Seduced in the Dark (The Dark Duet, #2) in Buddy Read Zone

Sep 23, 2012 Lucinda - I JUST LOVE TO READ rated it it was amazing

Wow I really loved this book.... I have to say when I started this book I really thought it was not going to be any good. How can It be if it starts at the end, I also have to say some parts was really disturbing and I felt so emotional and sad for Livvie, Caleb and some parts for Kid and Nancy. But the end was perfect, and didn't expect that at all. I had both books on my to read list for sometime and after the reviews came streaming in and all the comments I decided to give the book a go. Wow ...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Christie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, dark-taboo-reads, new-adult-adult

Sooo...This is a review in terms of how I view the series as a whole cause I cant seem to separate the two books in my mind. This is gonna be a bit more in depth than my usual reviews but much like Livvie, this story tormented and played with my head so intensely that I feel I need to just purge all my stinkin thoughts so I can stop being haunted by this series! With that said I recognize many people will feel similar to my opinions on this book and many definitely won't. Nonetheless, here are m Sooo...This is a review in terms of how I view the series as a whole cause I cant seem to separate the two books in my mind. This is gonna be a bit more in depth than my usual reviews but much like Livvie, this story tormented and played with my head so intensely that I feel I need to just purge all my stinkin thoughts so I can stop being haunted by this series! With that said I recognize many people will feel similar to my opinions on this book and many definitely won't. Nonetheless, here are my own thoughts...
The second installment of CITD disturbed, intrigued, shocked and spun my head every bit as much as the first book--and I mean that to be nothing but a sincere COMPLIMENT. The stories that touch me most are the ones that stick with me far after ive read them because they're the ones that make me re-evaluate and see a different side to my own emotions and initial beliefs/judgements and make me feel and view certain topics/relationships in an often surprising and sometimes intense and new way--for better (or apparently) for worse.
In terms of characters, I like Livvie more than I've liked a female character in any other female MC in a long time. There was a goodness and an innocence about her that was endearing. Yet she she was fierce and fiery all at the same time. I routed for her not just because of the situation she was in but because of who she was as a character.
In terms of Caleb...I had made no decisions as to how I would end up feeling toward the main male character from the beginning of this series because I was so intrigued at how the parts of me that wanted and felt I should loathe him were almost constantly competing with what felt like irratinal thoughts and feelinmegs that held me back from fully committing to my loathing and disgust. I still feel somewhat conflicted over saying I ended up fully "Liking" Caleb but in the end I empathized with him and couldn't help but see him as anything different than how I would have seen Livvie had she followed in his footsteps after her own trauma. I guess this is because watching her trauma unfold from the beginning made me realize that if Livvie DID turn out like Caleb I would not have been able to blame her and feel the hatred I was initially feeling for Caleb. Really above all else I think I would have felt pity and sorrow for her. And though i wouldnt have condoned her i would have understood because I would have seen the depths of exactly how deeply the world had and was breaking her.
As I learned Calebs story my feelings were slowly thawed by the fact that, because of the life he was subjected to he had lost his ability to remember or even know the basic meanings and tenants of the concepts of 'humanity' and 'conscience' since he was so systematically programmed not to learn or feel them. Further, I do believe that there are some pains and traumas in this worlds that bend us until we break and our world views and brains adapt in a way to help us survive--even when that mode of survival goes against our inherent natures. As I read about both Liivie and Caleb's plights I struggled to wonder, or rather fathom, how I myself would (or would not) come out of the manipulation, trauma and torture they endured. Sure we have free will but in my own opinion I believe the impact of desperation, the need to survive, and the human norms we develop from observing our world are a direct reflection of the world and circumstances we are submerged in. I think that throughout his path of survival humanity, free will, and right and wrong are concepts Caleb could barely define, let alone understand. Had he had even one normal influence in his life I may have a very different view of this entire story...but once the picture fully unfolded all I could see was the 6 year old Caleb who was just an innocent child deprived of any knowledge let alone ability to understand humanity. He was a child who grew up having no knowledge of any goodness or morals in this life. And really if you've never seen or experienced it and even moreso, if your taught only to do the opposite, how do you know anything different.
The absolute brilliance of the author and this story is that for 3/4 of this series I was fairly sure I had formed one set of emotions an opinions and then the very last 1/4 of this book shattered every gut feeling and opinion I thought I'd decided on and made me end up feeling the exact feelings and thoughts I was doubtful could be changed no matter how the author spun the story to redeem Caleb. Clearly I was wrong and I'm grateful for it because it made me feel at peace with the colossal whirlwind of emotions I experienced throughout this book as I hoped it would leave me feeling something other than completely disturbed. It deliver big time in the end and despite the explicitness of this book it is one of the better series I've read in a long time and I highly suggest it.

P.S. Waring: This book is highly graphic and affecting.It is NOT for the squeamish!

On a final note--I feel the need to acknowledge the immense respect I have for this authors willingness and bravery to tackle such an incredibly difficult topic with such emotion and in many ways dare I say, beauty. As someone loves to create stories and put feelings on paper I have found that writing a story worth any sort of a damn is not just cathartic but also a learning process of experiencing and brining to life many of own raw emotions, whether they be good, bad or very very ugly. I believe that the ability to pour oneself into something like that takes a willingness to explore. How the author managed to sit through that process to write this story to the end is remarkable to me.

Phew...sorry that was so long winded. Lol. Now I'm gonna go shut up and read the fluffiest book I can find ...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Robin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: erotic-romance, literary-erotica, 2012-favorites, dark

5 Stars. Dark. Intense. Scary. Twisted. Creative. Well-written. I loved it, I hated it. Captive & Seduced were both amazing and completely messed with my head. Brilliant!

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Sep 07, 2012 ATran rated it it was amazing

Shelves: best-ever

Best book ever!! Caleb and Livvie :). Thanks C.J. For a beautiful series.. You left me speechless.

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Sep 17, 2012 Lariza rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, challenge

Words cannot describe this book! It's spectacular and by far one of the best books I have ever read. Livvie and Caleb's story is one filled with pain, deception and redemption. I felt their pain in my heart- everything they went through had me on the edge (I did cry how could you not?) The revelations in this book, made me sympathize with Caleb even more. Reed and Sloan were great characters and had a good dynamic with Livvie; especially, Reed because of his childhood and his singular sexual tas ...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Janna Bartolina rated it it was amazing

Brilliant! No book has ever made me feel the emotions I felt when I read this. I wish I could read it again for the first time!

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Oct 04, 2012 Kim Person rated it it was amazing

Excellent! I adore the ending and commend the authors ability to make the reader fall in love with Livvie and Caleb

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Nov 10, 2012 Yvette Huerta rated it really liked it

WOW!! All I can say is she did it again! This book was more intense than the first book by far! It was very crude and at times I honestly felt Livvie the main character just needed to be put out of her misery. It was so intense I wasn't sure it was ever going to get better. Of course the author redeemed herself and blew our minds in the ending. LOVED IT! Only thing I couldn't seem to wrap my head around was the third person narrative on Caleb's persona and the institution where this takes place. ...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Julie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-loved, ugly-cries, own-on-kindle, dysfunctional-tormented, reformed-man-whores, total-mind-screw, na-college-new-adult, abused, dark-twisted, 2013-book-challenge

“Tell me you love me, Caleb," I whispered.
He kissed me, refusing. "I wish I could, Kitten”

5 STARS!!

WOW is all I can say about this book, an completely incredible dark and twisted adventure that totally screws with your head 95% of the book. While I'm still trying to process how I feel about this book, I will say that it is beautifully written and I love how this book kept me off balance with all it's dark twists and turns. HIGHLY RECOMMEND
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Sep 28, 2012 Brennyn Pieper rated it it was amazing

So very good!

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Sep 30, 2012 Maggie Lane rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-favorite-books

OMG...Words failed me again...What a GREAT book I could not put it down...What an emotional roller coaster..I recommend this book to EVERYONE!!!! I have a LOVE/HATE relationship with Caleb. My feelings are so crazy right now.. {sighing}

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Oct 30, 2012 Mich rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

I just finished SITD and WOW...what a story! This series is so disturbing but so engaging. These books, and their theme will be haunting me for a long time. If you think you cannot get any further, read on...it is soo worth it!

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