SEDUCED IN THE DARK – THE DARK DUET BOOK TWO by CJ ROBERTS

This was definitely one of the most gut-wrenchingly difficult, raw, brutal, thought provoking and emotional reads I have ever sat through.  There were times I thought I couldn’t go on and my resolve was sorely tested.  My chest ached, my stomach was in knots and more than once I felt physically sick with the anticipation of what was about to happen.

“I’ve been doing this a long time- manipulating people to get my way. That’s why you think you love me. Because I’ve broken you down and built you back up to believe it. It wasn’t an accident. Once you leave this behind….. you’ll see that.”

Reading this book I felt that CJ must be one of the most talented writers I’ve ever read.  How she crafted this story and brought it all together left me in total awe.  She is a storyteller who certainly doesn’t shy away from what she feels needs to be told, even if, at times, this makes the reader uncomfortable and takes them to a place they thought they could never go.

The reader is taken from the time Livvie is captured and from there she recounts how her predicament evolved and how Caleb and the others played a part in her story. It was nothing short of brilliant how this story was pieced together.

“She kisses my scars and I create new ones for her.” 

Caleb is still the broken “monster” we met in Captive in the Dark.  He is hell-bent on his revenge and willing to sacrifice Livvie (Kitten) into slavery just to ensure his task is carried out.

I have to admit to having strong feelings for Caleb when reading Captive in the Dark (The Dark Duet #1).  I hated him because I loved him, when really I should have despised him.  Nothing changes in this book.  I was still questioning my sanity over my feelings for this man.  How could I, after what he had done and was still prepared to do, feel so much love and compassion for him?  What was it about this man that drew me to him? Oh trust me, there were times when I wanted to knife him through the heart.  This man will test you, and he will test you BIG time, but his tender times with Livvie will hit you deep in your heart and it is at these times when you feel, when you hope, that there is goodness and perhaps love somewhere in this man.

Livvie has grown in this book.  She has feelings for Caleb that have her questioning if she is of sound mind.  How could she feel the way she does for Caleb after what he has done to her?  After what he was still intending to do to her?  He never sugar coated her fate.  You will be clenching your heart for Livvie. You can’t put yourself in her shoes because you couldn’t withstand the heartbreak of being there.

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

I will tell you now that I cried reading this book more than I have ever cried reading a book before.  Whilst this story is at times shocking, it was also so emotional throughout, and catching glimpses of Caleb’s past will have you clutching your chest.  I defy anyone to read the last chapter of this book without crying.

After finishing this book I sobbed for an hour afterwards and just stared into space.  I had to absorb everything I had read and marvel at what an amazing and emotional journey this author had just taken me on.

“In the dark, my master let down his guard and he was Caleb again. He didn’t correct me. He didn’t punish me. He didn’t push me away emotionally. Caleb was there to hold me until the nightmares passed. He was there to tell me I was beautiful. He was there to tell me I was going to be okay. In the dark, he seduced me. I didn’t want the seduction to end.” 

As I’ve said, this is by no means an easy read, let’s face it, a book about human trafficking and sex slavery was never written with the intention of being an easy read.

However, when you pick this book up (be sure to read Captive in the Dark first!) you will experience, what I can promise you will be an emotional rollercoaster the likes of which you will be hard pressed to beat.

“He had told her he wasn’t Prince Charming, but what he hadn’t said, was he wished he could be.” 

This book will make you angry.  It will make you sick.  It will make you sad. It will test your resolve.  It will make you question your thoughts and your feelings, but I promise you, you will not forget this book.  It will stay with you long after the last page, because not only will this book touch your heart, it will touch your soul.

 (Please note: I was a Beta reader for this book)