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A review by divapitbull
Hostage by Skye Warren, Annika Martin
4.0
Hostage is the second installment in the Criminals and Captives series. It isn’t so much a continuation of Prisoner as it takes place at times simultaneously and the timelines overlap. This installment follows Stone Keaton the oldest and the leader of the group of boys that were held in the basement as part of a high society sex trafficking ring. Stone is hardened and doesn’t feel human and only lives for vengeance and to protect his brothers. He tried to get Grayson away from Abby in Prisoner because he said their code was no relationships. He certainly didn’t expect to have a relationship with a 16-year-old girl that he met at her debutante Sweet 16 party. Stone wasn’t there as a guest; he was lying in wait to kill one of the guests. One of the men that was involved in the trafficking ring was at the party as an acquaintance of Brooke’s father.
Brooke didn’t expect to fall in love the night of her Sweet Sixteen party. She was too busy trying to look perfect in her secondhand party dress and act perfect so the circling sharks wouldn’t realize that her Dad’s company was practically belly up and they were on their way to the poor house. She definitely didn’t expect to meet the love of her life when she stepped outside for some air and got a front row seat to one of her guests being beaten to death. Stone didn’t expect the audience either and takes Brooke hostage.
So obviously it’s not insta-love, cause ewww. But Stone can’t bring himself to kill Brooke. Or to stay away from her. Over the next couple of years, they have sporadic contact and Brooke learns about Stone’s background. She also learns she might be closer to it than she thought – which makes for some tension, mild relationship angst and provides Stone a path towards redemption.
Hostage can be read as a standalone, or out of order with Prisoner. Grayson and Abby do make a brief appearance and Hostage does a better job of fleshing out some of the other members of the…gang, crew, family, group of boys that forged lifelong bonds in the basement. I’m more interested now in reading some of the other character’s stories. Both Stone and Brooke are likeable characters. Brooke is young and fairly innocent but not annoyingly so. Stone is messed up but not self-destructive to the point of annoyance. His penchant for calling Brooke “little bird” – that annoyed me; because, seriously?
Hostage is a pretty easy read; the authors have a nice style that flows. There’s no major angst despite the subject matter and no overly convoluted plots. Stone has a deadpan sort of humor at times that tickled my funny bone; “Brooke once said I was still down in that basement, that I never left. Maybe she was onto something. Not that I plan on strapping on a necktie anytime soon – or ever – but maybe I don’t need to go killing everyone I hate. Baby steps”. Not an entirely believable story; but a nice fantasy with a HEA.
Brooke didn’t expect to fall in love the night of her Sweet Sixteen party. She was too busy trying to look perfect in her secondhand party dress and act perfect so the circling sharks wouldn’t realize that her Dad’s company was practically belly up and they were on their way to the poor house. She definitely didn’t expect to meet the love of her life when she stepped outside for some air and got a front row seat to one of her guests being beaten to death. Stone didn’t expect the audience either and takes Brooke hostage.
So obviously it’s not insta-love, cause ewww. But Stone can’t bring himself to kill Brooke. Or to stay away from her. Over the next couple of years, they have sporadic contact and Brooke learns about Stone’s background. She also learns she might be closer to it than she thought – which makes for some tension, mild relationship angst and provides Stone a path towards redemption.
Hostage can be read as a standalone, or out of order with Prisoner. Grayson and Abby do make a brief appearance and Hostage does a better job of fleshing out some of the other members of the…gang, crew, family, group of boys that forged lifelong bonds in the basement. I’m more interested now in reading some of the other character’s stories. Both Stone and Brooke are likeable characters. Brooke is young and fairly innocent but not annoyingly so. Stone is messed up but not self-destructive to the point of annoyance. His penchant for calling Brooke “little bird” – that annoyed me; because, seriously?
Hostage is a pretty easy read; the authors have a nice style that flows. There’s no major angst despite the subject matter and no overly convoluted plots. Stone has a deadpan sort of humor at times that tickled my funny bone; “Brooke once said I was still down in that basement, that I never left. Maybe she was onto something. Not that I plan on strapping on a necktie anytime soon – or ever – but maybe I don’t need to go killing everyone I hate. Baby steps”. Not an entirely believable story; but a nice fantasy with a HEA.