Wow this first story had me in tears😭. Do powerful and emotional, this poor girl lived in hell because of of a mistake. All teenagers rebel at some point and break out, thankfully most are h7armless and they learn from it. Survivors guilt, ptsd and fear haunt Dehlia, not matter what her family try to do to help. This is deep subject matter but the characters are fabulous, loving and supportive. Fletcher especially understands exactly how to handle her, or when to give her space. Her dad near the end 😭 honestly I have a huge lump in my throat and tears still in my eyes. And that's with the happy ending. I guess my tbr list is going to grow again as I go check out Jane Blyth books. I will never be rich.
Story 2
Honestly I have to say Tank was not the easiest guy to love, I knew somewhere deep inside him was a much more worthy man, he just needs to let him out. I empathised so much with Jess, she showed love, trust and unwavering support until a point when she needed to look out for herself. This was full of pain, love and fear. I think Tank feared he just wasn't good enough or protective enough. Sometimes though no matter what not everyone can be saved. Well written with a twisting plot that moves over different missions as well as on home turf. Suspenseful and there is some action. Really good read.
Another new to me author and more books bought. This anthology is going to cost me a fortune st this rate. 3 for 3 .
This third story is intense from the start, one character fighting for his life the other hoping to end hers, colliding in the middle. Suspenseful as I kept expecting repercussions, though not quite what happened. These characters were easy to like as we're the MC people around them, although some serious subject matter there was also a fair bit of humour. Elle was feisty and had a wicked way with words and had me smiling at her sassy backchat, she soon had them all wrapped around her little finger and they would die to protect her. This story is also haunting, her past hasn't been easy and I could understand her wanting to escape even if that meant dying to do so. It is well written, gripping and very easy to sink into, I was hooked from the first few lines. I can't wait for more from these characters and I need to know what happens after the epilogue.
Scary just how easy it is for kids, women to get snatched and forced into life that should never be. The pain and anguish, the long suffering after affects that sometimes never stop. This story starts fairly gently but soon spirals as events unfold, firstly with the team and then with kidnapping. But one thing still shone through despite all they go through and that's love between Dana and Terry that started with their very first meet. Although there is some violence there is no actual graphic content especially of rape. It is hard to imagine that things like this happen but they do and this story highlights just how easily it can happen. Gripping, interesting and well written, it had me wanting more from this couple and how they get on helping Micah and his mum try to recover from the trauma. Such a great read.
I loved Willow, sassy and feisty determined to rule the roost and keep everyone on best behaviour or watch the claws. I loved the connection between the two main characters from the start and that Rory quickly realised she wasn't a murderer. This story had a big twist, it was gripping with a steady flow and interesting plot. I loved it
Only let down on this gripping and powerful story was the cliff at the end. I sure hope the next part is not only written but published. Great characters and written with sensitivity to the subject matter, I could understand the pain of the survivors and why some just can't overcome the trauma. Maybe with centres for real like the one in this story with caring understanding people running and helping in them may just make a difference. It is hard to imagine things like this happening in this day and age but I know evidence shows it does. Emotional read but Blood really showed what a real man is, being supportive, caring and so understanding and protective. Beautifully written. I'm going to check for the next part of this now.
Although the basis of this story is tragic and horrifying I found it to be beautiful and inspiring as the characters slowly overcome everything forced on them in there pasts. Reconnecting to of them find something deep that takes on another dimension and a deeper relationship that none ever expect. It was emotional often drawing tears from me, it was also steamy but in such a moving way as you know just how much trust and love each progressive act takes. Another author to go stalk, honestly every one so far.
This is a tense read with hard subject matter covered but written in a way that gets the message across without it being in your face. So no direct child character is actually used in the story, it is a more generalised cover of the wider subject. There is some action, suspense and violence, some of that is against a woman but no rape. Well written and interesting as well as informative, opening up readers minds to what is happening even though this is fiction and not real events. I loved just how strong Kalea is for such a quiet woman, she certainly didn't back away when she needed to fight. Ryker, so tormented by his past I could feel his pain but somehow Kalea broke through his barriers which eventually allowed him to put the past in some order by hearing the other side. Loved it and I'm off to spend more money with another new to me author.
Well I was really starting to get into that story when it stopped. On a cliff ! Was it the end or just the beginning?
Last story and an author I know, characters I know and love. This story was one my main reasons to buy this anthology and it was so worth it. Interesting plot full of suspense and some action. There is a bit of violence but not anything I found to be extreme. Women being sold into sex trafficking is never ok but Sam showed such strength the first time and that same strength carries her through this story, this time she has a real reason to get win. Loved it.
This anthology as a whole deals with stories containing human traffickers, it might be women sold into the sex trade or kids for the same or for illegal adoptions. It isn't easy subject matter and some of these stories were very moving, making me cry, but I also found that all the woman were strong even when they felt broken they still fought for their lives and freedom. Things like this need to be stopped, governments need to do more, tighten gaps in rules and borders. Police also need to listen to people reporting missing women or kids, not turn a blind eye or insist on more evidence first, it could be to late by then. I know they are stretched but again more funding from governments for more staff to work these crimes. These stories are fiction but this really does happen and it needs to stop. Thankyou to all the authors who participated and highlighted these crimes. Read in November 2021