Behind the Mask

Captive Hearts #1

by Abbi Cook

I’m a bad man. I never said I was anything else.

I shouldn’t want the beautiful brunette who lives in that suburban cul-de-sac, but one glance and I can’t think of anything else but taking her. The innocence in her dark eyes tells me she has no idea what life in my world is like.

But she’s going to find out.

I control everything around me, and that includes Kaia now. At first, she’ll beg for her freedom, but it won’t take long before she’s begging for something else.

Her world has changed. She’s mine now.

Genres: Dark, Dark Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Mafia Romance, Crime

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 10, 2020

Reviews

[Aղցela W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good read although I wish it was darker. Kaia was out with her friends at a club when she leaves she almost gets attacked by five guys she is saved by two men on motorcycles one of the wearing a mask. Four years later she is married and living in the suburbs. When her husband Derek gets in trouble with loan sharks he offers Kaia up as payment. I hated her husband he only wanted to safe himself. Ryker didn't want Kaia as payment but he takes her anyway he knows that she is the girl he saved in the alley. He puts her in basement at first when he tells her why she is their she doesn't believe him at first she thinks her husband will save her. When they have sex it's the best sex she has ever had and she begins getting feelings for Ryker who hasn't taken the mask off which I thought was stupid. Ryker becomes obsessed with her his second in command tries to get him to send her to a pimp he knows but he can't do it he is in love with her so he sends her home. This was a good read that I wished was darker. This was my first time reading this author. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Nerdy Dirty & Flirty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nikki ~

For a debuting author Abbi Cook gave us an amazing dark twisted tale!

To pay off gambling debts, Ryker has acquired Kaia from her husband who is in debt to Ryker and has no way to pay off the money.

Ryker is really an anti-hero character. He has all the characteristics of a sinister guy and the way he initially treats Kaia suggestions he is rotten to the core. But there is so many layers and depth to Ryker and his obsession with Kaia you see his transformation to anti-hero.

I love that Kaia's character was living a bland life, really an unexciting existence. She knows that her life is the same day in and day out. It's like she is screaming to bust of this life but doesn't know how to change. She is too trusting concerning her husband and his behavior. She turns a blind eye which left me frustrated because here was her chance to change up her life.

This book had dark and twisted themes which I love and it's during this dark times Kaia finally finds what she needs. And that need starts with Ryker.

It is hard to take a chance on a new author but Abbi Cook's writing is flawless and addictive. Take a chance on her!

[D K · Rating 2 out of 5]

Needs works, not believable!

I hope the author takes my review as constructive criticism and to be fair I must say I did not finish reading this book. I am an avid reader and I especially love dark romance books. The H Riker was a pretty good anti-hero and carried his role well, but the h Kaia was plain annoying. The author portrayed her to be too naive at times and even though she fought a bit, some of her comments and the way she acted did not make her very believable or likable . I wish she had more spunk at the beginning of the story and that she acted smarter. I really hope the next book does a better job of making the story more believable. There is potential here, but for me it needs seasoning... anyhow that is just my humble opinion.

[aplace_inthesun) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was sent as a freebie in an email attachment from Lisa Blakeney whose books I have read and previously enjoyed. (Sports romances)

Downloaded this to find it’s a dark romance.

This one involves the self confessed ‘bad man’ Ryker taking Kaia hostage to repay a gambling debt of her husbands.

Now he keeps her prisoner and after he sexually assaults her they can’t keep their hands off each other. WTAF?

If I could give this no stars I would. Locked in a basement, watched on CCTV, kept prisoner, starved, raped, stalked … wouldn’t we all just go back for more??? Are you kidding me.

And if I saw how many times he referred to himself as a bad man … emotionally stunted and a limited vocabulary as well. Granted the husband was an imbecile as well, but get out of there girl and get rid of both those losers.

I guess it was free for a reason - I definitely wouldn’t buy this.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was free. It was okay. They both had to grow on me, him more than her.

[Abbi Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's my book, so I'm biased. :) I love Ryker and Kaia's story, though. <3

[hopelesslyinlovewith_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I thought it had so much potential for more! I wanted more!

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good

I liked the book but there was so much about it that irritated me. First off how could she not put together the fact her husband was gambling. Then once she finds out she doesn't rush to check her bank balance??? The other thing that was stupid was his whole mask wearing. Did he ever think that if he ever took it off to go out with her.....no one would even know it was him??

[DemetraP · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very misleading. He says he's a bad man but we never see it. He tells her he's a loan shark and bookie and her husband gave him to her because he can't pay his gambling debts.

Yet he does nothing to the husband. Didn't kill him, break a hand, or give a warning. Just takes his wife. A true "bad man" would have taught the husband a lesson.

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER

Then he puts her in a basement room only dressed in her bra and underwear. And watches her on camera.

Then he moves her into his house. She steals a fork at dinner and punishes her for trying to escape.

But most of the time, he ignores her for days.

Finally at the end he kills her husband. AFTER he sends her back to live with the husband because he says she deserves better than him. So ridiculous. He is supposed to be this bad guy and didn't even keep her? Just sends her back to a husband who sells her for gambling debts?

A few weeks after sending her back he comes to get her. Just ridiculous. He never should have sent her away in the first place.

[Nikole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am so tired of these books where the h is treated like complete shit by the H but one touch from them and its like nothing happened. They fall in love with them based on the fact that when they get touched by that person, they get super horny and can't get enough of the way they are effed.
But everything else the H does only hurts the h. And I just don't get it. I love bully romance - but I hate the weak women and falling in love with the ones that hurt you the most all because they make the girl come.

This guy saved her years ago from being raped but then turns around and tries to send her off to be raped. He basically forced himself on her.

But even through all of that, I did enjoy the story. The way it was written though, I didn't like. especially everything after she went home. It was like from that point on, I was just like - why. Plus how it was written- idk, just didn't seem right. But the h was weak willed to the end.
She went back to the crappy husband and didn't divorce him - instead just laid in bed and cried wishing to go back to H.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Behind the Mask

Great story. Wasn’t sure how I would feel reading this one, but it is well written, and the author does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life and injecting humility into them.

[CompulsiveReaderr]

Behind the Mask is the first book in the Captive Hearts series. The second book Beneath the Surface will be releasing in April 2020. So, get ready!

My Hero is a villain, and no matter of wishful thinking can change that fact. - Kaia

Abbi Cook rocked my freaking world with this story. It was EVERYTHING I need in a dark romance.
Kaia is given to Ryker as payment for her husbands gambling debts. Ryker doesn’t want a woman as payment for the debt that’s owed to him but something about Kaia calls to him. He reluctantly agrees, but what will he do with her? Kaia is shocked and horrified by the situation she finds herself in. She doesn’t know why this is happening to her or why she finds this terrible man so captivating.
This book had me obsessed. When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. I ended up finishing it in a day. The connection between Ryker and Kaia is explosive and I was totally absorbed by them. Ryker is a flawless anti-hero. He is menacing, frightening, seductive and intriguing. He is unashamedly a bad man but has integrity. I loved that he does despicable things, but you can’t help but root for him. I found myself defending his actions at every turn. Ryker is an infecting character that you can’t get enough of. Kaia is a kind, empathetic woman and sometimes she was naïve. What I love most about her is that even though cruel things are happening to her she finds her way to happiness. If you love dark romances set in a criminal world with a delicious anti-hero then definitely read this book!

[Carmen Alicea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Behind The Mask is a beautifully twisted story where the bad guy is the hero. Ryker has saved her life before. Ryker’s skull mask and eyes are all she remembers.

Kaia is a bit naive and trusting. She goes with the flow and avoids confrontation. Her husband is a loser that doesn’t love her the way she deserves.

Ryker is a man that knows exactly who and what he is. He does his best to hurt Kaia and make her see that the world is full of monsters and that he’s the worst of them all.

However, something happens that changes them. They see that the darkness is something that connects them. Kaia learns the truth and accepts that her heart has been missing and only Ryker can complete her. He’s the dark hero of her dreams.

Sometimes we need the monsters to save us from a very dull and unfulfilled life. Ryker was the man Kaia required to be happy. I think that as long as you love each other, you can have happiness. I loved this story. Behind The Mask is a must-read.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm rating this 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars as no half star ratings available.
The book was well written in the dark romance genre and occasionally the characters were compelling but I though Kaia was naive and far too trusting, Ryker's character was a bit off kilter (was he a good guy in a bad profession or a bad guy who became a better person), I was a bit confused though he became more likeable in the latter part of the book. I was a bit skeptical about Ryker's continued mask wearing, that just sounds impractical even more so with our experience with Covid 19 mask wearing but I guess this is a work of fiction.
What I didn't like was that their relationship was adulterous as Kaia was married to Derek right through the book, so I didn't like that from a moral prospective.
I found the ending to be unsatisfying as the reader isn't left with a definite ending, felt a bit open ended. On the whole it wasn't a bad book but I didn't really enjoy it all that much either.

[Charlene Gaskins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good story for a new author. She took a story line that was "out of the box" and made it hers. There were definitely times when I wasn't pleased with one or both characters; he was very intense/brutal at times and quite the monster or as he referred to himself "a bad man".

Her character the last several chapters had me questioning her "mental health" and her obsession with the man behind the mask considering everything he had done to her both good and bad. The final decision to return to him was obviously the HEA, but wondered just how long their relationship could last considering that this character seemed doomed to live within the walls he had erected without ANY normalcy.

Perhaps a sequel could explain how they manage this as a couple and how she manages living behind erected walls with little outside contact.

[Leslee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not one for the dark romances, they aren't my thing. A friend recommended this author so I gave it a go. Abbi Cook has got a ton of talent. She can make a bad guy attractive, even when he hasn't been the nicest to the heroine. Ryker's got a skull half mask he wears, so hot and I loved the reason for it. Kaia is a bit naive in the beginning, her going with the flow of her life is what got her into the mess she is in. She slowly adapts to her environment and they both catch feeling for the other. There is a scene involving dubcon early on and what could be considered cheating but I was fine with it. That is not something I say lightly as I don't do cheating at all but I found it totally justifiable. By the time I got to the end, I was really glad I stepped out of my comfort zone. Ms Cook is an author to watch. If you love dark romance, you will love Behind the Mask!

[KL Cassanello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaia has a nice life in the suburbs. She and her husband have a few problems, but she's reasonably happy. Until she finds out about her husband's gambling addiction, and how much he owes. And then he offers Kaia to the loan shark as payment for his debts. This is one sick and twisted tale, so dark and violent. And I love it! Kaia finds out just how strong she is, and she manages to bring out the only bit of good that Ryker has in him. I couldn't put this book down once I started, just an unbelievable first book. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series. Kane??

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Zoe-Amelia Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goddamn 🔥

Ryker is swoon worthy straight from the get go, I mean who doesn't want to be saved by a dark and mysterious hottie on a motorbike 😏

"He’s just some mysterious man I can’t stop thinking of."

Me too girl, me too! 🙋💁

Don't get me wrong, he's a monster and does horrible things to Kaia, but you can't help yourself, you end up falling for Ryker right alongside her 😍

Kaia, she tries to be so strong, her world is turned upside down so fast, my heart breaks for her so much throughout this book but it's so worth it in the end 🥰

It's super well written, it's angsty, dark and twisty and Abbi is now a one click author for me! This is how you do a mafia romance 🖤

[Bookthief · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ryker was born into the mafia life. Kaia was not. They meet for the first time when Kaia needed help. A couple of years later, she is married; except her husband sells her to Ryker. Ryker, doesn't want her, butbhe doesn't want to get rid of her either. He brings her to his room and tries to break her. He becomes obsessed with her, but won't unbend. Kaia doesn't get what is happening, but she does everything she can to escape. What happens when two broken people fall in love? When Ryker finally acknowledges he has feelings, what will he do? Gotta read this first book in this series to find out!

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good. You have a suburban house wife living her day to day life… until she discovers her husband has a gambling problem and owes the wrong people a lot of money… so what does every loving husband do… offers up his wife for payment.
That turns Kaia’s life upside down when they except her.
This story makes you discover, not every “happy life” nextdoor is what you believe it to be.
I loved this story… so well written and even though she was held captive by Ryker, I had all kinds of “warm and fuzzies” for him. That deep down, he may have a heart.
You will just have to read it to see for yourself.

[Madi Peppell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Mafia Romance read, I figured I should start small. I bought this book when it was free on the Kindle store and I'm glad I did! I read this book in two and a half hours. It was a shorter book than I typically read, however I didn’t enjoy the book any less! I cried a couple times when reading this book as well. The only thing I didn't like was how a year later Ryker is still saying "if you want to leave you can because I can't give you a typical relationship”… I mean I figured after a year he would've caught on that she's okay with that!!! Other than that for a shard kindle read it was enjoyable. A solid 4 out of 5 stars!

[J. Ockenhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I'm supposed to think of Ryker as a bad guy than its all Abbi fault that I can't. Kaia knows her life isn't all it could be and so unaware of what her husband has been up to until she gets taken by the masked man to pay for his $500,000 debt.

A great moral along with intoxicating characters. The se* is hot, the story is the right kind of twisted and loved spending my time in this book.

It's the kind of book that keeps you curious, interested and by the end a happy sadness becomes you because you have to let them go.

I received an ARC for an honest and voluntarily review.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this is the debut book for this author and it’s amazing. This is a story that is filled with emotions and the author let’s the reader experience them all through her brilliant writing skills. It’s got some dark themes in it as one would expect. Both characters are strong in their own ways and perfect for each other as they start to spend more and more time together and the reader gets to see more depth to both characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[GKP2460 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible story! Kaia and Rykers journey is dark, sexy, deeply sensual and delicious. Their story starts four years before they actually end up together and when they do get together they have a love that transcends all time. When Kaias husband Derek gets over his head with gambling debts he uses Kaia as a means to pay those debts by giving her to Ryker. As it turns out that's the best thing that pi*sant could have ever done for her. Behind The Mask is a win all the way around! Abbi Cook hit a HUGE homerun with this one.

[Jedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sold to pay a debt

I enjoyed reading this book, the dynamic between Kaia and Ryker was interesting, is was dark at times but she found a way under his skin.

I have to say I was confused when she was saved at the beginning I thought I was going to be reading about bikers, I have no idea why they were riding motorcycles it made no sense.

The other thing that was rather bizarre was the whole mask thing. No one and I mean no one would take him seriously with that mask one his face - Just saying!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I have another author I have to pay attention to!!!

I was thoroughly taken captive by Ms. Cook's story. Compelling characters and plot had me tap, tap, tapping for the next page.

Emotional, and so many different ones!

If you want a hugely entertaining novel. I would recommend this one. It has some dark, so do be aware!

I loved it!

I received an advanced reader copy, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow, my first book by Abbi Cook, and I was not disappointed. hooked from the start i couldn't put it down.loved every moment of the book and felt every emotion from love to hate and sadness, this dark captive mafia romance wit a beauty and the beast undertones sure takes you for a spin. I instantly fell in love with the main characters. well written and a great story make this a must read!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaia lives a nice boring life in suburbia with her lazy husband until she is taken in payment. Taken by a disturbing, sometimes cruel man who hides his emotions behind a mask. Her life is now a nightmare she has no control over. Then, it changes. Is he cold and cruel all the way through? Will he send her back? Keep her prisoner forever? A good read, sexy and dangerous.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vicki Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Behind The Mask is part of Abbi Cook's Captive Heart series featuring Ryker, a controlling and cruel man obsessed with Kaia, and Kaia, who is taken by Tyler to pay for her husband's gambling debts. This dark and twisted tale will draw you in until the very last page of this novel. This book is well written with complex characters and a plot with strong emotions, violence, and eventual love.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Behind the Mask is a mafia romance book filled with kidnapping, hot sex, pain and a shitty husband.

Ryker and Kaia is made for each other even though Ryker is trying his best to prove that she doesn't belong in his world. Kaia is having a hard time in the beginning with being captured by Ryker but as times goes she falls more and more in love with him and is definitely okay with being a part of his world.