What do you think?
Rate this book
Desert Phantoms #1
Taken with the Enemy (Military Romance) by Tia Fanning
Mathews, Brenna Marie
Sergeant
Combat Medic
U.S. National Guard
My captor tells me that I’m not a prisoner of war, but how else can I see myself? I was abducted and brought to an unknown location in the middle of the desert. I’m sequestered behind a locked door and bars cover my windows. I even have an armed guard who takes me for walks.
But he, the nameless captor responsible for my care, claims otherwise. He tells me that he’s not my enemy, that if he was, I’d already be dead. He promises to release me when the time is right. He says I’m safer now—with him—than I was before.
Despite his reassurances, I do not feel safe. Though he has treated me kindly, given me every comfort a prisoner could ever want or need, I have to find a way to leave—and soon. I don’t understand how it’s possible, but my captor knows me. He knows my past, he knows my secrets, knows just what to say to move me… and what to say to break me.
I have been taken by the enemy… and I must find a way to escape before I’m taken with him.
Sergeant
Combat Medic
U.S. National Guard
My captor tells me that I’m not a prisoner of war, but how else can I see myself? I was abducted and brought to an unknown location in the middle of the desert. I’m sequestered behind a locked door and bars cover my windows. I even have an armed guard who takes me for walks.
But he, the nameless captor responsible for my care, claims otherwise. He tells me that he’s not my enemy, that if he was, I’d already be dead. He promises to release me when the time is right. He says I’m safer now—with him—than I was before.
Despite his reassurances, I do not feel safe. Though he has treated me kindly, given me every comfort a prisoner could ever want or need, I have to find a way to leave—and soon. I don’t understand how it’s possible, but my captor knows me. He knows my past, he knows my secrets, knows just what to say to move me… and what to say to break me.
I have been taken by the enemy… and I must find a way to escape before I’m taken with him.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 16, 2008
About the author
Tia Fanning
46 books139 followersTia Fanning has discovered that she always writes a little of herself in every story, and in that vulnerability, is committed to writing the best stories she can, challenging herself and her readers to experience the full range of emotions in every adventure presented. Be it love, lust, humor, grief, or even pushing cultural boundaries that might be deemed shocking (or very uncomfortable) by many mainstream readers, Tia believes that it is her responsibility as an author to tell the story as honestly as possible without letting her fears, societal pressure, or the possibility of censorship shackle her creativity. Life is a spontaneous, thrilling journey filled with highs and lows and unexpected twists and turns, and Tia wants her stories to reflect that awesome reality.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
March 5, 2009
I wrote this book, and truthfully, it's the book of my heart. You might be wondering what that means? The book of my heart?
For me, it's the book an author has to write even if no one wants to publish it. It's the book that an author drops everything for, including their current projects, to complete because they are feeling the story that strongly. It's the story with characters and a plot that are so much a part of the author that if they didn't put it on paper, the story would haunt them and they would never be able to move on to write something else.
In the end, it's the book that an author loves best of all their work.
Taken With the Enemy is the book of my heart.
Inspired by a dream I had, Taken With the Enemy is a contemporary spin of those old historical novels where the heroine ends up falling in love with her captor. I had locked myself in my basement to write this book, completing it in about one month—during the holidays, knowing full well that the story might never see a printing press due to its "politically incorrect" nature.
I mean, this is the 21st century; you do not fall for your kidnapper.
But is it possible that true love can form under such circumstances? Could a solid, secure, healthy relationship develop around abduction? Especially in a modern world where psychological conditions like Stockholm syndrome exist—a term often used to describe any attachment a person might feel for their abductor?
I like to believe it’s possible, at least for the characters in my story. (LOL!)
I’m a romance author. I’m an avid believer in the concepts of love at first sight, of love conquering all, and that if two people are meant to be together, true love will bloom regardless of the circumstances.
I guess I’m a hopeless romantic.
I hope you will give Taken With the Enemy a try...
Cheers!
~Tia
For me, it's the book an author has to write even if no one wants to publish it. It's the book that an author drops everything for, including their current projects, to complete because they are feeling the story that strongly. It's the story with characters and a plot that are so much a part of the author that if they didn't put it on paper, the story would haunt them and they would never be able to move on to write something else.
In the end, it's the book that an author loves best of all their work.
Taken With the Enemy is the book of my heart.
Inspired by a dream I had, Taken With the Enemy is a contemporary spin of those old historical novels where the heroine ends up falling in love with her captor. I had locked myself in my basement to write this book, completing it in about one month—during the holidays, knowing full well that the story might never see a printing press due to its "politically incorrect" nature.
I mean, this is the 21st century; you do not fall for your kidnapper.
But is it possible that true love can form under such circumstances? Could a solid, secure, healthy relationship develop around abduction? Especially in a modern world where psychological conditions like Stockholm syndrome exist—a term often used to describe any attachment a person might feel for their abductor?
I like to believe it’s possible, at least for the characters in my story. (LOL!)
I’m a romance author. I’m an avid believer in the concepts of love at first sight, of love conquering all, and that if two people are meant to be together, true love will bloom regardless of the circumstances.
I guess I’m a hopeless romantic.
I hope you will give Taken With the Enemy a try...
Cheers!
~Tia
February 6, 2014
2.5 Stars
Not bad, could have been better...
New rule, I'm not reviewing books that I didn't really enjoy, unless I feel very passionately about the books. I just don't have the time and I'd rather be reading.
Not bad, could have been better...
New rule, I'm not reviewing books that I didn't really enjoy, unless I feel very passionately about the books. I just don't have the time and I'd rather be reading.
January 20, 2010
What a pleasant surprise. I ate this right up. I wasn't sure what to expect from this novella after trying Tia Fanning's Rules of Darkness and failing to enjoy that, and the premise is one of the more difficult to execute, but I mean it when I say Fanning's writing has grown by leaps and bounds. Color me impressed. The narrative flows much more smoothly, as well as her dialogue.
In fact, the exchanges between the hero and heroine were awesome! After kidnapping the heroine, the hero has to go to great lengths to convince the reader that he is a hero and not a zero, to use the expression. He does. He was so attentive and intuitive he could have been made to order, LOL. Every encounter between him and Brenna was more interesting than the last as he wooed the audience along with her.
I also really liked the setting of Fanning's story, surprisingly. I didn't expect the backdrop to provide anything more than an excuse for Brenna and her hero to meet, but Fanning really took pains to develop Brenna's character, her motivations, and the circumstances that place her in the hero's way. With the army lingo, dynamics, and even bits of Arabic, it's clear the author has done her research. Set in Iraq, it's easy for a story like this to be offensive, but Taken with the Enemy wasn't. There were no insults and the Iraqis weren't synonymous with terrorists. I found that I liked that the secondary characters spoke Arabic, instead of treating even the language as an enemy tongue. It made the story a little bit more authentic and comfortable.
Speaking of, I really liked the secondary characters. They're charming and when they speak with the hero, they even remind me of the BDB, surprisingly. Like the Brothers, the hero and his cohorts are solicitous of the heroine's wellbeing, but none of it comes off as very saccharine, especially as the hero firmly maintains the upper hand throughout the novel. There is a continuous tension between the hero and heroine about the question of his identity that also keeps this edgy.
I highly recommend this to romance suspense fans, especially those who enjoy the setting and premise. ;) There are some slight elements of BDSM involving brief restraint, spanking and brief denial, but it's less than that present in Lover Unbound and many others, so it's pretty safe for newbs (LOL), and there's a complete story aside from that, with important emotional developments. So give Taken with the Enemy a try!
In fact, the exchanges between the hero and heroine were awesome! After kidnapping the heroine, the hero has to go to great lengths to convince the reader that he is a hero and not a zero, to use the expression. He does. He was so attentive and intuitive he could have been made to order, LOL. Every encounter between him and Brenna was more interesting than the last as he wooed the audience along with her.
I also really liked the setting of Fanning's story, surprisingly. I didn't expect the backdrop to provide anything more than an excuse for Brenna and her hero to meet, but Fanning really took pains to develop Brenna's character, her motivations, and the circumstances that place her in the hero's way. With the army lingo, dynamics, and even bits of Arabic, it's clear the author has done her research. Set in Iraq, it's easy for a story like this to be offensive, but Taken with the Enemy wasn't. There were no insults and the Iraqis weren't synonymous with terrorists. I found that I liked that the secondary characters spoke Arabic, instead of treating even the language as an enemy tongue. It made the story a little bit more authentic and comfortable.
Speaking of, I really liked the secondary characters. They're charming and when they speak with the hero, they even remind me of the BDB, surprisingly. Like the Brothers, the hero and his cohorts are solicitous of the heroine's wellbeing, but none of it comes off as very saccharine, especially as the hero firmly maintains the upper hand throughout the novel. There is a continuous tension between the hero and heroine about the question of his identity that also keeps this edgy.
I highly recommend this to romance suspense fans, especially those who enjoy the setting and premise. ;) There are some slight elements of BDSM involving brief restraint, spanking and brief denial, but it's less than that present in Lover Unbound and many others, so it's pretty safe for newbs (LOL), and there's a complete story aside from that, with important emotional developments. So give Taken with the Enemy a try!
March 5, 2010
I won't say this is the best book I've ever read. But I was so intrigued by the premise that I couldn't stop reading. It was impossible not to keep guessing who her "Captor" was and why he took her. And I'll never be able to smell sandalwood again and not think of Brenna and her Captor. ::wink::
January 24, 2011
This is one of those books that breaks the rules. You don't really know what's going on and you never really find out the whole story but you can guess. There was some secrecy that might have been unnecessary. You don't find out the hero's name until the last page. etc. But somehow all that's okay.
I'm surprised at how much I liked the story. It's basically a story of two people falling in love. Because it is told in first person past tense, you only know the heroine's POV and have to see and accept the hero's falling in love by his actions. He was very alpha while also being quite kind and giving to her. You saw flashes of his humor and his jealousy in his words and actions. It was very well written.
There was a time or two that she bothered me in her lack of action or on the flip side being too ready to take action. These were small things and didn't mar my enjoyment overall. The characterizations of both the hero and the heroine were deft and well done. The secondary characters were drawn in swift clear strokes.
Looking forward to reading more by this author. I believe this to be the start of a series.
Thanks to melissaB for loaning me this book.
I'm surprised at how much I liked the story. It's basically a story of two people falling in love. Because it is told in first person past tense, you only know the heroine's POV and have to see and accept the hero's falling in love by his actions. He was very alpha while also being quite kind and giving to her. You saw flashes of his humor and his jealousy in his words and actions. It was very well written.
There was a time or two that she bothered me in her lack of action or on the flip side being too ready to take action. These were small things and didn't mar my enjoyment overall. The characterizations of both the hero and the heroine were deft and well done. The secondary characters were drawn in swift clear strokes.
Looking forward to reading more by this author. I believe this to be the start of a series.
Thanks to melissaB for loaning me this book.
May 19, 2021
Kept Me Guessing
This story was interesting from start to finish. I was constantly wondering what would happen next. Not only was the protagonist a mystery, so was her captor. I was scared for the M.C, as I didn't know how it would end for her. I'm left wondering how sandalwood smells.
This story was interesting from start to finish. I was constantly wondering what would happen next. Not only was the protagonist a mystery, so was her captor. I was scared for the M.C, as I didn't know how it would end for her. I'm left wondering how sandalwood smells.
June 1, 2010
Ok. I'm writing about this while its fresh in my mind. I don't understand. What did I miss? The reviews on this book were so good. I don't want to disrespect the author. She clearly has great writing talent. Its obvious this book meant a lot to her. But I just don't understand the story. I'm really disturbed by this.
Brenna has her own issues that she clearly needs to face throughout the story. That s all fine and good, I guess. But we have this 'stranger' that seemingly kidnaps her and holds her prisoner for a while. Granted he treats her well and she's taken well care of. Obviously there is a military need for her. I won't go in to too much detail. But basically the entire book is spent emotionally dissecting her and her vulnerabilities. She's figuratively stripped naked with no defenses during this mysterious experience. In the midst of all this confusion she falls for her 'captor' whose name she doesn't even learn until the last few paragraphs of the book. We learn everything there is to know about her and absolutely nothing about him. Just because he treated her kindly and was sexy and sweet to her does not help us really know him as a character. I couldn't get invested in him at all. Yes, it seemed he was honorable but thats about it. He mostly frustrated me by how he constantly put her on the spot and embarrassed her. I felt like my mind was being messed with.
I kept waiting for some "usual suspects/keyser soze" moment to happen. Like it was all a nightmare or some flashback or medical experiment or someone helping her to regain lost memories or something. Some moment of clarity for everything to snap in to place to make the entire journey understandable. If it was a military 'assignment' then why let her think she had been taken against her will? Yes, they fell in love and it was sweet but there was such a huge distraction right in the middle of things the entire time for me as she was expected to constantly open herself up and he didn't at all. The entire thing felt like a deception. How could I legitimately open my heart and soul up to someone and gift them with my trust when they gave me absolutely nothing in return?
Please help me out here, readers. Help me understand what ingredient I missed that made me miss out on the pleasure so many others received from this story. It had an abrupt ending that truly gave me no answers to questions and barely any closure whatsoever. It wasn't so overwhelmingly romantic that it drowned out all the rest of the confusing aspects of it. To me, the romance played a small part in comparison to how confusing the situation was. I needed more... this is going to perplex me for days now!!
Brenna has her own issues that she clearly needs to face throughout the story. That s all fine and good, I guess. But we have this 'stranger' that seemingly kidnaps her and holds her prisoner for a while. Granted he treats her well and she's taken well care of. Obviously there is a military need for her. I won't go in to too much detail. But basically the entire book is spent emotionally dissecting her and her vulnerabilities. She's figuratively stripped naked with no defenses during this mysterious experience. In the midst of all this confusion she falls for her 'captor' whose name she doesn't even learn until the last few paragraphs of the book. We learn everything there is to know about her and absolutely nothing about him. Just because he treated her kindly and was sexy and sweet to her does not help us really know him as a character. I couldn't get invested in him at all. Yes, it seemed he was honorable but thats about it. He mostly frustrated me by how he constantly put her on the spot and embarrassed her. I felt like my mind was being messed with.
I kept waiting for some "usual suspects/keyser soze" moment to happen. Like it was all a nightmare or some flashback or medical experiment or someone helping her to regain lost memories or something. Some moment of clarity for everything to snap in to place to make the entire journey understandable. If it was a military 'assignment' then why let her think she had been taken against her will? Yes, they fell in love and it was sweet but there was such a huge distraction right in the middle of things the entire time for me as she was expected to constantly open herself up and he didn't at all. The entire thing felt like a deception. How could I legitimately open my heart and soul up to someone and gift them with my trust when they gave me absolutely nothing in return?
Please help me out here, readers. Help me understand what ingredient I missed that made me miss out on the pleasure so many others received from this story. It had an abrupt ending that truly gave me no answers to questions and barely any closure whatsoever. It wasn't so overwhelmingly romantic that it drowned out all the rest of the confusing aspects of it. To me, the romance played a small part in comparison to how confusing the situation was. I needed more... this is going to perplex me for days now!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2014
I was quite looking forward to this, but was left rather disappointed.
The heroine who is a medic in the army and really, if you are being shot at keeping yourself out in the open as nice easy target while you wonder "but what about the wounded" and you ignore orders is not going to make me think you are oh so caring that you risk your own life, it is going to make me think you are daft and a fat lot of good to those wounded you will be with a bullet to the head, but anyway
She is for some reason that is never really explained, kidnapped by our "hero".
Her captor, cooks for her, appears to get all hurt and upset when she does not want to eat, then disappears for 5 days, our heroine goes on a passive protest of a hunger strike, he comes back forces her to eat some soup, and on the basis of this she tries to escape. He captures her, which she knew he would, he says he has to go away again, but is glad she is beginning to care for him. She tells him her caring is a symptom of Stockholm syndrome. For which I am sure she would have had to actually be in the company of her captor to even begin feeling but ok, we will go with it.
So he goes away for 4 days again, comes back, she is steaming drunk, and wondering how to protect her heart from the guy she has spent hardly any time with.
A couple of days later, she has decided she has fallen in love with him. At this point I just thinking "How?" How has she fallen in love with him, he has barely been around.
So she decides to escape again, into the desert where apparently the nearest town is 100 miles away. But it is "better to die alone in the desert than compromise myself with the enemy" as he is "dangerous to her heart". I can assume this woman is meant to be reasonably intelligent and trained, she is a doctor and in the army, but she reacts like a teenager with no sense!
Ofc she fails, then clearly decided dying alone in the desert is not a good idea so next time he comes to the door she greets him naked and tells him she has just been masturbating!
At this point I just started skipping to the end.
I have never ever finished a book just thinking "but how? why?".
The heroine who is a medic in the army and really, if you are being shot at keeping yourself out in the open as nice easy target while you wonder "but what about the wounded" and you ignore orders is not going to make me think you are oh so caring that you risk your own life, it is going to make me think you are daft and a fat lot of good to those wounded you will be with a bullet to the head, but anyway
She is for some reason that is never really explained, kidnapped by our "hero".
Her captor, cooks for her, appears to get all hurt and upset when she does not want to eat, then disappears for 5 days, our heroine goes on a passive protest of a hunger strike, he comes back forces her to eat some soup, and on the basis of this she tries to escape. He captures her, which she knew he would, he says he has to go away again, but is glad she is beginning to care for him. She tells him her caring is a symptom of Stockholm syndrome. For which I am sure she would have had to actually be in the company of her captor to even begin feeling but ok, we will go with it.
So he goes away for 4 days again, comes back, she is steaming drunk, and wondering how to protect her heart from the guy she has spent hardly any time with.
A couple of days later, she has decided she has fallen in love with him. At this point I just thinking "How?" How has she fallen in love with him, he has barely been around.
So she decides to escape again, into the desert where apparently the nearest town is 100 miles away. But it is "better to die alone in the desert than compromise myself with the enemy" as he is "dangerous to her heart". I can assume this woman is meant to be reasonably intelligent and trained, she is a doctor and in the army, but she reacts like a teenager with no sense!
Ofc she fails, then clearly decided dying alone in the desert is not a good idea so next time he comes to the door she greets him naked and tells him she has just been masturbating!
At this point I just started skipping to the end.
I have never ever finished a book just thinking "but how? why?".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2017
Finally got around to reviewing this.
Personally, this was the first time a book took me by surprise and I am a person who usually predicts the way a book goes. HOWEVER, this book did that and more.
I can remember when I was reading this and it went to the part , the whole time I was thinking, 'please don't be over, please don't be over!'
And then it just became much, much more enriching. When she sees him again. What happens. Who he is. Damn... I am not going to give away anything else to the story but man oh man...
I really loved this read that it has been in my ultimate fav list since 2009. That I can still remember how this book made me feel says a lot.
'My heart dropped. My breath caught in my throat. The turmoil of my situation finally caught up with me. Though I was ashamed to admit it, I didn't want him to go. Who would he leave me with? What if my next captor was a malicious asshole?
"I will return,” he assured me. “You are safe. I need you to trust me on that."
Yeah. Trust the enemy.'
Personally, this was the first time a book took me by surprise and I am a person who usually predicts the way a book goes. HOWEVER, this book did that and more.
I can remember when I was reading this and it went to the part , the whole time I was thinking, 'please don't be over, please don't be over!'
And then it just became much, much more enriching. When she sees him again. What happens. Who he is. Damn... I am not going to give away anything else to the story but man oh man...
I really loved this read that it has been in my ultimate fav list since 2009. That I can still remember how this book made me feel says a lot.
'My heart dropped. My breath caught in my throat. The turmoil of my situation finally caught up with me. Though I was ashamed to admit it, I didn't want him to go. Who would he leave me with? What if my next captor was a malicious asshole?
"I will return,” he assured me. “You are safe. I need you to trust me on that."
Yeah. Trust the enemy.'
April 21, 2012
I really enjoyed this story! Of course I'm a sucker for military romances, and this was a new take on a prisoner of war story that I found very interesting. Normally I don't like first person point of view, but I enjoyed it here.
Even though the steam factor wasn't as high as I normally like, the intrigue in the story kept me up turning pages long past my bedtime.
My only frustration with this book was that we really didn't get a good physical description of the hero, and there were a lot of unanswered questions for me at the end of the book. What the heck unit was the hero with, anyway? I read the author's note at the end of the story and this appears to be the first of a series, so you can bet I'll be buying those as well.
This story had an interesting concept and there was enough detail and suspense added that I read the book in one sitting.
Even though the steam factor wasn't as high as I normally like, the intrigue in the story kept me up turning pages long past my bedtime.
My only frustration with this book was that we really didn't get a good physical description of the hero, and there were a lot of unanswered questions for me at the end of the book. What the heck unit was the hero with, anyway? I read the author's note at the end of the story and this appears to be the first of a series, so you can bet I'll be buying those as well.
This story had an interesting concept and there was enough detail and suspense added that I read the book in one sitting.
January 14, 2010
Wow. This book was outstanding, from start to finish, one of the best books I have ever read. Its fast paced, interesting, compelling. The characters stay with you. I actually went back to read the last chapter again because I cried through the whole ending. Remarkable book, so hugely impressed. Bravo Ms. Fanning.
May 17, 2021
How would you feel if you fell for the "enemy"?
the story concentrates on the vulnerability of the situation.
The push and pull. what's right and what's not.
slow burn.
though it may not be my kind of dark, for the intended audience, it is a great read. Much lighter, much more vulnerable.
the story concentrates on the vulnerability of the situation.
The push and pull. what's right and what's not.
slow burn.
though it may not be my kind of dark, for the intended audience, it is a great read. Much lighter, much more vulnerable.
January 25, 2021
I loved this story. It's classic Erotic Romance. It has everything: danger, intrigue, tons of sexual tension, heart-wrenching angst leavened with the right amount of humor and wonderful romantic scenes.
April 27, 2024
Loved the premise and the classic romance feel.
November 18, 2023
This book🥹oh my goodness❤️Where to start…..
😍Not only did this book keep me on my toes the whole time with guessing with the MFC but it brought so many smiles and warm heartfelt feelings in me! This book was written so beautifully and i totally laughed SO hard on page 75😂😂 i loved it!
🫶🏻I definitely recommend this book, i was in a reading slump and this book brought so much joy to my heart!
🌶️🌶️spice level.
-I do wish the spice was more descriptive😉 but all in all it was great.
😍Not only did this book keep me on my toes the whole time with guessing with the MFC but it brought so many smiles and warm heartfelt feelings in me! This book was written so beautifully and i totally laughed SO hard on page 75😂😂 i loved it!
🫶🏻I definitely recommend this book, i was in a reading slump and this book brought so much joy to my heart!
🌶️🌶️spice level.
-I do wish the spice was more descriptive😉 but all in all it was great.
September 16, 2010
Hunter’s Review
I loved this book. I’ve actually read it three times because I love it so much. Whenever I’m in need of a book to act as ‘comfort food’ for my brain, I turn to this book.
Brenna’s unnamed captor is a wonderful character who charms both Brenna and the reader while Brenna’s strength of character and spirit makes her completely wonderful to read in a first person book.
The love scenes are hot and the ending fulfilling in the best possible way. In fact, I have to admit to having shed a few tears the first time I read it. If you haven’t read Tia Fanning I would say run, don’t walk, to give her a try. You won’t be disappointed and you may find yourself reading this book over and over again.
5 Tea Cups!
I loved this book. I’ve actually read it three times because I love it so much. Whenever I’m in need of a book to act as ‘comfort food’ for my brain, I turn to this book.
Brenna’s unnamed captor is a wonderful character who charms both Brenna and the reader while Brenna’s strength of character and spirit makes her completely wonderful to read in a first person book.
The love scenes are hot and the ending fulfilling in the best possible way. In fact, I have to admit to having shed a few tears the first time I read it. If you haven’t read Tia Fanning I would say run, don’t walk, to give her a try. You won’t be disappointed and you may find yourself reading this book over and over again.
5 Tea Cups!
April 1, 2011
I loved this book. The characters fastinated me. God I felt for Bee and her Captor. The story evolved into a great love story and touched on internal flaws that affect us beautifully as well as the secrets kept by those who protect and serve us on a much larger scale. Captivating, I can't wait to read more novels by Tia Fanning.
February 8, 2020
First of all, I'm not your typical fan of romance, though I do love a good thriller.
What Tia Fanning has created here appeals to the thriller side, with a well-built mystery pulling the readers along. The characters are believable, easy to relate to and, best of all, deep, with intricate back stories and defining secrets teased out inch by inch. No information dumps here. You have to keep reading, page after page and chapter after chapter, to find that next little nugget which adds to the overall puzzle.
Breanna is an army medic captured by the enemy, and thus the story is built as a sort of first-person view of Stockholm Syndrome. Learning her past and discovering more about her captors reveals this is far from the truth, but that's all I should say. It's a wild ride with a great finish and more than worth the read. Tia is a master (mistress?) at the romantic action game.
What Tia Fanning has created here appeals to the thriller side, with a well-built mystery pulling the readers along. The characters are believable, easy to relate to and, best of all, deep, with intricate back stories and defining secrets teased out inch by inch. No information dumps here. You have to keep reading, page after page and chapter after chapter, to find that next little nugget which adds to the overall puzzle.
Breanna is an army medic captured by the enemy, and thus the story is built as a sort of first-person view of Stockholm Syndrome. Learning her past and discovering more about her captors reveals this is far from the truth, but that's all I should say. It's a wild ride with a great finish and more than worth the read. Tia is a master (mistress?) at the romantic action game.
January 2, 2021
Unexpecting
After reading two other books by Tis Fanning that were DD, this one different and I knew it with the first chapter; I was worried I wouldn't get into it like I with the previous two but boy was I wrong. I couldn't put this down. I was so sucked it I didn't want to sleep. I fished this within 5 hours, Dimitri the two books I read, three books in two days. This book captured my heart when I finished reading I wanted more. I wanted the story to continue, very few books leave me with that feeling. This was such an unexpected great read that warmed my heart.
After reading two other books by Tis Fanning that were DD, this one different and I knew it with the first chapter; I was worried I wouldn't get into it like I with the previous two but boy was I wrong. I couldn't put this down. I was so sucked it I didn't want to sleep. I fished this within 5 hours, Dimitri the two books I read, three books in two days. This book captured my heart when I finished reading I wanted more. I wanted the story to continue, very few books leave me with that feeling. This was such an unexpected great read that warmed my heart.
September 8, 2023
lady napping done right
Wow the emotions just flew off the page from the start. The story sucks you in and teases and edges until you either can’t stop laughing or crying. Loved the chemistry of the 2mcs. Also loved how the fmc was shown as strong AND emotional. Wish all the side characters had stories too
Wow the emotions just flew off the page from the start. The story sucks you in and teases and edges until you either can’t stop laughing or crying. Loved the chemistry of the 2mcs. Also loved how the fmc was shown as strong AND emotional. Wish all the side characters had stories too
October 22, 2018
Hot! Highly recommend!
April 4, 2020
Not what I expected. In a good way. Suspense and a story line that moved at a clipped pace. The two main characters were believable and won my interest and empathy. A quick read but worth it.
April 19, 2021
5 star read, not to be missed.
Taken With The Enemy dragged me in and didn't let me go. Thrilling. Detailed. Will have you on a rollercoaster of emotions. A beautiful love story.
Taken With The Enemy dragged me in and didn't let me go. Thrilling. Detailed. Will have you on a rollercoaster of emotions. A beautiful love story.
June 18, 2024
LOVED this book!!! I just am obsessed with her writing!!! This book was mind blowing
January 2, 2009
I wrote this book, and truthfully, it's the book of my heart. You might be wondering what that means? The book of my heart?
For me, it's the book an author has to write even if no one wants to publish it. It's the book that an author drops everything for, including their current projects, to complete because they are feeling the story that strongly. It's the story with characters and a plot that are so much a part of the author that if they didn't put it on paper, the story would haunt them and they would never be able to move on to write something else.
In the end, it's the book that an author loves best of all their work.
Taken With the Enemy is the book of my heart.
Inspired by a dream I had, Taken With the Enemy is a contemporary spin of those old historical novels where the heroine ends up falling in love with her captor. I had locked myself in my basement to write this book, completing it in about one month—during the holidays, knowing full well that the story might never see a printing press due to its "politically incorrect" nature.
I mean, this is the 21st century; you do not fall for your kidnapper.
But is it possible that true love can form under such circumstances? Could a solid, secure, healthy relationship develop around abduction? Especially in a modern world where psychological conditions like Stockholm syndrome exist—a term often used to describe any attachment a person might feel for their abductor?
I like to believe it’s possible, at least for the characters in my story. (LOL!)
I’m a romance author. I’m an avid believer in the concepts of love at first sight, of love conquering all, and that if two people are meant to be together, true love will bloom regardless of the circumstances.
I guess I’m a hopeless romantic.
I hope you will give Taken With the Enemy a try...
Cheers!
~Tia
For me, it's the book an author has to write even if no one wants to publish it. It's the book that an author drops everything for, including their current projects, to complete because they are feeling the story that strongly. It's the story with characters and a plot that are so much a part of the author that if they didn't put it on paper, the story would haunt them and they would never be able to move on to write something else.
In the end, it's the book that an author loves best of all their work.
Taken With the Enemy is the book of my heart.
Inspired by a dream I had, Taken With the Enemy is a contemporary spin of those old historical novels where the heroine ends up falling in love with her captor. I had locked myself in my basement to write this book, completing it in about one month—during the holidays, knowing full well that the story might never see a printing press due to its "politically incorrect" nature.
I mean, this is the 21st century; you do not fall for your kidnapper.
But is it possible that true love can form under such circumstances? Could a solid, secure, healthy relationship develop around abduction? Especially in a modern world where psychological conditions like Stockholm syndrome exist—a term often used to describe any attachment a person might feel for their abductor?
I like to believe it’s possible, at least for the characters in my story. (LOL!)
I’m a romance author. I’m an avid believer in the concepts of love at first sight, of love conquering all, and that if two people are meant to be together, true love will bloom regardless of the circumstances.
I guess I’m a hopeless romantic.
I hope you will give Taken With the Enemy a try...
Cheers!
~Tia
October 1, 2016
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. This is one of those books, based on the storyline, that could have been a 5+ star story. But, there were some flaws that I found difficult to get around, making me question what was happening and not just sitting back and enjoying the story.
The story started out with Brenna, an Army medic helping with wounded G.I.'s during a shootout in Iraq. She's obviously good at her job and saves those lives that can be saved. Then, we mysteriously see her kidnapped and taken to an unknown location told that she's not a prisoner, but with locked doors and armed escorts everywhere she goes she certainly feels like one.
We meet her main captor who will not give her his name but cooks for her and tries to make her comfortable in her surroundings. It takes awhile, but she comes around to care for this captor and learn to trust him. He also surprises her by knowing a lot about her past, which she has kept secret from everyone she knows. She begins confiding in him secrets that she never, ever discussed before. She starts to need him and even love him. He obviously cares for her, but is it love or Stockholm Syndrome?
Sounds like a wonderful story if there weren't so many blank spaces and even a little bit of insta-love thrown in. Why was she taken to this place? Who were these people she was with (I think we did get the answer to that during one of her "thinking" sessions, a reasonable scenario that I think was true)? Why didn't they just ask her to come there, instead of kidnapping her? Why couldn't the captor even given her a fake name? Why couldn't she know she was being whisked away as a fight for the compound begin? Why, why, why?
I hope somewhere, sometime this author or someone else will develop a story similar to this but fill in the blanks and make it a little more believable.
The story started out with Brenna, an Army medic helping with wounded G.I.'s during a shootout in Iraq. She's obviously good at her job and saves those lives that can be saved. Then, we mysteriously see her kidnapped and taken to an unknown location told that she's not a prisoner, but with locked doors and armed escorts everywhere she goes she certainly feels like one.
We meet her main captor who will not give her his name but cooks for her and tries to make her comfortable in her surroundings. It takes awhile, but she comes around to care for this captor and learn to trust him. He also surprises her by knowing a lot about her past, which she has kept secret from everyone she knows. She begins confiding in him secrets that she never, ever discussed before. She starts to need him and even love him. He obviously cares for her, but is it love or Stockholm Syndrome?
Sounds like a wonderful story if there weren't so many blank spaces and even a little bit of insta-love thrown in. Why was she taken to this place? Who were these people she was with (I think we did get the answer to that during one of her "thinking" sessions, a reasonable scenario that I think was true)? Why didn't they just ask her to come there, instead of kidnapping her? Why couldn't the captor even given her a fake name? Why couldn't she know she was being whisked away as a fight for the compound begin? Why, why, why?
I hope somewhere, sometime this author or someone else will develop a story similar to this but fill in the blanks and make it a little more believable.
August 25, 2014
I appreciated most the Brenna character and the original milieu. Hence 4 stars. Call me a cynic, but I just cannot get rid of the feeling that the guy was only after her money. Either that or he was a nutcase, and a potentially dangerous one. I never understood why else he kidnapped her, since to kidnap a girl, keep her under lock and tell her nothing about what's going on is not usually the best way how to get her cooperation plus make her fall in love with you. Brenna has valid reasons to think that she's kidnapped by a band of terrorists. Yet after her captor says: "I won't harm you. I'm not your enemy.", he expects from her - exactly what? To jump in his arms? And when she doesn't, he looks (quoting) "surprised" and "disappointed". As I wrote - either he's a nutcase or manipulating her psychologically. Hence not 5 stars.
March 10, 2015
So usually anything to do with war kind of throws me off cause I just don't like it. I don't support it. But the fact its about a medic made me buy it.
I saw it on amazon so there were no genre tags but once I added it on here I saw erotica and I thought shiit this is going to turn out gay.
But! If you one of this lonely house wives looking to fulfill your libido on with this haha, find another book. Its more about something else.
It was a mix between adventure/drama/action.
I was expecting like every other book I've read lately to have a sad ending. But the ending was awesome. This book is also filled with meaningful stuff not bullshit, obviously the author researched a lot before writing this. Awesome! I enjoyed this book a lot.
I saw it on amazon so there were no genre tags but once I added it on here I saw erotica and I thought shiit this is going to turn out gay.
But! If you one of this lonely house wives looking to fulfill your libido on with this haha, find another book. Its more about something else.
It was a mix between adventure/drama/action.
I was expecting like every other book I've read lately to have a sad ending. But the ending was awesome. This book is also filled with meaningful stuff not bullshit, obviously the author researched a lot before writing this. Awesome! I enjoyed this book a lot.
July 24, 2012
I like some of the other readers really enjoyed this book. But the ending really left me a little bit like well that explained nothing. but everythings left unfinished. We still don't know fully who he is or why she was chosen. This seems to be the first book of a series so I hope as the series unfolds we will learn more as to the whys and the hows.
The not knowing his motives didn't put me off the book and the writing absolutely sucks you into the situation. Makes you feel like your the captive and I think the first person writing style aids this. Overall, a good book I'm just left a bit befuddled by it lol
The not knowing his motives didn't put me off the book and the writing absolutely sucks you into the situation. Makes you feel like your the captive and I think the first person writing style aids this. Overall, a good book I'm just left a bit befuddled by it lol
November 9, 2012
Oriana was the first book I read by Ms. Fanning, and I loved it. But this book is in a completely different category for me. I have a couple different reading spots in my house, but every time I read it, and I'm up to 5+ now, I always end up staying up until 3 a.m. and being in the same spot I was when I first finished it. It just keeps speaking to me, and I love it. I can't wait to find more about Escort and Patient. (I mean really, I'm only working with so much information here. Even now, I can't refer to him as Nick in my mind, he is still Sandalwood.)
So, please, Ms. Fanning, give me more.
Actually, give me more of anything. I love your books.
So, please, Ms. Fanning, give me more.
Actually, give me more of anything. I love your books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews