Captivity

Hollow Rock Shifters #1

by Brenda Trim, Tami Julka

Lawson Scott has been a prisoner for three years. He's been subjected to torture, degradation, and numerous tests by humans wanting shifter blood. He's convinced he will spend the remainder of his life chained to a wall until sexy scientist, Liv Kimbro, is assigned to his case. She's the first human to show an ounce of compassion and their attraction is combustible despite his disdain for her species. An escape plan unfolds and Lawson sees how far Liv will go to set him free. Passion erupts and raw, primal need is unleashed when they succumb to their desire for one another.

Will Lawson reach his safe haven and find a life mate when Liv captures his heart or will their differences destroy them and everyone he loves?

Genres: Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Amazon, Fiction

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 15, 2018

About the author

Brenda's Paranormal Women's Fiction

Mystical Midlife in Maine Series
1. Magical Makeover
2. Laugh Lines & Lost Things
3. Hellmouth & Hot Flashes
4. Holidays With Hades
5. Saggy But Witty in Crescent City
6. Nasty Curses & Big Purses
7. Fae Forged Axes & Chin Waxes
8. Demonic Stones & Creaky Bones
9. Underworld Frights & Sleepless Nights
10. Pixie Dust & Brain Rust
11. Magical Hands & Silver Strands
12. Deadly Quips & Furry Lips
13. Enchanted Tattoos & Lost Fools
14. Shady Secrets & Sun Spots

Twisted Sisters Midlife Maelstrom Series
1. Packing Serious Magical Mojo
2. Cadaver On Canal Street
3. Seances & Second Line Parades
4. French Quarter Fae
5. King's Day Magical Mischief
6. Etou-Fae The Hard Way
7. Hurricanes, Heros & Hail Marys
8. Royal Street Romp
9. Levees, Lost Crowns & Loa
10. Mud Bugs & Cherished Hugs
11. Creole Dishes & Deadly Wishes

Brenda's Paranormal Romance Books
DARK WARRIOR ALLIANCE SERIES
1. Dream Warrior
2. Mystik Warrior
3. Pemas Storm
4. Isis Betrayal
5. Deviant Warrior
6. Suvi's Revenge
7. Scarred Warrior
8. Hellbound Warrior
9. Isobel
10. Rogue Warrior
11. Shattered Warrior

Reviews

[❤️Emma Book Lover ❤️]

DNF 70% .

Didn't care about anything really by that point....meh plot, meh characters, mediocre smut, tstl slutty h,waste of time. Not even gonna rate it 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[Felyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another one for the DNF file. Made it 48% through, which was about 35% too much. It started out with promise, and then just tanked so quickly... it was unbelievable.

There's so much awful going on here. The coerced hand job with her boss? Cringeworthy, and not just for the coercion. The entire scene in which Liv was using her ~*~feminine wiles~*~ to manipulate her boss? PAINFUL. The entire time Lawson (or all the shifters, really) referring to people as "males" and "females" is just flat-out bullshit. (Hi, this is 2018, and there's an entire spectrum of genders, kthx.) Cassie, the best friend, was all of a sudden a world-class hacker who is the cornerstone of Liv's plan to free Lawson. The nauseating nicknames Bart & Liv call one another - BS & TKO? Please. Just stop.

Definitely giving the rest of this a skip and returning the second one. Thank goodness for Kindle Unlimited, so I only wasted time and not money.

Started: 28 May, 2018.
Gave up: 29 May, 2018.

[Coco.V]

🎁 Hollow Rock Shifters Boxset, Books 1-3 is FREE on Amazon today (4/26/2019)! 🎁

[Chalice · Rating 2 out of 5]

The couple: Lawson and Liv

Romance trope: shifters
Series: Hollow Rock Shifters
Length: 246 pages

Plot: Olivia is a scientist in a lab researching cancer. She happens across an experiment one night that is illegally holding shifters captive. She begins to figure out how to rescue the shifter, Lawson, while falling in love with him at the same time. Her nefarious boss isn't going to let her get away with this though!

Commentary: So there was a lot of stuff in the book that I felt could have been cut out. There were long descriptions of conversations and meals with Liv's friends and useless running around a corridor of the lab looking for and at other shifters. The truth is that she could have gotten Lawson out long before she did. At one point the bad guy was drugged and unconscious and she had his key card. So why didn't they just leave then? Lawson was obviously capable of taking on the guards. They could have left. It wasn't a matter of saving the other shifters either, because they left an then went back for them anyways. There was so much unnecessary drama, with the sexually harassing boss and the creeper governor/ex/best friend/rich guy savior and the oversexed best friend. And even with all of that, I was a little bored. I had to read past all sorts of descriptions of unimportant things to get to the story and then in the end, I'm not sure that I even cared about their anticlimactic decision to be together. I think the story just wasn't for me.

Next book in the series: Safe Haven

[Eva Millien · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Release Reviews! Captivity & Safe Haven (Hollow Rock Shifters 1 & 2) Brenda Trim & Tami Julka!  
Captivity
 

 
Lawson Scott has been a prisoner for three years. He's been subjected to torture, degradation, and numerous tests by humans wanting shifter blood. He's convinced he will spend the remainder of his life chained to a wall until sexy scientist, Liv Kimbro, is assigned to his case. She's the first human to show an ounce of compassion and their attraction is combustible despite his disdain for her species. An escape plan unfolds and Lawson sees how far Liv will go to set him free. Passion erupts and raw, primal need is unleashed when they succumb to their desire for one another. 
 
Will Lawson reach his safe haven and find a life mate when Liv captures his heart or will their differences destroy them and everyone he loves? 
 
 
REVIEW!
 
 
Trim and Julka have done it again, they have created another fascinating and gritty world that readers will love to sink thier teeth into with their new Hollow Rock Shifters series.
 
Captivity is the first book in the series and it certainly lived up to it's name as it held me captive from beginning to end. First, I guess I should tell you that if you read book one you will have to read book two because while the story didn't end on a major cliffhanger, Safe Haven takes up where Captivity left off. The books revolve around Lawson Scott and Liv Kimbro, who are two very strong and compelling characters with some very electric chemistry not only sizzling between them but they easily pull readers into their story and ensure that they want to know everything. The romance is sweet and lots of steamy passion heats up the pages but the relationship has a few obstacles to be overcome before Lawson and Liv can reach their happily ever after.
 
Not only does the relationship keep readers in suspense but this fast paced plot is full of andrenaline pumping thrills that keep readers on the edge of their seat. With a dangerous adversary who is up to no good and lots of surprising twists there is never a dull moment to be found in this book.
 
Sorry, I have to run because I am so ready to read the next book, Safe Haven, see you soon!
 
 
4 STARS!
 
 
Captivity (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...) is the 1st book in the Hollow Rock Shifters series (https://www.trimandjulka.com/hollow-r...)
& is available in ebook at:
 
Amazon - https://r.bookbub.com/book_site_activ...
 
 
Safe Haven
 
 
Lawson Scott can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. The days of being chained to a wall and unbearable beatings are over. Now, He's renovating a hotel where shifters can relocate and feel safe. His family has reunited and Liv, the woman he loves, is by his side. When he takes on the role as pack leader it seems he has everything he could possibly want. But when a rescued group of shifters come to live at Hollow Rock, his world turns into bitter betrayal overnight and he may lose the one person who matters most. 
 
Was that a light at the end of the tunnel? No, wait. That was the headlight of a train. 
REVIEW!
 
 
Wow! The second book in the Hollow Rock Shifters series is just as good as the first one. Lawson and Liv are back and there romance is just as suspenseful and intense as it was in Captivity with more gritty emotional turmoil and red hot passion as they strive to reach that happily ever after. The relationship is hampered by their differences as well as by the fallout left over by the bad guy, major changes in Lawson and Liv's life, and everyone's determination to put an end to the bad guys cruelty. Once again, there is never a dull moment to be found as surprising twists keeps characters and readers alike on thier toes.
 
Trim and Julka have certainly created a fascinating and intense new series and I was as enthralled Safe Haven as I was Captivity, therefore, I don't really have to tell you that I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series,of course, I just did (LOL).
4 STARS!
Safe Haven (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...) is the 2nd book in the Hollow Rock Shifters (https://www.trimandjulka.com/hollow-r...)
& is available in ebook at:
 
Amazon - https://r.bookbub.com/book_site_activ...
 

 
can be found at:Website - http://www.trimandjulka.com/ Goodreads –
Brenda Trim - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... Tami Julka - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Bookbub –
Brenda Trim - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/brend...
Tami Julka - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tami-... Blog - https://www.trimandjulka.com/blog/ Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/trimandjulka
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TrimAndJulka...
Hollow Rock Shifters 1 & 2 were
 

 
 

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read. I'll definitely going to check if there are more in the series. It had good side characters that added to the story.

[Veronica LaRoche · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this shifter story. Liv & Lawson I absolutely loved reading about. The chemistry between them was smokin hot. I can’t wait too read books in this series

[Michelle Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I am on the Kindle the other night, and in my list of "books for you" I find this book, another series by my favorite authors Brenda Trim and Tami Julka. I don't even think twice, I download it immediately!!

Liv is a little naïve, but an amazing researcher, coming in most weekends to get more work done. This weekend when she comes in the air conditioning is on the fritz and it is like a sauna. In her quest to find out what is going on, Liv sees a door open that she has never seen open before in the lab, thinking it is a mechanical room since it is near the breakroom, she walks through only to find a completely separate lab and what she sees in the rooms terrifies her. A dirty mattress, chains on the walls, door window incredibly high, what is this place. Then in the last room she is treated to a gorgeous specimen of a man, a shifter to be precise, who is chained to the wall and being beaten by a guard. Liv can't control herself and steps in to stop the guard, which causes even more trouble.

Lawson has been in the lab for three years, being repeatedly beaten and yelled out, but so far he still hasn't given up his will to live, but he is close, when a vision of red hair wanders into the room. He knows he will protect her, and given her spunk, he is tested on that resolve soon.

The Hollow Rock Shifters is a new series by my favorite authors, and this series revolves around shifters. At this time period, the human population knows about shifters, but for the most part they are either scared or dubious of them. Mostly because they have been told they are savages and criminals, when in reality we all know that they are just like anyone else.

This story follows Liv as she decides what to do now that she knows there is a shifter in the lab, and because she is appalled at his treatment, she is bound to make thing better, even if that means helping him escape.

This is a fast moving and page turning story. In fact I was finished with it before I realized it and wanted more. This is what I have come to expect from the authors, the team of Brenda Trim and Tami Julka have created some of the best books I have ever read in the Dark Warrior Alliance Series, and so I was expecting the same quality from this series, and so far they have not disappointed.

Great series set around the shifters, with a different world view. Something any fan of the authors or of shifter novels could enjoy.

[Mary Kirkland · Rating 5 out of 5]

One night when Olivia is at work and goes to find out how to turn the AC on, she shockingly finds out that her lab is kidnapping, holding captive and performing secret experiments on shifters. She doesn't know a lot about shifters since they tend to keep to themselves but when she witnesses the captive shifter kill a man right in front of her, she knows they're dangerous too. The next day when she returns to work, her boss confronts her about what she saw and there's video evidence so she can't get away with saying she saw nothing. Once that's cleared up her boss assigns her to get to know the shifter, Lawson and see if he will open up to her since he's been tight lipped with everyone else. Her boss wants him to shift and he has refused thus far.

Lawson hates humans, especially the humans who have been holding him captive, beating and experimenting on him. But once Olivia walks into his room, he thinks he might be able to trust her because she doesn't seem like the rest of them. Olivia's boss is a complete sleezeball and I was hoping he would get what was coming to him.

Once Olivia gets a better understanding of what's really going on at the lab, she knows she has to help Lawson and the other shifters escape. She enlists the help of some friends to help with the rescue and letting the right people know what's going on at the lab. Along the way Olivia and Lawson become closer and we watch as their relationship grows into a steamy romance. Whew, I need me a shifter boyfriend. I had such a great time reading this.

[Jennifer Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good story

I liked the story line but I have to say the ending kinda sucked LoL after all that reading I done I was waiting for that big climax ending where the whole family would be reunited and what do I get Dad is dead and we gotta hurry home mom will be joining him soon! Ugh!! That sucked so bad I almost started crying for real and the bad guy is still walking free WTH?!! Okay i can understand him being able to get away with the whole shifter thing but he almost raped Liv why in the heck didnt she at least press charges on him about that?? I mean really what kind of sucky ending is that so not a HEA!! But I will give credit where credit is due it was a well written story even if the leading lady was a little ditzy sometimes...anyways check it out for yourself see what u think

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivity
Hollow Rock Shifters, Book 1
By: Brenda Trim, Tami Julka
Narrated by: Cliff Bergen
Intense world.

Overall 5 out of 5 stars Performance 4 out of 5 stars Story 5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed: 06-21-19

This was a fast paced book full of suspense. I loved the world building and the characters. Lawson was hot! Liv had such a big heart full of compassion. I really liked her. She was also tough and brave. One thing l was pleasantly surprised by is the story Is set in Chattanooga, Tennessee! Two hours from me. That makes it seem even more real.

I listened to the audiobook. While the narrator was great at telling the story and has a great voice. He wasn’t the greatest at female voices. But I’ve heard so much worse. It got better the longer it played. I can’t wait for the next one.

[Karina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t even know where to start. I just read a 5 star review that started by saying this book was well written and - no - it is absolutely not well written. No shade if you enjoyed it but as another reviewer said, it was in desperate need of several rounds with a good editor.

My two stars are for the story premise. There were some decent ideas for the plot. That’s about it. The whole thing lacked heart. Characters were not well developed - I didn’t care what happened to them. Scenes that should have been touching were flat.

As for the sex scenes - yeesh.

Plus, as someone who loves paranormal romance and has read a lot of shifter stories, the author’s take on shifters was odd.

Overall, I’d say that with some thorough rewriting this book could be good. But I won’t be reading anything else by this author.

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

It started out good but I didn’t finish the book. I got half way through it and had to stop because the leading lady was being too stupid to be believable.

Spoilers!

She meets a captive werewolf being used as a test subject by her boss and wants to set him free. Good so far. She drugs her boss so he falls asleep and goes to free the werewolf but instead of freeing him she just makes out with him. She doesn’t even take pictures to prove he’s there or have him call his family (whose number she got earlier). How stupid is that!!!!! She could have at least taken some pictures so that the police could get involved. I was so disappointed that she wasted her perfect opportunity that I quit reading. Seriously lady!! What’s wrong with you?!!!

[Lina · Rating 1 out of 5]

La verdad. No me ha gustado.
Podría haberse desarrollado más la trama en si, sin la necesidad de tanta escena spicy. Al final era puro morbo. Si vas a hacer un libro con una historia de trasfondo, dale igual un poco de prioridad. Si solo piensas en escribir un libro caliente, que ese sea tu fin. Pero no intentes poner una trama sin sentido o muy rápida para lograr algo spicy.
No puedo darle 0 estrellas, porque en si hay cosas que estaban bien escritas y llamaba la atención, y lo terminé de escuchar solo porque quería saber qué pasaba con los cambiaformas, pero terminó como Meeeh....
Es un libro corto, que debería ser rápido de leer, pero aún así a la mitad ya no quería más. Y eso con libros cortos no debería ocurrir.

1⭐

[Terri West · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read a shifter romance and I have to say this did not disappoint. I Love the Dark Warrior series and I was concerned that this might not be as captivating, I couldn't have been more wrong. This is an excellent start to the series and I can't wait to read on, it has adventure, betrayal and yeah some pretty hot sexy scenes. There is also plenty of light hearted banter and sass, which I love about Brenda Trim books.
If I had any criticism it would be my normal gripe, the editing, there are at least a couple of instances where the wrong character is referred to in the text, only by following the story (for example Liv is used where it should read Lawson).

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I found the protagonist, Olivia, to be a little naive, especially for a lab researcher, I enjoyed the story about a woman who finds out that the lab where she works is experimenting on shifters. She manages to finagle her way into the cell of one of the men, Lawson, and sets out to free him and the other kidnapped shifters being held. Along the way, she will enlist the help of her best friends, Cassie and Bart. Bart is supposed to be the governor of the state, but I must say that I have never heard of a governor who had less security or more free time on his hands. I guess Tennessee runs itself!

You will like Lawson and the other shifters. You will hate Liv's boss...very much.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful read/listen about how simple acts of kindness are so necessary. Lawson is a captive shifter being experimented on and beaten. Luv works at the lab and accidentally stumbles on Lawson being mistreated. The rest is how their instant bond continues to grow as Liv takes risks to free Lawson and any other shifters who may be captive in the lab. Sweet, with heat, suspense, action and adventure. Narration was perfect, well written with great storyline and flow. I'm looking forward to more in this series.

I received a free copy of this book and I provided this voluntary review.
*this review is based on the audio version of this read

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Makes No Sense

The way the characters behave is absolutely unrealistic. They need proof but the literal escaped prisoners aren't proof?? They're having sex while the rest of his family is being tortured instead of gathering up a bunch of wolves and storming the facilities? They don't have much time to escape, but time enough for a makeout session? She's worried about keeping her JOB after she finds men chained up there and her boss sexually harasses her??? I like the premise, but this book would have benefited from a few more rounds of honest and critical editing.

[Jayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Research on shifters.

She's a lab researcher and accidentally stumbles upon captured, chained and tortured shifters. He's one of those in chains and an unlikely friendship escalates between them when she frees him.
Under her naivety hides a solid backbone and a sense of right and wrong, she's a strong character. But for all their superior strengths it does make one wonder how so many shifters were captured!?
Not a bad read, a few editing errors, plenty of sex scenes and their story continues in the next books.
Found it free.

[E Oygard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Be warned, story continues on in a second book

I was so disappointed when I got to the end to discover I needed to read another book in order to finish the story. I imagine it will be more of the same, so I am not going to complete it. I would rather have read a different story.
I didn't make a connection with the characters at all. Love's part was monotonous and repetetive, while Lawson seemed to be in peak condition for a man who had been chained to a wall for two years. Sorry, the story wasn't good enough to read twice.

[Carylle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope was very far away

You if yourself asking why am I working in this place ,the answer comes back we are looking for a cure for the big C and many more illnesses and hope we find one.That is until you stumble on to a secret location for shifters that are being used as an experiment s and there blood taken from in the animal form.This is wrong and you fight to free them.I would like to thank you for all your hard work and may fortune smile on you always 😁

[Kathy Mayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steamy, sad and good!

Sad because of what's being done to the shifters. Steamy for the love scenes between Liv and Lawson. There is a bit of a love triangle. However one person doesn't reciprocate those feelings. As you can imagine the shifters are protective. The fact that not Cassie tells Liv that it's obvious that Bart never got over her, is shocking! The ending was good. I have a bad feeling though about Bart. We'll see if my hunch is true in the next book.

[Miranda F.]

DNF 6%

So our heroine walks in on a torture session where a security guard and a lab researcher are brutally beating a shifter.

The shifter manages to kill the security guard and the researcher, and the heroine doesn't know what to do, so she runs into a nightclub where she knows her friend is sitting, instead of calling the police or trying to figure out what is going on or helping the man who's just been really injured.

I mean... what????

[AnneMarie Davee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Safe Haven ♥️🥼🐺💙

Olivia is a strong and brave character who risks so much to right a wrong. She goes above and beyond to fight for the man she eventually falls in love with.

The suffering that Lawson goes through is heart breaking, but he’s able to heal, body and soul with her help. The rest of the series will follow the pack as it works to rebuild and right an injustice brought on by cruel and greedy men.

[JoAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Story!! Wow! Loved this new series by Brenda & Tami. There’s lots of suspense, romance, and shifters. My favorite combination to read. I know you’ll become hooked in this series as I have and highly recommend this series to be your next read. You won’t want to put the book down!! I graciously received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivity: Hollow Rock Shifters Book 1

She is lucky Lawson came to save her before Jim had assaulted her. I wish they had gotten rid of him and not let him go free to continue terrorising the shifters. I knew Bart was in love with her from the start. Hugging on her all the time, gender touches.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shifter experiment

Enjoyed most of this story of accidental meeting of a human and wolf shifter. Liked concept, characters.
One glaring problem. Jim said he “heard and saw” what happened when she first met her wolf. There was no way he wouldn’t have listened, watched her interactions. She would have been busted.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent start to a new shifter series.

Liv is a human working in a lab to help cure cancer but stumbles into Lawson instead who is a shifter being held against his will. Liv is determined to help him escape even if it does turn her stomach and or will get her killed. Danger, action, and hot hot shifters to be found in this book. I highly recommend.

[Charlotte Hope Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivity

The book is good and different. It is a new twist on shifters and humans. I love how Liv is an employee of a company that stumbles across where the owner is experimenting on shifters trying to find out how they heal themselves. They have her start working with a shifter not knowing that she has made friends with him and plans on his escape.

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was extremely disappointed in this book. I did finish it, giving the author the benefit of the doubt that it would improve however I was wrong. Due to the poor writing and lack of character development as well as a slow pace I would not recommend this book and I shall not be reading the other books in the series.