Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Does It Hurt? by H.D. Carlton

84 reviews

beckyyreadss's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Before I start this review, please check trigger warnings and please note that I don’t condone the actions during this storyline, but I was absolutely hooked on this book. I wanted to read this book because I loved the Cat & Mouse duet and wanted to read her other work. I don’t know what H.D. Carlton puts in these books, but it is addictive.  

This book has two points of view. The first is Sawyer. She doesn’t know who she is, ever since she ran from home, so desperate to escape. She left with the clothes on her back and socks on her feet. After that, she’s only ever walked in stolen shoes. Could she be a girl who is searching for the meaning of life in faceless men. They were all so forgettable. Until he came along. He took her under a waterfall and made her forget her name and in return, she took his instead. The second point of view is Enzo Vitale. He is an enigmatic man that will only ever love the deep sea. Or rather the sharks that inhabit it. It turns out, he’s not so different than the monsters he studies. He lures Sawyer onto his boat like a fish in the ocean, seeking vengeance for the crime she committed. Has Sawyer realized Enzo’s intentions, and the massive storm would leave them shipwrecked, she would’ve ran. Now Sawyer is a girl who’s seeking refuge in an old lighthouse with a man who loathes hers almost as much as he craves her. He wants to hurt her, but the old caretaker of the abandoned island may have intentions that are far more sinister. It's no longer a question of who she is, but rather will she survive? 

This book is all kinds of messed up. At times I wanted to smack Enzo and smack Sawyer and other times I was kicking my feet and wanting them to live happily ever after. Again, like most men that H.D. Carlton creates, they are all walking red flags, but I loved it. If anyone like Enzo came to me in the streets, I would run but, in this novel, I couldn’t get enough of it. I love that Enzo was both overprotective and wanting to give Sawyer her independence. Throughout the book, I was more intrigued on Sawyer’s story with her brother and if she was ever going to be set free. Another aspect I enjoyed was the caretaker and the mystery of Enzo and Sawyer getting off the island and if the “ghosts” were real.  

I was conflicted throughout this whole book on who I was rooting for and was also hoping that we got to see Enzo get his revenge on Kevin which I'm gutted never happened, but I can’t wait to see what H.D. Carlton writes in the future.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Rape, Violence, Gun violence, Incest, and Child abuse

poupi's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

H.D. Carlton knows how to write a powerful and brave FMC with horrific history. Her MMC are also fascinating…
This book, the story of Sawyer and Enzo’s story is definitely one of my favorites of this year.
It is spicy (really really really), dark and also very tense.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Murder, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Rape and Child abuse

willowmcquerry's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, Child abuse, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Blood, Gore, and Murder

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Sexual assault

c4chronicles's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It’s dark, it’s heavy, it’s spicy. I enjoyed every moment of this book and everything the FMC had to overcome. 

I cannot get over H.D. Carlton and will read anything she writes. She could write a soup label and I would buy it to display in my home. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Sexual content

Moderate: Child abuse and Mental illness

adryanne's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

bibliophile1775's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Death, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Physical abuse, and Rape

lindseygcarden's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Child death, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Incest, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

puffins57's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I love the characters. I love the dialogue. The spicy scenes are hot as hell and the mystery/thriller-ish aspects certainly delivered (and I’m not one to really enjoy those mystery subplots all too much).

Spoiler

The first shark scene was just lovely and I very much enjoyed seeing the growth of both of our main characters. I especially appreciated the written and clearly expressed acknowledgment of shorty behavior and genuine apologies to allow for Sawyer and Enzo to start up anew with a fresh start and work towards a healthy relationship now built upon a toxic foundation.

I 100% would recommend this book. If you like this genre and are debating reading this book do yourself the favor and READ IT (though please keep yourself safe and look over the trigger warnings first).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Torture, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Murder, Violence, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Death, Incest, Kidnapping, Rape, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Blood, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, and Police brutality

chainsiren's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Rape, Suicide, Body shaming, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual assault, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, and Physical abuse

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Child abuse

dizneytree's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

I found this book very hard to finish.  Even downloaded it in audible to help me finish it.  I didn’t care for the characters.  The mystery part of the book is what kept me interested enough to just finish it.  So glad it’s over!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexual violence, Incest, Rape, Sexual content, Murder, Torture, Physical abuse, Death, and Child abuse

Moderate: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Kidnapping, Gun violence, and Cursing