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He’s terrifying…and irresistible

Hope is a stranger to me.
I exist. I survive.
Waiting for the day it all ends.
But now everything has changed. 
I’ve been taken by the coldest man I’ve ever met.
He’s ruthless. Implacable.
I’m nothing but a tool to him.
Except that he touches something deep inside me…a place no one else has ever reached.
And now, against all reason, I want.
Crave.
Him.

232 pages, ebook

Published January 19, 2019

460 people are currently reading
371 people want to read

About the author

Kaye Blue

85 books513 followers
Hello, I'm Kaye, and I write hot, gritty, suspenseful romance that features alpha males and the curvy women they love.

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5 stars
105 (32%)
4 stars
111 (34%)
3 stars
78 (24%)
2 stars
24 (7%)
1 star
5 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Profile Image for Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️.
2,980 reviews2,688 followers
April 7, 2020
Good story!



The story is good though nothing really original. Mob hitman, Aras, is out for revenge on another criminal, Vlad, who murdered his parents when he was a boy. He kidnaps the woman, Lake, who means the most to the guy he wants revenge against. It turns out that she was basically held hostage by the guy and abused by him for years.

Aras is a sociopath who doesn’t have any emotions, but he begins to obsess over Lake and feel for her. He doesn’t lie to her and tells her he might hurt her in the end and her life may be on the line. The book is the first in a series of 2, so it ends in a cliffhanger. Though the second is only 166 pages.

“Looks like he’s waiting,” Ezekiel said. “Yeah,” I responded, my eyes on the limo parked in the abandoned lot. “Can you believe this idiot? Taking a limo to a clandestine fucking meeting?”


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Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews128 followers
Want to read
December 20, 2022
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/27/2019)! 🎁
Profile Image for EbonyMonae.
168 reviews18 followers
January 27, 2019
3.5

I wanted more from this. But the author just kind of writes the same kind of story line. I would like to see a different storyline from her. All in all it was okay read.

Happy Reading!!!
Profile Image for Nancy  L Thompson.
2,158 reviews15 followers
January 30, 2019
Hummmmmm

This could get very interesting. I like that these characters are not "the beautiful ones". I get tired of books where everybody is so gorgeous. It wears on you after a while. Can't wait for the next instalment
Profile Image for Devlyn.
252 reviews10 followers
January 30, 2019
Cliffhanger

I’m upset. Kaye never does cliffhangers, why start now. I wanted to know what was going to happen and now I have to wait. Smh
Profile Image for Michele Hallahan.
260 reviews6 followers
January 23, 2019
Ok, so there is a cliffhanger.

It was still sexy, and exciting. I thought these characters coming together was just perfect. He knows her part in all of this, and so does she. Does it stop feelings from being developed, not one bit. I can't wait to see what happens next. I hope the wait is not long.
Profile Image for B*tchy.
271 reviews53 followers
March 13, 2019
This story is not bad, but it’s just not good. I’m honestly teetering towards a rating of 2.5. What started with a lot of promise fell apart due to an overall lack of story and character development. There were unfortunately a lot of missed opportunities to make the storyline richer, but in the end it all felt rather formulaic. I’m going to read the follow up because it may get better from here.

PS, the only people who would find this book dark and naughty are the type of folks who get their sex toys at Spencer’s. Leave kinky shit to us (s)experts, okay? I was with the beginning, but the rest was a joke in that realm.
Profile Image for SansaReads.
618 reviews50 followers
January 22, 2019
This was definitely worth the cliffy. I need the next.
2,339 reviews31 followers
January 21, 2019
I do not like cliffhangers, but i loved this book. Now I just have to wait for the followup.
471 reviews5 followers
January 28, 2019
Great intense read

Cliff hanger!! How could the author do that? I'm really disappointed as a devoted fan of your books, I deserved better. I know your other readers will agree. The plot was engaging and though both protagonists are damaged, there is an honesty about them. It is a shame there are so many sex scenes, it started to grate as it did not really move the action forward enough for me. I know some people commented adversely on Lake's behaviour but it must be very difficult to escape when the consequences have always been traumatic. Her feelings for Ara are inextricably linked to her kidnapping ordeal. Perhaps and I am seriously hoping in the next novel, Lake will take back control of her life; finally understand her feelings and with a clear head finally determine who she is and what she wants. This is a dark novel as are most of Kate Blue's criminal novels. But I love them. When is 'Rise' coming out?
253 reviews2 followers
January 20, 2021
This is a 2 book series. The story finishes in "Rise".

Lake had just received the job of her dreams when she was kidnapped and used and tortured by a monster. Aras grew up in a life of crime in order to take down the man that he watched kill his parents when he was a child. He is finally ready to take his vengeance. Beginning with kidnapping the woman Vlad seems to be obsessed with. Lake has been kidnapped AGAIN! When Aras's compound is attacked Lake sees her chance to escape and be free.

This story is full of violence, but I love Lake and Aras. Their story continues in "Rise" and I highly recommend both books!
Profile Image for Reading by Deb.
1,182 reviews34 followers
May 16, 2021
This is a 2 book series. The story finishes in "Rise".

Lake had just received the job of her dreams when she was kidnapped and used and tortured by a monster. Aras grew up in a life of crime in order to take down the man that he watched kill his parents when he was a child. He is finally ready to take his vengeance. Beginning with kidnapping the woman Vlad seems to be obsessed with. Lake has been kidnapped AGAIN! When Aras's compound is attacked Lake sees her chance to escape and be free.

This story is full of violence, but I love Lake and Aras. Their story continues in "Rise" and I highly recommend both books!
Profile Image for Cici.
286 reviews19 followers
February 12, 2021
I have questions

Is this author a black woman? The way bw are described by themselves & the men in the book is like the author doesn't like bw. How are they all "plain looking" or unattractive? Being curvy doesn't mean ugly. Lots of curvy BW having beautiful faces & bodies. I'm confused by these descriptions. The worthlessness is overreaching. Is it like this in every book? This is second one I've read. Society doesn't care about BW whether they are "beautiful" or not so you don't have to make them out to be the elephant man to amplify their suffering or neglect.

Profile Image for Gina Martin.
765 reviews11 followers
January 27, 2019
3.5 Stars

I did not enjoy this story as much as I thought I would. I have been reading Kaye Blue’s books since “Keep” was released and I have always enjoyed her books. Her books are never romantic, so I was not expecting any romance between Aras and Lake. However, I was looking forward to some action outside of the bedroom. The constant action inside of the bedroom I could have done without. It was way too much of that. Anyway, I hope the 2nd book will be better.
Profile Image for Mísee J..
85 reviews3 followers
July 18, 2019
I didn’t like it. To me, it didn’t reach the levels that was capable. The entire first book was the same over and over again... and the second book? Well you’ll have to go there to read the review. It left me disappointed because there was not enough dynamics to the characters especially for it to be almost 250 pages. They just had sex the entire time. So much so that I skipped a few scenes. Then had the audacity to leave you in a cliffhanger. I wanted to like it. I just didn’t.
Profile Image for Alisa.
1,509 reviews9 followers
January 27, 2020
Lots going on here.

Lake is a victim who experiences some growth but still has a tendency to be submissive. Aras is a sort of freedom, but holds Lake for his own purposes. The st6ends in a cliffhanger so I have to read the next book to find out what happens next. This book is a setup for their story .
2 reviews
August 1, 2021
Confused or Stockholm???

The rush to automatically have sex with the person that just kidnapped you floored me. That part threw me off from the book , and not have the characters full development in the beginning. Also how they were discussed in third person as if someone was narrating should be admit. After I moved on from that it was an okay book.

70 reviews
May 17, 2024
sweet

Every book has a super beautiful women with big curly hair or long locks and the perfect body .. big butt small waist. The guy is always a billionaire.. 6’3 with Godlike features. Kaye writes “normal “ characters that still fine each other beautiful. Idk.. I just love that. Sweet but sexy story!!
Profile Image for Bea.
177 reviews3 followers
January 23, 2019
No Conclusion

This book has no conclusion and that’s why it is rated 2 stars. Interesting characters but no conclusion.

This is not my favorite from Kaye Blue and I will NOT follow this series.
Profile Image for Melanie Ramos.
44 reviews7 followers
January 31, 2019
Thrilling! Had me hooked from the beginning, and I am liking the turmoil Lake is going through, not just a victim with Stocholm syndrome, but she's actually working through her feelings for Aras. Can't wait for book 2...💖
651 reviews1 follower
September 24, 2019
Almost

A little long on the build up. About thirteen chapters too long not to come to the conclusion. I was looking for the insubordination long before it came. Seeing someone from an obstacle to loving them was a feat.
854 reviews3 followers
February 14, 2021
Covet

Taking a gem from another will sometimes leave ........

Patience, training, awareness, checklist, attraction
Captive, unwanted attention, fancy digs, heart-broken

Cliffhanger, gotta read next book to see ending
Will the end justify the actions taken
589 reviews
May 9, 2023
One night long ago changed everything.

Lake and Aras's story begins with fear, and has violence, danger, abuse, gore, revenge, sex, abduction, betrayal, possessiveness and obsession. Captivity becomes so much more. Unfortunately, this book gets rather monotonous at times.
402 reviews2 followers
February 25, 2019
What did I do.

This book started out with good expectations but ended up just plain sad 3/4 of this is sex an still no plans to vlad.
44 reviews
February 27, 2019
Intense

I love stories when I have questions about the characters and motivations and I can't wait to rebook too and I hope to answers my questions
Profile Image for Valentina.
1,182 reviews413 followers
March 10, 2019
Great story, though it moved a little slow and the developing of feelings between the heroine and hero felt manufactured. We only get a vague idea of what the hero looks like.
335 reviews
March 10, 2019
Cliff hanger?

Yeah. It’s a cliff hanger. Not want I wanted to read but as always you have to get to the next part.
Profile Image for Jennifer Turner.
903 reviews18 followers
September 4, 2019
DNF

I gave up around the half way mark this story just didn't interest me I won't say it was the authors writing I believe it was more just the story line didn't hold my interest
65 reviews2 followers
August 27, 2021
Great story and Characters! Another good one by Kaye Blue. Definitely recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews

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