Epilogue (The Dark Duet #3) by C.J. Roberts

I’m writing this because you begged. You know how I love the begging. In fact, you probably know too many things and know them far too well.
Who am I?
Well, that’s what I’m trying to figure out. I was a whore in my youth, a killer since my adolescence, and a monster as a man. I am the man who kidnapped Livvie. I am the man who held her in a dark room for weeks. But, most importantly, I am the man she loves.
She loves me. It’s quite sick, isn’t it?
Of course, there’s more to our story than can be surmised in a few short sentences, but I’m at a loss for justifying my behavior back then. I assume if you’re reading this, I don’t need to make those justifications. You’ve already made your own.
You’re reading this because you want to know about the rest of the story. You want to know what happened that warm summer night in September of 2010, the night I met Livvie at The Paseo. It was the night my life changed all over again.
It didn’t happen exactly as Livvie said. She’s been very kind to me in the retelling of our story. The truth is far more…complicated.

Well hello there, lovely readers! Honestly, who even reads this book review blog?! Hah! I don't much care, I love giving my opinion, so here I am! I just finished up the 3rd... book? Not sure if I can call it that... I guess novella? Merp, anyway... just finished Epilogue a few minutes ago and am not quite sure how I feel about it. I was completely captivated and obsessed with her first two books, captive in the dark and seduced in the dark- they were completely amazing and out of this world... best books I've honestly ever read! Honestly! But this one... errr... not quite sure if it was really necessary. It almost felt like an obligation, as if C.J. felt like she HAD to tie up loose ends, to please her readers by giving them an "ending". Per say... I loved reading a whole novella through Caleb's point of view, but didn't really like how she merged James and Caleb... to me, that was unnecessary as well. I think Caleb should have been happy being Caleb, and shouldn't have craved being James, but perhaps that is what abuse, rape etc does to someone? Makes them want to be someone else after their trauma? Hmmmm. I am not saying I didn't like this story... I did! It was juicy and hot, but as hot as it was, it was also just a tad emotional. Not like the other books where the emotions are THE WHOLE BOOK, where the books MADE you feel and that completely rip your insides out. This one wasn't like that, it was more like small pangs of remembered emotions.... that sounds strange. I guess I haven't given myself enough time to really contemplate the story, but there wasn't ENOUGH to really fill me full, you know? I'm left feeling needy and wanting...more! Ah well. Anyway, I'm still giving this 5 stars, but am still craving a little more substance, like the other books. I wonder if anyone else is feeling this way? I may go read some other reviews! :)

See you guys next time! I have no idea what I'll start next! 

Seduced in the Dark by C.J. Roberts

{YES, I've read this book and YES this post contains spoilers, as I am reviewing a book!! LOL! may contain questionable language, discretion is advised! Excerpt below from Good Reads.} 

Seduced in the Dark (The Dark Duet #2)

by C.J. Roberts (Goodreads Author)

 4.68  ·  rating details  ·  1,382 ratings  ·  467 reviews

BOOK TWO OF THE DARK DUET
The exciting, titillating, and action-filled conclusion to Captive in the Dark.

What is the price of redemption?

Rescued from sexual slavery by a mysterious Pakistani officer, Caleb carries the weight of a debt that must be paid in blood.

The road has been long and fraught with uncertainty, but for Caleb and Livvie, it’s all coming to an end.

Can he surrender the woman he loves for the sake of vengeance?

Or will he make the ultimate sacrifice?

Quote:
It seemed to Caleb, the nature of human beings revolved around one empirical truth: we want what we cannot have. For Eve, it was the fruit of the forbidden tree. For Caleb, it was Livvie.

Well, hi! I'm fresh from finishing up this book in Kindle format. I finished the first one and KNEW I had to dive into this second book with as much or more fervor than before since this book was much longer and way more involved. I don't really know if I can really put down into words exactly how this small series made me feel, but I have to say that Roberts is completely and utterly amazing. Her writing style is phenomenal. I'm not sure if I have a different opinion of this book because I've actually READ it rather than listening to it on audiobook (it's not available in audio format apparently... trust me, I looked!) but this book completely and totally gripped me. I can't tell you how day after day I literally CRAVED reading this book, through grumbling stomach- because I didn't want to get up and get myself something to eat, through hubby's days off work- he had to sit there and watch me read, attempting to "spend time with me" lol! and my poor kids- good lord, they've been neglected! How did I ever manage to even get them to school, put them to bed??? Dishes are pilled up in my sink, laundry is everywhere... the house is disheveled and I thought about NOTHING but the plot and book while I wasn't reading!!!! This story encompassed my whole being! LOL! I sincerely hope it grips others in the same fashion, or I will be left feeling like a complete and utter freak! *snicker* Either way, part of me sighed in relief, and is STILL sighing, that this story is over and told... I feel emotionally exhausted and happy to be "back to my old self again"!! I loved every single thing about this book, and I don't want to put any spoilers down here, because I want anyone reading this to go buy this book and experience it for yourselves and more importantly, I want you all to love it as much as I did!!! Be prepared to be taken on a serious journey into the darkest parts of your psyche though, have a tough skin and an open mind too! And above all- I hope you love this book as much as I did! :) (and you MUST read book 1 before you read book 2!!! Book one is called Captive in the Dark!)

I can't even give this book a star rating... it went BEYOND any rating system I know of!!! Just go read the first and second book... now! :P

I've been halfheartedly listening to:

Beyond the Highland Mist(Highlander, #1)

Moning, Karen Marie

...and I hope to be able to HEAR the book now, with an open mind and carefree heart after this completely insane series... so I will go back to my paranormal loving self and attempt to find any pleasure in any other book AFTER Seduced in the Dark. LOL! :)

Captive in the Dark by C.J. Roberts

{YES, I've read this book and YES this post contains spoilers, as I am reviewing a book!! LOL! may contain questionable language, discretion is advised! Excerpt below from Good Reads.} 

Captive in the Dark (The Dark Duet #1)

by C.J. Roberts (Goodreads Author)

 4.17  ·  rating details  ·  3,295 ratings  ·  606 reviews

Caleb is a man with a singular interest in revenge. Kidnapped as a young boy and sold into slavery by a power-hungry mobster, he has thought of nothing but vengeance. For twelve years he has immersed himself in the world of pleasure slaves searching for the one man he holds ultimately responsible. Finally, the architect of his suffering has emerged with a new identity, but not a new nature. If Caleb is to get close enough to strike, he must become the very thing he abhors and kidnap a beautiful girl to train her to be all that he once was.

Eighteen-year-old Olivia Ruiz has just woken up in a strange place. Blindfolded and bound, there is only a calm male voice to welcome her. His name is Caleb, though he demands to be called Master. Olivia is young, beautiful, naïve and willful to a fault. She has a dark sensuality that cannot be hidden or denied, though she tries to accomplish both. Although she is frightened by the strong, sadistic, and arrogant man who holds her prisoner, what keeps Olivia awake in the dark is her unwelcome attraction to him.

WARNING: This book contains very disturbing situations, dubious consent, strong language, and graphic violence.

Okay... for starters, this book is uber short. Apparently it's her first, so it's relatively shorter than her second one... I had purchased this on my Kindle about a week ago, and wanted to get through the books I was already elbows deep in, so I put it on the back burner... Well, I picked it up today and could NOT PUT IT DOWN! I just finished it after having been reading it for about mmmm, say, 5 or 6 straight hours... Oh minus a few minutes to jump into the shower quickly. This author... holy smokes. What can I say??? I absolutely LOVED this freaking book. In the Goodreads description it issues a warning that it's got disturbing scenarios etc, but it was right up my alley and I completely loved it. It wasn't THAT disturbing anyway, nothing I haven't ever read before, actually. It was considerably more tame than I was anticipating (hoping?)... so those who tend to handle "situations" that are errrr...violent or overly sexual, this book will sit just fine with you. I loved every single thing about the way the author writes and I clutched at my tablet while reading this whole story. It was fantastic. A little on the "unbelievable" side I guess, far fetched? I guess it would have been more believable if Caleb was wanting to obtain her for himself, along the same vein as 50 Shades or Bared To You. I was actually looking for a book that was in the same genre, but this one went beyond those, into a whole different universe because of the author and the way she wrote. I absolutely love her writing style and every single thing about her style just sang to me! Love love loved it! I finished up the first book and read her little snippet at the end, wondering how long of a wait it would be until the second book was released, and lo and behold, I hurried over to Amazon and bought the second book right away! Soooo freaking excited to start the second book, I could pee!!! And for those who know me, that's a good sign! Not a sign that I need adult diapers! ;P Anyway, this is a dark and twisted pseudo-love story that takes the human psyche to the depths of despair and to the brink of seduction all in one fell swoop! It was so tangible and touchable. And it was all because of the superior writing style of C.J. Roberts! She's absolute perfection personified!!! Anyway, I have domestic duties I must perform but I will be back at the second book in this journey, and I simply can't wait!!!

If I could, I would give this book 100 stars... for the sake of being "fair"...