 9, 2020
3.5 Stars
The book started off REALLY confusing! I was so frustrated sometimes and SUPER DUPER confused that I just wanted to go towards the end and read some spoilers! But that was the whole suspense part of the book. And I had to be patient!
“Were you dropped on the head as a child or are you just demented?” Silence penetrates the room. No one even chews. They don’t swallow. “Because I can’t for the life of me figure out what you get from messing with me.”
Sarah has been living in an Island with Julius since the past 3 years. Patiently waiting for her time to escape. In the mean time Julius has been the perfect gentleman to her, cooks FOR her, she has her own personal bungalow, never forced her into doing anything she didn't want to. That man literally everyday before going to bed asks her if she would kiss him "goodnight", for which she always replied No.
The only crime he has committed in my eyes is kidnapping her. Oh and also he always calls her "Baby". NEVER by her name. So every time Sarah was like he is manipulative etc etc, I was here like AM I MISSING SOMETHING!? I was just so confused...... This guy who is supposed to be this scary man is actually nice.......... Soooo like........................God my head was about to explode when FINALLY I GOT SOMETHING! And was on the lets hate Julius train with Sarah.
The reason he never called her by her name was because of his ex wife.
And this led me to a serious war in head with whether he is still in love with the ex wife or not?
Did he kidnap this Sarah because she reminds him of that Sarah?
Maybe that Sarah is this Sarah's sister?
Because that was the only explanation I could think of for his actions, because I was so sure, like 1000000% sure this man was in love with this Sarah! He sounded like a stalker lover because he knew everything about her! Even how she liked her meat cooked for crying out loud!!!
But then he would call her baby and I would be like THIS FUCKER ISN'T EVEN OVER HIS EX! HE CANT EVEN CALL SARAH BY HER NAME!!!! WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING OOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNN!!!
But then came the plot twist I never saw coming and a switch flipped in my heart and Julius finally made sense to me. EVERYTHING made sense to me. My heart broke for that man.
Now comes the part where this book could have been an easy five star for me but wasn't.
Sarah, I did not feel any love from her side for Julius. It felt like she was forced to be with him because of the circumstances? I just didn't get the vibe from her that she was even interested in Julius. I felt like Julius was the one who was all in, but not Sarah. I didn't get to read the moments where she FELL for him? You know? It just happened. One minute she was hating him and the next she is supposedly in love with him?
Then the ending. It was so short? did the epilogue get cut off or something? I was so confused! It felt so incomplete! After so much struggles I wanted to read about the couple finally being happy! Happy times together. I wanted Sarah to finally pull her wight in the relationship and DO SOMETHING FOR JULIUS! But I didn't get that which was another major let down for me!
The book started off REALLY confusing! I was so frustrated sometimes and SUPER DUPER confused that I just wanted to go towards the end and read some spoilers! But that was the whole suspense part of the book. And I had to be patient!
“Were you dropped on the head as a child or are you just demented?” Silence penetrates the room. No one even chews. They don’t swallow. “Because I can’t for the life of me figure out what you get from messing with me.”
Sarah has been living in an Island with Julius since the past 3 years. Patiently waiting for her time to escape. In the mean time Julius has been the perfect gentleman to her, cooks FOR her, she has her own personal bungalow, never forced her into doing anything she didn't want to. That man literally everyday before going to bed asks her if she would kiss him "goodnight", for which she always replied No.
The only crime he has committed in my eyes is kidnapping her. Oh and also he always calls her "Baby". NEVER by her name. So every time Sarah was like he is manipulative etc etc, I was here like AM I MISSING SOMETHING!? I was just so confused...... This guy who is supposed to be this scary man is actually nice.......... Soooo like........................God my head was about to explode when FINALLY I GOT SOMETHING! And was on the lets hate Julius train with Sarah.
The reason he never called her by her name was because of his ex wife.
And this led me to a serious war in head with whether he is still in love with the ex wife or not?
Did he kidnap this Sarah because she reminds him of that Sarah?
Maybe that Sarah is this Sarah's sister?
Because that was the only explanation I could think of for his actions, because I was so sure, like 1000000% sure this man was in love with this Sarah! He sounded like a stalker lover because he knew everything about her! Even how she liked her meat cooked for crying out loud!!!
But then he would call her baby and I would be like THIS FUCKER ISN'T EVEN OVER HIS EX! HE CANT EVEN CALL SARAH BY HER NAME!!!! WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING OOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNN!!!
But then came the plot twist I never saw coming and a switch flipped in my heart and Julius finally made sense to me. EVERYTHING made sense to me. My heart broke for that man.
Now comes the part where this book could have been an easy five star for me but wasn't.
Sarah, I did not feel any love from her side for Julius. It felt like she was forced to be with him because of the circumstances? I just didn't get the vibe from her that she was even interested in Julius. I felt like Julius was the one who was all in, but not Sarah. I didn't get to read the moments where she FELL for him? You know? It just happened. One minute she was hating him and the next she is supposedly in love with him?
Then the ending. It was so short? did the epilogue get cut off or something? I was so confused! It felt so incomplete! After so much struggles I wanted to read about the couple finally being happy! Happy times together. I wanted Sarah to finally pull her wight in the relationship and DO SOMETHING FOR JULIUS! But I didn't get that which was another major let down for me!
February 9, 2017
King's Captive by Amber A. Bardan
### 5 WOW WOW WOW Hashtags ###
Whoa ! what can I say .... just when you think the story is just ticking along quite nicely then the most enormous unpredicted mother of twist of all twists just slides right in there and takes you completely by surprise. I was absolutely blown away, nothing whatsoever can be predicted. I didn't at any stage guess this one - everything I thought I knew was totally blown away.
This book is beautifully and poetically written that it draws you in and completely consumes you. Amazingly and refreshingly this book is a standalone, I love this book and would give far more stars if I could.
This is the first book I've read from this author and I need to read more now.
March 21, 2017
There was a relationship in this book that was all kinds of awesome - seriously, just really, REALLY good. It was complicated and sexually charged and tense. It was perfect.
The story itself was intriguing. Compelling. It was told with some out of order flashback chapters here and there, which I can understand might annoy or confuse readers, but I kinda liked seeing things unfold in this way. So much more interesting than just having it all laid out up front for you.
You have questions. You want answers to those questions. You see this relationship that seems like it should be so wrong and you wonder if you’re slightly nuts to be rooting for them. You know that there’s something more that you don’t know that’s going on here, and you keep reading to find out what it is.
Then the hints start coming. It's. . . a little weird. You start feeling a little put off. But you keep reading.
Why the fuck did I keep reading???!?
Something happened in the second half that totally ruined EVERYTHING for me. If you’re curious at all about this book, then you should just read it and don’t even click open my spoiler. (I’m gonna be vague in it anyway, but it might still ruin your reading experience so I wouldn’t click on it if I were you.) And anyway, you know how I get all turned off over things sometimes that totally wouldn’t bother normal people, so there’s that too ;)
The fact that I was so pissed over what happened does show how into everything I was, so I fully acknowledge that I should give the author props for that. But when I finished the book (which I had to force myself to do), the first thought in my head was, 'Well that was pretty fucking stupid.' And. . . yeah. I don't think i can give more than 2 stars when that's my first thought.
The story itself was intriguing. Compelling. It was told with some out of order flashback chapters here and there, which I can understand might annoy or confuse readers, but I kinda liked seeing things unfold in this way. So much more interesting than just having it all laid out up front for you.
You have questions. You want answers to those questions. You see this relationship that seems like it should be so wrong and you wonder if you’re slightly nuts to be rooting for them. You know that there’s something more that you don’t know that’s going on here, and you keep reading to find out what it is.
Then the hints start coming. It's. . . a little weird. You start feeling a little put off. But you keep reading.
Why the fuck did I keep reading???!?
Something happened in the second half that totally ruined EVERYTHING for me. If you’re curious at all about this book, then you should just read it and don’t even click open my spoiler. (I’m gonna be vague in it anyway, but it might still ruin your reading experience so I wouldn’t click on it if I were you.) And anyway, you know how I get all turned off over things sometimes that totally wouldn’t bother normal people, so there’s that too ;)
The fact that I was so pissed over what happened does show how into everything I was, so I fully acknowledge that I should give the author props for that. But when I finished the book (which I had to force myself to do), the first thought in my head was, 'Well that was pretty fucking stupid.' And. . . yeah. I don't think i can give more than 2 stars when that's my first thought.
February 10, 2017
5 whirlwind, action-packed and suspenseful stars for this wild erotic romance.
After murdering her family, Julius King has held Sarah Mercedes captive on an island for the last 3 years. Desperate to be free of this criminal who makes her blood boil in more ways than one, Sarah waits for the man her father promised would rescue her. But time is running out on Julius' promise to not touch her for 3 years, at which time they'll marry. Sarah needs to figure out a way to get away from her captor before she gives in to what her body so desperately needs, the traitor.
HO-LEE CRAP YA'LL. Do not miss this stand alone novel by the incomparable Ms. Bardin! I'm so in love with her dark, devious writing style that I can't get enough. I'm a huge fan of her Bad For You series and couldn't wait to pick up KING'S CAPTIVE...and I wasn't disappointed! It's terribly confusing, but don't worry, it all works itself out in the end with several huge AH-HA moments that will take your breath away and have your jaw on the floor. Obviously, there's more to the story as to why Sarah was being held captive by this arms dealer criminal, and all she's tried to do the last 3 years is survive. But once shit starts hitting the proverbial fan? Watch out. And block off some alone time, because you won't be able to put this baby down till you've devoured every.single.inch. And the sex? Mmnngghh it was so hot and erotic and dirty and slightly violent at times but I loved every single minute and I know you will too!
Bottom Line: No OM/OW or sharing; no condom use; mild BDSM/kink; no sexual assault; loads of violence, murder. - See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
- See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
After murdering her family, Julius King has held Sarah Mercedes captive on an island for the last 3 years. Desperate to be free of this criminal who makes her blood boil in more ways than one, Sarah waits for the man her father promised would rescue her. But time is running out on Julius' promise to not touch her for 3 years, at which time they'll marry. Sarah needs to figure out a way to get away from her captor before she gives in to what her body so desperately needs, the traitor.
HO-LEE CRAP YA'LL. Do not miss this stand alone novel by the incomparable Ms. Bardin! I'm so in love with her dark, devious writing style that I can't get enough. I'm a huge fan of her Bad For You series and couldn't wait to pick up KING'S CAPTIVE...and I wasn't disappointed! It's terribly confusing, but don't worry, it all works itself out in the end with several huge AH-HA moments that will take your breath away and have your jaw on the floor. Obviously, there's more to the story as to why Sarah was being held captive by this arms dealer criminal, and all she's tried to do the last 3 years is survive. But once shit starts hitting the proverbial fan? Watch out. And block off some alone time, because you won't be able to put this baby down till you've devoured every.single.inch. And the sex? Mmnngghh it was so hot and erotic and dirty and slightly violent at times but I loved every single minute and I know you will too!
Bottom Line: No OM/OW or sharing; no condom use; mild BDSM/kink; no sexual assault; loads of violence, murder. - See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
- See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
February 6, 2017
Originally posted at: http://www.bookwifereviews.com/2017/0...
I loved this book so, so much. I haven't ever read anything from Amber Bardan but I will be reading more of her books.
It was not at all what I was expecting and because of that I feel like it's better for people to go in blind. So I'm not really going to write a full review.
I really loved the characters. I loved how Sarah handled being held captive. I feel like it's exactly what I would have done.. She was strong with out violence and she was just funny without trying. And freaking hell Julius. He just jumped to the top of my book boyfriend list. He was perfection and heartbreaking and just yummy :)
If you like your romances with a little bit of edge and one hell of a story line, PICK THIS UP! It's the best book I have read in 2017. It's that good.
I loved this book so, so much. I haven't ever read anything from Amber Bardan but I will be reading more of her books.
It was not at all what I was expecting and because of that I feel like it's better for people to go in blind. So I'm not really going to write a full review.
I really loved the characters. I loved how Sarah handled being held captive. I feel like it's exactly what I would have done.. She was strong with out violence and she was just funny without trying. And freaking hell Julius. He just jumped to the top of my book boyfriend list. He was perfection and heartbreaking and just yummy :)
If you like your romances with a little bit of edge and one hell of a story line, PICK THIS UP! It's the best book I have read in 2017. It's that good.
August 21, 2017
"Kings Captive" is the absolute mindfuck story of Julian the "King" and his captive Sarah, and was a bloody fantastic read.
Without giving any spoilers about the shocking reveal, this book had
- an obsessed celibate hero who was 100% devoted
- a lot of stalking and possessiveness
- Loads of gore and dark elements
- A mystery which if you guess would totally make your day
- A plot which comes together
Now the one person I totally didn't warm up to was the h, who was whiny and not likable (despite you knowing the truth in the last 1/4th). I wish she had more character development.
Wish this had an extended epilogue but the ending was amazing.
Safe with minor exceptions
4/5
Without giving any spoilers about the shocking reveal, this book had
- an obsessed celibate hero who was 100% devoted
- a lot of stalking and possessiveness
- Loads of gore and dark elements
- A mystery which if you guess would totally make your day
- A plot which comes together
Now the one person I totally didn't warm up to was the h, who was whiny and not likable (despite you knowing the truth in the last 1/4th). I wish she had more character development.
Wish this had an extended epilogue but the ending was amazing.
Safe with minor exceptions
4/5
February 21, 2017
I read a review of this at Smart Bitches and I knew I had to try it. I read it in one sitting last night. It's rare that "heroine falls for her kidnapper" book works for me - but by the end, I really liked the "explanation" of it all.
I loved the heroine, which is important in this kind of book where I initially hate the hero.
Kept my attention through every page - really well done. The ending is a bit rushed but otherwise this is a fun read. I'm definitely going to be reading more of this author.
I loved the heroine, which is important in this kind of book where I initially hate the hero.
Kept my attention through every page - really well done. The ending is a bit rushed but otherwise this is a fun read. I'm definitely going to be reading more of this author.
February 9, 2017
OMG!! I'm NEVER surprised anymore, but this story...these characters...the author...they all surprised me, and in the BEST possible ways! I had the chance to read this a while back, and I've been looking forward to the time when I could let everyone know how impressed I am! King's Captive is darkly, deliciously mysterious, charged with volts of sexual electricity, cleverly, compellingly written and will have you flipping the finger to life, eager to keep reading!
Congratulations to Amber on a fantastic story!
Congratulations to Amber on a fantastic story!
September 15, 2019
I knew going in that this had a pretty wicked twist to it and I love twisty stories. Unfortunately, I had this figured out pretty quickly. Some of the finer details I wasn’t aware of, but the big twist wasn’t a surprise to me. Perhaps knowing it was going to be there had me looking at everything from different angles, but how and why I figured it out doesn’t matter. The fact that I did stole whatever enjoyment I might have had.
While I never really hated Julius, and I love an anti-hero and was prepared to fall for him, I never felt connected to him. I can’t deny that in the end his love and desire for her was all that drove him and that’s something that I adored. Despite having Sarah’s point of view for most of the book, I was never a fan of her either. Her character never had a chance to solidify enough for me to know the real her.
The writing started out with a rhythm that I enjoyed but there were so many times that I just got frustrated with the constant rolling prose rather than the deep unearthing of character development and plotline I craved. This book has been highly recommended by several book friends and groups so I was ready to gobble it up and love it. Sadly, it just didn’t work for me. However, if you like a hostage romance with some twists, a hero that will do anything for the heroine, you might enjoy this one.
Mostly heroine POV with a few from the hero
Safe
Triggers
While I never really hated Julius, and I love an anti-hero and was prepared to fall for him, I never felt connected to him. I can’t deny that in the end his love and desire for her was all that drove him and that’s something that I adored. Despite having Sarah’s point of view for most of the book, I was never a fan of her either. Her character never had a chance to solidify enough for me to know the real her.
The writing started out with a rhythm that I enjoyed but there were so many times that I just got frustrated with the constant rolling prose rather than the deep unearthing of character development and plotline I craved. This book has been highly recommended by several book friends and groups so I was ready to gobble it up and love it. Sadly, it just didn’t work for me. However, if you like a hostage romance with some twists, a hero that will do anything for the heroine, you might enjoy this one.
Mostly heroine POV with a few from the hero
Safe
Triggers
February 22, 2017
THANK YOU ARDENT PROSE FOR MY ARC!!
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!
I loved it!!
This was my first book by this author and MARK ME AS A FAN!!
Hot damn this was so good! Even though I figured the story out halfway through but ughh I love an author who brings not so DIFFERENT stuff and still manages to make it a real nice story that grips the reader!
The moment this book landed on my Kindle I just..COULDN'T put it down!!
The book starts in such a thrilling way that you itch to get to the middle of it right off the bat! But on the other hand you don't wanna find out the truth so soon!!
JULIUS FUCKING KING!!
This story was absolutely fantastic!!
For more rants,reveals,blitz and giveaways,check out
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!
I loved it!!
This was my first book by this author and MARK ME AS A FAN!!
Hot damn this was so good! Even though I figured the story out halfway through but ughh I love an author who brings not so DIFFERENT stuff and still manages to make it a real nice story that grips the reader!
The moment this book landed on my Kindle I just..COULDN'T put it down!!
The book starts in such a thrilling way that you itch to get to the middle of it right off the bat! But on the other hand you don't wanna find out the truth so soon!!
JULIUS FUCKING KING!!
This story was absolutely fantastic!!
For more rants,reveals,blitz and giveaways,check out
May 15, 2020
5++ stars!! talk about a twist after a twist after a twist??
this was a complicated story, i struggled to make sense of the plot as i went in blind (not reading a single review)
Julius King intrigued me. even the prologue had me hooked from the start. i don't want to give away too much but all i want to say is that I LOVE JULIUS KING! everything he did was for Sarah, as if she was his one and only lover.
however, i can't say the same for Sarah. i don't get her thinking sometimes, but around the ending, i like how she finally figured things out and stood by her man.
overall, this was a really delicious and suspenseful book, not to forget some scorching hot sex 🔥
you wouldn't see the twists coming and that's what i liked about this book.
this was a complicated story, i struggled to make sense of the plot as i went in blind (not reading a single review)
Julius King intrigued me. even the prologue had me hooked from the start. i don't want to give away too much but all i want to say is that I LOVE JULIUS KING! everything he did was for Sarah, as if she was his one and only lover.
however, i can't say the same for Sarah. i don't get her thinking sometimes, but around the ending, i like how she finally figured things out and stood by her man.
overall, this was a really delicious and suspenseful book, not to forget some scorching hot sex 🔥
you wouldn't see the twists coming and that's what i liked about this book.
February 10, 2017
King's Captive by Amber A. Bardan will keep you swiping the pages on your Kindle. I couldn't stop reading and every free moment I had was spent reading this book over the last few days.
Compared the rest of the book, the beginning could be viewed as a bit slow but I was still engaged in the book and found that it quickly picked up.
Julius King is one complicated and sexy character. I was immediately captivated by him. He's just my kind of man I love in a book. Powerful, dominating, and rich.
Sarah is his captive and is living on his island with him. Unlike other books when you think of the word captive you might think of all sorts of dark and twisted things but in this book that's not the case but that doesn't mean he doesn't have the means to keep her in line.
Okay, so here's where my review becomes difficult because although this book was AMAZING...like I can't see how this book won't be in my top 10 at the end of 2017 it is impossible to go into any kind of detail without spoiling it for you.
There are twists and turns and jaw dropping moments throughout this story. I was thoroughly impressed with Amber. I can usually guess the twist or the surprise that pops up in a book but this one no way and when you think it's all over and things are settling down...nope.
So although I didn't really share much know that you won't be disappointed Julius and Sarah are some complicated characters that will surprise the hell out of you. I'm still thinking about them. If I have any criticism it would be that I wish the epilogue was longer but that's a personal preference and no way will I deduct any stars for it because the rest of the book makes up for it!
If you love a romantic suspense that has A LOT of suspense in it go get this book!
Releases Feb. 13th
Preorder on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lm8zs0
Compared the rest of the book, the beginning could be viewed as a bit slow but I was still engaged in the book and found that it quickly picked up.
Julius King is one complicated and sexy character. I was immediately captivated by him. He's just my kind of man I love in a book. Powerful, dominating, and rich.
Sarah is his captive and is living on his island with him. Unlike other books when you think of the word captive you might think of all sorts of dark and twisted things but in this book that's not the case but that doesn't mean he doesn't have the means to keep her in line.
Okay, so here's where my review becomes difficult because although this book was AMAZING...like I can't see how this book won't be in my top 10 at the end of 2017 it is impossible to go into any kind of detail without spoiling it for you.
There are twists and turns and jaw dropping moments throughout this story. I was thoroughly impressed with Amber. I can usually guess the twist or the surprise that pops up in a book but this one no way and when you think it's all over and things are settling down...nope.
So although I didn't really share much know that you won't be disappointed Julius and Sarah are some complicated characters that will surprise the hell out of you. I'm still thinking about them. If I have any criticism it would be that I wish the epilogue was longer but that's a personal preference and no way will I deduct any stars for it because the rest of the book makes up for it!
If you love a romantic suspense that has A LOT of suspense in it go get this book!
Releases Feb. 13th
Preorder on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lm8zs0
February 17, 2017
First time read from author Amber A Bardan. I am in the minority on this but for the life of me I was lost. The book starts off really (in the prologue) cryptic and it actually really intrigued me. Then Chapter one is 3 years later and it turned frustrating for me. I had NO clue WTF was happening.
The author would do some "flashbacks" that were not in order (which my brain started melting from). Prologue started "bloody birthday 3:00 pm" - then it was 3:15 - then it was 1:20 - back to 3:30 pm. I kept thinking I might need a notepad for this shit. After reading the whole book I am still confused about some of the events in the book. Granted it did have a great twist (with the hero and heroine) but I really wish the story was laid out way better than what I read.
I also could not stand the heroine in the book. I wanted to bitch slap her so bad. She was F'ing dumb. Her thinking was all over the place. The hero on the other hand I really liked.
I thought it was a great story concept but turned out to be a confusing execution of it for me.
The author would do some "flashbacks" that were not in order (which my brain started melting from). Prologue started "bloody birthday 3:00 pm" - then it was 3:15 - then it was 1:20 - back to 3:30 pm. I kept thinking I might need a notepad for this shit. After reading the whole book I am still confused about some of the events in the book. Granted it did have a great twist (with the hero and heroine) but I really wish the story was laid out way better than what I read.
I also could not stand the heroine in the book. I wanted to bitch slap her so bad. She was F'ing dumb. Her thinking was all over the place. The hero on the other hand I really liked.
I thought it was a great story concept but turned out to be a confusing execution of it for me.
April 5, 2017
5 +++ stars....
MUST READ BOOK.....
just don't,t think ,what the synopsis predict ,the story is so different from it....
and man what a story it is.....
so suspensful....so mystery....and too much twists which will shock you at the end of every chapter.....
and bravo what an alpha hero in this book that you will just love him at the end....heroine decieves him numerous times but he,s just soooooo adorable....
After ages finally I got a new gem....a best alpha to read....a best plotine...
a best suspense..
the book is hot,I but the frequency of sex scenes are not that abundant..however sexual tension is so high from the begning....and last 35 percent is just sizzling....
author did a great job...the book has perfect combination of everything.... mystery,action,hotness....
and after reading it I am all soooooooooooooo happy....
MUST READ BOOK.....
just don't,t think ,what the synopsis predict ,the story is so different from it....
and man what a story it is.....
so suspensful....so mystery....and too much twists which will shock you at the end of every chapter.....
and bravo what an alpha hero in this book that you will just love him at the end....heroine decieves him numerous times but he,s just soooooo adorable....
After ages finally I got a new gem....a best alpha to read....a best plotine...
a best suspense..
the book is hot,I but the frequency of sex scenes are not that abundant..however sexual tension is so high from the begning....and last 35 percent is just sizzling....
author did a great job...the book has perfect combination of everything.... mystery,action,hotness....
and after reading it I am all soooooooooooooo happy....
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