My Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ (5)
Genre: Dark Romance, Thriller, Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Enemies To Lovers, Kidnap, Sisters Fiance, Hurt-Comfort
About the Book
*via GoodReads*
When Cora attends her sister’s birthday party, she expects at most a hangover or a walk of shame. She doesn’t anticipate a stolen wallet, leaving her stranded and dependent on Dean—her arch nemesis and ultimate thorn in her side.
And she really doesn’t anticipate waking up in shackles in a madman’s basement.
To make matters worse, Dean shares the space in his own set of chains.
After fifteen years of teasing, insults, and practical jokes, the ultimate joke seems to be on them. The two people who always thought they’d end up killing each other must now work together if they want to survive.
But Cora and Dean have no idea their abductor has a plan for them. A plan that will alter the course of their relationship, blur the line between hate and love, and shackle them together with far more than just chains.
My Initial Thoughts
I was so scared going into this book because how could a book about the two main characters getting kidnapped together be good?! Somehow.... Jennifer Hartman found a way! This book so so heartbreakingly good oh my goodness. I have thought about this book so often since I've read it.
My Review
*non spoiler*
This is an enemies-to-lovers book, the two main characters, Cora and Dean get kidnapped together not long before Dean is to marry Coara's sister. The first half of the book is really dark, after the first half of the book it gets less dark, and they are recovering from what happened.
When I tell you this book had me in a chokehold, it did. Jennifer Hartman is such an amazing writer, this isn't the first book I read by her. Last year I read Lotus and it was one of my top reads for that year. I was super nervous to read this book because it didn't sound like something I would enjoy. Not only are they kidnapped together but he was her sister's fiancee.... but honestly if you are into darker themes I would give this a shot. The second half of the book when they are recovering from what happened is a rollercoaster and has such a realistic aspect to it with how the characters actually deal with what happened.
This isn't a dark romance in the sense of the mafia or "you touch her, you'll die" lol. It's dark in the sense of a super real-like instance (kidnapping) being written into a romance between two VERY unlikely characters. I would not pick this up if you cannot handle darker themes.
Overall, I think about the book a lot. Once again, it was well written and turned something so tragic into something beautiful. I couldn't put it down, It definitely is a tear-jerker at times but I really enjoyed it and would recommend it if you are willing to give it a try! And definitely check out other Jennifer Hartman books because shs is a really talented author.
About the Author
Jennifer Hartmann resides in northern Illinois with her own personal romance hero and three children. When she is not writing angsty love stories, she is likely pondering all the ways she can break your heart and piece it back together again. She enjoys sunsets (because mornings are hard), bike riding, traveling, bingeing Buffy the Vampire Slayer reruns, and that time of day when coffee gets replaced by wine. She loves tacos. She also really, really wants to pet your dog.
Content Warnings:
This is a DARK romance 18+ only content
Thank you for reading! - Trin
this is amazing ❤️❤️❤️