my_introvert_bookishlife's review against another edition
5.0
Emotional and captivating
I was taken in completely from the start to the end of this gripping dark romance. After being forced to kill his partner Kade takes the reigns to train Olivia to be the perfect submissive sex slave in his mission to expose the underworld of sex slave trade. Willow Winters weaves a compelling and captivating emotional web- so deeply emotional and spell binding often leaving me heart broken for both Olivia and Kade.
I was taken in completely from the start to the end of this gripping dark romance. After being forced to kill his partner Kade takes the reigns to train Olivia to be the perfect submissive sex slave in his mission to expose the underworld of sex slave trade. Willow Winters weaves a compelling and captivating emotional web- so deeply emotional and spell binding often leaving me heart broken for both Olivia and Kade.
grettypop's review against another edition
5.0
5/5
To me, this book had everything it promised. A story line that wasn't what you expected. A main character that turned out to be not exactly what he first seemed like. Boundaries that were broken. New traits that the heroine learned - and learned to enjoy - without completely losing her dignity.
I very much enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a hot romance with some steamy scenes, and a bad boy, who isn't what you'd think.
To me, this book had everything it promised. A story line that wasn't what you expected. A main character that turned out to be not exactly what he first seemed like. Boundaries that were broken. New traits that the heroine learned - and learned to enjoy - without completely losing her dignity.
I very much enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a hot romance with some steamy scenes, and a bad boy, who isn't what you'd think.
shardy1's review against another edition
2.0
Not what i was expecting
I like dark reads but this one didn't do it for me. The heroine seemed weak and plot wasn't believable to me. I expected more fight from her yet she gave none.
I like dark reads but this one didn't do it for me. The heroine seemed weak and plot wasn't believable to me. I expected more fight from her yet she gave none.
morganreadsoccasionally's review against another edition
5.0
Initial 2018: 3 Stars
Reread 2019: 4 Stars
Reread 2020: 5 Stars
When I first read this in 2018 I barely gave it three stars. There were so many problems, in my opinion. Problems that mirror the ones mentioned in the most critical reviews. I didn't connect with the story or the characters at all.
Then I decided to read it again, a year later. The problems are still there but there were so many things I missed. I missed the background. The things that happened off page but were implied. I boosted the review up because I found that I kept thinking about the story after I was finished.
Now I've picked it up again and I find that I love it. I absolutely love it. Kade is not the best man. He's barely even a good man but there is something about him that just makes me go "hmm." I orginally thought Willow did a disservice to Olivia. She seemed so weak, almost pathetic. Now I see that Olivia is barely an adult and anyone in her situation, especially at her age, could be considered weak or pathetic too. And her love for Kade is more than Stockholm syndrome. Yes, he was terrible but he saved her from a fate worse than death. A fate he was attempting to save a lot of young women from. His motives were almost utilitarian.
Even with the increased rating, I still wholeheartedly believe that this story's biggest problem is CONSENT. It's just not there, at least not until the end. Even then it is dubious at best. This could be a very major trigger for most readers so be cautious.
Reread 2019: 4 Stars
Reread 2020: 5 Stars
When I first read this in 2018 I barely gave it three stars. There were so many problems, in my opinion. Problems that mirror the ones mentioned in the most critical reviews. I didn't connect with the story or the characters at all.
Then I decided to read it again, a year later. The problems are still there but there were so many things I missed. I missed the background. The things that happened off page but were implied. I boosted the review up because I found that I kept thinking about the story after I was finished.
Now I've picked it up again and I find that I love it. I absolutely love it. Kade is not the best man. He's barely even a good man but there is something about him that just makes me go "hmm." I orginally thought Willow did a disservice to Olivia. She seemed so weak, almost pathetic. Now I see that Olivia is barely an adult and anyone in her situation, especially at her age, could be considered weak or pathetic too. And her love for Kade is more than Stockholm syndrome. Yes, he was terrible but he saved her from a fate worse than death. A fate he was attempting to save a lot of young women from. His motives were almost utilitarian.
Even with the increased rating, I still wholeheartedly believe that this story's biggest problem is CONSENT. It's just not there, at least not until the end. Even then it is dubious at best. This could be a very major trigger for most readers so be cautious.
cgibson25's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
drkrmnc's review against another edition
3.75
Kade&Olivia: first audiobook ever coz i had a free credit and first Winters book too, it gave what it was supposed to give which was something to keep me company of my walk through Neasden to work (hated that commute). The fact that its the end of the year and I listened to this back in Feb and actually remember means that it was a decent book and I might read another Winters book, still not a fan of audiobooks tho.
oliviareese's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
jz_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
PLEASE DON'T READ THIS TRASH!!! i'm begging you. an embarrassment to the romance genre.