Review: Captive, Mine by Natasha Knight and Trent Evans

Captive, Mine by Natasha Knight

My Rating:  
Sultry Scale:

The day my father agreed to testify against Terrence Randall, one of the most ruthless drug traffickers in North America, was the day I became the target of the drug lord’s enraged vengeance. I was the one thing that stood in the way of Daddy’s testimony, and the one thing that could save Randall. The man would stop at nothing to get his hands on me. 

I was prepared for what was coming — as prepared as one could be when vanishing into the U.S. Marshal’s Witness Protection Program. 

I just wasn’t prepared for him. 

For ex-Navy SEAL turned mercenary Lake Freeman, escorting Lily Cross into the Witness Protection Program was just another job — until a better offer came along. Lake couldn’t have cared less about the life he’d been hired to protect. After all, she was a part of the very organization that had cost him so much already. 

At least he never expected to care. 

But when forced into a decision he never thought he’d have to make, the mission became one of survival for himself and his beautiful charge. Lake knew that in order to protect her, he’d need to bring the feisty and unpredictable Lily to heel — he couldn't keep her safe if he couldn't keep her under control. 

But that protective urge quickly turned into something else, something dark ... and his need to conquer, to claim, overrode all else. 

He would keep her safe. He would keep her protected. But he would make her his, as well. 

Now, all he had to do was figure out how to keep them both alive long enough to do it... 

Publisher's Warning: Intended for mature readers. 18 and over only! 

This is a MF BDSM romantic suspense. Themes include: graphic sexuality, pervasive D/s, exhibitionism, spanking, bondage, anal play and other BDSM activities. If such content might offend you, please do not purchase this book. 

I am a fan of dark romances and romantic suspense, but this story did not work for me. The story lacked depth, and there was little plot or character development.

There was not enough danger or suspense for this to be classified as a romantic suspense. We know they are on the run, but are they really? They are holed up in a cabin for most of the story, then them being "found" lasts for a few minutes before they are off and saying goodbye to one another.

And let's talk about what happened at the cabin. A lot of BDSM activity leaning very heavily toward the sadism side. I didn't buy Lake's reasons for Lily's training and punishment. Lake came across to me as a horrible person who liked to hurt and humiliate her. I almost abandoned the book when she was leashed and made to use the bathroom outside like a dog.

For a dark story to work, at least for me, there needs to be a strong emotional connection, or a complete redemption of the male character. The lack of character development killed in this regard. There was potential, we know Lake has a dead wife who he lost to drugs. But she was only briefly mentioned. The author could've done more delving into Lake's psyche, connected his dead wife to his need to punish Lily, or something. But we never really learn why Lake does what he does. It was a huge disappointment.

I did feel sorry for Lily, but I never connected to her. I only felt sorry for her pain and humiliation. This was a classic Stockholm story-line, without sufficient detail to make me understand why she fell for her captor.

At the end, I wish I would've stopped reading when she was crawling around on the leash. I was just hoping that SOMETHING was gonna happen to improve the story.

I would not recommend this book to those who are bothered by reading about sex with sadistic tendencies including, but not limited to, severe strappings, extreme humiliation, and anal punishment. If that's what floats your boat (and I don't judge) then you will probably enjoy this book much more than I did. I would recommend it to Tiffany Reisz fans. I would not recommend it if you look for an emotional connection in these books, similar to what we see in Aleatha Romig's dark romances.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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