In His Hands

Blank Canvas #3

by Adriana Anders

Alternate cover edition for 9781492633907

He is Her Salvation

Abby Merkley has been a member of the Church of the Apocalyptic Faith since she was a child, and there's no way out―except death. She will fight the odds to survive, but there's no one in the world she can trust, nowhere she can run that the cult can't find her...until her handsome, brooding neighbor takes her into the safety of his arms.

Luc Stanek craves a quiet life. But he doesn't hesitate when a desperate woman lands, bloodied and branded on his doorstep. Soon he finds himself drawn into her chaotic world, caught in the center of an apocalyptic war...and determined to save the fierce beauty no matter the cost.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, Cult Classics, Abuse, Adult

401 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 2017

About the author

Adriana Anders is author of the Survival Instincts, Love at Last, and Blank Canvas series. Her debut, Under Her Skin, was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2017 and double recipient of the HOLT Medallion award, and Loving the Secret Billionaire was a Romance Writers of America 2019 Rita® Award Finalist. Her books have been featured in Entertainment Weekly, Oprah Mag, Bustle, USA Today Happy Ever After, and Book Riot. Today, she resides with her husband and two small children on the coast of France, where she writes the gritty, emotional love stories of her heart.

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Reviews

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Finding Your Home Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
Never let it be said that Adriana Anders tackles easy story lines. She doesn't. Anders takes on complex multi layered ideas and brings them to life. She has a way of weaving current cultural issues like spousal abuse, MC violence and now with this 3rd addition to her Blank Canvas Series, the corruption and abuse of cults pretending to be religions.

In His Hands takes place in Blackwood, the same small town where all the other books have...and we are rewarded with the comings and goings of past characters. However, in this entry, it is primarily focused on a side of a mountain miles away from the town.

There on this mountain there are two main properties. One, a vineyard with an new owner trying to grow the grapes and bring it back to life.

The other, a compound... a group of believers led by a man named Isaiah who thinks he is their Messiah and knows best.

Working the land the way he knows, Luc Stanek thinks of his grand-père telling him over and over again how to grow the grapes... what to look for when selecting the land, to be patient and never rush things....Too bad his half-brother never listened when they were both told the same things. Luc tried to show and explain to his step-brother but was told....to just grow the grapes, we will take care of the wine.

Well, now in America, not France, Luc is in charge, following the lessons learned so long ago and with the right timing and care...there is a chance something wonderful could happen...

Luc was not one to think the best, though. His life has not been the easiest. His love of the land, the grapes and need to tend to them made him awkward with people. He didn't do well with them and they, him. He liked the solitude...the quite...it was something he knew. Here on this mountain for these last few years, nurturing this vineyard, Luc stayed the course...

He was aware of the strange neighbors he had...never feeling comfortable when driving by their compound. He tended to keep to himself. He instinctively knew to stay away from there.

Luc did not know there had been someone watching him since he arrived. He did not know of the woman who watched how he used seasonal workers to help with the vines or how she wished she could be one of those workers herself.

Abby Merkley had been brought to the compound as a very young child. Her mother was thrilled to become a member of the flock....anything to take them away from the dirt, poverty of the city. Abby remembered the first feelings of wonder... open spaces and happy faces. But then one day she was taken from her mother...put with all the other children in a big room...left to never get the warmth or love she had had....

Time past and as Abby grew, her mind would question and ask the elders... things they didn't want to address. She became known as trouble and difficult. She had too much spirit and needed to be broken. When she was discovered with another boy her age reaching out and discovering touches... she was the one punished and blamed- not him.

She was rushed into a marriage with the first founder of the religion, a man who could have been her grandfather. She endured. She lived a dutiful life but then he became ill and now she is alone. The only one she has any real contact with is a young man/child named Sammy.

Sammy has developmental problems and the others treat him badly, sometimes physically hurting him. Lately, he has been having "spells" where he loses time and falls. Abby wants to get him away from this place... Abby wants to leave and be free, too. She just needs to figure out how to make enough money so she can take care of Sammy. She will not leave without him.

These two lost souls meet when Abby devises a way to leave the compound without elders knowing. The answer came to her when they took away her job of selling the baked goods and vegetables at the open market in town because she was too friendly. She was given the new responsibility of walking the fence alone. She was to make sure it was always intact. If it needed repairing, she was to have the men do it.

Well, with her nimble fingers and a bolt cutter, the fence did need mending and she was responsible for it. She cut carefully making sure it would be difficult to see. She took a breath and made the first step to cross onto Luc's land. There he was working the vines. But this year, there were no extra workers...but if she said things right... normal like...she would make him hire her.

Yes, she was going to make her plan work.
It was the only way to take Sammy and leave this place.
Was she scared...Yes, but she knew this was her one chance and took it.

Luc was working the vines and looked up. At first he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. A figure was walking towards him... and as it came closer...this slight wisp of a thing...was a woman?

What was she doing coming on his land...Did those people send her...and why was she so slight...
Luc stood there and Abby addressed him as best as she could... remembering to try to act normal... like all those people she had heard and seen in town...

She introduced herself and told him in halting but strong words she wished to work for him... like the workers he had used in past. This conversation would have been very strange to observe...for both of these people were out of their element. Luc, this Frenchman, no good with people... and Abby, trying so hard to seem like anyone else...yet so far from it.

What happens is interesting... for the inner strength of Abby wins out and Luc lets her stay and see how to help. She even forces Luc to shake her hand as if it were contract... something she remembers from a story or something from the past...A hand shake means something between two people...and between these two...it is the crossing over to something each never had...a sense of connection with this other person.

There is a saying ... For ever lid there is a pot.
These two characters are just like that. They were meant to be...and circumstances and logistics brought them together.

This tale addresses so very much. There is Luc's family issues and his feeling slighted. There is the way cult religion can be used to corrupt and take those who are lost looking for anything to take their internal pain away...and twist devotion to blind following.
There is also implied mentions of abuse and maiming. These parts are not pretty...

But there are parts which are...beautiful.... the coupling of Luc and Abby is powerful on many levels. There is the fierce strength in Abby taking what she wants... and Luc seeing what she needs...Letting Abby be the one to make all the decisions... a first for her.

The story also has the rescuing of Sammy, the discovery of what life could be like out in the real world and even lessons in wine making. The beginning was much to take in and made the pace a little slower than the other books...but once Luc and Abby became the focus, the pace picked up and became the book I wanted to read.

I wanted them to have what they had experienced...I wanted Abby to be with Luc ... and I wanted to find out what was going to be the outcome. Adriana Anders delivered.....and she also left me wondering about another couple...a British Bar Owner and a Strong Single Mom who just happens to work with Law Enforcement. Can't Wait....

Under Her Skin (Blank Canvas, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
By Her Touch (Blank Canvas, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
So very excited to be starting this...
Ms. Anders has NOT let me down yet :DDD
●•●•●•●•●•●•●•
January 14, 2017
Ms. Anders has given us this so far.....
"Some wounds never heal..."

Then she teased us with this....
"Need some sexy winemaker hero inspiration to tide you over?
Check out Luc's Pinterest Board here!"
https://www.pinterest.com/adrianasbou...

Well, if you follow the link to her board... you will NOT be disappointed... you will be checking off the days till August 2017

In His Hands (Blank Canvas, #3)

A gifted copy was provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley for an honest review.

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Marta Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two very different characters collide in this evocative and passionate romance. We have Luc, lonely and closed off desperate to bring his precious vines to life and fruition. He has walked away from his home and family and now feels he needs no one . Into his well ordered existence comes Abby, a prisoner of the religious cult that own the land next to Luc's home and burgeoning vineyard. It's simple in Abby's eyes she will help work with Luc and in return he will pay her meaning she and a boy whose health she's desperately worried about can afford to escape to a new life. Except the church leader wants Abby for himself and cruelly tortures Abby leaving her with no choice but to run to the one place she feels safe, in Luc's arms!
This author seems to have cornered the market when it comes to vile and sadistic villains. Yet she does not allow them to dominate her storylines no that's reserved for her couples. Abby is so innocent when it comes to the modern society we live in and she's written in such a way that it's impossible not to empathise with her and indeed cheer her on as she boldly moves forward. Pairing her with the brooding Luc allowed them both to relish life no matter how scarred they are both inside and out whilst exploring a mutual passion. Yes they have personal struggles but there's a depth to this story and a wealth of emotion. It's not just a sensual journey though as there are bigoted stalkers next door at the church who are determined to get Abby back no matter the cost. Luc still has to come to terms with his own past as the story plays out and when all looks lost there's a bright new dawn!
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

In His Hands by Adriana Anders is the 3rd book in her Blank Canvas series and the second book I've read by this author. I keep looking at this author's bio in Goodreads thinking I must be missing something because it only shows three books. How in the world is it possible that Adriana Anders has only written 3 books?? An author this good is supposed to have at least twenty books under their belt with many on the bestselling lists and blogs and conferences tolling on and on about her work and how amazingly talented she is and she is all of that and so much more. I can't think of an author who has gripped me so completely with only two out of three books read. And although each part of a series, they stand on their own and don't particularly need to be read in order, which I'm grateful for because I'm going to go buy the 2nd book after I finish writing my review, don't know how I missed it. I can only hope she's been writing in secret these past several years and will publish a plethora of books to fulfill my needs for more amazing stories.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Lana Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars

Religious cult​s are very triggering for me because I hate hypocrisy probably more than anything - and I have almost forgotten how much. But I still went into this and I wasn't disappointed. I loved how strong the heroine was, even in her inexperience about the world outside of the cult. She was smart and curious and determined and I loved her. The hero was this grumpy giant with the heart of ​ gold I adore so much and he was oh so perfect for our heroine.
All in all, it was a bit angsty and a bit long and I enjoyed it very much!

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review"
This is my first book by this author and overall, I loved the romantic plotline and the somewhat lyrical writing style.
I loved the way the author wrote this hero, especially in the beginning: a grumpy Frenchman who is “too gruff, too straightforward, all matter-of-fact with no frills”. The way he sees himself (“I’m not good at being normal/at communication”) and the way the heroine feels attracted to this silent man who grows grape vines lovingly, adopts a stray dog (Le Dog, what a character…) and blushes often.
I also loved how Adriana Anders fleshed out the cultural and linguistic differences between the French hero, Luc, and the American heroine, Abby. How she even gave Luc a French grandfather who listened to Jacques Brel and Edith Piaf’s records in an ancient record player (which he would inherit and would be used to dance with Abby). I really enjoyed the parts about the growing of grape vines and wine making and how it was all embedded in Luc’s characterization.
I liked Abby’s learning of her own sexuality/body/pleasure, but I thought that sometimes the author’s voice was clearly intruding on the heroine’s voice and it lost spontaneity.
Abby’s adaptation to her new life seemed a bit rushed and some of the main characters’ actions related to the cult sounded a little unrealistic.
The secondary characters Clay and George – “By her Touch” – were also quite appealing.
I'm grateful to the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley for providing a free copy.

[Meghan V · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just couldn't get past my distaste of the treatment of the heroine's past. I did not finish this book. I have read and adored the first 2 in this series.

I like to think myself an open minded person but that was tested in this book. "In His Hands" starts, as in all of the authors books, with main characters in varying degrees of trauma. As in the first two books of this series, this opened with a relationship helping the characters heal by opening themselves up and connecting with another human being. That basic plot line is one I will read again and again, and this author killed it in her first two books. But the plot in "In His Hands" didn't sit well with me. Abby's trauma is not the same as an abusive ex boyfriend (Book 1) or the trauma invoked from going violently undercover (Book 2.) In both those stories, the main characters were allowed relatively (very relatively) normal childhoods that allowed the basic building blocks of humanity to be formed. Being forcibly separated from her mother at 7, married to a gross old man at 15, being a child bride, statutory rape, awful abuse, 15 years of forced labor- That's Abby's trauma. And that shit is psychologically stunting. Then, add ignorance on top of it... she spent 15 years in a commune, uneducated and unaware of the outside world before she escapes. For me, reading a romance that immediately follows her escape is a big fat resounding NO. She needs a tetanus shot, a pair of jeans, and some online classes- NOT to immediately embark on an erotic romance with Luc, our laconic French winemaker. Give me a story where she's been out of her cult for 10 years and THEN have her embark on a sexy steamy relationship with a grumpy French wine maker in the mountains of Virginia. Hell yes, that's a story I'd read. But that's not this story.

The hero was great, no qualms with him. His storyline, his persona... I adored him. The sweetness in Abby was endearing. But... nope. This did not sit well with me.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three books into the Blank Canvas series and I'm still loving it. Anders writes heartbreaking and sometimes dark plots for the couples to overcome. In His Hands, has me spitting mad most of the time. I'm so glad that Abby got out from under that whack job cult church and found a HEA with Luc. I also love that the evil leaders of the cult were taken down without any innocents being hurt in the process.

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an intense read! This sort of reminded me of the movie "The Village" by M. Night Shyamalan. Abby is in a cult like church where the leader does not believe in outside influences. No doctors, no medicine, what happens is the will of God. They are all on a piece of land in the mountains and locked behind a prison like fencing.

The problem is Abby isn't willing to just follow along. Sammy is a boy with Down Syndrome who has seizures. No one will help him and Abby is determined to get a job so she can help get Sammy out before it's too late.

This is where she meets Luc. He owns the adjoining land and cultivates a grape field for wine making. She has seen him out there working and she is convinced he will hire her to earn money. She cuts a hole in the fence to sneak out everyday and work for Luc.

Luc isn't exactly thrilled about Abby's intrusion but he's just as drawn to her and her tenacity and ends up hiring her. Luc is a very anti social person. He's lived next to the church for two years and had no clue what was happening in his own back yard.

This story is wild! You learn piece by piece what is really happening behind those fence lines. So many of them have grown up there and know no other way. The more I learned about Isiah, the leader, the more angry I got. He's basically the devil in sheeps clothing. This is definitely a story that will get your emotions charged.

A few warnings for readers with triggers: There is a lot of religion talk. Even though Abby is an adult, she has child like innocence. Luc has to explain a lot to her. There is abuse. The author did a good job of not going into too much detail but still expressing some of the abuse so you know what Abby has suffered.

I've read and liked all three of the books in this series but this one was the most intense. It's well written and can be read as a stand alone. ARC provided by NetGalley.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sharply emotional story brings to stark life the pain and loneliness felt by Luc and Abby from opposite sides of the fence separating his farm from Abby's religious cult's compound. I wasn't prepared for Abby's brutal and bleak existence, or the extent of Luc's self-imposed exile. But most of all, I wasn't prepared for the deep emotional and physical depths Luc and Abby had to traverse just to find peace.

At first, the pacing of the book was almost excruciatingly slow and I toyed with skipping ahead. There was so much internal musing on both Abby and Luc's part. But once Abby opened Luc's eyes to her world and its terrible dangers, this suddenly became a taut, suspenseful saga with almost Hitchcock-like tension. I was on edge for almost the entire book, wondering how these two damaged people could possibly escape the physical dangers of the cult and the storm, much less the dangers of their long-suppressed emotions.

And that thought decided her. Bare your ugliness. Stay alive. Forget modesty, forget everything but survival.

Despite the savageness of the world and people around them, Luc and Abby were nothing but tender and careful with each other. These are two people who need to cherish and to be cherished; a bit of loveliness among the ruins. 4.25 stars

Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Blodeuedd Finland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was reading a cult book at the same time as I listened to this one. I did wonder at times who was it who had eaten dirt in a cellar, oh the other cult book. Cults are scary, I will tell you that.

Abby grew up in a cult. She was married too young to an old man. Her mother blindly follows the faith and honors her husband, the leader. But Abby wants to leave, she wants more. She does not want this miserable existence. She is naive, but that makes sense since she lives in this sheltered backwards place.

Luke lives on the same mountain. He does not like people, he just wants to farm. To be left alone.

They did come together rather fast. They had not known each other for long. But I guess he was lonely, she wanted something new. And they did fancy each other.

The story is about them falling for each other, and her trying to break away from that horrible cult. The journey from that is long. Cult people are creepy weirdos. Scary bastards.

It did have a slow start but it got better as it got scary

Narration Wendy Tremont King
I have gotten hooked on a fast speed and with this one I listened really fast. Some voices do really well in faster speed.

I liked how she did her voices. A great difference between them. Luke's accent though, eh, see it is so easy to make those caricature accents. I have met French people, not had those tv accents. I am sure some have, but in this day of age at least I got my accent from watching tv. But I guess it was needed to make us get he was French

She did a good job

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5* Like the two previous books in this series, these are emotionally heavy. This one features a young woman from a physically and emotionally abusive religious cult, and her neighbor, a gentle giant who has buried family trauma.

Abby was brought into the cult at the age of seven by her religious mother, and she was married to a man in his 50s when she was fifteen. Abby is no blushing virgin, but she also has zero experience with intimacy either. She's been watching Luc tend his vineyard for two years through the fence separating their land. After her husband dies, she begins to question some of the choices the cult leader has made. Her ultimate motivation to leave, is as a sweet young man who has seizures, and the cult doesn't believe in medication or outside interference.

Luc is a broody man. Tall, strong, and patient as he takes gentle care of his vines. He's the perfect hero for Abby. He has a secret hidden past from his family's vineyard in France that he hasn't dealt with, and he just wants everyone to leave him alone.

I felt both characters were written incredibly well, and had strengths on their own without the other, but I wanted a little something more from the overall story. It ended rather abruptly after heaps of trauma and I needed an epilogue where I could see about this couple in a peaceful, safe, loving home.

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

This read was different than the usual New Adult romance I tend to find myself picking up. I am drawn to characters with baggage and difficult pasts they have to overcome and I hadn't read a religious cult one yet. It definitley had a different feel to the whole story, almost an innocence so huge it was hard to wrap my brain around since the members of the cult were so isolated. I don't know if I have a feeling either way towards this "genre" but it was interesting for sure!

Abby was a very strong heroine, and she knew the cult was wrong even if she couldn't exactly figure out why. She wanted to leave to get medical help for her friend, which is how she met Luc. She was looking for work, but it turned into oh, so much more. Luc was very rugged and a total manly man. He was a stand up guy, but also really stand-offish. However, Abby did something to him and he just softened. He was so closed off and the last thing he was looking for was a relationship, but when it's right, it's right.

The romance and chemistry were there from the beginning. It was as if opposites attracted and these two had a connection. I enjoyed it, but I can't say I felt it 100%. I think I found their connection and friendship more believable than their physical relationship. I also struggled because they seemed to be doing of lot of "things", yet to me Abby had some serious injuries and should not have even been able to move, much less get frisky with Luc.

The plot was good, but where I struggled was the detail of the torture Abby went through. I prefer the fade to black over explicit. I spent nearly the entire book waiting for another shoe to drop biting my nails. I had to put the book down a few nights in a row because I wasn't sure when she would be captured and what they would do to her and I wasn't up for reading about it. However, I did love the dynamic and the story, I was just a baby with the stress of it all!

The ending nearly killed me. I was so stressed out, and I can honestly say I wasn't sure how they would get to the HEA. It was good and I wish I had been more relaxed while reading, but I didn't know what I had to anticipate. However, it worked out even better than I could have imagined and I loved it

Rec it? Yes. If you want a New Adult romance that is a little different, yet still a romance through and through, this is a great addition for your TBR.

Happy reading!
This review was originally posted on The Book Hookup here.

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adriana Anders is on my must watch list: an author who carefully brings serious and topical elements into her stories, while making readers long for more: more for her characters, more story, more moments. In the third book from her blank canvas series, she brings us yet another set of characters who have tried to move past their insecurities and make new paths for themselves. Easily read in any order: the series name of Blank Canvas truly defines the connections and romance for the characters – they have to choose what to cover those canvases with, and they do so in ways that are gripping, compelling and engaging.

Abby has been raised in a cult: with a leader who alternates between compelling and cruel, she’s finding that the world beyond the relative security and support within the life she has always known may be little more than an illusion. Innocent in all the ways of the world, she harnesses her fear of the unknown in an effort to escape and find a way to pay for treatment, denied by the cult, for a young boy in desperate need. The uniqueness of Abby: her innocence despite the horrific abuse she suffered during her time in the cult, the religious overtones where the word becomes a hammer, twisted and forged for control, and her actual unfamiliarity with many everyday situations. In the company of anyone other than Luc, an honorable man who won’t allow himself to ‘need’ another, even though he’s adopted a dog (Le Dog), and claims to avoid people. There’s just something about Abby – not just her willingness and need to work, her curiosity and the hints of sadness he sees, that allows him to gently guide her through the many pitfalls that her new existence brings.

This did start slowly: there is plenty of set-up as we get a feel for each character: Abby so open and guileless in her sharing, and Luc, a bit more reserved with his quiet moments spent with old recordings that were his grandfather’s favorites. His every waking moment is spent gently tending his vines as a seller of wine grapes with a sense that the grape lives in his soul as a native of Bourdeaux. But soon, with Abby’s sharing and the pressure from the cult to bring her back, the revelations as she understands the repercussions of her own treatment and deciding how to feel, as well as her growing affections for Luc, bring us a slow-growing story where both Luc and Abby find themselves meandering down the path of love. At the same time, the pressures from the outside increase, and the story starts to build tension and keeping readers wondering just what is next. With Abby and Luc, their relationship is decidedly as friends that grows into more: less from Abby’s reticence and more, it seems, for Luc giving her the opportunity to grow, learn and make a choice. As choice seems to be a new-ish concept for Abby, you have to love Luc’s willingness and understanding: even as he guards and guides her forward in this new world. Incredibly emotional and sensual, Anders allows those moments of discovery, growth and sharing come organically and doesn’t rush; you can actually see that these two are well-suited, and the slower development of the relationship gives them a solidity that wouldn’t have appeared had they jumped into the ‘couplehood’ any sooner. Perfectly suited as an installment in this series, keeping it on my favorite series list for characters, writing and unique elements that aren’t common to romance.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Under the Covers Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

In His Hands starts out very S-L-O-W, a lot slower than the first book, Under Her Skin. And because of the lack of speed, it didn’t grab my attention right away. It covers a very difficult subject matter and Anders paints the story with vivid strokes, feeding the reader only a piece of information at a time. But she does it brilliantly. She is a gifted writer—a storyteller. There are multiple layers and a complexity that needed to be portrayed in the slow manner it was presented.
Abby Merkley resides in a small, religious commune. Her mother brought her to this way of life at a young age. She was raised to not question the elders of the community and the beauty she once saw on this mountain has turned ugly. She longs for freedom and independence. She wants to help a small child. She needs a job. All of this leads her outside the fence surrounding her commune and to Luc Stanek’s front door.
Luc Stanek is a store owner, growing grapes and making wine. He keeps to himself. He’s not very good with people. He likes the isolation he’s created for himself.
But Abby’s presence stirs something inside him. And he finds himself reaching out to help her. Two strangers, both lonely for different reasons. Two painful pasts. Two hearts beating the odds to find love in the strangest of places.
In His Hands is an emotional journey and is solely character driven (which does make for a slower read). It can be hard to read at times with the heavy subject matter but Anders tackles it beautifully. Warning: there are emotional triggers surrounding their story and I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone.

*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Guest Reviewer Trish❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤

[Madeline Iva · Rating 5 out of 5]

The menace level in the Blank Canvas series is taken up another notch--but this time the enemy is a religious cult. Adriana Anders builds her series up and then burns it all down to the ground again with this third book -- I won't say any more, but with prose that you just sink into, I'm looking forward to more of her work in the future!

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars - 3 Flames

Ok you guys. I'm just not sure how I feel about this one. Did I enjoy it? At times. But I'm not gonna lie. I spent a lot of time skimming the beginning due to the set up. Don't get me wrong. It's not the writing that I struggled with. It was the story line. Mainly, the "Church/Cult" theme. I mean, it worked in terms of bringing these two together, but...argh...it's hard to explain without sounding put off.

Luc is French. Not just French. He's from the Bordeaux region, stemming from a line of winemakers. But he left home and ended up a wine grape seller. Not a wine maker. Not that he hasn't "experimented" with wine making, he just doesn't think he's good enough. But one day, while pruning his vines, someone enters his life who just might change the way he feels about that. Actually, the way he feels as a whole.

Abby is a member of the Church of the Apocalyptic Faith, aka Cult that lives next door to Luc. After her husband dies, she begins questioning everything. After watching the "grape man" next door for a while, she musters up enough courage to ask him if she could work for him. Her goal? To raise enough money to leave the Church and start a new life. But things don't exactly go as planned. And when things crumble, guess who's there to help her put herself back together?

Like I mentioned earlier, I liked this story at times. I liked how innocent Abby is and how Luc literally teaches her things for the first time. I like how their relationship unfolds and blossoms. Once I hit the half way mark, I was 100% in and ready. It was getting there that I struggled with. But as always, the author found a way to bring me back to the story at hand which was really about Abby finding herself with a lot of help from Luc. Well done Ms. Anders. Well done.

*I received this book from the Jeep Diva in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

                

This author / narrator combo has grasped me again and won't let go. The classification may be contemporary romance but it feels like romantic suspense. I am in tense limbo the entire time I listen. Or heck, when I am not listening. I keep waiting for the bad guys to be .... bad. My head plays every worst case scenario. In His Hands is especially emotional since there is a cult "church" involved which is a real trigger for me. I dislike people using religious beliefs to be unkind or worse.

I'm enjoying how the narrator has captured the southern dialects, as well as the other characters from various parts of the world who inhabit this small town of Blackwood, Virginia. She gives them distinct voices, adding to their personality, from the story. The pacing and delivery added so much to the characters and my feelings.

Abby's introduction to the "normal" world was such a sweet view. Her reactions to everything were smart and fun. She made sexy times so much sexier with her curiosity and naive wonder. She was smart and so brave, although not protective enough of herself. It was also heart-warming to see characters from previous books. Luc was isolated in so many ways. Abby was a fresh lens to the world for him which he needed. I didn't like the way they weren't exactly open about their feelings and the situation.  Some of their plans were ridiculous. Luck played a big part in their happy ending plus good people having their back. I look forward to seeing what happens next with them, in the background at least, in any future Blank Canvas series books.

 
Listen to a clip  here.


 



Excerpt

Abby took her glass, her hand brushing Luc’s in the process.

It sent a zing of awareness down her arm, reminding her of how little she knew about life out here, about men and women and reality.

About seduction.

Was this man a seducer? No. No, he was too gruff, too straightforward, all matter-of-fact with no frills. She quelled a tremor with a warming sip from her glass, but deep inside, something raw and uncontrollable reared its head, trying hard to burst free.

Another sip, and Abby rolled her head on her neck. She sucked in a deep, shaky breath to relieve the nerves that bubbled up, reveling in the feel of this shirt she had on—big and soft, like the pants, and brazenly open at the back. She’d wear men’s clothes all the time, she decided. No starch, lace, or modest undergarments. No struggling with too many buttons and ties.

“How do you feel?” Luc asked, shifting the sofa cushions as he sat down beside her, close enough to feel his warmth. It took Abby a moment to understand he meant her burns and not the cotton rubbing her breasts into achy points.

She blushed and coughed, but her nipples didn’t go down.

“Much better, thank you.” She lifted the glass and sipped again, glancing sideways at his profile. “This seems to be helping.”

He smiled—oh, goodness, he was lovely—and she squeezed her legs together, hard.

“It’s been known to do the trick.” He turned the glass to the single lamp in the room and eyed its dark glow.

“Would this be different if I were a normal woman?”

He stilled, looking slightly suspicious, before lifting the glass higher and asking, “This?”

She pointed toward him with her wine. “Sitting with me. Having a drink.”

After another brief silence, he set down his glass and shifted beside her, suddenly seeming too big for the sofa. “I’m not exactly a normal sort of man.”

“I figured as much,” she said with a smile of her own. “But what if…what if we’d met in town? At the market, maybe. What would it be like?”

She took another swallow of wine, and it lit her right up. Or maybe that was his interested gaze.

“Strange.”

She sputtered, nearly losing half her sip in the process. “Well, thank you very much.”

“No, not you. I mean me. I’m not good at being natural.”

“Okay. When you meet someone, usually. What’s it like? You go out to dinner? To see a movie?”

“Oh. Yes, I suppose so.”

“You suppose?”

He opened his big hands, looking almost as clueless as she felt. “Well, not me. I don’t go out to dinner.”

“What do you do?”

He looked to the side, and she couldn’t tell if he was searching for the right answer or sifting through memories. “My encounters with women tend to be more…casual.”

“Oh.”

She pictured him in loose, low-slung jeans, slouching and shrugging in that way teenagers did. Casual. “What’s that like?”

His expelled breath sounded frustrated, and she came dangerously close to letting him off the hook, until he answered. “It’s just sex, I mean. No real relationships. Well, I had one, but…” He trailed off, leaving her with nothing.

She wanted much more. Sex? She wanted to know. Instead, she asked, “How did that start? Your one relationship.”

Even that word felt funny. Grown-up and modern.

He frowned. “She told me she wanted me. We fuc—” He cleared his throat, which had turned a mottled red, the color disappearing into his neckline. Abby had to see how far down it went. The need was ravenous, pulsing, painful and hot. “We did the…sex.”

“Where?” she whispered, picturing a barn or a vineyard—she had a hard time imagining this man anywhere but in the great outdoors.

“Why do you want to know?”

“I…” She couldn’t tell him the truth, could she? That she liked him. That she was curious. That she had absolutely no idea how to be normal, but there was this demon inside, stretching her skin painfully taut in its bid to get out. “I want to do it right.”

The look he gave her said she was crazy, and yet there was something else in that expression.

“What, with me?”

“Yes. How… How would you touch me? If I were normal?”

“How would I—”

“Start? How would you start?” She barely forced the words out through a throat that was hoarse with embarrassment, not to mention that yearning inside her— coarser and baser than anything she’d felt. This wasn’t an emotion, exactly—more of a compulsion. “Where would you put your hands?” the demon goaded.

He looked at them—his hands—where they sat on his knees. Such vital parts of this man’s body, cut and scarred and torn apart and missing a piece. They were lived-in and beautiful. Hands that had seen a thing or two, like these softly folded mountains with their low profile and vast knowledge of time. Would they feel that way on her? Experienced? Wise?

Sounding as frayed as she felt, he said, “I told you, I’m not good at speaking.” It wasn’t until the words sank in that she understood the underlying meaning.

“You’re good at”—she swallowed, more brazen than she’d been in all her twenty-two years, because, despite the accusation that put those old scars on her arms, she’d never actually seduced a man before—“doing, though. Is that what you’re good at?”
 

 
Read this review in its entirety at The Book Nympho

[C bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

netgalley

A well written excellent read.

[Carissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a first read for me by this author. It was slow, especially for the 1st 30-40% and very long. A lot could have been condensed, for instance, there was way too much detail on how to grow grapes and trim the vines. That part really was starting to bore me.

Reading cult books are ones I don't read often. I guess I have to make sure I'm in the right mindset since they are so different from what I'm used to reading. Luc was mysterious and I understand why Abbie was naïve in almost everything because she was secluded for so long. I can't even really point out why I'm giving a 2 star. I started to skim the last half of the book unfortunately and I guess I just wasn't seeing the connection between the two main characters. Even though I own books 1 & 2 of this series, I will go back and check those out since these are all standalones and are different from each other.

[Martha Hix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adriana has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I love the way she writes!

[Romantically Inclined Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

(This review was copied from my romance novel review blog: romanticallyinclinedreviews.blogspot.com)

Author Adriana Anders is a force to be reckoned with. I don’t think there’s a romance novel out there that has moved me as much as those in her Blank Canvas series. Every novel rips a hole in my chest that is so deep and painful I wonder if I’ll ever feel whole again, but thankfully Ms. Anders knows how to write an ending so full of love and warmth that you forget the pain and are more than willing to subject yourself to it over and over again.

Adriana Anders writes some of the darkest, most passionate romance novels you’ll ever have the intense pleasure of reading. Her stories are unique, captivating and utterly romantic in a way which no other romance novel can compare. In His Hands gives you moments of torment and desperation intermingled with heart-wrenching scenes of open and honest love between two exceptional characters, Luc and Abby.

Luc and Abby, much like the characters of her previous novels, are special. How can they not be? Ms. Anders has a wicked talent for creating characters who are so wacky and beautiful and vulnerable that you simply cannot help but fall in love with them. They're so different from one another and their pasts are so complicated. They shouldn’t work together, as a pair, but Adriana Anders makes us believe that the romance between them is more than possible, it's inevitable.

Reading In His Hands, the third book in the Blank Canvas series, you can almost imagine you’ve fallen into a modern fairy tale with elaborate scenery and lively characters, some of whom you’ve seen in previous novels (if you’re already a fan of her works). Her writing is poetic; so rhythmic and beautifully worded that you often forget to breathe.

This series is perfect for those who like their romance novels with a little more… everything. More drama, more chaos, more danger, more sex. You won’t be disappointed by what you find between these pages. In His Hands doesn’t come out until August 1, 2017, but that gives you more than enough time to read up on the first two in the series Under Her Skin and By Her Touch.

[Ruthie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~

This is the third book in the series - and has a few links, but it is not essential to have read the previous books. That said, these three books are amazing reads and whilst not easy, are beautifully written, and definitely life-affirming.

Ms Anders is a very talented author, and once again has written a beautiful story born out of a terrible situation. There is so much more to this book than a simple romance - Luc is afforded the opportunity to save Abby, and in that mission, she saves him right back. The whole book has one in tense expectation of some terrible outcome of action after action, I was drawn to keep reading, and yet was nervous of turning nearly every page.

Some of the most beautifully written paragraphs are those where these two people discover the true meaning of sensuality. From completely different starting places, the descriptions of how they deal with the intensity of their feelings, and their desire for each other.

Thank you for an amazing book which in addition to being a stunning love story, also gives some frightening insights into life within a sect, and fascinating ones about the winemaking business.

[Malvina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed the Blank Canvas series. Each is unique and features unusual characters. This third one is no different, with Abby, a woman struggling to understand the outside world and escape from a cult she’s known most of her life, and Luc, a self-exiled French winemaker living just down the mountain from the cult. Both walk a dangerous road with Armageddon threatening to explode down on them from the crazy cult leader Isaiah. Abby and Luc find each other, and find the strength to do more as a result. I didn’t know where this was going to end up; it’s great reading.

[Mollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it and want more from this author!

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, not as good as book one in the series, but still enjoyable. Do not read this book if you are very religious though!

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This man had a way with grapes and words.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doomsday cult? Check.
French hero with a vineyard who speaks mostly in grunts? Check.
Snowed in situation? Check!

Equal parts sexy and bananas.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, I love this series. Abby's desire to be more than what the Church forced her to be got to me. The way she flowered under Luc's rough regard and slowly experienced the things she'd been denied made me giddy. While the frame of time they knew one another was relatively short, it felt right. Both Abby and Luc were ripe for change and they pushed one another toward that change with ease.

Also, I adore gruff, grumpy heroes who have a hard time connecting with people. Heck, I also adored women who are far stronger than they think they are and are willing to push forward despite the odds.

Basically, Abby and Luc pushed all my literary buttons. She's determined. He's closed off. She doesn't give up. He reluctantly lets her in. And, MAN, Luc was lonely. The fact he didn't realize it until Abby forced her way into his life made it even sadder.

With plenty of danger (Hello, crazy Church people), a few familiar faces popping in, and a sweet, complicated romance, this book gave me everything I needed. I'm seriously smitten with this series as a whole. Seriously.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! I highly recommend this!

[Michelle [Helen Geek] · Rating 4 out of 5]

May 2017 -- 4 Stars

This book was a bit different. You have an exiled Frenchman [Luc] who is in the US to grow grapes and make wine. Wine making is something he learned as a child in the Bordeaux region of France under the tutelage of his grandfather.

Then we have an apoplectic religious sect living next to our Frenchman. The heroine, Abby, was caring, naive, and innocently courageous. Together, these two were interesting.

The story had a dark element in the prophet leading our religious sect.

This book reminded me of a similar book called "Wife Number Seven" by Melissa Brown; https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Overall, an interesting read. Not one I'll read again, but enjoyable.

Happy Reading!

ARC provided by the author and publisher via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.