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Captive in the Dark (The Dark Duet, #1)

C.J. Roberts

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Dark and Disturbing Buddy Reads

New Adult Dark Fantasy Novel Series
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Captive in the Dark (Dark Duet #1) 1/21/13
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What Members Thought

Nov 18, 2011 Jenny - TotallybookedBlog rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adult

I nearly didn't read this book. It was recommended to me by Tina Reber, and because she has never led me astray in her book choices, I decided to take the plunge and read it.
This was indeed a hard read, but I found I just couldn't put it down. I wasn't able to focus on anything except getting to the end of this book.
I admit to having formed a pre conceived opinion of Caleb, and decided that I would dislike him immensly.
However I have to say I didn't.
Yes, he was totally messed up and I don't know ...more

18 likes · Like · see review

May 14, 2012 ~V~ rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary-romance

Wow, a very compelling story, that's for sure! I don't know quite HOW to feel about Caleb, he starts off the story being this very creepy and scarey guy then we get some sweet moments with him, then he's back to scarey dude!! He's like a serial killer/kidnapper who you want to feel sorry for because of what HE went through (soooo sad!) yet does that really excuse or make right what he's done to countless other girls or what he's currently doing to Livvie!? I don't know about that. I guess time w ...more

17 likes · Like · see review

Sep 13, 2012 Steph rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-read

I am going to try really hard to keep this review short because my feelings are all over the place and if I talk for too long I'll just end up going round in circles. LOL

I know it's not part of the story, but I just quickly wanted to say that the books dedication made me laugh out loud...
"My mom, for loving me no matter what, even when I followed you around the grocery store with a pack of adult diapers until you bought me chips. I love you!"
Brilliant.

This book was absolutely fantastic. I h ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Jul 13, 2012 Katie rated it really liked it

Shelves: e-book, alpha-type-hero

I was a bit apprehensive at the beginning of Captive in the Dark because I had seen and been warned several times about the "dark" and almost overly disturbing content. It is possible that in my recent reading endeavors that I have become desensitized, because I really didn't think it was THAT over the top dark and dreary. Was the content disturbing, morally reprehensible, and on occasion disgusting? Yes, yes and yes. But with all that included, I thought the author did an outstanding job of art I was a bit apprehensive at the beginning of Captive in the Dark because I had seen and been warned several times about the "dark" and almost overly disturbing content. It is possible that in my recent reading endeavors that I have become desensitized, because I really didn't think it was THAT over the top dark and dreary. Was the content disturbing, morally reprehensible, and on occasion disgusting? Yes, yes and yes. But with all that included, I thought the author did an outstanding job of articulating the characters so I still enjoyed it despite the potentially distressing subject matter. I think it takes a very open minded reader to enjoy books like Captive in the Dark and if you're not into potentially disturbing subject matter than this isn't for you.

In an act to help his friend and mentor enact vengeance, Caleb abducts Livvie, a plain and introverted 18 year old girl as a means to an end for Caleb and his mentor. He will train her to be a pleasure slave then give her as a gift to their enemy. All the while using her in their plot to destroy him. But Caleb never intends to grow to care for his captive, and Livvie being the survivor that she is will do anything to keep herself alive.

It's hard to believe that I actually grew to love Caleb. He was a hard and dangerous man but he had a soft spot in his soul for Livvie or Kitten as he so loved to call her. He was the classic "anti-hero" he did horrible and disgusting things, but there was a reason behind ALL of it. And though some may not think the end really justified the means, Caleb was who he was. He made no excuses and he made no apologies. He did what he had to do to survive himself.

Livvie, (it is hard to identify her as that name because it was used so seldom) was a wonderful heroine. She was smart, resourceful and never denied that no matter how messed up her situation she was going to do what she had to do to survive. In this her and Caleb were two peas. They just had VERY different methods of survival.

I thoroughly enjoyed Captive in the Dark. I felt CJ Roberts did an excellent job creating likable characters, even out of people you could easily hate. She was able to provide justifiable reasoning for us to care what happened to a character like Caleb. I am always a sucker for romance and even though this book in no way should be categorized as a romance, I will almost always fall for the evil hero if he has a soft spot for only the heroine.

Where I felt the book fell a bit short... First of all I HATE CLIFFHANGERS!!! And to say that this book was short I think may even be an understatement. The entire story could have easily fit into one GOOD book. This may be my little girl impatience talking but now I have to wait for a sequel which I feel is completely unnecessary. I would take it to the point that I would have paid twice as much for this book just to get the entire story in one book (please don't hold me to that... I reserve the right to complain about book prices:) The other thing was; I am a huge fan of show don't tell me what's going on with the characters. There was quite a bit of internal Livvie monologue which I felt could have been articulated a little differently to stay true to reflect in a more interesting way what she was going through. It got a little ho hum and my mind drifted a bit in those instances.

Overall, I liked it a lot. Now I'm just going to sit a pout for a couple months waiting for the next one to come out.

...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Sep 22, 2012 Vikki ~ *squee* lite ~ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: alpha-hero, angsty, bad-boy-hero, favorites, abuse, awesome-sauce, mind-bender, dark-and-twisted

This was one of the most emotionally disturbing books I've ever read. I have to admit - I almost stopped reading about a quarter of the way in - because the whole concept - Olivia being sold into slavery - and all that came with breaking her was almost too much for me. That said - at the same time, the story was almost hypnotizing. It felt like watching a snake charmer - I could not look away- no matter how dangerous it seemed. I became so intensely emotionally involved with Olivia - it felt lik ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Oct 07, 2012 Britt rated it really liked it

Shelves: erotic, romance, ebook

I really don't know where to begin, or what to say by this book.

This time last week I was reading the Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by Anne Rice and it has many similarities to this novel (non-consent, sexual slavery, being taken and forced into submission) and I gave it one stars and ranted about its total injustice and absolutely hated.

This is kind of why I feel like a hypocrite for liking this so much. It's just as shocking, but for some reason I loved it. The only conclusion I can come to is ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 02, 2013 Keri rated it it was amazing

So torn throughout the book. I have so many questions.
Do I like Caleb? Do I not? Is it wrong that I do? I want to.
How does Livvie stay "not broken"? Does he come to his senses?
How will this story play out? ..and then... BAM! Cliffhanger.

Ugh!! Cliffhanger! Good thing aim about to boot up book 2 on my Kindle.

Sorry, just started reading book 2 before I even finished this post
.

PS - totally different Caleb & Olivia than in The Opportunist. ; )

_______________________________________________________ ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Sep 13, 2012 Jennifer rated it it was amazing

Shelves: erotica, favorites, bdsm, dark

Wow!...I had seen this book on several lists but never added it to my "to read" list because it's not a genre that I typically read. My sister had purchased the book and insisted I give it a try. I'm so glad I did. It's an extremely uncomfortable and disturbing read but one that I absolutely could not put down! I'm really looking forward to starting Seduced in the Dark!
...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Nov 04, 2012 Vivian Dominguez rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, i-own-it, adult, erotica

I finished it in one day....I just had to...I wouldn't have been able to go to sleep...yeah....its that good!!!

It's so WRONG...but sooooo RIGHT to luv this book....!!!

Can't wait to get my hands on the 2nd book...so ADDICTING....thank you Mrs. Roberts for introducing me to a whole new dark world...

~~~~~~~~~~~MY SONG CHOICE...~~~~~~~~~

"Agony" by Paloma Faith

"Agony"

Use me take me home and use me
Press your hands into my body
You'll be my sorrow
We both know it shows
Push me
Make me feel I'm weightl ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 22, 2012 Sultan * Baby Mama Smut-a-teer* rated it it was amazing

Uhhh...* speechless* wow, just wow. I read this book in two days, would of been sooner (stupid work). I don't know what I am feeling right now, nor did I throughout the book. I felt a rainbow f emotions through out this book. No, not this book, this journey, of two lost souls trying to make something...anything out of such a damaged and dark world. Caleb, what do I at about you?? I hate you...i love you?? That I understand what lead you to make some of the choices that you did? I wanted you to ...more

Like · see review