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Give & Take #1
Taken
FIRST TIME IN PRINT! Includes NEW prologue! ABDUCTION
He steals her away to a deserted island, to the one place she's dreamed of being-the one place she can't go. He's used to buying whatever he wants, but he can't buy her.
SEDUCTION
How can she resist the magnetism of his body, the longing ache deep inside her? She wants him to take her-on her terms.
DESPERATION
Every attempt he makes to love her only hurts her. How can they go on like this? This is the story of how she was . . .
TAKEN
He steals her away to a deserted island, to the one place she's dreamed of being-the one place she can't go. He's used to buying whatever he wants, but he can't buy her.
SEDUCTION
How can she resist the magnetism of his body, the longing ache deep inside her? She wants him to take her-on her terms.
DESPERATION
Every attempt he makes to love her only hurts her. How can they go on like this? This is the story of how she was . . .
TAKEN
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
124 people are currently reading
6110 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 446 reviews
August 13, 2012
Take Fifty Shades of Grey, stir in a little Captive in the Dark, add a dash of Comfort Food, sprinkle liberally with Bared to You, simmer gently for 300 pages …………. Hey Presto – TAKEN!
Sadly, it’s not as special as any of those books and it never quite came together for me. It’s too full of contradictions and I just felt nonplussed reading it – it never seemed to quite add up.
I think this book is trying to ride the crest of the Fifty Shades wave and it’s not quite working, at least not for me. It’s written in the second person present tense POV and it’s a style often used in YA and this really does feel like YA. The characters are given a distinct lack of emotional maturity by the writer and they read like teenagers despite the fact that he is a 32 year old self-made billionaire and she a 25 year old contract manager. There are far too many similarities to Fifty too – he’s a self-made billionaire, he flies his own helicopter, they have argumentative email exchanges to mention just a few but it really doesn’t come anywhere near to matching the emotional intensity of Fifty. It all feels just a little bit shallow.
So, Rachael has been offered her dream job overseeing the renovation of a new island resort for Rocha Enterprises but she lost her father to cancer a year ago and the job entails moving to another state and her mother throws a shit fit at the thought of her moving away so she declines the offer. So what does, Merrick Rocha, the well-respected, 32 year old self-made billionaire CEO of said corporation do when his preferred candidate turns him down? He decides that this job is exactly what she really, really wants and drugs, kidnaps and ties her to a bed in the derelict hotel she was supposed to renovate. Perfectly normal!
This all sounded very intriguing at first but Merrick’s character for the rest of the novel completely fails to match up to what I expected. He’s kind of whiny, feels a bit sorry for himself, isn’t very alpha – it’s almost impossible to believe that he could have carried out that abduction and it’s that contradiction that causes the whole novel to fall flat for me. Rachael also doesn’t behave in a way which has me believing in her character either. Despite waking up bound to a bed after being drugged and abducted, she almost immediately finds herself desperately attracted to him and caring for him. She’s nowhere near afraid enough for long enough.
I really do love the cover though. The image of a man’s finger raising the woman’s chin gently with one finger to make her look at him really has me melting in a submissive puddle and I really wanted to like this book. The premise called to me on so many levels and I’m really sorry that it didn’t work for me and I truly mean no offence to the author. I can see by other reviews that this has worked for some people so please don't let my review put you off if you're considering reading this.
2 stars contemporary romance
Sadly, it’s not as special as any of those books and it never quite came together for me. It’s too full of contradictions and I just felt nonplussed reading it – it never seemed to quite add up.
I think this book is trying to ride the crest of the Fifty Shades wave and it’s not quite working, at least not for me. It’s written in the second person present tense POV and it’s a style often used in YA and this really does feel like YA. The characters are given a distinct lack of emotional maturity by the writer and they read like teenagers despite the fact that he is a 32 year old self-made billionaire and she a 25 year old contract manager. There are far too many similarities to Fifty too – he’s a self-made billionaire, he flies his own helicopter, they have argumentative email exchanges to mention just a few but it really doesn’t come anywhere near to matching the emotional intensity of Fifty. It all feels just a little bit shallow.
So, Rachael has been offered her dream job overseeing the renovation of a new island resort for Rocha Enterprises but she lost her father to cancer a year ago and the job entails moving to another state and her mother throws a shit fit at the thought of her moving away so she declines the offer. So what does, Merrick Rocha, the well-respected, 32 year old self-made billionaire CEO of said corporation do when his preferred candidate turns him down? He decides that this job is exactly what she really, really wants and drugs, kidnaps and ties her to a bed in the derelict hotel she was supposed to renovate. Perfectly normal!
This all sounded very intriguing at first but Merrick’s character for the rest of the novel completely fails to match up to what I expected. He’s kind of whiny, feels a bit sorry for himself, isn’t very alpha – it’s almost impossible to believe that he could have carried out that abduction and it’s that contradiction that causes the whole novel to fall flat for me. Rachael also doesn’t behave in a way which has me believing in her character either. Despite waking up bound to a bed after being drugged and abducted, she almost immediately finds herself desperately attracted to him and caring for him. She’s nowhere near afraid enough for long enough.
I really do love the cover though. The image of a man’s finger raising the woman’s chin gently with one finger to make her look at him really has me melting in a submissive puddle and I really wanted to like this book. The premise called to me on so many levels and I’m really sorry that it didn’t work for me and I truly mean no offence to the author. I can see by other reviews that this has worked for some people so please don't let my review put you off if you're considering reading this.
2 stars contemporary romance
October 7, 2012
Yep, this sums it up!!
As a critique partner of the fantabulous Kelli Maine, I had the distinct pleasure of reading the mastery that is Taken before it was unleashed on the world. I was Team Merrick from the moment he locked eyes with Rachael in the club. I'm willing to do anything to see him unleash those dimples...as well as his other assets!
I'm also a big fan of Rachael. I feel a natural affinity with her after sacrificing for my own family. Unfortunately, a hot billionaire hasn't shown up to whisk me away to a romantic resort! Oh where oh where, is my Merrick?
And I realized as one of my favorite books of the year, I needed a little gif love for this one!!
MERRICK & RACHAEL'S RELATIONSHIP....WILL THEY, WON'T THEY
Feelings towards Merrick...
So many, many feelings!!
As a critique partner of the fantabulous Kelli Maine, I had the distinct pleasure of reading the mastery that is Taken before it was unleashed on the world. I was Team Merrick from the moment he locked eyes with Rachael in the club. I'm willing to do anything to see him unleash those dimples...as well as his other assets!
I'm also a big fan of Rachael. I feel a natural affinity with her after sacrificing for my own family. Unfortunately, a hot billionaire hasn't shown up to whisk me away to a romantic resort! Oh where oh where, is my Merrick?
And I realized as one of my favorite books of the year, I needed a little gif love for this one!!
MERRICK & RACHAEL'S RELATIONSHIP....WILL THEY, WON'T THEY
Feelings towards Merrick...
So many, many feelings!!
December 16, 2012
Team Merrick! That man does IT for me!!
After reading this novel I feel a lot like this...
Must read!! Merrick is so damn sexy it hurts!
After reading this novel I feel a lot like this...
Must read!! Merrick is so damn sexy it hurts!
July 24, 2012
Definitely better than Fifty Shades of Grey—from the plot to the romance to the steamy scenes. This book has it all and will leave you gasping for air.
When Rachael DeSalvo is drugged, abducted from a night club, and wakes up in an unfamiliar room, she’s immediately on high alert. Who could’ve done this to her? More importantly, why? Her kidnapper has a motive—and it’s not what you think. He previously spoke to Rachael on a business call, a call where she turned down his offer as project manager at the beautiful yet dilapidated Turtle Tear Hotel/Resort. He knew how much this project meant to her, but Rachael’s priorities lay with everyone but herself. Can she forgive the man who kidnapped her, or is this becoming a classic case of Stockholm Syndrome?
The book is written in second person, which completely threw me for a loop at the beginning. However, the author does such a great job with this tense that, by the middle of the book, I wasn’t even paying attention to how different second person was (it’s safe to say I got sidetracked with the romance aspect).
Overall, if you’re looking for sizzling erotica with a hot billionaire mogul and a strong heroine, then I recommend you pick up this book.
When Rachael DeSalvo is drugged, abducted from a night club, and wakes up in an unfamiliar room, she’s immediately on high alert. Who could’ve done this to her? More importantly, why? Her kidnapper has a motive—and it’s not what you think. He previously spoke to Rachael on a business call, a call where she turned down his offer as project manager at the beautiful yet dilapidated Turtle Tear Hotel/Resort. He knew how much this project meant to her, but Rachael’s priorities lay with everyone but herself. Can she forgive the man who kidnapped her, or is this becoming a classic case of Stockholm Syndrome?
The book is written in second person, which completely threw me for a loop at the beginning. However, the author does such a great job with this tense that, by the middle of the book, I wasn’t even paying attention to how different second person was (it’s safe to say I got sidetracked with the romance aspect).
Overall, if you’re looking for sizzling erotica with a hot billionaire mogul and a strong heroine, then I recommend you pick up this book.
June 10, 2013
I sent my DH a link for this book a few days ago, letting him know that hey, this is the book I'm reading right now.
A. He should have paid attention.
B. He should have NOT gotten mad last night because I didn't want to go shopping.
c. He should most definitely realize that I have just bought the short story that accompanies it.
His loss if he doesn't because hey, I'm a big girl and I don't need a guy to keep me entertained. *wink wink*
Needless to say this book was
HOT!
HOT!!
HOT!!!!
Kelli Maine weaves a story of romance and seduction from the first page to the last. The love interest, Merrick, is a billionaire playboy whose inability to accept that he can't always get what he wants leads him to do the unthinkable - kidnap prospective employee/lover, Rachael. You would assume that such an act would instantly make the reader squirm with revulsion, but such is not the case. Rachael feels an attraction to Merrick that she can't quite explain, and this coupled with the knowledge that he did this to please her and give her the opportunity to take on her dream job, turns him from psychopath to sexy and desirable bedpartner. The only obstacle to their relationship - Rachael has to forgive and learn to trust him.
Most of the book tackles this obstacle of trust, even as we're shown a number of hot, sexy scenes designed to make you scream, "just forgive the man already and get on with it!" It takes a while to get there. In the meantime we fall in love with the couple, we fall in love with Turtle Tear Island - I want a treehouse/lover's sanctuary too - and most of all we fall in love with the idea of a chemistry that defies logic. All of this "meat" of the story is wrapped around some hefty prose that left me sighing with envy.
And sighing.
And sighing.
And... well, you get the picture.
It's been a while since I've read an erotica novel, and I'm glad that I picked this one up. I had mentioned before that I loved the description of this book being like Lucy Christopher's Stolen. Well, I have to say that while some of the premise is similar, it's not really like Stolen at all. Stolen is a mindfuck that gets under your skin with the whole Stockholm Syndrome thing (I loved it and highly recommend it). Taken is just fucking hot. It's a romance, it's erotica, and it does what it sets out to do in that respect. At first I kind of wished that there had been more development with idea of Merrick being a kidnapper. I wanted Rachael to spend more than a few chapters trying to get away from him while fighting her attraction to him. I wanted to see him as a psycho, but I admit that I wouldn't have loved him as much if Maine had taken this direction with his character. Rachael's struggle isn't physical in the sense that she's physically trying to get away from him. It's more of a mental struggle that's played out in the bedroom. In the end I was perfectly pleased with what I got from both characters, and I have to say that I wouldn't mind having a Merrick man-doll myself. :)
One final word, Taken is told in a second person POV that some may not be used to. I've read this POV before so it didn't bother me in the least, and I thought that it gave an unusual perspective to the story. It worked for me, and I would encourage those who are shying away from the book because of that not to. Taken is definitely worth a journey into the unfamiliar.
A. He should have paid attention.
B. He should have NOT gotten mad last night because I didn't want to go shopping.
c. He should most definitely realize that I have just bought the short story that accompanies it.
His loss if he doesn't because hey, I'm a big girl and I don't need a guy to keep me entertained. *wink wink*
Needless to say this book was
HOT!
HOT!!
HOT!!!!
Kelli Maine weaves a story of romance and seduction from the first page to the last. The love interest, Merrick, is a billionaire playboy whose inability to accept that he can't always get what he wants leads him to do the unthinkable - kidnap prospective employee/lover, Rachael. You would assume that such an act would instantly make the reader squirm with revulsion, but such is not the case. Rachael feels an attraction to Merrick that she can't quite explain, and this coupled with the knowledge that he did this to please her and give her the opportunity to take on her dream job, turns him from psychopath to sexy and desirable bedpartner. The only obstacle to their relationship - Rachael has to forgive and learn to trust him.
Most of the book tackles this obstacle of trust, even as we're shown a number of hot, sexy scenes designed to make you scream, "just forgive the man already and get on with it!" It takes a while to get there. In the meantime we fall in love with the couple, we fall in love with Turtle Tear Island - I want a treehouse/lover's sanctuary too - and most of all we fall in love with the idea of a chemistry that defies logic. All of this "meat" of the story is wrapped around some hefty prose that left me sighing with envy.
And sighing.
And sighing.
And... well, you get the picture.
It's been a while since I've read an erotica novel, and I'm glad that I picked this one up. I had mentioned before that I loved the description of this book being like Lucy Christopher's Stolen. Well, I have to say that while some of the premise is similar, it's not really like Stolen at all. Stolen is a mindfuck that gets under your skin with the whole Stockholm Syndrome thing (I loved it and highly recommend it). Taken is just fucking hot. It's a romance, it's erotica, and it does what it sets out to do in that respect. At first I kind of wished that there had been more development with idea of Merrick being a kidnapper. I wanted Rachael to spend more than a few chapters trying to get away from him while fighting her attraction to him. I wanted to see him as a psycho, but I admit that I wouldn't have loved him as much if Maine had taken this direction with his character. Rachael's struggle isn't physical in the sense that she's physically trying to get away from him. It's more of a mental struggle that's played out in the bedroom. In the end I was perfectly pleased with what I got from both characters, and I have to say that I wouldn't mind having a Merrick man-doll myself. :)
One final word, Taken is told in a second person POV that some may not be used to. I've read this POV before so it didn't bother me in the least, and I thought that it gave an unusual perspective to the story. It worked for me, and I would encourage those who are shying away from the book because of that not to. Taken is definitely worth a journey into the unfamiliar.
August 23, 2012
He wants HER to take the lead romantically?
It's very UN-alpha male! It begs the question - "How do you have a NON-alpha male who kidnaps someone?"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The only thing that saves this from being a Stockholm Syndrome story, is the fact that this is told in '2nd-person' narration and that the struggle to trust and forgive continues throughout the ENTIRE book. Literally. The ENTIRE book. After all the fucked-up-ness that 'Captive in the Dark' had to offer, the chick in that one trusted the guy faster then this drama-queen. So he may of chlorophormed you? Get over it. At least he is not selling you to be a prostitute.
If this story had been written in any other way though, I don't think it would have worked. That said, it still didn't work for me. I just could not wrap my usual 'testosterone-induced-blushes' around it. She calls him "you" instead of "him." Which took a little bit of getting used to, since I would think the "you" was referring to me instead of me reading through her eyes. Did I explain that right? Oh well. Honestly, I had to look up what 2nd-person even meant because I have NEVER read a book in this perspective before. I thought it made the first chapter very easy to get immersed into. Chapter 2 however and so-on? Nada.
I was originally going to give this book 3 ☆'s until..
He does something so completely ABSURD and OFFENSIVE to try to connect with the heroine sexually - that I honestly had no idea what to think. It wasn't something risque or dirty, but RUDE and THOUGHTLESS. It was one of the few times ever that I've thought a part of a story was degrading to the woman involved (and that's saying a lot since I read plenty of smutty BDSM genere books) And, to make it worse, he was completely oblivious! I probably wouldn't feel so strongly against it if it would not of been one of his eX's, but it was. And that was wrong.
It's very UN-alpha male! It begs the question - "How do you have a NON-alpha male who kidnaps someone?"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The only thing that saves this from being a Stockholm Syndrome story, is the fact that this is told in '2nd-person' narration and that the struggle to trust and forgive continues throughout the ENTIRE book. Literally. The ENTIRE book. After all the fucked-up-ness that 'Captive in the Dark' had to offer, the chick in that one trusted the guy faster then this drama-queen. So he may of chlorophormed you? Get over it. At least he is not selling you to be a prostitute.
If this story had been written in any other way though, I don't think it would have worked. That said, it still didn't work for me. I just could not wrap my usual 'testosterone-induced-blushes' around it. She calls him "you" instead of "him." Which took a little bit of getting used to, since I would think the "you" was referring to me instead of me reading through her eyes. Did I explain that right? Oh well. Honestly, I had to look up what 2nd-person even meant because I have NEVER read a book in this perspective before. I thought it made the first chapter very easy to get immersed into. Chapter 2 however and so-on? Nada.
I was originally going to give this book 3 ☆'s until..
He does something so completely ABSURD and OFFENSIVE to try to connect with the heroine sexually - that I honestly had no idea what to think. It wasn't something risque or dirty, but RUDE and THOUGHTLESS. It was one of the few times ever that I've thought a part of a story was degrading to the woman involved (and that's saying a lot since I read plenty of smutty BDSM genere books) And, to make it worse, he was completely oblivious! I probably wouldn't feel so strongly against it if it would not of been one of his eX's, but it was. And that was wrong.
July 19, 2012
Kelli Maine's book, Taken, was a first for me in two wonderful ways. Not only was this the first book I've ever read in 2nd person POV, but it is the first book I've ever read in the erotica genre (NO! I DID NOT READ 50 SHADES, SUE ME!).
Also, I have not read an "adult" book in a long time (I read mostly YA), so it was quite refreshing to be in the head of grown-ups, dealing with grown-up issues in a very grown-up manner.
As for the book itself, let me just say…WOW. I'm a huge fan. The author's use of second person POV was very different for me. It was strange for the first few pages and then I was completely hooked and couldn't imagine reading it any other way. It made the reading of this story a very intimate experience and I loved being in Rachel's (the MC) head as it allowed me to hear, taste, smell, see, and touch/feel everything right along with her. The thing I really loved about this MC was that she always questioned EVERYTHING. Nothing was easy, cut and dry, black and white for this MC. The author's ability to write a character with the level of introspection she did, is truly phenomenal and talent at it's best.
Merrick, the incredibly hot and sexy LI, was very well developed with wonderfully deep, meaningful layers that were slowly peeled away, revealing a man who is everything you fantasize about on the outside while still being a broken, vulnerable person on the inside (which I love!). My emotions ran the gamut where Merrick was concerned. I despised him, liked him, hated him, loved him, hurt for him, lusted for him, cried for him, and so on. Seeing the emotional growth and journeys of both Rachel and Merrick was a very fulfilling experience.
Additionally, this story had a plot! And a great one at that. It was well thought out and believable. I was blown away by the meticulous details that the author used to describe the setting, especially of the hotel and the island where most of the story takes place. It felt so authentic and her ability to describe things always gave me a perfect image of what was happening and what I was seeing. Sometimes it was like I was watching a movie rather that reading a book. LOVE. THAT.
And lets not forget the smexy scenes, 'cause holy hotness was there some smexy stuff going on in there. The romantic tension, the sexual tension, the emotional tension…this book was full of tension that kept me reading late into the night. The pacing was spot on and had me flying through this book in only two sittings.
Overall, I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book. It is full of masturbatory brilliance in every way imaginable. From the writing to the characters to the plot and of course, the erotic elements, this story has it all.
It's a finger worthy read. ;-)
Also, I have not read an "adult" book in a long time (I read mostly YA), so it was quite refreshing to be in the head of grown-ups, dealing with grown-up issues in a very grown-up manner.
As for the book itself, let me just say…WOW. I'm a huge fan. The author's use of second person POV was very different for me. It was strange for the first few pages and then I was completely hooked and couldn't imagine reading it any other way. It made the reading of this story a very intimate experience and I loved being in Rachel's (the MC) head as it allowed me to hear, taste, smell, see, and touch/feel everything right along with her. The thing I really loved about this MC was that she always questioned EVERYTHING. Nothing was easy, cut and dry, black and white for this MC. The author's ability to write a character with the level of introspection she did, is truly phenomenal and talent at it's best.
Merrick, the incredibly hot and sexy LI, was very well developed with wonderfully deep, meaningful layers that were slowly peeled away, revealing a man who is everything you fantasize about on the outside while still being a broken, vulnerable person on the inside (which I love!). My emotions ran the gamut where Merrick was concerned. I despised him, liked him, hated him, loved him, hurt for him, lusted for him, cried for him, and so on. Seeing the emotional growth and journeys of both Rachel and Merrick was a very fulfilling experience.
Additionally, this story had a plot! And a great one at that. It was well thought out and believable. I was blown away by the meticulous details that the author used to describe the setting, especially of the hotel and the island where most of the story takes place. It felt so authentic and her ability to describe things always gave me a perfect image of what was happening and what I was seeing. Sometimes it was like I was watching a movie rather that reading a book. LOVE. THAT.
And lets not forget the smexy scenes, 'cause holy hotness was there some smexy stuff going on in there. The romantic tension, the sexual tension, the emotional tension…this book was full of tension that kept me reading late into the night. The pacing was spot on and had me flying through this book in only two sittings.
Overall, I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book. It is full of masturbatory brilliance in every way imaginable. From the writing to the characters to the plot and of course, the erotic elements, this story has it all.
It's a finger worthy read. ;-)
November 27, 2012
So back in the 1920s, when Florida used to host super-wealthy people who would come down and spend the winter months, there was this one really nice hotel kind of isolated on an island. Sadly, it was pretty much destroyed in the 1928 Hurricane and never rebuilt.
Until now. Merritt Rocha, Billionaire Real Estate Developer, has bought the place and wants it restored. So he interviews some candidates and settles on Rachael DeSalvo. He offers her the job... and she turns him down. She just wasn't ready to relocate from Cleveland to Florida so soon after her Mother was widowed.
So Merritt could settle for his second choice or he could spend the next 3 months stalking Rachael, and when the opportunity comes along, he buys some stuff off a guy in the bathroom, drugs her so thoroughly that she doesn't wake up until after he has flown her to the wreck of the hotel and has her tied up in the bedroom.
Such a romantic.
So it turns out that Merritt wasn't born rich but has this incredible ability to read people that enabled him to make his fortune. Except that his employees pretty much hate him, he treats his personal assistant with the same regard he would a stapler, and somehow enthralls Rachael under the weirdest and quickest form of Stockholm Syndrome I have seen yet.
I almost stopped reading at the thirty percent but I was curious to see where the story was headed. I give Rachael major props for leaving after that one scene - which was oddly reminiscent of Woman in Chains - which is actually pretty similar to this: a hero who becomes less heroic the further you get into the book.
And while I actually am a big fan of first person, all the "you" got to me after a while.
It kind of had a happy ending, but apparently there is a lot more turmoil ahead.
Until now. Merritt Rocha, Billionaire Real Estate Developer, has bought the place and wants it restored. So he interviews some candidates and settles on Rachael DeSalvo. He offers her the job... and she turns him down. She just wasn't ready to relocate from Cleveland to Florida so soon after her Mother was widowed.
So Merritt could settle for his second choice or he could spend the next 3 months stalking Rachael, and when the opportunity comes along, he buys some stuff off a guy in the bathroom, drugs her so thoroughly that she doesn't wake up until after he has flown her to the wreck of the hotel and has her tied up in the bedroom.
Such a romantic.
So it turns out that Merritt wasn't born rich but has this incredible ability to read people that enabled him to make his fortune. Except that his employees pretty much hate him, he treats his personal assistant with the same regard he would a stapler, and somehow enthralls Rachael under the weirdest and quickest form of Stockholm Syndrome I have seen yet.
I almost stopped reading at the thirty percent but I was curious to see where the story was headed. I give Rachael major props for leaving after that one scene - which was oddly reminiscent of Woman in Chains - which is actually pretty similar to this: a hero who becomes less heroic the further you get into the book.
And while I actually am a big fan of first person, all the "you" got to me after a while.
It kind of had a happy ending, but apparently there is a lot more turmoil ahead.
October 24, 2012
Oh how I adored this book! Kelli Maine's first book in the Give & Take series is one hell of a ride and boy is it HOT!!!!
Rachael is out with her best friend Shannon for a girls night out when "you" catch my eye. He's watching her with those dark-eyes and kick ass body! Rachel accepts the offer for a drink and thus begins her introduction, so to speak, to Merrick Rocha!
Rachael is with Merrick at the secluded Turtle Tear Hotel and fighting the the attraction she feels towards him is not going to be easy. Hell, if was me I would've given into Merrick that first night I find out who he is but then what does that say about me LOL!
Merrick is a complicated man with the need to be loved for who he is not what he made of himself. Rachael is one of those people who has a big heart and forgiving nature.
The more time the two spend together the more things "heat" up! I was frustrated but ah Kelli is very good giving us what we want without the two touching ;) and then later well we get to experience all of Merrick!
There is a Novella that follows the story of Rachael and Merrick and then onto the next book! This is a series I cannot wait to read and see where everything ends up. Will we see Merrick grow and resolve his personal issues? Will Rachael hold to trusting him and teaching him how to give and love? Well I guess we soon shall see!
If you haven't had the opportunity to read this one I do recommend you hop on the bandwagon of Kelli Maine you will not be disappointed in this sexy book!
January 25, 2013
I'm so glad I read Kelli Maine's novel Taken. I must admit the second person style took me a little while to "get into"... but once I did -- I enjoyed it! I'm not sure I've ever read a book presented in that style before.
I expected a darker "kidnapping" story. Hmmm, wonder why? But that isn't what Kelli gives us. This is fun and light... I enjoyed the ride and want to know if I can be "TAKEN" like Rachel was??? Oh yeah, I'm married, with kids... but, so what?
I definitely recommend TAKEN as a fun getaway read!
I expected a darker "kidnapping" story. Hmmm, wonder why? But that isn't what Kelli gives us. This is fun and light... I enjoyed the ride and want to know if I can be "TAKEN" like Rachel was??? Oh yeah, I'm married, with kids... but, so what?
I definitely recommend TAKEN as a fun getaway read!
October 8, 2012
I loved this book! The beginning disturbed me, which was the point, so well done, Kelli! I loved the setting, the sexual tension, and most of all, the characters. Ms. Maine paints a beautiful picture. I found myself rooting for BOTH of the characters, and even wanting to smack the hell out of them at times. If you enjoy a sexy, angsty read, this one is for you!
August 8, 2025
Rachael DeSalvo is so close to nailing her dream job as project manager for the renovation of historical Turtle Tear Hotel on Turtle Tear Island, in the Everglades of Florida. She's sure she's impressed the CEO of Rocha Enterprises, which bought the island, during her final interview. And when she's offered the job, she's ecstatic. So when she has to turn it down because she can't leave her overbearing, widowed mother - who's never been alone - it's the end of her dream. Or so she thinks.
While at a nightclub with her best friend and flatmate, Shannon, she accepts a drink from a tall, deliciously handsome man - and wakes up in an unknown location, tied to a bed. At first, it seems pretty clear that she hasn't just been abducted, she may have been - and could be, soon - molested or even raped. What else is she to think? The truth is even more staggering: the beautiful, intelligent and absolutely sexy CEO of Rocha Enterprises and real estate mogul, Merrick Rocha, has abducted her and brought her to Turtle Tear Island. Clearly, a man who doesn't take No for an answer.
As Rachael gets to know Merrick more, while exploring the island with him, she learns several things about him. He's something of a tortured soul, and mostly estranged from his family. He's not good at thinking things through, having become used to people giving him what he wants. He thinks Rachael belongs on Turtle Tear Island, and he does realise that his method of bringing her there has damaged, perhaps irreparably, any trust there could be between them. And, most agonising of all, he desires her as much as she desires him. The sexual chemistry and tension between them is staggering, but Rachael can't and won't give herself to a man who drugged and abducted her. Not only that, but Rachael has never been someone who opens herself up to rejection - as she puts it, she's a successful overachiever because she doesn't take risks.
Spending time alone with Merrick on what feels like a deserted island is definitely a mellowing experience, and after being reassured that no one's looking for her because Merrick "took care of it", Rachael lets herself be swayed into taking on the project management role when the construction crew arrive - and Merrick's beautiful blonde assistant, Joan, who so clearly idolises Merrick and will do anything for him. When Merrick crosses a major line with Rachael it's the last straw, and Rachael leaves both the island and a devastated Merrick behind. But both the island and the man have got under Rachael's skin, and moving on with her life just doesn't seem possible. But how can she move past the things Merrick's done to her?
I came across this book rather randomly, but after the reading the blurb I couldn't resist getting it. Mostly, because it sounded like a trainwreck. It didn't really make sense to me, for the most part, though it does once you've read it. But it was the idea of turning an abduction story into a romance that had me curious, in a gross-fascination kind of way, because to my mind there isn't anything romantic about it. Interestingly enough, I quite liked the story, but there were other elements to it that were lacking and ultimately made it an unsatisfying story.
Rachael isn't a bad romantic heroine - she's fairly believable, in her reactions, and is tormented by her sexual attraction to a man she doesn't trust, who took away her control and made her utterly vulnerable. But she does listen, and this is a good quality to have in a heroine - they don't always have that ability. She listens not only to Merrick's words but also his body language, and what he doesn't say, and learns a lot. This all happens quite smoothly, which aids in believability - the obstacle a story like this is always going to have. Still, I never got over my unease that she could be attracted to a man based on his looks alone, despite what he's done to her. I just don't think women work that way, psychologically - and hormonally - speaking. If you are angry with someone and afraid of them, if you have no trust in them, you really can't also lust after them. That was a real sticking point for me. It speaks badly of Rachael's character, no matter her resistance at the start.
Merrick came across as a bit of a lost little boy - and when he didn't seem lost, he was an over-eager little boy. I guess making him a sweet, "innocent" and therefore harmless man is the author's only way of redeeming him for what he did to Rachael, but it didn't really work - also, it just made him come across as a bit pathetic and clingy. Very very clingy. He's worked hard to turn a modest property investment inherited from his grandfather into a massive national real estate company worth billions, but he's so out-of-touch and has almost childlike ideas for pleasing other people that doesn't take their feelings into consideration. There's quite a bit of emphasis on Merrick wanting Rachael to teach him, and honestly, his need for a woman to guide him should have been the main thing that made Rachael run screaming to the hills. No woman wants to be cast in the role of mother to her partner. Merrick's not completely useless though, he is considerate and loving and caring, and he's no alpha male who wants to dominate and protect her. He's more simple than that. I can't say I ever really understood him, and his explanation for his plans for Turtle Tear Island and his company (which involves a legal battle with his father) made zero sense to me.
The biggest hurdle for me, and one that I couldn't overcome no matter how hard I tried, was how this novel was written. Rachael is a first-person narrator, but she shares her story in second-person present tense. That means that Merrick is never "he", he is always "you". On the one hand, I can see what Maine was trying to do, and I could even say she mostly succeeded. It puts us right in Rachael's head, and we see Merrick only through her eyes - this is always the case with first person voice, of course, but using second person intensifies this. It heightens the fact that they are two people alone on an island together, and makes Merrick a larger-than-life figure. He dominates her perception, her vision, her thoughts. It also positions them like they are going to battle, I vs. You. And it also gives the story the tone of a diary entry or a letter, or an inner monologue addressed solely to Merrick.
[Best display of emotional manipulation in this book: you're in the wrong, but you make the other person feel sorry for you by acting like this. The mix of acknowledging his wrongs and faults, insisting she be the one to initiate anything sexual between them, and the way he completely violated her - not sexually, but in every other way - makes for an uncomfortable read, when you're trying to balance sheer romance and an intriguing psychological dilemma with that inner instinct that's screaming "Wrong! It's all wrong!"]
The problem lies with the reader. When you read this, and you keep reading "you" all the time, of course it feels like she's talking to you, you-the-reader. And since I'm a woman, it is very disconcerting to be put into the shoes of a man, a billionaire, a walking penis, and a stalker and abductor. I really, really didn't like being in that place. At times my brain switched "you" to "him" or "he", but it doesn't work grammatically because the latter means verbs are pluralised, whereas "you" doesn't go with plurals. It was all very alienating, distracting and confusing.
On the up side, this is a very short book and a very quick read, though sprinkled liberally with typos (from its self-published days). There is a follow-up novella but I don't have much interest in reading it. The characters weren't ones I could readily identify with, and the scenario just didn't sit well with me. There were times when I enjoyed it, or certain scenes, especially the playful ones, but between the problems I had with the characters and the plot, and the use of second person (which I hope doesn't generate a new fad for using it, because I'm already sick to death of present tense!), this book wasn't very successful and failed to convince me that you can have a real, trusting, equal relationship with a man who once abducted you.
While at a nightclub with her best friend and flatmate, Shannon, she accepts a drink from a tall, deliciously handsome man - and wakes up in an unknown location, tied to a bed. At first, it seems pretty clear that she hasn't just been abducted, she may have been - and could be, soon - molested or even raped. What else is she to think? The truth is even more staggering: the beautiful, intelligent and absolutely sexy CEO of Rocha Enterprises and real estate mogul, Merrick Rocha, has abducted her and brought her to Turtle Tear Island. Clearly, a man who doesn't take No for an answer.
As Rachael gets to know Merrick more, while exploring the island with him, she learns several things about him. He's something of a tortured soul, and mostly estranged from his family. He's not good at thinking things through, having become used to people giving him what he wants. He thinks Rachael belongs on Turtle Tear Island, and he does realise that his method of bringing her there has damaged, perhaps irreparably, any trust there could be between them. And, most agonising of all, he desires her as much as she desires him. The sexual chemistry and tension between them is staggering, but Rachael can't and won't give herself to a man who drugged and abducted her. Not only that, but Rachael has never been someone who opens herself up to rejection - as she puts it, she's a successful overachiever because she doesn't take risks.
Spending time alone with Merrick on what feels like a deserted island is definitely a mellowing experience, and after being reassured that no one's looking for her because Merrick "took care of it", Rachael lets herself be swayed into taking on the project management role when the construction crew arrive - and Merrick's beautiful blonde assistant, Joan, who so clearly idolises Merrick and will do anything for him. When Merrick crosses a major line with Rachael it's the last straw, and Rachael leaves both the island and a devastated Merrick behind. But both the island and the man have got under Rachael's skin, and moving on with her life just doesn't seem possible. But how can she move past the things Merrick's done to her?
I came across this book rather randomly, but after the reading the blurb I couldn't resist getting it. Mostly, because it sounded like a trainwreck. It didn't really make sense to me, for the most part, though it does once you've read it. But it was the idea of turning an abduction story into a romance that had me curious, in a gross-fascination kind of way, because to my mind there isn't anything romantic about it. Interestingly enough, I quite liked the story, but there were other elements to it that were lacking and ultimately made it an unsatisfying story.
Rachael isn't a bad romantic heroine - she's fairly believable, in her reactions, and is tormented by her sexual attraction to a man she doesn't trust, who took away her control and made her utterly vulnerable. But she does listen, and this is a good quality to have in a heroine - they don't always have that ability. She listens not only to Merrick's words but also his body language, and what he doesn't say, and learns a lot. This all happens quite smoothly, which aids in believability - the obstacle a story like this is always going to have. Still, I never got over my unease that she could be attracted to a man based on his looks alone, despite what he's done to her. I just don't think women work that way, psychologically - and hormonally - speaking. If you are angry with someone and afraid of them, if you have no trust in them, you really can't also lust after them. That was a real sticking point for me. It speaks badly of Rachael's character, no matter her resistance at the start.
Merrick came across as a bit of a lost little boy - and when he didn't seem lost, he was an over-eager little boy. I guess making him a sweet, "innocent" and therefore harmless man is the author's only way of redeeming him for what he did to Rachael, but it didn't really work - also, it just made him come across as a bit pathetic and clingy. Very very clingy. He's worked hard to turn a modest property investment inherited from his grandfather into a massive national real estate company worth billions, but he's so out-of-touch and has almost childlike ideas for pleasing other people that doesn't take their feelings into consideration. There's quite a bit of emphasis on Merrick wanting Rachael to teach him, and honestly, his need for a woman to guide him should have been the main thing that made Rachael run screaming to the hills. No woman wants to be cast in the role of mother to her partner. Merrick's not completely useless though, he is considerate and loving and caring, and he's no alpha male who wants to dominate and protect her. He's more simple than that. I can't say I ever really understood him, and his explanation for his plans for Turtle Tear Island and his company (which involves a legal battle with his father) made zero sense to me.
The biggest hurdle for me, and one that I couldn't overcome no matter how hard I tried, was how this novel was written. Rachael is a first-person narrator, but she shares her story in second-person present tense. That means that Merrick is never "he", he is always "you". On the one hand, I can see what Maine was trying to do, and I could even say she mostly succeeded. It puts us right in Rachael's head, and we see Merrick only through her eyes - this is always the case with first person voice, of course, but using second person intensifies this. It heightens the fact that they are two people alone on an island together, and makes Merrick a larger-than-life figure. He dominates her perception, her vision, her thoughts. It also positions them like they are going to battle, I vs. You. And it also gives the story the tone of a diary entry or a letter, or an inner monologue addressed solely to Merrick.
On your feet, you lean your elbows on the railing. Both hands run over your head, fingers gripping and sliding through your hair in frustration. "If I could go back to that night, I'd leave you alone and find a way to forget you. Nobody has ever distrusted me like you do. It's eating away at me. I can't fix it. I can't make you forget. You'll always think of me as the monster who abducted you."
I swallow hard against the sob gathering in my throat. "You're not a monster."
You let out an indignant snort and pound your fists against the railing. "I'll take you home."
Your words are a slap to my conscience. Panic digs its fingernails into my spine. I'm on my feet and standing behind you in an instant. "No."
You turn to me, your face a cocktail of guilt, surprise and reluctance. "I'll take you home, Rachael. You don't want to stay here with me." [...]
I dive to me knees beside you, pulling your hands out of the basket so I can take them in mine. But you nudge me away from you. "I wanted you Rachael, and not as an employee." You grab the olives, sending them rolling over the blanket and deck. "You're right, I don't think. I act. I do whatever I need to, to get what I want. I fuck everything up - all the time. We were fucked before we had a chance to even begin." You reach in the basket, come out with a handful of chocolate cake and throw it against the side of the tree house. "Fuck." [pp. 107-8]
[Best display of emotional manipulation in this book: you're in the wrong, but you make the other person feel sorry for you by acting like this. The mix of acknowledging his wrongs and faults, insisting she be the one to initiate anything sexual between them, and the way he completely violated her - not sexually, but in every other way - makes for an uncomfortable read, when you're trying to balance sheer romance and an intriguing psychological dilemma with that inner instinct that's screaming "Wrong! It's all wrong!"]
The problem lies with the reader. When you read this, and you keep reading "you" all the time, of course it feels like she's talking to you, you-the-reader. And since I'm a woman, it is very disconcerting to be put into the shoes of a man, a billionaire, a walking penis, and a stalker and abductor. I really, really didn't like being in that place. At times my brain switched "you" to "him" or "he", but it doesn't work grammatically because the latter means verbs are pluralised, whereas "you" doesn't go with plurals. It was all very alienating, distracting and confusing.
On the up side, this is a very short book and a very quick read, though sprinkled liberally with typos (from its self-published days). There is a follow-up novella but I don't have much interest in reading it. The characters weren't ones I could readily identify with, and the scenario just didn't sit well with me. There were times when I enjoyed it, or certain scenes, especially the playful ones, but between the problems I had with the characters and the plot, and the use of second person (which I hope doesn't generate a new fad for using it, because I'm already sick to death of present tense!), this book wasn't very successful and failed to convince me that you can have a real, trusting, equal relationship with a man who once abducted you.
April 10, 2013
3.5 Stars
I was looking for an awesome dark read, something like CITD or something really dark and messed up... I mean, it IS a kidnapping story right?!?! Well, thats not exactly what I got...
Merrick
Rachel
Merrick Rocha, 32 years old, is a billionaire CEO of his real-estate company. He is a good looking guy, but feels like no one really see’s him. Only the billionaire.
Rachel is a 25 year old new grad. She does an phone/video with Merrick for her dream job. Overseeing a project in the everglades. She turns it down because she can’t leave Ohio. Her mother depends on her too much. Rachel doesn’t do a lot for herself.
So Merrick does what any normal guy would do... goes to Ohio, meets Rachel in a bar, drugs her, kidnaps her, and takes her to Florida. Merrick doesn’t want to hurt Rachel, he just needs her to see the resort. He knows she would be perfect for the job. He just has to convince her.
Rachel has a connection to Merrick. She finds her feelings very confusing. She wants him, but she knows she shouldn’t. She can’t trust him. Merrick is willing to do anything to make it up to her, he puts her in control of their relationship. Will she be able to forgive Merrick and have her dream guy and dream job? Or is what he has done completely unforgivable?
Rachel annoyed me at times. Even though Merrick’s methods were a little screwy, he was still HOT. Yep. There were some hot scenes! This one just missed the mark for me. After reading some 5 star kidnapping books (CITD, Stolen etc) this one just didn’t do it for me. I will read the next book (1.5 Novella) because I already bought it and I’m curious to see what will become of Merrick and Rachel.
Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Its was just okay for me.
I was looking for an awesome dark read, something like CITD or something really dark and messed up... I mean, it IS a kidnapping story right?!?! Well, thats not exactly what I got...
Merrick
Rachel
Merrick Rocha, 32 years old, is a billionaire CEO of his real-estate company. He is a good looking guy, but feels like no one really see’s him. Only the billionaire.
Rachel is a 25 year old new grad. She does an phone/video with Merrick for her dream job. Overseeing a project in the everglades. She turns it down because she can’t leave Ohio. Her mother depends on her too much. Rachel doesn’t do a lot for herself.
So Merrick does what any normal guy would do... goes to Ohio, meets Rachel in a bar, drugs her, kidnaps her, and takes her to Florida. Merrick doesn’t want to hurt Rachel, he just needs her to see the resort. He knows she would be perfect for the job. He just has to convince her.
Rachel has a connection to Merrick. She finds her feelings very confusing. She wants him, but she knows she shouldn’t. She can’t trust him. Merrick is willing to do anything to make it up to her, he puts her in control of their relationship. Will she be able to forgive Merrick and have her dream guy and dream job? Or is what he has done completely unforgivable?
Rachel annoyed me at times. Even though Merrick’s methods were a little screwy, he was still HOT. Yep. There were some hot scenes! This one just missed the mark for me. After reading some 5 star kidnapping books (CITD, Stolen etc) this one just didn’t do it for me. I will read the next book (1.5 Novella) because I already bought it and I’m curious to see what will become of Merrick and Rachel.
Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Its was just okay for me.
August 2, 2012
This one was defintely a page-turner for me! Captivating from the start, a few unexpected twists and turns, and sooo steamy!!! There seemed to be no emotion left unturned by the time I was finished. Although I couldn't relate to what happened to Rachael, I could completely relate to Rachael, herself. She was someone you could root for-a good head on her shoulders, yet struggling to figure out her heart. I enjoyed the author's use of the 2nd person point of view. It gave great insight into why Rachael made certain choices, and really seemed to add to the seduction and mystery of the story.
✳✳ Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
✳✳ Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
July 19, 2012
MOVE OVER 50 SHADES!!!
TAKEN is amazingly written and free of whimpy heroines. This girl knows how to stand on her own two feet! And the romance...TAKEN is as romantic as it is steamy!!! Which is saying quite a bit.
So rich too! I found myself sinking into the wonderful language and feel of this. Captivating! Where is this island, cause I wanna go!
And then there's Merrick... *fans self*
Be watching this Kelli chick. She's about to take over!!!
TAKEN is amazingly written and free of whimpy heroines. This girl knows how to stand on her own two feet! And the romance...TAKEN is as romantic as it is steamy!!! Which is saying quite a bit.
So rich too! I found myself sinking into the wonderful language and feel of this. Captivating! Where is this island, cause I wanna go!
And then there's Merrick... *fans self*
Be watching this Kelli chick. She's about to take over!!!
August 26, 2016
Team Merrick??? Yes, Please!
I loved the story line of TAKEN. The idea of a misunderstood abduction screamed must read to me. While I admit, at first I was like who is this Merrick creep and why in the heck did he kidnap her, I grew to understand him—just like the main character, Rachel did. The idea of a lonely billionaire with a closet full of emotional baggage may fit the same profile as my beloved Christian Grey, but Merrick’s skeletons were different. They were not as twisted as Christian’s, but that doesn’t mean Merrick doesn’t have major flaws. The way Ms. Maine reveals his dark, dirty secrets made me understand a little about more about Merrick and the way he ticked. I felt more of a connection with him because his love and affection for Rachel wasn’t coming from such a dark and creepy place as Christian Grey.
I see some of the other reviewers hated the 2nd person tense the story was written in. I understand how it may seem a little weird, but if YOU think about it, we speak in 2nd person all the time. So, that’s how I read it. I read it as if Rachel was speaking to me like I was Merrick and she was telling me her side of the story. I rather enjoyed it after a few pages. It made me feel closer and more involved in the story. To me it was a fresh way to present a cool concept in a book.
Overall, I loved this novel. It has all the makings of some of my other favorites in this genre (Thoughtless, Fifty Shades of Grey, Rock Me, Backstage Pass, and Beautiful Disaster…) of an epic love story. I just can’t get enough of these flawed bad boys. And Kelli Maine has created a new one for me to love. So, kudos Ms. Maine for an awesome novel!
I loved the story line of TAKEN. The idea of a misunderstood abduction screamed must read to me. While I admit, at first I was like who is this Merrick creep and why in the heck did he kidnap her, I grew to understand him—just like the main character, Rachel did. The idea of a lonely billionaire with a closet full of emotional baggage may fit the same profile as my beloved Christian Grey, but Merrick’s skeletons were different. They were not as twisted as Christian’s, but that doesn’t mean Merrick doesn’t have major flaws. The way Ms. Maine reveals his dark, dirty secrets made me understand a little about more about Merrick and the way he ticked. I felt more of a connection with him because his love and affection for Rachel wasn’t coming from such a dark and creepy place as Christian Grey.
I see some of the other reviewers hated the 2nd person tense the story was written in. I understand how it may seem a little weird, but if YOU think about it, we speak in 2nd person all the time. So, that’s how I read it. I read it as if Rachel was speaking to me like I was Merrick and she was telling me her side of the story. I rather enjoyed it after a few pages. It made me feel closer and more involved in the story. To me it was a fresh way to present a cool concept in a book.
Overall, I loved this novel. It has all the makings of some of my other favorites in this genre (Thoughtless, Fifty Shades of Grey, Rock Me, Backstage Pass, and Beautiful Disaster…) of an epic love story. I just can’t get enough of these flawed bad boys. And Kelli Maine has created a new one for me to love. So, kudos Ms. Maine for an awesome novel!
July 18, 2012
AWESOME!!! Fabulous summer lovin' read. Great and inventive premise. Loved the romance at Turtle Tear Island, but most of all Merrick!! :) A great, tortured LI, and he meets his match in Rachael, who is a tough and strong MC who deserves some happiness in her life.
And there's hot, hot, hot scenes!!
Can't wait to read more from Kelli!!
And there's hot, hot, hot scenes!!
Can't wait to read more from Kelli!!
July 19, 2012
Wow, is all I can say. Ever wondered what the love child of 50 Shades of Gray and Stolen would be like?
This is it.
Hot from the start and never stopping, this book will keep your pulse racing and your stomach fluttering.
A great debut and a realistic erotic romance from Kelli Maine.
This is it.
Hot from the start and never stopping, this book will keep your pulse racing and your stomach fluttering.
A great debut and a realistic erotic romance from Kelli Maine.
July 27, 2012
Why didn't I like the book?
There was no connection, other than purely physical, between the two main characters. Obviously since it was written in 2nd Person, the reader has to take everything Rachel sees, hears and interprets. But even so what was the point of kidnapping Rachel?
From what I understand, Merrick kidnapped her because he'd been obsessed with her for 3 months. Okay. I get that Rachel turned down the job and that pissed him off, but instead of kidnapping her, why not proposition her a second time? If she says no again then, okay, ask her out like a normal guy! And when she asks him why he drugged her, he tells her that it wasn't his original intention to drug her, but that he got the drug from a guy last minute and decided "Hey, I'll drug her instead!". To me, instead of approaching her like a NORMAL person, that's the coward's way out. Sure, he made all these big gestures like send her mom and aunt on a trip, wine and dine her and etc etc but...HE KIDNAPPED HER so he could ultimately DATE HER?
I would have understood the motivation for kidnapping a woman a man is obsessed with if he was a psychopath with stalker tenancies. But this seemingly normal man decides to kidnap her and then...woo her? How does that even sound like a good idea? From what I read, he doesn't have many good ideas. Case in point - when Rachel says she doesn't want them to touch but still wants sexual intimacy, he decides "Hey, I'm going to get my assistant who I've had sex with before and invite her to be 'my hands'. That way, I'M not the one touching!". NOT A GOOD IDEA.
Rachel is unbalanced as far as I'm concerned. She's only had 2 other sexual partners and then decides that this stranger and his body are too "hot" and she has this uncontrollable/unexplainable "need" for Merrick. Okay. I get the lust factor. But why? And even after he kidnaps her - why? Who cares if he wanted you to check out the island and all that jazz, again, why not do it all normally? To me, she appeared soft hearted and easily controllable. Sure, she ran off when he wanted to watch the girl-on-girl action, but she wanted to go back to him right when she got home. Crazy. Like I said, I didn't feel the connection. I felt like these two people were shoved together with all this angst, emotion and tension and were expected to hit it off.
On a good note, telling the story in 2nd Person is a great way of getting into the psychological mind of one of the main characters. And bravo for that. But again there was no substance. All I got from Rachel being kidnapped was that she was slowly falling in love and lust with him because awww, poor him, he was damaged and tortured and - poor him. Poor little rich man.
I'm sorry, but I have to mention "Stolen" by Lucy Christpher. There is no comparison between two. The only similarities they have are that they are written in 2nd Person and the initial kidnapping by drugs. Other than that, "Stolen" by Lucy Christopher is much more believable and realistic, not to mention (SPOILERS), there is never any actual sex in the book. It's full of dark tension and isolation and gives an authentic feel of what Stockholm Syndrome might be like.
Another book that is well done in the kidnapping genre is "Captive in the Dark" by CJ Roberts.
Initially, I thought Merrick had ties to the crime world or some higher power of danger and his reason to kidnap Rachel was more than just a series of awkward and uncomfortable ways to get close to the woman he's fallen in love with. If Merrick had been insane, I almost would have preferred that. But the fact that he was a rich guy with emotional and intimacy issues just wasn't enough to convince me kidnapping the woman you love is a good thing. When the motive is gone, there's nothing. And by motive I mean, if he had been hired to kidnap her or there was money involved or a life threatened - but nothing.
That being said, I'm sorry Kelli Maine, but I didn't like the book. You're an amazing writer and your verbiage is great, but it just didn't work for me. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read it in advance. But you did want my honest review and honesty is what I'm giving. I'm sure others have and will enjoy "Taken" immensely. Keep on writing and congratulations on getting your book out there. My best wishes and endeavors to you!
Regards,
Aida Reed
aka closet_writer86 from LiveJournal
There was no connection, other than purely physical, between the two main characters. Obviously since it was written in 2nd Person, the reader has to take everything Rachel sees, hears and interprets. But even so what was the point of kidnapping Rachel?
From what I understand, Merrick kidnapped her because he'd been obsessed with her for 3 months. Okay. I get that Rachel turned down the job and that pissed him off, but instead of kidnapping her, why not proposition her a second time? If she says no again then, okay, ask her out like a normal guy! And when she asks him why he drugged her, he tells her that it wasn't his original intention to drug her, but that he got the drug from a guy last minute and decided "Hey, I'll drug her instead!". To me, instead of approaching her like a NORMAL person, that's the coward's way out. Sure, he made all these big gestures like send her mom and aunt on a trip, wine and dine her and etc etc but...HE KIDNAPPED HER so he could ultimately DATE HER?
I would have understood the motivation for kidnapping a woman a man is obsessed with if he was a psychopath with stalker tenancies. But this seemingly normal man decides to kidnap her and then...woo her? How does that even sound like a good idea? From what I read, he doesn't have many good ideas. Case in point - when Rachel says she doesn't want them to touch but still wants sexual intimacy, he decides "Hey, I'm going to get my assistant who I've had sex with before and invite her to be 'my hands'. That way, I'M not the one touching!". NOT A GOOD IDEA.
Rachel is unbalanced as far as I'm concerned. She's only had 2 other sexual partners and then decides that this stranger and his body are too "hot" and she has this uncontrollable/unexplainable "need" for Merrick. Okay. I get the lust factor. But why? And even after he kidnaps her - why? Who cares if he wanted you to check out the island and all that jazz, again, why not do it all normally? To me, she appeared soft hearted and easily controllable. Sure, she ran off when he wanted to watch the girl-on-girl action, but she wanted to go back to him right when she got home. Crazy. Like I said, I didn't feel the connection. I felt like these two people were shoved together with all this angst, emotion and tension and were expected to hit it off.
On a good note, telling the story in 2nd Person is a great way of getting into the psychological mind of one of the main characters. And bravo for that. But again there was no substance. All I got from Rachel being kidnapped was that she was slowly falling in love and lust with him because awww, poor him, he was damaged and tortured and - poor him. Poor little rich man.
I'm sorry, but I have to mention "Stolen" by Lucy Christpher. There is no comparison between two. The only similarities they have are that they are written in 2nd Person and the initial kidnapping by drugs. Other than that, "Stolen" by Lucy Christopher is much more believable and realistic, not to mention (SPOILERS), there is never any actual sex in the book. It's full of dark tension and isolation and gives an authentic feel of what Stockholm Syndrome might be like.
Another book that is well done in the kidnapping genre is "Captive in the Dark" by CJ Roberts.
Initially, I thought Merrick had ties to the crime world or some higher power of danger and his reason to kidnap Rachel was more than just a series of awkward and uncomfortable ways to get close to the woman he's fallen in love with. If Merrick had been insane, I almost would have preferred that. But the fact that he was a rich guy with emotional and intimacy issues just wasn't enough to convince me kidnapping the woman you love is a good thing. When the motive is gone, there's nothing. And by motive I mean, if he had been hired to kidnap her or there was money involved or a life threatened - but nothing.
That being said, I'm sorry Kelli Maine, but I didn't like the book. You're an amazing writer and your verbiage is great, but it just didn't work for me. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read it in advance. But you did want my honest review and honesty is what I'm giving. I'm sure others have and will enjoy "Taken" immensely. Keep on writing and congratulations on getting your book out there. My best wishes and endeavors to you!
Regards,
Aida Reed
aka closet_writer86 from LiveJournal
July 28, 2012
Now that my room has sufficiently cooled down, I can write a review of Taken by Kelli Maine. Reading it got hot. Really hot.
Can a man that has stolen you steal your heart? That is the underlying question of this story. Rachel, must ask herself this question when thinking of Merrick. He abducted her. Yes. However, as the story progresses, we learn why.
During the first half of the book, I was on pins and needles. Ms. Maine does a great job with keeping the reader vacillating between giving in and running for dear life. I kept waiting on one of the characters to go super psycho. If I were in Rachel's situation, I wouldn't know what to do. Sometimes Merrick is so intoxicating that your brain shuts off and your body takes control. Other times, you want to hit him upside his head and ask, "Really?"
Overall, this was a good, quick, and well written read. I didn't want to put it down. I do wish we had more time to delve into what makes Merrick tick. Perhaps if there is a second book, we can explore that thoroughly. Along with some *ehem* other things.
Can a man that has stolen you steal your heart? That is the underlying question of this story. Rachel, must ask herself this question when thinking of Merrick. He abducted her. Yes. However, as the story progresses, we learn why.
During the first half of the book, I was on pins and needles. Ms. Maine does a great job with keeping the reader vacillating between giving in and running for dear life. I kept waiting on one of the characters to go super psycho. If I were in Rachel's situation, I wouldn't know what to do. Sometimes Merrick is so intoxicating that your brain shuts off and your body takes control. Other times, you want to hit him upside his head and ask, "Really?"
Overall, this was a good, quick, and well written read. I didn't want to put it down. I do wish we had more time to delve into what makes Merrick tick. Perhaps if there is a second book, we can explore that thoroughly. Along with some *ehem* other things.
December 8, 2012
I accepted this review request because it intrigued me. Then I started to see some reviews from friends and fellow bloggers that were mixed, so I wasn't quite sure what to think going into the book. To top it off, the story is written in second person. Interesting...right? It really was and I'm glad I took the chance and dove in.
In all honesty, it did take me a bit to get used to reading the book in second person, but I have a theory. This book is only the first in the series and I have some ideas on where the author may be going with it. Of course, I could be WAY off base, but I'm curious to see if I'm right. I'll assume it will take a while to find out though.
So, the story starts out with Rachael being abducted. My pulse was racing and I was a bit on edge. However, we find out pretty quickly that while yes, she was taken against her will, it's not necessarily a bad thing for her. I know. I KNOW. If it were me, you bet I'd be punching nuts, but I will say that I actually liked Merrick early on, so it was hard to hate him. That was confusing, but if you read it, you'll understand what I mean.
Merrick is a dark and complicated man. He's a successful businessman, but he doesn't have many people truly close to him. It's difficult for him to let people in. So, when he felt a strong connection to Rachael, he reacted rashly. While I didn't approve of his methods, I did feel like he meant well. Plus, I had to keep in mind that this is a man who is used to getting what he wants and Rachael turned him down. I have to say that what he did to Rachael with his assistant, pissed me off. His intent was understandable, but he just didn't get how to handle Rachael. He quickly learned and was always quick to apologize. I appreciated that.
Now with Rachael...it took me a while to warm up to her. I really wanted to connect with her and at times I did, but she was a lot more patient and forgiving than I would be. HA! I didn't dislike her and by the end, I had adjusted to her personality, but I guess I would say I liked Merrick more.
Ok...on to the smexy. There were definitely some HOT scenes in this book. While they don't actually have sex until later on in the book, that doesn't mean they don't indulge in other kinky activities. In fact, there were a few scenes where they weren't even touching each other and I almost felt that those scenes were way more erotic than the big event. Seriously...wow. Merrick turned me on just by how turned on he was for Rachael. He's a sexy dude.
Bottom line is this: this book has been compared to Fifty Shades and a few other "abduction" type books. I can say that it wasn't really like Fifty at all. Yes, the male character is a rich, dominating guy, but the story is very different, in my opinion. Despite Merrick's often bad behavior, I found myself rooting for him to get his happy ending with Rachael. The story being told in second person was definitely unique and I actually got into a good flow with it. I got a sneak peek at No Take Backs, which is a novella that is currently available until the next book, Taken by Storm, releases early next year. It was good and left me anxious for more. While it wasn't a mind bender, Taken is a darker erotic romance. If you like that sort of thing, then this is a great pick for you.
In all honesty, it did take me a bit to get used to reading the book in second person, but I have a theory. This book is only the first in the series and I have some ideas on where the author may be going with it. Of course, I could be WAY off base, but I'm curious to see if I'm right. I'll assume it will take a while to find out though.
So, the story starts out with Rachael being abducted. My pulse was racing and I was a bit on edge. However, we find out pretty quickly that while yes, she was taken against her will, it's not necessarily a bad thing for her. I know. I KNOW. If it were me, you bet I'd be punching nuts, but I will say that I actually liked Merrick early on, so it was hard to hate him. That was confusing, but if you read it, you'll understand what I mean.
Merrick is a dark and complicated man. He's a successful businessman, but he doesn't have many people truly close to him. It's difficult for him to let people in. So, when he felt a strong connection to Rachael, he reacted rashly. While I didn't approve of his methods, I did feel like he meant well. Plus, I had to keep in mind that this is a man who is used to getting what he wants and Rachael turned him down. I have to say that what he did to Rachael with his assistant, pissed me off. His intent was understandable, but he just didn't get how to handle Rachael. He quickly learned and was always quick to apologize. I appreciated that.
Now with Rachael...it took me a while to warm up to her. I really wanted to connect with her and at times I did, but she was a lot more patient and forgiving than I would be. HA! I didn't dislike her and by the end, I had adjusted to her personality, but I guess I would say I liked Merrick more.
Ok...on to the smexy. There were definitely some HOT scenes in this book. While they don't actually have sex until later on in the book, that doesn't mean they don't indulge in other kinky activities. In fact, there were a few scenes where they weren't even touching each other and I almost felt that those scenes were way more erotic than the big event. Seriously...wow. Merrick turned me on just by how turned on he was for Rachael. He's a sexy dude.
Bottom line is this: this book has been compared to Fifty Shades and a few other "abduction" type books. I can say that it wasn't really like Fifty at all. Yes, the male character is a rich, dominating guy, but the story is very different, in my opinion. Despite Merrick's often bad behavior, I found myself rooting for him to get his happy ending with Rachael. The story being told in second person was definitely unique and I actually got into a good flow with it. I got a sneak peek at No Take Backs, which is a novella that is currently available until the next book, Taken by Storm, releases early next year. It was good and left me anxious for more. While it wasn't a mind bender, Taken is a darker erotic romance. If you like that sort of thing, then this is a great pick for you.
December 23, 2012
I have to say that I really enjoyed Taken. This book is written in second person, which yes can make the journey slightly unusual to begin with, however this Author pulls you straight in with the depth of the characters and the storyline that it actually adds to your reading experience making the atmosphere eerie and highly emotional.
I found this story to be captivating, intense, emotional and sexy. Can a stolen heart love its captor?
It is so easy to give spoilers in this review so I won’t go into the how and why or even the journey. I believe this is one of those stories that should be read with no pre-conceptions.
Rachael’s nightmare begins when she is drugged and abducted from a night club. Upon waking she finds herself bound and held in a strange place. She has no idea where she is, who the kidnapper is and the motive/s behind it.
I thought Rachel was a very well written heroine. There was nothing for me to dislike. She is completely altruistic. She is intelligent, mature and she questions everything. She has a gentle and nurturing personality and she’s got her head screwed on right and proper. Yes, I really think this despite her questionable actions at times. When you strip everything down to basics some of her decisions do not make any sense. Yet when it really counts I understood and I got her. I sympathized with her and her dilemmas.
Our captor….Merrick was an intriguing character. He was very well written because I actually sympathized with him, understood him despite his actions and yeah I fell in love with him! He is sexy, intelligent and has such an enigmatic personality. I have to say though that one thing he did I will never understand and I am not talking kidnapping here.
Overall, I loved Rachel and Merrick’s journey. I thought it was very well written and atmospherically the story had me hooked; so detailed so intense.
I found this story to be captivating, intense, emotional and sexy. Can a stolen heart love its captor?
It is so easy to give spoilers in this review so I won’t go into the how and why or even the journey. I believe this is one of those stories that should be read with no pre-conceptions.
Rachael’s nightmare begins when she is drugged and abducted from a night club. Upon waking she finds herself bound and held in a strange place. She has no idea where she is, who the kidnapper is and the motive/s behind it.
I thought Rachel was a very well written heroine. There was nothing for me to dislike. She is completely altruistic. She is intelligent, mature and she questions everything. She has a gentle and nurturing personality and she’s got her head screwed on right and proper. Yes, I really think this despite her questionable actions at times. When you strip everything down to basics some of her decisions do not make any sense. Yet when it really counts I understood and I got her. I sympathized with her and her dilemmas.
Our captor….Merrick was an intriguing character. He was very well written because I actually sympathized with him, understood him despite his actions and yeah I fell in love with him! He is sexy, intelligent and has such an enigmatic personality. I have to say though that one thing he did I will never understand and I am not talking kidnapping here.
Overall, I loved Rachel and Merrick’s journey. I thought it was very well written and atmospherically the story had me hooked; so detailed so intense.
August 16, 2012
Solid 4.5 stars.
Wow.... is all I could say. The plot is similar to Fifty Shades - but written well... in a second POV. Merrick is 49 Shades of fucked up... def not 50 shades of fucked. I will not spoil the plot for you. I couldn't put Taken down. Read it in one day! Very much like 50/Christian without all the fun red room props ;) Great story... Can't wait to read #2 and see if I still want to hug or bitch slap Merrick.
Wow.... is all I could say. The plot is similar to Fifty Shades - but written well... in a second POV. Merrick is 49 Shades of fucked up... def not 50 shades of fucked. I will not spoil the plot for you. I couldn't put Taken down. Read it in one day! Very much like 50/Christian without all the fun red room props ;) Great story... Can't wait to read #2 and see if I still want to hug or bitch slap Merrick.
August 27, 2012
Great book. I was torn between loving him and hating him just like Rachael. But I did end up loving him just like her.
I liked how the book was written like it was her telling the story to him.
Looking forward to Taken by Storm and Given.
I liked how the book was written like it was her telling the story to him.
Looking forward to Taken by Storm and Given.
September 30, 2012
Reviewed by Kristi at My keeper shelf
Where to start with this book? Let me preface by saying, I am brand spanking new to the whole kidnapping concept and I honestly wasn't too sure how I was going to feel about it. However, once I got there, it's all good! The whole premise of being kidnapped scares me to death. But when you throw in a hot man that really just wants to give me everything in the world including himself, I may just be okay!
Rachael DeSalvo is our leading lady. She is pure vanilla without a doubt. She is one of those gals who takes care of everyone else. Her wants/needs are constantly being pushed to the side. She turns down a fantastic job with Rocha Enterprises because she can't leave her mom alone. Rachael's father has passed and her mom has become dependent on her. There are points in this book where Rachael's character is tough and stands strong. Then there were times when I was screaming at her because she was just too flaky!
Enter Merrick Rocha, a sexy misunderstood billionaire. This dude has some serious issues. He is a obviously a bad boy to a certain degree, but not in the typical sense. Granted, it's not cool to kidnap chicks just because they turn down your job proposal, he is a conflicted man. He reminds me of someone that is so brilliant in the business world, but the everyday common sense stuff just seems to escape him.
Merrick really can't understand why Rachael turned down the job to renovate a hotel and private island that he owns. Let the stalking begin. He watches and learns about Rachael's daily life. Merrick is the type that his money has gotten him everything, but it didn't get him Rachael. The kidnapping is really a very small part to the book, so don't let it sway you not to read it! The relationship that follows is mind-blowing. Their daily interactions and then of course the sexual tension - HOT!!! How can there be sexual tension with some random guy that kidnaps you? Believe me it's there and well done!
I loved this book! And seriously, I am shocked about it. I stayed up late to read just because there was never a good stopping point. Every time I thought, I am going to turn my Kindle off and go to bed, that little switch just magically turned back on! This book was a definite winner for me.
Where to start with this book? Let me preface by saying, I am brand spanking new to the whole kidnapping concept and I honestly wasn't too sure how I was going to feel about it. However, once I got there, it's all good! The whole premise of being kidnapped scares me to death. But when you throw in a hot man that really just wants to give me everything in the world including himself, I may just be okay!
Rachael DeSalvo is our leading lady. She is pure vanilla without a doubt. She is one of those gals who takes care of everyone else. Her wants/needs are constantly being pushed to the side. She turns down a fantastic job with Rocha Enterprises because she can't leave her mom alone. Rachael's father has passed and her mom has become dependent on her. There are points in this book where Rachael's character is tough and stands strong. Then there were times when I was screaming at her because she was just too flaky!
Enter Merrick Rocha, a sexy misunderstood billionaire. This dude has some serious issues. He is a obviously a bad boy to a certain degree, but not in the typical sense. Granted, it's not cool to kidnap chicks just because they turn down your job proposal, he is a conflicted man. He reminds me of someone that is so brilliant in the business world, but the everyday common sense stuff just seems to escape him.
Merrick really can't understand why Rachael turned down the job to renovate a hotel and private island that he owns. Let the stalking begin. He watches and learns about Rachael's daily life. Merrick is the type that his money has gotten him everything, but it didn't get him Rachael. The kidnapping is really a very small part to the book, so don't let it sway you not to read it! The relationship that follows is mind-blowing. Their daily interactions and then of course the sexual tension - HOT!!! How can there be sexual tension with some random guy that kidnaps you? Believe me it's there and well done!
I loved this book! And seriously, I am shocked about it. I stayed up late to read just because there was never a good stopping point. Every time I thought, I am going to turn my Kindle off and go to bed, that little switch just magically turned back on! This book was a definite winner for me.
July 9, 2013
If you dont like books that are in the first person's voice,this book is not for you. If you dont like it also being told in the way the character tells the story AND describes what the male character is thinking or doing,this is not for you. Let's see..what else? Bad writing,weak and creepy guy,and a unbelievable female that made me feel like "You kidnapped me!" "Oh you naughty boy,Im so mad at you!"
Please..really? Too bad this could have been a good story/plot if it had been in the right hands and needless to say I wont continue with future books in the series.
I got "Taken" in by the cover,so two stars for the lovely cover and glad I only borrowed it.Library only if you really need to find out for yourself.
Please..really? Too bad this could have been a good story/plot if it had been in the right hands and needless to say I wont continue with future books in the series.
I got "Taken" in by the cover,so two stars for the lovely cover and glad I only borrowed it.Library only if you really need to find out for yourself.
August 17, 2012
Ok I love this book!! I waited for what seemed like forever on it! The second person POV through me at first because I had never read a book like that but getting past that I loved it! I wanted to hug Merrick one minute and kick him in his balls the next! Haha But seriously it's an amazing book! I seen similarities from other story's that I've read but it didn't take away from Rachael and Merricks story. It helped to add to it I thought. I would recommend this book to anyone! I look forward to the next book and will try my best to wait patiently! Lol
August 21, 2012
Wow...I can hear what you're thinking. What's a gal writing about guardian angels doing reading such a naughty book?!! Enjoying every minute of it!!
First of all, Kelli is an awesome writer. She can make a turn of a phrase resonate for pages and pages. Second, she comes up with some compelling characters and situations that you don't often see. And finally, she knows how to write the heat without actually giving up everything. The chemistry smolders on the page, and it keeps you longing for more!!
I highly recommend this book!!
First of all, Kelli is an awesome writer. She can make a turn of a phrase resonate for pages and pages. Second, she comes up with some compelling characters and situations that you don't often see. And finally, she knows how to write the heat without actually giving up everything. The chemistry smolders on the page, and it keeps you longing for more!!
I highly recommend this book!!
January 25, 2013
I have never read a story written this way, it was odd and took me awhile to get used to it, but once I had I found it easy to get lost in the story. I went through the whole hate Merrick, love Merrick, WTH Merrick, back to love Merrick thing. I loved Rachel at the beginning then she really started to irritate me, I was like ffs either leave or get it over with!!! It was a very quick read. I wish it was a bit longer.
August 31, 2012
Only thing about this book worthy of two stars is the sex scenes. It was so far fetched I was like "Really?" from literally the second chapter on..... Who falls in love with a person who drugs you within like 48 hours? But she is great with erotic love scenes. Not liking the first person much either. Didn't flow like Fifty Shades did in that writing style. I bought it under book blog recs so I made myself read it. Wouldn't put it high up on my list to recommend to friends.....
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