Friday Free for All! The Given : Spotlight Review
Congrats to Sky Godess who’s the winner of the T-shirt from Weds contest! Thanks to everyone who stopped in, and participated! 
Phew. Gotta tell you guys. It took some thinking to come up with today’s post. This Lady’s mind is fried. I’m looking forward to the weekend to just vegetate and read. I’m actually going to do a spotlight for the fantastic author, Ashylnn Monroe. I finished her amazing story, Given last night.
I can only describe this as a dystopia romance with a serious twist. I’m going to set it up for you, a sickness swept across the world and killed off most of the women. Fast forward almost twenty years later. Women are so scarce they’re kept in “Special facilities “until they’re 21st birthday when they’re “Given” in a lottery to six men. The main goal is procreation. If you haven’t become pregnant with your six in a set amount of time, it’s off to the next bunch.
I traveled this journey with Kristannie, who was nothing short of amazing! Raised in a facility for most of her life she’s been sheltered from the tumultuous world outside. When her twenty-first birthday arrives she’s thrust outside where she must deal with anger, fear, six horny men, and her own sexuality. Kristi was strong, she accepted her duty with open eyes but her lack of experience made her vulnerable at the same time. Ms. Monroe has a way with words. I could see, taste, hear, and feel every scene. I believed the world had been ravaged by sickness, the government had taken over, and the life left was a watered down version of bleakness. Just the thought of having no choice who you end up with makes me as little sick to my stomach. It’s not an arranged marriage, because those no longer exist, it’s a gilded cage.
The men too have their issues. I was impressed with her ability to give each of them a distinct personality, and past that directly effects who they are. In a way this was a many stories coming together to form one. It’s real, gritty, raw, and honest. They don’t all get together and find a happy balance, hell, she doesn’t even like anyone. I was worried about a happily ever after with this one. I truly didn’t see how she could pull it off. She did by the way. :Winks:
This story stirred so many emotions in me. I had to sit on it for a day before I wrote this review. I highly recommend it! I will say though , the sex scenes are hot, hot, hot , and there are some scenes that might be hard to swallow. No Pun intended.
Buy your copy here
