Even when the ransom is paid, I won’t let her go. She’s innocent, shielded from the dirty games her father plays. Until now.
I’ve been watching her for weeks, and I’ve seen how every smile, every toss of her hair, every flick of her hips drives men wild. A sensual beauty who is completely oblivious to the power she wields. I’m not immune to her beauty.
And I sure as hell know my gang isn’t immune to it after we kidnap her. That’s why I watch her, day and night. Keeping her safe, even if she blames me for all the pain and anguish in her life. But with every passing moment, my desire to possess her grows. Before this is over, she will give herself to me.
Completely.
Stealing Her is a standalone dark romance novel from bestselling romance author Alexis Abbott! Safe from cheating.
Alexis Abbott is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author who writes about dangerous men and the women who love them. If you can't resist a bad boy who is a good man, you just found your next addiction. With heart-stopping action, mouth watering sex, and passionate romances that will leave you breathless, Alexis Abbott writes romantic thrillers like no one else can.
When she's not writing your next book boyfriend, you'll find her living a real life romance novel with her own bad boy soulmate in Bonavista, Newfoundland, Canada.
I enjoyed the story it was entertaining enough that I recommend it. Chains has a lot demons that he deals with. He ends up kidnapping Lila but for her sounds horrific but she is treated better here than by her father so yes that says alot. She is lLocked in a celler and notices marks on the wall showing she was not the first one. And that is when Stockholm kicks..Anyhoo Enjoy
Rcvd and ARc at no cost to author..By author..I have voluntarily given my own thoughts or opinion.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review.
Even when the ransom is paid, I son't let her go. She's innocent, shielded from the dirty games her father plays. Until now. I've been watching her for weeks, and I've seen how every smile, every toss of her hair, ever flick of her hips drives men wild. A sensual beauty who is completely oblivious to the power she wields. I'm not immune to her beauty. And I sure as heck know my gang isn't immune to it after we kidnap her. That's why I watch her, day and night. Keeping her safe, eve if she blames me for all the pain and anguish in her life. But with every passing moment, my desire to possess her grows. Before this is over, she will give herself to me. Completely.
If you are in the mood for a darker book then you do not want to miss Stealing Her. I read this in one sitting and could not put it down. We meet Chains whose life was greatly affected by his childhood after his father dies and a dirty banker steals his house basically from his mother. Now his job is to kidnap daughters of the dirty bankers and ransom them. However Lila is different from all the others. She is not the usual pampered brat. Lila has a father that is hard on her. He is cold and she is always trying to gain his approval. Maybe by being kidnapped she will find what she is looking for that her father can not give her. This you have to read to find out. As always Alexis Abbott has done an amazing job with this book and I loved every single second of it.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. Another amazing read from Alexis. Chains and Lila’s story is filled with drama, suspense, the realization that the one person you thought you meant the most to doesn’t give a crap about what truly happens to you. Chains grabbed Lila and is holding her against her will to serve the purpose of punishing her father for his horrible deeds and of course for money. But as the days unfold, it becomes clear that Lila’s father is not the man Chains thought he was. Call is Stockholm Syndrome, or whatever you want to call it, but when you spend time with your captor something happens, emotions are stirred, especially when he been watching her for so long and pretty much knows everything there is to know about her right down to her stuffed animal she sleeps with to comfort her. These two embark on a journey and as their story unfolds, Lila learns things that would wreck you, but all it does is make her stronger. She’s a spitfire and Chains is her person. There’s lust, passion, enlightenment, lies and secrets. Loved this book, no spoilers here. Highly recommend it.
Such a great story. I really loved the storyline and the direction the author took.
This was not your normal kidnapping that you would read about. Think sexy robinhood.
I felt sorry for Lila. She work so hard to get her dad’s attention. She wanted his love and approval and no matter what she did there was just no way she was going to get it. That was plain to see. I am not certain that man even knew what love was. He was so cold and heartless it was unreal. I truly felt for her.
Chain was so sexy and had a good heart. He did not wish to harm the women he kidnapped. Sure he could of had them in better conditions but in all truth I think he brought to them humility and help them realize to appreciate what they really had. So I imagine he was taken off guard when it came to Lila. She was not your normal rich girl. There was not a snobby bone in her body.
I love the sexual tension that was between Chain and Lila and how hot and steamy it got. I love how protective Chain was of Lila and how he truly had her best interested at heart.
This was a great story and glad I got a chance to read it.
From reading the blurb i was so pumped for this book.. and it was just okay to me it wasn't that dark.. it had its moments..
Chain wasn't that evil.. he was a badass and meanish with a protective streak but he had a kind heart towards Lila for a kidnapper. And Lila she wasn't a snobby spoiled rich girl she was very down to earth had one close best friend and one animal best friend.. she was sweet sassy and a good girl i was surprised she didn't atleast try once to escape.. kinda wish she tried one time..
Low in angst, no ow/om drama, drama and lies, tiny bit of secondary chara.. no epilogue which sucks i wanted to see future wise how these two were :(
Instalove/lust No cheating Spanking Slight bdsm D/S Hea
Alexis you knocked it out of the park again. This all about Chains and Lila. OMG there plenty of twists and turns that had me flipping to the next to see whats happens This story has it all from Kidnapping, drama, suspense, Twists & Turns, Lies plus sizzling HOT chemistry. You want to no more well you just have to ONE-CLICK NOW!! A must read, I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy.
Lila and Chains are at opposite ends of the spectrum, he's the hunter and she's the prey. I was quickly swept into their story. Lila is forced to open her eyes about her life and expectations she places on herself and although Chains dwells in the criminal realm his reasoning is understandable. The fast paced build up between these characters as well as answers to critical questions kept me glued and turning pages. This is a prime example of why Alexis Abbott is a must for my library.
I never thought I would be on the "bad guys" side until I met Chains! I love his character and would love to see his character develop even more. Lila not so much. She is extremely naive and seems to go along with what anyone tells her. I think she would have been a better character if she was a little bit less naive, Even with not liking Lilas character that much Alexis Abbott did a great job with this story!
I was really excited about reading this book because it sounded perfect and like the kind of read I love...but I was disappointed. The blurb was promising but even though the characters and the story were good, I felt everything was rushed. Also, at first it was hard to get into the story, too many inside Lila’s head *in my opinion* I was waiting for the « dark » part and pain to happen, but none happened. Then the book took another direction (can’t tell too much without spoiling) and I was like « what the heck » no one says anything ??? Chains’s clan, accept it without fight...I thought something was missing. There was potential with this story really, but it could have been way better *still in my opinion*
Chains and his gang make a living by kidnapping spoiled rich girls from their families and then demanding a ransom for their return. They don’t do anything nefarious to the hostage, in fact they never keep them for long. But this time is different. Lila is not your normal rich girl. She is getting under Chains skin. Chains is making Lila feel things she’s never felt before. This is a great book!
Chains was greatly affected by his early life; his father died and his mother ultimately lost their house through some dirty dealings by the bank. Now he makes his “living” kidnapping daughters of ‘evil’ bankers for ransom. Lila is studying hard at college to gain her father’s elusive approval, as her birth “killed” her mother. When Lila is taken by Chains he notices she is not the typical pampered brat. Locked in a cellar, with a disturbing number of tick marks on the wall; Lila realizes she is not the first to be locked here. When her captor rewards her obedience, and provides a small bit of comfort after many solitary days it is a revelation for Lila: “Hell, my captor has shown me more warmth and tenderness in my time in captivity than my father ever gave me, even when I was just an innocent little child.”
Sorting out their feelings and resolving the kidnap includes many twists and turns. This is an incredible, fast-paced read which will hold the reader captive till the final page!
*** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book ***
There isn't a believable character in the whole book. It is very jerky and doesn't follow a time line. It moves way too fast and there is a huge disconnect between the reader and the characters. The dialogue is a whole other issue.
Alexis Abott intentionally or not, is adding a little twist to her writing style and makes her talent shine even more! Well written with a very interesting story, a nice plot and a happy ending, very sexy but shattered, complexed characters, "Stealing Her" is an addictive book with an edge!! A complete duality! At least for me! The beginning is serious, loud, almost suffocating, with vibes of dark romance! It slowly transforms into a lighter, sweeter, boy meet girl tale to reveal a big amount of noticeable psychological notions, with traces of Stockholm syndrome, Female Oedipus complex.... Notions that give the story a stronger body! A lot more substance! And I really loved the book... until it came to the kink! I love me a little kink don't get me wrong but i never really felt comfortable with taboo ones! Despite it being very light and necessary in the storyline, to show the extensive damage done to the characters, the use of "daddy" as an endearment just turns me off! That's the only reason why I didn't give this book a full 5 stars!!! I am familiar with this author's work and i always loved all of her books! This one took me of guard, threw me in a conundrum! Alexis Abott gives us a real psychological romance, while taking of the heaviness but keeping the edge, that usually comes with them! It allows the reader to choose the way he/she wants to look at it, to read it... So depending on your mood when you pick this up, you might go from silly daddy/aplha male/mafia romance, to researched dark romance written for the faint of hearts! Very smart! It covers a wider spectrum!
Coming across the email invitation for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of “Stealing Her” was perfect timing. It is the first book by author Alexis Abbott that I have read in the past couple of years, and it was a delightful and delicious surprise!
The writing was brisk, detailed, fresh, and captivating. From the first page, the reader can tell this will not be a story like any before it so latches on and becomes too engrossed to let go.
Abbott was committed to the characterization of her two leads, Lily and Chains, shrouding both with a bit of mystery and the sense that there is a lot more to each of them than expected. As for the secondary characters, Lily’s father in particular was masterfully created. Readers had an impression of him, but Abbott nails it with chilling efficiency when she introduces one-on-one dialogue between Lily and her dad later in the book. This encounter helps to brilliantly frame the rest of the plot. The clever plot was dotted with twists, turns, and surprises, yet not overdone. The sex scenes were tantalizingly torrid – not abundant in quantity, which actually made the scenes more memorable and meaningful.
There were a few elements that didn’t come full circle for me – Chains’ team members’ long-term relationship and how readily they reinvented themselves post-kidnapping; the perceived quickness with solving the connection to Sandy; and even the relationship evolution for Chains and Lily – but all in all, I liked the creativity of the original dark twists and how they evolved into a HEA.
This author knows how to pack a punch in a short time and doesn’t disappoint once again in this read. Chains is the leader of a “gang” that reminds me of Robin Hood, his methods may be a bit unorthodox but he gets his point across and always gets his money, except with Lila. Lila is a wallflower, no friends except for one best friend and her dog, always trying to do her best to make her dad proud. Even when she is “kidnapped” her thoughts stray to her dad how she can make him proud in the situation. What she doesn’t expect is for her feelings for Chains to cloud her judgement and while she questions her judgement, Chains is going through the same thoughts about her. But when her dad throws a wrench in his plans, he will do anything to protect Lila from the real monster. An amazing read with steam, suspense, some action, surprises and twists and turns along the way. I really enjoyed this read. I loved how Chains sensitive side shines through at times and then he turns into a true alpha man who claims and protects what is his. Lila, even though a wallflower, exudes strength and finally does something she wants not because she wants to impress daddy and her strength grows after each page. It was hard to put this book down and I loved how there was little to no drama between them, no jealousies and how neither of them shied or ran away from their growing feelings. *I voluntarily read an advanced copy and expressed my honest opinion*
Lila’s only thought, as she goes limp, is that her father will be disappointed in her, she needs he’s approval and to impress him. She should fear him but for some reason she’s comforted by him, she confused by him and intrigued. When another man comes in and goes to hurt her, her capture stops him, saying that she is his, she can’t help the strange tingling she starts to feel. Chains lets Lila know it would have been easy, but her father isn’t choosing easy and he’s the reason she’s still there. Lila breaks down and seeks comfort from her capture, clinging to him. When she’s finally asleep Chains has no idea how he ended up with her asleep next to him and surprised that she seems to feel safe with him there. Chains knows he’s breaking rules with Lila, but she assures him she wants it, he’s wanted her since he first saw her. He shouldn’t let his heart be affected, her father isn’t making any effort to get her back, but someone is looking into why Lila is missing, when they find out who, Lila assures them it makes no sense. As much as Chains feels connected with Lila, he knows with what he learnt he has to let her go, but will he ever see her again. Will Lila confront her father with what she knows about his business and the lies he told her and turn back to the one man that has ever made her feel safe.
I enjoyed reading this story. It is a little bit on the darker side but not by too much. Chains kidnaps Lila as part of their ransom scheme but he doesn't treat her bad. He treats her well and doesn't want anything to happen to her. Chains is drawn to Lila, in a way that he hasn't been with any of the previous women. He tries to not cross the line but Lila is drawn to him as well. She knows that he is her captor and that she shouldn't feel safe with him, but she does. It makes her want him around and she ends up asking for him to stay around. This starts them both on crossing that invisible line they had been trying to avoid. There is some kink involved as well. The sex is explicit and kinky. There are blindfolds, handcuffs, and a little bit of Daddy kink. It worked for the characters and the story, so it worked for me. I didn't have a problem with any of it as it's well done. The daddy kink might not really be my thing but it doesn't play a super large role in the story and again, it fit the characters. There's a little bit of action and intrigue in this story as well. We get to see Chains and Lila build a relationship and then take down the real "bad guy". Overall, I enjoyed the story. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
wNothing less than what I expect and want for Alexis Abbott.
Her books are on the darker side but when read in context there is a deeper meaning for me. Chains has a very dark side and comes from a hard background but even with what he and his gang do, there is something good about it. Okay, don't judge to you read. Lila has everything yet nothing. She is smart, and very outgoing on being the best for a father who in my personal opinion isn't worth the time and energy she expels in trying to please him. She needs to focus on what makes her happy.
When she is taken to extract money from a father who care more about appearances than his daughter, she learns a lesson that is not easy to face.
Now put into place the bond, yes I know some of you are saying "Stockholm Syndrome" but it's more than that. Look out the outcome of all that happens. Sometimes when we look deep into ourselves we see something that is not always easy to admit and face. I think Lila has the time to look into who she really is while being held captive. Either way we can agree or not agree, the story is well written, intense and won me over very quickly even when it had me cringing in one paragraph and sighing in another.
I think this may have been my favorite Alexis Abbott book so far. It starts off right from the first line, that Lila is being kidnapped and all of the things that go through her mind during those moments. She is being kidnapped for ransom money, because her dad is a rich, stingy bad guy and the kidnappers try and get justice for wronged people and families. Interesting concept and since they were not mean to the kidnapped people, I didn't have a problem with it myself. The main guy in charge, the hero of the book, Chains (I know, I know it's not his real name *winks*), protects the kidnapped people. These two have really good chemistry, he makes her feel cherished and she feels safe with him. This was a really good storyline and I loved how everything played out.
I considered this a darker read, but I loved it. This was a safe read with one virgin and some baby batter...at her request. Some bdsm and daddy play. Kidnapper and captive. No ow drama, little om drama, Chains has to put one of his guys in check, but he handled him. An hfn, would have liked an epilogue with these two, but still really liked the book.
From the first page on this story just gets better and better. You know it's gonna get Intense and Mysterious when a story begins with a kidnapping. Heck yeah!! Throw in a strange type of Stockholm Syndrome that actually in a way, turns out to be a good thing for both Chains and Lila.
Chains is the kind of man loving fathers fear for their daughters. He a bear of a man whose rough, tough, rides a motorcycle and as dangerous as he looks. What he does is downright scary but you'll understand why the more you read. Lila is the young woman who has always been labeled the goody two shoes rich girl. She's beautiful, intelligent, keeps to herself and has only ever wanted to please her father. Wait till you read how that turns out!!! Wow!!
Suspensefull, Intriguing, Dangerous and of course Steam Worthy towards the end.
Mature readers, some strong language and sexual content.
I have voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book through Bookfunnel. Reviewer for Nook Books and More Blog.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This a welcomed unique story from Alexis. This story is about Lila who has been raised by a cold and removed father that Lila never seems to be enough for him. Her father is a wealthy man who has done some unsavory things to earn his money without any remorse. Chains and his friends try to balance the bad guys with their line of work and his next target is Lila and her father. Chains has suffered by the hands of a man like her father and believes he’s not a good guy. Chains kidnaps Lila for ransom and her father refuses to pay and the truth about her father is revealed by Chains and it tears her heart apart. I absolutely loved the intense interactions between Lila and Chains. It’s beautiful to see how Lila slowly gets Chains to lower his walls and become the man that Lila truly needs! Lila comes to terms with her past and moves forward in a positive way and Chains, their friends and a surprise character do what they can to remove him from hurting others. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
This was a great book about a woman (Lila) who was chloroformed and kidnapped (right in the first few paragraphs). She was only 20 years old, an M.I.T. student, and a real "daddy pleaser", wanting to do everything right to please her father. Henry was the kidnapper with a not-as-ethical-as-him partner. The partner was dangerous to Lila, so Henry turned into more of a protector than a captor. They had kidnapped Lila to get ransom money from her wealthy father. But her father was not loving or kind toward Lila, so things took a bad turn as far as a quick kidnap and ransom. Henry and Lila become attracted to each other, of course. So there became these questions: Was Henry treating Lila better than her own father? What happened to her mom? How evil was her father exactly? Can Henry and Lila possibly have an HEA? I highly recommend this book to those who like some suspense with their romance stories.
This was a great book by Alexis. Lila is always trying to be the best at everything she does. She just wants her dad to be proud of her. She also thinks that everything she does is not good enough. Chains is the leader of his group and they target rich men and kidnp their daughters for ransom. Lila is his newest victim. During the time she is kidnapped she ends up learning things about her father that she doesn’t want to believe. Chains feels something for Lila and doesn’t know what to do about it. He has never felt this way about another person. Chains is willing to do whatever it takes to make Lila feel safe and protected. The chemistry between them is off the charts hot and they have a strong connection. They are each other’s person. They make each other whole. This book has a fantastic storyline with wonderful characters. There are lies, secrets and twists and turns in this story. Lila and Chains are perfect together and they fit perfectly together.
I went back and forth on the rating I was going to give. I really liked the story, but really didn't like Chains. I understood the revenge factor, but fact Chains was taking it out on all bankers, I had a problem with. I didn't like his method either. This does not take away from the story. Alexis Abbott grabbed me from the beginning and kept me riveted to my Kindle. Kind of like how Chains grabbed Lila. I liked Lila and how she went into survival mode. I did take a star away because there was some weirdness in the Chains and Lila relationship. I could not put this book down there is a psychological factor, there is suspense and darkness. In my opinion it's worth reading just try to past the name that Chains wants Lila to call him. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy.
Lila has been trying all her life to earn her father's approval. Chains never claimed to be a good man, and his current occupation is proof. Lila is kidnapped by Chains, he will demand ransom from Lila's father, but he will have to eventually admit that her father has refused to pay for her release. When she realizes that her father only cares about his wealth, she and Chains will work together to bring him down and expose his less than honest business practices. Sexy, well written characters who will find each other, and a happily ever after, under very unusual circumstances. Fascinating plot with some suspense. Fantastic book, I loved it!
I am voluntarily leaving an honest and nonincentivized review of this ARC.
I loved the newest book from Alexis Abbott! When Lila woke up to start her day the last thing she thought would happen is she w ok old be kidnapped and thrown into a cell, but that's just what happens to her. For Chains this should be a simple kidnap, ransom and release scheme he and his crew have done before, but Chloe is anything but an ordinary kidnap mark and the ransom situation is against anything but what he is used to dealing with. Chloe begins to see Chains in a different light and in turn sees her father in a very different light as well. What has her questioning Stockholm Syndrome turns into so much more if both are brave enough to face it together. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader copy of this book.
Chains is the leader of the gang who believes in pursuing his own brand of justice. He kidnaps Lila both for the ransom that they will receive and to teach her father a lesson but sometimes plans don’t work out as you think.
Lila is a college student who keeps to herself, but her dog is her best friend. All she wants to do is try and please her dad, even though it never seems to happen, so when she is kidnapped, she tries to do what he would want her to do.
As they wait for the ransom to be paid secrets are exposed and Lila will need to decide if Chains is the biggest threat to her.
Full of suspense, twists and hot chemistry this story takes you on an adventure. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I liked this story. It was entertaining enough that I quite enjoyed the majority of the book, but there were a few parts that fell kind of flat for me. I would have loved to get more of the story as I did feel a bit disconnected from it at times. I loved how the book started right into the action, although Lila did annoy me quite a bit at the beginning. But I absolutely loved Chains and his whole character, I loved how caring he was with Lila while also being the tough guy when needed. I was happy for Lila to finally get all those answers that she never knew she needed to know. I loved seeing that justice at the end, and I loved how much Lila grew especially with Chains. I enjoyed them two together. 3.5 stars